"I've already rushed to the imperial city. With him watching over the imperial city, I'm not afraid of Hai Quan escaping. "You immediately go to the Chu King's camp and have them send out 150,000 troops. I will personally attack Zhengzhou." After saying this, Jiang Muchen immediately rode his horse back to his own camp...
The northwest camp of the King of Chu’s army.
The sound of galloping horses came from far away and reached the ears of the people waiting on the hillside. Han Jing looked at Han Che who was gradually running into his sight, and a look of ecstasy appeared in his eyes. He hurriedly led the guards behind him to meet Han Che and others.
Before Han Che could rein in his horse, Han Jing had already dismounted and saluted with everyone else. "Your humble servant greets the Prime Minister."
Although Prince Duan and the others knew Han Che's identity, they hadn't acknowledged his ancestral roots, so Han Che's current status could only be the Left Prime Minister of Western Chu. Furthermore, Han Che's status was unique; if Prince Chen and Prince Hai learned his true identity, it would undoubtedly invite murderous intent. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, Han Jing continued to address Han Che as "Prime Minister."
Han Che instantly understood Han Jing's good intentions. A hint of gratitude was hidden in his cold eyes, but he nodded calmly and said in a clear voice, "Please lead the way."
Hearing this, Han Jing did not waste any more time and immediately got on his horse. The group went around a forest and headed straight for the King of Chu's northwest camp.
Upon entering the barracks, Han Che could hear the loud shouts of the Chu King's troops training within the vast compound. Curious, he looked in the direction of the sound. In the cold winter months, the Chu King's soldiers, practicing martial arts on the training grounds, were dressed only in thin, tight-fitting shorts. Each soldier, their spears firmly grasped, drilled with vigor and energy. Such spirit, I fear, could only be found under the strict discipline of the Chu King.
After handing the horses over to the soldiers in charge of horse care in the camp, Han Jing came to Han Che's side and reported quietly, "Master, I have informed Prince Duan of your affairs."
Han Che paused slightly when he heard this, and turned his gaze to Han Jing. A trace of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, and his thin lips were tightly pursed. He did not respond to this matter for a long time.
Han Jing saw the struggle and embarrassment in Han Che's eyes and knew that getting the young master to immediately acknowledge Prince Duan as his father would be somewhat difficult. Prince Duan and Han Che were indeed father and son, but fate had cruelly separated them for years. Now that they finally had the opportunity to recognize each other, Han Jing naturally hoped that they could be reunited.
Han Jing slowly counseled Han Che, "Master, don't worry too much. I believe you are well aware of Prince Duan's character. And what happened back then was not the prince's fault..."
"Father!" Unexpectedly, before Han Jing could finish his words, Han Che let out a powerful low cry.
Han Che frowned slightly, clenching his hands tightly in his sleeves. After taking a few deep breaths, he spoke again, "Prince Duan is a noble man, I know that. But I don't know how to get along with him."
He and Prince Duan have an inseparable blood relationship, but fate has made it impossible for them to get along as father and son, which really makes the sharp-witted Han Che feel very embarrassed.
Han Jing naturally understood Han Che's mood at the moment, but some things could not be avoided by simply avoiding them.
However, seeing Han Che's embarrassment, Han Jing did not say anything else, but stood with Han Che in the camp to calm down.
"What was the prince's reaction after he learned about this?" After a while, Han Che spoke slowly. His deep voice had a hint of clarity, and there was a slight tremor at the end of the voice, which made Han Jing listen carefully.
A faint smile appeared on Han Jing's face, and then he replied respectfully: "Prince Duan is very excited. It can be seen that the prince likes the young master very much. The young master can rest assured."
After hearing this, Han Che fell silent again until the order to rest came from the training ground not far away. Only then did Han Che start walking again and walked towards the commander's tent unswervingly.
"Han Che greets the two princes and the marquis." Standing in the tent, Han Che stood tall and humbly and politely greeted the people who had been waiting there one by one.
Ever since he learned Han Che was his son, Prince Duan had been staring intently at this son he had never known since Han Che entered the tent. Those excited eyes, filled with countless pride and guilt, left Prince Duan at a loss for words, unable to find the words to say.
