Chapter 128

Jiashan was wearing a goose yellow cotton jacket today, and a moon-white skirt with a gold-woven horse-face pattern. Perhaps because she was in the theater, the clothes looked half-new, not extravagant, but rather had a sense of peace and tranquility, of a peaceful and good time.

Unfortunately, this peaceful and tranquil life was never because of Zhan Shaoying.

Zhan Shaoying's eyes swept over Jiashan's face inch by inch. After a long while, he said, "It's not that I can't tell you why I came here."

He smiled suddenly, and his tone became a little gentler: "But you should understand that this is a secret, and I can only tell you."

Silence, a moment's silence.

Jiashan looked at him expressionlessly, and finally said, "You really don't know how to behave."

Without waiting for Zhan Shaoying to continue, she turned and left. Zhu Zheng quickly protected her on both sides, but the tip of his sword pointed at Zhan Shaoying from a distance, full of threat.

Zhan Shaoying suddenly became excited. He stood up and shouted, "Don't regret it when you leave!"

"To be honest with you, he won't survive this night!" Zhan Shaoying shouted in a raised voice.

Jiashan stopped, turned around, and looked at Zhan Shaoying from a distance.

When Zhan Shaoying saw Jiashan coming back, he knew that she was still interested in him, but she was just being stubborn and refused to give in.

He smiled, then sat down again and said softly, "I came here to save you, not to harm you. Please believe me, okay?"

Jiashan turned around completely. She paused, took the scabbard from Zhu Zheng, walked slowly to Zhan Shaoying, and stopped when she was still a few feet away.

Jiashan held the scabbard in his hand, and suddenly lifted Zhan Shaoying's chin with the scabbard's mouth from a distance.

She said with a half-smile, "Really? It turns out I misunderstood you."

"Then tell me, how are you going to save me?" Jiashan lowered his head and looked up at him, his long eyelashes fluttering.

Zhan Shaoying had hardly ever seen Jiashan like this.

She finally lost her cold and dignified demeanor and instead showed exceptionally lively laughter, anger and scolding, even with a hint of unspeakable flamboyance and seduction.

Zhan Shaoying was very excited, almost to the point of having his blood boiling. His eyes lingered on Jiashan's face and refused to leave.

He tried to stand up: "Of course... I certainly can't bear to see you die."

Jiashan moved the sheath down from his chin to his chest, and tapped Zhan Shaoying's chest lightly, causing him to sit down again.

Zhan Shaoying held the sheath tightly almost obsessively, and a hot breath rose up in his lower abdomen almost involuntarily.

Jiashan smiled slightly, as bright and dazzling as the most gorgeous star in the night.

Her rosy lips moved in and out as she whispered, "Tell me what you are going to do."

Zhan Shaoying's Adam's apple rolled as he stared into her black and white eyes. His voice became hoarse, as if he was already moved. He said, "Okay, I'll tell you."

He looked at her without blinking, "Now, the capital is a place of trouble. You left the capital this time, claiming to escape the summer heat, but you took a detour to Changchun Temple halfway, thinking that you didn't want people to know your whereabouts. But this plan is not very smart at all, it is actually a clever trick that backfired."

"Jiashan," Zhan Shaoying called her by her name, his eyes fixed on her, and said, "You can trust me."

Zhan Shaoying looked almost pious. He said softly, "I am willing to swear to heaven that I have no intention of harming you."

Jiashan chuckled with an ambiguous tone.

Hearing the mockery in her smile, Zhan Shaoying pursed his lips and looked at her deeply: "Your whereabouts have been exposed. If I hadn't come, tonight, do you expect Zhan Yanqing to come to save you with wings?"

Jiashan said: "You have confidence in yourself." How can you compare with him?

Jiashan said, "I don't understand. I just left the city to escape the heat. Even if my whereabouts are exposed, what does it matter? I am a princess. Who would dare to harm me? Why do I need you to save me?"

Zhan Shaoying couldn't help but choke at her sharp tongue.

Jiashan raised his eyebrows and continued, "Unless you intend to commit treason, no one can bear the charge of harming the princess."

Zhan Shaoying remained silent and just looked at her from a distance.

