65 Attack the Heart
◎Can't we just give them a taste of their own medicine?◎
"It's been two years since we last met. The princess has really changed a lot." Xiao Jue looked at the princess in front of him with great emotion.
Rong Qianyu greeted him, "It can't be helped. I'm truly grateful that Father is able to help me this time. I'll definitely reward you handsomely when the matter is resolved. Wen Xiaqing has also worked hard, bothering him to intervene on my behalf. When will he and Kui'er get married? Is there a date set?"
It was the first time she called him by his full name. She had always called him Brother Xia Qing in the past. When Xiao Jue heard her change of address, his heart finally settled down.
He chuckled, "I guess it'll be next year. Seeing you all grow up, it'll be a pleasure for you as the elders."
The two of them took Fu Huaixiao to the palace in a carriage. This time, thanks to the timely arrival of reinforcements, the plan would have failed. "Uncle Xiao, I'm really sorry to trouble you this time."
Xiao Jue felt a mixture of emotions. The princess used to dislike socializing and flattery, but now she'd become adept at socializing and even offered polite words. "The fact that the princess can use me proves I'm not completely useless yet."
Smoke billowed, wailing echoed for miles as soldiers braved the enemy with reckless abandon. Blood splattered everywhere like goose feathers. The palace gates were breached, and the eunuchs and maids were thrown into chaos as the rebels rushed in. Fu Zhang led his men straight to the Huangji Palace, where Fu Hua was.
Fu Zhang led his men to cut through all obstacles along the way. The journey seemed too easy. He took a few running steps, stepped on one foot, and flew into the air, jumping onto the top of the high wall.
He took a step forward and rushed to the front. He came with a long sword in his hand, stirring the air and making a rustling sound. Just as the sword was about to stab Fu Hua, he dodged and avoided the opponent's attack.
Fu Zhang pointed his sword at Fu Hua, and a clash of swords was imminent.
Under the escort of Rong Jun, Rong Qianyu took Fu Huaixiao and fought back through the gate on the city wall. They were relatively safe as they were protected along the way.
"The prince is here, why don't you retreat immediately!"
With a loud shout, Fu Zhang's sword deviated a little, and Rong Qianyu appeared in the chaotic army, holding a dagger and Fu Huaixiao.
His father's instinct distracted him, "Xiao'er!"
He hadn't expected reinforcements from Rong State. Fu Huaixiao had just been held hostage, and had witnessed the bloodshed along the way. Even an eight-year-old, no matter how mature, couldn't avoid it. By now, he was completely numb, his face pale and his whole body trembling, unable to move, held by the dagger.
"Father!!! Father..." Fu Huaixiao finally burst into tears this time, calling out to his father at the top of his lungs, almost fainting from excitement.
"Let Xiao'er go!" Fu Zhang was originally arrogant, but he panicked when he saw the child.
Rong Qianyu took Fu Huaixiao and walked step by step into the range of the short arrows. All the archers were ready. As long as King Jin gave the order, she could be shot into a sieve in an instant.
"Your Highness the Prince of Jin is such a coward. If you want to save your son, you might as well kill me with an arrow. Do you dare to take the gamble?" She approached step by step and stopped more than two meters away from him.
Every word she said hit his vital point.
"You're taking children hostage. How vicious!"
His face was ferocious and his eyes were full of anger. He began to become impatient. Fu Huaixiao was his proudest child. He clenched his fists and wished he could kill Rong Qianyu as soon as possible, but the child was in her hands and he could not take any risks.
"All is fair in war. You can use me as a hostage to threaten His Majesty, so can't we return the favor? My brother, you think too simply. His Majesty is the true emperor. How could he be a fool who can be easily guessed by you?"
Just before this moment, Fu Zhang thought that Rong Qianyu would be a weak woman who was easy to control, but he didn't expect that he would fall into the hands of a woman.
Fu Zhang's heart was beating like a drum, and his chest seemed to be pressed by something. Fu Huaixiao was still crying, and his scarlet eyes were fixed on Rong Qianyu, like a hungry wolf staring at a prey, ready to pounce and bite it to death at any time.
"Your Highness!" Suddenly, a trembling female voice came from behind.
Looking back, it was Liu Yuan.
On one side is the son, and on the other side is the wife. Choosing either side will result in a dead end.
Fu Zhang was forced into a desperate situation and had to surrender. He had no interest in the throne in the first place, and it was always the people around him who instigated him. Now he was even more panicked.
To seize the opportunity to attack someone, one must first attack their heart. Rong Qianyu continued, "It really wasn't us who set up this scheme. Ask your good princess how Concubine Xian died. Did she really hang herself out of anger?"
"What?"
Fu Zhang was still completely unaware of the situation, which was exactly what Rong Qianyu had expected, so she began to explain to him.
Why did Concubine Liu Xian die, and why did she end up in such a desperate situation today?
Before the late emperor passed away, Fu Zhang went to see his mother for the last time. That day, she said many strange things and kept urging her to rebel. However, long before Fu Zhang came, someone had already instigated her.
It was Liu Yuan.
Her words were sincere. Although she was a cousin from the same clan and didn't socialize much, she often came to show her filial piety during those days. "Mother, I call you Mother, but you are also my aunt. Aunt, please help the prince."
Liu Tongwu asked weakly, "How can I fulfill this?"
Liu Yuan said, "Your Highness is the heir to the throne, and you are his greatest concern. As long as you die, His Highness will never hesitate again. Your Highness has the support of my father, the Liu family, and the support of the reinforcements. Dealing with Fu Hua will not be a problem. If he ascends the throne as emperor, and you are the empress dowager, you can be buried with the late emperor. Wouldn't your death be a worthy one?"
