Chapter 99: Impermanence Yu Qing murmured: "Men are really not big...
Xie Tingchen said coldly: "No one supports you now."
He raised his foot and stepped on the fake Xie Jing's shoulder blade, and the man let out a muffled groan.
Even though he knew that this was used to confuse the viewer and that the real body might be a secret guard or a assassin, Yu Qing still felt uncomfortable.
...The two of them clearly had almost no intersection, so why did it come to this?
Seeing that the Fifth Prince was still unsatisfied, Yu Qing said, "...Your Highness."
Xie Tingchen turned around when he heard that, but did not meet Yu Qing's gaze that was as if he was looking at a dead person.
"Now that we've captured him, let's hand him over to our subordinates for trial," Yu Qing said. "I can't stay here for long, so let's discuss our business first."
A hint of joy flashed across Xie Tingchen's face, and he said, "Okay."
Several guards stepped forward and took the tied-up Ninth Prince away from the ground. The man was powerless to resist.
Xie Tingchen was very satisfied.
Letting Yu Qing witness this scene was also a form of demonstration. If he could capture the Ninth Prince, then naturally, those other lesser-known figures would be no match for his power.
Yu Qing is not a fool. After spending so much time coaxing and persuading him, he should know which side to take, right?
He looked at Yu Qing with a hint of expectation, and Yu Qing's face finally showed a decisive look.
"Tomorrow I'll go to the Northern Barbarian hostage," Yu Qing said. "I want to hear for myself who has murdered so many soldiers and civilians at the border..."
Xie Tingchen was not surprised.
Yu Qing would certainly do so, and he was certainly prepared. However, since the other party had said so, it basically meant that he believed him and agreed.
"good."
Yu Qing said: "Your Highness, please wait for my message tomorrow."
His words were always concise, but they sounded resolute and forceful. Xie Tingchen watched Yu Qing leave, a sharp sneer crossing his generous, square face.
·
Prince Rui's Palace.
Late at night, Xie Tingzhao had not yet fallen asleep when he heard a light knock outside the window. He thought it was a secret guard coming to report, but he heard a clear voice instead: "Your Highness."
“…”
Xie Tingzhao put down the letter in his hand, his heart was mixed, and finally he said: "...Come in."
Yu Qing finally broke into Prince Rui's mansion. Although the many attendants and secret guards inside did not try to stop her, they all treated her as a formidable enemy. She pushed the door open and entered Prince Rui's room. Some people outside were worried and wanted to follow her, but Xie Tingzhao ordered, "Wait outside."
"It's a bit risky for you to come now. There are many guards outside the palace who have been ordered to watch over me," King Rui said. "Is there anything important?"
Yu Qing said, "Tonight, Xie Tingchen sent people to raid Prince Jing's mansion, fabricated a crime, and took His Highness the Ninth Prince away."
Prince Rui had not expected Yu Qing to be so straightforward. He paused for a moment before finally saying, "...He's fine. You don't have to worry about him for now."
Yu Qing said, "I know. I was at Xie Tingchen's house at the time and I saw it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you so leisurely."
"..." King Rui thought to himself, there is no need to be slow and steady now, they have rushed directly into my room.
He said slowly: "Xie Tingchen really came to you?"
"Tonight is the first time. I just want to test his intentions," Yu Qing said calmly. "If he tries to find some leverage now, I think he'll take action soon... I guess the situation is out of control and he can't wait any longer. He wants to accomplish this before you get away."
"They can't catch up," King Rui nodded. "The King will be able to come out tomorrow. You should keep a close eye on him for now."
Yu Qing frowned and said, "But I'm not here for him."
"Your Highness, where exactly is the Ninth Prince now? Previously, I only suspected that his condition was somewhat intractable, and there were some hidden secrets you didn't want me to know. But now even his whereabouts are unknown, and I'm truly...uneasy."
King Rui was silent for a moment, then said, "I didn't intend to keep it a secret from you for too long. It's just that you're ultimately... not very reliable. The more you know, the more risk there is."
Yu Qing was suppressing his anxiety, and when he heard the implication of King Rui's words, he even felt a little angry.
What does that mean? Could she be planning something bad for Xie Jing? Didn't she suspect the wrong person?
