Chapter 214 [VIP]
The old lady was timid and afraid of frightening her, so Gu Zhizhuo hadn't revealed too much to her beforehand.
Now that everything has settled, everything that needed to be said has been said.
Gu Zhizhuo then had his third uncle and the others invited as well.
When the others arrived, they had finished their chicken noodle soup.
The two of them, one sentence at a time, recounted everything that had happened in the capital and at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, leaving the children dumbfounded and screaming in astonishment.
"Big sister, what crime will the emperor be charged with for treason?"
Gu Yique: "Execute their entire family!"
The Dowager and Gu Zhinan looked over at the same time: "Really?"
The two looked increasingly tense. Gu Zhizhuo slapped Gu Yique's forehead: "Don't talk nonsense."
"It's a pity about the late Crown Prince." Gu Baibai shook her head and sighed softly.
He never left his house, yet he was fully aware of the happenings in the capital. However, after hearing Gu Yican recite the will word for word, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
"The former crown prince was raised by Emperor Taizu and the late emperor together. If it weren't for Xie Rong's greed, he would definitely have been a wise ruler."
The late emperor was in good health and should have at least another ten years to live.
From the late emperor, to the crown prince, and then to the grandson of the crown prince.
Three generations of wise and virtuous rulers ushered in a golden age.
Instead of what it is now, with chaos spreading and war raging, the once-prosperous blueprint has been destroyed in just over six years.
"What a pity."
Gu Zhizhuo was full of confidence: "With you here, young master, a prosperous era will still come!"
Gu Baibai frowned slightly, about to speak, when the Grand Madam interrupted her: "So, Chen'er is going to ascend the throne?" She had grasped the key point.
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and replied, "We still need to wait for Senior Brother to find an auspicious day. I reckon it will be around the time Xie Rong is convicted."
"Then your marriage..." the old lady asked cautiously, "is it still valid?"
“It counts. Grandmother, you've prepared the dowry, it would be a waste if it didn't count.”
Gu Zhizhuo joked, "By the way, Grandmother, why don't you include your money shop in my dowry?"
"Think about it, the national treasury is empty. If I own a money shop, the young master will have to borrow money from me in the future. I'll have much more confidence then. Don't you think so?"
The old lady glared at her: "No."
Gu Zhizhuo laughed heartily.
Qingmei lifted the curtain and walked in, leaning down to whisper in Gu Zhizhuo's ear, "Princess Jiaye has arrived."
Gu Zhizhuo said, "Tomorrow at noon, I will not see you if you are late, otherwise I will not wait for you."
"yes."
"What's wrong?" Madam Gu couldn't help but ask.
"Grandmother, I'm going out tomorrow to bring you back a floral headscarf from Xinjiang."
"At my age, why would I wear a fancy headscarf? It's just nonsense. Wait, you're going to the Western Frontier?" The old lady asked warily, "What are you going to the Western Frontier for?"
Gu Zhizhu chuckled, "Let's go play cat and mouse." Before she could ask any further questions, she naturally changed the subject and said to her younger sisters, "I'll bring you flower headscarves too. The tie-dyed flower headscarves made by the aunties in Xinjiang are so pretty."
“Great! Let’s wear them to play at the village.”
"Me, me." Gu Yique pointed to himself, "What about me and my older brother?"
The floral headscarves from Western Xinjiang are beautiful, and the horsewhips made of floral cloth are also beautiful.
Gu Yican spoke first: "We want to wear headscarves too." He coaxed him, "Ask your older sister to buy you an orange one, and it will look great with the orange waistband you made last time."
Seeing her son looking on seriously, Madam Xu, the second wife, rubbed her forehead.
The lanterns and candlelight in Ronghetang flickered.
The night grew deeper.
The sky was cloudless, dotted with stars, making the night sky look like dawn.
After the initial excitement and euphoria, countless mansions in the capital kept their lights on all night, summoning their advisors to discuss the matter.
From dusk till dawn, until the sun is high in the sky.
