Their retreat was not entirely safe; despite the valiant resistance of the Imperial Guards, the rebels still managed to break through.
The children were held in the arms of strong eunuchs, while Hongyan and Hongzhao drew their weapons and formed a small circle, protecting their mother and younger brothers behind them. Changning's eyes welled up with tears.
"Hutuli! Come quickly! It's too dangerous!" Changning was really worried about the children getting hurt, but then Hutuli's loud voice came over: "Mother is worried! I want to be a Baturu! I want to be a female general of the Qing Dynasty!"
Before he could finish speaking, a group of people clashed with Hutuli and his companions, making Changning stamp his feet in anxiety. Even though they were highly talented in martial arts, they were still young; what if something happened to them?
The princess's heart pounded as she watched the fierce battle unfolding so close to her, and she quickly pulled Honghui into her arms.
Honghui felt ashamed as he watched his younger siblings fight on the front lines to protect their loved ones, while he could only hide in his mother's arms. However, he could only be the one being protected.
Unexpectedly, the three of them were quite capable, managing to kill several rebels. Warm blood splattered everywhere, but the children were not afraid at all; instead, they were filled with boundless pride.
However, there were simply too many people, and they couldn't hold out for long.
Just as Hutuli's arm was aching, an arrow suddenly struck the enemy in front of him. Hutuli turned around and saw Chen Zhihuai riding a horse. He was wearing armor and looked very imposing. He kept shooting arrows, and with each shot, someone fell.
"Princess Chun! Princess! The Prince sent me to protect you! Retreat quickly!"
Hearing Chen Zhihuai's voice, Changning breathed a sigh of relief. Yinzhen still sent another team of men over.
They quickened their retreat towards the palace, encountering more and more officials' families and rebel troops along the way.
Just as they were momentarily caught off guard, Honghui tripped and fell. The Fujin was startled and rushed over, but was then cut down by the rebels.
Blood splattered all over Honghui's face. He was still in shock, as if the whole world had stopped. Before him was his mother's gentle face; she had been protecting him even at the very last moment.
Honghui's mind went blank, and he didn't react to the falling swords. It was Hongyan who was quick-witted and pulled him over, then stabbed the man to death with a backhand.
Honghui seemed to come back to his senses. He pushed away the people around him, hugged his wife in his arms, pressed on her wounds, and wept bitterly.
Changning felt a wave of dizziness and quickly ordered someone to carry Honghui and the Fujin away! If they didn't leave now, they would all perish here!
The group rushed into the palace almost as if they were running madly.
The palace was guarded by soldiers, and the rebels did not dare to break in, which gave them a little breathing space.
Upon arriving at a courtyard, Changning hurriedly ordered someone to examine and stop the bleeding of the Fujin (princess), but her injuries were too severe, and her breathing was very weak; it seemed she was about to die.
Honghui clung tightly to his wife's hand, weeping bitterly, "Mother! Mother! I beg you! Please don't leave Honghui! Mother!"
Changning felt a pang of pity as she listened, her heart pounding as if it were about to burst out of her chest. At that moment, she was also in excruciating abdominal pain, and her vision went black as she fainted, still hearing the children's cries in her ears.
Changning remained unconscious until dusk the following day.
She felt a splitting headache and her whole body ached, as if she couldn't move at all. When Yinzhen saw that she was awake, he quickly had someone bring over the medicine that had been brewed: "Drink your medicine quickly, you need to rest now."
Changning was impatient with being fed medicine spoonful by spoonful, so she just picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, her face scrunched up from the bitterness.
"Slow down, what's the rush?" Yinzhen picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth and handed her a plate of candied fruit to sweeten her lips.
Changning couldn't care less about that; she was very worried about the current situation and quickly asked, "What exactly happened?"
Yinzhen paused for a moment before explaining to her, "Yinsi has joined forces with Suo'etu in a rebellion. Father has already made arrangements, so don't worry."
Eighth Prince?
Does he have that much ability and ambition?
It's likely that the Ninth and Tenth Princes pulled some strings behind the scenes; how did they end up getting involved with Suo'etu?!
So they really intend to pin the blame on the Crown Prince?!
Changning retorted sarcastically, "You made proper preparations? If you had made proper preparations, how could the casualties have been so heavy?"
She still remembered the chaos and casualties of last night, which clearly exceeded the Emperor's expectations.
Moreover, the Fujin was also injured while protecting Honghui, and she didn't know how she was now. She hurriedly asked, but saw Yinzhen shake his head: "The Fujin was too badly injured and passed away last night."
ah? !
Changning was startled again, seemingly unsure how to face the situation. Yinzhen also let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with tears, and the two remained silent.
After a long while, Changning seemed to have just found her voice, and said hoarsely, "Honghui... is Honghui alright?"
Yinzhen sighed, "This child also fainted from crying. The imperial physicians are all watching over him. I'll go check on him in a bit."
The feelings Changning had for the Fujin were complicated. Although the two were adversaries, they were not irreconcilable enemies. In fact, for a long time, they lived in harmony, keeping to themselves.
It can be said that Ulanara Yanhua was a very qualified and excellent consort; she had to admit that she was an outstanding woman.
It's just a pity...
Yinzhen recalled what his wife had told him before she died: no matter what, he must take good care of Honghui in the future and not despise him.
Then he thought of how the Fujin was injured while saving Honghui, and he was moved by her loving motherly heart.
"Where are the others? Where are my father and mother? Where are the children?"
Changning quickly grabbed his hand and asked anxiously.
Yinzhen patted her reassuringly: "The children are all fine; they are taking care of Honghui."
As for his father and mother, Yinzhen paused for a moment before answering directly: "Currently, we don't have enough troops. Lord Fucha has requested permission from Father Emperor to send troops to Karahetun and Gu'an to obtain external assistance. Father Emperor has already agreed."
Changning paused for a moment. His father had always been a warrior. Ever since he moved from Zhili to the capital, he had been suffering terribly without soldiers under his command. Although Bixing was dangerous, he had never neglected his martial arts skills, so there should be no problem.
She just felt sorry for her father, who was already sixty years old, and still had to go to war for the country.
Yinzhen's gaze was low, as if trying to calm her down: "Although the rebel army is currently very powerful and has surrounded the palace, they dare not make any rash moves. Besides Lord Fucha's support, I also have a solution."
Changning looked at him, puzzled.
"The news from Ujumqin came yesterday, and Mengguqing is currently preparing for war."
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