Han Che's eyes were clear, and he didn't look at Prince Duan intentionally, but his hands hidden in his sleeves never loosened, trying hard not to let his emotions get out of control.
"It's really a good thing that Prime Minister Han is fine. Prime Minister Han came from Jincheng. I wonder what the situation is like in Jincheng now?" Chu Nanshan was extremely smart. How could he not see the awkwardness between the father and son? He just smiled faintly on his face and asked in a slightly relaxed tone.
Upon hearing this, Han Che immediately put aside his other thoughts and answered Chu Nanshan's question seriously, "Jincheng is surrounded by a million-strong army. Before I set out, the three armies were ready to go. I'm afraid the battle has already begun."
After he finished speaking, Han Che took out Chu Feiyang's handwritten letter from his arms, walked forward, and handed it to Chu Nanshan personally, saying respectfully: "This is what the prince asked me to give to the old prince."
Chu Nanshan's gaze then fell on the envelope held in Han Che's hand. He took it with a faint smile, but found that there were light sweat stains on both corners of the envelope that Han Che had just held.
A smile suddenly appeared in Chu Nanshan's shrewd eyes. He tore open the envelope and looked at the contents carefully in front of everyone.
Han Che stood aside, his expression fixed on Chu Nanshan who was reading the letter, and he was guessing what Chu Nanshan's reaction would be after reading the letter.
"It is indeed Feiyang's handwritten letter!" Unexpectedly, Chu Nanshan only said this casually after reading the letter. Then he was seen slowly putting the letter back into the envelope, his face always indifferent, without a trace of surprise in his eyes.
Chu Nanshan's reaction made Han Che understand immediately that the old prince's words clearly indicated his agreement with what the King of Chu had proposed. Looking at Chu Nanshan's calm expression after seeing him, could it be that...
Thinking of this, Han Che's eyes dimmed slightly, and he couldn't help but admire the thoughts and methods of this grandfather and grandson in his heart.
"Boy from the Qu family, accompany me to inspect the military camp, so that you can understand Changqing's past life." At this time, Chu Nanshan put the letter into his sleeve and stood up. He looked at Qu Lingao with a smile and loudly invited Qu Lingao to inspect the camp together.
Qu Lingao naturally noticed the awkwardness between Prince Duan and Han Che, father and son, and knew that the two needed to have a good talk. Following Chu Nanshan's words, he stood up and said with a smile, "My nephew had the same idea, but he was worried that it would be difficult to move freely in a strategic military location. This time, with Your Highness leading the way, I finally fulfilled my wish."
After he finished speaking, Qu Lingao followed Chu Nanshan out of the tent, and Han Jing also quietly left the tent and stood guard outside.
The tent instantly returned to silence. Prince Duan sat in his seat, thinking silently, while Han Che stood beside him silently. The atmosphere in the tent seemed very depressing for a moment.
"Cough cough cough..." In such an atmosphere, the usually steady Prince Duan couldn't help but cough a few times, trying to ease the overly depressing atmosphere in the tent.
However, Han Che stood there with a calm expression, and did not make any move to speak first.
Seeing Han Che remain calm and composed in such a situation, Prince Duan looked at him with a hint of approval. He cleared his throat and then mustered up the courage to speak, "Han Jing has told me everything. It was father who failed to protect you, leaving you stranded for over a decade!"
Hearing this, Han Che turned to look at Prince Duan, his eyes filled with unconcealed surprise. This opening was clearly beyond Han Che's expectations. Traveling from north to west, Han Che had replayed the scene of meeting Prince Duan a thousand times in his mind, but he didn't expect to hear Prince Duan's self-blame.
When Prince Duan noticed the look in Han Che's eyes, his inner uneasiness and anxiety vanished instantly. A faint smile appeared on his serious face, and he said in a relaxed tone, "Sit down and talk. You've been traveling for so many days, you must be tired."
After he finished speaking, Prince Duan personally poured a cup of hot tea for Han Che, and then placed the teacup on the table in front of him. It was obvious that he was very happy to sit down and have a detailed conversation with his son.
