With the protection of a second-grade Grandmaster, the group quietly evaded all eyes and ears and left the heavily guarded palace.

Under the cover of night, the city of Fengjing was far less bustling than usual due to news of unrest in the southern border.

Although the curfew had not yet been imposed, the people's faces showed a degree of apprehension.

But life must go on, and the scattered lights and vendors' cries are still trying to maintain the fragile peace.

As I passed a food stall with a canopy on the street corner, the warm white steam rising from the steamer, mixed with the aroma of food, just wafted into my nostrils.

Before it could even whet any appetite, it had already been left far behind.

That faint trace of human warmth, fleeting yet like a pebble thrown into a lake, creates a shallow ripple in people's hearts.

Night fell rapidly, and the city walls were soon left behind.

As agreed, Yin Zhe waited five miles away.

Before long, a lone carriage appeared beside the official road.

Two people were standing by the car: Yin Zhe and Ling Duo.

Ling Duo is most skilled in intelligence gathering and interrogation. He accompanied them this time to ensure that Jiang Wuyai and the other two maintained their full fighting strength, and he was responsible for most of the travel arrangements.

Secondly, upon arrival at the border, he would be in charge of the Xuanji Guard and would coordinate intelligence from all sides.

Despite the tight schedule, Yin Zhe still made arrangements meticulously.

The carriage was lined with thick, soft cushions, and the wheels were specially made by Xuanjiwei to greatly reduce bumps.

She helped Qin Zhaoyue settle the Empress into the most comfortable position in the carriage.

Lifting the carriage curtain, he looked at Qin Zhaoyue's hand, which had never left the Empress's wrist, and a thousand words choked in his throat.

"The pills, dried meat, dry rations, and water are all prepared," she whispered, her voice sounding somewhat ethereal in the night breeze.

"I also brought you some snacks, so you can pass the time if you get bored on the way."

If there are any needs along the way, just give the order to Lingduo, and he can mobilize the local Xuanji Guards.

Remember, never underestimate the power and resources of a powerful family. Our only advantage is to strike unexpectedly and ensure a decisive victory.

Actually, there's a second half to the saying: if the first attack fails, one should immediately flee.

But these words... cannot be truly spoken.

After giving her instructions, she suddenly crouched down, leaned halfway into the carriage, her gaze fixed intently on Qin Zhaoyue, and lowered her voice:

"Sixth Brother, listen up. From the moment the Second Brother issued that proclamation, he has been a traitor to the dynasty."

This assassination attempt was a decision made by the Imperial Study and the Xuanji Guard based on the overall situation; it was not your decision alone.

Qin Zhaoyue looked back at her, her gaze calm and unwavering.

How could she not understand? The murder of a royal heir, regardless of the reason, is an indelible stain.

Given the current situation, everyone is rushing to take her burden, but what about the future?

When the storm has subsided and peace returns?

He chuckled inwardly, knowing he had never coveted the supreme position, but there was no need to say this to anyone else.

Qin Zhaoyue suddenly curved her lips into a smile, her tone becoming slightly more relaxed:

"Auntie, I think the Douzhan is quite nice."

He may be a bit slow-witted and clumsy, but he only has eyes for you. Maybe we should just make do.

Yin Zhe was caught off guard and stood there stunned.

Just then, Lingduo cracked his whip, the carriage shuddered violently, and then sped off, quickly disappearing into the deep night.

Yin Zhe remained alone in the same spot, gazing in the direction the carriage had disappeared, standing motionless for a very long time.

The night breeze fluttered her clothes, as if trying to transform her into a part of the boundless night.

The carriage sped southward, and Lingduo's driving skills were extremely proficient, with almost no pauses.

The scenery outside the car window wasn't exactly magnificent, but it was far more vivid and lively than when I was confined to the four walls of the imperial study.

Although he lacked the meticulous care of his personal attendants such as Su Quan and Sui Mo, his newly recognized "senior brother" Jiang Wuyai was still incredibly considerate, even more so than Su Quan and Sui Mo.

