Pan Yuanzhou and the others who had been following Yun Zhuo were shocked.
Ning Hongxi was shocked, and so was Cui Shao.
Not long ago, they were killing Yun Zhuo and his group without mercy, but now they want them to cease hostilities and bring Yun Zhuo into the palace!
The message General Lan conveyed conflicted sharply with their previous understanding!
Prior to this, all the imperial edicts issued were to capture Yun Zhuo and bring him back to the palace, or, if that was not possible, to execute him on the spot.
However, they now understand from General Lan's oral message that the emperor wants Yun Zhuo to return to the palace alive!
Lu Zangfeng was also shocked, but amidst the shock, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he quietly made a hand gesture to the person behind him.
General Lan rode a tall horse, flanked by several guards, exuding an imposing aura!
Seeing everyone staring at him in shock, confusion, and helplessness, General Lan cleared his throat and said in a heavy voice, "According to the Emperor's investigation, the deposed Crown Prince Yun Zhuo did not massacre any villagers in Taoxi Village tonight!"
"On the contrary, the deposed crown prince has been protecting the villagers of Taoxi Village! Prime Minister Ning and Lord Lu must have been here for quite some time. Have you seen the deposed crown prince kill any of the villagers?"
Prime Minister Ning and those around him exchanged bewildered glances.
He believed that it was because he arrived in time that Yun Zhuo had no chance to massacre the villagers!
General Lan continued, "Moreover, someone informed the Emperor that the incident of Consort Li being defiled was not done by the deposed Crown Prince at all; the deposed Crown Prince was framed!"
"His Majesty has decided to thoroughly investigate this case, and has therefore ordered me to deliver an oral decree that the deposed Crown Prince be brought back to the palace safely! Lord Cui is responsible for protecting the deposed Crown Prince; anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception!"
Blood was still dripping from the tip of Yun Zhuo's sword, and the whistling wind carried General Lan's words to his ears.
The night before he went to Prince Yu's mansion, he and Ye Qingxue sat facing each other for half the night, trying to anticipate what might happen today.
As it turned out, their prediction was correct, and General Lan finally arrived with the emperor's edict within the timeframe they had predicted.
Yun Zhuo gripped his longsword tightly. The night wind swept across his cheeks like a steel knife scraping his bones, bringing a stinging pain.
According to his and Ye Qingxue's plan, he should now follow General Lan and Cui Shao into the palace to clear his name, restore his innocence, and reclaim what is rightfully his!
But he can't!
What will happen to Ye Qingxue if she leaves now?
She's still waiting for his blood to save her life!
Yun Zhuo slowly rode forward to General Lan, who visibly exhaled: "Your Highness, this humble general will escort you into the palace!"
Yun Zhuo took a deep breath. "Thank you, General Lan, but I have important matters to attend to and cannot accompany you to the palace for the time being!"
Ning Hongxi said in a deep voice, "His Majesty is merciful and has given you one chance to clear your name. Do you intend to disobey the imperial decree?"
General Lan and Cui Shao both frowned.
General Lan advised, "Your Highness, now is the best time for you to enter the palace to clear your name. If you leave, it may cause other troubles, which will be very disadvantageous to you!"
He didn't understand why Yun Zhuo would refuse this moment, which Yun Zhuo and Ye Qingxue had worked so hard to achieve!
"I know, thank you for your persuasion, General Lan. But Qingxue's condition is critical, and I must go. Please, General Lan and Lord Cui, do not stop me!"
The sky was already turning a pale white, and Bai Qi kept nudging the horse's legs with increasing urgency, knowing that there was no more time to waste.
Therefore, after speaking, Yun Zhuo solemnly cupped his hands and rode away on horseback!
General Lan shouted urgently, "Your Highness!"
"He defied the imperial decree! He actually defied the imperial decree!" Ning Hongxi roared, his whole body trembling with rage!
"Could it be that he had no grievances at all, so he took the opportunity to escape?" Ning Hongxi said in a deep voice.
Many people believe this is a possibility.
Lu Zangfeng said, "I'll go and bring His Highness the Crown Prince back!"
If the deposed crown prince refused, he would kill him directly and then claim that the prince had resisted fiercely and that he had accidentally killed him in the heat of the moment...
Under no circumstances should the deposed crown prince be allowed to return to the palace!
However, just as he was about to set off, he was stopped by General Lan's red-tasseled spear: "Capturing His Highness the Crown Prince is a matter between me and Lord Cui. No outsiders are allowed to interfere. Please step back, Lord Lu!"
Lu Zangfeng gritted his teeth, unable to deflect Lan Jiang's spear, and could only watch helplessly as Yun Zhuo's figure disappeared.
After General Lan drove Lu Zangfeng back, he looked at Cui Shao and said, "I will go after His Highness the Crown Prince and, while ensuring his safety, I will definitely send him back to the palace!"
"As for Lord Cui, you are in charge of searching for everyone involved in the Taoxi Village case tonight, arresting them all, and awaiting interrogation! This is the Emperor's order!"
"Oh, by the way, I would also like to ask Lord Cui to lend me a few guards so that I can protect His Highness the Crown Prince from harm!"
Cui Shao immediately assigned a hundred guards to accompany him.
General Lan turned his horse around and chased after Yun Zhuo.
As for Zhuang Xin, Tan Shan, and the elite guards of the Prince Yu's mansion, they were forced to remain where they were.
As night slowly fell, the pale blue sky gradually turned white. Spring, Summer, and Autumn walked back and forth in the courtyard of Pear Snow Residence, circling countless times.
There is only half an hour left until Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Before long, only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn remained.
In a little while, there will be only 15 minutes left.
Inside the room, Madam Zhou repeatedly wiped Ye Qingxue's cheeks and palms, hoping she would remain quiet at all times.
Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer. She rushed forward and grabbed Qiu Shen's hand, her voice trembling with tears, "Will Bai Qi be able to deliver the message to the Crown Prince? Will the Crown Prince be able to break through the encirclement?"
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