Chapter 79 Falsely Accusing an Innocent Person
"You... what did you say? He's not the real crown prince of the previous dynasty? Then what's with the military tally in his hand?" Ye Wanning was shocked.
“The military tally is real; it was given to her by the real crown prince before he died,” Scarface said. “He also lied to us, saying that after we captured the capital, we would become officials and get rich. In reality, he just wanted to become emperor himself! Also, he really colluded with the Turks. The Turks will send troops from the border on the day we attack the capital to tie down our forces.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.” Ye Wanning nodded. “Where are his 50,000 troops now? What is their attack route?”
"The 50,000 troops are currently in the valleys near Haitang Valley. Their route is to first capture the Haitang Valley armory, and then attack the capital from the south gate," Scarface continued. "He has also planted a traitor in the capital. On the day of the attack, he will open the south gate and let the army in."
Ye Wanning's heart tightened—the guards at the south gate of the capital were not strict to begin with, and if an insider opened the gate, the consequences would be unimaginable! She quickly got up to find Pei Zhi and told him what Scarface had said.
Pei Zhi breathed a sigh of relief: "So he wasn't really the former crown prince, and he even had an inside man in the capital! We must reinforce the defenses of the south gate and find the traitor as soon as possible, or the capital will be in danger!"
"I've already sent my secret guards to find the mole," Ye Wanning said. "We also need to notify the guards at the Haitang Valley armory to be on standby at all times to prevent any sneak attacks."
The two went about their business again. Pei Zhi went to reinforce the south gate, while Ye Wanning sent someone to notify the Haitang Valley armory. Over the next few days, the entire capital was in preparation for war—the Imperial Guards drilled every day, the secret guards searched everywhere for traitors, even the servants were on guard, and the whole capital was on high alert.
That evening, Ye Wanning returned to Cining Hall, and the children immediately surrounded her. Little Bean took her hand and said, "Sister Wanning, we heard that someone is going to attack the capital. We're not afraid, and we can even keep watch for you!"
Ye Wanning patted Xiaodouzi's head and said with a smile, "Okay, when the bad guys come, we'll rely on you to keep watch. But now you have to sleep well and get enough sleep before you can help your sister with her work."
The children obediently went to sleep. Chuntao walked to Ye Wanning's side and said softly, "Miss, don't overwork yourself. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
Ye Wanning nodded, looking at the moon outside the window, and silently said in her heart: Mother, your daughter will definitely protect the capital and the children, and live up to your hard work.
The days of preparation for war were incredibly tense, with everyone in the capital on edge. Pei Zhi practically lived in the military camp, spending his days setting up defenses and training the Imperial Guards, often sleeping only two hours a night. After settling the children in Cining Hall, Ye Wanning couldn't help but run towards the south gate defense line—she was worried about the man who couldn't even find time to eat.
That night, the moon was round and large, like a white jade plate. Ye Wanning carried a food box containing freshly heated steamed buns and chicken soup, walking along the stone path towards the city tower. She saw Pei Zhi's figure in the distance; he wore a thin silver armor, standing with his back to her on the city tower, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, gazing at the dark night outside the city. The night wind fluttered the hem of his robes, even the hair at his temples seemed to carry a chill.
"Still not asleep this late? Are you thinking about how to investigate the mole tomorrow?" Ye Wanning walked lightly up the city wall and handed the food box to him.
Pei Zhi turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot like a dense spider web. But the moment he saw her, his eyes softened, and he took the food box with a smile, saying, "Why are you here? It's windy at night, be careful not to catch a cold."
Before Ye Wanning could react, he took off his black cloak and wrapped it around her. The cloak still carried the warmth of his body, mixed with a faint smell of gunpowder, instantly keeping the night wind out and making Ye Wanning tremble with warmth.
The two leaned side by side against the railing of the city gate tower. Ye Wanning watched Pei Zhi open the food box, pick up a steamed bun, take a bite, put it down, and then frown as he reached for another—clearly still pondering the defense line. She couldn't help but reach out and touch his arm: "No matter how busy you are, you have to eat properly. If you collapse, what will happen to the capital? What will happen to the children?"
Pei Zhi turned to look at her. Moonlight shone on her face, casting the shadows of her eyelashes like a thin veil. His heart skipped a beat, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he whispered, "With you here, I cannot fall. After the remnants of the previous dynasty are pacified, I think..."
Before he could finish speaking, a series of footsteps approached from afar—it was the secret guards reporting on the pre-battle reconnaissance. Pei Zhi swallowed back what he was about to say, picked up a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, "Eat first, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Ye Wanning looked at his flushed ears and felt a warmth quietly welling up inside her. She knew that the unspoken words held the answer she had longed for. A gentle night breeze blew by, carrying the scent of grass beneath the city walls. The shadows of the two of them, leaning together, stretched long and thin in the moonlight, as if they were about to intertwine.
At daybreak, the secret guards brought news—a secret letter from the former crown prince had been found in the south gate commander's room, instructing him to open the city gates on the first day of the month and let his former troops into the city. This news was like a pebble thrown into water, instantly disrupting the preparations for war.
The general guarding the south gate was Pei Zhi's cousin, Pei Yong, who had grown up with Pei Zhi and whom Pei Zhi trusted implicitly. Therefore, upon receiving the secret report, Pei Zhi immediately went to the palace to see the emperor, kneeling before him and saying, "Your Majesty, Pei Yong could not possibly be a traitor! He is utterly loyal to the Great Qi; someone must have framed him!"
Ye Wanning was also in the hall at the time. She held the secret letter in her hand—the paper was the same as the secret letters intercepted from the previous dynasty, and the handwriting was identical. She frowned and said, "Pei Zhi, this is a critical moment. We can't let suspicious people go because of personal feelings! The secret letter was found in Pei Yong's room. There are witnesses and physical evidence. We should arrest the person first, interrogate him carefully, and find out the facts before making a decision!"
"You don't even believe me?" Pei Zhi suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with urgency. "I know Pei Yong; he would never betray Daqi! What are you doing!"
"I'm not framing him, I'm investigating the truth!" Ye Wanning raised her voice. "If Pei Yong is truly innocent, he will be cleared of suspicion once the truth is uncovered; but if he really is the mole, releasing him now will endanger the capital!"
The two actually started arguing in front of the Emperor. The Emperor looked at the two young people and sighed helplessly, "Alright, stop arguing. First, lock Pei Yong in the imperial prison and have him interrogated thoroughly. We must get to the bottom of this—we can't wrong an innocent person, nor can we let a bad one go free!"
After leaving the palace, the two remained silent the entire way. Ye Wanning returned to Cining Hall and lay on the stone bench in the courtyard, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. It wasn't that she didn't trust Pei Zhi, but the safety of the capital was paramount, and no risk could be taken. Yet, the thought of Pei Zhi's disappointed eyes gripped her heart, causing her immense distress.
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