"Your Majesty, Princess Yue, and countless innocent citizens of Dongning, so many precious lives... No, no, Your Highness, you can't do this, you can't..."
With that, Yi Shangyun stumbled to her feet and stormed out the door.
But as soon as she stepped out, she was stopped by two guards who stood like door gods: "Miss Yi, His Highness has ordered that you are not allowed to go out tonight."
Yi Shangyun stared at him, wide-eyed in shock. Only then did she realize that she had been kept in the dark about everything that had happened recently.
Helpless, the two servants, Yi Shangyun and her master, retreated back into the house. At this moment, they were like ants on a hot pan, restless and uneasy.
Watching the dazzling fireworks rise and explode in the night sky outside the window, illuminating the entire night, Yi Shangyun's eyes reddened.
Yan'er was terrified and cried, "Miss, what should we do? How did things turn out like this?"
Yi Shangyun frowned deeply, pacing back and forth in the room, muttering to himself as if trying to comfort himself, "No, His Highness wouldn't do this, His Highness wouldn't be so cruel, there must be another reason, he wouldn't, he wouldn't..."
After leaving the house, Xuan Yuanhan went to a private room in a teahouse in the city that he had arranged to meet earlier.
These were the representatives of the Western Qin merchants who were posing as traders with Mei Zhixuan, or perhaps the leaders of the ambush force. They were a mysterious group that Emperor Jing had specially organized for Xuan Yuanhan's trip. Among them, of course, were Emperor Jing's confidants.
Before nightfall, everyone had gathered here and had been waiting for a long time. As soon as Xuan Yuanhan finally appeared before them, they all stood up and bowed to him. Then, the group sat around the table, with Cheng Liang standing behind Xuan Yuanhan.
Perhaps because Xuan Yuanhan's expression was even colder than usual tonight, no one dared to speak for a long time.
Finally, it was one of the older men, who seemed to have a higher status than the others, who spoke up and asked, "Tonight is the best time for our operation. If we miss it, it will be easy to expose our identities. I wonder if Your Highness, the Prince of Qin, has already thought it through?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan coldly glared at the man with his piercingly sharp eyes, but then gradually suppressed his anger. He then curled his lips into a smile and said, "Since you have all gone to such lengths to prepare for this long, and the die is cast, what use is it for me to say or think anything now?"
Upon hearing what Xuan Yuanhan said, the old man seemed to suddenly understand something. He then secretly gave a wink to the person beside him, who then took out a map from his bosom as if it were a precious treasure and spread it out on the table.
Then, the old man, his words laced with seduction and excitement, said, "This matter is of utmost importance, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness. Your Highness, rest assured, tonight's operation will be flawless. Once the explosion points throughout the city are detonated, all our forces, hidden inside and outside the city, will seize the opportunity amidst the chaos to launch a surprise attack and take over the entire Dongning. At that time, His Majesty will surely reward Your Highness handsomely!"
Xuan Yuanhan casually glanced down and saw that it was indeed the same Dongning Kingdom city defense map as the one in his hand, but it was marked with many red dots. He was immediately stunned: "These are all the explosion points set up in the city?"
The old man nodded, seemingly very satisfied and confident with his arrangement plan.
After a moment of silence, Xuanyuan Han suddenly picked up the map and handed it to the guard beside him, saying, "Cheng Liang!"
Everyone immediately exclaimed in alarm: "Your Highness, this is absolutely forbidden!"
In the flickering candlelight, Xuan Yuanhan's expression grew even more sinister and terrifying. He then issued a series of orders: "Tonight, without my command, no one is allowed to make any move! Otherwise, they will be punished according to military law!"
After saying that, he stood up and left leisurely amidst the utter shock of the crowd.
As soon as he stepped outside, Xuan Yuanhan hurriedly instructed Cheng Liang, "Time is running out. Quickly give the order to rearrange everything according to our plan."
Cheng Liang seemed to have some reservations, and looking at Xuan Yuanhan's face with concern, he said, "Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance. Are you sure you want to defy the Emperor's decree?"
Xuanyuan Han said, enunciating each word clearly, "I have a thousand different ways to take over Dongning Kingdom. However, if I blow up this city, Yun'er will resent me for the rest of her life and never forgive me. Then there will be no possibility between us!"
Cheng Liang gripped the map tightly and said, "Understood!"
Just then, a guard rushed towards the two of them in a panic, clasped his hands in a fist and reported, "Your Highness! Miss Yi, Miss Yi is missing!"
"What did you say?" Xuan Yuanhan stared wide-eyed at the newcomer in shock. At this critical moment, the thing he feared most had happened.
Upon seeing this, Cheng Liang hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Didn't I repeatedly tell you to keep a close watch on her and not let her leave the courtyard no matter what happens tonight? What exactly is going on?"
