Chapter 129 Chapter 129

"This..." Chang Yi was forced to sit down, his face still hesitant. Even the King of Yi had a good temper, but he gradually became impatient.

"I don't want to embarrass the general, and please don't embarrass me!"

The sleeves of his robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden python rustled as the Wing King swung them, and the strong wind blew on his cheeks, like a hunter's whip in the snow, each blow bringing with it the fishy and sweet smell of blood.

Zhao Mingcheng could see clearly that King Yi was angry.

He hurriedly walked past Duan Wenpei and took two quick steps towards Changyi, reminding him in a low voice not to forget the agreement they had made when they came here.

After the matter is accomplished, he will personally bring his son, whom he has never met, to him...

"This..." Chang Yi seemed persuaded, his expression changing slightly. "It's not impossible, but how can I, while receiving my emperor's salary, do something that would betray him?"

He looked troubled for a moment, but selfishness finally overcame reason. With a look of despair, he said, "Never mind. I will agree to your request, Your Highness. However, I beg Your Highness to grant me a letter by carrier pigeon to the capital after you have passed our lines of defense. This will be my final duty as a minister."

Seeing the genuine pain on Chang Yi's face, King Yi pretended to be displeased and thought for a moment, then slowly nodded, agreeing to his request.

If Chang Yi agreed immediately, it would make people feel uneasy. But this way, it seems like he had to compromise for the sake of his so-called son, which makes people feel more at ease.

As for reporting to Kyoto?

By the time the emperor receives the news, he will probably have already laid siege to the city. What can he do then?

King Yi pointed at the Kyoto City in the sand table, a smile of confidence appearing on the corner of his mouth.

"Tell all the troops to get ready and march at 3:30 AM tomorrow!"

*

King Yi's men followed General Chang Yi back to their base overnight to prepare for the eastward advance of the Fuhu Army and the Zhenbei Army.

The moon is bright in the sky, and the night is particularly beautiful.

Nan Xu stood in the courtyard of the inn and looked up at the stars. She didn't know that she was only dozens of miles away from Duan Wenpei.

Suddenly, there was a weight on her shoulder. Nan Xu turned around and saw Yin Ruizhu.

Her tense body relaxed slightly, and Nan Xu asked her why she hadn't slept yet.

Yin Ruizhu imitated her and looked up at the starry sky. She shrugged and said casually, "I can't sleep."

"I don't know why, but I miss Mom and Dad especially tonight." She pointed to the brightest star in the eastern sky and asked Nan Xu, "Do you think Mom and Dad can see this star in Kyoto?"

Nan Xu looked in the direction of her hand and replied, "Of course you regret it? Once the matter in Shu is over, you can come back to Beijing with me. Your uncle and aunt are so worried about you."

Yin Ruizhu didn't say anything for a long while, then shook her head and nodded. "It's time to go back and see them, but there are some things I can't convince them of. I just quietly visit my parents. I go back every year, and seeing them safe and healthy from afar makes me feel at ease."

This world would not allow a woman to be so rebellious, but life in Shu made Yin Ruizhu feel another kind of life, another way of living.

Nan Xu tilted her head to look at her and smiled silently.

Sometimes she envied Yin Ruizhu's boldness and courage.

When you love, you love passionately and soul-stirringly; when you escape, you escape clearly and without regrets.

Nan Xu thought, if it were her, she might not have the courage to do so...

"Don't just talk about me, what about you, Ah Xu?"

Nan Xu raised her hand and yawned, puzzled: "What's wrong with me?"

"I've been thinking about this for the past few days. If Prince Yi rebels and is captured, how will the Yong'an Marquisate in Kyoto cope? And what about you and Duan Wenpei?"

Nan Xu didn't expect that someone who had never been interested in these conspiracies would suddenly ask her this question. Her sleepy face suddenly froze, and she looked at the people around her in surprise.

Yin Ruizhu felt a little uncomfortable being looked at by her, and couldn't help but look down at herself again, "I...what's dirty on me?"

