Chapter 600: Return to the Imperial City
Chapter 600: Return to the Imperial City
Damn it, can someone tell him how these guys manage to pull this off?
He was so curious!
It was driving him crazy!
Duan Wenliang said seriously, "Fourth Brother, should we return to the imperial city and tell Prince Jin about the Empress Dowager?"
Duan Mingyue picked up his teacup and said coolly, "Whoever can give me the ingredients for the medicine, I'll make a deal with them."
---
In the camp of the Black Armor Army.
Lu Qi and Lan Yeyue were confined in the same tent.
Both of their hands and feet were shackled with adamantine chains. Lu Qi had tried several times to break them with his inner strength, but all attempts failed.
As for Lan Yeyue, she had been quiet ever since she was locked in, as if she had resigned herself to her fate.
Lu Qi asked curiously, "Don't you want to escape?"
Lan Yeyue replied coldly, "Why should I?"
Lu Qi said, "You're strange."
Lan Yeyue smiled, "What's so strange about me?"
Lu Qi said seriously, "You're not the type to willingly be a prisoner."
Lan Yeyue huffed, "None of your business."
Her reaction only confirmed Lu Qi's suspicions.
He continued, "Also, you're not here to compete for the Black Armor. If you were, you wouldn't be content with being trapped. You would have tried every possible way to escape, or even proposed a partnership with me."
Lan Yeyue laughed, "Ha."
Lu Qi looked at her intently and said, "You just want to beat Yan Xiaojiu."
Lan Yeyue twirled a strand of hair, "Her name is Meng Qianqian."
Lu Qi, of course, knew the woman's identity; he just called her by her old name out of habit.
He frowned and asked, "What deep grudge do you have with her?"
Lan Yeyue looked up and gave Lu Qi a flirtatious smile, "Asking so many questions, are you interested in me? Too bad, I never get involved with married men. If you want to pursue me, go back to Qujing and divorce your new wife first."
Lu Qi turned his face away coldly and stopped talking to her.
Qing Shuang, at Lu Yuan's command, gathered two thousand elite soldiers and moved out with ten thousand Black Armor soldiers, marching back to the imperial city under the cover of night.
The best strategy is to win through strategy, the next is through diplomacy, then through military force, and the worst is through siege.
The least costly method is to outsmart the enemy. If it comes to a fight, the Black Armor Army would be the first to charge.
It had been a day and a night since Liu Qingyun, Ming Wang, and Zi Wu Xian Sheng escaped from the capital.
They were ambushed by pursuers just outside the city.
Thanks to Zi Wu Xian Sheng's divination, they managed to narrowly avoid several batches of pursuers.
However, revealing the secrets of heaven was extremely detrimental to one's fate.
Zi Wu Xian Sheng, weak and breathless, lay on Ming Wang's back, "I can't calculate anymore... one more and I'll have to meet my ancestors..."
Ming Wang's expression turned serious, "From now on, it's my turn. Rest well, Elder—"
Then, both of them fell into a pit.
Ming Wang: "..."
Zi Wu Xian Sheng: "..."
"They're here!"
Liu Qingyun pulled the two out of the pit, "I'll draw them away. You take the old man and go first!"
Ming Wang said firmly, "No! We go together!"
Liu Qingyun exploded, "Two dead weights, I can't carry you both!"
Ming Wang's heart was pierced by a thousand arrows.
After a day and a night of running, everyone was exhausted and finally cornered in a field.
The archers didn't waste any words, drawing their bows and firing at them.
Ming Wang was furious, "You're mad! I am a prince! You dare to kill a prince!"
Arrows rained down on them like a dense star shower.
Just as they thought they were doomed, another wave of arrows came whistling through the air.
The two waves of arrows met.
The arrows that were supposed to turn them into pincushions were all deflected back.
Liu Qingyun and Ming Wang turned back in shock and saw a vast army, like a dark flood, surging towards them, breaking through the mountains and rivers.
