Chu Feiyang noticed the strong mountain wind at the carriage entrance. He hugged Yun Qianmeng and got into the carriage. He carefully checked Yun Qianmeng's body. Seeing that she was indeed safe and sound, he finally had the heart to discuss other things with her. "Indeed. Although Prince Chen and Concubine Yuande disagreed on the matter of Prince Chen's marriage, without Concubine Yuande's protection, Prince Chen would not be where he is today. He naturally has to consider his mother's life to avoid being despised by the people of the world."

As he was speaking, the carriage suddenly shook violently a few times, and the mountain road became even more rugged and difficult to walk on. Where the carriage passed, one could vaguely hear the echo of rocks sliding down the mountain and falling into the bottomless abyss.

Chu Feiyang held Yun Qianmeng tightly in his arms, protecting her from the slightest harm. His expression was stern, carrying a rare murderous aura. If Jiang Muchen hadn't pushed her too far, how could Meng'er have suffered so much? Although she had just briefly explained the circumstances of her journey, how could Chu Feiyang not understand Concubine Yuande's personality? Concubine Yuande always wanted to deal with Meng'er as soon as possible. It was likely that she had brought people to the Chu Xiang Mansion this time to preemptively strike before Prince Chen.

What a dignified and decent Concubine Yuande! But she is a vicious and cruel woman.

The car was shaking more and more violently. Yun Qianmeng protected her abdomen with both hands and snuggled tightly in Chu Feiyang's arms. She asked seriously, "Didn't they say Jiang Muchen blocked all entrances and exits to the capital? How come there's still a mountain road like this?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of a sneer flashed across Chu Feiyang's face. "Prince Chen is only an ordinary man after all. There is always a way out. As long as you look carefully, you will naturally find a way out. Although this mountain road is rugged and difficult to walk on, it is the only way that connects the capital with the outside world. In this world, besides grandfather, the only one who knows this road is the queen mother. This is also the way that grandfather and grandmother escaped."

Listening to Chu Feiyang's detailed words, Yun Qianmeng's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

From the moment she met Chu Nanshan, she felt that this old man was hiding countless secrets. But the most puzzling thing for her was the story between Chu Nanshan and the former Princess Chu.

Yun Qianmeng couldn't imagine why the extremely intelligent Princess Chu died young, and why Chu Nanshan was so willing to give up the throne that was within his grasp?

What's more, why does the Queen Mother also know the road that Grandpa knows? I'm afraid there must be a secret hidden in it that no one knows.

As if sensing Yun Qianmeng's emotional fluctuations, Chu Feiyang pressed her head into his arms, shielding her with his body, and soothingly said, "I think this time, Grandpa wants to send you to the safest place. Grandpa is the one who can't stand the recurrence of the past. Meng'er, once you get there, you'll know everything."

Yun Qianmeng listened quietly to Chu Feiyang's words, then slowly nodded and closed her eyes to rest. She hadn't had a good rest for a whole day and night, and she was truly tired.

The carriage continued to run for two hours until the bumpy feeling gradually dissipated and the carriage slowly stopped.

"Fei Yang, help Meng'er get out of the car." Chu Nanshan's reminder came from outside the car.

Hearing Chu Nanshan's voice, Yun Qianmeng opened her eyes, sat up straight from Chu Feiyang's arms, smiled brightly at him, and then the two of them stepped out of the carriage.

What catches your eye is a scene of green mountains and clear waters, birds flying freely in the mist, the faint fragrance of mountain flowers everywhere, and the mountain breeze slowly blowing across your face, bringing a warm feeling and making you feel relaxed both physically and mentally.

In this land of green mountains and clear waters, a few wooden houses are located in an enviable valley. Although they look simple, they blend seamlessly into the natural scenery.

Seeing Yun Qianmeng's face pale, Chu Nanshan said with concern, "Meng'er is tired, let's go in and rest for a while."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the wooden house not far away.

Yun Qianmeng and Chu Feiyang looked at each other and followed suit.

However, the closer he got to the wooden house, the heavier and slower Chu Nanshan's steps became, and his expression became more solemn. Only a hint of pain and nostalgia flashed across his bright eyes for a moment.

After climbing the steps in front of the wooden house, Chu Nanshan reached out and pushed open the wooden door that had been closed for a long time...

The wooden door swung open with a creak, only to be met with a cloud of dust.

