Chapter 615: Report to Your Majesty, the Second Prince Jianwen is not dead...
Inside the military tent, Zhao Duan slowly put the blood-stained sword back into its sheath.
A feeling of fatigue surged through his body. He used the remaining energy to kill Ye Xin cleanly and efficiently, and he no longer had any extra strength to fight.
"Didn't this old man surrender to you? Maybe he knows he was wrong." Jin Jian held the staff and tilted his head to look at Jiang Wangsun who died on the chair.
Zhao Duan deliberately waited until Ye Xin killed Jiang Wangsun before showing up.
In other words, it is a case of killing with a borrowed knife.
"No, he doesn't know he's wrong, he's just scared." Zhao Duan shook his head. He had no good feelings towards people like Jiang Wangsun.
Besides, the original value has been lost. It was Ye Xin who killed him, so it is not considered a breach of contract by the court.
At this time, footsteps were heard outside the tent. It seemed that there were soldiers coming. Zhao Duan shook his head and said, "Go back."
The life or death of Xu Jianwen is unknown. Ye Xin, Jiang Wangsun and Bai Ying are already dead. Only one general is left whose life or death is unknown, but it does not affect the overall situation.
Having lost the top management, Huting is now firmly in hand.
"Yeah." Jin Jian's magic power was almost exhausted at this time. The two did not choose to teleport, but traces of lilac appeared on their faces.
The effect of opening the [Two Life Gate] was activated, and the figure gradually faded away.
Just as the two disappeared, an officer's voice came from outside the tent:
"General? Do you have any instructions? I heard a voice..."
No response.
A moment later, an officer carefully opened the tent and saw two corpses inside. He was stunned.
…
The rear residence of the temporary governor's office.
An old door frame stood in the house. Ji Yue, Yu Xiu and others had already returned through the Liang Sheng Gate, while Song Jinxi and other servants were still in Yan Suo Lake, transporting prisoners.
A light suddenly shone from the door frame. When the beam faded, Zhao Duan and Jin Jian also walked out.
“Crack!”
This ancient amulet cracked into a piece as thick as a thumb, and the crack quickly spread from the edge to the entire door.
The original spiritual energy on it quickly dried up, lost its luster, and became an ordinary object.
[Liangshengmen] was finally broken after being used many times.
"What a pity..." Zhao Duan sighed in his heart. There are not many such practical talismans.
Well, he recalled the other treasure house left in the remaining memories of Guhuo Zhenren, and couldn't help but think:
Are there any good things of this quality in that treasure house?
"Mo Chou just came to see if you would come back. She said that all attacks on the city's defense line have been intercepted." Yu Xiu sat at the round table and glanced at him.
Zhao Duan nodded, quickly gathered his thoughts, walked out of the back house and arrived at the front hall.
Mo Chou, Ning Zechen and other senior executives are still waiting here anxiously.
Seeing him return safely, everyone looked relieved.
"I've killed Ye Xin, and Military Advisor Xu is no longer a concern. The rebels are leaderless. Pass the order and attack immediately to retake control of the entire Huting."
Zhao Duan went straight to the point and gave the order directly.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and wanted to ask something, but was rudely interrupted by Zhao Duan:
"Time waits for no one. You are responsible for taking down the lake pavilion. I have important matters to attend to. Any questions?"
Mo Chou pursed her lips, as if she could see that Zhao Duan was anxious to withdraw, and she said:
"No problem. The commander-in-chief will handle the battle. Just wait for the news."
Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction, turned around and returned to the backyard, and told Yuxiu, Jinjian and Jiyue to help him protect the law.
He went into the main room next to the three women, swallowed a handful of pills, then threw his body onto the bed, closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
He didn't have to worry about what happened next.
He has more important things to do.
"Go back to Beijing!"
…
…
The capital city, the imperial palace.
The stone wall on the fourth floor of the old building was shining brightly.
Zhao Duan came out in a spiritual state, looked around, and did not find his "puppet substitute".
"I almost forgot. I left my substitute at home last time... Never mind. I won't be using it for now."
Zhao Duan just remembered this and floated out of the room in a spiritual state. The bell hanging under the eaves vibrated, but the empress did not arrive soon.
