Chapter 80. She finally reached her father's side...
"Does Father Emperor still remember Xiao Pingjiang, the former commander of Zhennan?" Ji Zhu, sitting calmly to the side, took a sip of tea and asked unhurriedly.
However, they did not notice that Ji Heng's expression stiffened at the head of the table, and then these subtle changes vanished in an instant.
Ji Zhu didn't expect him to answer and continued, "At that time, Xiao Pingjiang had a capable deputy general named Duan Qing. His daughter, Duan Hongying, was engaged to Xiao Pingjiang's son, Xiao Huai'an."
"After Zhennan was conquered, the men of the Duan family either died in Lingnan or were executed by order of the Emperor. The women and children were all reduced to slaves, and the women were forced into the Jiaofangsi (a government-run brothel) to become prostitutes. After leaving the Jiaofangsi, Duan Hongying wandered to Changzhou and made a living there."
"And the benefactor I'm talking about who can help my father out of his urgent predicament is none other than Duan Hongying."
"Oh?" Ji Heng's expression was indifferent, clearly not holding any expectations for the woman who had fallen into prostitution that Ji Zhu had mentioned. However, he also knew that Ji Zhu was not one to speak without reason, so he still asked, "What is so special about this person?"
"Father, have you forgotten how Shenxiao returned to Yujing?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Heng frowned, clearly unwilling to recall how Shenxiao had so publicly announced her return to the world.
"Quzhou, floods, the extermination of Japanese pirates." The words came out of his mouth in fits and starts, but that was enough.
“That’s right,” Ji Zhu said with a strange sense of pleasure at seeing his discomfiture. “But how could Shenxiao accomplish these feats alone? There’s always been a shadow lurking behind her.”
And that shadow was none other than "Shen Guitang".
“Shen Guitang”.
At this moment, the father and daughter's voices overlapped, and the underlying threads of everything were finally revealed.
Ji Zhu grinned with an air of certainty, convinced that her father wouldn't be tempted. "And Duan Hongying, now using the alias Yanran, is their informant."
As she expected, Ji Heng became interested. He leaned forward slightly, raising an eyebrow: "So, what insightful opinion does this Miss Duan have?"
Ji Zhu did not overstep his bounds, saying, "Miss Yanran has secretly returned to Yujing with Mingzhen and is currently waiting outside the palace. Why don't you ask her yourself, Father?"
Ji Heng stared at her for a few moments, and seeing that she had no change in expression, he finally said, "Then please invite Miss Duan Hongying of the Duan family to the hall for a chat."
The palace doors opened, and a figure in crimson slowly entered. As the woman in the flowing gown came into view, a fleeting look of amazement crossed Ji Heng's face.
This woman was excessively beautiful, not because her features were particularly elegant or her figure particularly alluring, but because of her very aura. It was like a flower, already exquisitely beautiful but in full bloom, that was so captivating that any man with impure desires would find it difficult to resist.
"This servant, Yanran, greets Your Majesty." Yanran lowered her head as she bowed, making it difficult to see the expression on her face.
Ji Heng gazed at the fair neck of the person below him, which was just exposed, and his expression deepened. After a moment, he said in an ambiguous tone, "She is indeed a beauty."
"However," he picked up his teacup and took a sip to ease the inexplicable burning sensation within him, "what qualifications do you have to help me kill the renowned Princess Shenxiao?"
“Your Majesty,” Yanran slowly raised her head, her gentle and charming appearance captivating, “the one with the capital is not this servant, but this servant’s master, Shen Guitang.”
"Shen Guitang sent you here?" Ji Heng asked ambiguously.
“Of course not,” Yanran smiled gently. “Your Majesty may not know, but our Lord Shen is deeply in love with Princess Shenxiao.”
Her words put aside Ji Heng's newly arising suspicions. He had investigated Shen Guitang and knew that their relationship was quite close.
