Chapter 48 Wu Jie is too incapable of sympathy. ...
The name of the Eagle's Beak Cliff reflects its shape. The two cliffs are as steep as if they were cut by a knife or an axe, with only a narrow passage remaining.
Looking up, I saw a line of grayish-white light, which was the perfect place to set an ambush.
When the emperor's procession reached this point, they had to slow down, and the huge team seemed particularly crowded in this "line of sky".
The flags fluttered in the breeze blowing down from the cliff top.
Suddenly, the dull sound of horse hooves and the clashing of armor came from the front of the canyon, and a cavalry team blocked the way.
The guards leading the way at the front of the procession saw this as a formidable threat and drew their swords. "Be on guard!"
When the officials accompanying the ceremonial guard saw the familiar face blocking the road ahead, they couldn't help but exclaim, "Ning Zheng!"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an immediate commotion.
"Marquis Ningyuan?! How could he lead troops to intercept His Majesty's carriage?!"
An official had a bad feeling and turned around to run, but he found that the road behind him was also blocked by a cavalry.
Under attack from both sides, an official from the Ministry of Rites shouted angrily, "Ning Zheng! What do you want to do?! Blocking His Majesty's carriage is a capital crime!"
Ning Zheng rode his horse forward a few steps and said in a loud voice, "Tyrant ruler! Hand over my son Wujie!"
The curtains of the imperial carriage were opened by a fan, revealing half of Wen Xing's delicate profile. A cold smile curved the corners of his mouth. "Ning Zheng, are you planning a rebellion?"
"Rebellion?" Ning Zheng pointed his halberd at the imperial carriage, his eyes bloodshot. "It was you, this tyrant emperor, who was the first to commit such tyranny! You kidnapped my son and brought disgrace upon my family. Today, even if I have to rebel, I, Ning Zheng, will rescue my son!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cavalry behind him rushed out on horseback and charged forward.
The sound of horse hooves rolled in, and the accompanying officials were terrified, "Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor quickly!"
However, the number of cavalry led by Ning Zheng was overwhelming, and the ceremonial guards were no match for them.
Some officials knew that the disparity in strength was too great and they were afraid of death, so they fled in panic.
The originally neat procession suddenly became chaotic.
But at this moment, a sound of breaking through the air was heard -
“Swish—bang!”
A whistling arrow shot into the canyon floor with a sharp scream and exploded violently.
The explosion startled the horses so much that they jumped up with their front hooves and neighed sharply.
Immediately afterwards, countless figures appeared densely on the steep cliffs of the canyon. They were dressed in the uniforms of the imperial guards, holding strong bows and crossbows. The cold arrowheads flashed a deadly cold light in the dim light, and they were all aimed at everyone at the bottom of the valley.
"There's an ambush!"
The soldier behind Ning Zheng shouted, "There's someone on the cliff top!"
An official in the ceremonial procession recognized the uniform and exclaimed in surprise, "It's the Imperial Guard!"
"Great, we are saved!"
"The Imperial Guards are here to rescue you!"
Everyone at the bottom of the valley looked up at the top of the cliff at the same time.
Ning Zheng's eyes were like those of an eagle, coldly looking at the arrow formation on the top of the cliff that was like a dark cloud pressing down on the sky.
It’s finally here!
The officials of the Ministry of Rites thought they had found a savior, and they felt relieved. They shouted, "Quick! Ning Zheng is rebelling! Kill them! Protect the emperor!"
Then the general on the clifftop looked down at the bottom with cold eyes and suddenly shouted: "Ning is plotting treason, hang him immediately!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the bows and crossbows of the imperial guards on the top of the cliff were aimed at everyone at the bottom of the cliff without distinction.
The official was startled and quickly waved his hand, pointing at the other side and saying, "You are wrong! They are the rebels. This is His Majesty's palanquin!"
However, the man on the cliff top remained unmoved and pointed the arrow at him.
A horrifying guess came to the official's mind.
As if to confirm his guess, he heard a "whoosh!" and an arrow came straight towards him. Before he could blink, the tip of the arrow had pierced the ground three inches in front of his boot and disappeared into the crevice of the stone.
