That princess, what was she thinking?

He actually asked to go back to Handan at such a critical moment, and asked Chu Yan and other powerful generals to escort along the way?

Although Wang Shangde had heard of the princess' willfulness in advance, he could not accept it after hearing Wei Shi Hanhe's explanation.

What he couldn't accept even more was that Zhou Hu actually agreed to the princess' willful request?

That guy who was born as a bandit leader really wanted to marry this princess and become the son-in-law of the Hou family in Yecheng?

After Wei Shihanhe said goodbye, Wang Shangde's mood still couldn't calm down for a long time.

However, he was powerless to change. Neither Zhou Hu nor the princess of Xiangrui were allowed to control him.

The only thing he could do was to curse a few words in his heart, indignant of the princess's inappropriate willful request.

From this point of view, the princess is actually quite unfair, because the so-called "returning to Handan to visit the emperor" was not actually the willful request she made. On the contrary, Zhao Yu asked her to do so.

To be precise, after Zhao Yu received a letter from Li Feng in early March this year and learned that Li Feng had successfully eliminated the open confrontation with the East Palace and the third prince Li Qian, he deliberately found a suitable opportunity to send the princess back to Handan, and use the princess' power to provoke the relationship between the East Palace and the third prince.

However, given that Li Fengcai had just eliminated the obvious confrontation with the Crown Prince Li Xu and the Third Prince Li Qian at that time, Zhao Yu did not want to arouse the vigilance of the two, so he decided to postpone the princess's "return to the capital" for half a year, that is, to go to Handan around October, and then spend the New Year in Handan, and then return to Yingchuan after the New Year.

In other words, this was something that Zhao Yu decided early in advance, and it was not intentionally perfunctory to Wang Shangde.

As for the princess herself, if it weren't for Zhao Yu coaxing her, if she hadn't wanted to take revenge on the East Palace and the Third Prince, she actually didn't want to go back to Handan at all.

How happy it is to stay in Yingchuan. The people in Heihu Mountain are loyal and obedient. The officials in Yingchuan are also respectful to her. Yingchuan County is like her territory. Why should you go back to the royal palace in Handan?

But the overall situation is the most important, and the princess finally embarked on her journey to Handan in a depressed mood.

On the day the princess set off, Mrs. Xin held the princess's hand for a long time and refused to let go. She said to the princess worriedly: "Princess, do you really need me to follow me? I'm worried that you will be in danger..."

The princess said indifferently: "Don't worry, I have Ning Niang. If something happens, I will discuss it with Ning Niang."

Hearing this, Ning Niang from the side comforted Xin'er with a smile and said, "Sister Xin, don't worry, I will protect the princess."

This girl simply wanted to follow the princess to see the prosperity of Handan. Considering that the princess would basically not be in any danger during this trip, Zhao Yu let her go.

But Xin'er could never let go. After all, in her eyes, the palace was no less than a dragon's and a tiger's den.

"Then...then please Ning's mother."

She forced a smile at Ning Niang, showing an embarrassing and polite smile.

To be honest, based on this period of contact, she could see that Ning Niang was actually very smart and clever. Even this girl seemed stupid but was actually quite scheming. But the problem is that there are never shortages of scheming and scheming people in the palace. Can a teenage girl really act as a princess’ think tank?

She forgot that when she lived in the palace with the princess, she was actually just like Ning Niang today, not one or two years older than her.

At this time, the princess quietly said to her: "Xin'er, you are at home, look at the little bitch named Li for me..."

"Princess……"

Xin'er was so amused and crying.

In fact, she got along well with that Miss Li, but I don’t know why the princess disliked Miss Li everywhere. Could it be that both of them were surnamed Li, and they were also distant cousins?

『…I think this matter is still something that I have to ask Captain Gao and the Chief of the Chu Shangbu.

After looking at the unreliable princess, Xin'er looked at Takagi, a team not far away, and then turned to look at Chu Yan, the upper commander in the distance.

There, her husband Zhao Yu was asking Chu Yan something alone.