Prince Duan's action slowly relaxed Han Che's tense heart. He nodded silently, bowed to Prince Duan, and then sat down.
After sitting down, Han Che took out the small anklet made of pure gold from his arms and carefully handed it to Prince Duan. He then explained, "This is the bracelet that was stuffed into my swaddling clothes. Please take a look, Your Highness!"
Prince Duan's eyes immediately fell on the glittering bracelet, and he quickly took it. His fingertips gently pressed on the golden dragon encircling the bracelet, his eyes filled with excitement, and he was speechless for a long time...
"Che'er, are you still unwilling to call me father?" After a long silence, Prince Duan uttered this sentence with a slightly sad tone.
After saying this, it was obvious that he had already acknowledged Han Che as his legitimate son!
Han Che's heart was shaken, but he immediately stood up, lifted his robe in front of his knees, and knelt down in front of Prince Duan, saying loudly: "The unfilial son Han Che pays homage to his father."
"Okay, okay, get up quickly." Prince Duan showed an excited expression. He hurriedly bent down and helped Han Che up. His eyes were always looking at his grown-up son in front of him, and he felt relieved.
Just thinking about how he hadn't known for so many years that he had another son in this world, he couldn't help but feel ashamed. Hearing Han Che call himself an 'unfilial son', Prince Duan hurriedly said, "It was your father who failed to protect you. How can you be guilty of being unfilial? Seeing you have such a promising future, your father is proud of you!"
As he spoke, Prince Duan kept holding Han Che's hands tightly, and he was reluctant to let go. The little hands that he had not cherished in his palms at the beginning have now grown into big hands that can stand on their own. Prince Duan was filled with emotion.
Han Che smiled calmly, not becoming complacent about becoming the legitimate son of Prince Duan. Instead, he became more humble in his actions and words. "All of this is thanks to Han Jing. Since I was young, Han Jing has been teaching me martial arts and keeping a close eye on my studies. He also used the money left by my mother to train a group of loyal soldiers to protect me. Yunniang takes care of my daily life. They are both extremely loyal."
Although they were just a few short sentences, one could hear Han Che's respect for Han Jing, as well as Han Jing's good intentions in cultivating Han Che.
Prince Duan listened and nodded continuously, holding Han Che's hand with a little more strength.
After a while, Prince Duan seemed to have made up his mind and said to Han Che in a deep voice, "From now on, father will definitely assist you well!"
Hearing the word "assist," Han Che's heart was greatly shocked. He couldn't help but think of the matter that the King of Chu had proposed to him before, and he couldn't help but say aloud: "Father, you..."
Prince Duan patted Han Che's hand and said with a hint of melancholy, "Father is old. Being able to find you two brothers in his lifetime is already the greatest joy in life. As for the throne, Father has watched from the sidelines for so many years. How could he not know the hardships behind the glory? Father has experienced the death of your mother and the separation of you and your brothers. He no longer wants to struggle on the throne. Since the old prince also wants you to become emperor, Father is naturally willing to lend a hand."
Catching a glimmer of disappointment in Prince Duan's eyes, Han Che knew that he truly had no interest in the throne, so he told Prince Duan about Chu Feiyang's previous conversation, "Prince Chu had discussed this matter with me before I came to the imperial city. I believe Prince Chu also mentioned this matter in his letter to the old prince."
"The Chu family is truly not to be underestimated. The two princes, thousands of miles apart, are able to connect with each other. No wonder the Chu army is so united." After listening to Han Che's detailed account, Prince Duan admired the Chu family from the bottom of his heart. He then looked at Han Che intently and asked seriously, "What do you think? If you don't have the determination and perseverance to sit on the throne, even if we support you, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold it for long!"
Only those with a strong mind and great ambition are fit for the throne, unshaken by the whims of the world. Han Che grew up among the common people, and although he is a descendant of the royal family, he has never received formal instruction as a crown prince. This is what Prince Duan is most worried about.
Seeing the lingering worry in Prince Duan's eyes, Han Che understood what he was thinking. However, just like Prince Chu's previous analysis, coupled with Han Che's own desire to serve the people, now that this opportunity was before him, he was unwilling to give it up.
