Mu Hu maintained a composed expression and replied methodically: “In response to Princess Consort, there have been several petty thieves in Yunyang City recently, so this subordinate is leading men to patrol this area. Having heard that Princess Consort came to the Yun residence for the banquet, this subordinate brought men to escort Princess Consort back to the residence, lest those scoundrels disturb your carriage.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort couldn’t help but frown.

Given Mu Hu’s status, catching a few petty thieves hardly required his involvement. Moreover, she had brought quite a few guards when leaving the residence – merely dealing with a few small thieves wouldn’t require so many men that Mu Hu had brought for escort. However, Princess Consort trusted Mu Hu greatly because she trusted her son greatly.

So Princess Consort only paused slightly before smiling: “If that’s the case, then I’ll trouble General Mu.”

Without another word, Mu Hu gestured to the men he had brought, surrounding Princess Consort’s carriage. Even the guards Princess Consort had originally brought retreated to the rear of the carriage. Most of the Prince’s residence guards had been trained by Mu Hu, and with Princess Consort’s consent, no one dared disobey orders.

Mu Hu himself rode his horse alongside the Princess Consort’s carriage. Although his face showed no expression, his body was taut with tension, even catching the slightest sounds of wind in the air.

The Princess Consort’s carriage traveled at a moderate pace along Chang’an Street. Just as they were about to pass the intersection with Taiping Street, which crossed Chang’an Street, sudden chaotic hoofbeats and firecracker sounds emerged. At the Taiping Street intersection, flickering firelight could be seen, and both the sounds and light seemed to be getting closer.

Mu Hu reacted quickly, drawing his sword from his waist almost the instant he heard the disturbance, shouting: “Dismount! Release the horses! Protect Princess Consort’s carriage! Don’t panic!”

The men Mu Hu had brought and the guards Princess Consort had brought were all elite soldiers of the Yanbei army. Setting aside everything else, their response to commands was extremely quick – the moment Mu Hu finished speaking, they leaped down from their horses.

After giving his orders, Mu Hu suddenly leaped down from his horse, using the momentum to kick down two people who had been secretly approaching the carriage during the chaos of everyone dismounting. Without another word, he delivered two swift strikes, severing both men’s necks. Both died with a single blow.

The guard formation was initially startled by this sudden turn of events, but quickly regained composure.

At the same time, five large ox carts charged out from the Taiping Street intersection, with firecrackers tied to the oxen’s tails and the carts loaded with lit straw. These five ox carts all rushed toward them, blocking the forward path. It looked as if they would scatter both the Prince’s residence carriage and guards. Fortunately, their mounts had just been driven away, otherwise, the horses going mad would have created even more chaos.

Without waiting for Mu Hu’s orders, five burly men leaped out from among the men he had brought. Wielding large swords, they charged toward the five ox carts, severing the cart beds that were about to reach them, and removing the large cart beds loaded with burning straw. When the five mad oxen charged over, they were no longer as dangerous. Mu Hu led his men in using brute force to hack down two of the oxen charging toward them, the spurting ox blood staining everyone’s faces red.

Just then, a cavalry unit charged out from behind them. Mu Hu wiped away the blood splattered on his face with one sweep, calmly directing his men forward to engage in battle as both sides clashed together. Mu Hu himself brought several men to solemnly surround Princess Consort’s carriage, maintaining vigilance of the surroundings without going forward to fight the enemy.

Inside the carriage, when Princess Consort heard Mu Hu’s order to dismount, she immediately sensed something was wrong and leaned back to avoid the carriage window position that could easily be ambushed. Nanny Xin and the maid Su Jin flanked Princess Consort protectively in the carriage on both sides.

When the fighting began outside, the inside of the carriage was quiet. Princess Consort didn’t make a sound, and neither Nanny Xin nor Su Jin spoke, only concentrating on listening to the sounds outside, maintaining constant vigilance.

Until Mu Hu spoke from outside the carriage: “Princess Consort, are you alright?”

Princess Consort replied in a deep voice: “I’m fine. What’s the situation outside now?”

Mu Hu replied calmly: “The enemy brought about twenty-some men. All skilled fighters, but we have more people and have gained control. The city garrison will arrive soon upon hearing the commotion. Please be at ease, Princess Consort.”

Princess Consort nodded but still frowned: “You’re here. Who’s guarding the Prince’s residence?” Not long after Xiao Jingxi’s incident, Xiao Hua had also left the Yanbei Prince’s residence.

Mu Hu glanced in the direction of the Yanbei Prince’s residence: “Today it’s Zhou Cheng leading men to guard.”

Princess Consort felt somewhat uneasy and said, “Princess Dowager and Yaoqi are still in the residence. I’m not at ease. Since things are under control here, you should take some men back first.”

“This…” Mu Hu scratched his head. “Nanxing is also in the residence. She’ll protect the young madam well. This subordinate will escort you back to the residence together.”

Princess Consort’s tone was resolute: “I’m fine here. They won’t send a second group to kill me, but they might send people to infiltrate the Prince’s residence.” The enemy this time was well-prepared with detailed plans – it couldn’t be just to ambush her carriage.

Mu Hu was silent for a moment: “Then this subordinate will wait until the city garrison arrives before leaving.”

