Tao Hong, Wei Jing's intelligence chief in Luojing. Before leaving Yi, Wei Jing sent him two letters, repeatedly reminding him of the affairs of the Dongping Marquisate.
Over the past year or so, Tao Hong has carefully developed a number of downlines. After receiving the message, he ordered his men to keep a close eye on the Imperial Guards. After receiving the order, Lu Zhang immediately went back to mobilize the troops. This was a big move and he learned about it immediately.
Here it comes.
Tao Hong prepared for a long time, and before the imperial guards had assembled, he had successfully spread the news out of the palace.
Xu Yang was one of Wei Jing's trusted men. He was personally selected by the latter and ordered to lead a group of people to Luojing and infiltrate the Dongping Marquis' Mansion. The group had only one mission, which was to rescue Sun's mother and son in time.
After a long period of preparation, this day has finally arrived.
Xu Yang stood up suddenly: "Here we go, brothers, go to the Buddhist temple immediately!"
…
In the Dongping Marquis Mansion, Sun has been staying in the Buddhist temple in the northwest corner recently.
In late spring, her daughter was exiled from the capital; in early summer, her daughter disappeared for no apparent reason on the way to exile.
Sun and Shao Bo never gave up the search, but unfortunately there was no news at all.
Just pray.
Every year in March and April, late spring and early summer, Sun basically stayed in the Buddhist temple, chanting scriptures and praying for her daughter's safety.
Unfortunately, today didn't go well.
The partition door was pushed open with a "bang". Sun was startled and turned around, only to see a bright and beautiful lady surrounded by maids and old women walking slowly into the room.
"Cai, what do you mean?!"
Cai looked down at Sun, who was standing up from her cushion in anger in plain clothes, and smiled slightly: "Madam Tai has caught a cold and is feeling a little unwell. We, the younger generation, naturally have to offer sutras to pray for her to recover soon to show our filial piety."
Everything is an excuse, she is just looking for trouble. After being suppressed under the Sun family for more than ten years, she naturally demanded it back double the amount once she was able to get her revenge.
As a long-time enemy, she knew exactly where it would hurt the most to poke Sun. Glancing at the large stack of newly copied scriptures and the eternal lamp on the altar, Cai's eyebrows raised and she said angrily, "How dare you, a sinner who almost brought down your entire family, offer scriptures and pray for blessings here?!"
Several old women rushed forward, grabbed the scriptures and tore them into pieces. Their movements were so rough that they even knocked over the eternal lamp on the table.
"Stop it! You..."
It was too late. Just as Sun finished speaking, there was a slight "click" sound, the oil lamp flipped over, and the flame went out.
Sun's eyes were bloodshot. As time went by, Cai's words and actions became more and more outrageous. In the past, she could remain calm, but when she watched her beloved daughter's lamp being extinguished, the string in her head broke with a "snap".
She suddenly rushed forward, raised her hand, and slapped Cai hard in the face.
Cai and others were caught off guard and were hit directly. She cried out in pain, but her hair was grabbed by Sun. Sun, who used to be dignified and self-possessed, now acted like a mad tiger. She slapped her several times and angrily yelled, "I told you not to knock over my lamp! How dare you knock over my lamp! I told you not to!!"
"Are you all dead?! Pull her away now!"
The Buddhist hall was instantly thrown into chaos. After all, the Cai family had more people and more power. By the time the maids and servants reacted, Sun was in trouble. She tried her best to pull herself free but failed. A servant grabbed her waist and twisted it hard.
Sun groaned and gritted her teeth, but a loud curse came from behind, "How dare you, a lowly maid!"
After returning home, Shao Bo rushed to accompany his mother as usual. When he saw the old woman, he was furious. He rushed over and kicked her, knocking her down seven or eight steps.
"Bell."
Shao Bo protected his mother, and Cai finally broke free. Her cheeks were red, her hair was in disarray, and she glared at Sun and her son: "Good, good! Beating up your stepmother, what a legitimate son of the Shao family!"
Cai is the best at putting accusations on people. The present is different from the past. If Shao Bo is in trouble, Sun will be furious: "How dare you, a lowly maid, slander my son! Has my son ever touched you? I am the eldest wife, and I want to teach my concubine a lesson, what's wrong with that? How dare you, a lowly maid..."
"Second Madam! Second Madam!"
Sun's words were interrupted by hurried footsteps and loud shouts. A maid rushed in and said anxiously, "Second Madam, the Marquis has sent a message for you to hurry to the front!"