After pondering for a moment, Han Che raised his head and replied in a resounding voice, "I will do my best to do my best!"
"Okay!" Little did they know that before Prince Duan could speak, Chu Nanshan's powerful shout was heard outside the tent. Then the curtain was lifted, and Chu Nanshan and Qu Lingao walked in one after another.
"Prince Duan, your boy has already agreed to this matter. You have nothing to say this time, right?" Chu Nanshan asked Prince Duan with a loud laugh, with a cunning look in his eyes, as if he was cunningly throwing away a hot potato.
Prince Duan and Han Che looked at each other and stood up at the same time.
Han Che took a step forward, knelt down towards Chu Nanshan and said, "Your Highness, please support me in the future!"
"No, no, you are the future emperor, how can you kneel down to an idler like me?" After confirming Han Che's thoughts, Chu Nanshan quickly helped Han Che up before he knelt on the ground, and joked carelessly.
But Qu Lingao on the side saw it clearly, and this bow was very meaningful.
If Chu Nanshan accepted Han Che's kneeling obeisance, the Chu family would likely continue to be in the vortex of power in order to support Han Che. Secondly, since Han Che's future status was confirmed, it was natural not to let the future emperor kneel, lest it give people an excuse to kill the Chu family.
It has to be said that Chu Nanshan was truly thoughtful and far-sighted. In just a moment he had understood the interests involved and thus made the decision that was most beneficial to the Chu family.
"Haha, I'm in a very good mood today. Let me go meet that guy Yuan Yao again!" Chu Nanshan was in a good mood. He walked out of the tent again without waiting for everyone to stop him, intending to lead his troops to provoke the city gate.
Seeing this, Qu Lingao was about to chase after him, but when he turned around, he caught a glimpse of Han Che's gaze towards him...
After the battle of Jincheng, news spread like wildfire, and Chu Feiyang even ordered the messenger to go to the Northwest Camp ahead of him to report the news.
A cloud of dust rose up, and the sound of galloping horses had not yet ceased. The messenger, without waiting for the horses to stop, quickly dismounted and, as soon as his toes touched the ground, rushed into the commander's tent at top speed. His face was filled with joy as he reported to everyone in the tent, "Old Prince, the prince has won a great victory in the battle of Jincheng!"
Everyone was delighted when they heard the good news. Chu Nanshan even slammed the table in relief and said loudly, "Well, well, well, you're worthy of being my grandson. You should beat Hai Quan to a pulp."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent lowered their heads and laughed softly. Even the usually calm Prince Duan had a hint of smile in his eyes.
This made Prince Duan think of Chu Nanshan's recent actions, and he tried hard to suppress his smile.
Upon hearing that the Sea King had sent troops to besiege his grandson's wife in Jincheng, Chu Nanshan led his troops to the city gate every day to shout and curse. Thinking of Chu Nanshan pointing a long sword at the Sea King's army on the city wall and scolding them, Prince Duan couldn't help but want to laugh out loud.
However, Chu Nanshan had accumulated power for a long time, and his military tactics were so sophisticated that few people in Western Chu could defeat him. Yuan Yao, who was guarding the city, could only stay in the city every day and try his best to avoid direct conflict with Chu Nanshan.
"How is the princess?" Qu Lingao, who was also in the Northwest Military Camp, asked the messenger in joy, and the concern in his eyes was genuine.
Everyone's joy gradually faded upon hearing this. The war in Jincheng was entirely due to the struggle between Prince Chen and Prince Hai for the Princess of Chu. Now that the Chu army had won a great victory, it was unknown how the Princess of Chu, who had been trapped in Jincheng for a month, was faring.
What's more, the Princess of Chu was pregnant at the time. Even Chu Nanshan, who had just let out a sigh of relief, put away the smile on his face and stared at the messenger in front of him nervously.
"This is a letter that the prince ordered me to deliver. Please take a look, Your Majesty." The messenger took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Chu Nanshan respectfully.
Chu Nanshan took the letter, quickly tore open the seal, shook out the folded rice paper inside, and then began to read it at a glance...
