Chapter 158 The beauty is married, things are not as they used to be.
When the two juniors volunteered at the same time, Dai Li's lips trembled, and she couldn't say a word at first.
Tonight's operation was different from the previous bandit suppression operation. The enemy outnumbered us, and the sheer number of enemies ensured our safety to a large extent. Moreover, Qin Changgeng was with us back then.
But tonight...
It's true that they lived next door to Qingzhou's group, but it wasn't as simple as just climbing over a wall to reach the mansion on the other side.
There is a not-so-narrow alley between the two mansions. If the military patrol surrounds the entire mansion, then there must be people in that alley as well.
The mere thought of gleaming knives and poisoned arrows aimed at her child sent a chill down Dai Li's spine, making her feel as if her heart was being dragged into an icy abyss.
Seeing that Dai Li remained silent, Qin Qinian grew anxious. "Mother, Miss Nangong has met me and my second brother. She even promised to go sightseeing with Rongrong in the future, so we are not strangers. When we go to find her, the soldiers of Qingzhou should not turn on us with swords drawn, so it is most appropriate to leave this matter to us."
Qin Yanzhou understood her concerns: "Mother, Qinian and I can take advantage of the chaos. Once the breach in the mansion is opened, the military patrols will definitely rush over there, which will reduce the number of soldiers guarding other areas."
They used this opportunity to lure the tiger away from the mountain and leave the mansion.
Dai Li opened her mouth, but the word "okay" seemed to be stuck in a thorny bush, and she couldn't get it out.
There was a moment of stillness in the air.
Qin Yanzhou suddenly cupped his hands to Dai Li, bowed deeply, and then turned and strode quickly toward Qingzhou Prefecture.
Qin Qinian was stunned, but then he followed suit, cupping his hands in greeting and immediately following his elder brother.
Dai Li watched the two figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappear into the distance, her eyes slowly welling up with tears in the moonlight. But she didn't call them to stop until the two brothers disappeared around the corner.
"Madam, with guards accompanying them, the young masters will be fine," Qiao Wangfei reassured them.
Time was of the essence, and there was no room for delay. Dai Li slowly exhaled, and as she turned and closed her eyes, a tiny, barely visible tear rolled down her cheek.
"Let's go. There's no room for error tonight." Her tone was cold and indifferent.
This mansion, used for entertaining guests, occupies a very large area, and all parts of the mansion are built in a grand manner, including the main gate that connects to the front courtyard.
At this moment, a row of torches was erected inside and outside the main gate, the flames soaring into the sky, illuminating the area as bright as day.
Outside, separated by just one door, the sounds were mixed and chaotic: the clatter of boots, indistinct whispers, and the soft clanging of weapons.
Inside the walls, the northern soldiers, clad in armor, had already drawn their swords, their eyes blazing, poised to strike, like wolves awaiting the command of their king.
"Please wait a moment, Madam," Qiao Wangfei called out to Dai Li at this moment.
A soldier carrying armor arrived, and Qiao Wangfei said, "The situation is changing rapidly tonight. Swords have no eyes, so we must be extremely careful. This is new armor; please put it on, Madam."
Dai Li did not refuse; she put on the armor, which was much too large for her.
As they arrived at the main gate, someone outside called out, "Has the Lady of the Marquis arrived yet? If not, then there's no need for her to come; I will go into the manor to find her myself."
As soon as these words were spoken, a burst of laughter erupted outside, and someone immediately echoed:
“The lieutenant is right! But it’s the middle of the night, how can we let the beauty go to all this trouble? Why don’t we just go straight in, have a chat with the Lady of the Marquis, and take a look at her boudoir?”
"The beauty has married, and the house is now filled with the foul air of a man; it is not as it used to be."
"So what? Anyway, the Marquis of Wu'an and his wife will be separated from each other and will never see each other again. It's none of the Marquis of Wu'an's business if we go to the wife to chat and see her."
"Hahaha, that's exactly right!"
They not only burst into laughter, but also started banging on the door, making the rather sturdy gate rattle loudly.
Inside the door.
Qiao Wangfei and the other northern soldiers gritted their teeth, their eyes bloodshot with hatred.
