We will investigate in Chapter 77.
Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi were both stunned—the former crown prince? This was a huge secret; they had never heard of the former crown prince still being alive.
"You're not lying to us?" Pei Zhi asked. "Is the former crown prince really still alive? Where is he now?"
"I'm not lying to you!" the Prime Minister said hurriedly. "The former crown prince now has a base in Begonia Valley and frequently communicates with Xuanjizi via secret letters. I also know that he has a military tally that can mobilize the former dynasty's old troops—the 50,000-strong army that Xuanjizi mentioned!"
"What else do you know?" Ye Wanning asked. "When did the former crown prince plan to attack the capital? Did he collude with the Turks?"
"I don't know much," the Prime Minister said. "I only know that the former crown prince planned to attack the capital on the first day of next month. As for whether he colluded with the Turks, I'm not sure. However, Xuanjizi has met the Turks before, so he may have already made an alliance with them."
Ye Wanning nodded: "We will investigate what you said."
"If what you say is true, I will beg His Majesty to spare your life. But if you dare to lie to us, you should know the consequences."
The prime minister hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare lie to you! Everything I said is true! Please, you must spare my life!"
After Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi came out of the dungeon, Pei Zhi said, "I think the Prime Minister is right. We should quickly send people to Begonia Valley to find the former crown prince's stronghold and the military tally."
“I’ve already sent people,” Ye Wanning replied. “In addition, we need to strengthen the defense of the capital to prevent the former crown prince from attacking. Also, we need to send a letter to the king of the Western Regions as soon as possible, asking him to restrain the Turkic cavalry and prevent the Turks from joining forces with the former crown prince.”
“Alright.” Pei Zhi nodded. “I’ll go and mobilize troops to reinforce the capital. You go and deliver a letter to the Western Regions vassal king, and while you’re at it, go to Haitang Valley to wipe out the remaining forces of the Tianyan Sect.”
After a while of busy work, the two went their separate ways to do their own things. Ye Wanning knew that the next few days would definitely be difficult—the former crown prince's 50,000 troops, as well as the Turks he had contacted, were major threats to the Great Qi. She had to be extremely vigilant to protect the Great Qi and those around her.
Three days later, the guards who went to Begonia Valley returned, bringing back important information. Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi immediately convened a meeting of the guards at the General's Mansion to hear their report.
"Second Miss, Lord Pei, we discovered the former Crown Prince's stronghold deep within Begonia Valley. It's a cave, heavily guarded by many people. We also saw people delivering provisions and weapons into the cave, suggesting they are preparing for an attack on the capital."
"Really?" Ye Wanning nodded. "Did you see the former crown prince? Where is his military tally?"
“We didn’t see the former crown prince. The people in the cave all call him ‘Crown Prince’ or ‘Master.’ We didn’t see what he looked like,” the head of the secret guards replied. “However, we found a secret letter outside the cave. It says, ‘On the first day of next month, attack the Haitang Valley armory, seize the grain and weapons, and then attack the capital.’”
"The Haitang Valley armory is one of the most important armories in our Great Qi Dynasty. It contains a lot of grain and weapons. If the former crown prince were to capture it, the consequences would be unimaginable. We must send reinforcements to Haitang Valley to strengthen the armory's defenses," Pei Zhiyi said immediately upon hearing this.
“I agree,” Ye Wanning continued. “Moreover, we must send people to monitor the former crown prince’s every move near the cave in Haitang Valley to see what other schemes he may have up his sleeve. In addition, the Prime Minister said that the former crown prince holds the military tally of the former dynasty and can mobilize 50,000 troops. We must find a way to burn the military tally or find a way to counter it.”
“A way to counter the military tally…” Pei Zhi thought for a moment, “Let’s investigate what Old Madam Ye left behind. She was a princess of the previous dynasty, so she should know how to counter the military tally of the previous dynasty.”
“Yes! My mother was a princess of the previous dynasty. Among the things she left behind, there might be records about how to counter the military talisman of the previous dynasty! I’ll go to Cining Hall right now to sort through the things my mother left behind and see if I can find a way to counter the military talisman.” Ye Wanning’s eyes lit up immediately.
Without hesitation, Pei Zhi mobilized troops, quickly sending men to reinforce Haitang Valley and strengthen the defenses of the armory, while also having people monitor the former crown prince's every move; Ye Wanning returned to Cining Hall and began packing the things her mother had left her.
When Chun Tao saw Ye Wanning return, she hurriedly came up to her: "Miss, you're finally back! The children have missed you so much and have been asking when you'll come back to play with them."
Ye Wanning smiled and said, "After I finish what I'm doing, I'll go play with the children. Chuntao, move all the things Mom gave me to the study. I'll look for them; maybe I can find a way to counter the military seal of the previous dynasty."
Chuntao smiled and said, "Okay!" Then she turned around and went to move the things.
Before long, the study was filled with things Ye Wanning's mother had given her—medical books, letters, jewelry, and some strange little toys. Ye Wanning flipped through the medical books and letters one by one, hoping to find some useful records.
After searching for a long time, Ye Wanning finally found a note in a tattered medical book. It was written in her mother's handwriting: "Behind the stone tablet in Begonia Valley is a treasure that can restrain the military talisman of the previous dynasty. It must be opened with the Tiger Tally main talisman."
Ye Wanning was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly called to Chuntao: "Chuntao, we've found a way! We've found a way to counter the military talisman of the previous dynasty! Mother said that there is something hidden behind the stone tablet in Haitang Valley that can counter the military talisman, let's go find it quickly!"
"Great!" Chun Tao exclaimed excitedly. "I'll go pack my things now. When do we leave?"
"Let's go now!" Ye Wanning said. "Pei Zhi is still mobilizing troops. Let's go to Haitang Valley to find something first, and then meet up with him after he's done."
Ye Wanning and Chun Tao packed their things and, with several guards, immediately headed towards Haitang Valley. She knew very well that time was of the essence; they had to find something to counter the military seal as soon as possible—otherwise, if the former crown prince attacked the capital on the first day of next month, the Great Qi would be in danger. Moreover, she knew that Haitang Valley contained the former crown prince's stronghold, and trouble could arise at any moment; she had to act quickly.
After traveling for two days, the group finally arrived at Begonia Valley. It was just as she had seen it before, with beautiful scenery, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, but Ye Wanning had no mood to appreciate it—she knew that the former crown prince's stronghold was in the middle of the valley, and danger could erupt at any moment.
Fortunately, her mother's note pointed the way. Ye Wanning, along with Chun Tao and the guards, followed the directions on the note and found a large stone tablet in the valley. This stone tablet was exceptionally tall, and it was engraved with some strange symbols that looked like totems.
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