Chapter 150: Changshan’s Choice

Jiang Yu, Chen Xinli and others were being hunted down, but Emperor Xuanyi, who was far away in the capital, suddenly entered a state of meditation and no one could wake him up no matter how hard they tried.

Zhang Zhenren, the Taoist who had been refining elixirs for Emperor Xuanyi, claimed that Emperor Xuanyi was about to attain enlightenment and become an immortal, and must not be disturbed.

Empress Xu already controlled all government affairs.

At her instruction, most of the court officials whom she had secretly won over wrote letters to the emperor, requesting that the third prince be made the crown prince to preside over the government.

A group of court officials who supported the eldest prince launched a coup with the help of soldiers from the North City and Central City military divisions led by the eldest prince's mother's family, the Marquis of Dongxiang, and some internal supporters of the imperial guards.

However, Queen Xu was well prepared, and the eldest prince's plan was exactly what she wanted.

Afterwards, Empress Xu took the opportunity to quickly capture the eldest prince's followers on the pretext that he was rebelling.

Seeing that the court had achieved an overwhelming victory, Master Zhang changed his Taoist robe and put on very ordinary clothes. He quietly left the palace and headed towards Shu.

…

Shu region, Kuizhou Prefecture.

"Your Highness, the Second Prince, I have something to report." After dealing with another wave of pursuers, Chang Shanding knelt down towards Jiang Yu without even taking a rest in his blood-soaked robe.

"What's the matter?" The young man sat on a stone in the mountains, looking disdainfully at the general in front of him who seemed honest but was actually cunning.

"Your Highness, we can't go to the capital." After saying this, Changshan quietly watched the boy's reaction.

"Why?" The boy's pupils were as deep as a pool of water, and Changshan was a little confused.

Changshan replied, "Your Highness, there are people in the capital who don't want you to return, and even want your life. That's why they've gone to great lengths to send someone here."

"Oh, then do you know who it is?" Jiang Yu replied casually.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was not aware of this." Changshan said, looking a little uncomfortable. "Your Highness, a month and a half ago, in addition to receiving the imperial edict to escort Your Highness back to the capital, I also received a special edict from the emperor addressed to me."

"Oh?" Jiang Yu asked back, "What imperial decree? Why are you telling it now?"

"Your Highness, this decree can only be produced under special circumstances." Seeing the young man's fixed gaze on him, Changshan calmed down and slowly explained, "If Your Highness had returned to the capital safely, there would have been no need to produce it. However, I have just received news that something unexpected has happened in the capital."

Jiang Yu also received news of the changing situation in the capital.

But he didn't expect that Changshan could also receive it. He looked at the general in front of him who had been trying hard to protect him for several days with great vigilance and did not dare to believe his words.

When he arrived, the pursuit followed. The young man wondered if Queen Xu had secretly sent him to keep an eye on him.

Changshan seemed to read his thoughts and replied calmly, "Your Highness, please do not doubt me. I was indeed unaware of the contents of the imperial edict before, otherwise I would not have waited until today to inform you.

Changshan pulled out a completely sealed imperial edict from his bosom. After opening it, he saw the following words:

"The decree states: Regardless of whether an incident occurs in Shu or the capital, the Left Vice Minister of War, Changshan, must protect the Second Prince Jiang Yu and hand over the troops stationed at the Shu pass to the Second Prince."

Jiang Yu didn't say anything. He didn't understand what his father meant.

Could it be that he wanted him to bring 30,000 troops to the capital to rescue him? Or was he trying to show his favor to himself and wanted to use this army to protect him? Or was this actually Empress Xu's conspiracy...

Although the boy's eyes were fixed on the will, countless possibilities were running through his mind.

Changshan did not expect the decree to be like this.

However, he soon guessed Emperor Xuanyi's plan. Emperor Xuanyi had secretly given him this imperial edict that day because most of the state affairs were handled by Empress Xu at that time.

Upon hearing that the northern Rong people were moving south and a plague had broken out in Shu, Empress Xu was afraid that the plague would spread and was even more worried that the Rong people would take large-scale actions. She strongly advised Emperor Xuanyi to send troops.

As a result, Changshan received two imperial edicts, one explicit and one implicit.

The Ming imperial edict was given by Empress Xu, and the Zhong imperial edict was given by Emperor Xuanyi.

"The Emperor still favors the Second Prince." After Changshan understood this fact, he once again expressed his loyalty to Jiang Yu: "Your Highness, I dare to speculate that the person in the capital who has always been at odds with Your Highness is none other than the Empress.

Although I have some kinship with the Empress, my family and I do not like the way the Empress acts.

Our Dali Kingdom cannot have a situation where a female emperor rules the country.

Now that the eldest prince has been captured by the Empress, Your Highness, the people of Shu have witnessed what you have done. I have followed you all the way and have come to believe that you are the hope of our Dali Kingdom."

After a while, seeing that Jiang Yu had remained motionless, the aura of a superior emanating from him was oppressive to him. Changshan quickly changed his posture and immediately knelt down, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I have offended you before. Please follow me and take over the army."

"Sister Ali, what happened to Brother Yu?" Jiang Qi touched the corner of Chen Xinli's clothes, and was a little confused as to why Brother Yu opposite him had not said a word. He seemed to be in a daze.

Seeing the boy's wrinkled eyebrows, Chen Xinli said with some distress: "Your brother Yu is facing an important choice in his life, let him choose for himself."

"Why choose? Hasn't this been discussed long ago?" Xue Xuan said impatiently.

The boy's dull expression changed to a calm one, with determination and decisiveness between his brows.

He glanced at Chen Xinli, whose eyes were filled with worry and concern for him, then looked at Xue Xuan, who had a look of disgust on his face, and said loudly to Changshan, who was sitting below him: "In that case, let's set off!"