"Shen Guitang's communication with Princess Shenxiao is entirely controlled by the Spider Web. If the Spider Web suddenly goes out of control, and His Majesty sends men to surround and kill someone who looks exactly like Shen Guitang, I will risk my life to escape the encirclement and go to the Princess's residence to inform her."
"Next, Princess Shenxiao plotted to murder His Majesty and intended to rebel."
"What does Your Majesty think of my plan?"
Ji Heng twirled the ring on his finger and suddenly asked, "How did you and Shen Guitang meet?"
Yanran's expression turned noticeably colder. "Hasn't Your Majesty already guessed it? Shen Guitang is a descendant of the Xiao family."
Her attitude was blunt, but Ji Heng didn't seem offended. Instead, he continued, "Hasn't your Duan family always followed Xiao Pingjiang's lead? How come you, Miss Duan, would betray the Xiao family?"
“Miss Duan, hehe.” Yanran sneered, “Duan Hongying is long dead. The one who is alive now is Yanran, a courtesan.”
Her voice was low, but it also carried a strong sense of resentment and bitterness. "The Duan family worked for the Xiao family, and what was the result? They were all dead!"
"Yanran, who is still alive, works for Shen Guitang, and what has become of her? Isn't she just a plaything that everyone can bully in a brothel?"
"So you want to?" Ji Heng enjoyed watching this turn of events, but it wasn't enough to make him lower his guard completely.
Yanran clenched her sleeve, her voice trembling but firm, "Why can't I be a superior person? I want the Xiao family to serve me as their master!"
“To show my sincerity,” Yanran lowered her head again, adopting a posture of loyalty, “this servant is willing to offer half of the spider webs of Yujing to Your Majesty.”
“Once this servant has obtained everything she desires,” Yanran concealed her sarcasm, “the spider web will be at Your Majesty’s disposal.”
This was indeed a bargaining chip that Ji Heng was willing to take a slight risk for. Moreover, with Jiang Chaosheng around, Ji Heng was never afraid to take risks.
Ji Heng stood up, his gaze sweeping over Yanran's entire body with a ruthless intensity. "Then let me wait and see. Once this great undertaking is accomplished, I will give you the position you desire."
...
“Princess,” Zhu Xi draped a coat over her shoulders, “the wind is picking up.”
Hengbo nodded, looked up at the yellow leaves swirling on the tree and slowly falling, observing the situation quietly.
"Guardian, Mr. Xiao, who is skilled in disguise, has arrived."
Yanran frowned. Her face was the same, but her expression was completely different from the gentle one she had been in the palace a few days ago. Her tone was icy. "Which Xiao?"
The subordinate cautiously replied, "The zodiac animal."
Yanran's brows relaxed, but a hint of dislike for the newcomer had already crept into her heart. "Bring him in so I can take a look."
But as the newcomer entered the room, Yanran was startled and exclaimed, "Gui? Gui Tang!? What happened to you?"
The visitor didn't answer, but simply stared at her silently. Yan then belatedly realized that Shen Guitang should still be trapped on the road by the Pavilion Master.
As she calmed down, she asked, "So you're Mr. Xiao?"
Mr. Xiao nodded, and with a flick of his sleeve, he instantly transformed into an ordinary-looking face. His voice was ethereal, "It seems that the Protector is quite satisfied with my disguise."
Yanran was silent for a moment, then said, "It still depends on the princess's satisfaction."
Mr. Xiao's lips curled into a strange smile. "I hope so."
"Princess!" Zhu Huan rushed in to report, "The spider web has been completely exposed!"
Just then, Zhu Xi helped the badly injured Yan Ran rush into the mansion, and Heng Bo went to meet her. The blood-soaked sleeves left unseen marks on Heng Bo's body.
“Princess,” Yanran said weakly, “I beg you to save the young master! The Spider Web has been wiped out, and the young master’s identity and whereabouts have been exposed. Ji Heng has already sent people to kill him.”
