Chapter 190: Endless News
The door of the secret passage opened, and Jiang Yingli took Xiao Chenan, Qiuxia and Lianqiao out of the palace overnight.
Something happened to General Gu, and Wei Zhi and his guards could barely hold on for a few days. The imperial guards in the palace were all elite, but it was difficult for them to defeat the enemy with a small number of troops.
She and Xiao Chen'an could not stay in the palace and wait for death. The Xue family had not come to search for the prince yet, which meant that they had already found a replacement.
Instead of waiting, it is better to take the initiative. She personally dispatched the Northern Army, and then brought Xiao Chenan back to Chengqian Palace.
Now it’s a competition of who is faster.
The secret passage seemed to be endless.
The oil lamp was covered by a shell, and the light was already dim, and it became even weaker in this dark secret passage.
Occasionally, the shrill screams of bats would startle us.
In this turbulent and strange environment, Xiao Chenan didn't even cry.
When the moonlight finally shone through the gap onto Jiang Yingli's face, she could no longer feel her legs become weak.
Jiang Yingli lowered her head and kissed Xiao Chenan's cheek.
Lianqiao and Qiuxia went to move the haystack blocking the entrance to the secret passage, and the pale moonlight made the outside quiet.
Jiang Yingli walked out and suddenly heard footsteps around her. She instinctively took two steps back. Lian Qiao and Qiuxia hurried over to surround her, looking vigilantly in the direction where the sound came from.
Under the moonlight, a slender person walked towards them. She was wearing a veil and it was impossible to recognize her.
Lian Qiao drew the dagger in his hand and pointed it at her.
"Empress, it's me."
As soon as the voice came out, Jiang Yingli was stunned.
"Concubine Shen? No, I should call you Master Shen now."
Chen Zhuxin glanced at the baby in Jiang Yingli's arms and said, "This must be the Crown Prince."
Out of caution, Jiang Yingli did not answer immediately. She couldn't understand why Chen Zhuxin appeared in this place.
"My father wrote to the academy, telling me that something might have happened in the palace. He told me to wait here in a car just in case. I didn't know his intentions at first, but I didn't expect to actually wait for the Empress."
The three of them were shocked when they heard this. They looked at each other, and Lian Qiao put down the dagger in shock.
Jiang Yingli paused and understood.
It was His Majesty who told Lord Shen that there was a secret passage here, and instructed him to keep an eye on it if there were any changes in the future.
Jiang Yingli's eyelashes trembled and her eyes turned red.
His Majesty has left so many escape routes for her. Every two steps she takes, she will encounter news from His Majesty.
"Your Majesty, please get on the carriage quickly." Chen Zhu thought to himself.
Jiang Yingli nodded.
Chen Zhuxin's carriage was very inconspicuous, but it was the only way to hide it from others.
Jiang Yingli had just gotten on the carriage when she suddenly discovered something wrong. There was a child in the carriage, who was about the same age as Xiao Chenan.
Jiang Yingli looked at Chen Zhuxin, who whispered, "My Lady, if things get really bad, you can change your identity to protect the Crown Prince."
Jiang Yingli looked at the child and asked, "Where did this child come from?"
"It was a baby girl, abandoned at the gate of the academy."
Jiang Yingli shook her head and sighed, "I know you're all doing this for Daye, but since her fate is already so dire, why push her further into the abyss? Your Majesty won't allow it. Since Xiao Chen'an is the crown prince, it's his duty to die for the country. Your Majesty should think so too."
Chen Zhuxin was silent for a few breaths and nodded.
"There's no need for anyone to protect anyone else. I believe those rebels won't be able to accomplish anything. When the matter is settled, she can come with me into the palace." Jiang Yingli reached out and gently touched the baby girl's face.
Chen Zhuxin's face showed some joy: "It would be great if the queen is willing to raise her."
The carriage headed towards the northern suburbs under the cover of night.
Jiang Yingli looked at her old friend whom she hadn't seen for two years and couldn't help asking about his recent situation: "How are you doing in the academy?"
Chen Zhuxin smiled and said, "Just as your majesty said, only two or three out of ten people listen carefully to my teachings. It can be said that there are many difficulties."
Jiang Yingli felt regretful for a moment. When Chen Zhuxin left the palace, she felt that her future was bright and she didn't need to waste time in the palace.
But nothing in this world is easy.
"So, do you regret leaving the palace? If you were still in the palace, you could live a peaceful life like Ying Xiuyi and the others."
Chen Zhuxin still chuckled and shook her head.
“Never regret it.”
She paused, then continued, "Just like Your Majesty, was today's matter difficult? Not only difficult, but also very dangerous. Your Majesty is away, and the rebellious party is disrupting the government. But Your Majesty should have been thinking about how to resolve it and how to take the next step, instead of retreating because of the difficulty. The same is true for me."
Jiang Yingli looked into her clear eyes and heard her unwavering determination. She smiled with relief and satisfaction, "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but it will get better."
Chen Zhuxin also smiled back and nodded.
At the same time, in the Gu residence in Beijing.
The shrill cries echoed throughout the entire house, scaring away the night cats walking on the courtyard wall.
Gu Xiaoran knelt on the ground with her eyes swollen from crying.
The fake whip marks on her body had been replaced by real ones.
Gu Zheng was extremely angry at this moment. He was annoyed by Gu Xiaoran's crying and lashed her back with the whip in his hand without mercy.
"You unfilial son! You actually pretended to be injured to deceive your biological father. I have fought for the country of Daye my entire life. Now that the rebels are at our doorstep, I actually delayed reinforcements because I believed your lies. How does this make me an ally of the rebels?"
Gu Xiaoran's teeth chattered in pain, but he still refused to give up and cried out, "Daddy, you also said that you fought for the country of Daye for half your life, but look at your daughter. Just because she offended the emperor's favorite concubine, she was sent to that nunnery for hard training. In the eyes of the emperor, do you think you are such a loyal minister and good general?"
Gu Zheng felt so angry that his blood rushed to his head and he almost couldn't stand. "No matter what you say, you are right! You are simply unrepentant! You stay here and I will go and make amends for your sins, so that we can put an end to the troubles that you, a rebellious son, have brought to the Gu family!"
"Dad, it's too late now!" Gu Xiaoran turned around suddenly and grabbed General Gu's clothes.
"The Xue family's troops are already at the Imperial Palace. Tomorrow, a full 50,000 garrison troops from Qinyang County will also arrive in the capital. That's not all. His Majesty has passed away, and the Crown Prince is still young. Smart people will know who the situation favors. By then, all regions will respond in unison. Why is Dad so stubborn and continues to be so loyal just to win the honor of following the emperor? Following the Xue family is what benefits the Gu family."
General Gu was stunned when he saw Gu Xiaoran grabbing his clothes and making an impassioned speech.
He slowly raised his hand. Seeing that he was no longer furious, Gu Xiaoran thought that he had taken his words to heart.
However, before he could feel secretly happy, Gu Xiaoran felt a slap in the face, and the burning pain instantly spread from his cheek to his whole body.
Gu Xiaoran stood there with her hands covering her face, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Daddy, you actually hit me! From childhood to adulthood, when has Daddy ever hit me?"
Gu Zheng closed his eyes in pain and pointed at her angrily: "It's because I never beat you that you became this self-righteous and self-righteous person. My Gu family has guarded the border for three generations, and we are loyal and unyielding. How could we raise a traitor like you!"
After Gu Zheng finished speaking, he turned around and left ruthlessly.
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