She had been patient for a long time and now she was in no mood to delay.
King Rui saw the ripples in her eyes and shook his head.
"One should trust those whom one employs. If it were just me, I would naturally trust you," said King Rui. "But now that Ting Ye has joined us, I must be more cautious."
Yu Qing thought to herself that it was because of Xie Jing that she was completely safe; if it weren't for Xie Jing, why would she be so loyal?
I'm afraid Prince Rui has completely rebelled.
"...After all, you and Xie Tingchen have a close personal relationship and have always been in contact. Now he has indeed taken the initiative to win you over. Even if you didn't reveal it intentionally, perhaps he guessed something due to your negligence... No one can say what will happen."
Yu Qing said, "This matter concerns His Highness the Ninth Prince. I have always been extremely cautious. Your Highness is worrying too much!"
In fact, ever since the hunting trip at Weiyun Mountain, she had been wary of the Fifth Prince and had almost no private contact with him. Even if she didn't know anything else at the time, she knew that he had a grudge against Xie Jing, so naturally she would not talk about anything related to Xie Jing.
King Rui said: "After all, you failed to achieve anything in the previous times."
Yu Qing was startled: "..."
When Xie Jing fell into the water, she didn't take good care of him. Although she had doubts afterwards, she didn't investigate further... At that time, the gap between her and Xie Jing was too deep. She thought Xie Jing might have some ulterior motives, so she just let him go.
When they were at the hunting ground, Xie Jing was clearly behaving strangely, but she didn't notice it in time.
But there was a reason for this. How could she really protect Xie Tingchen and ignore Xie Jing? Even without the King of Rui telling her, she herself was filled with regret!
She frowned and finally sighed, feeling that she had been irrefutable and that she had indeed been negligent.
Prince Rui couldn't help but feel helpless as he watched the other person's expression change.
He added, "You're not actually wrong. I'm not trying to embarrass you. But I can't take any risks with Ting Ye. If you value him, you should understand my feelings."
Putting himself in her shoes, Yu Qing opened his mouth but was speechless for a moment.
King Rui saw that he was silent, and when he accepted it, he said, "You just need to know that he is in a place safer than you and me."
But Yu Qing did not give up and took a deep breath after hearing this.
"...I understand, Your Highness. Like you, I don't want to take any risks with him. But right now, I have no way of confirming whether he is truly as safe as Your Highness claims! Even your arrangements aren't foolproof. How can you guarantee that?"
“…”
Prince Rui vaguely remembered that when Xie Jing had not yet returned to the capital, he had tried to probe Yu Qing several times. At that time, the other party did not give him face and even choked him several times because of "Princess Qingjia".
Yu Qing is still the same today, and still refuses to give in for Xie Jing.
"...I cannot change what has already happened," Yu Qing said, "so I am being extra cautious now. My feelings for Your Highness are not false in the slightest."
Prince Rui closed his eyes, then finally spoke again, "I certainly can't guarantee complete certainty. That's why I didn't let him return to the capital. If everything goes well this time, I'll bring him back immediately. If anything goes awry, I'll send word and have him flee far away to prevent him from falling into enemy hands... Prince, you're worrying too much. Even if I'm defeated, I'll keep him safe."
Yu Qing thought for a moment and said, "I understand your Highness's painstaking efforts. However, I have experienced countless dangers in my life. Although your Highness has had his share of battles in the court, he has certainly not seen as much bloodshed as I have."
King Rui raised his eyes.
"...There's no absolutely safe place in the world, nor is there a flawless plan," Yu Qing said. "Nothing can be fully prepared. There are always unexpected events... Therefore, I won't rely on known arrangements. When the moment arrives, I can only trust my own current strength. Therefore, in my opinion, the only true safety is knowing where he is and being able to keep an eye on him at all times. I can guarantee this."
King Rui was surprised for a moment.
Yu Qing's words were resolute, but he had every reason to say them. His abilities were unmatched, and even the King of Rui couldn't find anyone stronger. He exuded an undeniable edge.
In fact, he was a little shaken. Admittedly, no one could predict everything.
At this point, it was truly heartfelt. Prince Rui sighed and said, "...Beixing Palace."