The civil and military officials were unable to sleep all night.
Duo Leng and his companions had been running for nearly ten hours without sleep, food, or water. Even those who had grown up on horseback couldn't help but want to dismount and rest for a while, so they stopped by the river to recuperate.
"Your Highness," Helan said heartily, taking several large gulps of river water and wiping his mouth, "we'll reach the Western Frontier in three or four days. Miss Gu definitely won't be able to catch up with us."
Duolen filled the water pouch, and Helan chattered on about how the Qi people were despicable and shameless, only good at playing tricks: "The eldest prince, there's still no news. I'm afraid that apart from a few of us, everyone else has perished."
"I shouldn't have trusted that little girl!"
Duo Leng's expression grew increasingly grim, and his words sounded as if he were blaming himself.
Helan led the horse over to drink water, still complaining, "The king treats the eldest prince like his own son, and the queen is favored. Eldest prince, you shouldn't doubt the king."
Yeah?
Duoleng sneered, "Helan, are you blaming me?" His open chest was covered in sweat, and his braids hung down.
Helan was startled and hurriedly knelt down on one knee: "This servant dares not."
With a flick of his wrist, Duo Leng unleashed a black riding whip that lashed out like a venomous snake. With a sharp "crack," it struck Helan hard on the back, tearing his clothes through the sharp barbs and leaving a bloody welt on his back, which bore the mark of a slave.
Duo Leng retracted his whip, the scabbard still dripping with blood, and led his horse away without looking back.
"Whether it's true or false, I can judge for myself, and you have no right to lecture me."
"Let's find a place to buy some wine and then get on our way."
Duo Leng deftly mounted his horse, and the others followed suit. Helan scrambled to his feet.
They detoured through a small county town, bought dry food and wine, and found a doctor for Ji Nanke. After a few hours' delay, they continued their journey without stopping, enduring wind and rain, and finally arrived in Western Xinjiang after five days and five nights.
They encountered no pursuers along the way.
Leading his horse into Luoxia Pass, Duoleng felt much more relaxed. It would only take a little over a day to get to the border between the two countries, and even if Gu Zhizhuo caught up, he was confident he could escape.
Seeing that Duoleng seemed to be in a better mood, someone chimed in, "Your Highness, that little girl is really useless. She's only good with words. She probably hasn't even left the capital yet."
Duo Leng smiled. Indeed, women from the Central Plains are delicate and fragile; they couldn't possibly endure the hardship of a night's journey.
"Walk."
Just as he was about to spur his horse, his subordinate driving the carriage hurriedly shouted, "Your Highness, Xie Jing's concubine seems to be dying."
Even they were struggling to keep up with the horse's speed, let alone an injured woman.
Even if she stayed in the carriage the whole time, the carriage would still be bumpy.
Duo Leng went over and peeked out from behind the carriage curtain. Ji Nanke was curled up inside the carriage, barely breathing, and emitting a putrid smell.
He touched his forehead and said, "You have a high fever."
We've brought her back; we can't let her die here.
“Let’s go into town,” Duoleng said. “Let’s find a doctor to take a look at her.”
"Helan, go and call Balu over, and have him bring three hundred men."
Balu is a subordinate of Duoleng and now guards the three border cities under his command.
Helan went as ordered.
Duo Leng took Ji Nanke to the nearest city, Balhe City.
After bandaging and medication, the fever finally subsided overnight.
The doctor repeatedly warned me that I must not travel or endure any more hardship, or I would surely die.
With the blueprints still in hand, Duoleng had to slow down, traveling at sunrise and resting at sunset. After another two or three days, he finally arrived at Aur, the city closest to the border.
They did not enter the city, but instead set up camp and rested three miles away from it.
Balu arrived with three hundred men.
They removed their armor, hid their weapons under the carts, and disguised themselves as traveling merchants to enter the border of Daqi.
Duoleng patted his broad shoulder, and the tension that had been building up for several days finally eased.
After exchanging greetings, Balu looked around and asked, "Your Highness, where are the others?"
