Before Chen Yu could ask, Elder Li said, "Prime Minister Kong has been monitoring the late emperor's sons. Luo Yan has been in close contact with Prince Heng, and... Luo Yan is pregnant."
Shen Yu gasped in shock, thinking to herself: Luo Yan is already eighteen and still unmarried. Could it be that she really has an affair with the Prince Heng? If Luo Yan is pregnant with the Prince Heng's child, wouldn't that be even more troublesome?
Sure enough, trouble is brewing.
Ten days later.
The King of Heng and the King of Li led their troops to camp outside the west city, bringing a total of 50,000 soldiers. They threatened that if Prime Minister Kong refused to hand over Mu Luoyan, they would attack the capital and seize the palace.
Inside the Ziji Hall, the Emperor frowned, his brow furrowed with worry. Finances and military strength were no longer under his control. He looked up at Prime Minister Kong, who stood before his desk, and asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think we should do?"
Kong Xiang scoffed and couldn't help but snort: "Hmph! A mere 50,000 troops dare to invade the capital?"
Leaving aside the troops under my command, the Prince of Xiang alone has an army of 100,000, and the Mu family and the Prince of Jing together have 80,000 troops. The Prince of Heng is reckless and arrogant, so it's no wonder the late emperor removed him from his position as crown prince.
The Emperor stood up, slammed his hand on the table, and said, "Then let's send troops to capture Prince Heng and Prince Li in one fell swoop, which will also deter the other forces."
【No! Prince Heng is inherently cruel. Even if we make him king, everyone will be dissatisfied. He is not our formidable enemy. On the contrary, he is the Liu clan's direct descendant, who has been hiding all along. Why don't we use Prince Heng to deal with the Liu clan's direct descendant?】
The Emperor was surprised. "The Prime Minister said the direct descendants of the Liu family are in hiding. How could Prince Heng have found them?"
Kong Xiang glanced at the Emperor, not just once, but once. The Emperor was kind by nature and naturally not good at deceit and treachery.
Kong Xiang sighed helplessly, "Alas! Your Majesty, please attend to official business; I will handle this matter myself."
Kong Xiang sent King Jing to King Heng to tell him that Mu Luoyan had been kidnapped by Mu Chenyu and the Liu family's direct descendants.
Prince Heng had no idea of the whereabouts of the Liu family's direct descendants, and out of desperation, he sent men to kidnap Mu Cheng'er.
------
Early the next morning.
The news that Mu Cheng'er had been captured by Prince Heng spread throughout the capital and reached Shen Yu's ears.
Chen Yu was still unable to walk, and patting the wooden wheel, she couldn't hide her anger: "That old scoundrel Kong has always been adept at using despicable methods, how dare he target the Mu family's offspring?"
Fish must not act impulsively.
Liu Deng walked in and sat opposite Chen Yu, analyzing the situation carefully: "That old scoundrel Kong's actions are designed to force you to reveal yourself, then force you to hand over Ping'er. His aim is to wipe out the Liu family's direct line."
[Father is absolutely right. My legs are currently weak, so I cannot go to the west gate. Therefore, I will write a letter and have Luoyan deliver it to Prince Heng.]
Liu Deng asked in surprise, "Is the fish going to release Luo Yan?"
Shen Yu nodded firmly and winked at Jiu'er beside her. Jiu'er then went outside to keep watch.
Chen Yu lowered her voice and said, "Father, Luo Yan was indeed pregnant when she came. In order to ensure that there would be no further threats to our Liu family after we ascend the throne, I ordered someone to give Luo Yan a miscarriage-inducing drug."
Aside from my father and Jiu'er, no one else knew about this. I could easily blame it on Prime Minister Kong, since Luo Yan suffered torture in the torture chamber.
[Why did you write a letter when Luo Yan could have simply explained this to Prince Heng?]
Faced with Liu Deng's question, Chen Yu lowered her eyes and said in a deep voice, "I want to submit to King Heng."
Liu Deng was even more puzzled, standing up and staring at Chen Yu in astonishment: "Why? The direct line of the Liu family cannot submit to the Zhao family again!"
Shen Yu nodded. Her submission to the Heng King was also for the sake of the future.
