Chapter 87 087 Seeing him made her feel wronged
Swords and blades were drawn in unison. A soldier with a long scar across his face, Wang Da, surveyed the group, his gaze landing on Qing Li and her companions. He roared in displeasure, "What are you doing here!"
He turned his head and whispered a few words, the knife tip hanging down, but his hand gripped it tightly.
As dusk deepened, his eyes, which had been fixed on the scene, suddenly stung. In the blink of an eye, a sharp whistling sound rang in his ears. Wang Da dodged to the side, and a long sleeve arrow was embedded in his arm.
The armor was stacked, with gaps only appearing at the elbows.
If he didn't dodge, the arrow would have hit his eyes; if he did dodge, it would have hit his arm.
The other party is cunning and ruthless!
Since that's the case, why hide it? Repeat what you just said loudly, "Kill them!"
Those guarding the Chuzhou kiln were no good people; each of them raised their swords to strike. A loud crash followed, and dust billowed up. Only then did they see the man from before lying face up on the ground, his eyes wide open, blood streaming from the corners of his eyes.
This state of devastation only served to deter a fraction of their ferocity.
Before they could raise their swords again, the ground beneath their feet trembled repeatedly, and bursts of fire shot into the sky. The group staggered twice, and the sounds of fighting erupted outside.
Qingli had no time to think and immediately felt that this was the right time. She fired three arrows in quick succession, all of which hit the leader. The night was dark and bloody, and the arrows never missed their mark. Even the ruthless soldiers couldn't help but take a step back.
A crescent moon peeked out from behind the dark clouds, illuminating the woman's face. She was calm, utterly calm, showing no emotion whatsoever, yet a cold glint flashed in her eyes, making everyone's hearts clearer. The fierce felt awe, while the lowly felt resistance.
With cries of agony, the knife makers all raised their broadswords and slashed at the backs of the soldiers. In this way, a prairie fire broke out, and a massacre ensued in the Chuzhou kiln. The craftsmen, who had been suppressed for so long, raised their tools and smashed them at the soldiers who had treated them like dirt.
The officers and soldiers reacted quickly, and sparks flew everywhere.
Song Zhang pushed through the crowd and ran to Qing Li, calling out mournfully, "Miss?"
Qingli looked at him and said, "They are all waiting for you to come back in Kyoto."
Yun Xiu and Yun Li protected Qing Li. Qing Li looked at the stalemate around her and said, "We should fight and retreat. We are surrounded by high walls. If we set it on fire, we will not be able to escape. If we leave Chuzhou Kiln, we can have a chance to survive."
"Miss...how do we get out...of them?"
Song Zhang knew those people were a burden, but they were innocent.
Qingli pointed in the direction, "Take them to the secret passage!"
Upon hearing this, Song Zhang hurriedly went to relay the message. When the people heard that there was a way out, they fought back even more fiercely, and the government troops were temporarily at a disadvantage.
Upon hearing the report from his officers and soldiers, Cai Kechang was enraged, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He asked, "How much cargo has been shipped out?"
The officers and soldiers flinched and reported, "There's only one truck left."
After a moment of silence, he said, "Set fire to the Chuzhou kiln."
"grown ups..."
But there are still a hundred officers and soldiers among them.
Cai Kechang kicked the soldier out the door and said fiercely, "On the day our great cause succeeds, we will remember their contributions."
Inside the Chuzhou Kiln, the fighting had already reached a fever pitch. Yun Xiu and Yun Li were fending off the enemies on either side, each keeping a distance of ten steps from Qing Li. Song Zhang had already sent three groups of people away, and after two more, they would be able to leave this place.
But the officers and soldiers sensed something was wrong and knew that there was no turning back after what they had done. If these people escaped, they would all die. So they launched a series of killing attacks on Qingli and the others.
A whoosh of wind whistled past her ears, and Qingli turned to shoot a hidden dart behind her. But the blades were fierce and came one after another. Her hidden dart was the last one. Fortunately, she had been taught by Meng Qingshan for a few days and barely dodged the blade. But a blade came from the side and was already falling towards her face. Qingli's ears were ringing, and she knew that she could not dodge it.
"Miss!"
"Miss!"
"Qingli!"
Qingli's heart trembled. Hearing the familiar shout, she looked around blankly. In the pitch-black night, the scattered torches seemed to twinkle like stars in front of her, but the light was blurred and she couldn't see clearly.
"when!"
Sparks flew before her eyes, and Qingli was forcefully pulled away and fell into a broad embrace. The faint scent of grass and trees was mixed with the strong dampness. Beneath the clothes, there were strong muscles—it was him!
