Chapter 111 Traitor
Under the guidance of the Minister of War, Zhao Mingyue led the army and successfully entered Nanyang City.
After the Nanyang County Magistrate fled, the Minister of War stationed his men in the government office. When the rebel alliance's army arrived, he immediately moved out of the government office and rented a house in a private residence.
Seeing that the place was spacious enough, Zhao Ping stayed in the county government office, Zhao Diao stayed in another government office, and the rest of the soldiers set up tents on the open ground and stationed in barracks.
Zhao Mingyue did not choose to squeeze in with them, but led his troops to the Nanyang Palace.
After several years, the place has become deserted, the empty courtyard is covered with dead leaves, and the vast hunting ground is overgrown with weeds.
She remembered that not long after A Niang came to power, Wu Shishu wrote a letter requesting that the palace maids who were convicted here be pardoned and released.
After being approved, these women with the same background as Wu Shishu were pardoned, their status as good citizens was restored, and they returned home.
As for those women who were homeless and had no relatives to rely on, Wu Shishu specially invested money to set up a mutual aid association in the capital to help them study and take the examination to become female officials or learn a skill to start their own business.
Zhao Mingyue knew about it at that time and even sold her jewelry to raise some money.
She had been away from the capital for so many years, and she didn't know whether this mutual aid association still existed, whether those who wanted to take the exam for female officials were selected, and whether the women who made a living by relying on their skills were living a smooth life.
Time flies, and Zhao Mingyue once again stands in the hunting ground that once terrified her. Looking back at herself, she realizes how ridiculous and pitiful she was at that time.
A Niang really helped many people and changed the fate of many people.
She couldn't imagine what her fate would have been if her mother hadn't pointed a sharp arrow at her and forced her to draw the bow in resistance.
Should she marry the King of Xiqi, or be married to any prince or nobleman by the emperor?
"Princess, Prince Yue asks you to go to the county government office to discuss matters." The voice of the personal guard interrupted Zhao Mingyue's thoughts.
Zhao Mingyue immediately came back to her senses, the tenderness in her eyes disappeared, and her face turned cold. "Okay."
She mounted her horse and came to the county government office with her personal guards. Zhao Ping's guards were standing in front of the door. When they saw her, they immediately came to greet her.
Zhao Mingyue didn't even glance at the guard. She stepped past him and onto the steps. Then she raised her hand and threw the whip back, "Watch my horse."
He stepped over the threshold and strode into the yamen, followed closely by his personal guards.
When they arrived at the hall, candles had already been lit, and shadows were dim. Zhao Ping, Zhao Diao, the Minister of War, and the other four princes had all arrived.
Everyone sat on both sides, with only the seat at the top left empty.
Zhao Mingyue coughed, and everyone in the hall immediately stopped talking and turned around. When they saw it was her, they hesitated for a moment before slowly standing up.
Zhao Ping looked at her and said with a forced smile, "So it's the leader of the alliance who has arrived. We've been waiting for so long."
Zhao Mingyue walked straight to the top and sat down, glancing at Zhao Ping casually. "What's the matter? Why are you calling me here so urgently?"
Zhao Ping secretly resented that Zhao Mingyue was becoming more and more arrogant. Did she really think that as the leader of the alliance, they would all listen to her?
In the past two days, the Minister of War also understood the undercurrents in the alliance and knew that these people were not convinced that Zhao Mingyue was the leader of the alliance. The real person in charge of the alliance was Zhao Ping.
Therefore, when he heard Zhao Mingyue's question, he did not speak.
Zhao Mingyue waited for a while, but no one responded. Instead, she felt that there was an atmosphere in the hall that was secretly against her.
She realized that when she toughened her stance, these people stopped obeying her orders.
They wanted her to be an obedient puppet.
However, Zhao Mingyue was tired of playing the role of an ignorant fool in front of these people.
Zhao Mingyue said coldly, "No one wants to talk? Then I'll leave first."
The Minister of War was startled by her cold tone and quickly stood up and replied, "Princess, I have important news to share."
Zhao Mingyue's eyes darkened, and her tone became colder. "Then why didn't you speak just now? Were you waiting for me to invite you?"
The Minister of War shuddered and turned to look at Prince Yue, but the other avoided his gaze.
None of the other princes stood up to speak for him.
He immediately realized that even if there was discord within the alliance, Zhao Mingyue was still the apparent leader and was not someone he could challenge.
The Minister of War fell to his knees with a thud and said in a trembling voice, "I misheard what you said just now and didn't react for a moment."
Zhao Mingyue sneered, "A traitor like you wouldn't be able to tell the truth. Unless a knife is placed on your neck, you will be honest—"
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and appeared in front of the Minister of War.
The Minister of War was startled and was about to look up when something cold hit his forehead.
He froze instantly, rolling his eyes upwards, and saw only the black barrel of the rifle and the slender, powerful finger on the trigger.
"Tell me, what do you want to confess? If you tell even a lie, you're dead." Zhao Mingyue's voice was very cold.
The Minister of War turned pale and dared not oppose her anymore. He immediately said what he wanted to say.