Nan Xu shook her head, looking away, and said, "If... that time really comes, I don't know how to deal with it." She paused, "But that's a matter for the future. For now, I can only focus on the present. Things will work out in the end. Maybe there will be a solution by then."

Yin Ruizhu revealed a question that she had always been reluctant to think about. Nan Xu's thoughts were a little confused, but she was helpless. She could only tell herself over and over again not to be anxious and to stay calm.

As she herself said, things will work out when the time comes.

She wrapped her cloak tightly around herself, her eyes lowered, and her expression was depressed.

Even the best night would become somewhat dull. "It's getting late, let's go back and rest." She said and turned to go to the inn. Yin Ruizhu knew from her expression that she had asked a bad question, and she felt annoyed and hurriedly followed her.

The two men, one in front and one behind, were about to step into the inn when suddenly there was a loud bang, the earth shook, and a red light shot up into the sky from the northwest.

Nan Xu was so frightened that she almost fell down. Fortunately, Yin Ruizhu was quick enough to support her from behind.

The noise woke up the people in the inn. Yu Rong led his men out first. Unlike the others, he looked calm, as if he was not surprised by the fire that illuminated half the sky.

Nan Xu's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked him to come forward and answer.

"What's going on? King Yi is taking action?"

The scene of soldiers fighting suddenly emerged in Nan Xu's mind, and his heart was in a knot.

"Take your men over there immediately. They won't be able to find me here for a while. There's no point keeping so many people around me. It's better to go back and help your master." Nan Xu saw that he was unmoved and felt a little irritated. "I won't blame you if anything goes wrong. Take your men over there quickly."

She always felt her heart beating fast.

Yu Rong still didn't move.

"My duty is to protect the lady. I don't care about anything else."

"You're outnumbered. If anything happens to your master... you'll regret it."

Yu Rong was somewhat moved, but he regained his composure in an instant. He hesitated and said, "It's not the master, it's Mr. Xie and his wife's...eldest brother."

"What!"

Nan Xu screamed and almost fell down.

Everyone who came out to watch the fun turned to look over. Nan Xu quickly fell silent and asked him in a low voice what was going on.

Seeing that things had come to this point, Yu Rong knew that he could no longer hide it, so he told the whole story.

It turned out that on the night when the brother and sister went to see Duan Wenpei about Nan Yiling's imprisonment, they discussed how to rescue people later. Nan Yicheng felt bad about it and wanted to do his part to save the Marquis's family.

Duan Wenpei naturally understood what his brother-in-law was thinking. After some discussion, he finally handed the task of blowing up the stockpiled thunder bombs to Nan Yicheng.

To be on the safe side, Xie Jin also went up the mountain.

Looking at the flames rising to the sky in the northwest, Nan Xu turned pale with fear. "Brother... you are just a scholar, how could you..."

King Yi and Zhao Mingcheng will definitely send heavy troops to guard such an important thing. Swords and knives are merciless, and gunpowder is even more merciless. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger.

Nan Xu bit her lower lip tightly. "Tell me, how far has your master's plan progressed?"

She knew that no matter how anxious she was, it would be of no use, but she was unwilling to just sit there and do nothing.

Nan Xu wondered what she should do.

*

In the western suburbs camp, the sound of an explosion woke up Zhao Mingcheng and King Yi who had just closed their eyes.

The two men put on their clothes, sat up and rushed out of the tent, just in time to see the fire rising into the sky from the northwest.

King Yi took a few steps back in shock, but Zhao Mingcheng was only surprised for a moment and hurriedly ordered his men to ride faster to find out the truth.

Before the people sent out walked out of the camp gate, several people on horseback came to them at the end of the road, and the person leading them was Li Zhan.

"No need to send anyone. Your Highness, someone did explode a thunder bomb." Seeing King Yi's face turn pale, he added, "Fortunately, I was on guard yesterday and had some of the people moved away overnight. It's not much, but as long as Your Highness is quick enough, it will be enough."

There is always a ray of hope after a dark cloud. Li Zhan's words made people's hearts fluctuate, but finally they settled down.

