Chapter 317: General Yuan Hui Is Here

Chapter 317: General Yuan Hui Is Here

"Tch, this person is working with that thief!" Hongmei stopped fighting and said.

"This young woman has good skills, but her temper is too stubborn. Not letting others explain isn't good!" The man stepped forward, chuckled lightly, and asked, "Based on your attire, you seem to be from the capital. Who are you with?"

"She is..." Bai Bing began.

"Who I serve is none of your business. Tell me straight, are you with him?" Hongmei clenched her fists, still determined to apprehend the man.

"I'm not with him, but there are ways to teach this kid a lesson!" The man turned around and grabbed the child behind him, then flipped the child over and shook him several times.

"Thud!"

Coins, buns, and other small items from the stalls fell to the ground.

"So, you still want to protect him?" Hongmei shouted coldly.

"I don't want to protect him, but violence isn't going to solve anything!" The man lifted the young thief's arm and, seeing the various scars from beatings, said, "Looks like someone's been beating him regularly!"

"Let me go, let me go!" The boy struggled.

He was young and skinny, but surprisingly strong.

Of course, compared to the burly man, the boy couldn't move a muscle.

"Chief Bai, there's a place that can set him straight." The man said.

"Are you talking about the camp?" Bai Bing asked.

"Yes, I'll send someone to take him away. Given his agility, the camp would be a good fit for him." The man finished speaking and turned to two young men in ordinary clothes on the other side, saying, "Take him straight north!"

"Let me go, I don't want to go to the military camp, I don't want to." The boy shouted.

"If you don't go, I'll chop off your hand right now!" The man shouted.

Frightened, the boy had no choice but to go with them.

Hongmei looked at the man, then back at Bai Bing.

"Chief Bai, this is General Yuan Hui. He's here to see the princess." Bai Bing said with a smile, "I was heading to South Dun Village when I ran into General Yuan Hui. Speaking of which, more than ten years ago, I met General Yuan Hui on the West Yue border..."

"Ha ha ha, yeah, you were just a kid back then!" Yuan Hui laughed.

"General Yuan Hui?" Hongmei's eyes widened in surprise.

She'd heard of General Yuan Hui.

Dong Ju had gone north with the princess and, upon returning, had often spoken of General Yuan Hui, telling her how brave and formidable he had been, how he had become a bandit leader in the mountains and was very skilled.

Dong Ju had also told her that General Yuan Hui had reconciled with the emperor. They had been good friends but were separated due to the political turmoil at the time.

Now, the emperor, upon learning it was him, had cleared his name and treated the families of soldiers who had been ambushed on the battlefield with great generosity.

Hongmei knew all of this.

She just hadn't expected to meet Yuan Hui in this situation, at this moment.

"Is this Hongmei?" Yuan Hui asked.

"Yes!" Hong Mei nodded.

"Indeed, just as Dong Ju said, you are a straightforward and forthright young lady!" Yuan Hui nodded.

Dong Ju had spoken with Yuan Hui before and had told him about her elder sister, Hong Mei, who had grown up closely with the princess. They were raised by Mo Mo herself, who took personal care to protect and accompany the princess.

The Hong Mei that Dong Ju spoke of was her sister, who was more capable of enduring hardship than she was. Hong Mei was always eager to take on tasks and protect her.

Whether they were being targeted by other palace servants and concubines in the palace or later in the general's mansion, Hong Mei always protected and helped her.

Therefore, Yuan Hui had a strong impression of Hong Mei.

"Have you come to look for the princess?" Hong Mei looked at Yuan Hui and asked.

"Yes, after handling the mining matters of the Mongol Tatars in the north, I returned. Upon arriving at the capital, I heard that you were in Yunzhou and planned to head to Chizhou next. Thus, the emperor dispatched me to protect the princess and the little princess," Yuan Hui explained.

"Speaking of which, we really need to bring more people along to Chizhou. That place is filled with extraordinary individuals," Bai Bing said.

"Yes, I've heard that many martial sects are based in Chizhou. The five great mountains in Chizhou are each occupied by a sect, all vying for dominance. It's quite an interesting place," Yuan Hui remarked.

"Let's enter the city first!" Hong Mei, her expression cold, turned around and rode ahead on her horse.

Yuan Hui glanced at Bai Bing. "She's quite a unique girl!"

"Yes, very unique. But over these days of interacting, I've found that she's actually very thoughtful in her thoughts, and the princess places great trust in her!" Bai Bing said.

"Hmm, from the empress dowager to the emperor, to the princess, they all have good judgment," Yuan Hui finished, then looked at Bai Bing and said, "This Yunzhou city mayor was also well chosen. The princess has excellent taste!"

"Haha, General Yuan flatters me!" Yuan Hui laughed heartily and mounted his horse, following Bai Bing into the city.

"Little princess!" Ruo Xi Baby was holding a milk pot, drinking milk, when she heard a voice, and immediately, the entrance of the hall darkened as someone approached quickly.

"General Yuan Hui, it seems that Uncle actually sent him over? It seems that the trip to Chizhou won't be simple!"

"Oh my, General Yuan Hui has grown a beard and looks much younger now!"

Ruo Xi Baby, seeing Yuan Hui, her familiar face broke into a broad smile.

"Haha, little princess still remembers me, come, let me hold you!" Yuan Hui, seeing the little princess smiling at him, her small white teeth showing, looked exceptionally cute and immediately stepped forward, extending his hands.

Ruo Xi Baby immediately rushed over and was held in Yuan Hui's arms.

It's not that our little princess is nostalgic or only close to familiar people.

It's just that she sensed the strong spiritual energy emanating from Yuan Hui, which piqued her curiosity, wondering what was going on with him.

"Little princess, guess what I brought for you?" Yuan Hui, holding Xiao Xi'er, sat down, then looked at Xiao Yue and Ci Xin, and said, "Prince, Princess, Imperial Tutor, you're all here!"

"You only have eyes for Xi'er, now you've finally noticed us, not easy!" Ci Xin said.

"Haha, is the Imperial Tutor jealous of the little princess or something?" Yuan Hui's carefree personality infected everyone, and they all laughed.

Xiao Yu Heng's eyes sparkled as he looked at Yuan Hui. He had heard of General Yuan Hui since he was young. This time, when his father traveled north, he knew that Yuan Hui had been taken in by his father. He had been planning to pay his respects to Yuan Hui when he returned to court!