Liu Deng only had five thousand soldiers. Let alone dealing with Kong Xiang, he would have a hard time defeating Heng Wang.
Prince Heng is the eldest son of the late emperor and was originally the crown prince. If the sons of the late emperor unite to support Prince Heng, they will surely be able to reclaim the throne.
Shen Yu's plan to submit this time was to assist the Heng King and use his troops to conquer the capital.
She took out the letter she had already written and handed it to Liu Deng with both hands.
Liu Deng opened the book and instantly burst into tears. Turning away, she choked back sobs in a low voice: "Yu'er is going to enter the enemy camp to protect my Liu family army? How can I leave you with the two children? What if something happens to you? How can I face Yu'er and Tianfeng?"
Shen Yu was also saddened. She had been pondering this for many days. Heng Wang wanted to win over the Mu family army, so naturally he wouldn't harm her and her child. She only hoped that Mu Nanfeng could one day join her and assist Liu Deng together.
At this moment, Jade reported, "King Jing requests an audience, saying there is something extremely urgent."
Okay, let him in.
After Chen Yu finished speaking, Liu Deng got up to leave, but Chen Yu stopped him.
[Father, there's no need to avoid the topic. Shen Lan and Chi Yan are both Jing Wang's men, and Jing Wang knows you are still alive.]
Liu Deng could not hide his panic and quickly left, because Prince Jing was the late emperor's illegitimate son, and according to blood relations, Prince Jing should have assisted the late emperor's son.
Liu Deng and his men hid in the shadows to observe, and discovered that Prince Jing had come alone. They then handed over the sword and dagger they were carrying to Li's soldiers.
When King Jing entered the hall, he saw Chen Yu sitting in a round-backed chair with wooden wheels, and his heart instantly became extremely heavy.
He had already learned from Shen Lan that Shen Yu was persecuted by Kong Xiang, but fortunately Liu Jiajun rescued Shen Yu.
He pursed his lips, nodded to Chen Yu in greeting, then sat down opposite her, forcing a smile. "It's been a long time. I wonder if An'er and Ping'er still remember their godfather?"
Shen Yu nodded hastily. Seeing the tears in Jing Wang's eyes, her nose tingled, and her eyes also welled up with tears.
Fearing Liu Deng would mind, she lowered her voice and asked, "[Your Highness, Xie Jing, are concerned about An'er and Ping'er. May I ask what important matter Your Highness has to discuss?]"
Prince Jing took out a letter and handed it to Chen Yu, saying, "Your eldest brother returned to the capital to rescue the Mu family. He said that the people are suffering terribly and it's time for a change of dynasty."
What is King Jing's intention?
Liu Deng walked in.
Prince Jing hurriedly rose, bowed to Liu Deng, and then choked out, "Uncle, do you still remember Lin Tian'er? Do you still remember Lin Jing?"
Liu Deng was shocked. Lin Jing was his uncle, and Lin Tian'er was his cousin.
Back then, the Liu family's direct line was wiped out, and he was the only survivor. He was taken in by Liu Jie's family as a steward. Later, Liu Jie became Empress and sent him to the Duke's mansion as a steward. Later, he and Jia Tianfeng had Liu Yu and Yanran...
He carefully examined Prince Jing. His cold and dignified expression was very much like that of the late emperor, and his tall and robust physique resembled that of a member of the Liu family. Wait, what's that behind his neck?
Liu Deng leaned closer to take a closer look and saw that Prince Jing had a black mole the size of a black bean on the back of his neck, and Lin Tian'er also had this mole.
Liu Deng's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She hugged Prince Jing tightly and burst into tears, "My child, you're actually my cousin's child... I never imagined my cousin would survive..."
King Jing was also in tears, choked with sobs and unable to speak. "A few days ago, an old friend of my mother's handed me a locked wooden box. When I knocked on the rusty lock, I realized that I also had the blood of the Liu family flowing through my veins."
To save her life, her mother used the pseudonym Jing Tian'er and lived in brothels.
I heard from Shen Lan that Liu Wang was still alive, so I came alone to reunite with my uncle.
Liu Deng was startled and straightened up, looking at King Jing. He tentatively asked, "King Jing is young and promising. If you were to become king, the Liu family army would certainly support you. Is King Jing willing?"
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