No news for such a long time.
The room was silent for a few moments.
The next moment, there was a sudden knock on the door, shattering the cautious attempt just now.
"Brother Lu?" A young man's voice came from outside the door: "The tea is here."
The door opened slightly, and the young man, wearing a white martial arts apprentice uniform with red edges, was holding a tea tray. His eyes first fell on Lu Xiyun: "Brother Lu, have some water."
The young man put down his tea and secretly glanced at Qin Shu beside him, his eyes full of curiosity and excitement.
After hesitating for half a second, the young man leaned over and asked quietly, "Brother Lu, is this... His Royal Highness the Prince of Xiang?"
Lu Xiyun almost choked to death after taking a mouthful of tea.
“Cough—cough cough cough—”
The young man was startled and quickly waved his hands to explain, "Brother Lu, don't misunderstand! We don't mean any harm. Your Highness has helped our martial arts school so much, and we all want to thank you in person."
"No, no—" Lu Xiyun coaxed and pushed the man towards the door: "He's not! No need to thank me!"
The door was closed.
Lu Xiyun coughed twice, leaned against the door, and lowered his voice: "When we bought the land to build the museum, I think your name was left in the name."
He paused, turned his head to look at Qin Shu, and his tone gradually softened: "They seem to like you very much."
The person on the couch didn't speak.
After a while, Qin Shu responded softly, as if smiling: "It's okay, I can like them too."
Qin Shu stood up, walked to the table, and took a cup of tea that had just been brought in.
It wasn't a good tea, and it was far inferior to the tribute from the palace. Qin Shu frowned and said truthfully, "It's a bit bitter."
Lu Xiyun nodded and said seriously, "Next time I have a chance to escape, I'll remember to bring some good tea."
Qin Shu paused slightly, looked up at him, and the expression in his eyes changed again and again.
After a moment, he couldn't help but shook his head and laughed softly.
A bit helpless, but also a bit relieved.
···
In the imperial city and the headquarters of the five armies, General Ren has been working non-stop for a whole day and night.
As soon as Qin Shuren disappeared, all the stalls fell on his head.
Originally, under His Royal Highness Prince Xiang, there was Lu Xingchuan who could hold up half the sky.
But now, Lord Lu has been given the role of a villain.
Right now, various forces in the imperial city are restless, the dispatch of the Beijing camp has changed three times overnight, and everyone is sharpening their knives both openly and secretly.
If Qin Shu doesn't show up, there will probably be a fight in the imperial city.
Ren Xuan put down the military newspaper in his hand - No. 1 who had lost contact without a trace, No. 2 who had turned against him, his restless colleagues, and himself who was in pieces.
Yue Anshan couldn't hold back any longer: "Since the Emperor has attacked His Highness, will he let us go? Old Ren! Strike first! If we delay any longer, it will give that lunatic Lu Xingchuan time to recover. All of us brothers will be finished!"
Ren Xuan looked up at him, his tone still cold: "Wait for news from His Highness. The Queen is seriously ill. I don't believe the Emperor is willing to start a full-scale war."
Yue Anshan was also angry: "Your Highness, how come there has been no news for so long?!"
Qin Shu was a craftsman, so even if he didn't have the communication talisman with him, it had been twenty-four hours, so he should have been able to make it even if he made it now.
There has been no news for such a long time, maybe he is dead.
Ren Xuan cursed in his heart, but his expression remained calm: "Your Highness may be injured."
After comforting Yue Anshan, Ren Xuan continued to look for the dog emperor. He had already sent people to search everywhere in the capital, and Qin Shu might have already left the imperial city.
Suddenly, Ren Xuan's clothes collar vibrated and a very thin metallic sound was heard.
He paused and took out the silver communication talisman from his arms. It was the one Xiao Wujiu had left for him.
The voice coming from the other side of the communication talisman was not Xiao Wujiu's voice.
Xie Lingyan introduced herself and then without further delay, asked directly about Lu Xiyun's whereabouts.
Ren Xuan raised his eyebrows. Isn’t this a coincidence? I really want to know too.
Ren Xuan told the truth.
City Lord Xie on the opposite side obviously didn't believe his words, but they were too far away from each other, and Xie Lingyan's attitude was unusually gentle.
"General Ren, I've heard a bit about what's going on in the capital. I understand Qin Shu's intention to rebel. But I hope you can tell Xiyun that the Empress is very worried about him. If Xiyun refuses to return to the Imperial City, he'll regret it later."
Xie Lingyan paused, her voice lowering a notch. "Your Majesty has gone to Shengde Temple to pray again... The Empress's condition... isn't very good... I don't want him to regret it later, so consider this a favor to the General."
Ren Xuan was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I'll do my best."
Ren Xuan had just agreed to Xie Lingyan's request when he heard another voice interrupting from Xie Lingyan's side.
Fang Xingfei's voice was filled with his usual nonchalant tone: "Third Brother, my eldest brother and I have already arrived in the northern border."
Ren Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly - Xie Lingyan did not avoid him.
Fang Xingfei didn't seem to notice that Xie Lingyan was still in the middle of another conversation, and went straight to the point:
"It's not weapons that are leaving, it's aliens that are coming in. My brother and I saw some aliens crossing the border and heading towards the imperial city. If we go by the weapons, there might be tens of thousands of them."
Xie Lingyan's voice was as cold as ever: "What are these aliens going to do?"
Fang Xingfei didn't respond. "Everyone should find their place and perform their duties. This is what your Lord City Lord needs to consider. Senior Brother called me. I'll let you know when there's news."
Fang Xingfei cut off communication with Xie Lingyan.
