Yan Sikong suppressed the throbbing in his heart: "What news did you get?"

"A group of rebels appeared in Jiading Prefecture and gathered a large number of disaster victims in Shuzhong. In just one month, they have captured two cities in a row."

"There is a severe drought in the southwest and many riots among the people. How do we determine whether it is necessary to close off the fields?" Last year, there was a drought in the southwest and the people's fields were barren. Since Yan Zilian left, the power of the cabinet has declined, the eunuchs' party has been rampant, and Xie Zhongren has been extremely corrupt. The relief grain and grass have been severely seized, and riots broke out. They have not been quelled until now. However, this riot is not as serious as the riot caused by King Liang, so the court did not take it very seriously.

"This group of rebels did not come from the people, but appeared suddenly. At first, there were only a few thousand of them. They were well-equipped and had strict military discipline. They were all cavalry. They did not plunder like a mob, but were just like the regular army of the court. Moreover, they acted very quickly. In less than a month, they had captured two cities and were actively recruiting stragglers."

Yan Sikong secretly grasped the armrest of the armchair: "Where did you get the news?"

No wonder Zhu Lanting had such doubts. If there really were such a cavalry of thousands of people among the people, their eating, drinking, defecating and urinating would all attract attention, and the local authorities should have noticed it long ago, unless they were hiding. Moreover, with only a few thousand people they were able to capture two cities in a row. Such a heroic fighting force could not possibly be the result of farmers who rose up in rebellion because they could not afford to eat. These two points alone are enough to remind people of Fengye, which had disappeared for three years.

Zhu Lanting said, "I am afraid of causing panic. This news was reported to the capital in secret. I am afraid that the emperor has just learned about it. I have my own way."

Over the past three years, the Feng family has become a taboo in this dynasty. In the midst of singing and dancing, feasting and carnival, Emperor Zhaowu would probably break out in a cold sweat if he had a moment of clarity and thought of the little wolf king, who was burdened with a blood feud, still at large.

In order to appease the people, the court announced to the outside world that Feng Ye had been found and killed on the spot during the capture, but people were secretly sent to track him down. Feng Ye became a thorn in Emperor Zhaowu's heart and might even become his nightmare in the future.

Yan Sikong's heart was beating wildly, feeling half happy and half worried. Feng Ye... was really back?

For three years, he had been looking forward to news of Feng Ye day and night. He always believed that Feng Ye was still alive and that Feng Ye would make a comeback. He had countless fantasies that one day Feng Ye would ride on the wind and lead thousands of troops to return to the capital.

If that was really Feng Ye, he must have suffered a lot in the past three years. Where did he hide? How did he lead his troops? How did he survive the tormenting days and nights?

Yan Sikong didn't dare to think too much.

Zhu Lanting saw Yan Sikong's complicated expression and knew that he was not as calm as he appeared: "If it is really Feng Ye, what will you do?"

Yan Sikong blinked his eyes, his face remained unchanged: "What can I do?"

"Feng Ye will come back for revenge, you and I both know it." Zhu Lanting said seriously, "What if he wants more than just Xie Zhongren's head?"

Yan Sikong asked back, "When Commander Zhu let me go, didn't he think that Feng Ye might endanger His Majesty?"

Zhu Lanting said coldly: "You swore to me that you would only support the eldest prince. If Feng Ye wants the whole world to change its surname, will you break your oath?"

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "Commander Zhu, I am a villain. You only believe half of what I say, right?"

Zhu Lanting's expression changed slightly: "What do you mean?"

"You know that the day Chen Chun succeeds to the throne will be the day when the Zhu family loses power, so you are willing to take risks and violate the mission of the commander of the Imperial Guard to let Feng Ye go. You are not helping me or Feng Ye, but yourself."

Zhu Lanting clenched his hands into fists and looked at Yan Sikong with increasingly fierce eyes.

"Commander Zhu, you are an impeccable person, but you have one biggest flaw, which is indecision. For some things, you either don't do them or you don't do them at all." Yan Sikong stared deeply into his eyes, "I'll tell you the truth, whether you believe it or not, I still support the King of Chu in my heart. Not to mention that it is as difficult as ascending to heaven for a bandit like Fengye to usurp the throne. Even if he really has this fate, he is just a handsome man after all. The King of Chu is the legitimate and unique emperor in my heart. But your and my strength is just a drop in the ocean in front of the torrent of destiny. We can only do our best." He emphasized, "and do the best we can, because you and I are already in the same boat."

Zhu Lanting's chest rose and fell, and his heart must have been in turmoil. Yan Sikong was right. He had made his choice three years ago. Now he could only move forward and could not turn back. When the Empress Dowager assigned him to Chen Yu as a martial arts master, she had tied the Zhu family to the eldest prince's line. Now the Zhu family relied entirely on the favor of Emperor Zhaowu. Once Chen Chun succeeded to the throne, they would be the first to be killed. So, no matter who it was, as long as it was not Chen Chun...

Yan Sikong said softly, "Commander Zhu, I have no allies in the court anymore. You are the only one left. When General Zhao Fuyi leads his army to Liaodong, who will be the best candidate to be the commander of the garrison?"

Zhu Lanting had already had this plan in mind, but did not dare to say it out loud.

Yan Sikong said it for him: "It has to be you."

Zhu Lanting's eyes wandered: "But Xie Zhongren might be..."

"The power of the garrison troops is related to the safety of the royal family. Your Majesty will never hand it over to outsiders. You are the relative of the Empress Dowager, the nephew of Your Majesty, and the commander of the Imperial Guard. Is there anyone more suitable than you? I can make this promise today. I will ensure that you will sit on the throne of the commander of the garrison troops."

Zhu Lanting's strong body trembled slightly, and he looked at Yan Sikong with sharp eyes.

"When you get the garrison command, you will be the one guarding the gates of the capital. You can let anyone in..." Yan Sikong smiled and said, "You have the final say."

Zhu Lanting stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the room. After a long while, he finally settled down and looked at Yan Sikong: "You and I, the two of us, support the eldest prince to succeed the throne. Do you dare... do you dare to swear an oath?"

“Hahahahahaha——” Yan Sikong laughed continuously.

Zhu Lanting said shyly: "What are you laughing at?"

Yan Sikong laughed so hard that his shoulders shook: "Commander Zhu, Brother Zhu, I can swear three poisonous oaths a day in front of that bastard. If God has eyes, I would have been struck by lightning, died on the streets, and had no descendants. The oaths I made are like farts, hahahahahaha..."

Zhu Lanting looked at Yan Sikong, with unspeakable thoughts flashing in his eyes.

Yan Sikong finally stopped laughing and said lightly: "You don't have to listen to my oath, you just need to watch what I do. I will hand over the garrison troops with both hands. One day, I will also welcome the eldest prince back to the capital with you to succeed the throne!"