Yu Qing frowned and said, "...the north? Your Highness is referring to the Changning Palace?"
"...Every year people go to Changning Palace to escape the summer heat. It's too conspicuous, and everyone knows it. Beixing Palace is elsewhere," King Rui said. "It wasn't well built in the early years, so it's cool in the winter and warm in the summer. It's been abandoned for several years and is a few miles west of Changning Palace. The palace is more spacious, so there's room for more people, and it can also allow him to recover properly first."
"We placed him there on our way back from the hunting grounds, leaving behind a group of secret guards. Duan Zhirui then took the rest back to the capital. They stayed at the palace for a while to conceal their whereabouts. Going west from the North Palace, we can leave through the mountains and forests, making it easy to escape. Even if there's another crisis, we can rush to take care of it as soon as possible... Are you satisfied?"
...Yu Qing thought for a moment, but couldn't find any fault.
The plan that King Rui came up with after the incident at the hunting ground was indeed quite safe, and even provided a way out.
"Thank you for telling me, Your Highness," Yu Qing said, "Since Your Highness trusts me, I will do my best to help you succeed."
Prince Rui always felt that Xie Jing was a little worthless, treacherous, and always thinking about other men.
Now he discovered that his younger brother was actually quite valuable in a sense.
·
Yu Qing left Prince Rui's Mansion, still feeling a little depressed.
She found that she had previously felt dissatisfied with Prince Rui's lack of support for Xie Jing; now that she discovered Prince Rui's deep brotherly affection for him, she felt uncomfortable...
She still wanted the princess to rely on her the most and didn't want to be outdone by King Rui.
The next day, in order to gain Xie Tingchen's trust, she also went to the place where the Northern Barbarian hostage was being held. The other party's statement was naturally consistent with Xie Tingchen's.
She sent a message to the Fifth Prince, asking him to discuss the matter tonight. Before she received a reply, she received an urgent report from her personal guards: "Commander, the Fifth Prince has just dispatched a group of people to Xuanwu Street!"
Yu Qing was stunned. Last night was peaceful and calm. Could it be that Xie Tingchen suddenly discovered something? Was there a traitor?
"They're coming with such force that the patrol guards dare not act rashly," the personal guard said. "Do you want to stop them?"
Yu Qing said: "I will go there myself."
She hurried over immediately and stopped the Fifth Prince and several of his retainers on Xuanwu Street. Xie Tingchen heard the sound of Yu Qing's horse hooves and turned back with a gloomy face.
"Your Highness, why are you making such a big fuss? I came here as soon as I got the news." Yu Qing said.
Xie Tingchen said, "...The man yesterday was an imposter. I was careless and overlooked him! Xie Tingye is a cunning rabbit with three burrows, so he must be hiding somewhere."
Yu Qing frowned and said, "How could that be? The man yesterday was clearly King Jing."
"...You don't understand him," Xie Tingchen said. "I didn't notice anything last night. I went to the prison today and checked on him a few times, but I couldn't help but feel something was amiss. He wasn't acting the same as usual... I had someone pour hot water on his face, and sure enough, they tore off a human skin mask! Torture also yielded no results!"
Xie Tingchen became furious when this matter was mentioned.
He said that King Jing seemed less annoying than usual. Although he was still annoying, he lacked that stubborn, relentless aura that made him so irritated... and he was actually fooled by him!
“…”
Yu Qing's heart was filled with complex emotions.
Xie Tingchen is a confused guy most of the time, but he is smart at this moment.
With hatred, he was able to recognize the true and false of Xie Jing.
If he had the same intention to deal with other people as he did with Xie Jing, he probably wouldn't be so young and still unable to accomplish anything, and now he can't even force the emperor to abdicate.
"...I see," Yu Qing said, "but Your Highness, please do not act rashly. This is Xuanwu Street, in broad daylight, surrounded by the residences of princes and nobles, and the Xuanlin Guards are on duty. How can you force your way into a prince's palace?"
Xie Tingchen frowned and stared at Yu Qing.
Yu Qing said, "You still had the indictment from the Ministry of Justice last night, and now no one else knows the truth. The situation is tense, so don't give them a handle."