Princess Consort wanted to say more, but Mu Hu stood outside like a wooden post, not making another sound. Though Princess Consort was anxious, she was helpless.

In the Yanbei Prince’s residence, after Princess Consort went to the Yun family, Ren Yaoqi was in Zhaoning Hall reading leisure books to pass the time. She hadn’t been reading for even half an hour when Xiangqin came to cause a disturbance.

“Miss, stop reading – mind your eyes! This servant brought some freshly made water chestnut cakes from the kitchen. Would you try a couple?” Xiangqin presented the plate of water chestnut cakes like a treasure, placing it right under Ren Yaoqi’s nose, blocking her view of the book.

Xiangqin had married Xiao Shun a few days ago and was now formally serving in Ren Yaoqi’s quarters. Besides occasionally crying because she missed her former master, this girl had quite strong adaptability. In just a few days, she was already like a fish in water at the Yanbei Prince’s residence, entering the Prince’s residence kitchen as if it were her backyard. What’s more, all the kitchen women liked her very much.

“You all share and eat them. I can’t eat anymore.” Ren Yaoqi put down her book and declined with a smile.

Ren Yaoqi was pregnant, and for some reason her tastes changed quickly – sometimes wanting sour foods, sometimes sweet ones. Recently the kitchen had been making all sorts of foods for her, and whenever they made something she liked, Princess Consort would reward them.

Xiangqin tried to persuade her a few times, but seeing that Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to eat, she happily agreed and called over Sangshen and Pingguo, who were serving in the room.

Sangshen teased: “You run to the kitchen every day, claiming to fetch food for Miss, but actually, you’re the one with a greedy mouth. Most of the things sent from the kitchen end up in your stomach.”

Xiangqin wasn’t pleased and said while chewing water chestnut cake: “How did most of it end up in my stomach? That’s because Master loves me and rewards me! Besides, Master rewarded you too! It’s your fault for being afraid of getting fat and not eating!”

Although Xiangqin still couldn’t bear to leave Ren Yaohua, she had to admit that the cooks at the Yanbei Prince’s residence were better than those at the Lei residence. Just for this reason alone, she shed considerably fewer tears.

Sangshen had a good temperament and didn’t argue with her, only saying: “I’m afraid of getting fat, and Pingguo doesn’t like eating these pastries, but Leshan and Leshui do like them. Remember to save a few pieces for them.”

Leshan and Leshui were young and at the age of growing, so they loved eating pastries. It was fortunate they followed Ren Yaoqi, as she was very tolerant of the maids around her, and Zhaoning Hall never lacked pastries for them.

“Oh, I’ll go call them over right now.” After Xiangqin had eaten her share, she put the plate away and turned to go out looking for Leshan and Leshui.

However, she searched all of Zhaoning Hall and even went to the room where the two sisters lived, but still couldn’t find them. She could only run back to tell Pingguo and Sangshen: “They’re not in Zhaoning Hall. These water chestnut cakes are only good when eaten hot – should I just eat them all first?”

Sangshen didn’t believe it: “With Master here, they wouldn’t leave Zhaoning Hall. You probably just didn’t look carefully enough.”

Leshan and Leshui knew martial arts. At least one of them would stay by Ren Yaoqi’s side to protect her safety. As long as Ren Yaoqi was in Zhaoning Hall, they wouldn’t go out. Though the two young maids were not old, they had been taught very well.

Ren Yaoqi, who was sitting at the writing desk planning to write a family letter to Xiao Jinglin, looked up upon hearing this and said to Pingguo: “Go look for Leshan and Leshui again, see if they went to the outer hall.”

Pingguo responded and left. Xiangqin pouted pitifully: “Miss, this servant looked carefully.”

Ren Yaoqi gave her a reassuring smile: “They might have gone to the outer hall to practice martial arts. You eat the water chestnut cakes first, then go get some more for them later.”

Xiangqin immediately brightened: “Yes, Miss, you’re so good!”

Sangshen laughed from the side. Xiangqin gave her a big eye roll, then happily ran off to eat her water chestnut cakes.

Soon after, Pingguo returned, but she came back alone.

“Miss, this servant couldn’t find Leshan and Leshui. No one in Zhaoning Hall has seen them for an hour.”

Ren Yaoqi frowned and slowly put down the brush in her hand.

The room suddenly became quiet. Xiangqin, who had just finished eating alone, also stopped talking and looked at Ren Yaoqi expectantly.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then suddenly instructed: “Xiangqin, go find Nanxing. Tell her that several petty thieves have recently appeared in Yunyang City, and Princess Consort went out to attend a banquet – we don’t know if it’s safe. Have her go provide support for Princess Consort.”

Xiangqin quickly agreed, but heard Ren Yaoqi continue: “After you find Nanxing, you don’t need to come back. Go tell your husband that my two maids are missing and ask him to help me look for them to see if they went somewhere else.”

“Sangshen, go call Tonghe and Tongxi. I have questions for them.”

Both Xiangqin and Sangshen responded and left.

Ren Yaoqi supported her chin with her hand, leaning back in the armchair behind the writing desk, thinking about something with a furrowed brow.

“Miss, has something happened?” Pingguo asked worriedly.

Ren Yaoqi looked up and gave Pingguo a smile: “No, I just feel something’s not quite right. It’s always good to be cautious.”