The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 10 Leaving Beijing
Shouwang Mansion.

Li Heng and Yang Yuhuan had already said goodbye to their families and packed their luggage. They just had to wait for the arrival of Doctor Zhang's daughter and the General of the Guards before they could set off.

Yang Yuhuan asked curiously, "My dear, where should we go first? To the south? I heard that the scenery to the south is very pleasant."

Li Heng's intention of sneaking out of Chang'an this time was not to go out for fun without a purpose, but to find a place to hide out and gradually grow bigger and stronger.

There were three places where he started planning, namely Jiannan, Hexi and Hedong.

The reason he wanted to go to Jiannan was because he was the remote governor of Jiannan. If he went to Jiannan, it would no longer be a remote governor.

But this route was too fast and could easily arouse Li Longji's suspicion, so when Yang Yuhuan asked if they could go to Shuzhou, he rejected it.

Hexi and Hedong were the two vassal states with the largest number of troops.
Compared with Hedong, the military force of the Jiedushi in Hexi is stronger, and the conflicts in various aspects are not as intense as in Hedong. In comparison, Li Heng plans to go to Hexi.

Therefore, Li Heng said: "The desert is filled with smoke and the long river is filled with the setting sun. I want to see the scenery outside the Great Wall. What do you think, my lady?"

"Okay." Yang Yuhuan nodded. "Emperor Gaozu started from Taiyuan. When we go to Hexi, you can visit Emperor Gaozu's old site. I hope Emperor Gaozu's spirit in heaven will protect you and keep you safe."

"Yeah." Li Ying knew that Yang Yuhuan had said the wrong direction, but he did not correct her. He just smiled and said, "It's just that it's bitterly cold outside the Great Wall. I wonder if you can bear it."

Yang Yuhuan said: "In the Han Dynasty, the frontier was even more bitter and cold than it is now, but Zhaojun went to the frontier without fear of danger. Although I dare not compare myself to Zhaojun, I am not so delicate either."

"Madam, you..."

Li Heng originally wanted to say that Yang Yuhuan was too modest, but before he could finish his words, the personal guard assigned to him by Li Longji, the General of the Thousand Oxen Guards, arrived.

This man looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, tall, with a square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a sense of heroism.

The man came up to Li Ying and Yang Yuhuan and bowed, saying, "I am General Xin Yunjing, meeting His Royal Highness the Prince of Shou and the Princess."

Li Heng was a little surprised to see this person.

Because Xin Yunjing was not an unknown person. He was born into the Xin family of Longxi, a family of generals. He was brave and resourceful. Because he had just made military achievements, he was transferred to Chang'an and became the General of the Qianniu Guard.

Historically, he later served as the governor of Hexi.

Such a person has a bright future, but being arranged to be his personal bodyguard is really a waste of talent.

But then, Li Heng figured out the reason.

Because his mother was Concubine Wu Huifei.

Li Heng said, "General Xin, you don't have to be so polite. I really wronged you by asking you to be my guard."

Xin Yunjing himself also felt aggrieved. His ideal was to achieve great things, kill the enemies and serve the country, not to be a guard or a monitor. Moreover, he looked down on Li Heng in his heart because he felt that Li Heng was weak and incompetent, while Li Heng's mother, Concubine Wu Huifei, bullied others by taking advantage of her power.

But there was no other way; since the sage had given the order, he had no choice but to obey.

So when he heard Li Ying's words, he responded very reluctantly: "No grievance."

Li Ying was not angry when he saw Xin Yunjing's expression. Instead, he found it somewhat funny and said with a smile, "It's good that you don't feel wronged."

At this time, the daughter of Imperial Physician Zhang also rushed over and saluted Li Heng and Yang Yuhuan, saying, "I am Zhang Mujin, and I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Prince of Shou and the Princess."

Upon hearing this, Li Ying looked and saw Zhang Mujin, who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in green, and a little thin, but with delicate features and a handsome appearance.

