Chapter 309 Searching for People
Wang Degui's exclamation instantly silenced the entire camp.
All the soldiers looked at Jiang Huan with surprise and uncertainty.
Sun Zheng and the others tensed up instantly, fearing that this sudden exposure would cause unnecessary trouble.
Jiang Huan was also startled by Wang Degui's overly intense reaction and instinctively tried to cover his mouth, but it was too late.
She quickly stepped forward, lowering her voice and speaking urgently: "Eunuch Wang, please keep your voice down. The situation is urgent. Let's go inside and talk first."
Wang Degui then snapped out of his shock and realized he had lost his composure, so he quickly covered his mouth.
He frantically led Jiang Huan and Sun Zheng's group into the cave, almost using both hands and feet, and signaled the soldiers to strengthen their vigilance and not allow anyone to approach.
The cave was dimly lit, with only a single dim oil lamp illuminating Wang Degui's pale and bewildered face.
He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling with tears.
"Your Majesty, my Lady, how...how did you get here? If the Emperor finds out, I could have a hundred heads and still not be enough to pay for it all! You're taking my life!"
Jiang Huan had no time to explain the whole story to Wang Degui; she was extremely anxious and pulled him up.
"This is not the time to talk about this, Eunuch Wang. Where is the Emperor? How is he? Take me to see him quickly."
Upon hearing Jiang Huan mention Huo Lin, Wang Degui was filled with grief and tears streamed down his face.
“Your Majesty… His Majesty… His Majesty…” he choked up, barely able to utter a complete sentence.
"A traitor has emerged in the army, revealing the Emperor's whereabouts. The Northern Di people have set up an ambush, and in order to draw away the pursuers, the Emperor led a small team of personal guards into the Black Sandstorm to the west. Now... now we have been out of contact for two days!"
Black sandstorm? Two days out of contact?
Jiang Huan felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and her heart almost stopped beating.
But she couldn't lose control, she couldn't act rashly. She could only suppress her surging tears and let reason take over her mind: "Have you looked for them?"
“We’ve searched! How could we not find them!” Wang Degui cried. “But the terrain in that Black Sandstorm area is complex, with quicksand everywhere. The Northern Di’s cavalry are constantly harassing and sniping our search and rescue teams from the outside. We’ve sent out several waves of people, but they were either forced back or disappeared without a trace.”
Jiang Huan took a deep breath and fell into a moment of contemplation.
She trusted Huo Lin's resourcefulness and intelligence; he certainly wouldn't sit idly by and wait for his doom.
If he hadn't died, he would have hidden himself away and waited for his chance.
Assuming the life-saving charm hasn't been used up yet, then there's at least one more chance to be resurrected.
But I can't gamble on the odds; I have to take immediate action.
Others may not be able to find it, but she can.
Jiang Huan had never been so fortunate that the golden finger she gained after transmigrating into the book was the ability to hear his thoughts.
As long as you get close enough, his inner voice becomes the most accurate guiding light.
The thought flashed through her mind like lightning, giving her hope.
Jiang Huan grabbed Wang Degui's arm, her eyes burning: "Eunuch Wang, give me a team of men and the best guides. I need to go into the Black Sandstorm area to find the Emperor!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Degui was practically petrified on the spot.
"No, absolutely not! Your Majesty, have you gone mad? Going into that place is a matter of life and death. The Emperor's fate is already unknown. If anything happens to you, this old servant will not be able to atone for his sins even if he dies ten thousand times over. No, this old servant absolutely cannot agree to this!"
"I have to go!"
Jiang Huan remained unyielding, her eyes resolute: "Eunuch Wang, listen to me. The Emperor and I are of one mind. I will definitely find the Emperor. If this drags on any longer, it will truly be too late!"
Wang Degui was on the verge of collapse. "Your Majesty, that's deadly quicksand! I beg you, please stay here and wait for news. Leave the search and rescue to the soldiers!"
"Wait? Wait until how long? Until we find his body!"
Jiang Huan retorted sharply, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Wang Degui, look carefully, I am Consort Zhuang. I am not discussing this with you, I am giving you an order!"
She stepped forward, staring intently at Wang Degui. Her usually lively and charming face was now frosty, and her aura was imposing.
"Immediately prepare men and guides for me. If you disobey this order, I will punish you now for delaying military operations and endangering the monarch!"
Wang Degui was so frightened by her sudden aura that he trembled all over and knelt down again with a thud, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider! That place is truly unsafe. This old servant is doing this for your safety."
"My safety is none of your concern!" Jiang Huan retorted firmly. "Either you give me the person now and I'll go find them myself, or you can wait to collect my and the Emperor's corpses. You decide what to do."
These were extremely harsh words, almost a threat to completely break off relations.
Wang Degui was completely dumbfounded. He looked up at Jiang Huan's determined attitude and his last line of defense collapsed.
He knew that although this lady seemed easy to talk to normally, when she got really stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull her back.
Even the emperor often couldn't do anything about her, let alone a mere servant like himself.
If she were truly pushed to the limit, she might actually dare to rush into that death zone alone, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Rather than letting her venture into danger alone, it would be better to send a team of elite soldiers to protect her. Perhaps... perhaps there is a glimmer of hope?
"This old servant obeys and will make the arrangements immediately. I only ask that Your Majesty take good care of yourself!"
Jiang Huan breathed a heavy sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.
"I know, go quickly!"
Wang Degui was helpless, his face contorted with grief. He wiped away his tears as he walked out, his steps unsteady, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
What a tragedy, what a terrible tragedy.
Your Majesty, this old servant is so sorry.
May our ancestors bless us so that the Empress and the Emperor may return safely; otherwise, he will have no choice but to atone with his death.
As Jiang Huan watched Wang Degui stagger away, her tense nerves finally relaxed slightly. Her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground, but fortunately, Sun Zheng, who was standing next to her, caught her in time.
Her palms were already soaked with cold sweat, and her heart was still pounding.
Jiang Huan took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and looked at Sun Zheng.
"Captain Sun, have your men get ready to come with me."
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