Chapter 87 Zhao Yu rushes back to the capital; the situation is dire.
Zhao Nai called out to Xu Chumian, looking hesitant, "Miss Xu."
Xu Chumian: "What is it?"
Zhao Nai couldn't help but say, "Miss Xu, it's best not to leave the city these next few days. It's not safe right now."
Yesterday outside the city, Xu Chumian was talking in Madam Li's courtyard. Zhao Nai stayed outside the courtyard the whole time. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he had a feeling that Xu Chumian would be leaving the capital again.
Xu Chumian took a deep breath and pursed her lips. "I know, we'll go out of the city again the day after tomorrow..."
Zhao Nai frowned. "What are you going to do outside the city?"
Xu Chumian glanced at him, "It's better if you don't know."
Zhao Nai shut up.
...
The next day, Xu Chumian came out of the school and ran into Mo Zhen.
The two hadn't seen each other for a while.
Although we were taking classes in the same place, after we parted ways at Meiyuan, various things always kept us from going back to school.
When Mo Zhen saw Xu Chumian, a smile appeared on his face. "Chumian, it's only been a few days, how come you've lost so much weight?"
Xu Chumian touched her face and forced a smile, "I hadn't even noticed it myself."
Mo Zhen frowned slightly, her expression concerned. "Let's have lunch together."
Xu Chumian hummed in agreement.
On the way, Mo Zhen boarded Xu Chumian's carriage.
Mo Zhen's father was the Imperial Censor, well-informed. She spoke up, "Chumian, the court is going to war with the Prince of Ding in the north. Weren't the grain supplies that were supposed to be transported to Yuzhou stuck in Luozhou a few days ago? The prefect of Luozhou used to be a man of the Prince of Ding. Yesterday, when the news reached the capital, the grain supplies were directly transported to the north. The prefect of Luozhou has already surrendered to the Prince of Ding."
"The Duke of Zhao set off last night."
Xu Chumian was taken aback, her brows immediately furrowing. "So fast."
Mo Zhen was stunned, then immediately realized that Xiao Qingyan was the second son of Prince Ding...
Mo Zhen's eyes widened, "Chu Mian, that Xiao Qingyan..."
Xiao Qingyan had been in the capital for too long, and his public persona was mostly that of Lord Xiao of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so Mo Zhen didn't realize Xiao Qingyan's true identity at first.
Xu Chumian gave a forced smile; Xiao Qingyan was probably no longer able to return to the capital.
The rebellion in Luozhou officially raised the banner of Prince Ding's rebellion.
Xiao Qingyan... is now a traitor and a rebel.
Mo Zhen couldn't help but advise, "Chumian, to put it bluntly, we are now on the opposite side of Xiao Qingyan. You... should not have any more contact with him. However, we haven't seen him in the capital for a long time. My father said that the Xiao residence is deserted, and he must have left the capital long ago."
Xu Chumian pursed her lips. She opened her mouth, but the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say anything.
"Don't be too sad. Everyone has no choice in what they do."
Xu Chumian felt a slight ache in her chest.
In war, everyone is an ant.
Will I ever see Xiao Qingyan again after we part ways tomorrow night?
The two arrived at the restaurant and were about to go to a private room on the second floor when a group of people suddenly walked towards them.
Mo Zhen pulled Xu Chumian to stand to the side.
The man at the front had a half-mask covering his face, but the half that was visible was handsome and dashing.
Xu Chumian lowered her eyes and stared at the shoes. She noticed a gaze on her that had been fixed on her for a long time. Her face remained calm, but her eyes turned cold.
It was King Cheng.
After King Cheng and his entourage left, Xu Chumian and her companion entered the private room, closed the door, and their voices rang out simultaneously.
"Chu Mian, that was King Cheng just now—"
"Sister Mo Zhen, Prince Cheng should stay away—"
The two spoke in unison, and upon seeing this, they couldn't help but laugh.
Mo Zhen asked curiously, "Chu Mian, what makes you say that?"
Xu Chumian frowned slightly, "In short, I've heard people say that ever since Prince Cheng's face was injured, his temperament is not as gentle and refined as it appears on the surface. In private, he prefers virtuous women and is ruthless..."
