Chapter 857: Escape
The lights in Yongzhao Palace were on. After Tang Ning and others entered, Yue Jian hurried to greet them.
"My lady, are you okay?"
"It's okay, they don't dare to touch me." Tang Ning replied before asking, "Where are Princess Hui and the others?"
Yue Jian whispered, "I have taken them to the bedroom. The Crown Prince's wife is frightened and feels a little unwell, but the Princess Hui is relatively calm. I have asked two secret guards to watch over them at all times."
Tang Ning nodded and asked Yue Jian to get some hot water. There were also snacks that had been delivered earlier in the hall, and everyone ate some.
Tang Ning then looked at the three people who were in a state of disarray with a full expression of guilt: "I'm the one who got you into trouble this time."
Qian Qiyue chewed her food while mumbling, "What's the point of getting involved? Those bastards are going to rebel. Even without you, they'd probably capture Aunt Jun and me to threaten my father and Marquis Wenxin. Besides, we've been enjoying the good life with you before. We can't just eat for free and then turn against you when something goes wrong."
The wife of Marquis Wenxin sighed softly, "Ayue is right. We have been on the same boat with the Empress for a long time. How can we be implicated?"
Tang Ning's expression relaxed a little, and he turned to look at Madam Cui: "What about you? Do you regret coming to me that day?"
Madam Cui's face turned pale. "I regret it, but what's the use of regretting it? As early as when I took the initiative to enter the palace to see the Empress, there was no way back. Just like what Miss Qian said, I have received the Empress's grace and the benefits you promised me. Today's failure should be borne by me."
"I just didn't expect that the Queen would fall into the hands of King Hui."
She slumped in the chair, lowered her eyes and whispered:
"I'm afraid the Cui family won't tolerate me anymore. Even if Your Majesty lets me leave the palace tonight, the aristocratic families will eventually settle accounts with me. My child and I are doomed. Fortunately, my eldest brother and his men are far away from the capital. Even if something does happen to the Cui family, Prince Hui and his men won't be able to do anything to the Bai family for a while..."
The atmosphere in the palace was somewhat oppressive. Even Qian Qiyue, who had been so carefree a moment ago, couldn't help but feel depressed. "Aning, is there really no way out? Even though His Majesty is in trouble, you're still here. Are we really going to watch King Hui and his men seize power? Once they gain power, they will never let you go."
Qian Qiyue didn't believe in the oaths and promises made by King Hui and his men at all. If there really was a change of dynasty one day, the first person they would get rid of would definitely be Tang Ning.
Tang Ning pursed her lips and whispered, "It's not that there is no way."
Qian Qiyue raised her head quickly, and the wife of Marquis Wenxin and Mrs. Cui also looked at Tang Ning.
Tang Ning said, "When His Majesty left the capital, in addition to the Imperial Jade Seal, he also gave me half of the Dragon Jade Token..."
The wife of Marquis Wenxin suddenly widened her eyes. "Your Majesty, are you referring to the Dragon Jade Order that commands the Northwest Zhen'an Army and the Dragon Court Guard?"
Tang Ning nodded. "Those who hold military power in the capital are all His Majesty's trusted confidants. Before His Majesty left the capital, he instructed them to obey me. If I am trapped in the palace, they will not dare to act rashly even if they learn of Prince Hui's actions. But if I can leave the palace, they can do whatever they want."
"Although Cen Guang at Munan Pass has rebelled, I suspect not everyone in the area has rebellious intentions. Many of the generals within the pass are former members of the Yin family. If I can leave the palace and send someone with the Dragon Jade Order to the northwest, and dispatch Marquis Wenxin with the imperial edict to Munan Pass, I might be able to reverse the situation."
Qian Qiyue sat up straight and said quickly, "Prince Hui and his men rely on Cen Guang. If someone can stabilize the South, even if His Majesty can't be found for a while, the court can still be stabilized. But... what about the Northwest?"
Tang Ning pursed her lips tightly. "The war in the northwest has been stalemated. Beiling is fighting fiercely, but His Majesty has been preparing for a long time. The northwest army has no shortage of food and fodder. Di Shuangcheng and his men can still hold on for a while. Marquis Wenxin only bringing one or two thousand people south will not affect the overall situation."
"If he can make the trip, I will draw some troops from the capital and have Wu Kui secretly lead them to Munan Pass for support."
The eyes of the wife of Marquis Wenxin and the others lit up.
"But how do we leave the palace?" Madam Cui said, "With so many people guarding outside, the Empress can't leave Yongzhao Palace at all."
Tang Ning was silent for a moment, and then a man suddenly walked out from among the palace servants serving nearby and spoke under the puzzled gazes of Qian Qiyue and the others.
"Who said I can't go out?"
The man lowered his head and walked to Tang Ning's side, then slowly raised his head. Qian Qiyue and the other two opposite him couldn't help but widen their eyes.
"You... Aning, you guys..."
The person in front of him looked 70% similar to Tang Ning, and the voice she spoke in was exactly the same as Tang Ning's.
Seeing their astonishment, Tang Ning explained, "Her name is Danzhu. She is good at disguise. Sister Ayue should have met her master before."
"You mean Tianqing?"
Qian Qiyue suddenly remembered something and blurted out, yes, she remembered that a long time ago when Xiao Yan was still a eunuch, he pretended to be seriously injured under the pretext of rescuing the emperor, but actually escaped to the northwest. She later heard from her father that it was on that occasion that Xiao Yan subdued Di Shuangcheng and others and took back the Dragon Jade Order.
She remembered that someone in Jiyun Lane had disguised themselves as Xiao Yan and even deceived Feng Lai who went to visit him. Later, the Lu family realized something was wrong and broke into Jiyun Lane to arrest people. It was because Xiao Yan returned in time that they were not discovered. But later, the Longting Guards entered the capital, and Xiao Yan revealed his identity, so the matter could no longer be concealed.
Qian Qiyue asked Yuejian and the others curiously. At that time, Yuejian pointed at Tianqing and said that he could disguise himself as anyone. Tianqing also demonstrated his ventriloquism to her. However, she never saw Tianqing again, so she forgot about it.
Tang Ning nodded: "Tian Qing taught her how to disguise herself. As long as no one familiar with me gets too close to see her, it won't be difficult for her to hide from those outside."
"Then how do you get out?" Qian Qiyue frowned.
Having people in the palace can certainly calm Prince Hui and the others, but the Yongzhao Palace is full of people, how can Tang Ning get out?
The wife of Marquis Wenxin suddenly looked at Mrs. Cui.
Madam Cui was stunned for a moment, and then seemed to remember something: "Are you planning to disguise yourself as me and leave the palace?"
Tang Ning shook his head. "No, you are from an aristocratic family after all. Liang Guangyi and Shi Qingrong have seen you more than once and are very familiar with you. I can't imitate your voice because I don't have ventriloquism. Besides, you and I are different in shape. If they get suspicious and ask a few questions, I'll be exposed."
"I can only use the excuse that I'm worried they might go back on their word and kill you to silence you. I'll send two people to escort you out of the palace. I'll disguise myself as Danzhu and have a secret guard accompany me. Once we're out of Yongzhao Palace, we'll be able to find a way to contact Wu Kui and the others and counterattack Prince Hui and the others."
"only……"
Tang Ning looked at them and said, "If I leave, those who remain in the palace will be in danger, and leaving the palace may not be smooth. Once exposed, Madam Cui and I will surely die."
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