Tactical Strategy
Shen Qianyue got into the car naturally, and the curtains fell, blocking out all sight from outside.
The carriage did not drive towards the bustling street, but instead made many turns and entered the backyard of a seemingly ordinary house.
After passing through several secret doors, the two entered a secret room with thick walls where there was no risk of eavesdropping.
The secret room was brightly lit by candlelight, and there was only a large table covered with various maps and files.
The candlelight illuminated the room brightly, but it could not dispel the solemn and substantial atmosphere.
No need for small talk.
Xie Zhiyun dismissed his attendants, leaving only him and Shen Qianyue in the secret room.
"Tell me, let me see what shortcuts you have found in recent days."
Xie Zhiyun stood with his hands behind his back in front of a huge map of the capital. His tone was calm, but it carried a hint of final consideration.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Qianyue carefully placed her mother's box aside, then walked to the map and pointed to several seemingly insignificant locations on the map. Her voice was clear and calm.
"Your Highness, please take a look. The abandoned imperial kiln in Yongxingfang, east of the city, doesn't have solid soil underneath. Instead, it's a secret tunnel dug by the previous dynasty for emergency purposes. Although it hasn't been used for years, the main structure is still intact, and the exit is hidden among the reeds in the moat. This is one of them."
Her fingertips slid down to the North City. "Secondly, in the gardens behind the old residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei, there's a hidden secret hidden within the rockery. It could lead to the abandoned charity cemetery in the outer city, or even directly to the laundry service passage in the northwest corner of the imperial city."
She then pointed out two or three similar locations, each supported by evidence she had obtained through covert investigation.
The inferences were pieced together from old and new traces of soil, unusual movements of people nearby, and even some fragmentary records found in piles of old papers.
Not only did she point out the passage, she also accurately analyzed the gaps between shifts in the existing defenses in the capital, the blind spots in vision, and which teams' generals could be won over or utilized.
Xie Zhiyun's gaze followed her fingertips, his eyes full of undisguised admiration.
The intelligence was so detailed and insightful that it even surpassed the achievements of his staff. She not only found the way, but also saw through all the "eyes" on the road.
"Good! Good! Good!" Xie Zhiyun clapped his hands and said three good words in a row, his eyes shining.
"Chen Qianyue, ah, Chen Qianyue, I was right about you. With these passages and defense weaknesses, it's not difficult for three thousand elite soldiers to sneak into the city. It's even possible... without bloodshed!"
After their admiration, the two began to make detailed deductions based on the map.
Xie Zhiyun's eyes were blazing. "On the first day of next month, during the Spring Festival, Your Majesty will leave the palace and go to the imperial mausoleum according to the imperial regulations. Once the imperial carriage leaves, the focus of the capital's defense will inevitably shift outward. Although the palace is heavily guarded, it will also be a time for the interior to be empty and relaxed!"
Shen Qianyue nodded: "Yes, the round trip to pay homage to the ancestors takes two days. This is our best opportunity. What are your plans for the deployment of troops?"
Xie Zhiyun pointed at the old residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei and said, "I will personally lead 1,500 elite troops through this passage and attack the Zhenxuan Gate of the Imperial Palace. At the same time, another 500 people will control the four gates of the capital to prevent the news from leaking out and foreign aid from breaking in."
"The remaining 1,000 men will be divided into smaller groups and placed in hiding at key points within the city, ready to provide support at any time and suppress any unrest that may arise."
Chen Qianyue suggested, "How about using fireworks as the communication signal? The first green firework going up indicates that all teams are in position. The second red firework going up from the direction of the palace will be the signal for full deployment."
Xie Zhiyun agreed: "Okay, then, you don't need to go to the dangerous place in person, you can stay at the center..."
He pointed to a secret base on the map that was neither too far nor too close to the palace, making it easy to hide and facilitate information flow.
"Here, you will be in charge of overall coordination. All intelligence will be gathered on you. You will analyze and judge it, and adjust the details of the plan at any time. I will send several experts to guard you. If there is any emergency, you can have them bring you here at any time."
This is a huge trust and also a huge pressure.
Shen Qianyue took a deep breath and nodded seriously: "Yes."
The plan was roughly agreed upon, and every link was repeatedly scrutinized to check for omissions and fill in the gaps.
Xie Zhiyun looked at the woman in front of him who was so calm that it was almost scary. The last bit of doubt in his heart turned into relief and fear - relief that she was an ally, and fear of how terrible it would be if she became an enemy.
Just as the discussion was coming to an end.
Shen Qianyue felt her lower abdomen palpitate slightly. Her fingers on the edge of the map curled up slightly, and her fingertips subconsciously pressed against her abdomen.
At this critical juncture of life and death and the overthrow of the dynasty, this child came at a very wrong time.
She lowered her eyelashes to hide the complex emotions that flashed across her eyes, drank the slightly cold tea in the cup in one gulp, and suppressed the discomfort that suddenly surged up.
She raised her eyes and looked at Xie Zhiyun, who was still concentrating on thinking about the deployment of troops. Her expression was normal, as if the abnormality just now had never happened.
"Your Majesty, you cleverly removed your own nephew cleanly. Now that I have expressed my sincerity, it seems that your plan never considered removing Qianyue's relatives as well."
Treason is a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the family.
Now that he has made the divorce known, she, Shen Qianyue, will no longer have any relationship with Xie Shangjia. Regardless of the success or failure of the plan, Xie Shangjia will be able to stay out of it to the greatest extent possible, preserving his life and even his wealth.
Xie Zhiyun raised an eyebrow, as if a little surprised that she would bring this up at this moment, but did not deny it, just said lightly.
"After all, he is my nephew, so I naturally have to leave a way out for him. As for you... tell me what you think."