In the blink of an eye, the pursuers fell under the arrows of the iron cavalry.
Liu Qingyun's eyes welled up with tears. "Why did you take so long to get here...?"
Meng Qianqian, clad in armor, extended her hand and pulled Liu Qingyun onto her horse, seating her behind her. "I'm sorry, Mother, we were late. Hold on tight, we need to hurry."
"Go ahead, I'm not afraid—ah!"
Liu Qingyun suddenly lurched backward. "Why are you going so fast? I haven't even had a chance to say a word to my son—"
Time was of the essence.
Meng Qianqian, along with Lu Yuan and Qing Shuang, led Lu Fengyin and the Black Armor Army to the imperial city ahead of the others.
The city guards, seeing Lu Fengyin leading a large contingent into the city, did not dare make any rash decisions and immediately reported to Prince Jin.
"The Empress Dowager's troops?"
Prince Jin furrowed his brow in suspicion. "I didn't ask her to send any soldiers."
Compared to Crown Prince Lu Zhaoyan, the Empress Dowager was more fond of her nephew and had openly declared her support for him to be the heir apparent.
However, he wasn't foolish and had some reservations.
Now, with the Empress Dowager leading her troops into the city, he felt that something was definitely amiss.
"Please summon the Imperial Tutor."
Gongsun Yanming arrived at the Tahe Palace. "Your Highness."
Prince Jin recounted the situation with the Empress Dowager. "Her troops are at the city gates. What does she intend to do?"
Gongsun Yanming thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness should go and meet her. We'll know her intentions once we see her."
Prince Jin nodded. "Very well."
He had initially planned to bring Gongsun Yanming with him, but then he worried that leaving the court unattended would be risky, so he left Gongsun Yanming to oversee the court.
He immediately went to the city gate.
He dismounted from his carriage and walked to the Empress Dowager's carriage, bowing respectfully. "Your Nephew greets Aunt."
The carriage curtains remained closed, but Lu Fengyin's displeased voice rang out first. "Your Nephew is quite the high and mighty one, to leave your own aunt outside the city gates."
Prince Jin clasped his hands. "Aunt, Your Nephew dare not!"
Qing Shuang sneered. "Hmph, actions speak louder than words. You've already done it."
Prince Jin detected the Empress Dowager's anger but did not become suspicious.
After all, Lu Fengyin had always been a domineering and capricious person, respectful only to the Emperor Liang.
Prince Jin shifted his tone and asked politely, "Aunt, why did you suddenly return to the imperial city with your troops?"
Qing Shuang replied coolly, "Such a major event has occurred in the imperial city, how long did you plan to keep it from me?"
Prince Jin sighed. "Your Nephew did not intend to hide it from Aunt. I knew that Father Emperor and Aunt are deeply attached as siblings. If Father Emperor's situation were known, Aunt would be deeply worried. Your Nephew was only thinking of Aunt's well-being."
Qing Shuang slapped the table. "Ridiculous! I see this as a deliberate attempt to hide it from me!"
Prince Jin quickly responded, "Aunt, you are wronging Your Nephew—"
Qing Shuang's voice turned cold. "Don't say another word. As a son, you failed to protect your own Father Emperor, causing chaos in the court and unrest among the people. I cannot trust your abilities. I will personally investigate Father Emperor's whereabouts!"
Prince Jin sensed her determination and his expression grew grave. "Aunt, are you determined to bring your troops into the city?"
Qing Shuang retorted, "So what if I am?"
Prince Jin calmly said, "Aunt, unfortunately, Your Nephew cannot grant your wish."
Qing Shuang shouted, "You dare!"
Prince Jin responded sternly, "Aunt, if you wish to enter the city, I will welcome you with open arms. However, your troops must remain outside the city gates!"
Qing Shuang: Grand Commander, can I just slap him?
(End of Chapter)
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