Chapter 7
Show Me Your Hand!
It was better for Lu Ze to cooperate than it being a one-man show.
In just five to six days, although the refugee gathering place seemed peaceful, there was a complete uproar outside because of the disappearance of the Crown Prince and the crown princess.
At first, they said that the crown prince had fled in fear of punishment.
However, later on, the Minister of War showed evidence that the Crown Prince had been assassinated and insisted that the Third Prince had secretly done it!
The royal court was immediately in an uproar!
In the end, it was unknown what the royal court said, but in short, the outside world received news that the crown prince was still the crown prince. It was just that the excuse had changed from him escaping punishment to feeling unwell and recuperating in the Li Palace.
As for the so-called treason, it was temporarily put on hold because of insufficient evidence.
On the surface, it was to make the world peaceful, but the search for the Crown Prince and the others was clearly more rigorous!
Officials even came over to interrogate the refugees. It seemed that those people would rather kill the wrong person instead of letting them off. The refugee camp was in danger now!
Although they were pressing forward step by step, Lu Ze and Lin Suisui finally awaited a chance to turn things around.
It was already the end of July. No matter how fast they traveled, it would still take at least two months to reach the northern border. If they decided to set off with the refugees later, it would start snowing heavily before they reached the northern border!
Therefore, soon, the low-ranking officials in charge of the refugees in the capital came over to persuade them. They hoped that the refugees could volunteer to sign up for the northern expedition. Although they would leave their hometown, they could at least have a place to stay now!
Lin Suisui and Lu Ze didn’t go over immediately.
Instead, they waited patiently for two more days. When some people from the refugee camp began to sign up, Lu Ze brought Lin Suisui over and followed the short queue to sign up.
“Are you planning to go to the northern region?!”
Seeing that Lin Suisui and the others were also standing in the queue, Mrs. Luo, who had become familiar with her these few days, hesitated before she came over to ask her about the situation.
The Luo family was quite large, so there would naturally be varying opinions regarding the family’s decision on this matter. She and the men in the family actually wanted to leave, but her in-laws and her uncle’s family were a little unwilling, so they had been very hesitant and conflicted these few days.
“Yes. Now, it’s just me and my husband. You said that even if we return to our hometown, our houses and land will be gone. It’s better to go to the north, where the government will give us land and a house. Isn’t this life better?”
Mrs. Luo already wanted to go to the north. When she heard Lin Suisui’s words, she made up her mind. She didn’t say anything else to Lin Suisui and turned to discuss it with her man.
There weren’t many people in the line now, so it was soon Lin Suisui and Lu Ze’s turn.
Lu Ze introduced himself as Gu Er. As for Lin Suisui, she called herself Liu Liu. She came up with the story that her hometown had a drought and there was no longer any harvests, then her parents had died of illness.
These words made the junior official in charge of registration feel some sympathy for the young couple in front of him. He couldn’t help but comfort them. He only said that there would also be officials taking care of them on the way to the north. Moreover, they would be given food and clothes. When they reached the north, they would be able to settle down. No matter what, it was better than wandering outside.
Lu Ze was a man of few words. He thanked him and brought Lin Suisui back.
This continued for two more days. On the afternoon of the third day, an official came over and knocked on the gong, asking the refugees who had registered previously to follow them to settle outside the city. They would set off for the northern region tomorrow morning!
Lu Ze and Lin Suisui didn’t have much to pack. They carried two bags and followed the refugees who had registered previously. A total of 13 families followed the official to the city gate.
Mrs. Luo, her man, and their two sons and daughter also walked with Lin Suisui and the others.
“Even if we can return to our original hometown this time, our parents-in-law are too biased. The good things will also be given to the eldest branch and the third branch! On the other hand, your uncle is an upright person who only knows how to work hard. I’ve thought it through. Instead of going back to being slaves, why don’t we go out and change our lives?!”
On the way, Mrs. Luo looked at Lin Suisui gratefully and rambled on. If not for this young lady’s words previously, she really wouldn’t have been able to make a decision.
Besides, this trip would take a month or two.
Lin Suisui and her husband were honest and reliable people. The two families could take care of each other! If they got along well along the way, they could be friends and visit each other in the northern region.
Lin Suisui naturally observed that Mrs. Luo was a kind and honest person. She also wanted to befriend her.
After walking all the way to the city gate, the two of them were already as familiar as a family.
Although she seemed to be chatting with Mrs. Luo casually, Lin Suisui was still worried.
When she passed the city gate and saw the portrait of her and Lu Ze, she was a little worried. Lu Ze seemed to have noticed her uneasiness and supported her without batting an eyelid. They leaned on each other as they came to the sergeant who was investigating.
This group of refugees was leaving the city, so the officials had naturally informed them beforehand.
But they still had to check and interrogate.
The soldiers at the city gate carefully checked the large suitcases, which could hide people, that the first few families pushed by wheelbarrows. They found nothing wrong, so the questioning of the people behind them was much less stringent. They simply matched them with the names on the list and let them pass.
When it was Mrs. Luo, Lu Ze, and the others’ turn, the soldier in charge of the interrogation didn’t ask too much. He let them go after confirming their names.
Lu Ze and Lin Suisui were about to pass through the sentry post and leave the capital completely. However,they had only taken a few steps when the sergeant sitting at the side and drinking tea suddenly spoke and stopped them.
“Wait a moment, the two of you.”
“Sir.” Lin Suisui’s heart skipped a beat. She cursed inwardly, but she didn’t panic. She stopped with Lu Ze and slowly turned her head. She bowed to the sergeant who had already stood up and was coming over. She didn’t dare to do anything else.
The sergeant didn’t say anything else. He only came over and stood in front of them to take a look. Then, he circled the two of them and finally returned to stand in front of them. Then, he slowly said, “Give me your hand. Let me see it!”