That's false.
This maidservant belongs to Xu Yang. Adult men are not allowed to enter the inner house without permission, but fortunately the Buddhist temple is at the edge of the northwest corner. Xu Yang and others knew that Shao Bai had returned home, so they said it was just right, and went around the inner alley and headed northwest, easily climbing over the wall to get in. However, they encountered such a chaos.
No one dared to take Shao He's words lightly. The maid looked anxious, and Cai did not dare to be negligent. She said a few harsh words and left in a hurry.
"Bai Er, ..."
Sun frowned and was about to turn her head to talk to her son when seven or eight men suddenly rushed in from outside. Although they were wearing servants' uniforms, they were very agile and did not look like ordinary people.
The mother and son were startled. Shao Bo quickly blocked his mother behind him and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the inner house?!"
I thought they were coming with bad intentions, but the seven or eight men in front of me greeted me quickly and said, "We are the eldest lady's people. We have been ordered to sneak into the mansion to pick up the lady and the second son."
Big girl.
There is only one person in the Shao family who can be called the eldest girl, and that is the elder sister of Shao Bo, the beloved daughter of Sun, who married the Prince of Qi as a concubine several years ago. Upon hearing this long-lost but lingering name, Sun Shao Bo was stunned and for a moment he didn't know what day it was.
Sun murmured: "Miss, you mean..."
"Yes, my wife is fine. The Dongping Marquis's Mansion is about to undergo a major change. The Lord and the Lady have specially ordered us to come and pick you up."
These words contained too much information. After Sun Shaobai came back to his senses, he was ecstatic but couldn't believe it. Xu Yang didn't waste any words. He took out a piece of paper from his arms, opened it and handed it to Sun's mother and son.
Sun Shaobo quickly took it and looked at it. When she saw it, Sun burst into tears: "My daughter..."
There was a jade pendant painted with meticulous brushwork and auspicious patterns, but there was a corner missing from the lower left side, which was round like a small pit.
If Sun Shaobai wants to come and pick someone up, it would be best if he could actively cooperate. Otherwise, it would be troublesome to knock the person unconscious and carry him along the way. This requires a token.
But Shao Qing no longer had any old things on him, so he drew this picture out of impulse.
The jade pendant in the picture was specially given to her by her aunt. Sun also has one, which was specially carved by two sisters in the boudoir after they drew the pattern. It is very special. The original body was still small at that time, and just after picking it up, it accidentally fell and made a dent, so it had to be put away afterwards.
It is a jade pendant with very special meaning, but only a few relatives know the inside story, so it is most suitable as a keepsake.
When Sun and Shao Bo saw it, their doubts were gone. They cried with joy. Sun asked hurriedly, "Who is this lady and your master..."
Shao Bai also asked anxiously: "The Marquis' Mansion is about to undergo a major change. This is..."
"My master is His Royal Highness the King of Qi. He left with his wife back then, and now he has taken over Yizhou."
Xu Yang lowered his voice and before the mother and son's surprised expressions turned real, he presented two more sets of clothes: "Only my master is still alive. Now Prince An knows about it. Prince An has just reported to the emperor in an urgent manner. The emperor ordered Lieutenant Lu Zhang to lead 2,000 guards to surround the Dongping Marquis's mansion and capture everyone in the mansion."
"The Guards are on the way, hurry!"
Time waits for no one. Xu Yang planned that if the Sun mother and son delayed, he would knock them out and take them out of the mansion first.
Fortunately, after seeing the jade pendant picture, the Sun couple were convinced that their daughter was still alive. Faced with the crisis and with Shao Qing around, they acted decisively.
The two sets were servants' uniforms, which Sun and Shao Bo put on hastily. They then hurried out through the corner door, avoiding the attackers if they could and knocking them down if they couldn't.
I left the Dongping Marquis Mansion smoothly through the corner gate.
After going out of the back alley to the main street, two ordinary carriages happened to pass by at the entrance of the alley. Everyone got in and changed clothes again.
After changing into ordinary clothes, Sun had just pulled aside the cloth curtain when she heard the hurried sound of horse hooves and the sound of military boots hitting the ground. It was heavy and complicated. There were many people and they came very quickly. It was very clear in the blink of an eye.
Xu Yang lifted a line of the carriage curtain and saw that Lu Zhang, dressed in armor, had led the imperial guards out of the street and was heading straight towards the main gate of the Dongping Marquis Mansion.
