Chapter 126: Rebellion Princess Jin, drugging me is exciting, isn't it? ...

Cong Ying waited for the little beggar to come and tell him that something was wrong. She immediately packed up her things and told Ah He to leave.

As the two men led their horses out of the alley, they saw a group of elite cavalrymen running towards them, their silver armor shining coldly in the moonlight.

Cong Ying's face changed and he immediately got back on his horse, but it was too late. Before he could run out of the alley, he was caught up by Xie Xuanlan.

Hearing the cold sneer coming from behind, Zong Ying panicked and whipped the horse to urge it on. Unexpectedly, the whip was intercepted by another whip in mid-air. She was pulled away from the horse with great force. The momentary feeling of being in the air scared her so much that she broke out in a cold sweat. Then she fell steadily into a strong embrace.

She was being held by one arm, tightening her muscles and bones. She heard a soft laugh from above her head: "Princess Jin, drugging me is very exciting, isn't it?"

Cong Ying's face flushed: "You should go deal with Prince Consort Xuan now, instead of pestering me..."

Xie Xuanlan said, "You still have the energy to care about others? Think about yourself first."

He ordered someone to bring a rope, and he tied up Cong Ying like a fugitive, and tied a cloth around his mouth.

Seeing this, Ah He refused to give in. She cursed and threatened to rob, knocking down several soldiers. Xie Xuanlan called her a waste, dismounted, and personally restrained her. He also tied her up with ropes and stuffed the two sisters into a carriage sent by the prefect of Zhanzhou.

"Return to camp." Xie Xuanlan ordered.

Cong Ying thought he would be angry, but she didn't expect him to treat her like this. After returning to the Xizhou military camp, he actually threw her directly into the dungeon.

This is probably more than just being angry.

What on earth was he planning to do? Ying had a bad feeling in her heart.

Although the dungeon was equipped with a bed, soft quilts, and screens and curtains, it was still not comfortable to live in. One felt stuffy and drowsy, unable to tell the difference between day and night, and had no idea what was happening outside. One could only faintly hear the sound of trumpets.

It was late at night when Cong Ying suddenly woke up and saw a figure sitting beside the couch. He was pulling her arm and applying medicine to her, stroking the bruises on her skin caused by the rough hemp rope.

Zong Ying pulled her hand away, stood up and glared at him: "Why do you treat me like this? What on earth do you want to do?"

Xie Xuanlan put the ointment down and looked at her with his eyelids raised: "Shouldn't I be the one asking you these two questions first?"

At this point, Cong Ying had no choice but to tell him her plan. She said, "I came to Xizhou this time, tampered with the imperial edict, and transferred the military officer, all to help you establish yourself. Now I have done everything I can for you. Staying here will only drag you down. Sanlang, I don't want the general to risk his life for my military merit, and I don't want you to surrender because of my reputation... Sanlang, please let me go back to Yunjing. Then, whatever you do in Xizhou has nothing to do with me. I just want you to live well."

After hearing this, Xie Xuanlan coldly spat out four words: "Flattering words and flattering appearance."

Cong Ying was stunned: "You don't believe me?"

Xie Xuanlan questioned her, "Before tonight, you were sweet-talking me while drugging my wine. You were so cold and heartless. How could I trust you? Huh?"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, his voice low but sharp as a thorn:

"I only know that you wanted to leave me behind and go back to find him. Between me and him, you chose him without hesitation. Jiang Congying, you really have a cruel heart."

Cong Ying said: "What I am talking to you about is a matter of life and death!"

Xie Xuanlan said, "My life and death are none of your business, and you have no right to care about it in the future."

Cong Ying was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

Xie Xuanlan: "What I mean is, since you want to see him, I will take you to see him, and from now on, we will be done with each other, and all our love will be gone."

When Cong Ying heard this, she was stunned for a moment.

The relationship between them had always been one where she was hesitant and deliberate, while he held on tightly. Cong Ying had never thought that the words "break up completely" would come out of Xie Xuanlan's mouth.

Is he completely disappointed in her? Will he never show any favor to her again?

All she heard was "Take care of yourself." Xie Xuanlan stuffed the bottle of ointment into her hand, stood up and walked out.

Cong Ying quickly stood up and grabbed his sleeve: "Explain yourself clearly. What do you mean by taking me to see him? You know very well that he is you, and you are him..."

"Since he can replace me, why are you still lingering over a traitor like me? Just be your Princess Jin from now on."