Xie Tingchen narrowed his eyes. He was actually almost unscrupulous - he was only a few steps away from that location, in just a few days. Who would dare to touch him then?
At that moment, a carriage stopped outside. Yu Qing and Xie Tingchen turned to look and saw an elegant carriage with curtains lifted, revealing the face of Xie Tingchen's uncle, the current Marquis of Zhongwu.
"Stupid!" said the Marquis of Zhongwu in a deep voice, "Quickly withdraw the troops!"
Marquis Zhongwu had been blessed by the emperor in the past, and his residence was located nearby. After hearing the report from his subordinates, he set out.
His eyes swept over Yu Qing, and his expression paused imperceptibly. Yu Qing bowed and said, "Uncle He."
Xie Tingchen said: "Uncle..."
He couldn't act tough in front of the Marquis of Zhongwu, who then said to Yu Qing, "Please help me, my prince."
Yu Qing understood and didn't let anyone else get close, so they all stayed outside.
The Marquis of Zhongwu called Xie Tingchen closer and said, "You've already messed up because of him. I didn't stop you then, and yet you're still pestering me? Why can't you be more magnanimous?"
Xie Tingchen argued, "Uncle, you don't know this, but Xie Tingye is extremely cunning. He's playing tricks on me now! If we let him go outside, who knows what will happen. Who knows where he might go to get help?"
"What kind of person can he be? He's just a prince. Even if he brought someone here, how could they arrive in an instant? They can't hinder you at all..."
Xie Tingchen said, "He returned to Beijing a long time ago under the pretext of illness, and now he has disappeared without a trace. If we delay any longer, we will really not be able to catch him."
Marquis Zhongwu angrily said, "Do we have to rush on this day? After this moment, we can send any number of people to capture him. Did you know that the palace just received a message that His Majesty has issued an edict to the Second Prince, and that he is about to be released from confinement! You return to the palace first, I'll go there later."
Xie Tingchen was stunned for a moment, and finally turned around angrily, looking very anxious.
Marquis Zhongwu also left in a hurry.
Yu Qing listened briefly and had a rough idea in his mind, then went to meet Xie Tingchen again.
"...I sent a message to Your Highness earlier, but Your Highness probably hasn't received it yet," Yu Qing said. "I have already met the hostage today."
Xie Tingchen felt depressed and shook his head slowly: "My uncle said that Prince Rui is about to come out... He is really fast."
Yu Qing's face was solemn. He said, "If it is really as Your Highness said yesterday, then there is no room for carelessness now. What can I do for Your Highness? I will go to your house later when I am on duty."
"...Okay." Xie Tingchen said.
He still looked at Prince Jing's mansion unwillingly. Yu Qing said, "Since he has already escaped, he will not be caught anytime soon. Your Highness, business is more important."
"...No, I still have a way," Xie Tingchen murmured, "When I return, I will call the 'seed' from the Golden Feather Guard over..."
Yu Qing remained calm, but was suddenly shocked in his heart.
The Jinyuwei has accumulated a complex network over the years, so it is normal for Xie Tingchen and Zhongwu Hou to have people among them. Since the fall of the deposed crown prince, the remaining lineages have been divided up by several families.
But Duan Zhirui is the deputy envoy of the Golden Feather Guard, and his subordinates should all be trustworthy people. Could there be any fish that slip through the net?
She said to her personal guards, "...go to Prince Rui's Mansion and get away from people."
·
At three quarters past three in the afternoon, Prince Rui, who had been in the palace for several days of self-reflection, was summoned to the palace to meet the emperor. His carriage stopped briefly not far from the palace.
Yu Qing emerged from his hiding place and went straight into his carriage.
"...From what he said, he must have some shady connections within the Golden Feather Guard," Yu Qing said. "How many people were there who escorted His Highness back to the capital? Were they all reliable?"
Prince Rui also looked solemn, and said, "They are basically the men Duan Zhirui usually brings with him, but..."
Duan Zhirui has a group of personal guards, all of whom are loyal and direct subordinates.
However, when returning to Beijing from the hunting ground, he was also afraid that something else might happen on the way, after all, Xie Jing had been hunted down once before.
Therefore, some extra outer guards were indeed brought in, but they were also selected.