"That bastard!" Unexpectedly, after reading the letter, Chu Nanshan actually cursed Chu Feiyang. The joy on his face had long since vanished, leaving behind a look of anger. The white beard on his lips trembled slightly as he spoke, clearly angry.
"Your Highness, why not?" Seeing Chu Nanshan's angry look, Qu Lingao and Prince Duan exchanged a glance and asked first, but he was a little unsure about the content of the letter.
"Just watch for yourself! This brat really wants to piss me off to death!" Chu Nanshan handed the rice paper in his hand to Qu Lingao angrily, and then lay back in his seat to sulk.
Qu Lingao took the rice paper with a puzzled look on his face, unfolded it and read it carefully. His face, which was originally full of suspicion, now showed an expression of surprise, but his expression was still calm. He silently handed the rice paper in his hand to Prince Duan and Han Che beside him, and sat upright in his seat and pondered.
Han Che took the rice paper and read it together with Prince Duan. Shock flashed in their eyes.
After a while, Han Che raised his head and looked at Chu Nanshan, and asked, "Old Prince, is what the prince said in the letter true?"
After asking this question, Han Che smiled helplessly. How could Chu Feiyang go back on his word? He had just informed them of the alliance between Jincheng and King Chen in a letter. This was an unchangeable fact, and his own actions were completely unnecessary.
Chu Nanshan was the one who understood Chu Feiyang best. He was so angry that he didn't want to talk to anyone and just sat there angrily. However, if you looked closely at the expression in Chu Nanshan's eyes, you could tell that he wasn't really angry. It was just that the incident happened so suddenly that he couldn't accept it.
"Hai Quan besieged Jincheng, but didn't Jiang Muchen also besieged Jincheng? Compared with Hai Quan, King Chen is even more shameless. Don't think that I don't know the dirty thoughts in that bastard's mind. Chu Feiyang, on the other hand, actually came up with the bad idea of joining forces with Jiang Muchen. He even entrusted my beloved granddaughter-in-law to Qi Jingyuan, who is not easy to get along with. Is there no one in King Chu's military camp whom he can trust? When he returns to the camp, I will break his legs!" After venting his unhappiness in one breath, Chu Nanshan picked up the teacup on the table, tilted his head back and drank all the tea in it before stopping.
However, Chu Feiyang's actions also made Chu Nanshan realize that Chu Feiyang had absolutely no intention of using the 500,000 troops Chu Pei had left him before his departure. Perhaps Chu Feiyang still didn't want to be too involved with Chu Pei. A sense of loss washed over him, and Chu Nanshan half-closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Seeing that Chu Nanshan had only mentioned the alliance between Prince Chu and Prince Chen, the messenger slowly began to report, "Your Highness, there is one more thing!"
"Is there anything else?" Chu Nanshan asked unhappily, without even raising his eyelids.
"After the battle of Jincheng, Prince Chen ordered the burial alive of 400,000 Sea King Army prisoners." The messenger reported in a low voice.
"Jiang Muchen is really a ruthless character!" After a while, Chu Nanshan sighed lightly and spoke with a hint of contemplation, but his eyes glanced at Han Che vaguely.
Han Che, however, was preoccupied with other matters. After a moment's deliberation, he saw the anger on Chu Nanshan's face fade, and then he slowly began to analyze, "A million-strong army converged on Jincheng. The three armies were evenly matched, but geographically, Prince Chen and Prince Hai had the advantage. Furthermore, the princess was trapped in Jincheng at the time, so it made sense for the prince to join forces with one of them. Compared to Prince Chen, Prince Hai commanded many powerful generals, and he had occupied important cities in Western Chu, giving him a growing advantage. It was also extremely wise for the two weaker factions to join forces against the enemy. However, Prince Chen was a cunning figure, and the fear that he might scheme behind the scenes made it difficult to guard against him."
"Fei Yang has secretly hidden Concubine Yuande. With Concubine Yuande around, Jiang Muchen dares not do anything bad openly." Chu Nanshan seemed listless, but he listened to Han Che's words very carefully, and gave the answer as soon as Han Che finished speaking.
