Wang Xiaobao woke up from hunger.
Anyone who hadn't eaten for several days would be like him, not to mention that he was just a child.
"You're awake!"
Seeing the little boy opening his eyes, Lu Yinxi inexplicably felt that this scene was a bit familiar.
Hearing the voice, Wang Xiaobao immediately turned his head and saw the woman who had scared him unconscious last night.
So it wasn't a nightmare. It was real!
His father had said that anyone he didn't know was not a good person and would catch him and eat him!
At this thought, all the fear that had built up over the past few days welled up in his heart. Without warning, Wang Xiaobao let out a howl.
"Dad, Xiaobao was wrong! Wah... Xiaobao will never run away secretly again!"
"Dad, Mom, where are you? Come and save Xiaobao. Xiaobao doesn't want to be eaten..."
Although Lu Yinxi had imagined all kinds of scenarios, she never expected this one. But in order to mingle with those people, she could only soften her tone and coax him: "Little boy, why are you crying? No one is going to eat you."
"You're lying. It's you and that bad guy behind you. It's you who want to eat me!"
After saying that, Wang Xiaobao hiccupped from crying, obviously crying his heart out. Lu Yinxi looked helpless. How did she become the one who wanted to eat him?
She broke off a small piece of steamed bun from the coarse cloth parcel and held it in front of the little boy. The young girl patiently continued to coax him: "We don't eat people. Moreover, we'll give you something delicious."
At the sight of the white flour steamed bun, Wang Xiaobao's crying immediately subsided a lot.
He hadn't eaten a white flour steamed bun for a long, long time. Since the family's harvest was gone, all he could eat were steamed corn buns, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.
His eyes fixed on the bun, the little boy swallowed his saliva and licked his lips. His eyes were full of longing, but he still didn't give in: "Is what you said true? You really won't eat me?"
"If I wanted to eat you, would I still give you the bun?"
Saying this, Lu Yinxi put the bun into his hand. Wang Xiaobao wasn't polite and gobbled it up.
Not disturbing him anymore, the young girl went back to Shang Luoshu's side. To fit the image of refugees, both of them were disheveled and wearing tattered coarse cloth clothes full of patches.
Speaking of which, these clothes were exchanged by Lu Hu from other stray refugees with two white flour steamed buns. There was still a faint smell on them, but they didn't care and simply changed into them.
"After he finishes eating, we'll act." Glancing at the little boy not far away, Shang Luoshu whispered.
Lu Yinxi silently nodded in agreement.
"Besides, just now we received news that someone seems to be missing from the mansion of the magistrate of Yangxian. They're currently searching the city frantically."
The refugees in the busy market gathered at the north gate. So Fang Qinhu and the others deliberately circled around Yangxian. Finally, they found that the south gate would be opened on time for an hour every day to receive supplies from the outside. Outsiders could take this opportunity to sneak in.
The magistrate of Yangxian was looking for someone?!
This made Lu Yinxi think of the little girl who claimed to be a maid in Magistrate Xia's mansion. She vaguely remembered that she seemed to have mentioned to Hongmei that her name was Lingyin?
So, was the magistrate of Yangxian looking for her?
Before she could sort out her thoughts, Lu Yinxi found a shadow cast in front of her. Looking up, it was the little boy.
Glancing at Shang Luoshu, Wang Xiaobao silently took a small step towards Lu Yinxi. Then he looked at her with a pair of pitiful eyes.
"Sister, can you take me home?"
Lu Yinxi found it funny: "Aren't you afraid of us eating you now?"
Glancing at Shang Luoshu again, the little boy hesitated and shook his head: "You gave me the bun. You're a good person."
Hearing this, a sense of guilt welled up in Lu Yinxi's heart. A bun could buy him over. Was it really okay to deceive such a simple - minded child?
Seeing that she didn't respond, Shang Luoshu naturally took over the conversation: "We don't know where you live."
Wang Xiaobao was a bit afraid of Shang Luoshu. Hearing him speak, he couldn't help but move a bit further away. After a moment, he timidly said: "It doesn't matter. As long as you take me down the mountain. Once I'm down the mountain, I'll know where my home is."
Actually, Wang Xiaobao was very familiar with this area. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to go up the mountain boldly. But he just took a wrong turn and got lost in the mountains. If Lu Yinxi and the others hadn't found him in time, he might really have died here.
This was exactly what Shang Luoshu wanted to hear. He immediately said: "We'll take you down the mountain after we pack up."
Inside Yangxian City
The magistrate Xia Shouzheng was now as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, running around in circles.
Earlier, news had come from the capital that Prince Jing Shang Luoshu might secretly arrive in Yangxian a few days before the army.
But at this critical moment, Lingyin had escaped from his mansion.
This girl was indeed a maid in his mansion, but she was not an ordinary maid.
Now, he had ransacked the whole of Yangxian. If he still couldn't find her, Xia Shouzheng could only prepare for the worst.
Lingyin had escaped from the city and might have even met His Highness Prince Jing.
"Someone!"
After thinking for a long time, Magistrate Xia still called for his servant.
"Tell the people below to pay attention. See if there are any new faces who have sneaked into the city recently. Also, keep a close eye on the outside of the city!"
The real situation in Yangxian couldn't be revealed for the time being. Lingyin didn't know everything either. What he had to do now was to keep it a secret for as long as possible.
The servant answered "Yes" and then carefully said: "Sir, our people can't get into Wang Dali's group for the time being. What do you think..."
"Then find a way to get in!"
Xia Shouzheng couldn't help but overturn the small table in front of him.
Wang Dali's group was really an unexpected situation. At first, they just wanted to use them as a lead to attract the attention of the capital. But unexpectedly, after all these days, this guy really looked like a "rebel" leader.
But it didn't matter. It wouldn't last long anyway!
The servant didn't dare to provoke the angry master and quickly retreated after receiving the order.
At the same time, Lu Yinxi and Shang Luoshu led Wang Xiaobao through twists and turns on the mountain. Finally, they saw the way down the mountain.
The little boy, who had been silent all the way, finally showed a smile at this moment. His voice was clearly excited:
"Sister, I'll be home after walking a little further!"
"Okay, then I'll walk faster."
As she said this, Lu Yinxi subconsciously glanced at Shang Luoshu beside her. To be honest, she was a bit nervous because they didn't know the situation of those rebels at all.
The man seemed to sense her nervousness and gently squeezed her palm, as if telling her "I'm here with you. Don't be afraid."
This action was like a reassuring pill and seemed to instantly dispel Lu Yinxi's bad mood. However, the next moment, she saw a group of people rushing up from the foot of the mountain and surrounding them.