He fell to the ground in shock, stammering, "Forbidden, Imperial Guards, are you planning to kill the king?!"
“Swoosh—swoosh—”
Arrows immediately fell like dense raindrops.
The officials in the ceremonial guard watched in shock as the imperial guards shot arrows at the emperor's carriage.
Xinghe kicked his horse's back and leaped onto the roof of the imperial carriage, using his sword as a shield to cut off the incoming arrows. However, the rain of arrows was so dense that many still landed on the roof, making a "thump-thump" sound.
Finally, someone reacted: "The Imperial Guards aren't here to rescue the emperor! They're out to kill him! Run!"
Everyone fled in search of cover, some hid under rocks, and some crawled under carriages.
On the other side, Ning Zheng used his halberd as a shield, cutting off the dense stream of arrows. Behind him, Han Jin's eyes flashed with ruthlessness as he quietly rode his horse towards Ning Zheng, his right hand stealthily reaching for the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Just as Han Jin's blade was about to be unsheathed, "Swish, swish, swish—"
A more dense and sharp sound of breaking through the air, like a violent storm, came from the other side of the canyon, and a rain of arrows like a dark cloud covered the sky and attacked the imperial guards on the other side.
The arrow tip was flaming, instantly turning the top of the cliff opposite into a sea of fire.
Screams rang out instantly, and the imperial guards fell like cut wheat, shot by arrows.
At the same time, a large number of soldiers suddenly appeared behind the imperial guards and surrounded them.
The situation reversed in an instant.
"Bang--!"
The flaming body of the imperial guard You fell in front of the Ministry of Rites official, creating a bloody mist that even splattered his official robes red.
The rapidly changing situation shocked him so much that he didn't know what was happening for a moment.
He looked up and saw that the ambush troops on the other side of the canyon who were crushing the imperial guards were wearing the flying fish uniforms of the Supervisory Office!
His pupils trembled violently. This was Ning Wujie... No, could it be an ambush arranged by His Majesty?
Could it be that all this... was within Your Majesty's expectations?
The imperial guards pretended to rescue the emperor but actually intended to kill him, and the Supervisory Office had already discovered this and set an ambush?
Inside the imperial carriage, Ning Wujie protected Wen Xing beneath him. He pricked up his ears as the sound of arrows hitting the carriage gradually stopped. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and said in a reproachful tone, "Your Majesty has risked your life. If the Inspector had arrived a moment later, what would have happened if the arrows had pierced the carriage?"
Wen Xing looked at the person on his back and said with a straight face, "Then I'll have to trouble Ning Qing to be my human shield."
Ning Wujie looked at the person in front of him, feeling angry and distressed, and hated him so much that his teeth itched.
"What if Lian Chen is also dead? Your Majesty will..."
Before he could finish his words, a hand covered his lips.
Wen Xing glanced over with dissatisfaction, "What are you talking about? Ning Qing can't die."
The warmth from the other person's palm was transmitted to his lips, causing Ning Wujie's heart to tremble slightly.
He suddenly remembered that a long time ago, when he and His Majesty were assassinated and the carriage fell off a cliff, the other party also said this: You can't die.
But this man was always trying to find ways to play tricks on him and provoke him.
Why on earth could this person treat him like a toy that could be discarded at any time, yet at the same time care about his life or death?
The only explanation Ning Wujie could think of was that to the tyrant emperor, he was just a pet he loved very much, no different from a cat or a dog. If he died, he might feel sad for a while, but that was all.
His feelings towards this tyrant were absolutely not equal to the tyrant's feelings towards him.
There is destined to be no equality between them.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with deep resentment and indignation.
He stared at the hateful man in front of him, his fists clenched, wishing he could cut open his chest and see the cold blood and cold lungs inside!
At this time on the cliff, the screams of the imperial guards gradually weakened and finally turned into a sea of burning fire.
But in an instant, the situation was decided.
Han Jin, who was about to draw his sword just now, felt his heart tighten when he saw the sudden change in the situation. He hurriedly withdrew his hand and even broke out in a cold sweat due to nervousness.
Even a fool can see the situation.
This was all a trap, waiting for the Queen Mother to jump in! And he became the pawn that was forced to jump into the trap.