Li Hengru said to Zhang Mujin as he had just said to Xin Yunjing: "Miss, you don't have to be so polite. I'm sorry to ask you to be my medical officer."

"No, no, no," Zhang Mujin quickly denied, "I'm not wronged."

Unlike Xin Yunjing's extreme reluctance, Zhang Mujin not only looked like she really didn't feel wronged, she even felt a little... guilty.

She felt guilty because she came here with a mission. She had to monitor Li Heng's every move for her father.

Li Ying had already guessed what was going on by looking at her expression.

Li Ying said: "Now that everyone is here, let's go."

In addition to the four of them, Li Heng also brought his butler Li Jiu, an honest middle-aged man in his thirties, as well as two servants and a maid.

The group of eight people, Li Heng, Yang Yuhuan and Zhang Mujin took a carriage, the housekeeper Li Jiu drove the carriage, Xin Yunjing rode a horse, and the servants and maids took another carriage to look after the luggage. As for the other guards, Li Heng secretly made arrangements.

After walking through the streets and alleys, the eight people arrived at the city gate and looked back at Chang'an at the same time.

They were all thinking: "Changan, I will be back."

The difference is that Li Heng wanted to come back with his troops, Yang Yuhuan wanted to come back with Li Heng, and the other six people were reluctant to leave.

After leaving the city, Xin Yunjing asked, "Your Highness, where are we going?"

Li Ying said, "Northwest."

"Here."

Xin Yunjing drove the horse and led the way.

Li Ying was originally on a trip, so he just walked and looked around, not walking fast.

That day, when they reached the intersection, Xin Yunjing stopped his horse and turned to Li Ying in the carriage and said, "Your Highness, we should not go on today. We should go back to the city to rest and continue tomorrow."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Li Heng was helped out of the carriage by Yang Yuhuan and Zhang Mujin.

Li Ying looked at the road ahead and saw tall jungles on both sides of the road. However, there were no insects or birds singing in the jungle. It was so quiet that it was a little strange.

This kind of situation usually happens when someone has just entered the jungle and scared away the birds and animals.

Li Heng already knew what was going on, but he still asked, "Why don't you go? There's still an hour until sunset. As long as we pass this road, there will be a town ahead."

Xin Yunjing looked at the quiet jungle and said, "I am doing this for your highness's safety."

Xin Yunjing still didn't explain.

Li Heng was too lazy to play dumb with such a general and said with a smile: "It's because there are people ambushing in the forest, right?"

Xin Yunjing was a little surprised when he heard this, and said, "So His Highness has already seen it."

Li Heng said, "After we left Chang'an, there were people following us from behind and waiting in front of us. General Xin should have discovered this a long time ago, right?"

Xin Yunjing was shocked again.

Along the way, he felt that he was the only one who discovered this.

Because he was a military general, he was good at observing road conditions and terrain.

But he didn't expect that Li Ying, this sickly guy, could also see it.

He had less prejudice against Li Heng and said, "I did find out about it a long time ago, but I didn't report it to Your Highness. Please punish me."

"General Xin has said too much." Li Heng waved his hand. "I can understand those following us from behind, but I am more curious about those blocking us from the front. It seems that they knew our route in advance, as if they have the ability to predict the future."

After Li Ying said this, Zhang Mujin on the side was startled and lowered her head.

Because she had passed on messages to his father several times during the ten days she had been following him.

After Li Ying said this, Xin Yunjing understood something.

Although he would report the news to Li Longji, there was no need for Li Longji to send anyone else to follow him, let alone send anyone to block him.

Xin Yunjing looked at Zhang Mujin and was about to speak when he heard Li Heng say, "Those who followed us and those who blocked us are obviously two different groups, and each belongs to a different group."

Xin Yunjing was stunned when he heard this.

Yes, when Zhang Mujin sent a message to call people, how could it be possible that he called two groups of people from different camps?

Xin Yunjing gave up questioning Zhang Mujin and turned to ask Li Ying: "Your Highness, what should we do then?"

(End of this chapter)