"Junior Sister, are you hungry? Senior Brother sees smoke coming from a chimney ahead."

"Are you thirsty? There's still water in your water bag."

"Should I go to the town ahead and buy some freshly steamed pastries? It'll be quick and won't delay our journey."

...

At first, Qin Zhaoyue was quite uncomfortable with such enthusiasm. After all, they were not relatives or acquaintances, and she was not very familiar with them. Such attentiveness always made her suspicious.

However, after a while, she gradually got used to Jiang Wuyai's repeated concern and care.

While Jiang Wuyai got out of the car again to buy hot food, Chu Xinglan leaned forward slightly.

Under the cover of the rumbling of the wheels, a faint whisper reached Qin Zhaoyue's ears.

It turns out that although the three sacred artifacts of the Tianyan Sect are known throughout the world, the "Heavenly Plate" is ultimately special, as it is related to the sect's most mysterious inheritance of great fortune.

There is a long-standing rumor within the sect that the opportunity to break through to the first-grade realm may lie in the Heavenly Plate.

Therefore, Jiang Wuyai's dedication was solely due to his desire to absorb more of the Heavenly Fortune.

Upon hearing this explanation, Qin Zhaoyue felt somewhat at ease.

If he truly intended to kill and seize the weapon, he would have done so long ago in the remote wilderness thousands of miles from the capital; there would have been no need for such elaborate schemes.

The journey along Zhongchen Road was relatively peaceful, and there were not many scenes of panic.

Lingduo changed two strong and swift horses almost every two hours through the secret channels of the Xuanji Guard.

They spared no effort in terms of power, seeking only the fastest speed.

In the middle of the day, the carriage entered the territory of Tianxuan Road.

At this point, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

The number of carriages and horses on the official roads increased significantly, and most of them were families traveling north. The people's faces clearly showed their anxiety and unease. The further south they went, the stronger this atmosphere of panicked escape became.

Later, in order to ensure their speed of travel, they even had to leave the official road several times.

After traveling day and night, the group finally arrived at the junction of Tianxuan Road and Zhuque South Road.

Here, the last horse was changed, and a single horse of ordinary appearance was used to pull the carriage, and the speed was slowed down.

Chu Xinglan replaced Ling Duo, whose true energy was greatly depleted, allowing him to recuperate.

After all, once they arrive in the Southern Territory, the commander-in-chief will still need to rely on him for intelligence and other matters.

As the car slowed down, Jiang Wuyai stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Well... Junior Sister, there's something I don't understand."

"Please speak freely, senior brother."

After a day, Qin Zhaoyue had become accustomed to this form of address and responded without any hesitation.

Jiang Wuyai called her "Junior Sister" so naturally, as if she were a disciple of the Tianyan Sect who had been raised from childhood.

"Since the Second Prince has the support of a powerful family and has suddenly amassed 30,000 troops at the border, why not take advantage of the situation and seize Tianxuan Dao in one fell swoop?"

The Imperial Guard of 10,000 is still en route, and the Tianxuan Dao garrison...

From what we've seen along the way, their numbers and fighting strength are utterly insignificant.

Qin Zhaoyue pondered for a moment: "Perhaps it's because if we don't take Tianxuan, we only need to hold onto one border."

If we take it, we will have to deal with the combined attacks from Zhongchen and Tianji.

The Fengjing Imperial Guards are quick to deploy, have short supply lines, and possess considerable combat strength, which may lead to them being caught in a two-front war once again.

This is the most reasonable explanation I can think of; as for specific military strategies... I truly know nothing about military affairs.

Jiang Wuyai immediately waved his hands repeatedly, his tone full of admiration:

"Junior Sister, you're too modest. I'm absolutely certain that's the case! There's no mistake!"

Qin Zhaoyue was speechless for a moment. Such mindless praise... strangely pleased her.