Wang Beiwang's head buzzed, and he felt as if he was struck by lightning. His face turned pale instantly, and he stood there in a daze. Wang Xiu was chosen by the court?

The notice was only issued yesterday, and today they have started to recruit young boys and girls. This kind of thing is considered an extremely unscrupulous act even in a feudal society.

It is definitely better to do it quickly rather than slowly. The longer it drags on, the greater the obstacles will be. Zhang Yuanyuanqing in the dungeon also heard the conversation between the two and felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

An image of the little girl's timid, flattering look flashed through his mind.

"Why did they choose Xiu'er? Why did they choose Xiu'er?" Wang Beiwang's expression twisted, a burning anger of reason ignited in his heart, licking his soul, his hands and feet were cramped with pain because of the anger.

In fact, after the court posted the notice, the Qinglong Gang held an emergency meeting and planned to ambush near the official road leading to Beijing, ambush the soldiers sent by the court to search for boys and girls, and rescue those children.

In their eyes, it is impossible for the imperial court to collect children from the city for human sacrifice, because the lives of city dwellers are more valuable than those of country folk. This is the superficial understanding of most contemporary people.

Wang Beiwang took the initiative to participate in it. He knew that this matter was dangerous, so he went home to see his parents and left his money behind.

I never expected that Xiu'er would be chosen.

Wang Beiwangtang walked out with his eyes full of silk, his heart filled with a flame that was burning and destroying everything.

"Wait!" The tyrant Zhao Shun shouted from behind: "You forgot the order of Master Xu Chang!"

Wang Beiwang paused, his face twisted again, he rushed back like crazy, cursing: "Stupid emperor, all this is because of you, I will kill you now, so I don't have to watch over you anymore, you will die sooner or later anyway, why wait for the leader to execute you. Then I will rescue Xiu'er, whoever tries to stop me I will kill, this damn court, this damn stupid emperor, this damn world."

Amid the curses of the angry group, Wang Beiwang took out the key, opened the iron gate, and took off the sword behind his back with a murderous look on his face.

The sharp sword pierced his throat. Zhang Yuanqing raised his head and said fearlessly, "I can save Xiu'er."

The tip of the sword stopped, less than half an inch away from the throat. Zhang Yuanqing repeated, "I can save Xiu'er, but there is a condition. You have to take me away from here."

Wang Beiwang stared at him fiercely, and thrust the tip of his sword forward, stabbing Zhang Yuanqing's Adam's apple: "You want to trick me into taking you out? Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Then you can kill me now, and then go to rescue Wang Xiu alone. Then you will die, Xiu'er will die, and your parents will die too." Zhang Yuanqing spoke very quickly, fearing that this furious guy would really stab him to death.

"Don't you find it strange? Why did they choose Tian Xiu'er? It means that the court wants to hold the heaven sacrifice ceremony as soon as possible and complete this matter, so they selected boys and girls in the city instead of the villages as before. The war between the Northern and Southern Dynasties was in full swing, and a large number of people outside the city fled south, which inevitably led to population loss. If you want to gather three hundred boys and girls, you need to search in various villages, issue orders, start operations, and then transport people back to the capital. It takes time, and you also have to consider the changes along the way."

Wang Beiwang said coldly: "That's it?"

In his opinion, he could understand this information as long as he thought about it.

Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "I want to tell you that the imperial court attaches great importance to this heavenly sacrifice ceremony. Do you think you can ask for help to save Xiu'er with your mediocre swordsmanship? No, you will only implicate Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang."

Wang Beiwang's expression was stagnant, and Zhang Yuanqing struck while the iron was hot. "Only I can save Xiu'er, because I am the emperor of the dynasty, the supreme ruler. Take me out of here, and I will help you save Xiu'er."

Wang Beiwang showed hesitation, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. "Your Majesty, you want to trick me into taking you out. If I really believe you, I will inevitably be abandoned. Just stay here and wait to die. I will save Xiu'er myself." After saying that, he put away Chang Jian and strode away.

Zhang Yuanqing shouted at his back: "Stupid, Lian left the palace a few days ago."

Wang Beiwang paused and stood there motionless, like a sculpture. After a long while, he turned around and said with gritted teeth: "Okay, tyrant, if you dare to lie to me, I will kill you even if I go to hell."

