Chapter 279: Just a Step Away
"The Qi King's army actually has cannons!"
Shen Yuexi clung to a tree branch, staring in amazement at the huge creature pushed out from King Qi's camp.
Even from a distance, the sight of the bronze barrels sticking up high told him they were cannons. Each cannon was pulled by dozens of soldiers with ropes in front, and another group of soldiers pushed from behind, making it look incredibly heavy.
"Madam, King Qi started forging these cannons five years ago," Xia Lan watched nervously. "I saw them up close when I was serving Xiao Beiheng. These cannons have iron claws on the front and back, like a crouching tiger. They're specially used for sieges, and are called Crouching Tiger Cannons."
"Specially...specially for siege?" Madam Li had calmed down, but after hearing Xia Lan's explanation, she started to tremble again. "With so many cannons, can my nephew hold them?"
"How powerful is this cannon?" Shen Yuexi also became a little nervous.
Xia Lan said that these cannons were specially used for sieges, and she didn't know whether the walls of Langya Pass could withstand them.
Even as they talked, cannons continued to roll out from the open camp gate. Eight cannons had already been rolled out, and there was no sign of the end.
"I don't know either. Cannonballs are probably solid iron balls about this size," Xia Lan said, making a circle with her hands. "When the King of Qi attacked the capital, he transported these cannons from Anzhou. I didn't expect that they would bring cannons from the capital again this time."
Shen Yuexi looked at the shape of her hand and felt that the cannonball was as big as a volleyball.
If the iron ball is this big, how heavy must it be? No matter how thick the city wall is, it is just stone. How can it withstand such a heavy iron ball? With so many cannons firing at the same time, the city wall will probably collapse in a few hits.
While she was pondering, Madam Li grabbed her arm and said, "Wan'er is still in the city. We can't let them fire. We have to go see the King of Qi quickly!"
Shen Yuexi said to Madam Li, "Aunt, I know everything, but we can't just go there like this."
"No time, no time," Madam Li released her hand, hurriedly stood up and ran towards the carriage, "Hurry and see the King of Qi."
"Madam, the King of Qi has come out," Xia Lan pointed at the entrance to the King of Qi's army camp, "He's the one sitting in the plain carriage."
"I see," Shen Yuexi turned and ran to the carriage, saying to the driver, "There's a change of plan. The King of Qi has left the camp early. Take us there quickly."
The original plan was for Madam Li to visit Xiao Beiheng while he was besieging the city and hand over the white silk to the King of Qi. However, Madam Li couldn't do it alone, so Shen Yuexi had to accompany him.
Even before any action was taken, the King of Qi left the camp to go to Xiao Beiheng. Once he arrived, no matter how cleverly Shen Yuexi put on her makeup, she would probably be recognized by Xiao Beiheng. Not to mention Xia Lan, who was originally Xiao Beiheng's maid.
Now everyone must get things done before King Qi arrives at Xiao Beiheng's military camp.
Madam Li had already gotten in the car. She opened the window and called out to Shen Yuexi, "Yuexi, get in quickly."
Shen Yuexi and Xia Lan got on the carriage, which turned out of the concealed place and headed towards the gate of King Qi's military camp.
"Is the King of Qi still at the camp gate?" Madam Li was restless. After the carriage had moved a few steps, she kept asking Shen Yuexi, "Let Xia Lan see it quickly."
Xia Lan opened the window a crack, looked sideways, and a look of joy appeared on her face. She turned around and said, "Madam, the King of Qi has returned to the camp again."
Mrs. Li didn't believe it, so she stood up and went over to take a look. Then she sat back down opposite Shen Yuexi and said with a smile, "Thank God, maybe Doctor Xi didn't let him see the wind."
The camp where the King of Qi was located was not far from Xiao Beiheng's camp. Going north through Xiaogang Village, you would reach Xiao Beiheng's camp. Now that the King of Qi had returned to the camp, Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief and started joking.
Having learned from the previous experience, Shen Yuexi dared not laugh again, for fear that laughing might cause trouble.
She frowned, thinking about Xiao Zhuo's instructions before leaving.
"Although the King of Qi is my biological father, he forced my adoptive father to death in the capital. I gave him the white silk only to make him and Xiao Beiheng withdraw their troops, and I had no intention of recognizing him."