"You insolent fools! How dare you discuss the wife of a nobleman bestowed by the imperial court!" Qiao Wangfei couldn't help but shout angrily.
The laughter outside the door became even more unrestrained.
Dai Li shook her head at Qiao Wangfei and whispered, "It's just a provocation. Don't fall for it, Commander Qiao."
Qiao Wangfei knew it was a provocation, but the anger in his chest was like boiling water, churning uncontrollably. To him, Dai Li was far more than just his superior's lover; she was his savior.
Seeing that he was still furious, Dai Li tried to get him away. "Once the side gate is breached, their morale will be greatly boosted, and we will likely face our first strong attack. Commander Qiao, go and arrange the archers."
Qiao Wangfei took a deep breath, accepted the order, and left.
Dai Li walked to the door, pretending not to hear their malicious discussion and laughter, and directly asked in a loud voice: "Where is the leader of the military patrol?"
Amidst the rough laughter, the woman's voice was so abrupt and bright, like a gentle spring breeze suddenly blowing through a wasteland filled with yellow sand.
The howling of the jackals grew even more ferocious.
After a while, it seemed that the person outside the door had suppressed the voices of his subordinates, and the surroundings quieted down again.
"Madam, I am Zhong Zhuo, Lieutenant of the Northern Army. Tonight, I have come to your esteemed residence with my men, as a petty thief has stolen a palace treasure. Following the trail, we have discovered that the thief is very likely hiding in your residence." Zhong Zhuo stared intently at the tightly closed door, as if he could see the beautiful woman behind it through the barrier.
His canines seemed to lengthen and sharpen at that moment, becoming like the fangs of a hyena, stained with foul-smelling saliva.
Zhong Zhuo suppressed a smile. "That treasure was a tribute presented to His Majesty by the local authorities during last year's Lantern Festival. His Majesty was very fond of it, so we hope that Lady Junhou will open the door and cooperate with our search."
Dai Li said coldly, "My mansion is patrolled continuously for twelve hours a day. The petty thief that Lieutenant Zhong mentioned has not been seen by my soldiers. Moreover, this mansion was carefully arranged by Prime Minister Dong, and the gates and walls are all impregnable. Even if Lieutenant Zhong does not trust my soldiers, does he not trust Prime Minister Dong's judgment?"
When Dong Zhou was mentioned at the end, Zhong Zhuo choked up.
His adjutant said, "It's just a matter of opening the gate; it's only a matter of a word from you. You don't need to catch the thief and recover the stolen goods yourself. Why is the Lady of the Marquis making such a fuss? Could it be that the thief who stole the priceless treasure is really in your mansion?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone around him agreed.
Dai Li silently calculated in her mind.
It takes time to survey which side gate has the fewest troops, it takes time to gather a hundred or so people, and it also takes time to relay orders to coordinate subsequent operations...
We need to postpone it a little longer.
“Wait, you just claimed to be a lieutenant in the Northern Army. Words are no proof. Throw your token over here so I can see it,” Dai Li suddenly said.
Zhong Zhuo was astonished. "What token do we need? It's curfew now. The only ones who can walk openly in the city are our city defense patrols."
Dai Li retorted, "That's not necessarily true. The petty thief you mentioned can even steal treasures from the palace and escape unscathed. How could he do that without the help of a gang? Besides, Your Excellency has some disagreements with the governors of the neighboring states. How can we know if you are really on patrol in Chang'an?"
Zhong Zhuo frowned. After whispering a few words to his adjutant, he finally pulled out a token from his pocket. "Madam, please open the door. The token is here."
Dai Li: "Throw it down from above."
Zhong Zhuo's lips twitched, thinking to himself that this Lady Hou really couldn't fall for his tricks at all. After a moment of stalemate, he finally tossed the token into the air.
Dai Li saw something fall from above, and without waiting for it to land, she caught it directly. The bronze token was heavy, and it hurt her hand when it hit her, causing Dai Li to gasp.
Ignoring the pain in her hand, she shoved the token into the hand of the soldier beside her and whispered a few instructions. The soldier's eyes flickered slightly, and without hesitation, he grabbed the token and ran off at full speed.
"Lady Junhou, the token has been checked. Can we open the door now?" Zhong Zhuo called from outside.
