Chapter 76 Cooperation
Zhao Yuzhang rode at the front of the army. They traveled smoothly along the way without any danger.
But as soon as she entered Yuzhou, she felt inexplicably uneasy.
She looked at the woods on both sides of the official road. The trees were too dense and the fog was too thick. She always felt that someone was lying in ambush inside.
Just as this thought came to mind, a burst of rapid whistles suddenly sounded in the forest, and then dozens of people rushed out from the dense forests on both sides and blocked the way of the army.
Zhao Yuzhang immediately reined in his horse and drew his sword. "Who is it?"
The cavalry in the front row also reined in their horses and pointed their weapons at the group, ready to kill them immediately at the general's command.
However, Zhao Yuzhang did not think that these dozens of people would be a threat.
His eyes quickly swept over them. They were all wearing gray and tattered clothes, and the weapons in their hands were very simple, some were wooden sticks, some were sickles. They were definitely not regular soldiers, but rather looked like villagers who suddenly gathered from the fields.
Despite this, in order to protect Zhao Mingyue's safety, she must remain extremely vigilant, in case there are any assassins hiding among them.
At that moment, the leader—a tall, sturdy middle-aged woman—put down her scimitar and said, "I'd like to see Princess Fuguang."
She looks like a capable person, but how could she have the courage to put down her weapon? Isn't she afraid that they would attack her?
If it were her, she would never put down the knife no matter what.
Zhao Yuzhang frowned and shouted, "Tell me your identities. Why do you want to see Princess Fuguang?"
The leader stepped forward and was about to answer when the sound of rumbling horse hooves came from the road behind them, and a cavalry unit with the flag of Yuzhou rushed out of the thick fog.
"Princess, don't be fooled by them, they are bandits!"
Lü Qibai, standing in the ranks, paled instantly. "Damn it! How did these soldiers arrive so quickly? They haven't even seen Princess Fuguang yet!"
She was extremely anxious and wanted to rush directly to Princess Fuguang's carriage and beg her to save them.
If they miss this opportunity, they really will have no chance. Third sister and the women in Liujia Village will definitely be tortured to death by those officers and soldiers!
Zhu Dafeng looked back and gritted his teeth, "Retreat first!"
Lu Qibai refused to give up, "No, sister, you can't leave!"
In the moment they hesitated, the cavalry rushed over and in the blink of an eye, separated them from the Golden Crow Guards and surrounded them.
Zhu Dafeng picked up his scimitar, aimed at an opening that hadn't yet closed, rolled forward, and swung his knife, chopping off a horse's leg. The warhorse neighed loudly and fell to the ground. Before the soldier could react, he fell headfirst from the horse's back to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, a cold light flashed, and the soldier's head fell to the ground.
"This is the bandit leader Zhu Dafeng, catch her alive!" Someone recognized Zhu Dafeng and shouted.
Immediately afterwards, a sharp arrow shot out and pierced Zhu Dafeng's chest. She fell to the ground wounded, and the soldiers rushed forward and captured her.
"Big sister!" Lu Qibai immediately led the rest of the bandits to rush forward to rescue, but they were no match for the officers and soldiers, and were injured and captured one after another.
Lu Qibai looked at the bleeding wound on Zhu Dafeng's body, crawled forward on his knees and hugged her, tears streaming down his cheeks, "Sister, it's all my fault, I'm useless..."
The soldier next to her hit her on the head with the handle of his knife. "What are you doing? Do you want to die? Stay still!"
Lu Qibai felt a sharp pain, groaned, and his head fell heavily to the ground.
It seems like I'm going to die...
No, I can't give up like this. I haven't seen Princess Fuguang yet, and I haven't rescued my third sister. I also haven't let my eldest sister and the sisters in the village fall into the hands of the soldiers.
She struggled to open her eyes, blood flowed into her eyes, stinging her, and the scene in front of her turned blood red.
The soldier swung the knife in his hand back and forth, and the sharp blade flashed with a chilling light.
What must be done, what else can be done?
She reached out and touched the ground, but felt nothing but mud and rocks.
A deep despair surged in their hearts. Why, why were they not allowed to live even though they just wanted to?
————
"What happened up ahead?"
The carriage had been stopped for a long time. Hearing the sound of fighting coming from the front, Zhao Mingyue finally couldn't help but lift the curtain and asked.
After a while, a general came running up to the carriage and replied respectfully, "Your Highness, the soldiers sent by Zhao Zhuo, the governor of Yuzhou, are here to welcome you. They have captured a group of bandits."
"Bandits?" Zhao Mingyue was a little surprised. How could there be bandits who were so desperate as to rob her convoy?
"I heard they are female bandits active in the Mangshan area. The government has been unable to capture them, but today they have fallen into the trap. I just observed them and each of them has extraordinary skills. I don't know why they would give up being good citizens and become rebels. It's a pity."
The general spoke with a tone full of regret, which seemed to suggest a mutual understanding.
Zhao Mingyue glanced at her expression, her heart sank, and she couldn't help but think about it.
The Jinwu Guards received food and money from the court, so they certainly didn't want to take the risk of rebelling with her. However, this group of rebels had no choice. If they could be recruited into their ranks, it would definitely be a help.
Thinking of this, Zhao Mingyue turned back, took a musket and put it on his body, and got off the carriage. "I haven't seen what bandits look like yet. Take me to see them."
