On the top of Jinyang City, the cold wind blew up the flags, making them rustle.
Yin Ji and Xiao Lie stood side by side behind the parapet, looking at the royal procession slowly approaching in the distance.
Although the team managed to maintain the emperor's appearance, they could not hide their panic.
The flags are askew and the soldiers are exhausted.
"Your Majesty has finally arrived."
Yinji whispered to himself, his fingers unconsciously clenching the cold bricks of the city wall.
Xiao Lie glanced at him sideways, his voice steady and calm, "Your Highness seems to be troubled."
Yin Ji forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty's arrival means the continuation of the Great Yin Dynasty's legal system. This is a happy occasion."
"It's indeed a happy event."
Xiao Lie turned back, his eyes sharp as an eagle, "With the emperor in charge, we are the legitimate army to suppress the rebellion."
Yinji sneered in his heart, but did not show it on his face.
He knew Xiao Lie's plan too well. What this former confidant of his father needed was not a monarch, but a banner that could command the world.
When the team reached the foot of the city, the carriage that could barely be called an imperial carriage stopped.
The curtain was lifted, revealing Yin Zhao's pale and haggard face.
He looked around timidly, and when his eyes rested on Xiao Lie, he visibly flinched.
"Your Majesty, your servant Xiao Lie, respectfully welcomes you!"
"Your Highness, Prince Yinji of Jin, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"
The two men were the first to kneel down, and the generals behind them shouted "Long live the emperor" in unison, shaking the city walls.
Yin Zhao, supported by Cao Chunfeng, trembled as he stepped out of the carriage. His voice was as thin as a thread: "Everyone, please stand up."
His eyes met Yin Ji's briefly, a hint of shame flashed across his face, and then he quickly looked away.
After entering the city, Xiao Lie personally placed Yin Zhao in the most luxurious courtyard of the Prince of Jin's Mansion and sent heavy troops to guard all the gates.
"Your Majesty has been exhausted from the journey and needs to rest well."
Xiao Lie's tone was respectful, yet it carried an undeniable strength. "I have arranged for doctors to be on call. I will personally handle all government affairs."
Yin Zhao opened his mouth, but finally stammered, "Thank you, my dear."
After Xiao Lie left, Yin Ji stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty needs to rest." Xiao Lie moved aside to block the way, his voice low but firm, "Prince, please return."
After being rejected several times for requesting a meeting, Yinji finally stopped Yinzhao while he was taking a walk in the back garden.
"His Majesty..."
"Nephew, I know what you're going to say!" Yin Zhao interrupted abruptly, looking around in panic. "General Xiao is a loyal minister. In these troubled times, with him in charge, I...I am relieved."
Yin Ji couldn't believe it: "But he has you under house arrest here!"
“This is protection!”
Yin Zhao raised his voice, then began to cough weakly, "Nephew, you are still young and don't understand... In this chaotic world, I am lucky to be alive..."
Looking at his brother's appearance, Yinji felt a chill in his heart.
He returned to his room as if nothing had happened, anxiously waiting for night to fall.
The moonlight is like water and the night is cold.
The door knocked softly three times, and the trusted guard flashed in.
"Your Highness, we've made contact."
The guard whispered, "Lieutenant Zhang and Captain Wang have both expressed their willingness to pledge allegiance to Your Highness, but Xiao Lie's guards are too strict, so they dare not act rashly."
Yinji sighed and said, "I understand. Continue to contact secretly, but be extremely careful."
Just when he was about to despair, the window pane rang again.
A familiar figure climbed in through the window. It was Li Jiang, his trusted bodyguard who had stayed in Shuozhou.
"Your Highness!" Chen Jiang knelt on one knee and took out a secret letter from his arms, "A secret letter from General Zhao."
Yinji hurriedly unfolded it, and Zhao Muyun's vigorous handwriting appeared on the paper:
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I have heard that Your Majesty has arrived in Jinyang. This is an opportunity to rally the people's hearts, but we must also be wary of powerful officials taking advantage of this situation to gain power."
"Your Highness is caught in a whirlpool. You should be patient and protect yourself first. Your marriage is complete, Yao'er is safe, and Shuozhou will support you."
"If Xiao Lie acts disloyal or colludes with foreign enemies, Your Highness can send a message to Shuozhou. The Shuozhou army will be at the gates of Jinyang any day!"
"Don't act rashly. Everything should be done according to the right time. Master, this is Zhao Muyun."
Yinji held the secret letter tightly, as if he were holding a life-saving straw.
He turned to Li Jiang and said, "Tell General Zhao I understand. And tell the princess my message..."
He paused, his voice softening a bit, "Tell her to serve her brother-in-law well!"
......
In the dead of night, candlelight flickered in a secret room in Xinzhou City, Hedong.
Fan Wenjing, using the pseudonym "Mr. Fan", filled the wine glass for the Xinzhou soldier opposite him.
"What does your general think?" Fan Wenjing asked slowly.
The military officer took a sip of his wine and lowered his voice, "The general is very interested in Zuo Xianwang's proposal, but... if we form an alliance with you, I'm afraid it will be bad for our reputation if it gets out."
Fan Wenjing chuckled: "The victors are the kings and the losers are the bandits, why should we be so concerned about trivial matters?"
"Li Jingang has usurped the throne. If General Xiao Lie supports Yin Zhao, he will be a model of loyalty. Once he has established his foothold..."
He paused meaningfully, then took out the secret letter and gift list from his bosom. "Zuo Xian Wang promised that if the general is willing to make things convenient for him, he can become king of Hebei and Shandong in the future."
The soldier looked at the numbers on the gift list, his eyes lit up, and then he said cautiously: "This matter is of great importance..."
"rest assured."
Fan Wenjing leaned closer. "At the beginning of the alliance, there's no need to make it public. Our army can secretly provide 3,000 war horses and 50,000 kilograms of fine iron. When the general needs us, we can also provide cavalry to support us."
"Okay!" The soldier took the secret letter into his arms, "I will do my best to convince the general."
Fan Wenjing left with satisfaction. After leaving the room, he said to his entourage, "Let's go to Lanzhou!"
Just after they left, a black shadow emerged from the darkness on a nearby rooftop. After glancing at the backs of Fan Wenjing and others, the black shadow disappeared.
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