Chapter 95 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
Zhang Xiaojia led two thousand cavalrymen, galloping along the wooded path leading to the capital. As dusk deepened, the light in the woods grew dimmer, and the surrounding trees, like savage monsters, cast mottled shadows. The sound of horse hooves echoed in the silent woods, sounding particularly harsh.
She gripped the reins tightly, her eyes sharp as torches as she scanned the surroundings warily. She knew that this wood was the perfect place for the rebels to ambush her, and if she wasn't careful, she would be doomed.
As expected, just as she entered the depths of the woods, a strange noise suddenly came from the front. Zhang Xiaojia suddenly pulled the reins of her horse and raised her hand to signal the entire army to stop. Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her fingers unconsciously pressed on the iron whip at her waist.
"There's an ambush!" she whispered, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Before he could finish his words, countless arrows suddenly erupted from the woods on either side, dense as rain, the sound of them piercing the air sharp and piercing. Zhang Xiaojia's pupils suddenly constricted, and he quickly dismounted, hiding behind a large tree. The arrows whizzed into the trunk, making a dull sound.
"All troops on alert! Shield bearers, move forward!" She shouted the order, her voice filled with unquestionable authority.
The soldiers quickly raised their shields and formed a line of defense. However, the density of the arrows was far beyond their expectations. Many soldiers were shot through the gaps in their shields, and screams rang out one after another.
Zhang Xiaojia's heart sank. She knew the number of rebels ambushing her was far greater than she had anticipated. She gritted her teeth, drew her iron whip from her waist, and scanned the surroundings with a cold gaze.
"Charge out! We can't be trapped here!" she shouted loudly, then jumped on her horse, took the lead, and rushed out of the shield formation.
Her iron whip drew a sharp arc in the air, knocking down the oncoming arrows. The soldiers behind her rushed up, protecting her on both sides, waving their spears, trying to break through the rebels' encirclement.
The rebels' arrows seemed endless. Soldiers fell one after another, and the ground was stained red with blood. A trace of despair flashed in Zhang Xiaojia's eyes. She could not retreat at this moment.
She charged into the enemy lines, her whip lashing like the wind, knocking several rebels to the ground. Her movements were clean and decisive, each strike packing a deadly punch. However, the rebels were too numerous, and she gradually felt overwhelmed.
At this moment, an arrow shot from the side. Zhang Xiaojia had no time to dodge, and the arrow pierced her left shoulder fiercely.
The intense pain made her groan, but she gritted her teeth and pulled out the arrow with all her might. Blood instantly dyed her clothes red, and she poured out some hemostatic powder.
"Kill!" she roared, her voice filled with endless anger and determination.
She swung her iron whip again, pushing back several rebels. However, another arrow shot from behind, piercing her left shoulder. She staggered, but she managed to hold on and not fall.
Only one out of ten of the soldiers around him survived. The brutal battle filled Zhang Xiaojia's heart with sadness, and he feared he might not be able to walk out of the woods alive.
Brother He, it seems she is going to break her promise again and leave you alone in this world again.
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He Fei has now completed the layout of the entire Kyoto. Now he is going to meet Concubine Xian to find out her layout.
He Fei first came to the secret room and brought out the third prince.
The small Second Prince looked at He Fei and said, "Uncle, what on earth is going on outside?"
He Fei looked at the younger generation whom he loved the most and said coldly, "Your mother conspired with your grandfather to rebel, and your father's life or death is unknown.
Why was your mother sent to the cold palace? You are ten years old now, you should know that your uncle's family poisoned Princess Anguo, the emperor exiled your uncle, and your mother disobeyed the order and tried to poison Princess Lin'an, so the emperor sent her to the cold palace.
"If I were to interrogate your mother, I doubt she would tell me anything. I would use you to threaten her."
When the Second Prince heard this, his eyes turned red. He held back his tears and said, "Uncle, I'll ask myself."
The gate to the cold palace slowly opened with a sharp creaking sound. Xianfei sat in the courtyard of the cold palace, holding a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, her expression calm, as if she had already anticipated this moment.
Her gaze fell on the second prince, and a complicated look flashed in her eyes.
"Mother..." The Second Prince's voice trembled, tears welling in his eyes. "Why did you do this? Why did you collude with Grandfather to rebel? Father...his life or death is unknown now!"
The virtuous concubine slowly stood up and looked at the Second Prince with a stern gaze. There was no regret in her tone. "Your father is incompetent and foolish. He listened to slander and exiled your uncle's family. He also banished me to the cold palace. He is not worthy of being the emperor! I did this only to take back what belongs to us, mother and son!"
He Fei sneered, his eyes sharp as a knife. "Empress Xianfei, you are truly stubborn. Your brother and his family poisoned Princess Anguo, and they deserved it. You disobeyed the emperor's order and poisoned Princess Lin'an, which is unforgivable. Now you are colluding with the rebels and intending to overthrow the court, adding another crime to yours! Do you think you can succeed with the power of you and your father?"
The virtuous concubine smiled coldly, a hint of madness flashing in her eyes: "He Fei, do you think you have won? We are not the only rebels. Do you think I am the only one plotting? Let me tell you, there have been people in the court who are dissatisfied with the emperor. They have secretly united and are just waiting for the right time. Now it is ripe!"
He Fei frowned, feeling vaguely uneasy: "Who else?"
The virtuous concubine smiled even more proudly: "Do you think I will tell you? He Fei, you are too naive. This rebellion is no longer under your control. Even if you kill me, you can't stop this storm!"
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince could no longer hold back his tears, "Mother! Why are you doing this? Do you know how many innocent people you will harm by doing this? Father is not wrong, but by doing this, you will only cause chaos in the world!"
Xianfei looked at the Second Prince, a trace of heartache flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference: "Those who accomplish great things do not care about trivial matters. For my son to ascend to the throne, it is worth sacrificing some people."
The virtuous concubine kept silent.
He Fei directly used his mental power to explore her brain and soon got the answer. There was also a rebellion by the Fourth Prince's wife. Unexpectedly, the Fourth Prince's wife gave birth to a posthumous child. She had the late emperor's will supporting the Fourth Prince. They cooperated to push the Second Prince to be the emperor.
But no, she has to admit it herself before it works.
He Fei directly put the knife to the Second Prince's neck and gently cut a wound. Blood flowed out. He said coldly: "Who else?"
Second Concubine: "How dare you! The Emperor loves Lin'er the most. If you hurt him, the Emperor will not let you go."
He Fei said sarcastically: "The emperor spared your life and kept the second prince by his side to take care of you. You relied on the emperor's brother's friendship for you. However, your rebellion this time cut off the emperor's only friendship for you. I killed the fourth emperor and all his children for the emperor's brother. Now I can still kill you and your son for the emperor's safety. "
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