Chu Nanshan was choked to tears, and murmured uncomfortably, "It's been a long time since I last came here. This place has accumulated so much dust."

After he finished speaking, Chu Nanshan took the lead and stepped into the wooden house. His calloused hands gently brushed across the wooden table in the house, brushing away the dust on it. His fingers lightly touched the wooden table that he had revised that year, and countless emotions filled his heart at once.

"Meng'er, let your maids clean up this place. The world is in chaos now. The armies of King Chen and King Hai are rapidly attacking cities and seizing lands. The people are living in dire straits. No matter where you go, you can see these two groups of people. If we send you to Luocheng now, it will undoubtedly give them the opportunity to capture you alive. It would be better for you to live in this valley for the time being, which is safer." Putting away the emotions in his heart, Chu Nanshan turned around and spoke to Yun Qianmeng with a faint smile.

Yun Qianmeng naturally understood Chu Feiyang and Chu Nanshan's painstaking efforts. The speed with which King Chen and King Hai attacked the city was astonishing; it was clear both factions had already made thorough preparations. Chu Feiyang, facing two on his own, was indeed struggling. If he fell into the hands of these two factions again, Chu Feiyang would be in an even more vulnerable position.

Nodding decisively, Yun Qianmeng smiled and replied, "Meng'er, I will obey Grandpa's arrangements in everything. However, Prince Chen has now proclaimed himself emperor in the capital. Not only has he forged an imperial edict claiming that Emperor Yugan had died suddenly and passed the throne to him, but after becoming emperor, he also issued a decree informing the world that Prince Hai and my husband are traitors and want the whole nation to punish them. I'm afraid that the people who don't know the truth will really cause trouble."

During the brief conversation, Muchun and several other maids quickly cleaned the wooden house. Then they all retreated and stood guard outside the door, no longer disturbing their masters' conversation.

"Sit down and talk." Chu Feiyang helped Yun Qianmeng sit down carefully, and then he sat down next to Yun Qianmeng.

"What's the situation outside right now? Is it okay for you to come out like this?" As the commander-in-chief, Chu Feiyang left the camp without permission. Isn't he afraid of any unexpected situation? Yun Qianmeng's eyes showed obvious worry, and her delicate brows knitted slightly.

Chu Feiyang held her hand, warming her slightly cold little hand with the warmth of his palm, and said with a faint smile: "I will go back early tomorrow morning. If I can't see you in person, I will always be worried. Now that I am in this valley, I can rest assured for the time being."

After a pause, Chu Feiyang continued, "Hai Quan's men have already conquered nearly twenty cities, and in the past three or four hours, King Chen's men have also begun attacking cities and seizing territories. Both sides are launching wars simultaneously from the east, south, west, and north of Western Chu. I believe they will engage in battle soon."

"However, with Prince Chen's move, we can estimate the approximate number of troops he has. His offensive against Hai Quan for the city was so fierce that he was able to capture a city in almost an hour. I believe the number of troops he has is no less than 1.1 million. As for the troops in Hai Quan's hands, they are no less than Jiang Muchen's, and should be around 1.5 million. So Jiang Muchen first seized the capital and proclaimed himself emperor, hoping to disrupt Hai Quan's pace." Chu Nanshan continued, his silver eyebrows furrowed. Both sides had no less than one million troops, which was a huge problem. No wonder these two were able to launch a full-scale attack from the four corners of Western Chu. The strength of their troops was really shocking.

"What about us?" After hearing Chu Nanshan's words, Yun Qianmeng was surprised. She didn't expect that Hai Quan and Jiang Muchen both had millions of troops under their command. Emperor Yu Gan really gave Chu Feiyang a difficult problem. Even if Chu Feiyang also had millions of troops under his command, he had to deal with two or three million people at the same time. The pressure can be imagined.

"One million, three hundred thousand." Chu Feiyang reported the number accurately, with a faint smile in his eyes, as if he didn't take Chu Nanshan's words to heart.

"I think that even Emperor Yugan would never have dreamed that the two groups would have so many troops." If he had known this earlier, how could Emperor Yugan have abandoned the palace and fled?

Chu Feiyang patted the back of Yun Qianmeng's hand and said comfortingly, "Don't worry. In a war, numbers are not the key to victory. As long as we use our troops skillfully, we can still defeat the enemy with fewer troops."