Meng Qingshan descended like a god, and the Imperial Guards fought bravely, turning the tide of the battle in the blink of an eye.
"You've arrived."
Meng Qingshan frowned as he stared at her, a wave of fear washing over him. If he had arrived even a moment later, he couldn't imagine how much he would have regretted it.
"So troublesome!"
Qingli sniffed, suppressing the rising soreness. Before he came, she was clearly poised and composed, but her prejudice against him caused the fear and insecurity she had felt these past few days to surface, making her heart clench.
With a sigh, Meng Qingshan was too reluctant to speak loudly. He gently took her hand and said, "Let's go, we shouldn't stay here any longer."
Qingli pointed and said, "There's a secret passage."
The local soldiers were ruthless but lacked skill. As the stalemate dragged on, even the Imperial Guards' methods and ruthlessness became insignificant. Meng Qingshan led his men, covering each other, and retreated one by one towards the entrance of the secret passage. The soldiers lost their minds and their arrogance returned. They were about to raise their swords to strike again when suddenly the sky turned as bright as day. Sparks fell instantly, and in a flash, a huge fire shot into the sky, accompanied by endless screams.
The entrance to the secret passage was blocked in time, but even so, a wave of heat still swept into the passage, obstructing the view. The roars and the smell of burning food made everyone turn pale.
Their methods are truly ruthless; they don't even spare the brothers who risked their lives for them.
Meng Qingshan raised his arm to block Qingli and ordered, "Without stopping, leave the city tonight."
Cai Kechang's spies are everywhere in Chuzhou, and their whereabouts cannot be kept secret.
As dawn broke, the door of the house was wide open. Cai Kechang sat in his armchair, watching the wisps of black smoke rising from the Chuzhou kiln in the distance. He knew that everything that needed to be burned had been burned to ashes. Even if the court investigated again, they would not be able to find any evidence. The goods had been shipped out, and the glory and wealth of his Cai family was just around the corner.
With a few quick steps, Xu Zhida led a group of people into the courtyard, and with a wave of his hand, he immediately surrounded Cai Kechang.
"Xu Zhida, how dare you! Are you trying to rebel?"
Xu Zhida chuckled twice, adopting an air of disdain for a clown, and mocked, "Fool!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Cai Kechang had been giving orders for a long time, but he was not intimidated by Xu Zhida's behavior. He was like a golden sun leaping out of the clouds, shining brightly under the blue sky. He was a good local official, so what was there to be afraid of?
“I am a prefectural judge of the imperial court, responsible for supervising local affairs. The evidence is now complete. You have privately manufactured weapons and are plotting a rebellion.”
"You scoundrel, how can you say such things? Chuzhou is a porcelain capital with a history of over a hundred years, and it is even used by the Ming Dynasty to fire imperial celadon. It is a place of plenty and peace. Where would we get weapons?"
"Ah, Lord Cai, the Chuzhou Kiln is right there. A simple investigation will tell you."
"Ah, Lord Xu, the officials and people of Chuzhou worked together day and night and finally finished firing the celadon. But the craftsmen were negligent for a moment and caused a fire. It is no longer there."
"The kiln is gone, but the people are still here."
Tears streaming down his face, Cai Kechang lamented, "All the craftsmen perished in the fire..."
Xu Zhida, unwilling to engage in further discussion, interrupted, "Stop your tears. I'm not talking about the craftsmen, but the lives of those hundred-odd soldiers. Dead men can still speak."
Cai Kechang looked coldly at Xu Zhida, then realized that the visitor was up to no good, and said directly, "You dog, which master have you taken over this time?"
Xu Zhida didn't reply, but took two steps forward and whispered in his ear, "You think it's foolproof? Apart from the soldiers and craftsmen who are loyal to you, everyone from the capital has fled into the Haze Mountain. Your eldest prince is plotting to make the whole world know."
Cai Kechang's expression changed. Xu Zhida was truly shrewd. The Second Prince would reap the benefits, leaving Meng Qingshan in Chuzhou to deal with Cai Kechang, thus leaving the capital empty-handed.
Inside the palace, Consort Liu entered her bedchamber. The golden lotus incense burner emitted a continuous stream of fragrant smoke. The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the scent was strong. Consort Liu covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, walked to the bedside, and looked at Emperor Mingkang, who was fast asleep with his eyes closed. His white hair was scattered on the pillow, and his face was covered with wrinkles. More than twenty years had passed, and he had aged.
Consort Liu glanced at it, then retreated to the doorway. She watched as the palace maid lowered the curtain and the palace door closed before withdrawing her gaze and ordering, "No one is allowed to approach."
The palace maid bowed her head and replied, "Yes."