"Chu Yan, I have contacted Li Feng. You can go to Yecheng first, and then to Handan. When Li Fenghui goes with you, please go with you and others... Regarding the matter between the East Palace and the Third Prince, Li Fenghui waits for pick-and-roll for you. You just need to protect the princess and look at her by the way. Don't call her a fool."

"Don't worry, leader, I will protect the princess... But let me look at the princess, I'm afraid..." Chu Yan's face showed a embarrassed expression.

As if seeing Chu Yan's concern, Zhao Yu nodded and comforted: "Don't worry, I have already told the princess that she probably won't do anything... Actually, I'm just afraid that she will be blinded when she sees the East Palace and the Third Prince. She will act irritably. In this regard, you need to remind her a few words."

"I understand." Chu Yan nodded, then turned his head to look at Mrs. Xin who was walking towards them, and greeted her with her fists, "Second Lady."

It can be seen that Xin'er was still a little uncomfortable with being called by Chu Yan, and her expression seemed a little restrained. She glanced at Zhao Yu next to her and then said to Chu Yan: "Master Chu, thank you for your hard work, please protect the princess..."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Third Lady." Chu Yan smiled slightly and agreed confidently: "As long as Chu is still alive, the princess will never make any mistakes."

However, his bold promise did not seem to have achieved any effect. Seeing this, Zhao Yu smiled and comforted: "Don't worry, the princess is just going back to Handan for a short time. She will return to Yingchuan after the spring next year. The East Palace and the Third Prince will not do anything."

Xin'er nodded slightly. Who else can she believe if she doesn't believe her husband's words?

After a while, when Zhao Yu privately instructed the princess, the princess and her group embarked on a journey to Handan under the protection of Chu Yan and hundreds of Yingchuan soldiers under her command.

As he told Zhao Yu, Chu Yan first took the princess to Yecheng.

After about fifteen or six days of travel, they finally arrived at Yecheng in Jiyin County.

Because Chu Yan sent someone to inform Yecheng in advance, when they arrived at the Shili Pavilion outside Yecheng, Li Feng and Li Qin had already been waiting there.

"Two young men, don't be fine."

"Haha, I was so sorry that the commander of Chu Shangjun escorted the sister along the way.... Haha, Captain Gao is right."

"Don't be fine, two young men."

After meeting, Chu Yan brought the princess's escort, Masatoki, and exchanged a few greetings with the Li brothers.

Because of the relationship between Zhao Yu and the princess, Chu Yan and the Li brothers are naturally familiar with each other.

After the greetings, Li Qin went to the team to visit his sister, and Li Feng told Chu Yan about his arrangements: "... Please stay in Yecheng with all your brothers for a few days, so that the sister can stay at home for a few more days and spend a few days with her father and mother. During this period, I will be ready to go to Handan. We will set off for Handan again at the beginning of next month."

Seeing that Li Feng had the intention to ask for his own opinions, Chu Yan smiled and said, "As long as you follow the arrangements of the young master."

Li Feng was very happy when he heard this. He immediately glanced at Gao Mu in the distance and asked Chu Yan in a low voice: "Taka Mu, does he know about this?"

Chu Yan shook his head and said, "It should be unaware of it... In my opinion, Brother Gao is very sensible. He will not inquire about things he shouldn't know, but is only responsible for protecting the princess."

"Um."

Li Feng nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "When I came, I had already ordered someone to prepare wine and food. Today I will definitely not return with Brother Chu... No, even if I am drunk, I will not return. Just live in my house."

"Haha, then I'm more respectful than obedience." Chu Yan accepted the invitation with a smile.

In the afternoon, the princess's team entered the city and moved into the mansion of the Marquis of Yecheng.

During this period, Li Feng entrusted Li Qinshan to entertain the soldiers under Chu Yan, while he took the princess and Chu Yan, Gao Mu and others into the main house to meet the Marquis of Yecheng and his wife.

"Father, mother, this is a powerful general under Zhou Xiandi, Chu Yan, the commander of the upper division of Yingchuan County, and Chu brothers..."

Maybe it was because Chu Yan was straightforward outside, or Li Feng was in a very good mood at the moment, so in front of the Hou and the Marquis of Yecheng, he praised Chu Yan as if he was a rare general in the world, which made Chu Yan a little embarrassed.

