Chapter 62 Kidnapping of the Knife
"Host, you have gained 1 point of Popularity Points." The system suddenly announced: "From Emperor Xiao Xu."
This old guy actually managed to rack up a huge fan base.
Xie Yushu turned her head to avoid the hand that was resting on her face. Before she could react, she heard Pei Heng behind her shout, "Prince Song?"
King Song?
Why is the Prince of Song here? Shouldn't he have been taken out of the palace by Song Jie's men? Could it be that the Prince of Song is using this opportunity to escape, intending to perish together with Emperor Xiao Xu?
Where are Song Jie and Xiao Zhen now?
The plan was disrupted.
Xie Yushu turned around and saw Xiao Dao. His hands and chest were covered in blood, and his eyes were fixed on her. He wanted to reach out and help her, but Xie Yushu immediately shook her head. No, even if the plan was disrupted, she couldn't miss this opportunity. If she missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to find another chance to rescue the Prince of Song.
Amidst the rumbling thunder, Pei Heng and his generals trapped the King of Song and were about to capture him.
Then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the path in the distance; it was unclear whether it was Song Jie's men or Xiao Zhen leading his men.
We cannot delay any longer; we must rescue the King of Song immediately.
"I'm fine, thank you for saving me, Vice General," Xie Yushu said in a low voice to Xiaodao, giving him a wink to signal him to continue according to plan.
Xiao Dao hesitated for a moment, filled with worry, but still turned and rushed into the melee.
At the same time, several dark figures rushed in from all directions and protected the Song King who was about to be captured.
Is he one of Song Jie's men?
Countless palace lanterns were extinguished by the sword, the light and shadows flickering. Xie Yushu could no longer see the chaotic battle unfolding before him, only hearing screams and the sounds of fighting. Among them, someone screamed, "Jia Ning!"
It was Meng Min's voice.
Xie Yushu's heart tightened as he saw a shadowy figure reach out to grab Xie Jianing, but Meng Min lunged forward and hugged Xie Jianing.
"Pei Heng, save Lady Hou!" Xie Yushu cried out urgently, wanting to lure Pei Heng, who was clinging to the Prince of Song, away, but also afraid that Meng Min might actually be hurt.
She instinctively tried to move closer to Meng Min, but her wrist was grabbed again before she could even move.
"It's too dangerous. Stay by my side." Emperor Xiao Xu held her hand tightly, then immediately looked up and ordered, "Zhen'er, save Lady Yong'an."
A troop of imperial guards rushed out from the side path; it was Xiao Zhen who had come over.
Xie Yushu turned around and met Xiao Zhen's gaze.
Xiao Zhen's gaze quickly swept over her wrist, which was being held, and then, as expected, he led his men towards Xie Jianing.
Xie Yushu tried to pull her hand away, but the thin, large hand gripped it even tighter. The old emperor, half-buried in the ground, was actually comforting her: "Don't be afraid, your mother will be alright."
She was extremely annoyed.
Someone screamed again, and several more palace lanterns went out with a series of "poofs".
Amidst the flashing blades, Pei Heng abruptly stopped, halting his movements, and shouted in a low voice, "King Song, do you think kidnapping a deputy general will be of any use?"
Xie Yushu looked again at the fighting crowd and saw that the surrounded King Song was covered in blood and was standing in the crowd holding a small knife.
Her heart, however, calmed down strangely, knowing that the game was still progressing as she had wanted.
"Whether it works or not is not up to you to decide." King Song held the knife and looked at Xiao Xu. "Old man Xiao Xu, you've gone to so much trouble to get an answer, so why don't I decide for you now and kill him so you won't have to worry?"
He twisted the knife in his hand, and the blade sliced through the knife's neck.
Xie Yushu clenched his fingers, and heard Xiao Xu say, "Isn't your goal to escape the palace? Let him go."
Let him go.
Xie Yushu noticed that Xiao Xu glanced at the man in black protecting the Prince of Song, as if to confirm that he was Song Jie's man.
"I will let you go." Xiao Xu waved his hand and ordered, "Pei Heng, step aside and let him and his men leave the palace."
Pei Heng did not hesitate for long, obeyed the order and led his men to step back, making way for them.
Amidst the rumbling thunder, Xie Yushu looked at Xiao Dao, their eyes meeting. Seeing the blood flowing down his neck, his heart trembled uncontrollably.
This is a rare opportunity...
She kept telling herself this in her heart, but she also knew so clearly that she was making Xiaodao take a risk, because the King of Song might really kill Xiaodao.
A cold wind ruffled her slightly disheveled hair, and she clenched her fingers, telling herself again: This is a rare opportunity.
Lightning flashed across the night sky.
The King of Song, holding a small knife hostage, slowly retreated from the banquet and left.
Pei Heng immediately ordered his men to surround the enemy and follow closely behind.
Xie Yushu's heart truly leaped into his throat the moment he couldn't see the knife, hoping that Song Jie wouldn't cause any trouble...
"Your Majesty, I have arrived late to save you."\8 Xiao Zhen quickly stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor.
Xie Yushu forcefully pulled his hand back, glanced at Xiao Zhen, and knew that he would not go to capture the Prince of Song. It would be more beneficial for him to protect the Prince of Song than to capture him.
Xiao Xu's hand fell to the ground, and he subconsciously looked at Xie Yushu again, but his already weak body could no longer stand, and he slumped onto the dragon throne, panting heavily.
"Your Majesty!" Consort Zhang hurriedly came to help him, but saw that Xiao Xu's gaze was always on Madam Pei.
Xiao Zhen moved, blocking Xie Yushu's path and quickly walked towards Xiao Xu, ordering, "Quickly escort Father Emperor back to his palace."
Eunuchs and imperial guards stepped forward to escort the panting emperor and the imperial concubine away from their seats.