"Yes, girl, you just need to take good care of yourself, and leave the rest to grandpa and Feiyang." Chu Nanshan was also worried that Yun Qianmeng would hurt herself due to excessive thinking, so he also spoke to comfort her.

Chu Nanshan stood up, stretched, and said with a smile: "It's been a long time since I left the city. Now that I finally came here, I will go sightseeing first, and then leave with you tomorrow."

Before he finished speaking, Chu Nanshan's figure had disappeared from the wooden house.

After watching Chu Nanshan leave, Yun Qianmeng turned her attention to Chu Feiyang. She gently stroked his slightly bearded face with her bare hands and whispered, "Be careful when you're out there marching and fighting."

Chu Feiyang held Yun Qianmeng's hand, placed it on his lips and kissed it for a moment, then reluctantly let go and spoke, "Don't worry, I have everything under control. Jiang Muchen and Hai Quan's war will last for at least a year or two. I'm most worried about you now. Both of them are as cunning as foxes, and sooner or later they will find your hiding place."

Yun Qianmeng slightly spread her fingers, entwining them with Chu Feiyang's, and said with a faint smile, "It's okay. I have so many secret guards around me, and this place is too secretive. I don't think they will be able to find my hiding place for a while. You just need to focus on the battle, I have my own ideas. Even if we are found, I have already thought of a way to retreat."

"Meng'er..." Chu Feiyang called out softly. He was most worried about her. How could he just say he wasn't worried?

If Grandpa hadn't gone today, even if Meng'er had subdued Concubine Yuande, she still wouldn't have been able to compete with Prince Chen's army. Chu Feiyang couldn't imagine the consequences, nor did he dare to imagine the consequences. He just felt like he was sitting on pins and needles in the tent, so he immediately rode his horse and rushed towards the capital.

Yun Qianmeng's clasped fingers suddenly tightened, her eyes filled with determination as she looked at him. "You and I are like husband and wife, our hearts intertwined. If I suffer, you will surely feel it, and vice versa. Therefore, when we're not by each other's side, we must protect ourselves well. If this valley is discovered, the south is not my destination. After all, King Chen and King Hai both know that Luocheng belongs to the Xiahou clan. If I take this route, I'm afraid I'll be captured by their ambushes along the way. We don't have anyone familiar with us to help us, so we can't go east or west either. The only way is north. As long as we cross the border between Western Chu and Northern Qi, I believe we'll be temporarily safe."

After Yun Qianmeng's reminder, Chu Feiyang suddenly had an epiphany. He was so worried that he even forgot that Rong Rong was in Northern Qi.

A map of Western Chu instantly appeared in Chu Feiyang's mind, and he mentally calculated the driving distance from here to Northern Qi. Chu Feiyang frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on Yun Qianmeng in front of him, fearing that she would disappear without a trace. His voice was filled with great worry and admonition, "Don't rush this for now. The situation is changing too much now. Apart from the people of King Chen and King Hai, many bandits have emerged in various parts of Western Chu to take advantage of the situation. The journey from the capital to Northern Qi is long, and you are pregnant. You must not take such a risk without full preparation."

Seeing the growing anxiety in Chu Feiyang's eyes, Yun Qianmeng nodded obediently to prevent him from having to worry about his own affairs besides the war, and replied: "Don't worry, have you ever seen me do anything rash? Now, I am a little worried about Emperor Yugan and others who disappeared in the palace. Including the empress, the queen mother and the ministers, how could so many people suddenly disappear without a trace?" What worried Yun Qianmeng the most was that Emperor Yugan was already dissatisfied with Chu Feiyang. Would he take the opportunity to hide himself, let the three kings fight to the death, and he would reap the benefits?

Chu Feiyang understood Yun Qianmeng's worries. He stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace, letting her sit on his lap. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, placed his hands on her abdomen, and spoke softly, "Emperor Yugan won't hide."

