Chapter 77 Openly Attempting to Deliver a Tactical Maneuver
Ye Xunyang collapsed into his arms as if he had collapsed from exhaustion, panting heavily. His whole body was soaked in cold sweat and hot water, and he couldn't tell whether it was from passion or fear.
He buried his burning face in Lou Jin's neck: "Lou Jin, do you know that we almost got caught just now!"
Seeing his appearance, Lou Jin felt the flames within him, which had been forcibly interrupted, not only fail to extinguish but burn even more intensely.
He chuckled softly.
"What are you afraid of?" He took Ye Xunyang's red earlobe into his mouth and gently nibbled at it, his voice husky and sexy. "So what if you find out? You are my queen."
As he spoke, he began again.
"Ah!" Ye Xunyang was caught off guard and cried out in surprise, then immediately covered his mouth.
He could only wail inwardly, utterly lost in the surging tide of emotion...
The rising steam once again filled the room, obscuring the spring light and ambiguity.
About half an hour later, the door to the side room opened from the inside.
Lou Jin was the first to emerge. He had changed into a clean set of dark-colored casual clothes, his hair still damp with moisture, his complexion rosy, his eyes clear, and his aura seemed more restrained and profound than before. However, the slight pursing of his lips revealed a sense of satisfaction.
Ye Xunyang, who was following behind him, was in a much worse situation.
He had changed into clean clothes, but his steps were unsteady and his gait was slightly stiff and awkward.
Lou Jin reached out with remarkable ease and firmly supported Ye Xunyang's arm, absorbing most of his weight. His movements were so practiced that it seemed as if he had rehearsed them countless times.
Xuan Yunzi, who had been waiting in the courtyard for more than half an hour, and Lou Yan, who had just arrived after hearing the news, witnessed this scene.
Xuan Yunzi glanced at the two of them, lingering for a moment on Ye Xunyang's unusual behavior, and then noticed Lou Jin's almost overflowing yang energy. His mind immediately became clear.
He stroked his beard, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "Young man, you've got real energy. You've really brought out the full potential of that Snow Melting Pill..."
Lou Yan was stunned for a moment, then saw his third brother's refreshed appearance, and then looked at Ye Xunyang, and instantly understood seven or eight parts of the situation.
His lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he let out a helpless sigh and decided to ignore it for the time being, since important matters were more important.
He stepped forward, his gaze ignoring Ye Xunyang's embarrassment, and looked at Lou Jin with concern, his tone serious: "Third brother, how are you? Has the remaining poison been completely cleared?"
Lou Jin nodded, his expression returning to its usual composure: "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I am fine now."
He felt the surging internal energy within his body, which seemed to have improved even more than before he was poisoned. This unexpected effect surprised even himself.
"That's good." Lou Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression turned serious.
"Since you are all well, we should discuss some serious matters." Lou Yan looked at the Grand Preceptor, and Xuan Yunzi prepared to leave.
Lou Jin waved his hand, "It's alright, the Imperial Advisor is one of us. Brother, you're not in the capital for many years, so you don't know."
Lou Yan felt relieved and continued, "Now the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Although Feng Bao is in our hands, the person behind him is too well hidden. On the way back to the capital, there will be no shortage of open and covert attacks, but we don't even know who the enemy is specifically after."
Lou Yan looked at Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang, who was barely standing, and said in a deep voice, "We can't keep passively responding to attacks. We have to find a way to lure out the people hiding in the shadows."
Lou Jin had already considered this idea. He helped Ye Xunyang to sit down on a stone bench nearby, while he stood beside him and pondered, "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right. The other side must be anxious after their repeated failures. Perhaps we can create an opportunity that they cannot refuse."
The atmosphere around the stone table quickly shifted from subtle awkwardness to seriousness and solemnity.
Lou Jin's gaze was sharp, and his fingers tapped lightly on the rough stone table: "Feng Bao is key, but he's also a hot potato. The other side will definitely do everything in their power to silence him. Escorting him back to the capital would make us too conspicuous and risky."