He immediately undid the handcuffs and shackles of Jiang Jingwei and Zhang Yuanqing, and he held Zhang Yuanqing in one hand and Jiang Jingwei in the other, and strode out of the house.

Coming to the backyard from the dungeon, Wang Beihuang threw the two men back into the carriage, laid the wooden boards with the help of Aniu, led the carriage, and crossed the threshold.

Outside the door is a secluded path, which is the back door.

Uncle Wang was standing outside, his face full of anxiety. When he saw Wang Beiwang coming out, he hurried over and said, "Beiwang, Xiu'er was taken away by the soldiers."

Wang Beiwang swallowed and said, "I know everything, Dad. I will rescue Xiu'er... You can go back now."

After thinking for a while, he added, not knowing how to comfort others: "Don't worry, the Qinglong Gang will definitely not sit idly by."

Uncle Wang tightly grasped Ying's arm and said, "We must rescue Xiu'er."

After bidding farewell to his father, Wang Beiwang drove the carriage to the main street and headed towards the inner city.

Tianji Tower is in the inner city.

In the carriage, Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to sit up. The effect of the muscle softening medicine had worn off and he had regained some mobility. However, his acupoints had been pressed, so every movement was extremely painful and difficult, like a person who had squatted on a kang until he was numb.

"Are you going to the inner city?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.

"You promised me to save Xiu'er. If you break your promise, I will kill you on the spot." Wang Beiwang said coldly.

"Do you know where Xiu'er is?"

"It's not difficult. Just find out."

Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile: "It seems that you don't know enough about my situation. Elder Xu Chang didn't tell you, so I will tell you."

Then he told the whole story of how the Zheng family assassinated the emperor and rebelled, and how he escaped from the palace and lived among the people.

Wang Beiwang suddenly pulled the reins, stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain, and widened his eyes.

Zhang Yuanqing looked around himself: "Why do you think I ended up in this situation? If you take me to rescue Wang Xiu now, it would be like throwing meat buns at a dog. There is no way back."

Wang Beiwang stared at him for about ten seconds, gnashing his teeth and saying, "What do you want me to do, tyrant?"

"Calm down." Zhang Yuanqing raised his lips. "Brother, a swordsman must know how to control his temper, not be surprised when encountering things, and not be afraid when encountering danger, so that he can accomplish great things."

Wang Beiwang sneered, "You weren't like this when you begged me for mercy during the day."

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the hilt of the sword and said, "What should we do now? You'd better give me a satisfactory answer, otherwise, blood will splatter five steps away."

Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the busy street and said calmly, "Keep going. Don't stop. Be careful of the city defense troops coming over to question you."

Wang Beiwang shook the reins and continued driving.

Zhang Yuanqing lowered the curtain of the car window and said, "If you want to save Xiu'er and the three hundred boys and girls, I must come forward in person, but I can't solve the problem privately. This will only give the Zheng family an opportunity to kill and silence them. It must be done in public, in front of the civil and military officials of the court and the people of the capital. Therefore, the day of the heaven sacrifice ceremony is the time for me to come forward. Cousin, you have to wait a little longer."

Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile: "Don't be afraid of my tricks. I am an emperor in trouble and I am afraid of death. My safety depends on you. If you keep me alive tonight, I will help you save Xiu'er."

Wang Beiwangbei remained silent and thought for a full half a minute before saying, "I believe you."

He actually realized that he had been "tricked". The foolish emperor Zhao Shun did not mention these details when he coaxed him in the dungeon. When he brought people out of Xu Chang's mansion, there was no turning back.

Can only rely on a foolish ruler.

Fortunately, the other party couldn't carry him on his shoulders or lift him with his hands, and his life was in his own hands. This was his only bargaining chip.

In the carriage, Zhang Yuanqing responded to Wang Beiwang's cautious mood with a self-deprecating smile. Zhao Shun really hated dogs and anyone who saw him would spit on him.

Therefore, he was not angry because of Wang Beiwang's bad attitude. Wang Beiwang had a good heart and was a young man with a strong sense of patriotism and love for the people.

This is why Zhang Yuanqing promised to save Wang Xiu. Of course, saving Wang Xiu is also his way to break the deadlock.

He had to show up at the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, in front of all the civil and military officials in the court and in front of the people of the capital, to stop this farce and win the hearts of the people.

"Where are we going now?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.

Wang Beiwang thought for a long time and said, "I have a place to stay in the west of the city. It is very hidden and no one knows about it."