Xu Chumian didn't finish her sentence, but the expression on her face said it all.
Prince Cheng was the son of Consort Ning. Many years ago, he had studied under Prince Ding and lived in the north for a long time. When Prince Ding decided to rebel, Prince Cheng had no choice but to rush back to the capital.
Emperor Mingde ordered Prince Cheng to remain in the north. Firstly, Prince Ding was truly capable in battle, and Prince Cheng, with his eccentric temperament, could learn a thing or two from him and temper his character while in the north. Secondly, someone was needed to supervise Prince Ding. In his previous life, Emperor Mingde had deeply felt that Prince Cheng had not had an easy time over the years, so he turned a blind eye to some things.
In her previous life, she returned to the capital around this time. A month later, Xiao Tao took Mu Mu out of the Wenju to see the lantern festival, but they were separated by the crowd. In the end, Mu Mu was rescued by Prince Cheng, and Xu Chumian was extremely grateful.
Not long after, the other half of King Cheng's face was also disfigured, and his personality changed drastically.
During a flower-viewing banquet, Prince Cheng, in collusion with Xingyang, attempted to lure Xu Chumian to a room intoxicated with sleeping potions. Before Xu Chumian even stepped inside, the guards who had been following her stormed in and beat up the naked Prince Cheng.
It was then that Xu Chumian saw the true face of Prince Cheng. Later, many girls' remains were found in Prince Cheng's residence in the capital and in his residence in Ningzhou in the north. Emperor Mingde was furious and demoted Prince Cheng's title, imprisoning him in his residence.
Later, Zhao Yu rose to the position of regent, while King Cheng had his hands and feet cut off and was thrown into a water dungeon.
Mo Zhen's expression immediately became complicated.
“My father said that Prince Cheng only returned to the capital in the last two days. Maybe it’s related to the upcoming war. At worst, we can just avoid him in the future and not mention him. It’s bad luck.”
Xu Chumian hummed in agreement, her heart still heavy. Hearing Mo Zhen's sigh, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister Mo Zhen, what's wrong?"
Mo Zhen rested her chin on her hand, her face still showing some worry. "Gu Xianzhou and his father have also set off with the Duke."
Xu Chumian comforted her, "You'll come back safely."
In my previous life, besides the Duke of Zhao.
All the other generals returned safely.
Xu Chumian's hand tightened around the chopsticks as she reflected on the discrepancies between her present and past lives.
Given Zhao Yu's personality, he must have found a way to avoid those things.
On the battlefield, swords are merciless, and even with Xu Chumian's words of comfort, Mo Zhen's eyes still held an unyielding worry.
Xu Chumian also pretended to have something to do, and after dinner, they all went home.
at the same time.
The procession galloped along the pipeline. This was the second day since they left Yangzhou. At the back of the procession were several prison carts, which held members of the Qin King's faction.
Accompanying Zhao Yu was Chen Feng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Since leaving Yangzhou, Zhao Yu had been traveling with a somber expression. He would rest at the post station after dark for two hours before continuing his journey. With such a compressed schedule, Chen Feng looked pale and sickly. "Lord Zhao," he said, "His Majesty has given us half a month. There's no need to rush like this."
Zhao Yu's face was cold, and the veins on his wrist, which was gripping the reins, bulged. "Lord Chen, the Prince of Yan has rebelled."
Chen Feng was shocked: "What?"
More than two months ago, Zhao Yu had already deployed several spies, scattered in Luozhou, Ningzhou where Prince Ding resided, and Jiangnan and other places.
As soon as the news came from Luozhou, Emperor Mingde in the capital learned of it, and Zhao Yu, who was far away in Jiangnan, also received a message from the secret guards.
The Jiangnan region is damp and cold, with the biting wind feeling like ice blades scraping your bones.
Zhao Yu's voice was extremely cold, "Return to the capital before nightfall tomorrow."
Chen Feng's expression also changed. "Everyone, hurry up and follow."
The heavy snow gradually obscured the faint traces of the group.
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