But he still forced himself to remain calm and asked in a fake manner, "My Lord, why are they killing each other?"
But Ning Zheng turned around and looked at him sharply.
Han Jin's heart tightened at the sight, and before he could react, Ning Buhuo pulled him off the horse and threw him to the ground.
The sounds of weapons breaking through the air were heard, and several blades were in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Han Jin:!
"My Lord?!"
He was pressed face-first into the dirt, and looked at Ning Zheng in disbelief, "What does this mean?!"
Ning Zheng slowly turned his horse around and looked down at the subdued Han Jin. "Han Jin, you were once a lieutenant general in the Ningyuan Army. You always said that your mother was in the capital and missed you day and night. I, the Marquis, appreciate your filial piety and, using the Jingji transfer order, will transfer you back to the capital's 5,000-man battalion and promote you to deputy general."
"You should have had a promising future. Many soldiers at the border would envy you such an opportunity. I never expected that you would actually betray me."
He pointed his spear at Han Jin and said coldly, "There are no traitors in our Ningyuan Army. Tell me, why are you clinging to the Queen Mother?"
Several generals surrounded him, and the brothers who had shared life and death with him all had expressions of disgust and coldness on their faces.
Those looks made Han Jin's heart stab, as if he was falling into an ice cellar.
He knew the situation was hopeless, and finally sneered unwillingly, "Return to the capital?! What future can there be in the capital?! In these garrisons in the capital, everyone has their own position, and the limit is the deputy general! The position of general has always been the pocket of the powerful and wealthy, what does it have to do with people like us from humble backgrounds?!"
"For poor people like us, only by serving at the border can we have the opportunity to achieve great things and become a noble or a general!"
"You transferred me back to the capital, ruining my future! The Queen Mother promised me that if I could persuade you to turn against His Majesty, the position of commander of the 5,000-man battalion would be mine!"
"But I never expected that you would actually say you wanted to hijack His Majesty's guard of honor, and even harbor rebellious intentions!"
When he said this, he closed his eyes deeply and cursed himself in a low voice: "I am also stupid. I actually believed that you would rebel."
"When the Queen Mother learned of this, she intensified her urgency, demanding that I accompany you and seize the opportunity to kill you." He gritted his teeth, his heart filled with resentment, "I had no choice but to help her to the end."
"She's my only chance to make a name for myself. I have no other choice!"
At this moment, a voice came from the emperor's carriage: "Idiot."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the curtain of the imperial carriage lifted and the emperor walked out.
Wen Xing's tall figure stood in the sun, coated with a layer of golden glow by the scorching sun.
"Wang Fuwei has committed many unjust acts, and her promises are but illusions. If you cling to her, I'm afraid you will not gain wealth and glory, but eternal damnation."
Han Jin's pupils shrank sharply.
At this time, Ning Wujie walked out from behind Wen Xing and came in front of Han Jin.
He looked down at him with a cold gaze: "Han Jin, do you still want to live?"
When Han Jin heard this, a desire to survive flashed in his eyes, but more of it was vigilance.
Ning Wujie continued, "I'll give you a chance. Do as I say, and I'll spare your life."
Wen Xing continued to exert pressure with the authority of a superior: "If not, you will be guilty of a capital crime punishable by the extermination of all nine generations of your clan."
Han Jin trembled all over, and spoke with a hint of panic.
"But...if I switch sides, the Queen Mother will definitely kill my mother..."
Ning Wujie sneered, "After today, Wang Fuwei will undoubtedly die. Besides, I have already removed the spies she planted next to your mother."
"You only have one chance to make amends. Otherwise, your mother will die with you."
Han Jin's face turned pale as death. He closed his eyes in despair. After a moment, he said dejectedly, "Your Majesty...what do you want me to do?"
Ning Zheng waved his hand, and a team of "Imperial Guards" walked out from behind him.
It was the Inspector General who changed into the uniform of the Imperial Guards.
"Take them with you and return to the palace to report to the Queen Mother."
"Then they said the Imperial Guards suffered heavy losses, leaving only these few men. They said you were fortunate to have fulfilled your mission and taken advantage of the chaos to kill the Ning father and son, while Your Majesty was unfortunately struck by a stray arrow."