Dai Li replied, "I am just a woman and I don't recognize this token. Please wait a moment while I go and call my husband's adjutant."
Laughter started again outside.
"Why go through all this trouble, Lady Junhou? Open the door, and I'll show you how to identify the token."
"Rumor has it that the lady is as beautiful as a peach blossom and has the looks of a moon goddess. If the lieutenant sees the Marquis's wife later, he will probably have to do two things at once."
Hahahaha!
Qiao Wangfei gripped the knife so tightly that his knuckles turned white, as if he wanted to tear them apart and use their flesh for cooking.
Dai Li gave her a reassuring look.
These words held no sway over her; the most important thing was to buy more time. If she could successfully escape the city tonight and rendezvous with the Xuanxiao cavalry in the suburbs, who knew who would be beheaded the next day…
After laughing for a while, they urged Dai Li on.
Just as Dai Li was about to find another excuse, a sudden commotion came from the west. It was as if a deep-sea bomb had exploded, creating huge waves that shattered the fragile peace that had been maintained.
A glint flashed in Dai Li's eyes.
It's here!
Qiao Wangfei quickly said, "Mistress, this place is dangerous. Please take shelter for a while."
Dai Liwu was not good at acting, so naturally she wouldn't stay on the front lines. She nodded, turned and left deftly, the corner of her dress fluttering in the moonlight like a lioness's outstretched claws.
...
Outside the main gate.
Zhong Zhuo stared in astonishment at the west. "Why is it so noisy over there? What happened?"
Horses came galloping in, and a patrolman shouted, "Lieutenant, the west gate of the Qin residence has opened! Our brothers are locked in a stalemate with the Northern Army over there, but they are outnumbered and putting up a fierce resistance. We are temporarily at a disadvantage. Please provide reinforcements, Lieutenant!"
Zhong Zhuo abruptly turned to look at the tightly closed main gate, his grin widening like a hyena celebrating before a meal. "Madam, since your residence has already opened the west gate, surely you won't mind if someone enters through one of the other gates? Men, climb over the wall!"
The military patrol, who were prepared, heard the noise and brought a ladder forward.
*
North side gate direction.
Hearing the commotion on the west side, the Qin brothers, who were waiting, exchanged a glance. Qin Yanzhou said in a low voice, "Wait ten more breaths."
There were hurried footsteps outside the door, sounding as if they were split in two, one half heading west and the other half rushing towards the main entrance.
After counting to ten breaths, the north gate opened with a "click".
Qin Yanzhou and Qin Qinian led ten northern soldiers outwards. The group held a knife in one hand and a grappling hook in the other, with a long rope connected to the sturdy iron hook wrapped around their arms.
A group of soldiers had left the outside, but they hadn't completely dispersed. Now, seeing someone coming out, they shouted and came over with their knives.
But before they could even take a few sips, a bright red stream suddenly shot forward. Some people froze, only to realize later that their vision had been completely reversed and their necks were in excruciating pain.
"Gurgle," something rolled down to the ground.
After taking down several men, the two brothers crossed the alley, simultaneously slamming their iron grappling hooks onto the wall of the opposite mansion before nimbly climbing up.
However, the moment they reached the top of Qingzhou Prefecture's wall, everyone froze. In the cold, shimmering moonlight, rows of arrows were aimed at them.
"Don't shoot! I'm Qin San from next door, here to play with Nangong Xiaoliu!" Qin Qinian sat on the wall.
Qin Yanzhou couldn't help but glance at the boy; the latter noticed and helplessly shrugged at his brother.
If we don't act more familiar now, they probably won't be able to get out of bed. Besides, we've already shared a meal together, how can we not be familiar?
Qin Qinian unilaterally felt that it counted.
Staying on the wall for too long was not safe; it made them easy targets for arrows. Seeing this, the patrolling soldiers outside also raised their arrows.
"Get down first." Qin Yanzhou jumped down.
The crowd followed closely behind.
After some effort, the Qin brothers finally met Nangong Zijin. Meanwhile, the chaos at the Qin residence's west gate came to an end.
One hundred people were initially housed at the west gate.
The strong and robust northern soldiers worked in perfect coordination, like the gaping maw of a giant wolf, easily breaking up the Chang'an military patrol that had surged in.