The carriage stopped by the roadside, turned around and headed west of the city. The capital of the Southern Dynasty was very large, and it took the carriage a full half hour to reach the west of the city.

Stop at Wang Beiwang’s resting place.

This is a small courtyard built of gray bricks. The overall color is dark, and the walls are severely weathered, revealing many depressions from weathering.

The gate was too small to accommodate a carriage.

Wang Beiwang unloaded the horses, left the carriage outside, and led the horses into the yard.

It was already noon, and Jiang Jingwei was so hungry that he was clamoring for food.

Wang Beiwang had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He took Zhang Yuanqing to the street to buy steamed buns, pork heads, raw meat and other food, and the three of them managed to get enough food and clothing.

"Brother, we are now on the same side. Tell me first, will the Qinglong Gang settle accounts with you if you bring the gang out without permission?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, patting his belly with satisfaction.

"There is no way for you." Wang Beiwang said this in a cold tone and went to the yard to feed the horses.

Zhang Yuanqing asked Jiang Jingwei to boil water, while he sat at the table to digest his food and kill time.

The plan could not change. He did not plan to go into the inner city tonight to meet his teammates at Tianji Tower. In the current situation? There were too many variables if he ran around everywhere.

The west of the city is relatively remote and is not a major area that is strictly inspected by the city defense forces. This place is safer. If you can survive tonight, you can complete the side quest and restore your saint's strength.

From escaping from the palace to meeting Wang Beiwang, and up to now, he has been in danger many times and became a prisoner, which has exhausted him mentally and physically.

The conversation between Jiang Jingwei and Wang Beiwang came from the yard: "Brother, can you teach me the acupuncture point pressing skills?"

"You practice fire-based techniques, but you don't know how to press acupoints?"

"I only know how to fight, nothing else!"

"You're not that good at fighting."

"Hit me if you want."

The sound of fists hitting flesh could be heard in the yard. Ten seconds later, Wang Beiwang snorted coldly: "Not very capable, but has a bad temper."

Jiang Jingwei was not convinced and started fighting again.

After a while, she came into the room with a pot of hot water, her face bruised and swollen.

Zhang Fengyuanqing laughed and said, "You haven't even completed the side quests. You are equivalent to a Level 1 Transcendent. What are you trying to show off?"

Jiang Jingwei said angrily: "If I kill you, my side quest will be completed!"

Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly tried to comfort her: "I will find a way to get you back to the camp."

At dusk, after wandering around the inner city for a day without any gain, Guan Ya returned to Yang Mansion.

He first went to Yang Zheng's study, and after receiving the reply that His Majesty had not been found, he left in disappointment.

At this moment, she saw the servant running over and saying:

"Your Majesty, there is a woman outside the palace who wants to see you. She says she is an old friend of yours, and her last name is Xie!"

Last name Xie? Guan Ya’s heart moved.

"Bring her to see me in the outer hall."

A few minutes later, Guan Ya, who was waiting in the outer hall, saw the butler leading a plain-looking young woman into the outer hall.

Guan Ya dismissed the servants and looked at the young woman, who was also looking at her. After looking at each other for a moment, Guan Ya asked tentatively: "Lingxi?"

The young woman smiled happily: "Sister Guan Ya? You are really Empress Yang."

Guan Ya smiled and said, "Yuan Shi is the emperor and I am the queen. Isn't this natural?"

Xie Lingxi, who was plain-looking, nodded: "I am Brother Yuanshi's harem beauty."

Guan Ya's smile froze. Then she asked, "Let's get down to business. Where are the others?"

Xie Lingxi shook his head and said, "I don't know. I didn't escape from the palace that night. Instead, I hid in the harem after changing my appearance. Today, I knocked out a guard and put on his clothes to leave the palace."

She told Guan Ya about what happened on the night of the assassination, her role and mission, and her brother Yuanshi's analysis of the plot of the dungeon.

No wonder Yuanshi was so embarrassed, it turned out that his level was sealed. Guan Ya suddenly realized, "After escaping from the palace, where do you plan to meet?"

Xie Lingxi said: "We are not familiar with the capital, so we agreed to meet at Tianji Tower. Sister Guan Ya, will you go with us?"

The next day, Zhang Yuanqing, who was sleeping lightly in the early morning, heard the familiar reminder sound of the field copy again: "Ding, the side quest has been completed!"