Chen Qianyue looked straight at him, without any detours, and said clearly: "Liu Xiangyun, she has been a coward all her life, not concerned with worldly affairs, and has no influence on the court or the overall situation. Regardless of whether this succeeds or not, I want her to live and die peacefully."
Her request was very specific: to protect only one person.
Xie Zhiyun looked at the unquestionable determination in her eyes, smiled, and agreed very readily.
"Yes, I promise you that I will fulfill my promise tonight. If this succeeds, she will enjoy her old age as a royal consort. If this fails... as long as I am still alive, I will protect her and send her away from the capital for resettlement."
Shen Qianyue nodded slightly: "I hope that this time the prince can do what he said."
Xie Zhiyun looked at her, his eyes filled with the confidence and determination of a hero.
"Believe me, Shen Qianyue, your monarch will not abandon you this time."
Shen Qianyue's voice was steady and calm: "Your Highness, if there is nothing else to add, the details are settled as they are. I will handle the affairs of the Shangshu Mansion as soon as possible and move into the other courtyard."
Xie Zhiyun nodded with satisfaction: "Okay! I will immediately send people to inspect the feasibility of the route and arrange for the deployment of troops."
The candlelight in the secret room cast the figures of the two people who had reached a consensus on the wall, huge and deep, as if foreshadowing the storm that was about to sweep across the capital.
Shen Qianyue is about to step out of the door.
"Li'er misses her mother very much."
Xie Zhiyun looked at her back and mentioned it to her.
It was a warning and also to prevent her from feeling uneasy.
Shen Qianyue paused slightly and asked, "Did she take the medicine sent to the palace?"
"She ate it. I even asked a doctor to examine her body carefully."
…
When I returned to the Shangshu Mansion, the lights were already on, and the mansion was still quiet and peaceful.
Xie Shangjia had been waiting at the door for a long time. When he saw her get out of the car, he immediately came over, looked at her expression carefully, and said with concern.
"Are you back? Are your parents-in-law okay? Are you tired?"
Shen Qianyue smiled at him, hiding the fatigue in her eyes: "Everything is fine, I just talked with mother for a while and I feel a little tired."
After dinner, Shen Qianyue dismissed the maid and personally poured a cup of calming tea for Xie Shangjia. After pondering for a moment, she spoke.
"My husband, there is something I want to discuss with you."
Xie Shangjia took the teacup and looked at her gently: "Hmm? Go ahead."
Shen Qianyue spoke calmly, as if she was just talking about an ordinary matter: "I think... tomorrow I will move to the villa in the east of the city and stay there for a few days."
Xie Shangjia was stunned when he heard this, and his brows immediately frowned.
"Moving to the other courtyard? Why do you want to go there suddenly? You are not well now, how can I worry about you? Although it is quiet and peaceful, it is not as comfortable as home. But you are bored in the mansion?"
Shen Qianyue shook her head, her tone gentle but filled with unyielding persistence.
"I'm just going to rest for a few days. Although the mansion is nice, it's always noisy with people coming and going. The courtyard is quiet and peaceful, which is good for calming the mind. Don't worry, I have brought enough maids and guards, so nothing will happen."
Xie Shangjia spoke without thinking: "Then I will also..."
Shen Qianyue had already anticipated his reaction. Her expression was calm, even with a hint of relief in her smile. She gently shook his hand back with her backhand, her tone gentle.
"Have you forgotten? You said you wanted to start studying again and study hard so that you can better take care of me and the children in the future. For the next few days, you can just stay home and study hard. I'll come over for a few days to relax and then come back."
She raised her other hand and gently smoothed his slightly furrowed brow, her eyes as gentle as a pool of spring water: "Could it be that my husband can't bear to leave me in just a few days? Or... don't you believe I can take care of myself?"
Every word Shen Qianyue said made sense, and was also full of coquettishness, which made Xie Shangjia not know how to refute for a moment.
He was still worried and could only sigh helplessly, "...If you really feel comfortable there, then stay there for two days, but no more than three. After three days, I'll come and bring you back personally. You must send someone back every day to report that you're safe."
Shen Qianyue readily agreed: "Okay, I'll listen to you, my husband."
It's late at night and the red candle tent is warm.
The two of them lay on the couch, leaning against each other. Xie Shangjia gently hugged her from behind, his palm carefully covering her slightly bulging belly.
Just when Shen Qianyue thought he had fallen asleep, she heard his low voice ringing softly in the silent night, with a hint of imperceptible tension.
"I know that when you returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion today... you ran into your uncle."
He asked without any reason, but Shen Qianyue understood.
She did not deny it, nor did she panic. She just turned around slowly, stared into his somewhat uneasy eyes in the dim candlelight, and reached out to gently stroke his cheek.
"so what?"
She felt Xie Shangjia's arms tighten a little. He seemed silent for a moment, and then a gentle kiss fell on her forehead, with infinite attachment and a kind of... almost blind trust.
"No reason." He whispered, his tone returning to his usual gentleness, "I believe you."
These five simple words made Shen Qianyue's heart ache more than any questioning or suspicion.
She raised her head, found his lips, kissed him soothingly and with a hint of guilt, buried her face in his chest, listened to his steady heartbeat, and closed her eyes.
"Well, I'll be back in a few days. Don't worry. Study hard at home and wait for me."
Xie Shangjia seemed to be seized by some emotion. He suddenly raised his hand, pinched her cheek lightly with a bit of grievance and accusation, and said sullenly.
"Before... you were unhappy because I was hiding something from you, but now I feel... you are also hiding something from me, but I dare not ask. I'm afraid that if I ask, you will be unhappy, and that you will think I don't trust you..."
"No matter what, my lady, I just want you to be happy. Whatever you want to do, I will...I will try to accept it."
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