Most people didn't know that Xie Jing was dropped off when passing by the Beixing Palace, and the secret guard who was responsible for pretending to be Xie Jing directly replaced Xie Jing's identity... But if you know the route, it will be very dangerous, and you can't take any chances on this matter.
"The commander of the Golden Feather Guard was promoted by the Marquis of Zhongwu in his early years, so their influence must be immense. I heard him mention 'seeds,' which are actually a method of raising assassins or spies. They poison them in advance, and if they don't take the antidote regularly, they will take effect..." Yu Qing said, "There is always a loophole. Perhaps there are people who are being coerced by them."
Not to mention Prince Rui, she didn't expect Xie Tingchen to be so stubborn.
He was of mediocre talent, and the ones he truly feared were the aristocratic families. They had painstakingly supported Xie Tingchen, perhaps hoping that once such a prince ascended the throne, they would be able to deceive their superiors and subordinates, allowing them to expand their power.
Unexpectedly, Xie Tingchen is always more of a hindrance than a help wherever he goes. While others are busy scheming for power and seizing the throne, he is still biting people like a mad dog.
According to common sense, after sending a fake Xie Jing over, he should have calmed down. But who knew there would be such a twist.
King Rui said, "I will go to the palace later and let..."
"Don't send General Duan back and forth anymore," Yu Qing said. "Let him continue to guard the palace. He knows the inner palace best."
Prince Rui was initially unsure whether to send a letter to have Xie Jing taken to safety, or to urgently retrieve him. But Yu Qing's words last night, coupled with the unexpected situation, influenced his thinking. He felt that... it would be better to keep the person close at hand.
"I don't trust anyone who goes," Yu Qing paused, muttering helplessly, "...Men really aren't very reliable."
Prince Rui: “…”
He was speechless, as these words were clearly directed at him.
...It seemed like he had said this to Xie Jing a long time ago.
He felt incredibly guilty now, his face aching slightly. After all, he had solemnly promised Yu Qing last night that Xie Jing would be safe, yet something had gone wrong today.
At that time, he avoided Yu Qing because he was worried about the relationship between Yu Qing and Xie Tingchen. In the end, it backfired.
"...I'll go there tonight, take my men, and then return," Yu Qing said. "But the Marquis of Zhongwu hasn't said when he'll take action. He couldn't sit still after hearing that Your Highness was coming to the palace. If I really don't return, my deputies are enough to hold the situation together. Your Highness can deploy them."
Before leaving, Yu Qing turned around and said to King Rui, "No matter what, I wish your majesty all the best."
King Rui was shocked when he heard this and remained silent for a long time.
He discovered that Yu Qing looked calm and steady, but in fact, he was a bit crazy. Apart from him, no one else dared to be so sure.
·
In the evening, Yu Qing arrived at the Fifth Prince's Mansion.
Hearing that Xie Tingchen was in the back hall, she followed the servants into the courtyard deep in the mansion, and saw Xie Tingchen standing at the door, releasing a carrier hawk.
She looked up and saw the eagle spread its wings and flew towards the north.
"...You're here?" Xie Tingchen said, "It's just right. My uncle just left not long ago."
Seeing Yu Qing's gaze following the eagle, he said, "...The Golden Feather Guards are numerous, and we were able to uncover some information. I heard that when he was returning from the hunting grounds, he took a detour and stopped at the Northern Palace. I've ordered a search."
Yu Qing said, "Search? Who does Your Highness plan to send?"
Xie Tingchen: "My uncle has some soldiers and horses at several farms outside the capital. Although there are not many in the north, they are probably enough to search the palace. If he is not here, we will have to accept it."
Yu Qing felt a little nervous. After a moment's thought, he said, "I don't think this is appropriate."
"What do you mean?" Xie Tingchen asked.
"Hearing Your Highness speak of this today, I'm a little puzzled. Why would he stay in the suburbs of the capital for no reason?" Yu Qing said calmly, "Your Highness said before that Prince Rui was eyeing us covetously and had gathered men inside and outside the capital. Perhaps he was just waiting outside for orders, intending to cooperate with the outside forces. He might have some troops at his disposal."
Xie Tingchen was stunned. It seemed that he had never thought about this before.