Duoleng brought over a thousand people with him on this wedding procession, all of them his personal guards and confidants, but now only five have returned.
"Don't even mention it."
When Duoleng explained the situation, Balu became furious, and his thick arms bulged.
“I’ll stay at the border for a while,” Duoleng snorted. “Whether the king did it or not, we’ll assume he did. This time, we must make him give me all nine border cities as compensation.”
Duo Leng's entire force was wiped out in the capital, but the people Balu brought gave him some confidence.
Whether Miss Gu catches up with him again, or the King has some ulterior motive, he is not entirely without the ability to fight back. —Of course, Miss Gu cannot possibly catch up with him again.
"Balu, there's something I need you to do..."
The campfire flickered, and Duo Leng, now relaxed, drank an entire wine sac.
Even though he had been drinking alcohol like water since he was a child, he was still slightly tipsy.
As the group ate and drank, none of them noticed the faint starlight that flashed across the northern hill.
This is not actually starlight, but rather the reflected light from the telescope lens.
The jade lion snorted and rubbed its neck against Gu Zhizhuo's waist.
Gu Zhizhuo casually stroked the mane twice and put down the telescope in his hand.
Although she set off a day later than Duoling, Duoling was unfamiliar with Daqi and feared getting lost, so she mostly took the official roads. Gu Zhizhuo, on the other hand, had a map and knew all the shortcuts she could take, which was enough to make up for the difference in their walking distance.
She caught up with him shortly after entering Luoxia Pass in Duoleng. However, she didn't make a move.
After all, Gu Zhizhuo wanted more than just his life.
"I still need to talk to Cousin Xing next time. It's really inconvenient to have eyes that are all different colors."
Gu Zhizhu muttered to himself.
It looks beautiful, but it's easy for the other person to spot it in the light. Fortunately, the stars are shining brightly today, so I can hide in their glow.
"No wonder my third uncle's clairvoyance is black."
Oh dear.
Gu Zhizhuo continued to use his clairvoyance to look in the direction of the multifaceted shape.
Duo Leng had finished drinking all the wine in the wine sac and was leaning against the tree talking. It was too far away to judge his lip movements, but judging from his posture, he seemed quite relaxed.
Gu Zhizhuo slowly stroked the ruby and sapphire of the Thousand-Mile Eye with his thumb.
With his fate unknown, Liang King ahead and pursuers behind, Duoleng must have had a tough few days ahead. Now that he's relaxed, it's enough to make him lower his guard as well.
This will be when his will is at its weakest.
"Qin Chen," Gu Zhizhuo ordered decisively, "Go."
"yes!"
Qin Chen clasped his hands in response and quietly led a hundred soldiers down the small mound.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned against the horse, holding the telescope in his hand, and looked around without moving.
Using the starlight and his elevated position, Gu Zhizhuo could clearly see Qin Chen slowly approaching, lurking in the rocky beach only a hundred paces away from Duoleng.
The darkness and the rocks of all sizes concealed their figures.
"fireworks."
Gu Zhizhuo calmly issued the order.
A red firework shot into the sky with a sharp whistling sound, instantly exploding in the night sky.
Slightly tipsy, Duo Leng suddenly jolted awake, sat up straight, and involuntarily looked in the direction where the fireworks had started.
"This is……"
"Enemy attack!"
Duoleng cried out in alarm. He leaped to his feet and was about to pull his horse away when countless arrows came from behind him. Duoleng reacted quickly and dove to the ground, blocking the volley of arrows.
Turning around, one sees dozens of people lying on the ground, wounded by arrows.
"Your Highness, let's go!"
Using his body as cover, Balu swung his longsword in a flourish, deflecting the incoming arrows.
Duolen glanced at the direction of the arrow.
No, the arrow came from behind, while the firework was on the right.
There are two groups of people?!
Was it Miss Gu, or the King? For a moment, he couldn't tell.
"Your Highness, let's return to Xiyi City first."