After a moment, he said, "In this world, there is no distinction between the victorious and the defeated, and there is no distinction between treason."

A cold light flashed in Jiashan's eyes, and she said, "This statement should be punished."

"You and I have different ideas and will not work together." Jiashan resolutely retracted the sword sheath and stopped looking at him.

Zhan Shaoying suddenly felt his palms were empty, as if they were quicksand that he could no longer hold.

Unwilling to let her go like this, he held the voucher tightly and said, "Why are you being so stubborn? When the new emperor ascends the throne, you will come to me for help again."

His tone was firm, and Jiashan couldn't help but sneer again.

"No, we don't need to wait until that day. You will beg me tonight." Zhan Shaoying had a confident smile on his face. He was not afraid of Jiashan finding out. He said, "We have more than just troops from the capital. A few guards from the princess's mansion can't protect you and your son."

Jiashan raised his eyes to look at him, and said expressionlessly: "Didn't you just say that you have absolutely no intention of harming me?"

"It seems that your oath is nothing special." Jiashan said calmly.

Zhan Shaoying was obviously irritated by such a cold tone. His face turned red and he wanted to speak.

Jiashan was the first to ask: "One last question."

Her voice was clear and crisp: "Is Hong'er's high fever an accident, or did you do it on purpose?"

If Hong'er had not had a high fever, even with Qi's presence, given the vigilance of Ruyang and Jiashan, they would never have kept them here.

Zhan Shaoying was surprised to find Jiashan asking this. His eyes flickered but he did not answer immediately.

Jiashan saw this, of course she didn't understand, she sneered, and when she opened her mouth again, there was some hostility in her voice: "It really makes me sick."

"That's your own child." Jiashan's eyes were as cold as thousand-year-old black ice. She said, "It's so sad that they have a husband and father like you who is worse than a beast!"

Zhan Shaoying pursed his lips, and his confident expression finally began to crack. His face turned red and white, and he pursed his lips tightly, as if he had finally exploded: "I don't want to!"

"I don't want to be someone else's husband, I don't want to be someone else's father! I want you!"

"Princess, what I want from the beginning to the end is you!" Zhan Shaoying's eyes were red, like a trapped beast that had been imprisoned for many years.

"How dare you!" Without waiting for Jiashan to say anything, Zhu Zheng finally rushed forward unable to bear it anymore. With one fierce blow of his sword, he cut off half of Zhan Shaoying's hair.

Zhu Zheng said angrily: "You don't want to live anymore?"

Zhan Shaoying smiled foolishly and said, "If I really die, I want to die in your hands."

He whispered softly, as if in a dream: "Jiashan."

Being called so lightly by him, Jiashan felt as if her ears were crawling with worms. She was pregnant, and she could no longer hold back. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and gulped unconsciously.

Zhu Zheng was worried about Jiashan's health, but he couldn't hold back his anger towards Zhan Shaoying. Thinking of Zhan Shaoying's nonsense, Zhu Zheng held the sword fiercely, intending to end Zhan Shaoying's life here.

Jiashan finally slowed down at this moment, and she shouted, "Stop."

Zhu Zheng: "Your Highness..."

Jiashan turned her back to Zhan Shaoying, as if she felt that if she looked at this person again, she would be disgusted. She said, "Such a person is not worthy of dying in our hands."

"This is a Taoist temple after all, don't pollute the place." Jiashan said without hesitation, "Tie him up first. We'll deal with him when we get back to Beijing."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zheng had no choice but to stop. He said "hey" in disgust, rolled up his sleeves, and found a thick straw rope.

Jiashan walked out of the room with heavy steps, showing no intention of looking back.

After Zhu Zheng tied up Zhan Shaoying, he went back to Jiashan to report. Although Zhu Zheng was a warrior, he had followed Jiashan for a long time and had some political sensitivity.

He walked up to Jiashan, bowed slightly, and whispered, "Your Highness, is there anything else you need me to do?"

Jiashan was pondering over Zhan Shaoying's words. Zhan Shaoying's words still revealed some key points. If she guessed correctly, there would be a big commotion in Beijing tonight.