"However, Prince Chen holds the lives of all the people in the capital in his hands, and Prince Hai holds the legitimate sons and daughters of the noble families in his hands. This is also a huge constraint for us." Han Che lowered his head and spoke slowly. Then he paused for a moment, raised his head as if he had made up his mind, and swept a firm gaze over everyone in the tent. He said in a deep voice, "Han Che has a plan, and I hope you can agree!"
Seeing Han Che's extremely serious expression, everyone knew that he must have come up with a solution. Everyone fell silent, waiting for him to continue.
Seeing everyone paused their discussion, waiting for him to speak, Han Che spoke clearly and decisively, "I previously infiltrated the Sea Prince's Palace, intending to rescue the women associated with the King of Chu. However, I discovered that Princess Xiahou, Han Yu, and Miss Qu were not present. After the battle between Hai Chenxi and Qi Jingyuan outside the capital, I could not find the three of them in Hai Chenxi's military camp. I boldly speculate that they may have been secretly sent and hidden elsewhere. Given the shrewdness of Hai Chenxi and Hai Quan, they certainly wouldn't trust these three crucial individuals who could hold the King of Chu back elsewhere. I'm afraid they are currently within the Imperial City. This is likely a strategy the Sea Prince is holding back, to prevent future defeat and buy time for his own escape. Regardless of the fact that Princess Xiahou and Miss Qu are relatives of the King of Chu, I cannot bear to see my sisters become hostages. Therefore, I hope to lead my soldiers into the Imperial City to rescue them."
After Han Che finished speaking, the tent fell into silence...
Putting aside the shocked expression on Prince Duan's face after hearing Han Che's proposal, even Qu Lingao was full of surprise and didn't know how to draw a conclusion for a while.
Chu Nanshan, the only one who remained calm, remained silent. However, although Chu Nanshan did not speak, his eyes flickered slightly, as if he was considering the feasibility of Han Che's move.
"No!" At this moment, Han Jing, who had been standing by to serve, shouted out loudly, regardless of status, and passionately opposed Han Che's proposal, "Master, you are of noble status, you must not go to such a dangerous place. My two princes, I am willing to obey your orders and go, vowing to rescue the three young ladies at all costs!"
"I have said it, and I have thought it through carefully. I will never put myself in danger. Don't worry about me, father!" However, Han Che's mind was very firm. Seeing Han Jing's objection, Han Che immediately expressed his firm attitude.
"But..." Han Jing wanted to remind Han Che of his future position, but the tent was filled with high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Just speaking up, as a mere guard, was already presumptuous. If he were to speak publicly about what everyone had agreed on, it would likely come across as arrogant, tarnishing Han Che's reputation. For a moment, Han Jing was caught between a rock and a hard place. He turned to look at the silent Prince Duan, his eyes pleading for help.
However, what Han Jing waited for was not the Duke of Duan's rescue or his persuasion to Han Che, but Chu Nanshan's thoughtful voice, "The suggestion is very good, but you will be of noble status in the future. Feiyang asked you to come to Chaocheng because he hoped you could avoid the battle in Jincheng and protect you. How can you risk going to the enemy's territory again? Wouldn't that be a waste of Feiyang's painstaking efforts!"
Having said that, Chu Nanshan looked up and glanced at Han Jing, who had a nervous face, and then cast his gaze on Han Che, who had an upright posture and a firm look in his eyes.
The seemingly unintentional glance made Han Jing's heart tremble. He took a step back unconsciously, not daring to speak again.
"The King of Chu knows my intention. The main reason he ordered me to come to the imperial city this time is to rescue the three young ladies. Moreover, a real man should make great achievements. Even if I really inherit the throne in the future, how can I hide in the military camp alone and let hundreds of thousands of troops protect me with peace of mind when the country is in crisis?" Han Che's words came one after another.
Seeing that Chu Nanshan didn't seem to agree with him taking the risk himself, he brought out a bunch of reasons and tried to convince everyone with both emotion and reason.
Seeing Han Che like this, Chu Nanshan suddenly remembered Chu Feiyang's eagerness to rush to Jincheng after receiving the news that Yun Qianmeng was trapped in Jincheng. Chu Nanshan's eyes dimmed slightly, and there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes as he looked at Han Che...
