Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

Ji Yunshu glanced around indifferently; the atmosphere was indeed somewhat strange.

Could it be that the escaped crocodiles brought reinforcements?

Thinking of this, she felt a chill run down her spine and quickly said to Xie Lin,

"Let's go. Since everyone is setting off, let's leave here first. It's not safe here right now."

That thing can track people by scent. If they find it this time, there will probably be even more of them than last time. Let's hurry up and leave this place first.

At the same time, we must leave someone behind to cover our retreat. As for Mo Huan, the prince and I will handle it. Don't worry, we will definitely find Mo Huan.

"You and Xiaolan should also be careful with Mother. Tell the Old Princess exactly what I said. Don't worry, take good care of yourselves, and trust Mo Huan. She won't easily put herself in danger. Also, your elder brother Xie Mu should be with her too; they're both quite skilled. Perhaps something has delayed them; the Prince and I are looking for them."

With just a few words, Ji Yunshu arranged everything perfectly, leaving Ling Yun increasingly alarmed.

He wasn't particularly worried about Xie Mohuan's safety. After all, the princess had said that his elder brother and Xie Mohuan were probably together, and he knew his elder brother's skills; ordinary people couldn't hurt them.

Besides, his older brother is a bodyguard, and he's much better at wilderness survival than him. Xie Mohuan should be fine with his older brother by his side.

To his horror, the princess said that the monster used to follow scents to find people.

"Your Highness, what exactly is that monster? None of us are feeling well right now, especially the elderly, women, and children. We've been traveling non-stop; they probably can't keep up. What should we do if that thing really catches up with us?"

He looked nervous, which was exactly what Zhang Lizheng had just wanted to tell him.

Zhang Lizheng was also worried that those monsters would come back again.

"Don't worry, I'm just making this assumption. Those monsters are called crocodiles, and they usually live in damp, cold jungles and in the water."

Although those crocodiles will follow scents to find people, we don't think we have any deep-seated hatred for them. As long as we leave this place quickly, they probably won't chase after us across the mountains.

Crocodiles attack people either because they are looking for food, because they have encroached on their territory, or because they have threatened their young.

She didn't see any small crocodiles among those crocodiles, so if they left quickly, they should be able to get rid of them.

Upon hearing this, Xie Lin breathed a heavy sigh of relief. If what the princess said was true, then as long as they left this awful place quickly, they should be able to get rid of that thing called a crocodile.

Thinking of this, he didn't waste any more time and quickly turned back to sit with Zhang Lizheng and the others, telling them exactly what Ji Yunshu had said.

They already felt somewhat guilty, and after hearing Ji Yunshu's words, their guilt intensified.

At this moment, without caring whether Xie Mohuan had returned or not, they set off with everyone, which seemed to others to be utterly heartless.

But given the current situation...

The princess also said that they could not stay here for long, because if the crocodiles came back, many of them would likely die or be injured.

The villagers instinctively looked at Zhang Lizheng; whenever something like this happened, they would almost always listen to Zhang Lizheng's opinion.

Zhang Lizheng gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with determination, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"In that case, let's notify everyone to prepare. Once we reach a safer area ahead, we'll expand the search area. We must find Miss Mo Huan no matter what!"

"good!"

Everyone agreed in unison.

They then began to regroup their team, and soon everyone was ready.

This place wasn't far from Zhang Lizheng's village, and Zhang Lizheng was quite familiar with the surrounding terrain. Ji Yunshu then gave Zhang Lizheng directions and also gave him a copy of the map Xie Moyao had drawn earlier, instructing him to follow the route on the map.

Without further ado, Zhang Lizheng discussed the matter with several people in the village and then led the team to continue their journey.

Seeing this, Lingyun and the officials quickly packed their belongings and followed the villagers away.

The officials were responsible for escorting the exiles. Ji Yunshu and Ling Yun had already left, and the other exiles dared not linger. They followed behind the main group, dawdling as they moved forward.

Even Minister Ji and Aunt Zhu, after a moment's thought, had no choice but to follow the main group.

There was nothing they could do. The First Prince had ignored them from beginning to end and hadn't offered to take them with him. If they stubbornly stuck with the First Prince's group, and he got angry and kicked them out, Ling Yun might write to the court and accuse them of desertion.

Just to be on the safe side, we had no choice but to follow Lingyun's group.

Moreover, they didn't want to stay in this place anymore; they always felt like there were eyes watching them, making them very uncomfortable.

The group left in a grand procession, leaving only the eldest prince and his entourage behind.

Xiao Wu glanced at the departing group not far away, then at themselves, before turning to the First Prince, his tone cautious.

"Your Highness, what should we do now? Should we go with them, or wait here for the people from the capital?"

Judging by the time, if they ride at full speed, the people from the capital should be arriving soon.

Ji Yunyao nestled beside Chu Jinsheng, trying to minimize her presence.

Since Ling Yun didn't come to the First Prince's side to call her back, she stayed with the First Prince.

She would leave if the eldest prince left, and she would stay if the eldest prince wanted her to stay. She really wanted to stay here, as long as the people from the capital arrived, the eldest prince would go back with them.

Then I can go back to the capital and won't have to suffer in this poor, remote place.

Once she returns to the capital, she will revert to being the renowned beauty she once was, and she will return to her former life of luxury and ease.

The eldest prince had a gloomy face, his eyes fixed on the procession ahead.

He had suffered a lot along the way, and he didn't want to go any further. He just wanted to wait for the people from the capital to come, so that he could rest and then return to the capital to continue being the noble eldest prince.

Before leaving the capital, his father's words kept echoing in his ears: this was the last chance he would get. If he couldn't accomplish anything decent this time, it would mean he was incompetent and unfit for a great responsibility!

He also said he would call his good second brother back to the capital.

So where does he put his face?

He's the eldest prince, the one destined to inherit the throne. How could anyone say he's incompetent? His father has always favored his second brother. If that guy really comes back, will he still have a chance to become the crown prince?

Ahead

The group soon reached the fork in the road where they needed to choose a path. Zhang Li pointed to the map and said to everyone,

"We need to cross the river to get to the main road, everyone give it your all!"