Chapter 261 Even in old age, they can still be together; pretending to faint.
Half an hour later, on the official road outside the capital.
Chen Chu leaned against a big tree to rest, looking ahead into complete darkness, where he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face.
She turned to look at Pei Yuan, who was sitting beside her.
Are you sure His Majesty will return to the capital tonight?
Pei Yuan, with one leg propped up, idly flipped the jade-bone fan in his hand, and chuckled upon hearing this.
"Judging by the time, the news that we were burned to death at the Li family's residence must have already reached the Qinghe Palace."
I am the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard. If I am gone, who will take charge of the Flying Eagle Guard?
This matter is enough to make the Emperor restless; he will surely set off immediately.
"Just wait patiently. If I'm not mistaken, Father's carriage will pass by here in half an hour at most."
Shen Chu fell silent.
Pei Yuan was certain that the reason His Majesty returned to the capital was not because his son had been "burned to death".
Rather, it's because the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard is facing a change of leadership.
She asked softly, "In His Majesty's heart, the title of Commander of the Flying Eagle Guard is much more important than that of the Sixth Prince, isn't it?"
Pei Yuan leaned against the tree, chuckling faintly. "Of course."
Suddenly, Shen Chu felt a strange sadness welling up in her heart, for Pei Yuan.
His mother died early, and although his father seemed to dote on him, he actually only treated him as a pawn and a tool.
Pei Yuan must be feeling very upset.
"Why aren't you saying anything? What are you thinking about?"
Suddenly it became quiet, and when he couldn't hear her voice, Pei Yuan moved closer to her, his shoulder touching hers.
Chen Chu came to her senses, leaned her head against the tree, and looked up at the cold moon in the sky.
"I was thinking... if you really were burned to death in the General's Mansion, would His Majesty be sad?"
Pei Yuan remained silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"He must be a little sad, after all, it will be hard for him to find someone as suitable as me to lead the Flying Eagle Guard."
Shen Chu remained silent.
For a moment, I didn't know whether to lament his weak father-son relationship or laugh at his excessive arrogance.
"And you, Achu, if I really burned to death, would you be sad?" Pei Yuan suddenly asked.
Shen Chu frowned slightly; the thought of that possibility made her heart clench as if it had been violently torn apart.
I'm having trouble breathing.
Instead of answering Pei Yuan's question directly, she asked, "If I were the one who burned to death, would Your Highness be sad?"
"Of course I will. I'll not only be sad, but I'll also..."
"What else will happen?" Shen Chu asked curiously.
Pei Yuan paused, then changed the subject, "With me here, I won't let you be burned to death."
We'll live peacefully until we're old, so old that our beards are all white, and we can still sit together and laugh.
She can't grow a beard.
Shen Chu chuckled, "Your Highness, the way you say that makes it sound like we'll still be together when we're old."
Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow, smiled faintly, and remained silent.
Under the moonlight, the two sat side by side, with the chirping of insects not far away.
Although both of them were in a sorry state, Shen Chu inexplicably felt a sense of tranquility and peace.
Pei Yuan suddenly sat up and said in a low voice, "They've arrived."
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint light appeared on the official road ahead, along with the rumble of carriages and horses.
"Let's go." Pei Yuan grabbed Chen Chu and rushed towards the light.
In fact, they hadn't gone far when they heard a cold shout from ahead.
"Who goes there? You are not allowed to go any further."
Pei Yuan pulled Shen Chu to a stop and gently squeezed her palm.
Before Shen Chu could react, she saw Pei Yuan close his eyes and collapse softly to the ground.
After he fell down, he even raised his long eyebrows at Chen Chu.
Chen Chu...
What's this guy up to?
Some of the Imperial Guards were already running towards them, spears in hand, their voices cold and sharp.
"Stop right there, don't move."
Shen Chu knelt on the ground and cried out, "Your subject Shen Chu, together with the Sixth Prince, requests an audience with Your Majesty."
The Imperial Guards stepped forward and recognized Shen Chu and Pei Yuan, who was lying unconscious on the ground.
He hurriedly ran to report back to Emperor Longqing.
Emperor Longqing had rushed back to the capital after hearing that Shen Chu and Pei Yuan had been burned to death at Li Ming's house.
Seeing that Shen Chu and Pei Yuan were safe and sound, he was overjoyed.
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician to treat the Sixth Prince, and have Shen Chu come forward to report."
Pei Yuan and Shen Chu were both brought to the front of the carriage.
The only difference was that Pei Yuan was carried there, while Shen Chu walked there.
"Chen Chu, what are you and Lao Liu doing here in the middle of the night?"
Is the sixth brother injured? Is it serious?
"His Highness suffered burns on his back and had a fever this afternoon, which caused him to faint due to exhaustion."
Shen Chu quickly recounted what had happened at the General's Mansion, including how they fell into the secret passage and unexpectedly discovered that Li Ming was raising a private army for the Crown Prince.
Emperor Longqing was startled and suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth for a moment with his hands on his hips, but he still couldn't help but feel his anger rising.
"More than 10,000 soldiers? Keeping a private army? Li Ming has some nerve! He actually dares to help the Crown Prince keep a private army. Is he planning a rebellion?"
After he finished cursing, he frowned and said, "That's not right. Keeping a private army requires a lot of money. Where do they get the money?"
Shen Chu said, "According to Li Ming himself, there is a treasure hidden underground in the Ning'an Marquis's mansion. They specially dug a secret passage from the General's mansion to the Ning'an Marquis's mansion, with the aim of transporting that treasure."
"A treasure!" Emperor Longqing gasped, his face turning even more grim.
For him, all the treasures in the world should belong to him and to the national treasury.
The crown prince knew about the treasure, but kept it a secret and even secretly took the money to support his private army.
The Longqing Emperor gritted his teeth, "It seems the Crown Prince truly harbors rebellious intentions."
Shen Chu said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to send someone to deal with the private army camp. If we wait two more days, I fear they will realize something is wrong and arrange to evacuate in advance."
The Longqing Emperor deeply agreed.
"Shen Chu, I'm assigning you five thousand Imperial Guards. You must immediately lead them to capture the private army soldiers alive. Can you do that?"
Shen Chu's eyes brightened slightly. "Yes."
Emperor Longqing glanced at Pei Yuan, who was still "unconscious," and said, "I will remember your merit in saving the Sixth Prince this time."
Shen Chu opened her mouth, wanting to say that Pei Yuan saved her, not that she saved Pei Yuan.
But just as she was about to speak, she saw Pei Yuan suddenly open his eyes and shake his head at her.
Then Emperor Longqing said, "After you have pacified the private army camp, I will reward you with all of them."
Shen Chu's spirits lifted.
As long as she can capture Li Ming and his private army, when it comes time for the rewards, she can request His Majesty to allow him to retry her father's case and clear his name, as well as that of the Marquis of Ning'an's family.
She knelt down to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Longqing immediately summoned the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards and ordered him to count the number of soldiers and then follow Shen Chu to wipe out the private army camp.
Emperor Longqing then boarded his imperial carriage and left with Pei Yuan.
As Pei Yuan was being carried away, he suddenly opened his eyes and smiled at Shen Chu.
Chen Chu was completely confused.
When the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard had counted the number of men and bowed to ask for his instructions.
Shen Chu suddenly realized.
She finally understood why Pei Yuan had pretended to faint!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com