To welcome Prince Ping, Bai Chuxiao still ordered a banquet to be held at the mansion. Prince Ping rested for two hours at the inn before returning directly to the mansion.
As for Bai Linan and his daughter's plans, that's none of his business, and he has no interest in going in and out with them.
The main hall of the government office was brightly lit, but the banquet had not yet begun. Because of her pregnancy, Bai Chuxiao could not run around, so she invited Prince Ping to the study to discuss matters.
After calmly sitting to one side and drinking tea for a while, Prince Ping looked at the smiling woman at the head of the table and said, "Seventh Sister-in-law, please speak frankly if you have something to say..."
Bai Chuxiao pondered for a moment and said, "I was able to leave Yizhou smoothly thanks to Third Brother's help that day. I know that Third Brother, as well as Eldest and Second Brother, have no interest in the world. But now... you are caught in the middle. Given the temperament of that person in the palace, it is inevitable that some changes will occur..."
King Ping lowered his eyes and said, "I truly have no intention of fighting, nor do I wish to drag the people and soldiers of Yizhou into the war!"
"But the location of Yizhou doesn't allow Third Brother to be complacent. Besides, isn't the person in the palace who summoned you to the capital simply trying to reclaim the military power of the vassal kings' fiefdoms..."
Bai Chuxiao spoke in a deep voice: When Emperor Wenxuan was alive, apart from Prince An, Chu Wenzheng, who did not have much power and was subject to the control of the Commander and the Provincial Governor, princes like Prince Ping were able to fully control their fiefdoms.
However, Wen Xuan's trust in his sons, who had come of age early, did not mean that Chu Tianling could tolerate it, as his brothers all controlled the garrison troops in their fiefdoms.
King Ping slowly began, "Then my sister-in-law should also know that with his current abilities, he poses no threat to us..."
With war raging on all sides, Chu Tianling simply cannot muster any more troops. If he angers his brothers further, his reign as emperor may truly be over...
"But your sisters-in-law and nephews are all in the capital. What if the person in the palace insists that you make a choice?"
"Sister-in-law, my stance is clear: I have no intention of being your enemy. If anyone tries to force me to do anything, they will naturally pay the price..."
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "No matter what, the Yan Prince's Mansion will remember the kindness of Third Brother in lending us the way. If the Ping Prince's Mansion needs any help, please don't hesitate to ask..."
Prince Ping smiled and said, "Of course I won't be polite to you, but to be honest, my seventh sister-in-law fought a truly brilliant battle, capturing Zhang Yu alive. Those officials in the court who only know classical Chinese are all in a panic..."
"Third Brother, you flatter me. I'm just an amateur watching the show. Zhang Yu doesn't understand military strategy at all. Capturing Zhang Yu proves nothing. It's just that Chu Tianling was too eager to win. If he hadn't trusted Zhang Yu so much and had let the former General of Huaihua, Lü Fengxian, lead this battle, they wouldn't have lost so quickly..."
"But for most people in the Great Xia Dynasty today, they won't delve into the reasons for success or failure. My sister-in-law's battle has also dampened the morale of the imperial army..."
"I just didn't expect Chu Tianling to value Zhang Yu so much, going to such lengths, even sending Third Brother to mediate..." Bai Chuxiao chuckled.
Prince Ping said dismissively, "I don't know about that. The Grand Tutor, after all, knows some secrets. Whether or not to exchange hostages is up to my sister-in-law. I'm just running an errand and delivering a message; I have no intention of interfering with your decision..."
Bai Chuxiao nodded slightly, "Then thank you for your understanding, Third Brother..."
After talking for a while in the study, the group finally stepped into the front hall, where the banquet had already been prepared.
Bai Chuxiao sat at the head of the table, with Xia Fan and Lin Huai protecting her closely behind her. To her right were Prince Ping, Bai Linan, and others, while to her left were Murong Xuan, Yu Fengyang, and others.
"Yunzhou is in dire need of reconstruction, so we shouldn't be too extravagant. This banquet will be kept simple. Please forgive me, Third Brother..." Bai Chuxiao raised her glass to the lower right, though it contained only ordinary water, not wine.
King Ping also raised his cup, saying, "Sister-in-law, you're too kind..."
Inside the main hall, an atmosphere of harmony prevailed, but outside the prison deep within the government office, shadowy figures could be seen constantly flickering.
A group of men dressed in black silently leaped onto the roof, looked around, and, seeing that they hadn't been discovered, tiptoed back into the prison cells...
Cui Hao, lurking in the shadows, smirked, "You little brats, you've really kept this commander waiting..."
Deep inside the dungeon, Zhang Yu sat disheveled in a dark room, but his two sons were nowhere to be seen.
The man in black seemed very familiar with the layout of the prison, and easily arrived at the room where Zhang Yu was.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has sent us to rescue you! Come with us quickly!" the leading man in black said hastily.
At the same time, with a chop, the lock on the cell snapped and fell to the ground...
Zhang Yu remained seated in his cell, unmoved...
"Commander, the prince may have been drugged. Let's take him away immediately..." a man in black whispered.
The leader of the men in black nodded. "Hurry up. Although the Prince of Yan's attention is focused on the main hall, what's happening here will be discovered soon..."
"yes!"
Several men in black rushed into the room, intending to carry Zhang Yu away. As for his two sons, that was none of their concern, since Chu Tianling had only given orders to Zhang Yu...
The man in black, who was in the lead, stood outside the cell, warily surveying his surroundings. He felt something was off about the cell; it was too quiet… Could it be…?
Just as they were thinking, a group of people suddenly rushed out from all around and surrounded them.
Zhang Yu, who remained unmoved inside, revealed a strange smile. With a flash of cold light in his hand, the several men in black who had rushed into the room fell to the ground.
As everyone around him collapsed to the ground, the leader of the men in black roared, "You did this on purpose?"
Cui Hao, who had surrounded the cell with his men, spoke with a smile, "Isn't this all to welcome you, sir? Hmm? Mu Linfeng, long time no see!"
Mu Linfeng pulled off his mask and gritted his teeth, saying, "You've put on all this pretense just to lure me in?"
Cui Hao nodded. "Your ability to escape is indeed unmatched, but no matter what, you can't escape today..."
"Hmph, with your numbers, you can't possibly stop me..." Mu Linfeng glanced around at the people, drew his longsword, and roared angrily...
Cui Hao didn't even lift his eyelids. "If you can walk out of here, I might as well just slit my own throat... Do it..."
The four men rushed forward and attacked Mu Linfeng in a methodical manner, using the same techniques. While they were fighting, the man in the cell who was disguised as Zhang Yu smiled and, seizing the opportunity, suddenly struck Mu Linfeng on the back with a palm.
Mu Linfeng spat out a mouthful of blood, "You..."
"What do you mean, 'you...'" The man disguised as Zhang Yu swept his hair back, revealing his true face, which was none other than Zhan Chi...
He had fought Mu Linfeng a few times, and Mu Linfeng was slightly stronger than him, but he was too afraid of death. If he were to show himself, Mu Linfeng would probably run away immediately...
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