Hearing the affirmation in Chu Feiyang's tone, Yun Qianmeng turned to look at him in confusion, waiting for him to explain while also expressing her own confusion, "What do you mean? Emperor Yugan has been the emperor for so many years, and the power he has in the dark must not be underestimated. Take the incident of Prince Chen forcing the palace this time. Although Prince Chen won a great victory and occupied the palace. But Prince Chen's army did not capture Emperor Yugan, the Queen Mother, the Queen, and several ministers. Before I left the city, there was still no news in the capital about finding Emperor Yugan and others. From this, it can be seen that the power in the hands of Emperor Yugan must be beyond our expectations. And Prince Chen is now The most important thing is a reasonable reason for him to ascend the throne. If Emperor Yugan is captured alive, tortured, and finally his body is brought out, I believe the people of the world will be convinced. Moreover, with you and Hai Quan's men watching outside, he is naturally the most anxious to find Emperor Yugan. This is also the best news to boost the morale of the Chen Wang Army. I believe Jiang Muchen will fight hard to find Emperor Yugan. Even in this situation, Emperor Yugan still disappeared without a trace, making it impossible for anyone to find him. This shows that he is deliberately hiding. Why did my husband say that he would not hide?"

Seeing Yun Qianmeng raise her head and stare at him intently with such a confused look, Chu Feiyang smiled indulgently and spoke slowly, "Prince Chen claimed that Emperor Yugan died suddenly, and his intention was to force Emperor Yugan out. Although Emperor Yugan has always been shrewd and calculating, he first experienced the rebellion of Prince Hai and then the abdication of Prince Chen. Even the calmest and composed people would be angry. What's more, the first thing Prince Chen did after occupying the palace was to announce to the world that the previous emperor had died suddenly and passed the throne to Prince Chen. This is what Emperor Yugan can't tolerate the most. The affairs of the court are actually no different from the art of war. It's a risky move. Jiang Muchen naturally doesn't want this matter to drag on. By then, It's very likely that a replacement will be found to impersonate Emperor Yugan and announce the funeral. Even if Emperor Yugan reappears to accuse Prince Chen of treason, I'm afraid no one will believe him. At times like these, time is of the essence; whoever seizes the initiative is one step ahead. Emperor Yugan was on guard day and night, but he didn't anticipate Prince Chen's abdication on the night of Haiquan's mutiny. In this respect, Emperor Yugan was already several steps behind. Now, not only has he lost the palace, but he's also become the late emperor in the eyes of the people. How could he sit back and watch the three of us fight without reacting? I believe he's leading everyone to the camp on the outskirts of the city to join us."

Pondering Chu Feiyang's words carefully, Yun Qianmeng's expression darkened as she murmured, "Prince Chen is truly calculating and scheming at every step. He's using the incident of Concubine Yuande's injury as an excuse to show the people how Prince Chen and his son were persecuted by Empress Dowager Yugan and her son. Even a stoic Confucian scholar would be deeply moved by this rebellion under the pretext of filial piety. Otherwise, Emperor Yugan's image would plummet, and he would be labeled a tyrant who treated his younger brother poorly and murdered the Concubine. If Emperor Yugan were to appear before the people this time, I wonder if this would be another success for Prince Chen's scheme, or the beginning of Emperor Yugan's rise to power?"

Chu Feiyang raised his hand and gently smoothed Yun Qianmeng's slightly messy hair while responding to her words, "Yes, Jiang Muchen truly has good intentions. He planned the imprisonment of Prime Minister Yun from the very beginning, seizing the opportunity to plant the daughter of Jiangcheng's richest man, thus triggering a series of events. However, despite all his calculations, he still forgot that I would return to the capital in time that day. Otherwise, if he had let him marry you, Jiang Muchen's plan would have been perfect. As for Emperor Yugan's appearance, it was also forced by the situation. If he hadn't appeared, it would have been an acknowledgement of Jiang Muchen's false edict. Furthermore, he certainly didn't want to see his power damaged again. Even if he was dissatisfied with me, he would have mobilized my army first. Moreover, his appearance would have been a great motivator for the Chu King's army, giving them a better excuse to resist the attack of Haiquan Jiang Muchen."

"I never thought Emperor Yugan would have such a trick up his sleeve. Do you know where he's hiding with so many people? The capital isn't a big city, but it's not a small one either. Now it's completely controlled by Prince Chen. Emperor Yugan is truly capable. He could have made tens of thousands of people disappear without a trace. It's truly unbelievable."

"Although we don't know where he is hiding, Emperor Yugan has not left the capital yet." Although Chu Feiyang is not in the capital, he has left many secret guards everywhere in the capital. He is the one who knows best whether Emperor Yugan has left the city.

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－

2012 is over and 2013 is coming. I wish all my dear ones a happy New Year and a happy New Year's Day!