Horses need to stop and rest after running for a while, but boats don't.

So when it got dark, before the ship even got close to the dock, several large ships blocked the waterway ahead, intending to intercept Liu Qi's ship.

Liu Qi glanced at it from afar.

I couldn't help but think of that late night when I first met Su Wanwan.

It is also the Grand Canal.

Flames soared into the sky, and cannons roared.

He was the one who pulled Su Wanwan out of the canal and put her on the boat.

At that time, he was filled with curiosity about this woman who had swum to exhaustion.

The elder brother, Liu Liu, was even more hopeful that he would be valued by high-ranking officials and have a bright future.

Now, their army is pressing in, not far from the capital. Those high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital should be terrified.

The imperial army kept chasing after them, but they could never do anything about it.

Now even the Empress has been arrested.

Liu Qi smiled smugly and pointed at the ship blocking his path: "Ram it at full speed!"

The subordinate was shocked: "This will damage our ships, and we probably won't be able to go very far!"

Liu Qi patted his shoulder, a half-smile on his face: "You still want to keep this boat for the New Year?"

Visibility is obstructed at night, making it unsuitable for boats to sail.

Once you stop, you'll be helpless and have no choice but to surrender.

On the contrary, only by escaping this interception point can one have a chance to escape.

...

Li Dongqian sat upright with his eyes closed.

The emperor confined him to the palace, cutting him off from news, and he was not very clear about the situation outside the capital.

However, the bandits were approaching the capital region and were quite large. If they were to reach the walls of Beijing, the entire court and the people would likely be thrown into a state of panic.

Someone has to take responsibility for this catastrophic disaster.

Li Dongqian's lips curled into a cruel smile.

Amidst public outrage, what foothold do Su Wanwan, who has a close relationship with Liu Qi, and her Su family, have left?

...

At this time, Yang Hu's two leaders, Yang Hu and Zhao Sui, were not present, and Liu Hui, the third leader, had already led the main force to attack Bazhou City.

They seized a bunch of boats belonging to officials and civilians and led a large force to Hou'an Town, intending to attack Bazhou and rescue Zhao Sui from the city first.

They now desperately need a fortified city to withstand the relentless pursuit of the government troops.

...

The Duke of Anguo's Mansion.

Upon hearing that the bandits had reached Baliqiao, only a few dozen miles from the capital, the Duke of Anguo was startled and sat bolt upright in his sickbed: "Help me up!"

"I want to go to the palace to meet the Emperor!"

However, his body was far from being able to withstand such an ordeal.

A spy reports: "His Majesty has personally led the Imperial Guards out of the city!"

Overwhelmed with shock and anger, Duke Anguo fainted before he could catch his breath.

Lady Anguo cried out in grief, "My lord, my lord, how could you leave at a time like this!"

With martial law in the capital, the Gu family's sons are all in the army on standby and have no time to come back.

Wen Shuyi stood by the bedside with her child, tears streaming down her face.

Gu Ziyu and the emperor have always been close, so he should have gone out of the city with the emperor, right?

Is there any danger to my life?

However.

The next moment.

Gu Ziyu strode in, carrying a child in her arms.

Upon hearing that his grandfather had fainted, his handsome face turned extremely cold and somber. He went to the bedside, held his grandfather's thin, bony hand, and his eyes reddened.

He didn't have time to worry about much and simply put the child in his grandmother's arms.

"Grandmother, protect him."

...

Empress Dowager Zhang and Sister Feng were preparing to have dinner in Cikang Palace.

Suddenly, a young eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, it's time."

Empress Dowager Zhang stood up and said to Sister Feng, "Come with me to see your nephew."

She treated Feng Jie'er as her daughter, Princess Xiuyi, so Yan Ge'er would be Princess Xiuyi's nephew.

In the small study next to the Ganqing Gate, Yang Zhen had just put away his textbooks and was preparing to leave school.

Empress Dowager Zhang walked to the door: "I've come to see how the two little ones are learning..."

But as soon as she finished speaking, her face froze.

These are two unfamiliar children.

They are not Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er at all.

Although she had never seen the two children in person, she had their portraits drawn privately and had a general idea of ​​what they looked like.

Empress Dowager Zhang was so angry that her face contorted with rage.

"What a pair of despicable people, they're so cunning!"

She couldn't break into the inner palace.

Even if she had a few spies she had bribed, they couldn't possibly breach the fortified gates of the inner court.

...

Bang!

The collision of the ships produced a tremendous sound.

Su Wanwan and He Ying both fell to the ground.

The ship still broke through the interception line.

But even at the moment of collision, several men in black managed to sneak onto the ship.

A subordinate reported: "The hull is starting to leak!"

Liu Qi decisively ordered: "Continue at full speed! Launch the small boats and prepare to escape!"

He planned to take advantage of the night to quietly leave the ship with Su Wanwan and then dock without anyone noticing.

The road was lined with reeds and farmland, making it relatively easy to hide.

He turned and went into the cabin to look for Su Wanwan.

Su Wanwan called out quickly, "Liu Qi, be careful!"

Liu Qi stopped abruptly at the door, gripping the hilt of his knife tightly.

Suddenly, a knife was thrust at him from behind the door!

Liu Qi swiftly dodged to the side, a strand of hair falling to the ground. A sharp gust of wind swept past, and his neck stung.

That was close!

I almost got stabbed!

The cabin was small, and the two were locked in a fierce struggle, so Liu Qi retreated.

They retreated all the way to the deck.

The outline of the person who came was vaguely discernible.

Su Wanwan and He Ying followed closely behind the newcomer.

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