"Empress Dowager Chi ordered me to transfer all the imperial guards to Nanyang for defense. The capital is currently under attack, with only three to four thousand soldiers left. If the princess were to send troops to the capital now, she would surely be able to advance straight into the city. I am willing to be the vanguard and help the princess capture the city!"
traitor!
A'niang gave you such an important task, and you treated her like this. It's simply unforgivable!
Zhao Mingyue was furious and shouted, "How dare you! How dare you——!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the hall looked at Zhao Mingyue.
Zhao Mingyue suddenly came to her senses and realized that she had lost her composure. She looked around carefully. Everyone's eyes showed strange suspicion, which made her feel uneasy.
Could it be that they discovered her undercover identity?
Zhao Mingyue's heart was beating like a drum, but her face remained calm. She put down her rifle, turned around and walked back to the chair and sat down.
Zhao Ping had long guessed that Zhao Mingyue had evil intentions, but he still thought she was trying to profit for herself. He didn't expect that she was still working for Queen Mother Chi.
He looked at Zhao Mingyue and asked in a skeptical tone, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with what the Minister said?"
Zhao Mingyue's face showed no sign of panic as she said in a cold voice, "Of course not! Empress Dowager Chi is still the current emperor and my mother. If we rashly attack the city and force her and the emperor to death, not only will I be charged with matricide, but you will also be charged with regicide!"
This statement did make some sense, and Zhao Ping was unable to refute it for a moment. "Then tell me, what should we do?"
Zhao Mingyue curled her lips. "Of course, we should write a letter and send it to the palace, asking Queen Mother Chi to abdicate and return power to the throne, and ask her to promise never to harm the lives of the princes. This way, we can not only maintain our current status, but also gain a reputation praised by the world. If Queen Mother Chi refuses, it won't be too late to attack the city then."
The other princes applauded upon hearing this. They knew they couldn't become emperor on their own, and the reason they joined Zhao Ping and Zhao Diao in the rebellion was to save their own lives.
Zhao Ping was shocked when he saw their wavering expressions. This Zhao Mingyue was too scary. She had just provoked him and Zhao Diao, and now she was trying to shake others.
We can't delay any longer. The capital is within our grasp. We must get rid of her before then, otherwise all the credit for the siege will go to Zhao Mingyue alone!
Thinking of this, Zhao Ping's eyes turned fierce, but it was only for a moment, and he regained his gentleness and said with a smile: "In fact, Princess Fuguang and I have the same idea. If Queen Mother Chi is willing to give up power, then everyone will be happy."
In just a few words, he said that Zhao Mingyue's idea was his own.
Zhao Mingyue glanced at him sideways. "As long as Prince Yue agrees, that's fine. The Minister of War is most familiar with the capital, so give him the letter and have him go to the palace to persuade Queen Mother Chi."
The Minister of War, who had just climbed up from the ground, was so frightened by these words that he almost fell to his knees again before he could catch his breath.
He shook his head repeatedly and begged, "No, no, Queen Mother Chi has a violent temper. If she knew I betrayed her, she would definitely kill me. Please, Princess, spare me."
Zhao Mingyue was unmoved. Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Ping stopped her and said, "Let's send someone else. There's no need to embarrass the Minister."
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment and then relaxed. "Okay, since Prince Yue has said so, I won't make things difficult for him. I'll trouble Prince Yue to handle this matter."
She took this opportunity to delay time and find another way to break the deadlock.
Zhao Ping had the same idea, but he wanted to delay time and deal with Zhao Mingyue.
Therefore, in response to Zhao Mingyue's order, he did not say much and agreed immediately.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Zhao Mingyue left the government office. The Minister of War and the princes also left, only Zhao Diao stayed.
Zhao Ping pulled Zhao Diao into the room, closed the doors and windows, and made sure there wasn't a single ear through the wall before saying, "Now that the Minister of War has joined us, Zhao Mingyue is of no use. We must get rid of her quickly!"
Zhao Diao pondered for a moment, "When do you want to start?"
A hint of murderous intent flashed in Zhao Ping's eyes, "Tomorrow night!"
————
On the other side, Zhao Mingyue returned to the Nanyang Palace and called Zhao Yuzhang and Xue Qi over.
"Master Xue, Aunt, the Minister of War has betrayed my mother. The capital is in danger. We have to think of a way out quickly!" She looked at the two people in the room and said anxiously.
Zhao Yuzhang frowned. "Empress Dowager Chi took a huge risk this time. She actually handed all the troops to that traitor, the Minister of War. Now the rebel alliance has 300,000 soldiers, and we only have 10,000. Even if a god came, there's no way they could stop an army of 300,000!"
Zhao Mingyue raised her hand to support her forehead, but refused to give up. She looked at Xue Qi and said, "Master Xue, you are always smart. Do you have any ideas?"
Xue Qi pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Now that things have come to this, I'm afraid we can't stop the alliance. Princess, since you've already become the leader of the alliance, rather than giving the opportunity to Prince Yue, why not take control of the capital yourself?"
Zhao Mingyue was stunned. "Master Xue, it's already this time, stop joking with me!"
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