"Oh, woman, your name is heartlessness!"
Zhao Duan curled his lips.
He knew that because he had returned to the capital too frequently in recent times, unless it was an emergency, even if the empress knew he was back, she would only regard it as a regular return to the capital and would not rush to greet him.
"What a shame, what a shame, Zhenbao, you definitely can't imagine what I've been through and who I've met."
Thinking of the empress's surprised look, Zhao Duan suddenly felt a mischievous thought.
Shaking his head, Zhao Duan floated out in a spiritual state, passing through the crimson palace walls and the withered yellow weeping willows in winter.
A black palace raccoon was walking gracefully on the palace wall. Suddenly, it arched its back, raised its tail, and looked around vigilantly, but was unaware that anyone was passing by.
Zhao Duan floated all the way into the Yangxin Palace and went to the imperial study first, but did not see Zhenbao.
He glanced at the sun hanging high in the sky at noon and went back to the cafeteria.
As expected, the empress was seen sitting alone at the dinner table, eating a chicken elegantly.
Xu Zhenguan was dressed in spotless casual clothes, his long black hair was tied up with a pearl headdress, and his sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing his two white arms.
When she ate, her posture was undoubtedly elegant and graceful, but her speed was frighteningly fast.
She used her slender fingers to cut a roast chicken into dozens of pieces of different sizes, and stuffed a chicken leg into her red sandalwood mouth, but she couldn't keep it for more than two seconds before spitting out only the smooth chicken bone.
Zhao Duan, like a ghost, floated in eerily.
Without even looking up, Xu Zhenguan pulled out his handkerchief, wiped his lips and fingers, and said calmly:
"You're back so soon this time? Xue Shence hasn't even arrived in Beijing yet. Is taking over Hu Ting going smoothly?"
As she spoke, she finally turned around and muttered to herself in the bewildered eyes of the female officials outside.
Zhao Duan floated across the threshold, met those phoenix eyes, and felt inexplicably at ease. He glanced at the dazzling array of dishes on the dining table and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty is still so vigorous and decisive when dining. I can't help but recall the past..."
Remember.
It was here that the emperor and his ministers dined together for the first time.
At that time, Zhao Duan had just escaped from a situation where he was sure to die, and was also here to accept the empress's questioning.
Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes and waved his hand. A faint light spread out and enveloped the room.
To prevent the sound of conversation inside the house from being heard outside.
Then she stared at him straight in the eyes, pretending to listen: "Go ahead."
We are old kings and ministers...don't talk in so many roundabout ways.
No... Baozi, you are not gentle and cute at all like this... You will lose me, do you know that... Zhao Duan complained in his heart, "sat" down across the table, and said thoughtfully:
"Something unexpected did happen when we took over Hu Ting."
Xu Zhenguan's beautiful face, with its dark eyebrows like distant mountains, slightly frowned, and he said with concern:
"Could it be that the three armies don't obey you? Or are the officers and soldiers under you pretending to obey but actually disobeying?"
This is something that can easily happen when changing commanders on the battlefield.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"Neither. To be precise, Huting should be recaptured today. Well, the rebels stationed there are being strangled."
Xu Zhenguan: ? ?
There was a brief silence in the room.
The empress couldn't help but pinch her brows lightly with her fingers, calming her mind and saying:
"You mean, you've already taken Huting in just a few days? Didn't you say that launching an attack in winter would be disadvantageous and that we should gain a firm foothold first?"
She was a little confused.
Zhao Duan felt very aggrieved:
"I also want to take it step by step, but the enemy is too cunning, so I can only do it..."
Then he began to narrate what happened after he arrived at Huting.
Well, it’s a reserved program.
From fighting with a coffin at Baishiqiao to meeting with Jiang Wangsun and bribing spies.
Then the other party proposed to exchange prisoners, how to arrange it, rush to Yansuo Lake...
The Empress listened intently at first, but wasn't surprised at all. To her, what Zhao Duan was doing was just basic practice.
But when Zhao Duan got to the key point, he stopped.
"What happened after you went to Yansuo Lake? Did you find out it was a trap set by that military advisor named Xu?"
The empress asked while holding a spoon and drinking a bowl of soup.