I wonder if my father and Yanqing are prepared? Zhan Shaoying said that they have more than just troops from the capital, so who else could they have...

Jiashan was not too worried about himself. From what Zhan Shaoying said just now, they didn't know that there were those secret guards around them.

Jiashan thought for a moment and said, "Not yet. But I have a bad feeling. Zhan Shaoying was probably sent here to test the waters. I'm afraid the rat will pull the iron shovel, and the big head is behind it."

"When we are on guard tonight, everyone must be more careful. Prepare a few more secret guards. It would be best if you could find Chen Chu and discuss with him how to distribute the guards tonight."

Chen Chu is the chief guard among the secret guards that Zhan Yue has always placed beside Jiashan.

He used to be a minor officer in the army, but because he offended someone, he was never hired again. This gave Zhan Yue the opportunity to pick him up.

Therefore, Chen Chu was better than Zhu Zheng in marching and deploying troops.

Zhu Zheng also understood this and said hurriedly, "Yes. Since I have been ordered to protect the princess's safety, I will not put her in danger."

Jiashan said "hmm", and after a moment's thought, she said, "Go to the third shelf over there and find a spice for the bound guards."

Although he had ordered Zhu Zheng to tie up the guards of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, Jiashan was still worried, so he asked Zhu Zheng to get the incense.

In fact, when it comes down to it, killing directly would be the best way to defend.

However, this is a Taoist temple after all, and...

Jiashan touched her belly which had not yet bulged, and glanced at the innocent Xuan Ge'er next to her, finally leaving them a way out.

She sighed and considered it as a blessing for her children.

Jiashan had people kidnapped and placed under house arrest, which was a huge commotion. Of course, it could not be hidden from Princess Ruyang.

After dinner, Ruyang came to Jiashan's yard alone.

Seeing that the guards at the door were obviously stricter than during the day, Ruyang's face turned pale. Then he looked at Qi and Hong Ge'er sleeping on the same bed in the outer room, so he went to the main room in a daze.

She got straight to the point: "Is there something wrong with them?"

"Yes." Ruyang knew a little about the purpose of Jiashan's coming here, so Jiashan did not hide it from her. Moreover, the two of them were now truly grasshoppers on the same rope, sharing weal and woe.

Jiashan said, "Just in case, before Yanqing comes to pick me up, we cannot give them freedom, let alone let them leave. I hope Auntie understands."

Ruyang had lived through two dynasties, and she had personally experienced the fall of the Yongding Marquis's mansion overnight. Upon hearing this, she did not say much, but said with regret: "It is my kindness as a woman that has caused you trouble."

Jiashan smiled and was in the mood to comfort Ruyang: "Aunt, what are you talking about? If it were me, I would not watch such a small child with a high fever and do nothing."

"You can't blame me for this, aunt." Jiashan said, "Don't worry, aunt. The guards following me are all carefully selected by Yanqing. They can guard Changchun Temple without any problem."

Seeing that she was still confident, Ruyang heaved a sigh of relief. Seeing that Xuan was studying "University" diligently, Ruyang went to the side and helped Xuan with his homework.

That night.

Ever since Jiashan took Xuan Ge'er away from Beijing, Zhan Yue had been staying in the governor's office for several days. In the past few years, the life with a wife and a child had made him spoiled. He had long been accustomed to the happiness of two people, and he could not stand being alone.

These past few days, I felt that the bed in the yamen was too hard, the quilt was too cold... I felt uncomfortable everywhere, and it was far worse than when I shared a bed with Jiashan, where I could sleep comfortably.

It was midnight, and thinking of the not-so-warm bed in the room, Zhan Yue had no intention of resting. He simply put on a coat and planned to go to the city for night patrol himself.

Tonight, the Zhonglang Jiang who was on night watch was called Yuan Kai. He was a member of the original Nine Gates Admiral Wei Ziqian, and was slightly older than Zhan Yue. When Wei Ziqian resigned from the position of Nine Gates Admiral, he told Zhan Yue that Yuan Kai was a good leader and was also very good at carrying out orders from his superiors.

After Zhan Yue took office, in order to appease those who originally followed Wei Ziqian and also because he felt that this person was quite easy to use, he still kept Yuan Kai in his original position and never transferred him.