Xu Yang lowered the curtain: "Leave the city immediately."
…
Cai combed her hair hurriedly and went to the front quickly, but Shao He said in surprise that he did not call her.
The two men didn't think too much about it at this time. They just cursed the maid for being bold and shameless and ordered people to get it. Cai no longer cared, but covered her red and swollen face and cried and complained.
Cai is good at making complaints. She was vague in saying that Shao Bo hit her, but after listening to the whole passage, it was natural to express that the other party was "careless" in a hurry.
Cai's face was bruised and swollen, and she looked very serious. This complaint was very effective. Shao He was furious: "How dare this rebellious son?!"
"Someone come! Call the second young master..."
"My Lord, my Lord, something terrible is happening!"
Before Shao He could finish his words, he was interrupted by the steward who came running out. Before he could ask, the sound of rapid military boots hitting the ground followed.
Cai turned back in horror, only to see a burly general leading his troops in a long march, his face livid as he said, "Capture everyone in the Shao family and throw them into prison. Don't leave any one behind!"
"ah!!"
…
Cai's screams came to an abrupt end, while Sun and Shao Bo successfully left Luojing City.
The group changed their clothes again, and Xu Yang ordered them to ride their horses quickly and rush back to Pingyang as quickly as possible.
At the Pingyang Marquis' Mansion, they should soon discover that the two most important people have escaped, and the manhunt will begin immediately, so they need to get away from Luojing as soon as possible.
They changed carriages and horses and boats along the way, and met Han Xi and others who came to pick them up. They rushed for hundreds of miles before they were safe.
Sun and Shao Bo finally found a chance to ask about Shao Qing and his wife's recent situation.
Han Xi simply said what he could.
From the exile to Pingtao, and then to Gaoling Yizhou, there are only a few sentences, but one can imagine the suffering Shao Qing endured. Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi is a man of affection and righteousness and did not abandon his daughter (sister).
After a few days of digesting the great news, Sun had completely accepted it and no longer felt like she was in a dream. Sun was delighted that her daughter had married a good man, and Shao Bo, while missing his elder sister, admired his brother-in-law, the Prince of Qi, even more.
The mother and son never thought that Shao Qing would save herself. In fact, she was originally a weak noble lady.
…
At this time, Shao Qing was actually also worried.
She was willing to take care of her biological mother and brother on behalf of her original self, but once they were brought here she would have to deal with daily interactions. In her previous life, she had no brothers or sisters with the same father and mother, nor did she have the experience of daily interactions with her mother. Facing the unfamiliar mother and son of the Sun family, she was scratching her head.
What's more, her personality is completely different from her original self.
Alas, Shao Qing rolled over with the quilt in his arms.
"Ah Qing, aren't you going to sleep yet?"
A pair of strong arms embraced her from behind, and the familiar warm chest pressed against her back. Wei Jing kissed her earlobe: "Your mother and brother will be here tomorrow, don't you have to go to the dock early?"
Tomorrow, Sun's mother and son will arrive in Pingcheng. The last leg of their journey will be by boat, landing at Liuxiang Wharf, more than 50 miles away from Pingcheng.
As a daughter and a sister, Shao Qing naturally had to go and pick her up.
Wei Jing loved Shao Qing and her family, and attached great importance to Shao Qing's mother and brother. Even though he knew his identity was exposed and had just captured Pingyang County, he was very busy with meetings for days, but he still took time out to come out and work with his wife.
It was a very natural decision that did not require any consideration. Shao Qing was naturally very pleased with his attention and consideration. It's just that there are some words that cannot be said even if two people are very close and no one can replace them.
She rolled over again, her face pressed against his warm chest, and rubbed her eyes: "Well, I'm going to sleep then."
Forget it. Never mind.
It's normal for people to grow after experiencing major changes, right? It should be everywhere. If she can adapt, she can have more contact with others. If she can't adapt, it doesn't matter. Anyway, she basically doesn't stay in the back house.
Soft lips gently fell on her eyelids. It was a rare occasion that Wei Jing didn't bother her, so Shao Qing put aside her thoughts, muttered a few words, and fell asleep.
No matter whether you are worried or not, what is coming will come.
At dawn the next day, Shao Qing had already boarded a spacious carriage and, under the personal escort of Wei Jing, rushed to Liuxiang Wharf.
After waiting for a while, the boat finally arrived.
From a distance, Shao Qing saw the two faces in his memory appear in his sight. Sun cried with joy, Shao Bo also secretly wiped his eyes, and the two waved to each other frantically.