After hearing Han Che's words of defense, Qu Lingao, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly recalled the look Han Che had given him a few days ago. Qu Lingao's mind suddenly sank, and he couldn't help but ponder carefully.
Han Yu is Han Che's sister. Even though they are not related by blood, the love between brother and sister cannot be faked. If Han Che is concerned about Han Yu, the possibility is probably not high.
As for the remaining two people, Xiahou An'er and Fei Qing, Han Che only looked at himself that day. I'm afraid that the one Han Che really likes is Fei Qing.
Thinking of this, Qu Lingao frowned slightly. If Han Che was really willing to take the risk for Fei Qing, then he would never agree to it.
After all, Han Che is the future monarch that everyone agrees on, and his safety is of paramount importance. If he is injured in the process of rescuing Fei Qing, I am afraid that the censors will make a fuss about it in the future, which will be a damage to Fei Qing's reputation.
"There are many experts in the camp, and the Chu King's army has been stationed near Chaocheng for a long time. Everyone is familiar with the terrain here. Why should the Left Prime Minister take the risk himself? Yuan Yao may not have been on the road these days, but this person is valued by the Sea King. He must have something that cannot be underestimated. We must not underestimate the enemy." At this time, Qu Lingao spoke slowly. He did not explicitly oppose Han Che's proposal to rescue people personally, but the meaning between the lines also made it clear.
Qu Lingao's action attracted everyone's attention for a moment. Han Che frowned suddenly after hearing the words, and a hint of anxiety appeared in his eyes.
Chu Nanshan looked at Qu Lingao thoughtfully. Both of them read each other's thoughts from their eyes and exchanged their opinions silently.
Han Che was a man of insight, and he naturally heard the rebuttal in Qu Lingao's calm tone. However, he had already made up his mind, so how could he be changed by a few words from others?
"My Lord, one of these three is my younger sister. How can I watch my younger sister fall into a trap? Furthermore, the King of Chu traveled thousands of miles to rescue the Princess of Chu, so why can't I do something for my own family? The King of the Sea, having lost four hundred thousand elite soldiers, will certainly not let this go. The hostages in the imperial city are the most in danger right now, and there's no guarantee he won't take them out. Instead of arguing about whether I should go, why not quickly formulate a plan and rescue them before Hai Quan makes a move?" Han Che saw Qu Lingao's worry and understood his intentions, so he quickly began to persuade him. However, this time, he wisely avoided mentioning Qu Feiqing, using Han Yu as an excuse, hoping to gain Qu Lingao's consent.
Qu Lingao was slightly speechless. After all, Han Che had not explicitly expressed his thoughts on Fei Qing. If he explained the matter now, and the facts were not what he guessed, it would also ruin Fei Qing's reputation.
"Since you have made up your mind, we will not stop you. However, this matter came suddenly, so we must be fully prepared. Now that you have a special identity, if you are caught by the Sea King's army, it will be equivalent to giving the Sea King a chance to turn things around." At this moment, Prince Duan, who had been silent all the time, made the final decision on this matter.
Han Che's face lit up with joy, and he quickly looked at Prince Duan and said seriously, "Don't worry, father. I will be extremely careful."
Han Che's expression suddenly changed, and a solemn aura emanated from him. He immediately ordered Han Jing, "Gather all the assassins and prepare to rescue them."
At the same time, Han Che clasped his fists towards Chu Nanshan and pleaded, "Please, old prince, send a few guards who are familiar with the terrain to me."
Chu Nanshan had no choice but to nod, then winked at the guard beside him, ordering him to go down and prepare for this matter.
The further north we go, the harder the road becomes, with heavy snow and biting cold winds...
Ever since Yun Qianmeng's foundation was damaged in Jincheng, she has been suffering from stomach cold.
Qiao Ying laid several layers of bedding in the car and covered Yun Qianmeng with several more layers. At the same time, she used a small heater to burn silver charcoal in the car, which made Yun Qianmeng feel more comfortable.