"Now, His Majesty has returned to the capital in the imperial carriage. Ning Wujie has escaped death and, under the pretext of escorting His Majesty, is returning to the capital for revenge."
Han Jin still had some doubts: "The Queen Mother is cautious, if she doesn't believe it..."
Ning Wujie said coldly: "Whether she believes it or not, after today, she has no choice."
As long as he took action against the emperor, Wang Fuwei would have only one way to go, regardless of success or failure.
Even if you don't believe it, Wang Fuwei will confirm it all.
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Han Jin again and said, "Don't try to play tricks. If you dare to have any evil thoughts in front of the Queen Mother, these inspectors will be the first to take your life."
Han Jin had no choice but to say dejectedly, "Yes."
A group of inspectors took the dejected Han Jin away.
Ning Wujie turned to the generals standing in awe, "My brothers, please lead your troops back to the capital immediately. Wang Fuwei may mobilize the three major camps."
He bowed deeply and solemnly, "When the time comes, I'll need to rely on you brothers. Please do your best to contain them. Wujie is here, thank you in advance!"
The generals responded with greetings, "Young Marquis, you are too kind! We are brothers, there is no need to thank us!"
"Don't worry, with us here, there will be no chaos in Gyeonggi!"
Wu Jing patted Ning Wujie's shoulder and grinned, "We haven't had time to catch up since we came back a few days ago. Once this matter is over, we should have a good drink together."
Ning Wujie urged, "You should hurry back as well, and be sure to follow my instructions..."
Wu Jing nodded and said, "Don't worry, wait for my good news!" After he finished speaking, he jumped onto the horse and rode away.
The generals will take the lead and leave.
Ning Wujie then said to Ning Zheng and Ning Buhuo, "Father, big brother, you can't show up for the time being. The Marquis's residence is probably ambushed by the Empress Dowager. To conceal your presence, why don't you take His Majesty's carriage back to the capital?"
Ning Zheng and Ning Buhuo looked at each other and then looked at Wen Xing with questioning eyes.
Wen Xing nodded slightly, which was considered as tacit agreement.
The father and son then followed the emperor with some trepidation, bowed their heads, and carefully boarded the emperor's sedan chair.
Wen Xing lifted the carriage curtain and saw that Ning Wujie had not gotten in. Instead, he stood by the side, holding the horse. He couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you coming in?"
Ning Wujie glanced warily at the surrounding mountains, forests, and cliffs, and said in a deep voice, "I don't know if the Queen Mother has arranged other ambushes. I will be supporting them from outside, observing any movements in case of any unforeseen circumstances."
We were just trying to lure the snake out of its hole, and now on the way back is when we really need to be on guard.
Xinghe also rode his horse to the other side of the imperial carriage, straightening his back and saying, "Master, don't worry! I'm here to protect you, no one can hurt you!"
Wen Xing laughed, reached out from the car window, and rubbed Xinghe's furry head: "Well, you are the best."
Xinghe took two steps back to avoid the "devil's claw" and smoothed his messed-up hair, "Master, don't mess up my hair!"
Wen Xing just smiled.
Ning Wujie's brows furrowed even more when he saw the deep affection between master and servant.
The guards quickly cleared the battlefield and "invited" out the accompanying officials who were frightened and hiding under the bunkers one by one.
After a short rest, the ceremonial guard re-formed and slowly marched towards the imperial city.
Wen Xing retreated back into the carriage, reclining on the couch, staring at the Ning family father and son.
The ice in the ice jar has almost melted, and the remaining coolness is not enough to dispel the summer heat.
Wen Xing was feeling restless and upset due to the heat. He fanned himself with a round fan and his eyes inadvertently swept across the Ning family father and son who were sitting upright opposite him.
He made small talk: "Just now, when Ning Hou said that he was rebelling, he sounded quite impressive, as if it were true."
He was just trying to distract himself from the heat, so he said it casually. Suddenly, he saw Ning Zheng drop to his knees with a thud and shouted, "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no intention of such treason!"
Wen Xing paused with the fan in his hand, looking a little amused, "I know, you don't need to be so nervous."
