Chapter 254: Never Underestimate Any Desire
Su Zhenzhen imitated Chunzhi and also picked her ears to indicate that she hadn't heard anything.
Are you kidding me? If the capital were blown up, not to mention the countless innocent civilians inside, just consider the countless emperors of the Jiang clan buried there. Regardless of how they obtained their thrones, sitting in that position, they were naturally protected by dragon energy; that burial ground was practically a dragon vein.
Daring to blow up the dragon vein? Do they think their cultivation is too deep? If a real fight breaks out, there's no telling what to do. If it accidentally affects such a large tomb complex, it could easily trigger a chain reaction like dominoes.
Su Zhenzhen didn't want to anger the emperor of the entire dynasty by her own efforts. Besides, blowing up a grave was too immoral.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hensheng finally made a bold decision.
"I've made up my mind. In the battle for the capital, it would be best to subdue the enemy without fighting. Too many soldiers have already shed their blood and sacrificed their lives. I should leave more seeds of hope for this land."
“So…” Hensheng’s voice was hoarse, “I’m going to the capital alone.”
Su Zhenzhen almost instinctively said, "I'll go with you."
Chunzhi looked at this and then at that, "You all need to discuss this first. If you really intend to go to the capital, His Highness the Crown Prince's entourage cannot be reduced. Our soldiers can replace them all. A skilled soldier who can take on ten men can do a lot of things once he enters the city."
“No,” Hensheng shook his head. “That would only attract the attention of the powerful families. They openly display their little schemes. We’ve worked so hard to get them to open the city gates on their own, we can’t afford to let it all go to waste.”
Chunzhi is not an emotional person. She has come this far, and this final step is crucial. She must not make any mistakes.
“You’re right, but if it’s just the two of you…” Chunzhi had already assumed that Su Zhenzhen would go with Hensheng.
"Don't worry." Hensheng's smile was gentle, and his demeanor was calm and composed. "With my skills, even if things go wrong, escaping successfully will not be a problem."
Su Zhenzhen nodded in agreement, "Sister Chunzhi, don't worry, I will protect Hensheng."
Chunzhi nodded slightly, not worried at all. With Su Zhenzhen around, Hensheng would be fine, and they might even be able to take the capital without losing a single soldier.
Immediately afterwards, Chunzhi and Hensheng discussed the arrangements for when he entered the city.
The two discussed for about an hour, while Su Zhenzhen listened listlessly from the side.
Suddenly, Su Zhenzhen noticed that the numbers in her mind's eye moved slightly.
It rolled quickly and became a 4.
Um?
Su Zhenzhen was completely bewildered, as she didn't seem to have done anything.
Even after entering the Netherworld and exchanging his only bloodline for the salvation of 200,000 people, this number hasn't changed at all.
Guiding Meng Po is a good deed, isn't it? Otherwise, what if Meng Po becomes emotional and makes mistakes while doing her job?
But the numbers in my mind seemed to be frozen in place.
However, nothing happened today, and the number suddenly dropped from 39 to 4.
Was there a malfunction in your consciousness before? Is that why it took so long to reduce it now?
Su Zhenzhen couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, the finale should be coming soon.
She was very curious about what kind of ending the person behind all this had prepared for her.
The capital city wasn't a place one could just enter at will. Chunzhi sent someone to deliver a reply, and the gentry even went so far as to choose an auspicious day.
The day after the end of the dog days of summer was sunny.
Both sides agreed that Huo's army would remain stationary thirty miles outside the north gate of the capital, while Hensheng would ride alone into the city with the Crown Princess.
Once the capital city changed hands, Chunzhi led his troops to garrison there.
The aristocratic families also spoke very earnestly, saying that if Hensheng led his men into the capital, who knew if they would attack when the city gates were wide open.
Rather than being preyed upon later, it's better to fight to the death now.
No matter what, these people were all former officials of the Jiang Dynasty. When the capital was besieged, they did not change the dynasty, but instead supported a new monarch.
If His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't even have the most basic trust in them, then they wouldn't dare open the gates of the capital; they'd have to prove themselves on the battlefield.
Therefore, Su Zhenzhen could only accompany him as the Crown Princess, since who would go home without bringing their wife with them?
Since ancient times, a wife who has shared hardship should not be abandoned, not even an emperor.
Those in the capital city didn't know much about Su Zhenzhen's background, and probably thought that a woman couldn't cause any trouble.
The north gate of the capital was wide open, and the heads of various powerful families came out to welcome them.
Jiang Yichen stood at the front like a puppeteer, holding the imperial seal, waiting for Hensheng to ride closer so he could raise the seal above his head with both hands.
Jiang Jingwei stood at the back of the crowd, silently observing the man and woman who were riding together.
Su Zhenzhen was also searching for Jiang Jingwei in the crowd.
When people are living in luxury, they naturally have everything they need.
But Jiang Jingyan was almost driven mad by hunger. After being given a full meal, he was starved again and kept lured by delicious food. He even figured out which foot Jiang Jingwei liked to step with first when he walked.
Never underestimate any desire, even just the appetite. When you're hungry, your stomach feels like it's being torn apart, like a million ants are crawling all over you.
This feeling is no better than being hit with a stick.
"Da da da—"
The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer, as if stepping on the tip of everyone's heart.
The gentry were also on tenterhooks. Thirty miles was neither too close nor too far. If the Huo family army behind Hensheng suddenly charged, they would certainly not be able to dodge in time.
But he can definitely keep Hensheng under his control.
That Crown Prince shouldn't dare to joke about his own life. Besides, there's also a Crown Princess, and that young girl looks extremely delicate.
"Whoa—"
The horse stopped, and Hensheng dismounted, then gently helped Su Zhenzhen down.
Eyes don't lie; anyone could see how carefully he cared for this woman.
Only after Su Zhenzhen landed and stood firmly did Hensheng release his grip.
As if a switch had been flipped, Jiang Yichen jogged a few steps forward, bent down, and held the jade seal above his head.
"Jiang Yichen, a member of a collateral branch of the Jiang family, respectfully requests His Highness the Crown Prince to retrieve the Imperial Seal."
No one doubted Hensheng's bloodline; everyone was aware that his ethereal face was exactly like that of Empress Song.
Hensheng didn't act arrogantly and directly accepted the imperial seal.
Jiang Yichen breathed a sigh of relief and was about to straighten up when he heard someone speaking above him.
"Zhenzhen, here you go." Hensheng handed the jade seal to Su Zhenzhen with both hands.
Not only was Jiang Yichen stunned, but the patriarchs from various aristocratic families also wore strange expressions.
The last emperor and Empress Song were deeply in love, but they never allowed any of the women in the harem to touch the imperial seal.
Su Zhenzhen looked at the palm-sized jade seal in front of her, then at Hensheng's serious face, and her heart stirred. She stretched out her hands.
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