"Yuan'er!" The original body's nickname.
"Sister!"
Shao Qing's previous worries were a bit unnecessary. When she saw the ecstasy on the two somewhat similar faces from afar, she didn't need to brew up her emotions. A slightly sour feeling surged from her heart and rushed straight to her nose, making her eyes moist and she wanted to cry.
It’s not that there are any remaining emotions from the original body that affect her, but in fact, everything about the original body has completely disappeared along with a wisp of fragrant soul. This is more like a blood connection, and she naturally tends to like these two people more.
Sun Shaobo's emotions were so strong that they easily infected Shao Qing.
She laughed and raised her hands: "Mother! Little brother!"
A clear and pleasant female voice, facial features that were no longer childish but still familiar, Sun burst into tears, and without waiting for the boat to dock, she and Shao Bai, who was also in tears, rushed off the boat and hugged Shao Qing who came towards them tightly.
The mother, daughter, sister and brother hugged each other and cried bitterly. Wei Jing felt distressed when he saw his wife's red eyes. After waiting for a long time, the three of them finally calmed down a little. He stepped forward and advised gently: "Ah Qing, don't cry. Now that you have taken someone here, you will have many more days to spend together in the future."
"Too."
Shao Qing turned around and smiled, and Wei Jing reached out and carefully wiped away her tears.
From a single conversation or an action, it is not difficult to see the deep affection between the couple.
In fact, Sun had seen the handsome man beside her daughter a long time ago. He seemed familiar. How could the Prince of Qi, a wealthy man, accompany her daughter to pick up her and her child?
Sun was surprised and happy. She looked at Shao Bo and they both hurriedly greeted him: "Greetings..." Your Highness.
"No need to be so polite."
Wei Jing was brief and to the point, but he personally leaned over to help the two of them up, exchanged a few words, and after listening to Han Xi's report, he said, "Let's go back to Pingcheng first."
Naturally, no one would object.
Wei Jing helped his wife get on the carriage, and Shao Bo helped Sun. After the mother and daughter entered the carriage, Wei Jing glanced at Shao Bo and asked, "Can you ride a horse?"
He remembered that the Shaw family had been civil servants for generations.
Shao Bo subconsciously straightened his chest and said, "Yes, I can ride a horse and I also know some martial arts."
Wei Jing knew that Shao Bai had been practicing martial arts after his path to becoming an official was blocked. He thought that no matter what happened in the future, he would be able to support his mother.
He nodded: "Not bad, I still need to practice hard in the future."
He would naturally make good arrangements to support his wife's younger brother.
Shao Bo responded loudly: "Yes!"
The conversation between the husband and uncle was heard clearly in the carriage. Sun smiled from ear to ear and asked her daughter hurriedly: "Is His Highness treating you well? How have you been these years? Tell mother quickly. Have you suffered? Alas, it's all mother's fault..."
The repeated questions expressed concern and care, and it was not difficult for Shao Qing to say "mother" again.
"Mother, it is not appropriate to call you Your Highness now." The matter was still under discussion and the news had not leaked outside.
"My husband treats me very well..."
After talking all the way through the fifty-mile journey, by the time they arrived at the Pingcheng government office, Shao Qing had completely adapted to the situation and his attitude was natural.
Having said everything that needed to be said on the way, she and Wei Jing sent Sun and Shao Bai to the yard that had been prepared earlier.
"Mother, little brother, now the people in the Dongping Marquis' Mansion have been arrested by the emperor on some pretext and are being held in prison."
Maybe it could be used to threaten Wei Jing in the future? Shao Qing sneered. Aside from the mother and son of the Sun family, his entire relationship with the Dongping Marquisate had already been resolved in a letter of severance. The original body died and everything disappeared.
When she received the message, she made it clear to Wei Jing that he should not care about these people and should just do what he has to do.
However, Sun and Shao Bo were stunned for a moment. After all, they were born and raised here. No matter how bad the Dongping Marquis Mansion was, it was still a home. They never hoped for it to collapse.
Of course, the two had no intention of saving the situation. Firstly, they were powerless, and secondly, the Marquis' Mansion was ruthless, as mother and son had experienced deeply in recent years.
They were all aware of the breakup letter and were extremely angry. Shao Qingguang saved them, and Sun Shaobo didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Sun was overwhelmed with emotions and finally sighed.
