Seeing that someone had recognized him, Jiang Yunsheng was thoroughly pleased. Playing the pig to eat the tiger was such fun, especially watching their expressions change. It never failed to lift his spirits.
Unlike the delighted Jiang Yunsheng, Gong Zhen and his companions were shrouded in gloom.
"No, impossible! Isn't His Majesty in Capital City? How could he possibly be here in this tiny Kaiyang County?"
The news startled Gong Zhen, but his first reaction was disbelief.
At that moment, someone spoke up.
"According to rumors coming out of Capital City, His Majesty seems to have already left to tour Great Xia. I didn't believe it at first, but now it seems those rumors weren't wind blowing out of an empty cave."
"Besides, who in this world would dare impersonate His Majesty? Even if someone did, those soldiers aren't people just anyone could order around!"
Another person chimed in.
Much as they hated to believe it, this seemed to be the only explanation that made sense.
*[Why do I feel like Imperial Father has already started showing off, and is actually enjoying himself? Still, this really must be terrifying for them.*
Imagine someone you thought you could roll into a ball or squash flat suddenly transforming into a powerful figure you can't afford to cross—and you've already offended him beyond repair. Just thinking about it is frightening.
*They must be feeling pretty hopeless right now.]*
Jiang Nuan sat to one side, leisurely eating fruit as she quietly watched the show.
It wasn't just Gong Zhen and his companions. Even Zhao Yingxiu found it utterly surreal.
So after running into bandits, she had been rescued by the emperor, and then asked him to escort them home?
More importantly, the emperor had actually agreed? Was the imperial family that short of money