Shen Yuexi could understand this. Xiao Zhuo's feelings for Emperor Yongde, who had raised him for twenty years, were far deeper than those for the Prince of Qi, who hadn't even raised him for a single day. His willingness to let go of this grudge and spare the Prince of Qi and his son was a gesture of great kindness. As for the idea of father and son recognizing each other and crying, forget it; it was simply impossible.
She was lost in thought when shouts were heard from far away outside the car.
"Stop any car that comes your way. If you get any closer, we'll shoot you."
Shen Yuexi shook her head at Madam Li and Xia Lan, signaling them not to panic or shout, then she turned around, opened the car door and got out.
Hundreds of Qi Wang's cavalrymen came running towards them. The leading general saw a maid getting off the carriage and shouted, "Sir, please tell us your name and purpose."
Chen Yuexi said calmly, "Pei Shaoya, the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang, has come to visit upon learning that the King of Qi has been injured. Please, General, report this to me on your behalf."
The general looked at Shen Yuexi in surprise and said to the soldiers behind him, "The one coming is the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang. Put down your bows and arrows."
A sergeant nearby asked, "General Qi, do you want to search the car?"
The general waved his hand and said, "The one coming is the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang. You uncouth men should not approach without permission, lest you disturb her. I will go and see for myself, and you will lead the way."
The troops agreed and turned their horses around to lead the way.
The general rode up to the carriage and whispered to Shen Yuexi, "Why does Princess Zhao want to see the King of Qi?"
Shen Yuexi was about to get in the car, but when she heard the general's question, she was startled. She held the car door and turned around to look at the general.
She thought she had put on makeup carefully enough, so how did the other person recognize her so quickly?
Their eyes met, and a person flashed through her mind like lightning.
That man had once knelt on the ground, walking on his knees, grabbing the corner of Xiao Zhuo's clothes and begging desperately, "King Zhao, what on earth has happened to you? You once led us to annihilate the 200,000-man army of Jingzhou without a single defeat. What on earth has happened to you?"
"Qi Shengjue." She was happy and surprised, but did not scream.
What made her happy was that she actually ran into Xiao Zhuo's old subordinates here, but what scared her was what if Qi Shengjue pledged allegiance to the King of Qi and his son and revealed her true identity?
However, judging from the fact that Qi Shengjue didn't shout out loud after recognizing her, he probably had no ill intentions.
As if he could see through her worries, Qi Shengjue whispered, "Don't worry, Princess. I have received great favors from King Zhao and will never do anything bad to you. But King Qi is kind and benevolent, and he treats me well. I hope you can tell me the truth about your purpose in coming here."
"Good intentions." Shen Yuexi replied briefly with two words.
Qi Shengjue felt relieved, and clasped his hands together as he saluted Shen Yuexi. "Please get in the carriage, Princess. I will lead the way. Let's go straight to the camp to see the King of Qi."
Shen Yuexi was secretly delighted. If Qi Shengjue could lead the way, she could go directly to see King Qi and save a lot of trouble.
She got in the car and told Madam Li about it. Madam Li was also delighted and said, "That's great. Let's quickly deal with the situation and don't fire cannons at the city."
With Qi Shengjue leading the way, the carriage entered the camp unhindered and no one checked it.
When they arrived at the tent of Qi Wang Xiao Ming, a guard holding a halberd stepped forward to stop them and said to Qi Shengjue, "General Xinwu, the doctor is treating the Qi Wang's injuries in the tent. Please wait for a while, General."
Qi Shengjue nodded, returned to the carriage, and said through the window, "The King of Qi is treating his injuries. Please wait for a moment, Madam Pingyang."
Everyone in the carriage was delighted to see that they would soon see the King of Qi. Shen Yuexi said to Madam Li, "Aunt, have you taken good care of the white silk?"
Madam Li patted the bag at her waist and said, "It's tied tightly, don't worry."
The three were rejoicing when they heard the sound of horse hooves from behind the carriage. The sound was loud and armor could be heard clattering, as if many military horses were coming.
Qi Shengjue's voice rang out from outside the carriage: "This humble general greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Um."
Xiao Beiheng snorted coldly in response.
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