Xie Lingyan was silent for a moment, then his voice turned solemn. "General Ren, this is a strange situation. The Imperial City should be on guard. I'll notify you when I have more information."
As the words fell, the communication symbol fell silent.
Ren Xuan lowered his eyebrows, and what he was thinking was exactly the same as Xie Lingyan's - what were these aliens going to do?
He shook his head and said, "Never mind all that for now. The dog emperor is more important."
As expected, the shadow of the cloud on Ren Xuan's desk lit up.
Ren Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, and said angrily: "Your Highness, if you don't show up again, I will think that—"
In the shadow of the clouds, Qin Shu's eyes were cold: "Why?"
Ren Xuan coughed dryly and said timidly, "Nothing, nothing."
His tone changed in an instant, and he became a loyal minister and general: "Your Highness, there has been no news from you all day. I have been unable to eat or sleep, and I am extremely worried."
Qin Shu said expressionlessly: "You'd better be."
Ren Xuanxin complained in his heart, who of us will play who? That's impossible.
Ren Xuan raised his head and stared at the figure in the shadows. "Your Highness, the undercurrent in the capital is deep. If you don't return, the brothers will rush into the palace with swords and spill blood all over the Forbidden City."
Qin Shu didn't even raise his eyelids: "Father and the Empress are in Shengde Temple, what are you doing breaking into the palace?"
Ren Xuan raised an eyebrow. Qin Shu knew all this—the first person Qin Shu contacted wasn't him.
Qin Shu said calmly, "The Queen is already at the end of her strength. You don't need to worry about Shengde Temple. Keep an eye on Qin Xuan in the Imperial City and don't do anything unnecessary."
Ren Xuan asked tentatively: "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Qin Shu remained calm and said, "Wait until the Queen dies."
The young man's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Wait until she dies, and then let my father commit suicide for love. How about writing history this way?"
Ren Xuan raised his eyebrows, you really are 'father says goodbye son laughs'.
He stared at the figure in the shadows and spoke a little slower, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that the Crown Prince will have any objections?"
Qin Shu raised his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a knife: "The Queen died of illness, and my father committed suicide——"
He paused: "Why would Xiyun have any objections?"
Ren Xuan was silent for a while, then he spoke again: "Your Highness, the latest news from Yinshu City is that some aliens are heading towards the Imperial City, perhaps more than ten thousand people."
Qin Shu just nodded and said calmly, "Let Qin Xuan take care of it."
Ren Xuan didn't react for a moment: "Call Qin Xuan?"
Qin Shu remained noncommittal and said lightly, "He's the crown prince, doesn't he care?"
Ren Xuan suddenly understood. Qin Xuan was already the crown prince, and now that the emperor was away from the city, Qin Xuan should be the one who could best integrate the forces of all parties.
He responded: "I understand."
···
Cutting off the cloud shadow, Qin Shu pushed the door open and walked out. With a quick glance, he soon found the familiar figure at the end of the corridor.
The young man stood under the eaves, without his outer robe on, leaning quietly against the pillar, it was hard to tell whether he was worried or absent-minded.
Qin Shu didn't say anything, just stood at the threshold and looked at him.
Lu Xiyun seemed to sense something and slowly turned her head. The two of them looked at each other in silence for a long moment.
After a long time, Lu Xiyun whispered, "I'm going back to the Imperial City."
His tone was not harsh, but it was steady and resolute: "Hide here and don't go out."
Qin Shu only took one step forward.
He shook his head and whispered, "Shengde Temple. The Queen is in Shengde Temple."
Lu Xiyun paused.
Qin Shu slowly approached the other party.
He said calmly, "The Queen's illness won't last much longer. You can stay with her for a while. Don't worry about anything else. If you want to go back, then go back. If you want the Queen to be at ease, then let her be at ease. I promise that during this period, no one in the capital will act rashly."
The young man in front of him was slightly stunned.
"Then what are you going to do? Auntie wants to kill you. Give uncle some time. I'm definitely no match for him..."
Qin Shu simply said, "Don't worry, I can handle it. This time, it's much easier."
He paused, his voice quieting down: "Don't cry this time."
Lu Xiyun was stunned by these inexplicable words: "This time?"
Qin Shu exhaled and said softly, "It's just a dream."
He even said it in a joking tone: "In that dream, I was much more miserable than I am now. You cried so hard."
Lu Xiyun pursed her lips and forced herself to retort, "No way."
The young man straightened his expression, his face serious to the point of being stubborn. "Qin Shu, wait for me, wait for your aunt... I will leave the imperial city with you."
Qin Shu's eyes were very gentle, and he said without hesitation: "Okay."
"Xiyun."
He raised his hand and placed it on the young man's shoulder. His fingertips were slightly cool, yet revealed an unusual warmth: "You can do whatever you want."
Suddenly, there was a noise coming from far away, like thunder striking the water, and the conversation between the two was abruptly interrupted.
The streets in the distance suddenly became restless, with screams and running sounds intertwined into an unsettling wave of sound.
Before the two could react, a disciple from the martial arts school stumbled into the courtyard, his face terrified, and he shouted breathlessly: "Brother Lu! Run, run! The aliens are coming! The alien cavalry has entered the town—"
Before he finished speaking, more people poured through the streets, like a panicked tide, scrambling to flee out of the town.
Lu Xiyun quickly landed at the gate of the courtyard. In the smoke and dust in the distance, he could vaguely see foreign cavalrymen holding scimitars.
The pitiful defense force in Dongliu Town was like paper in front of the elite alien forces and collapsed at the first touch.
Qin Shu narrowed his eyes. The area near Dongliu Town was not a strategic military location, so this was most likely a scout force that had lost its way.
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