Having temporarily pacified the people in the city, Vice Minister Zhao accompanied Yu Jin down from the city wall, and the group returned to Jinli Town.
The Crown Prince had been waiting impatiently. Seeing Yu Jin and the others return, he frowned and said, “It’s almost dark, and you’ve only just returned.”
The others helplessly twitched the corners of their mouths.
This Crown Prince had slipped back early and was now complaining about their late return.
At this moment, everyone increasingly felt that Yu Jin was better, and they unanimously thought: Indeed, the dragon has nine sons, each different. How could there be such a big difference between princes?
“It’s still far from dark,” Yu Jin put down his empty teacup and stood up. “I’m going for a walk around town.”
The Crown Prince became interested: “Seventh Brother, where are you planning to stroll? I’ll go with you.”
Yu Jin glanced at the Crown Prince, hesitated slightly, then nodded.
The Crown Prince had already thought about what to say if he was refused, but seeing Yu Jin agree directly, he was inexplicably moved. He quickly took a few steps forward, raising his hand to pat the other’s shoulder.
Yu Jin calmly dodged and gave the Crown Prince a look.
The Crown Prince rubbed his nose and smiled, “Seventh Brother, let’s go.”
Seeing the two brothers leave together, those left behind were somewhat incredulous.
Could Prince Yan and the Crown Prince get along?
Ahem, they shouldn’t think like that. They were blood brothers after all, and the Crown Prince was the heir apparent…
Everyone hurriedly followed.
Compared to the despair and numbness of the people in Qianhe County, Jinli Town seemed like another world.
The town’s residents were bustling about for their livelihoods, with sounds of hawking, arguing, bargaining with vendors, scolding children… everywhere was full of ordinary worldly bustle.
The Crown Prince looked around with interest and turned to Yu Jin, “I didn’t expect such a small town to be so lively… Seventh Brother, look, that girl in pink is quite pretty. I thought only the capital had beauties to see…”
The Crown Prince gently stroked his chin, his heart becoming active.
Who knew how long they would stay here? If that pink-clad girl could keep him company, he wouldn’t worry about passing the time.
Yu Jin didn’t respond to the Crown Prince’s words. He patted Erniu’s back and said, “Go play.”
Erniu shook his body and darted off.
Watching the big dog’s agile figure disappear into the distance, the Crown Prince felt a bit envious. “Seventh Brother, your dog seems quite intelligent.”
“Erniu,” Yu Jin glanced at the Crown Prince, emphasizing again.
The Crown Prince twitched the corner of his mouth: “Erniu seems quite intelligent.”
Yu Jin smiled slightly: “Yes, Erniu is no ordinary dog.”
“How is he extraordinary?” the Crown Prince asked curiously.
Yu Jin’s lips curved upward, his smile appearing somewhat mysterious: “Years ago, when I was buried in a pile of corpses, it was Erniu who dug me out… Erniu has a spiritual ability to foresee danger…”
The Crown Prince listened with wide eyes: “Foresee danger? That’s too bizarre.”
Yu Jin’s smile faded, his expression turning cold: “If Second Brother doesn’t believe it, so be it.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Seventh Brother, it’s just that I’ve never heard of a dog that can foresee danger,” the Crown Prince said, turning to ask Vice Minister Zhao and the others, “Have any of you gentlemen heard of such a thing?”
Vice Minister Zhao and the others naturally shook their heads, saying in unison, “Never heard of it.”
They couldn’t lie just because they were getting along well with Prince Yan.
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow and said coolly, “Besides Erniu, you’ve never heard of a dog official of the fifth rank either.”
Everyone rubbed their noses, speechless.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s eyes constantly wandering towards the young women, Vice Minister Zhao hurriedly said, “Your Highness, Prince, it’s almost time for dinner. Why don’t we return to our resting place?”
What if the Crown Prince forcibly abducted a civilian woman?
They were here for disaster relief, not sightseeing. If such a thing happened, the Emperor would surely berate him harshly.
The Crown Prince didn’t want to go back and glanced at Yu Jin.
“Then I’ll call Erniu back,” Yu Jin put his finger to his lips and blew a loud whistle.
Soon, a majestic large dog came running from afar, followed by a string of dogs of various colors and sizes.
Seeing so many dogs running over, everyone was startled.
Erniu stopped, turned his head, and barked once, and those dogs immediately stopped, obediently sitting down and not moving.
“Erniu, what’s this—”
Erniu barked urgently at Yu Jin twice and bit his trouser leg.
Yu Jin frowned deeply.
The others were confused and asked, “Prince, what’s wrong with the dog… with Erniu?”
“Erniu must have discovered something,” Yu Jin said seriously.
Hearing this, Erniu barked more vigorously, as if agreeing with his master’s words.
Everyone was curious and surprised.
Curious about what Erniu could have discovered in such a short time, and surprised that the dog seemed to understand its master’s words.
“Erniu, what did you discover?” Yu Jin bent down slightly to pat the big dog’s head, asking seriously.
Erniu circled Yu Jin once, suddenly raised a front paw to pat the ground forcefully, then lay down on the ground, belly up, making a stiff-limbed posture.
Yu Jin’s expression changed, but inwardly he was amused: Erniu was quite the actor, his training hadn’t been in vain.
Seeing Yu Jin’s changed expression, the Crown Prince asked before anyone else could: “Seventh Brother, what does Erniu mean?”
Yu Jin looked at the Crown Prince, his face pale, his dark eyebrows deeply furrowed: “Erniu is telling me that an earthquake is about to happen here.”
Upon hearing the word “earthquake,” everyone’s expressions changed instantly.
“Prince, you’re not joking, are you?” Vice Minister Zhao blurted out.
Yu Jin’s face became serious: “How could I joke about such a thing?”
“But—” Vice Minister Zhao glanced at the still “dead” dog, shaking his head repeatedly, “Even if this is what Erniu means, isn’t it too rash to conclude that an earthquake will happen based solely on a dog’s reaction?”
“Erniu is no ordinary dog, he can foresee danger,” Yu Jin emphasized his previous statement again.
If at first the others had heard Yu Jin’s words with an attitude of curiosity and interest, now it was different. Shock, fear, doubt, and various emotions intertwined, ultimately feeling absurd.
“Prince, how can a dog sense an earthquake in advance? Even if it’s a dog of the fifth rank, it’s impossible!”
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “Is that so? According to multiple historical records, before great disasters, chickens crow, dogs bark, snakes, and insects come out of their holes. Various signs indicate that these animals can sense danger before humans. And Erniu is outstanding among his kind, why is it impossible for him to sense an earthquake?”
This series of questions left everyone speechless.
Hearing his master praise him as outstanding among his kind, Erniu quickly stood up from his “dead” posture and proudly shook his fur.
Yu Jin simply bypassed everyone and asked the Crown Prince directly: “Second Brother, an earthquake is about to happen here. Should we leave this place?”
The Crown Prince nodded vigorously: “Absolutely! What are we waiting for? Let’s go quickly!”
Mother of Heaven, he had already been scared out of his wits by the earthquake in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. It was too terrifying, he wanted to stay far away from all danger!