Chapter 94 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
When the shadows came closer, Zhang Xiaojia could see their attire clearly - all of them were wearing black light armor with golden dragon patterns embroidered on their chests. They were the emperor's personal guards, the Dragon Guards!
"Long Yi?" The emperor raised his brows slightly, with a hint of surprise in his tone, but more of a sense of relief.
Long Yi walked quickly to the emperor, his voice low but unable to conceal his excitement: "Your Majesty, we are late, please forgive us!" His eyes were slightly red, and it was obvious that he was unable to calm down.
The emperor waved his hand and said gently: "Get up, you have come at the right time."
Long Yi stood up and took a deep breath: "Your Majesty, if His Royal Highness Prince Jing had not noticed the movements of the rebels in advance and ordered me and others to rush to support them, I'm afraid..." When he said this, his voice choked a little, obviously he couldn't imagine the consequences of being a step late.
Zhang Xiaojia asked anxiously, "How are He Fei, Mother, and the Queen Mother? How did she know we would take this route?"
Long Yi turned to look at Zhang Xiaojia and replied respectfully, "Princess Jing, Prince Jing had already anticipated that the rebels would set an ambush on the main road leading to the capital, so he specifically ordered us to meet them here. Sure enough, when we arrived, we discovered hundreds of archers ambushed on the cliffs. If it weren't for Prince Jing's foresight, the consequences would have been disastrous."
Emperor: "How much did the Dragon Guard lose?"
Long Yi: "Dragon Guards reduced by 30%"
The emperor's eyes were filled with heartache! These Dragon Guards were the elite among the elite, capable of fighting ten enemies at once.
A hint of approval flashed in the emperor's eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly: "Jingwen, this kid, is making more and more progress."
Long Yi replied, "Prince Jing has ordered us to escort His Majesty back to the capital safely, and has instructed us to tell His Majesty that the situation in the capital is under control. The rebel forces on both sides are under guard. Your Majesty, please rest assured."
The emperor's eyes showed a trace of relief: "Okay, with him here, I feel relieved."
Long Yi continued, "Your Majesty, we cannot remain here for long. Although we have repelled the rebels, there is no guarantee that there will not be reinforcements. Your Majesty, please leave with us as soon as possible. We have cleared a safe path ahead."
The emperor nodded slightly, turned around and shouted an order to the soldiers behind him: "All troops, listen up! Follow the Dragon Guards and be careful!"
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded in unison, their morale greatly boosted.
Zhang Xiaojia's eyes were filled with pride as she said smugly, "Brother, my man is amazing! He never hesitates at critical moments. This time, we have done a great job in protecting the emperor. The prince and I should be able to take my mother out to play, and those ministers will stop nagging."
The emperor looked at this stupid sister speechlessly. She had done a great job in protecting him, but now she was just taking his mother out of the palace to play.
Ride at full speed all the way.
The outline of the capital city is faintly visible in the distance. After leaving the path and passing through a forest, is this forest dangerous?
If he were the rebel leader, he would definitely arrange an ambush with archers.
It takes half an hour to get out of the woods. Once you pass the woods, you will be safe. Instead, there is a flat wilderness with a wide view.
The emperor reined in his horse and looked up at the sky. In another hour, it would be completely dark. He raised his hand and gestured, his voice steady and forceful: "Pass the order down. Rest where you are. Do not enter the city until it is completely dark. No fires or noises are allowed."
The accompanying soldiers dismounted, rested quietly on the spot, and ate dry food to replenish their water.
The emperor sat on a flat stone, and hurried on his journey at night, with danger and safety equally at hand.
Traveling at night is dangerous, and darkness is also the best cover.
Just then, Zhang Xiaojia emerged from the tent. She had changed into a fiery red dress, her sleeves fluttering like a burning flame, striking the eye in the twilight. This dress was instantly recognizable among the noble ladies of the capital, bold and passionate, as if announcing her presence to everyone.
She walked straight to the emperor, her eyes firm, her voice clear but with an undeniable stubbornness: "Brother, lead the troops for me this time. I will lead these two thousand soldiers to enter the capital through the main gate, and you and Long Yi and the others will go to Donghua Gate."
The emperor frowned, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes: "Nonsense!"
Zhang Xiaojia remained unmoved. Her voice trembled slightly, but she remained firm. "I've been motherless since I was little, and my aunt has been my mother. People say I have no father, but you're my cousin, only twelve years older than me, and yet you said you could be my father and protect me." Her eyes flushed slightly, and her voice choked with sobs. "This time, it's my turn to protect you. It's safest to split up. Everyone knows that if we go to the border again, I'll be by your side."
The emperor was stunned, the anger in his eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by a complex expression. He looked at his sister, the one he had doted on since childhood, and an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart. Her stubbornness, her bravery, even her willfulness...
He was silent for a moment, his voice low but with a hint of tenderness: "Jiaer, no, I can't let you be in danger."
Zhang Xiaojia lowered her head, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes. The emperor was truly worried about her, but she knew even more clearly that at this moment, she had to stand up.
She took a deep breath, suddenly took a step forward and hugged the emperor tightly.
"Brother, don't punish me when we return to Beijing." There was a hint of sob in her voice.
Before the emperor could react, he felt a slight sting at the back of his neck. His pupils shrank slightly, and his body instantly lost strength, his consciousness gradually becoming blurred.
He wanted to speak, but found that he could no longer make a sound. He could only watch Zhang Xiaojia's face gradually become blurred.
"Jiaer..." His last words were so weak that they were almost inaudible, and then he fell into a coma completely.
She gently handed the emperor to Long Yi beside her and said, "Long Yi, this county lady has returned to the capital with two thousand people. You take the emperor back to the capital."
Long Yi took the emperor, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry: "My Lord, this journey is full of dangers, you..."
Zhang Xiaojia raised her hand to interrupt him, her eyes piercing: "No need to say more, I know my limits. You must protect the emperor, and there must be no mistakes."
Long Yi was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "My Lord, please be careful on your way."
Zhang Xiaojia didn't respond, but turned and strode towards her warhorse. She mounted with a clean, sharp movement, her red dress rustling in the wind.
She pulled out the dragon-patterned jade token, a symbol of imperial power, and held it high: "Commanders, follow this county lady back to the capital!"
Her voice echoed in the empty wilderness. Seeing this, the two thousand cavalrymen behind her raised their spears and shouted in unison: "Yes, sir!"
Zhang Xiaojia flicked the reins, and the warhorse neighed and rushed out like an arrow, with the cavalry behind it following closely.
Her eyes were determined. No matter what, she would protect the emperor, the brother who had doted on her and protected her since she was a child.
Even if she has to kill gods and Buddhas on the road ahead, she will never retreat.
The wind whistled past her ears, and countless scenes flashed through Zhang Xiaojia's mind - when she was a child, the emperor carried her on his back through the long palace road, taught her horse riding and archery, and even blocked punishment for her when she got into trouble.
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