King Yi and Zhao Mingcheng looked at each other and both knew that this was not the time to hesitate or regret. They immediately gave orders for the army to rest immediately and set off before dawn.

King Yi walked up to Li Zhan, patted his shoulder, and whispered a few words. As Li Zhan listened, his eyes gradually became solemn. After nodding to King Yi, he was about to get on his horse and leave. However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and looked at Duan Wenpei who was standing at the back.

King Yi also followed his gaze and looked

Duan Wenpei rubbed the sleepiness between his brows and pretended not to see it.

After a while, Li Zhan rode away. King Yi withdrew his gaze from Duan Wenpei and went to the tent alone. Before leaving, he secretly made a gesture to Zhao Mingcheng. Zhao Mingcheng closed his eyes and nodded to show that he understood.

Torches were lit, illuminating the camp in the darkness as if it were daytime.

With the sound of a loud horn, the soldiers marched forward in unison.

The sky was still dark, but the ground beneath our feet was shaking in silence.

Prince Yi and his son Zhao Mingcheng were all wearing armor and sitting on tall horses, looking down at Duan Wenpei who was still wearing wedding clothes and a cloak.

King Yi said nothing, just took a deep look and rode his horse forward.

Zhao Mingcheng followed closely behind, and only Zhao Huaian stayed.

The flags rustled in the morning breeze. Zhao Huaian led the horse around Duan Wenpei twice. When he circled behind him for the third time, he heard a few whistling sounds similar to the whistling of the wind, and the thin iron chain flew out of his hand and hit Duan Wenpei directly.

One end of the chain was connected to a sharp barb, which was about to pierce into the flesh. Suddenly, the tall figure moved, and flew over like a light swan, then jumped onto the horse, and in the blink of an eye, he jumped behind Zhao Huaian and clamped his neck.

"The incident outside Kyoto hasn't taught the eldest young master a lesson yet?"

Zhao Huaian didn't expect Duan Wenpei to be so fast. He blurted out in shock, "You don't have any Chinese medicine?"

Duan Wenpei pointed at the Zhou family member who was standing not far away and was sent to his side by Zhao Mingcheng. "You mean him? I'm sorry, he's my man."

"No, no, it's impossible. How could the Zhou family...?" Before he could finish his words, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his throat. Zhao Huaian subconsciously covered his throat with his hand, and hot liquid instantly gushed out, soaking his entire arm.

The world began to turn upside down, and the last thing I saw after falling off my horse was Duan Wenpei wiping the blood from his hands with a handkerchief in disgust.

He was so high and mighty, so nonchalant, as if their lives were already lambs to the slaughter in his eyes... No, no, no, he didn't want to die. He hadn't even reached the highest position of power yet, so how could he die? How dare Duan Wenpei, how could he kill him!

"Kill, quickly... kill, kill, kill... him..."

He was choking on blood, unable to speak clearly. He still struggled to give orders. Shadows swarmed out, and more people were strangled on the spot. Some were strangers, while others were familiar. They were members of the Zhou family, many of them...

Zhao Huaian struggled to turn over and stand up.

He desperately pulled at the stirrups, making a hoarse sound, "You...you...don't you want to...take...Nan's...life—"

Before he could finish his words, his head tilted to the side and he became motionless.

Duan Wenpei stared at him coldly for a moment, then gently kicked him down.

He never thought of showing mercy to the son of the man who killed his mother.

All the pretense and compromise before was just for this moment.

"drive!"

The horse started running again, stepping over the blood on the ground, and rushed along the westward path with the flames of revenge.

When the horses neighed as they passed by the inconspicuous inn beside the path, Nan Xu and Yu Rong were also preparing to set off with their men.

Yin Ruizhu spotted Duan Wenpei, who was riding in red, in the lead, and waved at Nan Xu in surprise.

Nan Xu didn't expect to meet Duan Wenpei here. After discussing with each other, they decided to split into two groups.

Nan Xu and Yu Rong took half of the people to chase Duan Wenpei.

Yin Ruizhu led the remaining people to the direction of the thunder bomb explosion to meet Nan Yicheng and Xie Jin.