In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 694 The Closed City Gates

As soon as she finished speaking, a gust of wind swept by, and she swayed slightly, her face turning pale, as she clung to Chen Dao's waist.

Feeling the soft touch on his back, Chen Dao couldn't help but have a strange expression.

As everyone knows, there are no ominous signs in the Xia Kingdom, and women often use items such as bellybands or breast binders instead of bellybands. So when Zheng Qiuyan hugged him, Chen Dao immediately felt an amazing softness and elasticity.

"I didn't realize Zheng Qiuyan was so well-developed."

Chen Dao looked strange.

Zheng Qiuyan's face was pale, and she asked with lingering fear, "Young Master Chen, we won't fall, will we?"

Even as a martial artist, Zheng Qiuyan couldn't help but feel afraid when she saw herself so far from the ground.

There was no other way; the two of them were now hundreds of meters above the ground. Falling from that height, even a high-level martial artist might not be able to escape unscathed.

"will not."

Chen Dao gently reassured him, "Just hurry up."

Chen Dao meant to hold onto the feathers on the back of the Crimson Flame Chicken, but Zheng Qiuyan clearly misunderstood him and hugged his waist even tighter.

This resulted in the two being almost at zero distance. The soft sensation coming from his back made Chen Dao's expression become increasingly strange, and his body even had an instinctive reaction.

What Chen Dao didn't notice was that... Zheng Qiuyan's pretty face was slightly flushed behind her, her cheek pressed tightly against Chen Dao's back, feeling the warmth emanating from him, and her heart was completely at peace.

"Young Master Chen, look down there, Chen Family Village has become so small."

"That's Cangmang Mountain. It looks so beautiful from this angle!"

"Is that Taiping County? Young Master Chen, look! From the air, the people in Taiping County look so small."

"..."

Soon, Zheng Qiuyan, having adapted to flying, became lively, letting out exclamations of surprise. Looking down from high above, the scenery that seemed ordinary before became novel.

…………

…………

On the official road south of Ding'an County, a procession is moving slowly forward.

The leader was none other than Li Gang, who had changed into plain clothes.

"Is this Ding'an County just ahead?"

Li Gang, mounted on his horse, squinted at the city that was faintly visible in the distance.

"Exactly."

Zheng Qing, who was accompanying Li Gang, said, "Once we pass Ding'an County, we will be in the territory of Taiping County."

Knowing that Li Mingyuan and Li Qiao had already gone to Chenjia Village, Zheng Qing was not worried about Chen Dao's safety at all. She accompanied Li Gang on his journey, acting, eating and drinking, and was quite at ease.

"very good!"

A hint of excitement flashed in Li Gang's eyes. As long as he could capture Chen Dao of Chenjia Village, he would surely regain the emperor's favor, and the Black-Clad Guards would be able to return to their former glory.

In addition, there are the peculiar chickens and ducks of Chenjia Village...

If one could master the secret techniques for raising chickens and ducks, it would be like holding a treasure trove that continuously produces wealth...

Thinking of this, Li Gang's breathing quickened, and he turned to the crowd behind him and shouted, "Speed ​​up! We must get to Chenjia Village before dark!"

"Yes!"

His men responded in unison.

Before long, the team appeared at the south gate of Ding'an County.

However, to Li Gang's and others' surprise, the south gate of Ding'an County was tightly closed.

Looking at the tightly closed city gate ahead, Li Gang's eyes narrowed into a dangerous arc.

The cities of Xia Kingdom are not closed except at night and during wartime, because a city cannot survive without relying on the outside world. Whether it is the transportation of goods by merchants or the entry and exit of people outside the city, they all need to pass through the city gates. The city gates are only closed when night falls and when war breaks out.

However, the weather was clear and sunny at the time, and no battles broke out in Qingzhou.

At times like these, the fact that the city gates of Ding'an County were tightly closed seemed particularly eerie...

"Go and ask what happened."

Li Gang did not rush forward, but turned around and gave orders to Zheng Qing.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing did not refuse. He spurred his horse toward the city gate and shouted, "I am Zheng Qing, the governor of Taicang County. Why are you closing the city gate?"

As Zheng Qing spoke, the city guards on the city wall looked at each other in bewilderment. They did not know who Zheng Qing was, but they did know who the governor of Taicang County was.

Ding'an County belonged to Taicang Commandery, and the governor of Taicang Commandery was the highest-ranking official in the commandery. It would be a lie to say they weren't afraid of such a high-ranking official, but closing the city gates was an order from the county magistrate, and they couldn't open the city gates without authorization...

For a moment, the city guards were caught in a dilemma.

Fortunately, it didn't trouble them for too long.

Soon, Li Qingyun, dressed in an official robe, walked to the top of the city wall. Behind him were two men and one woman, namely Chen Dao, Chen Cheng, and Zheng Qiuyan.

The three riding the Crimson Flame Chicken traveled at an extremely fast speed, arriving at Ding'an County in less than two hours. After discussing with Li Qingyun, they adopted the strategy of closing the city gates and keeping the Black-Clad Guards outside.

"So it's Lord Zheng."

Li Qingyun stood by the parapet and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zheng Qingyun below the city, saying, "Recently, there have been many bandits outside the city, causing great distress to the people of Ding'an County. I had no choice but to order the city gates closed. I hope Lord Zheng will not mind."

Zheng Qing certainly didn't mind. In fact, the moment he saw the city gates closed, he realized that this matter must be related to Chen Dao, and it was very likely that Chen Dao had instructed him to do so.

Sure enough, while Li Qingyun was speaking, Zheng Qing saw Chen Dao and her daughter accompanying Li Qingyun.

"I am Li Gang, the commander of the Black-Clad Guards!"

Upon seeing Li Qingyun appear, Li Gang quickly rode forward. Although he was looking up at Li Qingyun, he commanded in a condescending tone, "I have important business to attend to and order you to open the city gate immediately!"

"So you're Li Gang?"

Chen Dao looked down at Li Gang and asked with great interest.

"How dare you address Lord Li by his given name!"

"How brave!"

"Where did this ignorant peasant come from? How dare you address Lord Li by his name?"

"..."

Before Li Gang could speak, the black-clad guards following him erupted in uproar. The young man on the city wall was dressed plainly and was clearly a peasant. How dare such a lowly person call Commander Li by his name? He must have a death wish.

"Who are you?"

Li Gang's eyes grew increasingly dangerous. Even in the capital, very few people dared to call him by his name directly, let alone in this Taicang County.

Furthermore, Chen Daona's mocking attitude fueled Li Gang's anger.

"Ha ha!"

Chen Dao suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Commander Li traveled all the way from the capital to find me, and now that he's seen me, he doesn't even know who I am? How ridiculous, absolutely hilarious!"