Consort Liu walked towards the side hall, where the Second Prince sat to one side, while Dexi stood trembling to the side, sweat rolling down his cheeks and his legs shaking uncontrollably.
The Second Prince, holding a long sword, slammed it on the table and said, "I heard that Eunuch Dexi has a grand-nephew who lives in the capital. I met him by chance some time ago and we hit it off, so I invited him to a place. Eunuch Dexi, don't worry, he's doing very well."
Dexi was born during a time of war and fled with his family. But fate was cruel; his parents and brothers starved to death on the road, leaving only him and his younger brother. With nowhere else to turn, he entered the royal palace as a servant and raised his younger brother until he grew up and got married. A few years ago, his younger brother and his wife both died of illness, leaving only this one descendant in the entire family.
Having found the key to his weakness, Dexi's hands and feet stopped trembling. He bent down, glared fiercely at the ground, and said submissively, "Second Prince, whatever your orders are, this old servant will obey."
The second prince chuckled. This old eunuch, he's still thinking about having an heir.
“Eunuch Dexi, please rise. If an outsider comes to see the Emperor, what will you say?”
"His Majesty is resting in Qichun Palace, undisturbed by any other matters."
"The Empress requests an audience."
"His Majesty's edict has not been received."
The second prince was very satisfied. He estimated the time and waited for the eldest prince's rebellion to become public knowledge so he could reap the benefits.
The east wind is already chilly, howling, and dark clouds are obscuring the sun; winter is coming.
At a crossroads outside Kyoto, Qingli was wrapped in Meng Qingshan's cloak. His chest was hot, making her whole body feel warm. When she heard the horse stop, she poked her head out from his arms, turning her head cleverly, like a cunning little fox.
After entering the capital region, the Imperial Guards were dispatched by Meng Qingshan in separate groups, while Song Zhang, Yun Xiu, and the others followed at a distance.
Meng Qingshan found her little actions both amusing and intriguing, so he pressed her restless body down under his cloak, saying, "Don't move."
The warning has also taken on a different meaning.
Qingli was not afraid of his tactics at all. She thoroughly enjoyed being controlled by him from head to toe throughout the journey.
Meng Qingshan looked at her with a smile, thinking that this was nothing more than spoiled brat, but he was willing to spoil her like this.
The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and moments later, the Fourth Prince arrived.
The three found a teahouse and asked the old man who was brewing tea to leave. The fourth prince said, "Many of the horses in the camp outside the capital have fallen ill and died."
The fourth prince used to raise horses and was very protective of them, but in this power struggle, he could only watch helplessly as nearly a thousand horses were schemed against, which was a great pity.
Then he added, "The Empress Dowager's letters stopped three days ago, so I guess the Second Prince has succeeded."
Things have unfolded as planned, and there's nothing more to say.
"Let's proceed according to plan."
Meng Qingshan escorted Qingli back to the Huang residence. When the steward He Tai saw Song Zhang, his eyes immediately reddened. He tightly grasped Song Zhang's hand and bowed to Qingli and Meng Qingshan, saying, "This servant thanks Miss and son-in-law."
This was the first time Meng Qingshan had been called "son-in-law," and his usual cold demeanor vanished. He glanced at Qingli with a smile, making her cheeks flush.
The butler added, "Master is waiting for his son-in-law."
"And me?"
"The master wants you to rest first, and we will have dinner together in the evening."
Qingli wanted to see her grandfather, but she knew he must be discussing important matters with Meng Qingshan. She glanced at him and hesitated to move.
Meng Qingshan stepped forward and whispered, "I'm discussing our wedding with my grandfather."
Who would have thought of that? Qingli turned and fled from the doorway as if she were escaping. Back in the courtyard, the nanny and maids surrounded her, crying that it was so boring without their young lady. They were busy boiling water for bathing and serving tea for a while.
As she waited to sit down in the dining room, Huang Pu was already seated at the table, looking at her with a smile.
"grandfather."
Qingli looked around but didn't see anyone, and felt a little disappointed.
Huang Pu chuckled and explained for him, "Someone from the manor has come to ask him to go back; there's no time to delay."
Who asked him? Nobody wants to know. Wait, that's not right. "How did his grandfather explain it for him?"
Grandfather disliked Meng Qingshan the most. Huang Pu paused, realizing this girl was starting to ridicule her. But he also understood; no one cared for her as much as Meng Qingshan did, unwilling to let her bear even the slightest risk. Clearly...
"Just stating the facts."
The grandfather and grandson enjoyed their meal happily. Qingli didn't mention anything about Chuzhou, and Huang Pu didn't ask either. They closed the door, content with the warmth and comfort inside, regardless of the storms outside.
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