This is also the reason why she is filial.
Liu Tongwu was somewhat reluctant, "Are you going to force me to death?" These words were mentioned repeatedly by Liu's group. She was fed up with it but had to consider the family, so even though she was annoyed, she did not refuse.
Liu Yuan remained calm and gently advised, "It's not us, it's you. For His Highness, your great cause will be accomplished."
At this moment, the palace maid announced, "Her Majesty, Prince Jin has arrived!"
Then she stood up and left, and before leaving, she did not forget to remind her, "I will take my leave first. Everything will be decided by Your Majesty."
As Fu Zhang listened to Rong Qianyu's explanation, his tears kept rolling down, his lips trembled slightly, and he felt a sense of collapse in an instant, and he could not hold the sword in his hand steadily.
Tears flowed like a spring, and he couldn't control his emotional breakdown.
As the two sides were in a tense situation, General An led reinforcements to surround the palace. Fu Zhang was doomed. "I am late in coming to your rescue. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Fu Hua nodded and said, "Prince Jin is disobedient to the emperor, unfaithful and unfilial, unkind and unjust. Capture him immediately!"
Fu Zhang shot an arrow towards Rong Qianyu, but it was blocked by Xue Ji's long sword.
The description of the sword is that it flashes across the sky with a cold light and moves at a very fast speed.
He used all his strength to jump into the air, and with a flick of his wrist, the dagger in his hand flew out, emitting a sharp cold light and stabbing towards Xue Ji. Xue Ji caught his dagger, but was scratched during the fight.
General An shot Fu Zhang in the thigh with an arrow, and the soldiers rushed forward and finally captured him.
Rong Qianyu was very worried when she saw the wound on Xue Ji's arm. In the chaotic crowd, their eyes met and they nodded to each other to express their comfort.
Although the matter came to an end, Rong Qianyu did not rush back to the palace as she still had some things to deal with.
The Prince of Jin was imprisoned and the princess was placed under house arrest in the palace. She no longer had the arrogance she once had. Liu Yuan wore the simplest clothes and sat alone in front of the window.
"Why did you come back?"
Rong Qianyu brought a chair and sat down, acting as if nothing had happened, "Your Majesty and I have a long-standing grudge, so shouldn't I be hiding here for a while?"
Liu Yuan said disdainfully, "The Crown Princess really loves to joke around."
Rong Qianyu also smiled in understanding, "Actually, I still have something to explain to you, otherwise I would have returned to the palace."
"What are you going to do?" Liu Yan sounded weak, completely different from her arrogant attitude two months ago.
Just like what Rong Qianyu and the two maids said, you may be rich today, but a prisoner tomorrow. Who knows what your whole life will be like.
"Xiao'er is more sensible than you adults. Do you know who came up with this pincer attack?"
Liu Yuan was listless and slow to react. "Xiao'er?"
At this moment, the winner will be the king and the loser will be the bandit. Rong Qianyu didn't need to beat around the bush with her. "He has really taken great pains to prevent your entire family from being exterminated. It's a pity that his parents are not very reasonable."
Before the Rong army surrounded Liu's house, the two had already decided to stage a show.
That day, Fu Huaixiao burst into tears and suddenly knelt in front of Rong Qianyu, his smiling face red from crying. He tugged at her skirt, looking at her pitifully with his big eyes. "Auntie, please tell me how to save my father and mother!"
"Xiao'er..."
She knew he was a little brat, but she didn't expect him to be so thoughtful.
"Aunt, you don't have to treat me like a child. Huaixiao is almost nine years old, not a child anymore. Mom and Dad were just confused for a moment. Please, aunt... please, Queen, tell me how to preserve my parents' names. Xiao'er is willing to give up the crown prince just for the sake of my parents and sister's safety."
His maturity caught Rong Qianyu off guard. A child under ten years old could have such ideas. It seemed that Prince Jin and his wife had indeed taught a good child.
"This is not your business, nor is it mine to manage."
"Aunt..." Fu Huaixiao begged her in a low voice, with determination in his eyes.
Rong Qianyu helped him up, feeling really sorry for him. "I'll tell you a way, but I don't know if I can save Prince Jin's name."
It's just one note, maybe it will be useful, as it can fulfill his filial piety.
Liu Yuan sat with her knees hugged, tears of regret streaming down her face. She now thought all this was her own fault. The little bits of happiness she once had felt now sliced through her heart like a sharp blade, and every memory brought her immense pain.
Rong Qianyu stood in the light and watched her huddled helplessly in the corner. This lady from a noble family was eventually forced into a resentful woman by herself.
"He was being too clever. The Prince of Jin had no intention of rebelling. He was instigated by you, especially by you, his wise wife. Now, the new emperor is worried about establishing his authority upon his ascension to the throne. You have given him a perfect opportunity. I will completely crush your Liu clan. All women and children will be exiled, and all adult men will be beheaded. I wonder if this result is satisfactory to the Princess?"
Liu Yuan blamed herself first, then turned her attention to Rong Qianyu. "Aren't you afraid of the ghosts who will come to take your life? You're much smarter than Fu Hua. They thought I wouldn't tip them off if I kept you close. I guess I underestimated you. The winner is the king, the loser is the bandit. You can kill me or chop me up as you please."
Her emotions were completely out of control, her expression was crazy, her speech was incoherent, she started crying and then laughed, her pretty features gradually became distorted, and she looked like a mad woman.
Rong Qianyu looked at her quietly. Her calmness at this moment made Liu Yuan's madness seem even more obvious.
"I won't kill you," she said. "I want Yan'er."
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