At this moment, on the water surface.
Li Ruo sped across the water alone in her jet ski, feeling a sense of loneliness that was even stronger than during her countless missions in the modern world, because here she had more companions, family, and was used to the hustle and bustle.
After Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the fog slowly dissipated, and she could see more clearly that there were other small boats or rafts on the vast water heading towards the capital.
It's quite far away.
She released a raft from her spatial dimension, then retrieved the motorboat, donned tattered men's clothing, smeared her face with soot, and moved towards the other small boats.
They were all refugees heading towards Zhongnan Mountain. Li Ruo observed them for a while and then said to the boatman of one of the small boats, "Excuse me, may I ride on your boat? It's too cold on the raft."
The boatman looked over, his expression somewhat indifferent.
Li Ruo said, "I have some millet, which you can have once we get to the mountain." As he spoke, he pulled out a small bag from behind him, which looked rather heavy.
The boatman's eyes lit up. He went inside to ask someone, and quickly came out again. "Okay, you keep your word."
At that time, having grain meant you were the boss.
Li Ruo successfully boarded his boat and learned that the family on board was from Ruzhou.
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Ruo asked them if they had heard of the plague in Chenzhou. The head of the household replied, "Yes, I have. Countless people have died along the way."
He then worried that he might not be able to get up the mountain smoothly, because he was afraid of being mistaken for someone infected with the plague and being driven away by the soldiers.
Because of the "boat fare," the family didn't do anything to Li Ruo. At dusk, they arrived at the shore of Yutai Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains. Sure enough, there were soldiers checking people, and everyone was waiting and not allowed to go up the mountain.
Li Ruoxin wondered if he should sneak in somewhere, when suddenly a eunuch came and said, "The Taoist priest said that to accumulate blessings for His Majesty, let all the disaster victims come up, but they should all be settled in one place."
The crowd cheered, and some even knelt to express their gratitude for the emperor's grace.
Li Ruo was thus able to ascend the mountain, much more smoothly than she had anticipated.
Could the Taoist priest the eunuch mentioned be Liao Fusheng? Did he foresee her coming? Or is this another conspiracy by the Prince of Jiangning? After all, he now controls the entire court.
Li Ruo didn't care about anything else. While everyone was in a bit of a daze after being settled, he sneaked out. Using the same old method, he knocked out a soldier, changed his clothes, and then threw him into the spatial trash can.
Yutai Temple truly lives up to its reputation as a royal Taoist temple; it is very grand, with carved railings and painted beams. However, its main gate looks more valuable than other places.
My hands are a little itchy.
But fearing that we might alert them, we should hold back for now.
Li Ruo followed the patrolling soldiers to a wall, then suddenly fell behind. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, he swung his hand and pulled a piece of the wall away, slipping inside.
Damn, this space is essential for plundering and pillaging. What city gate won't be able to be breached in the future?
But the soldiers in front quickly noticed something was wrong, turned around, and were shocked: "Where's a piece of the wall?!"
This is weird; it was perfectly fine just now.
And they discovered that one person was missing.
"Go and tell General Fu immediately!"
By this time, Li Ruo had already entered the Taoist temple, which was similar in layout to Huaqing Temple. She quickly slipped to the long corridor next to the main hall.
Suddenly, several people dressed in official robes came over; they must have been ministers. She quickly slipped behind a pillar.
I heard them talking about the Ministry of Revenue, how they were short of grain, and what they would do if the Western Rong attacked.
After they passed by, Li Ruo saw two more palace maids coming over. She knocked them unconscious, changed into one of their clothes, and went to the back room. The emperor should be placed here, right?
Just as she was about to walk over, a man dressed in a white brocade robe suddenly came out of the room. Li Ruo almost shouted, "Liao Fusheng!"
He was frowning and walking very fast, as if he was in a hurry to do something. He didn't see her, so Li Ruo followed him.
Good heavens, without his Taoist robes, he looks like a refined gentleman in this turbid world. Li Ruo breathed a slight sigh of relief; it's good that he's alive.
Liao Fusheng walked for a while, as if he had calmed himself down, his tense shoulders relaxed, and he headed towards the Sanqing Hall.
Because he was a Taoist priest praying for the emperor, the soldiers in the main hall nodded to him and let him in.
Li Ruo decided against following directly and instead slipped to the side of the Sanqing Hall. Thanks to the cover of night and her agility, she was not easily spotted.
There was another side door on the side of the Sanqing Hall, which was closed. She closed the door, went inside, and hid behind the shrine of Yuanshi Tianzun.
Liao Fusheng glanced at the back gate, told the soldiers that he was going to perform a ritual to pray for the emperor's well-being, closed the gate, and then his gaze fell on the statue of Laozi.
He climbed up and groped around behind the statue for a while, as if looking for something. He almost hid behind the statue, so Li Ruo couldn't see what it was.
When Liao Fusheng came out, he was carrying a bundle in his hand, which was bulging.
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.
Amidst the bright lights outside, Chu Yunji, dressed in a black cloak, strode in, backlit by the light. "Haha, my imperial brother really did tell me where the things were hidden."
Liao Fusheng opened his eyes wide and hid the bundle behind his back. "So you had this planned all along."
Chu Yunji laughed and said, "Otherwise, why do you think I sent you all this way? Your role is more than just that."
At this moment, a row of archers outside the door aimed their arrows at Liao Fusheng. Chu Yunji said, "Do I need to invite you over?"
Liao Fusheng's eyes reddened. "I won't give it to you."
A hint of coldness flashed across Chu Yunji's expression. "Release the arrows."
Just as the archers were drawing their bows, a large cauldron suddenly flew towards them and slammed into them with a bang. At the same time, a figure pounced on Liao Fusheng with lightning speed, rolling him twice on the ground.
But Chu Yunji moved extremely fast, grabbing the figure just as it lunged forward.
"It's you!"
A hint of wild joy flashed in Chu Yunji's eyes, and he struck out with a palm, not at her, but at Liao Fusheng.
Li Ruo shoved Liao Fusheng, taking the blow head-on. At the same time, he raised his other hand and pulled the trigger. Just then, Chu Yunji dodged, and with a bang, the bullet hit a soldier behind him.
Ignoring the intense pain in her shoulder, Li Ruo grabbed the stunned Liao Fusheng and rushed out through the side door.
But in an instant, with a whooshing sound, countless armored soldiers poured out from the rooftops, walls, and all directions.
Surround them completely!
"Don't waste your energy, Li Ruo." Chu Yunji walked over from the entrance of the main hall, a knowing smile on his face.
Li Ruo glanced around, but remained calm. Still holding Liao Fusheng's wrist, she smiled sweetly, "Oh, it seems Your Highness has been waiting for me for quite some time."
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