"Well, that's about right. Then we had a fight and I won." Zhao Duan said vaguely.
Xu Zhenguan's fair neck moved as he swallowed the soup, staring at him with a puzzled look as he hesitated to speak.
"What do you want to say?"
Zhao Duan asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, aren't you curious about the identity of this military advisor named Xu?"
Xu Zhenguan stared at him suspiciously:
"Prince Jing has quite a few descendants with the surname Xu under his command. Over the centuries, the royal family has branched out and expanded, which is not uncommon..."
As she was speaking, the empress paused. She finally realized something was wrong and slowly put down the soup. Her expression gradually became more serious.
"Is this person special?"
"Special." Zhao Duan said calmly without keeping anyone in suspense.
"Your Majesty, do you remember that I and Your Majesty once speculated that some people were not completely killed in the Xuanmen coup? That's right, this military advisor is the King Wen, Xu Jianwen, who was supposed to be dead."
Xu Jianwen.
There was a sudden silence in the dining room.
Xu Zhenguan stared at him expressionlessly, as if trying to catch some hint of a joke, but she failed.
Zhao Duan said softly, "Xu Jianwen is not dead. Not only that, he has also replaced Zhuang Xiaocheng and taken over the Kuangfu Society. He is waiting for me at Yansuo Lake with Guhuo Zhenren, Qi Yuchun, and Ren Kun..."
Then, he finally recounted in detail everything that happened after his encounter with Xu Jianwen.
Xu Zhenguan listened quietly.
Beneath her seemingly calm face, her heart was already filled with endless ripples and storms.
Second brother, Xu Jianwen...the name that should have been buried in history.
The key figure who changed the history of the entire Yu State and also changed her destiny.
It can even be said that the source of the Eight Kings Rebellion today is the "Xuanmen Coup" by Xu Jianwen back then. If it had not happened, there would be no rare female emperor today, and no such turbulent "major changes that have not happened in six hundred years."
Is Xu Jianwen dead or not?
Once upon a time, this wasn't a problem.
But after Guhuo Zhenren was resurrected and came online, the seed that Xu Jianwen might not be dead took root in her heart, and until today, it was finally confirmed.
It was amazing...Xu Zhenguan actually felt relieved, like a boot hanging in the air finally landed.
A sneer instinctively appeared on the corner of her mouth: "He is still alive."
Zhao Duan nodded and said:
“And he was living well… Well, not necessarily now.
Now I can finally explain why Zhuang Xiaocheng and others, despite being clearly defeated, still insisted on fighting the court. I'm afraid Xu Jianwen has been hiding behind the scenes, and Zhuang Xiaocheng is just his agent who was pushed to the front."
Xu Zhenguan said quietly:
"And now he's mixed up with Prince Jing again. Humph, why didn't he show up earlier or later? He only showed up after Xu Jingtang died and the peace talks failed."
Zhao Duan analyzed:
"It's obvious. Xu Jianwen originally wanted to watch us fight the Eight Princes while he sat back and reap the benefits. But when the situation turned against him, he was worried about the Eight Princes' demise, so he couldn't help but join forces with Xu Wen."
Xu Zhenguan's eyes were filled with a cold tone colder than winter:
"A habitual conspirator cannot change his habits even after death."
Her tone was completely cold.
He was filled with hatred for this traitorous brother who killed his brother and father and almost wiped out the entire royal family.
Zhao Duan was stunned. After spending so much time together, he rarely saw this kind of expression from Zhenbao:
"It's a shame he escaped by jumping off a cliff. Although I severely injured him, I have a hunch that he wouldn't die so easily. But he definitely won't be able to cause trouble again anytime soon."
Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath and nodded. She also realized that her emotions were unstable:
"It's a hidden danger. But they are only remnants of a defeated army. Our biggest enemy now is still Prince Jing and the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions."
Zhao Duan nodded, he also understood this logic.
Xu Jianwen must be killed, but in terms of importance, he should be ranked behind Prince Jing and Xuan Yin.
"By the way, how is the Western Region these days?" Zhao Duan just remembered to ask.
The empress glanced at him and shook her head.