The guards were still baffled: "Not long after His Highness left, Miss Yi did come out, looking flustered and saying she wanted to go out. But we, following His Highness and the General's orders, did not allow Miss Yi to leave the room even for a moment. But just now, I suddenly heard some noise from inside the room, so I went in to check. Who knew that Miss Yi... she had already disappeared?"
Cheng Liang found it utterly unbelievable and continued to press, "How could a living person just vanish into thin air? Did you check the other rooms?"
The guard said, puzzled, "I have ordered my men to thoroughly search every nook and cranny of the room, but we have not found any clues whatsoever."
"What about Yan'er? Has she disappeared too?" Cheng Liang suddenly realized and asked again.
The guard said, "Yan'er, she's still here."
"What kind of situation is this? How could this happen?" Cheng Liang was extremely anxious. "Have you asked her where Miss Yi is?"
Just as Cheng Liang was pondering this, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly spoke up, suppressing his anger as he said in a deep voice, "It's Young Master Yi!"
Cheng Liang suddenly remembered: "Young Master Yi! No matter how much we planned, we overlooked one person. He really is more trouble than he's worth!"
At this moment, the guard timidly reported, "I have asked Yan'er, and she said that Miss Yi learned about our plan and thought that the red dots marked on the Dongning City defense map were His Highness's plan to blow up Dongning City. That's why she wanted to find a way to escape and try to stop our actions."
Cheng Liang looked astonished: "Those were just people we were secretly investigating, the Emperor's men..."
Xuanyuan Han also frowned.
Cheng Liang asked, "Your Highness, what should we do now?"
Xuanyuan Han's gaze darkened. After a moment's thought, he ordered, "You take your men and proceed according to the original plan. I'm going to find Yun'er!"
"Yes," Cheng Liang replied, and the two then went their separate ways.
The Lantern Festival in Dongning is renowned as the "Number One Lantern Festival in Lingkong".
As night quietly falls and the lights dim, the city begins to bustle with people coming and going.
People either row boats on the river or lean on the railings to gaze into the distance from the Zhuque Bridge. The colorful lights on the eaves and walls of the buildings on both sides of the river complement the pavilions and flowing water on the lake.
Despite the fact that it is still the cold winter, people going out at night are still in high spirits.
As the cold wind howled and night deepened, crowds thronged everywhere. Dragon lantern dances celebrated the Lantern Festival, parading through streets and alleys, adorned with red decorations and accompanied by the deafening sound of gongs and drums. Thousands of water lanterns were quietly released along the riverbank, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.
The interplay of lights and shadows brought the festive atmosphere of the New Year to a climax.
Along the banks of the moat, lanterns gleamed, and from afar, the golden pavilions and painted beams and carved pillars presented a scene of bustling prosperity that was truly captivating. The flickering lanterns cast shadows on the cold water, oars lapped at the water, painted boats glided on the surface, and the sounds of wine and song filled the air – what a delightful scene!
It makes you feel like you've entered a fantasy world, where there is no war, no pain, and everything seems to be the best arrangement made by God.
Young Master Yi, accompanied by Yi Shangyun, strolled leisurely through the crowd, slowly propelled forward by the surging tide of people.
No one knows where they will end up or what the next sight will be. The only thing they know is the constant stream of surprises and excitement that fills their faces.
Wherever handsome men and beautiful women go, they attract envious glances from everyone.
Young Master Yi asked tenderly, "Girl, could you give me a fair chance to compete?"
While anxiously looking around, Yi Shangyun said with a heavy heart, "Third Young Master, His Highness Prince Qin has suffered too much for me alone. His Highness may seem cold and ruthless on the surface, but he is actually the warmest. Yun'er likes him."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Yi suddenly raised his voice and said, "But I also like you, I can't live without you, why do you only have eyes for him and not for me?"
Yi Shangyun said sincerely and gratefully, "Third Young Master, I know you are good to me, but I believe that one day, when you also meet the right person, you will understand my feelings for His Highness. I wish you all the best."
"No, I don't want anyone else, I only want you in this life." Young Master Yi suddenly grabbed Yi Shangyun's shoulder and shouted, his emotions running high.
"Third Young Master, please don't do this, I'm scared!" Yi Shangyun was so frightened by the almost ferocious face that he kept backing away.
Young Master Yi tried to continue defending himself: "Girl, even now, don't you understand? He can't give you the happiness you want! He can't give you anything."
Yi Shangyun met his gaze steadily and said firmly, "Yun'er doesn't want anything. As long as Your Highness has Yun'er in your heart, then the roads we've walked together, the moonrises and sunrises we've watched together, all prove that we once loved each other. That's enough!"
Young Master Yi asked in bewilderment, "Then what about me? What am I?"
Yi Shangyun was already frantic with worry, repeatedly apologizing and pleading, "Third Young Master, I'm so sorry, so sorry! I beg you, please help me, help me find His Highness quickly, we can definitely stop him, we definitely can..."
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