Yu Qing said, "Besides, he is cunning. Even if he poses no threat, we are afraid he might escape. Sending only those men may not be enough. How about I go there on your behalf?"
Xie Tingchen: "You?"
"I have never done anything for Your Highness. Since he is so important to Your Highness, I will do it for You."
Xie Tingchen narrowed his eyes.
In fact, not long ago, Marquis Zhongwu reminded him that even if Yu Qing joined him, he still had to be on guard.
The lineage of Xuanbei Hou has never been easy to deal with. He worked with Yu Heng many years ago and never succeeded in winning them over. Even though the two families were on good terms, Yu Heng never got involved in these disputes.
The Marquis of Zhongwu repeatedly warned him not to be gullible and to simply ensure Yu Qing didn't interfere. After all, the guards he had were indeed formidable. Without him, the others wouldn't be a major threat.
If you really raise an army and invade the palace, don't bring Yu Qing with you.
He and they are not really on the same page. If he really discovered their plot, I'm afraid something would happen.
My uncle emphasized it over and over again. He was also hesitant, but he didn't know how to stabilize Yu Qing. Now Yu Qing seemed to have given him a good choice.
If Yu Qing goes there in person, Xie Tingye will definitely not be able to escape.
At the same time, you can temporarily transfer him away so you don't have to think about this variable all the time.
My uncle was even more ruthless, planning to send someone to the Xuanbei Marquisate... to exploit Yu Qing's weakness first, not worrying that Yu Qing would become his enemy later. However, Yu Qing was in the capital, so he couldn't do it. If he wasn't there... it seemed like my uncle's side would be able to succeed.
"...Okay," Xie Tingchen said, "Do you have any capable people on hand? Can I assign some more to you?"
Yu Qing said: "No need, I can bring a group of personal soldiers with me."
Xie Tingchen thought for a moment and said, "...He Kui is your man, so take him with you."
He Kui was born in the Zhongwu Marquis Mansion and was Xie Tingchen's cousin. It was Xie Tingchen who recommended him to the Beichen Division and took a position in the Xuanlin Guard.
Yu Qing said: "Okay."
Xie Tingchen probed again, "...but if you leave the capital, the Xuanlin Guard will be leaderless, and I'm afraid..."
Yu Qing raised his eyes and said, "I also need to go to Beichensi to select people. Your Highness, please come with me."
·
Xie Tingchen, along with several personal guards, rode in a carriage with Yu Qing to the Beichen Division.
She brought Xie Tingchen to the main hall, took out a brocade box from under her desk, and handed it to Xie Tingchen.
"This is?"
"This is the tiger talisman of the Xuanlin Guard," Yu Qing said calmly. "Seeing it is like seeing me. If I'm not around, the person holding this talisman can command the guards. I'll give this item to Your Highness for safekeeping for now."
Xie Tingchen was surprised for a moment, but then he couldn't hide his ecstasy.
He stroked the box and smiled, "Good! Yu Qing, with you here, I feel completely at ease! Over the years, I haven't been wrong about you."
Yu Qing was always so decisive and efficient, never dragging his feet. With him around, nothing seemed to be a problem.
He also opened the brocade box and took a look. He had personally seen Yu Qing take this item out from a crucial place, so it must not be a fake.
There was something wrapped in brocade inside, which was not an ordinary copper tiger talisman, but a very unique white jade talisman, quite exquisite.
"Interesting," Xie Tingchen said, "The Xuanlin Guard's military token is made of white jade."
Yu Qing also smiled.
She said goodbye to the fifth prince and rode out of the city with her men.
The He family member who was supposedly assisting but actually monitoring had rarely reported directly to Yu Qing before. Now, he was closely following Yu Qing, unable to conceal his excitement.
"Your Highness's men will probably arrive at the palace soon," He Kui said, moving closer. "And if you, the commander, go there in person..."
Yu Qing tilted his head to glance at him, and in a flash, the smile on He Kui's lips froze.
He lowered his head and a long sword pierced his chest. Blood gushed out and he fell backward to the ground.
Yu Qing wiped the blood off the sword blade, and the sword became as bright as before.
All the remaining guards followed her without looking away as they galloped north.
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