Xie Yushu stepped aside with his head down, only raising his head when Xiao Xu left in a grand procession.
The banquet was in complete chaos.
Fortunately, Meng Min was not injured, but she was so frightened that her face turned pale. She clung to Xie Jianing as if she was afraid that someone would take her away again. She really loved Xie Jianing.
Xie Yushu didn't bring Jin Ye and Yin Ya into the palace. Now, he stood alone by the overturned long table, feeling uneasy. He wondered how Xiao Dao was doing and whether Song Jie had rescued the Prince of Song.
She just wanted to leave the palace as soon as possible and get to the Prime Minister's residence.
But as soon as she stepped off the jade steps, Xiao Zhen stood in front of her, half of his body blocking her way.
He looked down at her, as if his eyes held a thousand unspoken thoughts, and asked her softly, "Are you hurt?"
Xie Yushu raised her head and met his gaze. "No."
He continued to look at her, hesitatingly saying, "You shouldn't have been in my way..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a voice calling out "Fourth Prince".
Xie Jianing, still shaken, walked towards him and said to Xiao Zhen, "Your Highness, my mother seems to have had a miscarriage. Could you please have the imperial physician come and examine her?"
Xie Yushu looked at Meng Min and saw that she had lost all color in her face and was talking to Meng Jinyue. It seemed that she had really gone through a miscarriage. So he said softly to Xiao Zhen, "Imperial Physician Lu is here. Why don't we ask him to treat the Lady of the Marquis?"
Xiao Zhen nodded, and while arranging for everyone to be settled in the side hall, he also ordered someone to invite Physician Lu.
As Xie Yushu was about to leave, he once again blocked her way with his arm and said in a low voice, "Madam Pei, please wait a moment while I escort you out of the palace."
Xie Jianing's already pale face became even more ashen. Even a fool could see that Xiao Zhen was worried about Xie Yushu. So many imperial relatives and nobles were waiting for him to settle them, yet he suggested sending Xie Yushu home first.
Her worst fears have come true: even Xiao Zhen has fallen for Xie Yushu? Why? By what right?
"There's no need for Your Highness to trouble yourself," Xie Yushu refused. "I'm sure my second uncle will take care of things for my mother-in-law and me."
She used Pei Heng to reject him.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, another of Pei Heng's lieutenants rushed over and bowed respectfully to her, saying, "Madam Pei, where is Old Madam Pei? The general ordered me to escort you both back to your residence first."
Xie Yushu was in a hurry to leave the palace. She bypassed Xiao Zhen and Xie Jianing and went straight to her frightened mother-in-law, pulling her up.
Meng Jinyue quickly came over, took her hand and asked if she was hurt. She then whispered, "Your aunt was worried about your safety and asked you to come with me and Mother. We'll leave the palace together in a little while."
Xie Yushu glanced at Meng Min, who was also looking at her with concern.
Knowing Meng Min's predicament, she shook her head: "Pei Heng's deputy will escort us out of the palace. You and your mother and aunt should tell them not to worry about me."
Meng Jinyue glanced at the deputy general waiting for Xie Yushu. He was the son of General Zhao, a veteran general who protected the country. He was very reliable, so she felt relieved.
"Jin Yue," Xie Jianing called her again from not far away.
Meng Jinyue could only tell her to be careful, then turned back to her mother and aunt. She heard Xie Jianing say sarcastically, "Mother and aunt, why should you worry about her? She has plenty of men to protect her."
What a harsh comment.
Meng Jinyue really wanted to retort, but seeing her aunt's exhausted state, she didn't want to argue with Jia Ning at this time, so she held back.
But then Xie Yushu, who was about to leave, was stopped by a eunuch.
The eunuch was none other than An Shou, who served the emperor. He bowed to Xie Yushu and said, "Madam Pei has rendered meritorious service in protecting the emperor. His Majesty has ordered me to invite you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive your reward."
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the emperor's sleeping quarters; it would be absurd to summon a subject's wife to the sleeping quarters.
Meng Min frowned, knowing full well that Xie Yushu's mother-in-law was unreliable. In the end, she let go of Jia Ning's hand and called out, "Yushu." She helped Zhenniang walk towards Xie Yushu, saying, "I'll go with you."
Xie Jianing's face was deathly pale. Her mother knew perfectly well that she disliked Xie Yushu, yet she still said she had chosen to help her.
"Jia Ning." Meng Jing called her softly, and said to her with a sigh, "Put away your childishness. Can't you see that she has no hostility towards you and your mother? If you're so interested in targeting her, why don't you send someone to investigate whether your good father has really broken off all ties with Widow Ye?"
Xie Jianing turned to look at her aunt. What did her aunt mean? Her father had clearly sent Ye Xizhu and her daughter onto the ship and back to her hometown. How could things not have been completely severed?
Meng Jing glanced at her, sighed, and touched her face: "Stay with Jin Yue." Then he took the nanny and went over to support the weak Meng Min, saying: "You're not feeling well, go and rest. I'll accompany Yu Shu to express our gratitude."
In the cold wind, Xie Yushu looked at her and Meng Min in surprise. She knew that the Meng family trusted her now, but she didn't expect Meng Min to come and help her despite Xie Jianing's anger...
Meng Jing smiled at the eunuch and said, "This is my niece's first time entering the palace, and she doesn't know the rules. I'll accompany her to express her gratitude to His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine. Please, sir."
The eunuch smiled ingratiatingly, but he couldn't reveal to the two princesses that the Emperor wished to meet with Lady Pei alone...
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A note from the author: I just wanted to let everyone know that I need to go to the hospital tomorrow. If I get back late, I might miss the update, and I'll have to take a day off. (If I get back early, I'll update as usual.)
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