The general took the order and said, "Yes." Then he led the way.
Xue Qi heard them talking in the carriage and immediately guessed what Zhao Mingyue was planning. He got off the carriage and went with Zhao Mingyue.
When the soldiers saw Zhao Mingyue approaching, they stepped aside and saluted, "Your Highness."
Zhao Yuzhang was talking to the general of the Yuzhou army. When he heard the noise, he turned around and looked over. "Mingyue, why are you here?"
Zhao Mingyue looked at her and smiled, "It's so lively here, how could I not come and take a look? I heard that my aunt caught a group of bandits. Where are they?"
"It wasn't me who caught him, it was—" Zhao Yuzhang was interrupted before he could finish his words.
"That group of bandits wanted to harm the princess, but I have already captured them all. I hope the princess is not frightened." The general sitting on the horse turned to look at Zhao Mingyue and answered loudly.
Zhao Mingyue looked up and saw an extremely familiar face. Her eyes widened and she gritted her teeth, "Thank you, Qin Jian!"
"I'm so honored that the princess still remembers me," Xie Qinjian said as he dismounted and saluted her. "I'm Xie Qinjian, your humble servant, and I pay my respects to Her Highness Princess Fuguang."
Zhao Mingyue looked at him in disbelief. This man was still alive?
Looking at his slick face, the scene of him provoking her two years ago resurfaced in her mind, and her expression instantly darkened. "How dare you, a criminal exiled to the Southern Province, appear before me so openly? Do you want me to kill you again?"
Xie Qinjian took two steps forward, his expression fearless, and said calmly, "But Your Highness, haven't you already been driven out of the capital by Queen Mother Chi? You and I are both equally frustrated, so why are we so anxious to fight each other?"
Zhao Mingyue felt so hurt by him that she subconsciously took two steps back and asked angrily, "What do you mean?"
Xie Qinjian looked at her with a smile. "What I mean is, I've read the letter that Her Royal Highness wrote to Zhao Zhuo. I'm very sure that our goals are the same. Do you want to cooperate?"
Zhao Mingyue was a little flustered. Why would Zhao Zhuo show him such an important letter? Could it be that he had become Zhao Zhuo's confidant?
So, when he said this now, was it his intention or Zhao Zhuo's? If it was the latter, then he couldn't act rashly.
For the sake of the big plan, she must calm down and never reveal her inner thoughts in front of Xie Qinjian.
But how should one react in such a way as to appear unfathomable and elusive?
When thinking about this, Chi Lu's smiling face always emerged in Zhao Mingyue's mind.
In her memory, A Niang always looked at her with a smile on her face, gentle and tolerant, but when she tried to see into her heart through A Niang's face, she could only see a pair of dark and cold eyes that made her puzzled.
At that time, she didn't know what her mother was thinking, but now, she suddenly understood.
It was a hypocritical and contemptuous smile.
Zhao Mingyue looked at Xie Qinjian, raised the corner of her mouth, and her eyes were cold. "Cooperation? Can you afford what I want?"
Xie Qinjian's smile froze. Why did he suddenly feel that Zhao Mingyue's temperament had changed? What did that look in her eyes mean? Was she looking down on him?
But it doesn't matter. Sooner or later, he will make Zhao Mingyue lower her proud head and submit to him.
Xie Qinjian lowered his voice, "I know the princess doesn't want to marry far away in Xiqi. I can help you."
Zhao Mingyue kept smiling, "Okay, then let me see your sincerity first."
She glanced at Xue Qi secretly and saw that a fish was caught.
Xue Qi looked at her gently, as if he didn't receive her gaze, nor did he understand her conversation with Xie Qinjian.
Master Xue is really determined.
Zhao Mingyue sighed, then withdrew her gaze and turned to look at the bandits captured by the soldiers. She pointed and asked, "What are you going to do with them?"
Xie Qinjian said coldly, "They are rebels, so of course they must be killed. Why, Princess, do you want to save them?"
Zhao Mingyue lowered her eyes. She had just arrived in Yuzhou, so it was best not to act rashly. If she insisted on saving this group of rebels and Xie Qinjian saw through her ambitions, the consequences would be more than she gained. She couldn't take that risk.
Anyway, the officers and soldiers will definitely escort them back to the government office. There is still time on the way, so we can think of a solution then.
Thinking of this, Zhao Mingyue shook her head. "No, why would I want to save the rebels? They have done so many evil things, and they deserve this fate."
As she said that, she turned around and walked back, "Don't waste time, let's set off for Yuzhou City quickly. I don't want to sleep in the open anymore."
However, what Zhao Mingyue did not realize was that while she was talking to Xie Qinjian, a pair of eyes with tears and blood were staring at her.
You've done all the bad things you deserve... Is this really what Princess Fuguang, who once pardoned all the female prisoners in the world, said?
So what are the efforts they make?
She thought the princess could understand their pain, but it turned out that she was no different from those high-ranking noble lords.
How ridiculous!
Lu Qibai, who was lying on the ground in a mess, was about to laugh out loud. His throat was trembling, but he could only cough up a mouthful of blood.
Since we're all going to die anyway, let her curse one last time.
"Princess Fuguang, your father is a fool!" Lu Qibai shouted loudly, and felt much more relieved.
The soldiers present were stunned when they heard this. Was this man crazy? How dare he insult the princess?
Zhao Mingyue's footsteps immediately stopped.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
