Song Xumo rode his horse to the outskirts of Yanshi City. He dismounted in a small mountain village ten li away from the city.
He bought a tattered set of farmer's clothes and changed into them. Then he carefully disguised himself, smearing his originally fair skin black with charcoal ash, not sparing even his neck.
He truly looked like an ordinary rural farmer. No one in the crowd would be able to tell that he was the very person who was originally about to assume the position of prime minister.
To avoid attracting attention, he carried a pole with some fresh fruits and vegetables in the baskets, looking just like an ordinary vegetable vendor.
There were few people outside Yanshi City. It used to be a very bustling place, but now it was hard to even spot a single figure.
Those who were still out and about were mostly merchants trying to make a living by any means and poor farmers who came here to sell their goods, just like the person he was pretending to be.
Now there were patrol soldiers all around Yanshi City, but there weren't as many as there had been a few days ago.
He asked an old vegetable vendor and learned that in the past, they used to patrol in groups. But now there were only one or two of them. No one knew what had happened.
Song Xumo found it very strange. Such a major incident had occurred in Rong Jiangyu's army, yet not a single whisper of this important news had leaked out.
He couldn't help but shiver. It seemed that this person was truly very meticulous.
But perhaps this was also an opportunity.
If he could spread this news, the combined number of people inside and outside Yanshi City was at least larger than the enemy's current forces. Maybe they could wipe them out in one fell swoop.
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, a bird suddenly flew over his head. Something unknown landed directly on his head and then fell to the ground.
He picked it up and saw that it was a small bamboo slip. When he opened it, he was greatly shocked.
"How did they know what was on my mind?"
Song Xumo looked at the letter in his hand in disbelief.
"How do you know that Song Xumo will definitely have such an idea?"
Tang Youyou was popping grapes into her mouth one by one. These grapes were specially sent by Rong Xun. When Tang Youyou saw them, she only kept one bunch for herself and had Ye Yue take the rest to the children in the resettlement shed.
Rong Xu smiled faintly and then said, "Don't be deceived by his honest - looking appearance. This guy has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. When it comes to being clever, Song Xumo is much more so than Xu Songlin."
Tang Youyou found it hard to believe. Song Xumo looked honest and straightforward. He didn't seem like the person Rong Xu had described.
"If you don't believe me, you'll know for yourself when he comes back."
Tang Youyou had once thought about disguising herself and going with them, but since she was pregnant, she had to abandon this idea.
Her belly was getting bigger by the day. It would soon be six months. She still hadn't decided what name to give the little one in her belly.
"Rong Xun, do you want a boy or a girl?"
Tang Youyou gently stroked her belly. They said that craving sour foods meant having a boy and craving spicy foods meant having a girl. But during her pregnancy, she could eat both sour and spicy foods. There was nothing she had to avoid.
It seemed that this saying wasn't accurate.
Rong Xun placed his hand on the back of hers that was stroking the belly and kissed her forehead.
"Whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as it's our child, I'll love it."
Tang Youyou smiled with relief. She was very satisfied with this answer.
They said that people in ancient times favored sons over daughters, but it seemed that this didn't apply to Rong Xun.
No wonder. Rong Xun was a person who couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.
"But why hasn't Xun Rong sent any news for such a long time? Could it be that he's abandoned me?"
Tang Youyou suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen Xun Rong for a long time, and there was no news of him at all. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
Rong Xun didn't expect her to suddenly ask this question. He was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to answer.
"If he doesn't want to follow me, it's okay. At first, I just wanted to make a simple friend with him. After all, there aren't many people with such thoughts here."
Rong Xun had been thinking about how to persuade her to let go of Xun Rong, but he didn't expect that this fake identity held such weight in her heart.
Rong Xun was a bit jealous of "Xun Rong".
"It seems that You'er is very satisfied with this person whose name sounds similar to mine."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou turned her head to look at him, with a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Similar to what?"
In Tang Youyou's eyes, Xun Rong was a very realistic person, almost having the mindset of a modern - day office worker.
This was something that couldn't be seen in a god - like figure like Rong Xun. How could he have the nerve to say that they were similar?
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly stopped.
"Rong Xun? Xun Rong?" Tang Youyou murmured their names under her breath and was extremely surprised.
"How could it be! If you read Xun Rong's name backwards, it becomes yours!"
Tang Youyou was so excited that she almost jumped up from the couch. Fortunately, Rong Xun stopped her.
"Doesn't this mean that you two are quite fated? I really want to see you two meet."
Tang Youyou grinned. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like when these two met and talked.
"It should be quite interesting."
Rong Xun asked, "What?"
Tang Youyou immediately shook her head, but then said, "I really can't imagine how long Xun Rong could last if he worked under you."
"Why do you ask such a question?"
The scene of Xun Rong discussing his salary with her before flashed through Tang Youyou's mind. He was clearly a worker who had been deeply poisoned by the 996 work system and had seen the light.
Seeing that she still hadn't associated them as the same person, Rong Xun wasn't in a hurry.
If Tang Youyou knew that they were the same person, she would surely be very surprised.
But she couldn't take any shocks now. He'd wait a few more days and tell her slowly. He just hoped that she wouldn't be overly surprised then.
At this time, Song Xumo had already squatted down not far from the city gate of Yanshi City. There were two vegetable baskets in front of him.
Seeing that some of the patrol soldiers outside the city were tired and sitting in a teahouse to rest, he thought this was a good opportunity.
Actually, he wasn't very familiar with the palace. But during the period after the death of Emperor Rong Xun and the succession of Emperor Su Jin, he often came here.
He wondered if one day Emperor Rong Xun would suddenly appear, or if Su Jin had framed Rong Xun by some means.
But since he had already resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown, it wasn't appropriate for him to enter through the main gate openly. He could only enter and exit through the dog hole next to the side gate.