He ruthlessly ripped Congying's hand away, walked out of the dungeon, and locked the door behind him. Congying clung to the door and called out to him anxiously, "Sanlang! Xie Xuanlan! What on earth are you planning to do?"

Xie Xuanlan raised the corner of his lips coldly and said to her, "As you wish, I intend to lead my troops to Yunjing and rebel."

＊

Prince Consort Xuan examined his long sword under the lamp.

He had been away from Xizhou for more than ten years, and had not taken up a sword to fight in more than ten years.

Before he was forced to become the consort of Chun'an, he was the young marshal that all the generals in Xizhou were loyal to. Although he still had old friends in the Xizhou military camp, his hair had turned gray due to the wind and frost. When he saw him at the welcoming banquet tonight, he was so trembling that he could hardly hold the wine glass steady.

They couldn't wait to express their expectations to Prince Consort Xuan:

"General Xuan's last wish before his death was to one day annihilate the Western Tartars and restore the prestige of our Xuan army!"

"Xie Xuanlan is arrogant and self-righteous, promoting only his own trusted aides. He even marginalized Commander Xuan Zhiyuan, forcing him to manage recruitment and horse purchases. He has wicked ambitions. Now that the Major General has returned to Xizhou, he cannot be allowed to cause trouble."

"Right! Let's take back the military power first, and then go and suppress the Western Tartars!"

The old friend's passionate words were still ringing in his ears, but Prince Consort Xuan put down his knife and sighed deeply.

If he was just the young commander of the Xuan army, he would naturally do this, but more than ten years have passed. Now he is the son-in-law of Chun'an and the imperial envoy of the court. He is entrusted with the secrets of several people in Yunjing. It is like holding a scale in his hand. He dare not act rashly, for fear that the slightest mistake will bring disaster.

The flame of the lamp on the table suddenly jumped, and Prince Consort Xuan raised his eyes and saw Xie Xuanlan walking in through the curtains.

Xie Xuanlan sat down across from him, his horse and sword in hand, and poured himself some tea. "I was supposed to be drinking with you tonight, but I was delayed by an urgent military situation. I beg your forgiveness, your husband."

Prince Consort Xuan looked at him coldly and said, "You didn't come here specifically to apologize. If you have anything to say, just speak frankly."

Xie Xuanlan smiled and said, "I came here to ask who sent the Prince Consort here, and to make a deal with you."

Prince Consort Xuan said, "Does it matter who entrusted you with this task? You know full well that many people in the court want to kill you."

"Yes, the emperor wants to kill me, and your lord doesn't want me to live either. It doesn't matter," Xie Xuanlan said. "What I'm asking is their attitude towards Jiang Congying."

Prince Consort Xuan said, "The princess will protect her."

Xie Xuanlan asked, "If she fails to accomplish great things for your lord, and if the emperor issues an imperial decree to kill her, do you think your lord will go against the emperor for her?"

Prince Consort Xuan did not answer.

Xie Xuanlan sneered: "Even Prince Consort Xuan isn't sure, is he? To be honest, I don't trust your Majesty."

After all, in his previous life, Cong Ying was pierced through the heart by her sword because he had deceived the noble master.

In this life, Cong Ying, for his sake, had first forged an imperial decree and then secretly exiled Xuan's former subordinates, arranging everything for him to control Prince Consort Xuan. While assuring the lord of her loyalty, she also encouraged him to raise his own troops. Such actions were unbelievable for a loyal minister and advisor, and Xie Xuanlan dared not hope that the lord would still trust her.

Xie Xuanlan said, "For this reason, I must return to Yunjing and ask the prince consort to temporarily take charge of military affairs and stay in the northwest to prevent any rogue attacks."

Prince Consort Xuan's eyelids twitched when he heard this, and he almost laughed out loud: "Are you planning to go back and rebel, and you still want me to cooperate with you?"

Xie Xuanlan said, "If you don't agree, forget it. I can kill you with a single blow and still be able to return. However, there will be no one to guard the northwest at that time. If an external enemy invades, our vast land will fall into their hands, and your former Xuan family members will also meet a miserable end. I hope that Young Marshal Xuan will... reconsider."

When Xie Xuanlan was young, he had seen Xuan Xiangling return triumphantly from the throne and envied him.

He knew what Xuan Xiangling cared about most. It was never his status as a son-in-law, but the territory of Xizhou and the life and death of his comrades.