You should know that although Chu Yan is indeed extremely brave and has outstanding martial arts, and has even worked hard to learn military tactics over the years and has made great achievements, he is not a arrogant person who has never seen the world. Of course, he knows the vastness of the world. Not to mention the five tigers of the Chen family, including Xue Ao and Zhang Jing, in Yingchuan County alone, there are now outstanding generals such as Chen Mo, Wang Qing, Cao Wu, and Qin Shi.

In order not to be surpassed by his later brothers and to be worthy of his status as a general who is now in charge of nearly 10,000 troops, Chu Yan has also worked hard to practice martial arts and learn military tactics in recent years.

Perhaps because he practiced martial arts for many years, his body was very strong, so that when the Hou and the Marquis of Yecheng were praised, "It's indeed a warrior!"

In the following days, Chu Yan lived in the house of Hou Yecheng, with good wine and good food every day.

During this period, Ning Niang secretly reported to him, telling him that the wife of the Marquis of Yecheng had a private conversation with the princess. According to the situation revealed to her by the princess, the Marquis of Yecheng seemed unhappy that the princess went to Handan at this time, and even blamed Li Feng and her second brother Tiger for this, and even blamed her husband, Marquis of Yecheng.

She said to Chu Yan: "Mrs. Marquis of Yecheng seemed very unhappy about what Brother Erhu, Princess and Mr. Li were doing. She especially disagrees with the princess to return to Handan again. Even if it was a short stay for a few days, the princess had some quarrels with Mrs. Marquis of Yecheng..."

Chu Yan analyzed it carefully and didn't take it seriously - he could roughly guess what was going on.

He smiled and said to Ning Niang, "We should not get involved in the matter between mother and daughter. If there is anything else, you can tell me secretly."

"Yes." Ning Niang nodded obediently.

She will naturally care about what her second brother Hu told her.

A few days later, on the first day of November, the princess and her party embarked on a journey to Handan.

Just as Zhao Yu said to Chu Yan before, Li Feng and Li Qin also joined in and went to Handan with the princess.

When the Marquis of Yecheng and his wife bid farewell to the princess, Chu Yan noticed the frowning look of the Marquis of Yecheng and his wife probably had some resentment, but this resentment was quickly replaced by a worried look.

After all, the lady felt sorry for her daughter. She held her daughter's hand and kept whispering something. Princess Taodi was a little annoyed.

『…Is it possible that Mrs. Marquis of Yecheng does not agree with that matter?”

Chu Yan thought to himself.

As one of Zhao Yu's confidants, he was of course also an insider and knew what he would face when escorting the princess to Handan this time.

Or, the deep meaning of the princess' trip to Handan this time.

After that, it took about five or six days to arrive in Handan.

As soon as he arrived outside Handan City, Chu Yan met an official who had been waiting for him for a long time.

The official asked Chu Yan, "Is it that Chu Yan, the upper commander of Yingchuan County who escorted Princess Xiangrui back to the capital this time, and brother Chu?"

"Yes." Chu Yan nodded.

Seeing this, the official smiled and said, "Pan Mao, the Hu Ben Lang, was ordered to guide your army to station."

In order to prevent Chu Yan from misunderstanding, he paused and explained: "The capital city has regulations that no foreign army is allowed to enter the city and can only be stationed outside the city."

Chu Yan suddenly realized and then said tactfully: "My Duwei of Yingchuan County ordered me to protect the princess personally. If I can't enter the city, it will be troublesome..."

Hu Benlang, named Pan Mao, smiled and explained: "Brother Chu misunderstood. The court only stipulated that foreign troops were not allowed to enter the city, which does not mean that Brother Chu could not enter the city. If Brother Chu had no more than fifty soldiers accompanying him, it would be fine."

"Oh...thank you for your advice."

Chu Yan, who suddenly realized, thanked her with his fists and immediately called his brother Chu Fei to be responsible for the stationing of hundreds of people.

After a while, when Pan Mao said goodbye and left, Chu Yan smiled and said to Li Feng, "Does the officials of the royal capital seem to be difficult to share with each other?"
To be continued...