Is Ning Zheng such a timid person? He shouldn't be.
Ning Zheng wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was too immersed in the role just now and accidentally shouted out the truth. What if the emperor took it seriously and warned him against rebellion? Wouldn't it be even more difficult to save Wujie in the future?
Ning Buhuo quickly helped his father up and whispered in his ear, "Dad, please don't try to be so evasive."
Ning Zheng sat back down nervously, with a stern face, afraid that he would reveal what he was thinking.
Wen Xing lay on a cool, jade-covered couch, which was comfortable at first, but after a while, the fine mesh began to poke at his back and waist. His body was delicate, sensitive to both heat and pain, so he had to constantly shift and adjust his posture, appearing restless.
The Ning family's father and son saw this uneasy look.
Ning Buhuo was shocked when he saw Wen Xing frowning and moving, rubbing his waist from time to time.
Recently, for Ning Wujie's sake, he has been studying the matters between men a lot, fearing that if his brother fails to serve him well, he will anger the emperor and make it difficult for him to rescue him in the future.
So, Your Majesty... was tortured so badly that you can't even straighten your back?!
hiss......
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and his eyes became extremely complicated.
He felt a little guilty for his brother, so he asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, are you having back pain?"
Wen Xing was feeling uncomfortable and nodded subconsciously when he heard this.
Ning Buhuo thought to himself, "It is just as I expected!"
He immediately put on a courteous smile and volunteered, "Your Majesty, you may not know that we, the generals, have been training for years, and have developed the ability to loosen up our joints and bones. If Your Majesty would not mind, I would be willing to help you alleviate some of the pain."
Ning Zheng went to see his son in confusion.
This kid was so indignant and kept saying "rebellion" just two days ago, why is he suddenly so servile today?
Ning Buhuo ignored Ning Zheng's gaze and thought to himself that Wujie was too unsympathetic and didn't even know to rub his partner after he was done.
It's up to him, his brother, to clean up the mess.
Wen Xing certainly wouldn't refuse a masseur who came to his doorstep, so he readily agreed, "Thank you very much."
Ning Buhuo quickly stood up and motioned Wen Xing to lie down. He knelt beside the couch and slowly massaged Wen Xing's lower back.
He had an experienced technique, and his fingertips pressed the acupoints and meridians precisely. After the soreness and swelling, there were waves of comfortable warmth.
Wen Xing rested his chin on the backs of his folded hands, squinting his eyes in comfort, and said contentedly, "Do all of you military commanders have this skill?"
Ning Buhuo said proudly, "To be honest, Your Majesty, when we're on the march, it's inevitable that we'll get bumps and bruises from time to time. Over time, we've all developed the skill of massage, and we often help each other out in the barracks."
"Really?" Wen Xing asked meaningfully, "So Ning Wujie can do it too."
Ning Buhuo said without hesitation: "Of course! My younger brother is more careful than me, and his craftsmanship is much better."
"Oh."
The emperor suddenly sneered. Ning Buhuo paused, suddenly undecided, "Your Majesty, was I too heavy-handed?"
Wen Xing shook his head, "You continue."
Someone's cold voice came to mind.
"I don't know how to massage."
"I am a military commander, and I don't know how to control the severity of my attacks."
Humph, wait.
At this moment, Ning Buhuo didn't know which acupoint he had pressed, and Wen Xing sighed: "Hiss! Right here!" (Reviewer, please pay attention, this is a massage! Please read the context, OK? Can you please read it carefully!)
Ning Buhuo received the instruction and began to massage that acupoint more vigorously.
Wen Xing's voice rose at the end, "Ah~ so comfortable!"
Outside the imperial carriage, Ning Wujie, who was riding a horse and guarding the side, heard the intermittent sounds in the carriage. He suddenly tightened his reins and his ears perked up.
"Oh, yes, that's right."
"Hoo-hiss-harder!"
□□The white horse suddenly stopped.
The handsome face of the man on horseback instantly turned ashen, so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip. His knuckles tightened inch by inch, almost breaking the reins.
What is this tyrant doing?
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The author has something to say: Tsk tsk tsk, someone’s brain is ruined~ You’re finished!
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