Helan slowly retreated to his side, covering him, and said, "If Daqi dares to pursue us again once we are within the territory of Daliang, then they are declaring war on us."
"Your Highness, make a decision soon."
The arrows flew ever more densely, as if they would never run out. The enemy was in the shadows, while they were in the light; any further delay would only lead to certain death.
"Walk."
Duo Leng deflected two arrows aimed at his head with his sword, and decisively ordered: "Return to Xiyi City."
Xi Yi City is his territory, and the king cannot interfere.
yes!
At his command, he mounted his horse.
Balu led over a hundred men to cover his rear, protecting him as they sped westward.
The pursuers seemed endless, relentlessly tailing them. Duoleng had no choice but to use the stone forest as cover, weaving and circling. Soldiers were killed or wounded, and in the end, even the carriage carrying Ji Nanke was abandoned.
"Your Highness, it seems we've gotten rid of the Qi people."
Baru rode forward, and it was only after his reminder that Duoleng noticed that Qiren had not caught up for half an hour. The nightmarish rain of arrows that had lasted from darkness to dawn had finally stopped.
Duo Li's arm was hit by an arrow, and the pain and exhaustion made him somewhat irritable: "No rest, let's keep going."
"Your Highness, the ancient city is ahead."
With pursuers behind us, we can't return to Xiyi City, so we have no choice but to go to Guye City!
"Never mind, let's go back to Daliang first."
Duo Leng pulled on the reins, slowing the horse's pace somewhat.
Just then, he suddenly heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves like rain.
Here we go again? Duo Leng gripped his curved blade tightly, his bulging muscles brimming with explosive power. He whirled around and saw Jia Ye rushing towards him.
"Brother, you can't go!"
Jia Ye shouted from afar, "It's a trap!"
Duoleng checked that no one was following her, then reined in the horse.
Jia Ye was panting heavily from running, and her braids had come undone, sticking to her face with sweat.
"Jiaye?" Duoleng asked suspiciously, "What are you doing here?"
"Xie Jing is imprisoned, and Miss Gu has given me the choice to stay in Daqi or return to Daliang," Jia Ye gasped. "Brother, the king wants to kill you. There's a trap in Guye City, and the king has ordered that you not be allowed to return to the capital alive."
“It’s true, brother! The pursuers deliberately led you towards the direction of Guye City.”
"Did Miss Gu tell you?"
Jia Ye, panting, took out a piece of silk paper as thin as a cicada's wing: "I stole this."
Duo Li quickly opened the box and immediately saw the blood-red mark on it, which made him believe it to some extent.
The mark is a wolf's head pattern, a design found on silver rings passed down through generations of the Liang Kings.
He examined the silk paper carefully, then suddenly squeezed it.
"The eldest prince?" Balu looked at him, puzzled.
Miss Gu is telling the truth. She didn't lie to him!
Duo Leng clutched the silk paper tightly in his palm, his eyes blazing with fury.
"he……"
Hmm.
Duoleng's body stiffened, and a low groan escaped his throat. He slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on the blade that had pierced through his abdomen, blood dripping from the tip of the blade onto the ground.
ah!
Jia Ye cried out in alarm, "Big brother! Big brother, are you alright?"
Having fought on the battlefield, Duoleng reacted quickly to the sudden ambush, grabbing the Liang soldier behind him.
The cold-faced man pulled out his knife and slashed it across his own neck.
Blood splattered down the blade onto Duo Li's face.
"Baru." Doreen looked at Baru and said in a deep voice, "Did you bring this person?"
"Yes, yes. Your Highness, this subordinate..."
Balu had a full ten thousand men under his command. Who could remember the appearance of every single soldier? But it seemed there was no other way except that he had brought them with him.
Swoosh—
Another volley of arrows rained down at that moment.
The pursuers are here.
Daylight had broken, and the morning sun shone on the stone forest. Duofeng turned around, his pupils slightly contracting.
Miss Gu rode a white horse and stood at the very front of the procession.
She smiled and raised her musket at him.
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