"We've been walking for a few days, and I don't even know where we are!" The north was now teeming with Chen Wang's troops. To keep Qi Jingyuan and the others away from them, Chu Feiyang had chosen a difficult and rugged road. This road was probably unknown to anyone except Qi Jingyuan, who grew up in Northern Qi, and Chu Feiyang, who had led troops in the north for years. Yun Qianmeng studied the map for a long time but couldn't find any similar roads. She then asked Qiao Ying, who had traveled extensively with Chu Feiyang.
Hearing this, Qiao Ying carefully lifted a corner of the car curtain and looked out. Outside, she saw a blizzard and a vast expanse of white. She couldn't make out the terrain at all. She could only reply in disappointment, "Princess, I don't recognize this place either."
Seeing Qiao Ying speaking to her with a hint of guilt these days, Yun Qianmeng knew she was still grieving over Jincheng not finding a doctor and putting herself in danger. Yun Qianmeng put down the map in her hand and took Qiao Ying's slightly cold hand...
"Princess, my hands are cold!" Qiao Ying was startled and spoke quickly, but she didn't dare to brush away Yun Qianmeng's hand.
"Feel it, is the little one very active?" Yun Qianmeng didn't care much and placed Qiao Ying's hand gently on her belly, allowing Qiao Ying to feel the baby's movements.
Qiao Ying felt a sharp kick from a small hand or foot on her palm. A smile flashed across her face, and she exclaimed in amazement, "Princess, the child is kicking me!"
Seeing Qiao Ying acting like an innocent child, Yun Qianmeng smiled and said, "Yeah, look how lively he is. He's not worried about his situation at all."
Yun Qianmeng's words were full of hidden meaning, but she was trying to comfort Qiao Ying without embarrassing her.
Qiao Ying understood instantly, recalling the many scenes of that day. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded vigorously, saying seriously, "I will never leave the princess in danger again!"
Seeing Qiao Ying's seriousness, Yun Qianmeng burst out laughing and jokingly said, "Could it be that you're not getting married? Hurry and dry your tears, or else when you go out, there will be a few icicles hanging from your eyelashes, which will make you a laughing stock."
After hearing what Yun Qianmeng said, Qiao Ying was neither able to cry nor laugh. With a slightly red face, she wiped her eyes, then picked up the bamboo rack and gently turned the silver charcoal in the stove.
"How is Mu Chun injured?" Yun Qianmeng was unable to move, and it was freezing cold outside, making it difficult for her to get out of the carriage. All the news about Mu Chun was conveyed by Qiao Ying.
"With the care of the military doctors of the Northern Qi army and Yingxia watching over her, Mu Chun has gotten much better these days. When I went there just now, Mu Chun also asked about the princess's condition." Qiao Ying poured the warm pregnancy-preserving medicine into the porcelain bowl, stood up with his back hunched, carefully walked to Yun Qianmeng's side, helped Yun Qianmeng sit up with one hand, and handed the porcelain bowl to her.
Yun Qianmeng looked at the brown medicine in the porcelain bowl and wrinkled her nose in a peevish manner, but she still drank the liquid in one breath. After the bitter taste in her mouth dissipated, she spoke, "Just tell her that I'm fine and to rest and recuperate without worrying."
At this moment, the convoy slowly stopped...
Qiao Ying lifted the curtain a little and looked ahead, but the strong wind and snow made her vision blurry. Qiao Ying could only turn around and ask Yun Qianmeng, "Princess, I'll go out and see what happened!"
Yun Qianmeng placed the porcelain bowl in her hand on a small table beside her and nodded to Qiao Ying, "Go ahead. Be careful."
The snow outside was so strong that it was almost impossible to open one's eyes. Qiao Ying, wearing a bamboo hat, stepped on the knee-deep snow and slowly walked to the front of the team. After finding Rong Yunhe, he asked, "Master Rong, why did you stop the caravan?"
At this time, the convoy was on a rugged and difficult goat road. There was no village in front and no shop behind, so there was no need to stop.
Rong Yunhe looked down and saw that it was the maidservant beside Yun Qianmeng, so he dismounted and explained, "This is also the border between Northern Qi and Western Chu. After crossing the cliff in front, we will reach the territory of Northern Qi.
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