A complex light flashed in Shao Bai's eyes, including anger, resentment, and a little sadness. But he looked at his mother and sister, clenched his fists, and tried hard to drive Shao He and others out of his mind.
With his mother and sister by his side, what else could he be dissatisfied with? He won't care about those who are heartless and indifferent.
The young man did not hide his expression. Shao Bo probably needed some time to adjust himself. He and Sun were very tired after traveling all the way. Shao Qing said, "Aniang and my little brother, you guys take a rest first. I will welcome you tonight."
Sun asked hurriedly: "What about you?"
She was very tired, but she couldn't bear to leave her daughter.
Shao Qing glanced at Wei Jing, who had been silent and considerate, and smiled, "I am busy with official duties, and my husband and I have to go to the front."
Sun had just learned that Shao Qing was involved in official business. Seeing her daughter become more cheerful and tougher, she was delighted by the change. Hearing that there were many official duties, she did not dare to stay any longer and hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, then you can go and get busy."
Wei Jing stood up and before leaving with his wife, he looked at Shao Bai who was staring anxiously and said, "Erlang, have a good rest first."
The meaning is very clear, he will be assigned a position in the future.
Shao Bo had been oppressed for the past few years, and was overjoyed when he heard this: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
…
Shao Qing said that she and Wei Jing were still busy with official duties, which was absolutely true. As intelligence was gradually gathered, it was now absolutely certain that the above-mentioned anonymous letter was true.
How to deal with it needs to be decided as soon as possible.
"On the day the post soldiers arrived in Luojing, the imperial guards surrounded the Dongping Marquis's residence and arrested all the people from top to bottom and put them in prison. The Qi Emperor Tian's right hand has not left the palace to return home for many consecutive times."
This was naturally a discussion on how to deal with Wei Jing.
Wei Jing smiled coldly and handed the latest news to everyone to read in turn: "Just received the report that the northern army has been mobilized in many places. Yuzhou Runan, Taishan County, Lu State Linguo, Qingzhou Pingyuan County, Gaotang and other places have all withdrawn their troops,..."
To sum it up in one sentence, the northern armies in many places that were fighting against the Zhenquan Army of Prince Ji began to withdraw their forces and adopted the new strategy of defending the dangerous places and big cities.
In this way, more manpower can be freed up.
However, there are exceptions.
"The northern troops in Runan, Xiangxin, Shenyang and other places are retreating westwards."
Runan County in Yuzhou borders Pingyang County to the west. Xiangxin, Shenyang and other places are even further west.
Wei Jing smiled coldly. There was no doubt that he wanted to lure Zhenquan Army and Prince Ji to Pingyang.
Should he have a big battle first, so that the soldiers are tired, and then order the Northern Army and Prince An to take advantage of the opportunity to attack together?
You wish.
"The imperial court has once again raised food and fodder, and the move is not small. I am afraid they want to take advantage of my unawareness of my identity being exposed and surround and annihilate me."
As expected, the emperor would do his best to kill him once his identity was exposed.
A war is brewing in secret and is inevitable.
Shao Qing frowned, as did Ji Huan and others. The atmosphere in the study room outside was tense.
The situation was actually serious. For the Chu Dynasty, a lean camel was still bigger than a horse. Although we had gained a firm foothold, we were far from being unshakable. Moreover, most of our territory and strength were still in Yizhou, which was closed.
Chen Qi heaved a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, we already knew about this."
Yes, thanks to the anonymous letter, they had insight into the entire process, saved time on analysis and judgment, and were able to discuss countermeasures as soon as possible.
Moreover, Emperor An, Prince An and others were kept in the dark.
Wei Jing's voice remained calm and steady: "Five days ago, I sent a message to Guiyi, and reinforcements and food supplies are being prepared."
"Everyone, if you have any opinions, please feel free to speak up."
Ji Huan immediately stood up and bowed solemnly: "I think that the lord should immediately draft a letter to the world, confess his identity, and explain the old pursuit, and openly attack the new emperor to take the nine provinces."
Why did the emperor conceal Wei Jing's identity? Everyone present knew the truth, and they were afraid that once Wei Jing's identity was exposed, those who once admired the Crown Prince and King Qi would flock to him, making him even more powerful.
Pros and cons. The reason why Wei Jing was unwilling to reveal his identity early was probably because the disadvantages outweighed the advantages. Since the disadvantages are unavoidable now, it is naturally impossible to give up the advantages.
"My lord, the sooner the better!"
The author has something to say: The vest has been completely exposed
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