When Yuan Kai saw Zhan Yue suddenly come out in his coat, he was stunned for a moment before he said respectfully, "It's this hour, why haven't you rested yet, sir?"

Zhan Yue said "hmm", and Liu Qi, who was following Zhan Yue, was respectfully helping him tie the belt of his cloak. Zhan Yue glanced at Yuan Kai slowly and asked, "Are you going on night patrol?"

Yuan Kai leaned forward, his expression unclear in the darkness, and said softly, "Yes."

Zhan Yue said, "I'll go with you."

Therefore, Zhan Yue was in front, Yuan Kai lagged behind slightly, and Liu Qi and other personal guards followed behind the two of them.

Nowadays, there are nine gates in the capital city, so there is an official position of "Nine Gates Superintendent". However, except for Chongwen Gate, which is a tax collection gate with guards on duty day and night, the other gates are closed on time every day.

Yuan Kai originally thought that Zhan Yue would go straight to Chongwenmen, but unexpectedly, his steps were slow and relaxed, but his destination was very obvious, which was Andingmen.

Yuan Kai raised his head and glanced at the sky. The moon was bright tonight, and the stars were sparse, with the light shining thousands of miles away. Against this backdrop, even the sound of the wind seemed silent.

Yuan Kai perked up and whispered, "I'd like to ask you a question. Is there any discord between you and the princess?"

Zhan Yue looked at him with a half-smile: "Why do you say that?"

Yuan Kai chuckled and said, "I heard that the princess was pregnant, so I took the young master to the outskirts of Beijing to escape the summer heat. I think the outskirts of Beijing are only a hundred miles away, so a day's round trip is enough. My lord, you took a day off the day before yesterday, but you didn't leave Beijing to visit the princess, so I made this guess."

Unlike Shuxian and Zhongyu, who only look like a couple but are actually not together, Jiashan and Zhanyue are deeply in love, and everyone in the capital knows about it. Zhanyue did not visit his wife and children during his day off, but stayed in the government office as usual. It was normal for this behavior to arouse suspicion.

Zhan Yue smiled and said calmly, "You seem to be very concerned about my whereabouts."

Yuan Kai said calmly, "You are my superior, and it is my duty to share your worries."

Zhan Yue's expression relaxed and he said nothing more.

Yuan Kai kept on talking: "In fact, from what I know about you, you are a man of love and loyalty, and you and the princess have a deep love for each other. It is impossible for you to stay in the government office while the princess is pregnant, and it is even more impossible for you not to visit the princess on your day off. I boldly guess that the princess is probably very far away from you, and you can't go back and forth in a day."

Zhan Yue looked at Yuan Kai with a cold gaze and asked, "What do you want to say?"

"I won't lie, sir." Yuan Kai stopped first, raised his head and looked in the direction of the city gate.

They have already reached the gate of Andingmen.

Yuan Kai said: "The princess is in Changchun Temple, with Master Xinan. I knew about this a long time ago."

"So?" Zhan Yue's gaze was as sharp as a knife or a sword. He stared at Yuan Kai without blinking, his thin lips pursed into a line.

Yuan Kai said, "Today, the eldest son of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion and his wife also moved into Changchun Temple. Although the eldest son, you and the princess have some grudges against each other, the princess is already a mother and should be compassionate. I think she will never let a child with a high fever live in the mountains."

Yuan Kai raised his head and observed Zhan Yue's expression quietly while speaking: "The eldest master is accompanied by several guards from the Western Regions. These people are good at bone shrinking and poison. It is impossible for an idle person to control them."

Zhan Yue narrowed his eyes and interrupted him coldly: "What do you want?"

Yuan Kai smiled and said softly, "I have heard that you love your wife and children. Seeing you today, it is indeed true."

"I just want to ask you to do me a favor." He glanced in the direction of Anding Gate, "Please open the city gate at the second watch later."

Zhan Yue said calmly: "What if I don't open it?"

Yuan Kai smiled: "Then I'm afraid you will be really alone in the future."

Zhan Yue's eyes grew colder, and the outline of his face disappeared into the night, just like the cold moonlight, seemingly unattainable.