Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu looked at the long sword that was still shaking in front of them, and their faces changed.

The prince understood what Qiao Zhongguo meant, so he naturally fully supported Qiao Zhongguo. He stepped forward and said in a cold voice:

"When my father woke up just now, he clearly told me to take action, and Eunuch Huang also saw it."

"But my father is willing to sacrifice his own life for the sake of the country. As a son, I cannot do such a treasonous thing."

"We are stuck here today. You have no chance of winning. If you still want to escape unscathed, you are really disrespecting me!"

"Besides—"

The prince glanced lightly over the second prince's shoulder.

"How long can your injuries last?"

"Don't use my father to threaten me anymore. I've already let you go. If you dare to touch my father, I will fight you to the death as witnesses of all the civil and military officials today!"

In fact, the current situation is already a dead end. Shen Yuanbai, who holds the life of Emperor Yong in his hands, ultimately holds the initiative.

But what is being played now is a psychological tactic. The prince's words are more intended for Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu than for Shen Yuanbai.

The loyalty of Shen Yuanbai's subordinates is unquestionable.

Upon hearing this, Liuyun looked at Shen Yuanbai's pale face and the hideous wound on his shoulder, and indeed showed worry on his face, not to mention Zhou Bo, who was feeling deeply sinful at the moment, and Jinzhu, who was feeling powerless all over.

Shen Yuanbai sensed something was wrong when he heard this, and immediately turned around and said in a low voice: "Don't do anything stupid! This is just the prince's trick to win over the emperor!"

However, Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu knew that this trip out of the palace was just the beginning of their escape.

Next, the prince's men will surely chase and intercept you all the way, and Your Highness will have to run day and night. The two of them will indeed only be a burden to Your Highness.

Besides, His Highness's injury can no longer be delayed.

The two looked at each other and made up their minds instantly.

Zhou Bo stretched out his hand and pushed away the secret guard who was supporting him, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, don't worry about this old slave and Jinzhu, just go."

He turned around and took the golden bead, and Jinzhu also had a willing smile on her face.

"Your Highness, I came here with the princess back then. Now there is absolutely no reason for me to abandon the princess and return to my homeland. Otherwise, how lonely the princess would be in a foreign country alone."

Zhou Bo supported Jinzhu and stepped back, as if he would never drag Shen Yuanbai down no matter what.

Shen Yuanbai's eyes turned red when he saw this, and he shouted angrily: "Don't be fooled! I have already planned a way out, otherwise I would not have returned to Beijing!"

This trip out of the palace is indeed dangerous, but even if we lose, we must fight to the last moment and not give up on our own!

However, as loyal subordinates, they always put their masters first and would rather sacrifice themselves than become a burden.

Seeing the opportunity, Qiao Zhongguo immediately signaled with his eyes. Xiao Hongda became alert and personally stepped forward to control Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu who had fallen into the trap.

Shen Yuanbai felt angry and anxious when he saw this.

He is almost alone already, how could they... they not understand that this choice would only make him lose more completely!

"Now that things have come to this, why don't you leave? I will allow you to go three miles outside the city, and then you must release my father!"

The prince spoke coldly. He knew in his heart that as long as Shen Yuanbai was free, he would not kill his father.

After all, once his father died, the only one who would benefit would be him, who had already received the imperial edict of succession.

Shen Yuanbai was unwilling to give in. He looked back at Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu, then looked far away, through the long palace corridor, and landed on the magnificent palace eaves in the distance.

He once thought this was his home, but it turned out that he was just a passer-by.

One day, he will come back!

Thinking of this, Shen Yuanbai looked deeply at Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu again, and then suddenly retracted his gaze with an extremely cold expression.

"Prepare thirty horses at Youtian Gate. Once we are three miles outside the city, I will release my father!"

"Walk!"

Shen Yuanbai carried Emperor Yong and walked out with firm steps.

Zhou Bo and Jin Zhu looked at Shen Yuanbai's back, and both of them had tears in their eyes.

At this moment, Jinzhu suddenly pinched the back of her hand and said with all her strength:

"Your Highness! When the Yong army was approaching the city, the princess once said: If the city is breached, there is only death. Jade can be shattered but its whiteness cannot be changed. Bamboo can be burned but its joints cannot be destroyed."

Shen Yuanbai paused slightly when he heard this, his heart trembling, and Jin Zhu's voice continued to ring:

"Your Highness, this is the origin of your name!"

"When the plan was made, the princess also cried until her tears dried up while holding you in her arms. Don't blame the princess, Your Highness!"

Jinzhu's voice became a little hoarse from exerting too much effort, and tears blurred her vision again.

Faintly, she seemed to recognize His Highness's figure as the princess. When the princess stood alone on the city wall, she was also so tragic and fearless!

Shen Yuanbai kept walking, and no one knew what he was thinking. Until Zhou Bo saw that they were about to reach the end of the palace road, he suddenly cried out:

"Your Highness, I'm sorry!"

"I shouldn't have been so afraid of death at that time. I should have let Zhufeng go first! I was wrong, Your Highness!"

"I have made too many mistakes. All the plans I have made over the past ten years have been ruined by me!"

"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. I will go and apologize to the princess right now—"

A short and sharp voice sounded, and Shen Yuanbai's whole body suddenly stiffened. When he turned at the end of the palace road, he slowly turned his head and looked over.

Zhou Bo was lying next to the knife that Qiao Zhongguo had shot earlier, blood gushing out from his neck, his old body twitching slightly...

Zhou Bo was lying on his back, with a clear blue sky in his sight. He stretched out his hand with all his strength and saw the young prince standing in the doorway, waving at him with a smile:

"Uncle Zhou, come quickly, I caught a cricket!"

Tears instantly burst out of his eyes, and Zhou Bo wanted to cry out loud, but he could no longer make a sound.

He had never regretted so much, putting all the responsibilities on that young shoulder.

Your Highness, I am the one who is sorry for you...

Soon, Zhou Bo's figure was blocked by the palace wall and completely disappeared from Shen Yuanbai's sight.

Liuyun also saw this scene. She hurriedly turned around to look at Shen Yuanbai, but Shen Yuanbai looked calm and there was nothing unusual.

He had a stern face and really didn't want to cry, but a strong feeling of nausea came over him, wringing his heart.

This time, he really had nothing...

After leaving Youtian Gate, the thirty horses were indeed ready.

Shen Yuanbai ordered his men to check each horse carefully. After finding nothing unusual, he took off Emperor Yong's belt and tied it tightly behind himself. Then he mounted the horse with Emperor Yong and galloped towards the north gate.

Behind him, Xiao Hongda and Qiao Zhongguo led the Imperial Guards and followed closely.

After rushing out of the north gate, Shen Yuanbai saw Qiao Tianjing waiting on the outskirts of the city.

He suddenly tightened the reins and looked at Qiao Tianjing from a distance.

When Qiao Tianjing saw Emperor Yong behind Shen Yuanbai, there was no surprise on his face.

After he returned home, he thought about it and realized that if Shen Yuanbai wanted to escape, there was only one way, and that was to hold the emperor hostage!

Therefore, he came to the north gate in person to wait for him.

Shen Yuanbai looked at Qiao Tianjing with a calm face in the distance, and felt more and more clearly that from now on, his most difficult enemy would definitely be the Qiao family!

"Mr. Shen, it will be very difficult to go to the North Country. Perhaps we will meet again soon."

Qiao Tianjing smiled, the May wind blew his blue shirt, making him look particularly handsome and tall.

Shen Yuanbai stared at Qiao Tianjing deeply and said, "Catch me if you can!"

He whipped his whip and rode away again.