Xuan Xiangling was silent for a long time before he finally made a decision. He sheathed his sword and said to Xie Xuanlan, "Okay, I promise you, but I have a request."

"Please go ahead."

"No matter what the situation in Yunjing is, leave Princess Chun'an a chance to survive," he said. "This is a gentleman's agreement."

Xie Xuanlan clasped his fists and replied, "Okay."

After he left, Xuan Xiangling still sat under the lamp, thinking.

In fact, he was somewhat puzzled by Xie Xuanlan's motives, and he did not completely trust him. However, before coming to Xizhou, he had received a secret visit from the King of Jin, who had made a deal with him at that time.

The deal was that once he arrived in Xizhou, he would agree to whatever Xie Xuanlan requested. In return, the Prince of Jin promised to remove all obstacles, including those from the Xie family, for Princess Chun'an, supporting her in entering the Eastern Palace and ascending the throne.

Xuan Xiangling thought that there seemed to be some connection between Prince Jin and Xie Xuanlan that was difficult for others to understand.

＊

Xie Xuanlan reorganized the army and prepared horses, and inspired the morale of the troops. At the end of March, he led 30,000 elite cavalry to Yunjing, with 100,000 infantrymen covering the rear.

Congying and Ahe were imprisoned in a "prison van" by him. As "the running dogs of your lord" and "the treacherous villains who hinder the northwest", they were taken back to Yunjing together to ask for an explanation from the court.

It was called a prison carriage, but in fact it was just an iron fence welded on the outside of the carriage. The inside was spacious enough for them to walk around or stand on the left, and all the necessary tea and food were provided, but they were not allowed to get off the carriage at will.

Cong He was angry and depressed, with two blisters on his mouth. However, Cong Ying remained calm and wrote letter after letter, asking someone to deliver them to Xie Xuanlan.

Unfortunately, no matter how nicely she tried to persuade him in the letter, Xie Xuanlan neither came to see her nor gave her a reply.

"He's so arrogant! My brother-in-law, Prince Jin, is the best. He never bullies me!"

Cong Ying squeezed the letter and gave a wry smile: "He's not in a bad mood."

Cong He asked, "What is that?"

Cong Ying replied: "It's a kind of determination."

The most frightening kind of determination is the determination to do something even though you know it is impossible.

Xie Xuanlan marched quickly and secretly. He was very familiar with the camps within the Great Zhou Dynasty. In addition, there were people secretly cooperating with him in Yunjing, so there was almost no fighting along the way. In less than a month, he approached Yunjing.

The weather grew warmer along the way, and the scenery became more pleasant. However, the closer they got to Yunjing, the heavier the feeling in Zeng Ying's heart grew.

Finally, during the last military rest stop, Cong Ying put the hairpin against her neck, threatened to commit suicide, and made a big fuss, finally forcing Xie Xuanlan to show up and meet her.

When they were alone in the prison van, facing each other, Zong Ying looked at him with red eyes, "We've walked together all the way, but you refused to see me. If we talk about cruelty, I can't compare to you."

Xie Xuanlan said, "You're about to meet your Highness the Prince of Jin, so why are you still here to see me?"

"Xie Xuanlan!"

Cong Ying was furious and pounced on him, biting his wrist fiercely. Xie Xuanlan did not stop her, nor did he even frown or say it hurt. He just took the opportunity to snatch the hairpin from her hand, removing all the sharp objects in her hair.

He said, "If you are guilty, you should act like you are guilty, otherwise you will be bored and still have the energy to commit suicide."

Cong Ying pressed him: "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Xie Xuanlan laughed: "The entire Great Zhou knows that I am planning a rebellion. Why should Princess Jin pretend to be incredulous and keep asking me questions?"

Cong Ying said, "If you truly wanted to rebel, you would have taken it slow and steady. You wouldn't have left such a significant threat as Prince Consort Xuan in Xizhou. You'd have avoided engaging in battles with the garrisons of the various states along the way. Aren't you afraid of being attacked from both within and without before you even secure the throne? You're not one to miss the situation, so you must have other motives."

Xie Xuanlan refused to tell her the truth and turned to leave the carriage, but Cong Ying hugged him tightly from behind, her whole body trembling. Her sobs penetrated his light armor and made his heart tighten.

Cong Ying begged him with tears in her eyes: "Don't go to Yunjing, don't go, let's elope right now, okay?"

Xie Xuanlan closed his eyes, was silent for a moment, then coldly and ruthlessly pried open her fingers one by one.

He said, "Not good."