Hengbo tightened his grip on Yanran's hand, causing Yanran to groan in pain. However, seeing that Hengbo had not moved, Yanran's heart tightened. "Princess, you can't just stand by and watch him die! Ji Heng won't let him get away with this."
Hengbo gave her a deep look, signaled Zhuhuan to take Yanran back to heal her wounds, and then took Zhuxi to prepare to rescue her.
“Princess,” Yanran finally called out to the departing figure, “It’s right at the city gate.”
Hengbo hesitated slightly, resisting the urge to turn back, and quickly left.
Once outside, the two slowed their pace. Zhu Xi glanced at Heng Bo's unpleasant expression and asked, "Princess, why are you doing this?"
Hengbo stopped and shook his head, perhaps wanting to give an answer to the last expectation in his heart.
At the city gate, the outnumbered "Chen Guitang" was engaged in a fierce battle with Ji Heng's secret guards. Perhaps to quell Shen Xiao's rebellion, Ji Heng himself came to the scene, but remained hidden in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Shen Guitang had several wounds on his body, and he looked quite miserable as he struggled to stay upright, but his handsome face was as radiant as ever.
Ji Heng frowned, feeling that Mr. Xiao was too concerned about his face, which made his acting not very convincing. But then he thought that Mr. Xiao might be worried about his disguise being exposed, so he let it go.
Finally, amidst much anticipation, the two arrived late.
Hengbo noticed the disheveled figure trapped in the encirclement, and was instantly shaken. Before he could even process his thoughts, he drew his sword and charged in.
Before Zhu Xi could react, she saw Heng Bo had already taken action, so she had no choice but to follow suit and kill him.
Seeing that Shenxiao had fallen into the trap, Ji Heng couldn't wait to appear before everyone. "Shenxiao! This man is a traitor who intends to assassinate me. Are you trying to get breakfast by doing this today?"
"Or is this person acting on your orders?!"
As he spoke, the men who had surrounded and killed "Shen Guitang" simultaneously charged at Hengbo with their swords, giving her no chance to explain.
Hengbo sneered, merely deflecting the long sword that was meant to slash at him by "Chen Guitang", completely ignoring Ji Heng.
Upon seeing this, Ji Heng's angry words were tinged with barely suppressed excitement: "Guards! Princess Shenxiao is plotting a rebellion! Come and protect me!"
As soon as he spoke, the Imperial Guards, who were mixed in with the crowd entering the city, suddenly surrounded him. It was quite remarkable that he had replaced the commander of the Imperial Guards beforehand because of this.
"Shenxiao, if you surrender, this man may still have a chance to live. If you continue to struggle, don't blame me for killing you and him on the spot!"
Hengbo glanced around, his gaze lingering particularly long on "Shen Guitang," before finally glaring at him fiercely and sheathing his sword.
The Imperial Guards separated and detained the three men, presumably on Ji Heng's orders, and deliberately chose the busiest street on their way back.
"The traitor Ji Yu, in collusion with the remnants of Zhennan, plotted a rebellion. He has now been arrested and is awaiting trial. He will be executed soon and his body displayed to the public."
"The traitor Ji Yu, in collusion with the remnants of Zhennan, plotted a rebellion. He has now been arrested and is awaiting trial. He will be executed soon and his body displayed to the public."
"The traitor Ji Yu, in collusion with the remnants of Zhennan, plotted a rebellion. He has now been arrested and is awaiting trial. He will be executed soon and his body displayed to the public."
Inside the prison van, Hengbo turned his head to look at the setting sun that was about to sink completely, listening to the chaotic discussions of the onlookers, and felt inexplicably relaxed.
She finally embarked on the path her father had taken.
Back then, Ji Jin was deposed for pleading for Zhennan and was ultimately branded as a rebel. Now, more than a decade later, she is finally going to bear the label of "colluding with the remnants of Zhennan" and complete the unfinished business he left behind.
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