Corpses fell one by one, their shirts removed by the victors. These shirts were then roughly divided into three parts.
"I'll lead men to Sizhou Prefecture. Xun He, you lead a team to Xuzhou Prefecture. Zhou Jinyuan, you're in charge of Yuzhou." The tasks were quickly assigned.
Xun He was at the back of the group. Just as he was leading his men away, he was suddenly stopped by a soldier who came running towards him.
The soldier, panting heavily from running, still deftly handed him a bronze token, saying haltingly, "Madam, the lieutenant's token... take it..."
Xun He's heart skipped a beat, "Good!"
*
Xuzhou Prefecture.
"The military patrols outside have completely surrounded the Qin residence. There will likely be a fierce battle tonight. Oh, there's some commotion outside. It seems there aren't many people left in the residence from the North. Let's see how long they can hold out."
"I guess it will take at most two hours."
"Why should we care about them? Before our lord went to Chang Le Yuan, he said that there would likely be some changes tonight, and that we should just observe from the sidelines."
"The Marquis of Wu'an has been powerful for decades, it's time..."
Before he finished speaking, the distant noise, like withered leaves drifting downstream, suddenly grew several times closer, as if it were right next to his ear.
"Commander, something terrible has happened! A group of military patrols suddenly infiltrated near the East Gate. They killed several guards and then opened the East Gate."
A burly man jumped up in anger and alarm, "Are you sure you're a military patrol from Chang'an?"
“Confirmed. They were indeed wearing military patrol uniforms, and…” the man gritted his teeth and said, “The small front courtyard was brightly lit. After they stormed in, my subordinates saw someone in the team address the man as a lieutenant, and the latter clearly had a Northern Army token hanging on his waist.”
Everyone present had a drastic change in expression.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even the rapid breathing couldn't be hidden. The sounds of battle outside seemed even closer, the shouts of killing intertwining like a vast, spreading net.
Within the network, there are hearts filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Someone broke the silence softly, "Didn't our lord say that their target tonight is the North?"
"It's true what they said, but now it seems our lord has most likely been deceived by these parasites. That fat Prime Minister Dong is probably not content with just one Northern Tiger; he wants to wipe them all out in one fell swoop," someone sneered.
"Commander, they are ruthless, and we are not righteous either. We can't just sit here and wait to die. Our lord is still waiting for us to rescue him at Chang Le Garden!"
Commander Lei exhaled two streams of foul air from his snot, his tiger-like eyes gazing towards the Xuzhou military camp on the outskirts of the city. He roared, "Follow me and charge out!"
...
A similar scene unfolded successively in Sizhou and Yuzhou Prefecture.
Similar to the situation in Xuzhou Prefecture, everyone in the mansion was terrified. After their initial shock, they were enraged and rose up, drawing their swords to fight back. They forced the "Chang'an Military Patrol" to retreat, ultimately leaving the mansion behind.
But looking around, there were still many military patrols on the surrounding streets, each holding a long halberd and exuding a murderous aura.
"Dong Zhou, you treacherous brat, is a faithless and unfit to be a human being. Follow me and kill him!"
This place was in utter chaos, like a pot of porridge with all sorts of grains mixed in—the word "chaotic" perfectly describes it.
Amidst the chaos, Dai Li, dressed in civilian clothes, took Shi Rongyue and followed Qiao Wangfei through the turbulent crowd toward the East Gate.
As luck would have it, they encountered the Qin brothers on their journey.
Shi Rongyue looked at the scene not far away and subconsciously stopped in her tracks, her lips unconsciously pursed tightly.
A few steps away, Nangong Zijin, who was also fleeing, was walking in a hurry when she tripped over something on the ground. The young man beside her saw this and helped her steady herself.
As the moonlight shone down, only a small patch of moonlight remained between the two figures.
The personal maid asked, puzzled, "Young lady?"
Shi Rongyue raised her hand and pressed it against her chest, murmuring, "It suddenly feels sore here."
Seemingly sensing something, the tall, slender young man suddenly looked this way. Without pausing, he released his grip and walked over.
Shi Rongyue pressed her chest again, her ahoge (a stray hair on her head) standing up straight. "I think I'm all better again!"
Author's Note: Here I am! [dog head with rose in hand]
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