"The Prince of Hejian has been defeated. However, the Western Regions countries recently breached the border. Due to the weakening of the army, the Duke of Zhenguo retreated strategically and abandoned the border.
My plan is to trade space for time, temporarily abandoning part of the Xipingdao area, withdrawing the defense line, and then confronting them head-on after the Five Army Camps and the Imperial Guards of the Capital are in place."
After a pause, she added with a gloomy look:
"Princess Wenzhu has been imprisoned."
Zhao Duan was silent.
This was the result he had anticipated.
Judging from the timing, the countries in the Western Regions took action earlier than expected. They couldn't even wait for the arrival of spring. They were impatient to mobilize troops as soon as the coldest season passed.
This means...
The time window left for him to eliminate Prince Jing and Prince Chen is even smaller.
…
After a brief silence.
"You just said that Xu Jianwen used a secret technique to suppress the offering? But it actually stimulated the dragon spirit in your body?"
The empress withdrew her thoughts, changed the subject, and turned her attention to this more important information.
"Yes." Zhao Duan felt a little regretful when he mentioned this:
"Unfortunately, after that battle, the dragon soul slowly settled down again, as if it was about to fall asleep again. Moreover, I was unable to control the dragon soul at that time. It was more like it was fighting back instinctively."
Xu Zhenguan stood up, her snow-white long skirt dragging as she walked in the antique room.
"I truly do not know this secret technique. It seems, as he said, my ascension to the throne was too hasty, and I have lost much of the 'imperial knowledge' I should have mastered."
"And...if you can control the dragon soul, you might be able to increase your chances of success against Prince Jing."
As a descendant of the royal family, Xu Wen also practices the path of the God of War.
Zhao Duan said seriously:
"I came back in a hurry this time, firstly to report on Xu Jianwen's matter, and secondly, to report on Dragon Soul."
"oh?"
"May I ask if Your Majesty has recently found the unlock code for the phone in 'The World'?"
Xu Zhenguan choked and said with some frustration:
"I've tried many times without success, but recently, while looking through the diary of Emperor Taizu, I found a few dates that might be the code, but I haven't tried them yet."
Zhao Duan stood up and said:
"Then why not give it a try now? I'm thinking of taking advantage of the changes in the Dragon Soul to see if corresponding changes will occur in the Human World."
Well... although the dragon soul is sleeping in his body and has nothing to do with his soul, but... what if?
The decisive battle with Prince Jing is not far away, he must race against time and obtain all means to improve his combat effectiveness.
“…Alright.”
The empress is a decisive person.
He stopped eating immediately, threw down his chopsticks, and walked out of the room with Zhao Duan. Under the confused gazes of the female officials outside the door, he flew towards the Martial Arts Hall.
…
A moment later.
In "The World".
It was the familiar feeling of falling again, and Zhao Duan woke up again in the office in the middle of the night.
This time, he washed his face skillfully, pushed open the office door, ran out of the office building, and ran into the night under the surprised gaze of the security guard and the old man in the message room downstairs.
After a while, Zhao Duan arrived outside the Taoist temple "Taiqing Palace" panting.
This is the agreed meeting place.
The Taiqing Palace was closed, with a big padlock on the door, looking like it had not been open for business for a long time.
The urban version of Xu Zhenguan, wearing a white shirt, trousers, high heels and long hair, was sitting on the steps, turning his cell phone on and off again.
"How is it?" Zhao Duan walked over and asked.
Xu Zhenguan shook his head, raised his phone in frustration, shook it at him, and said bitterly:
"Still wrong. The number of unlocks this time has been used up."
After a pause, he said, "How about you? Have you changed?"
Zhao Duan shook his head: "No, it seems that the changes in the dragon soul have not caused corresponding changes here."
The two looked at each other in silence.
It seemed like another, umpteenth, failure.
Zhao Duan walked over dejectedly and sat on the steps with her. He subconsciously reached out to take the phone and fiddled with it:
"What went wrong?"
suddenly.
Just as the phone was turning over in his palm, Zhao Duan's hand suddenly stopped, and his eyes caught a glimpse of the faint reflection of the phone card slot on the side of the phone.
"Wait...Have you ever opened the card slot on this phone?"
(End of this chapter)
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