Lou Yan nodded in agreement. Although his injuries had not yet healed, his mind was still clear: "That's right. Moreover, we don't know how many people the other side has infiltrated along the way and even in the capital. A direct confrontation is not the best strategy."
Ye Xunyang sat on the stone bench, trying to ignore his physical discomfort, listening to their conversation while deep in thought.
He suddenly raised his head and suggested, "Your Highness, Your Highness Prince Yan, could we feign an attack on one side while secretly advancing on the other?"
Lou Jin and Lou Yan looked at him at the same time.
Ye Xunyang continued, "The army will continue along the original route and return to the capital in a grand manner, creating the illusion of a tight guard for Feng Bao, thus attracting the attention of all those, both overt and covert."
"The real Feng Bao, on the other hand, was secretly escorted by a small team of absolutely elite bodyguards, disguised as merchants or ordinary travelers, taking a more covert and faster route to infiltrate the capital first and be placed under the guard of Shan Lan!"
This suggestion drew approving glances from both Lou Jin and Lou Yan.
Lou Jin added, "Xunyang's plan is excellent. Moreover, we might be able to split up and act separately."
He looked at Lou Yan: "Brother, your injuries have not yet healed. Traveling with the army and having Mr. Yu take care of you will be relatively safe. You can also sit in the central army and stabilize morale."
Lou Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded. He knew his physical condition; forcing himself to follow the secret team would only be a burden.
Lou Jin continued, "As for me, I can use the excuse of recuperating to temporarily leave the army and, together with Xun Yang and a small number of guards, take another route and proceed slowly."
“A sickly prince with few guards is undoubtedly the perfect opportunity for the enemy to strike. We can use this to lure out the assassins hiding in the shadows, and even... try to capture them alive and follow the clues.”
Lou Jin added his own ideas to Ye Xunyang's suggestion.
Ye Xunyang immediately understood Lou Jin's intention, and his heart skipped a beat. He instinctively grabbed Lou Jin's arm: "Your Highness! This is too dangerous!"
Lou Jin grasped his hand in return, squeezing it firmly, his gaze resolute and steady: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Besides," he turned his gaze to Ye Xunyang, "aren't you here?"
These words were like a reassuring pill, instantly calming Ye Xunyang's anxious emotions. Yes, he would stay by the prince's side, never leaving his side! He nodded emphatically, his eyes becoming incredibly firm: "I will protect the prince!"
Lou Yan, observing the unspoken trust and tacit understanding between the two, sighed inwardly and nodded in agreement: "Good! Let's proceed with this plan! I will lead the army, and we will break camp tomorrow and return to the capital in a grand procession. I will find a way to leak the news of your illness, Third Brother. When do you plan to depart?"
"There's no time to lose," Lou Jin said decisively. "Let's leave tonight. We'll take advantage of the time difference before they fully realize what's happening."
With the plan finalized, the group discussed some details, such as contact methods and rendezvous locations.
Xuan Yunzi listened from the side without interrupting, only occasionally stroking his beard and nodding.
After they had finished their discussion, he slowly spoke to Lou Jin, saying, "Since Your Highness is going to feign illness, then this old Taoist will lend you another hand."
As he spoke, he took out a small porcelain bottle. "This medicine, once taken, will cause the pulse to become weak and disordered, and the complexion to turn pale, just like the symptoms of a relapse of an old poison. Even the imperial physician would find it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. The effects will last for three days, much better than any of the pills you brought back before."
Lou Jin took the medicine bottle: "Thanks."
At this moment, Yu Beichen arrived, indicating that it was time for Lou Yan to take his medicine.
Lou Jin chuckled inwardly, thinking that helping his older brother was no big deal.
He then spoke loudly, "Since the Imperial Preceptor is here, may I ask him to examine my brother as well? His injuries are severe, and I am still worried about him."
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