"Achoo!"

After Youhe sneezed, she started talking about Shen Jinchen again.

"If we find that person, should we tell them the truth? This is a rare opportunity."

"Are you afraid that the young master will give up this excellent opportunity because of that woman?"

Feng Qin immediately understood the meaning of "harmony".

"Yes, she is an uncertain factor. Young Master is not like that. Since meeting her, he has been completely thrown off balance. This is not a good sign."

Youhelai was the most mature and steady of the four guards, and the one the young master trusted the most. The fact that he said this now proves that the young master has not been rational during this period.

However, as Shen Jinchen's close confidant, Feng Qin knew very well that he valued that woman highly, even more than the important matter they were plotting.

So he replied solemnly, "I will definitely inform you, young master, once I find the person. You know the consequences of not informing them."

"Alright, we're not the young master, and we really can't make decisions for him. Hopefully, that woman won't head to the capital."

He gave his companion a deep look, sneezed, and then left.

...

After escaping from the inn, Cen Xi stole a horse and galloped towards the capital. At the same time, she quickly put on the jade rings she had obtained from the Hidden Sect.

She knew that as soon as she ran away, Shen Jinchen would find her by any means necessary.

She needs to make full use of this time to solidify her status as a princess. Then, even if this man wants to force her to marry him, it will depend on whether she is willing or not.

Based on his despicable behavior along the way, Cen Xi felt that he would never agree to marry her even if his head were chopped off. Even if she had fallen for him, so what? She could never marry such a controlling man.

After walking for a while, she passed a farmhouse and saw sweet potatoes drying all over the yard. Her mouth watered with hunger, so she became a thief again and stole a bunch of sweet potatoes. She washed them in the river and munched on them as she rode her horse along.

When she arrived at the city gates of the capital, the large army that had been surrounding the city had already entered the city. She grabbed someone at random and asked them a question. She learned that the rebel army had already surrounded the imperial city and was fighting with the Imperial Guards.

"Where did this rebel army come from?"

After asking all the questions, Cen Xi was about to release the filthy person when another question suddenly popped into her mind, so she asked it.

"I heard it's the Prince Ning's mansion, with a massive army of 100,000 hidden near the capital. Sigh, I wonder what's going on with that military camp outside the capital? They haven't come to support us yet. I think they've probably become rebels too."

The speaker had a bitter expression on his face, and the sorrow in his eyes was obvious to anyone. He was afraid that after one round of slaughter, another would come.

Are you a soldier or a city dweller?

Cen Xi looked him up and down, and seeing that he was wearing armor, he deliberately asked, because in his eyes, soldiers shouldn't be like that.

“I… I am a soldier guarding the city. All the men above have been killed, and I have nowhere to go, so I am just wandering around the city.”

When Cen Xi asked this question, the soldier's eyes darted around for a moment, then he gritted his teeth and replied.

"If you're a soldier, you should rush to the front line and fight. Follow me."

Having been influenced by her past life, Cen Xi naturally believed that soldiers could not escape, so she grabbed him and ran towards the palace.

When the soldier saw the woman grab him and gallop away on horseback, his heart skipped a beat. He said nothing and let her lead him to the palace.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Cen Xi had no idea which gate it was. The two armies on and below the city wall were locked in fierce combat. The commander of the Imperial Guards on the city wall looked increasingly anxious, clearly on the verge of collapse.

Upon seeing this, Cen Xi immediately leaped up and landed on the city wall, standing alongside the Imperial Guard commander.

The Imperial Guard commander, seeing a stranger flying towards him from the city wall, immediately took two steps back and raised his sword to strike at Cen Xi. Cen Xi quickly dodged and shouted:

"I am a reinforcement sent by Prime Minister Shen. I am with you. Prime Minister Shen has already brought a large army to support us."

"Chen Xiang? Where is Chen Xiang?"

The Imperial Guard Commander was taken aback for a moment, then overjoyed. If no reinforcements came, he was afraid he really wouldn't be able to hold on.

"They're outside the city, they'll be here soon. There are also rebels outside, so it might take a while..."

Cen Xi caught the flying arrow and said, panting heavily, that she had escaped from Shen Jinchen's place and was no less exhausted than these soldiers who had fought bloody battles.

"Very good, very good. It's even better that Prime Minister Shen has returned to court. It seems that Heaven has not forsaken this grand banquet."

Upon hearing Cen Xi's words, the Imperial Guard Commander was so happy that tears welled up in his eyes.

Seeing how happy this person was, she didn't explain how much truth there was in her previous statement. Right now, she only wanted to confirm one thing: was the emperor dead? If the emperor was dead, how could she reclaim her identity as the eldest princess?

"Where is His Majesty? Where is His Majesty?"

"His Majesty is in Chang Le Palace. This line of defense can't hold him back. His Majesty... I'm afraid His Majesty can't protect him anymore."

At this moment, the commander of the Imperial Guards, as if grasping at a straw, grabbed Cen Xi and cried out.

"It's alright, as long as you're alive, that's all that matters. Quickly send a soldier to the palace to fetch a zither. Today, I'll show you what I'm capable of."

Upon confirming that the emperor was still alive, Cen Xi was overjoyed. With a raised eyebrow, he immediately gave orders to the commander of the Imperial Guard.

"What...what do you need the zither for?"

The commander of the Imperial Guards asked, not understanding the situation.

"Of course it's for defending against enemies. I came in a hurry and didn't bring it with me, so I can only borrow it from you now."

"Alright! Go to the palace and fetch a zither."

Seeing Cen Xi's excited expression, the Imperial Guard Commander casually pointed to an Imperial Guard and ordered him to fetch the zither. Shen Jinchen, the Prime Minister, was a god-like figure in the court. Generally, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish when he took action. At this moment, he subconsciously believed that Cen Xi was sent by Shen Jinchen, so he naturally obeyed Cen Xi's orders.

If he knew that Shen Jinchen was currently standing on Bailong Mountain, watching the movements within the city, he would definitely curse himself for being stupid.

"Has the person been found?"

Standing on White Dragon Mountain, watching the war in the city gradually come to an end, Shen Jinchen asked coldly.

“Young master, the mistress may have taken with her old jade rings that she used to evade tracking, so we can’t find her whereabouts for the time being.”

Fengqin glanced at him helplessly and replied.

"Then let's inform Zhao Yu first, and we'll enter the city immediately."

Shen Jinchen's eyes flashed, and he gave the order.

"yes!"

Feng Qin and You He, who were following behind him, were overjoyed. It seemed that the woman had not extinguished the will in their young master. There were some things he was determined to do.

After Feng Qin and You He left, Shen Jinchen stood alone on the mountaintop, gazing at Kyoto across the way with a deep look in his eyes.

This place is not only the capital of the Great Banquet, but also the capital of the previous dynasty. The mountain beneath his feet not only buries the remains of Yan Shengxiao, but also his ancestors. He should seek justice for them.

Although the timing was unexpected, he had no choice but to move forward.