My whole family time-traveled! I became a god during my exile in a famine.

Chapter 289 Don’t be afraid

Two days later, everyone truly felt the biting cold, and they put on their cotton-padded coats again and again.

The temperature has dropped these past two days; even the most carefree person feels freezing.

I've heard that once you leave Wenjun County and head north beyond the pass, it gets colder and colder, especially near the Ice Wasteland.

Before setting off, everyone hurriedly dug out their cotton-padded trousers and put them on, worried that they would catch a cold and get sick, and then have to waste their points to buy medicine later.

Xin Nian packed up the carriages and horses early and went to talk to Old Xin. "Yan Xi said that there is a village stationed north of Wenjun County, and it looks like there are quite a few people there. We must pass through this road to get out of the pass."

Upon hearing this, Xin Wenyuan immediately asked, "Could it be the border troops stationed there long-term? Xiao Xi's little map doesn't give us any accurate information. Should your brother and I go over and investigate first?"

Xin Nian glanced at Xin Mochen.

The elder brother was holding a book and teaching his younger brother the last paragraph.

"Little Fatty and I will go. You guys stay here and, while the stove is still burning, gather as much dry food as possible. We need to travel as much as possible these next few days, and try to reach our destination before the extreme cold arrives."

Save yourself the trouble.

Anyway, it wouldn't be difficult for the two of them to get there, so let's go check it out first.

Xin Wenyuan naturally agreed to whatever his daughter said, and instructed Zhao Hu to spread the word that everyone should stay put and wait for orders.

Xin Nian and Xiao Jinzhi arrived at the North Gate of Wenjun County in an instant, where they saw a group of people guarding the pass.

The two attracted attention even before they got close.

The main thing is that these two people don't look like refugees who have fled from afar. Their fair faces make them look like pampered nobles who have been traveling around enjoying themselves.

In particular, Xiao Xizi styled the little girl's hair beautifully today and secretly added two small beaded flowers.

These two came together, their elegance enduring, but the wasteland background seemed particularly out of place for them!

The group was small, only about ten people, led by two leaders who stared at them with great vigilance.

"Who are you people, and where are you from?"

"Don't be nervous, we're just passing by. We won't compete with you for water," Xiao Jinzhi replied first.

Obviously, the fact that there is a village here means that there is no shortage of water and there is still food stored.

They weren't here to rob anything, they were just passing by. If they can't let them leave, then don't blame them for robbing them before they leave...

The two leaders exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands in greeting to Xin Nian and the other person, asking, "Are you two about to leave the pass?"

"To be honest with you two, if you want to leave from the North Gate of our Wen County, you have to meet with our Prefect."

"Although you two are not from our village, please understand."

This is just a small county, yet it has quite a few rules. Xiao Jinzhi raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face. "Take us to see your prefect."

The two were welcomed into the village and saw many women squatting by the roadside washing and cleaning.

These people had frostbite on their hands, and their faces were red and peeling from the cold. Their eyes were also unpleasant to look at; they were sizing each other up and down, secretly spying, and whispering among themselves.

Xiao Jin subconsciously reached out and grasped Xin Nian's hand.

Xin Nian looked up at him, adopting a kingly demeanor, and said, "Don't be afraid."

Xiao Jinzhi: ...I feel comforted.

The prefect was a chubby, middle-aged man. To be honest, after months of natural disasters, seeing a fat, smiling man like him was rather strange to Xin Nian.

Looks like you usually have a lot of oil and fat!
The prefect's eyes lit up when he saw the two of them, and he quickly greeted them with a smile, "I heard from the guards that you two are planning to leave the pass. Are you planning to go to the Northern Wilderness to make a living?"

Xin Nian nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The prefect immediately invited the two to sit down and, smiling, had tea served. "You two may not know this, but things are quite chaotic here outside the pass these days."

"Leaving aside distant examples, just take the barbarians of the Hutu tribe. You two should have heard of them, right? They are all ruthless, mad bandits who kill without blinking an eye. Eating raw meat and drinking blood is a common occurrence for them."

"Although you two look like very capable people, we should still be wary of others."

“The Ice Wasteland has long been occupied by a group of people of unknown origin. I heard they have even built an underground city, heavily guarded. It would be unwise for you to go there rashly. It would be better for you to settle in our village for a while and find out what’s going on there before you go.”

"You two can rest assured, we are very close to the water source, so it is very convenient to get water."

The prefect had a clever plan: he wanted to keep the passersby as his servants. Xin Nian sneered inwardly.

Along the way, the villages were built worse than farmhouses, dilapidated and drafty everywhere, with potholes on the abandoned dirt roads and puddles of water, all looking dirty and dark.

It seems he has amassed a considerable fortune through the people's hard-earned money; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to feed this prefect so much.

"Are you the prefect of Wen County? Do you have an appointment letter or official token issued by the imperial court?" Xiao Jinzhi suddenly interrupted, asking directly.

The prefect was taken aback. He glanced at the imposing young man and gave an awkward smile. "There used to be some, but as you know, natural disasters have come one after another. Even the prefect's mansion is now buried underground. The documents are naturally lost and cannot be found."

"No? Then you're an imposter. No wonder you don't even know who's stationed in the Ice Wasteland." The Crown Prince smiled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes.

"Then I will tell you. There are currently 40,000 guards stationed in the Ice Wasteland, led by the Left Guard Commander Hong Feng and the Right Guard Commander Wei Chi."

"Another 10,000 secret guards will be temporarily under the command of Ran Deng."

The prefect opened his mouth wide, feeling for a moment that he didn't understand.

What is this young man saying?

The Thousand Machine Guard, the Dark Guard? Even if he was far away in a remote corner of a border county, no matter how ignorant he was, he must have heard of them.

The Thousand Machine Guards are the personal guards of the Crown Prince's Palace.

But how could the Eastern Palace Guard have grown to as many as 40,000 men? That's definitely over the limit.

When the prefect looked at the young man before him again, he was struck by his outstanding demeanor and imposing presence. Suddenly, he felt a sense of awe and fearlessness.

He jumped up from the head of the table with a start, bowed, and asked, "May I ask who this gentleman is?"

Xin Nian jumped up and snorted coldly, having had her fill of taking advantage of the situation. "Are you blind? Can't you see? This is none other than His Highness the Crown Prince."

What? The prefect was immediately dumbfounded?

Is it His Highness the Crown Prince? Is it the Crown Prince he's thinking of?

"You have no sense of propriety!" Xin Nian continued to berate them. "You want to keep us here as servants? How dare you?"

"No, no, you flatter me, young lady. I meant well and was simply explaining the situation beyond the Great Wall to you both. I have no intention of forcing you to stay; it is entirely up to you to make the decision."

The prefect was initially flustered, but he gradually calmed himself down and managed a weak smile.

Why would His Highness the Crown Prince come here alone with a woman?
Just kidding!

How many people live in your village now?