Ch. 96 - Pei Hong: Xiao Sheng, come here

In just a short while, too many things happened in succession. Zhong Yansheng had just come back to his senses from the old emperor's death. He turned over in his mind the words that Prince An had just said to anger the old emperor, and stared blankly at Pei Hong.

So, his guess turned out to be true, King Jing was not of royal blood.

If this matter were to be exposed, no one from the royal family to the court officials would let King Jing and his mother off.

Perhaps Prince An learned about this from Tian Xi and used it to threaten him?

Pei Hong avoided Zhong Yansheng's sight and didn't look at him, fiddling with the sandalwood fan in his hand nonchalantly.

Tian Xi's trembling, shrill voice fell into his ears, and the furious Prince An calmed down a little. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his face expressionlessly, and uttered a few words: "Come here, bring the jade seal here."

The old emperor's oral order was not finished yet, and there were only a few of them present. Without the minister of state by his side, it naturally did not count.

However, if the imperial seal and Tian Xi, the eunuch who once held the seal, were present, it would not be impossible to forge an imperial edict of succession.

There was deathly silence in the bedroom. Except for Tian Xi, who had an indescribable expression on his face, no one was saddened by the old emperor's death.

It can be seen that Prince An is anxious to finalize everything quickly.

Zhong Yansheng blinked and keenly saw the shadow of Prince De in Prince An.

Prince An had been overshadowed by Prince De for more than 30 years and had suffered countless abuses, insults and verbal abuses. He hated Prince De to the core. As a result, when Prince De died and the old emperor who was oppressing him fell, the temper that had been suppressed for years burst out, and it was very similar to that of Prince De, whom he hated and despised.

Only at this moment did Zhong Yansheng realize that this once timid Prince An was actually a brother of Prince De.

After Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Wenlan were placed under house arrest, the jade seal hidden in the study naturally fell into the hands of Prince An and Prince Jing. Today, Prince An took advantage of the old emperor's awakening to establish a crown prince, so he naturally had someone take the jade seal with him.

The imperial seal is of extraordinary significance. Even without the old emperor's will, this token can make the case legitimate.

The servant bent down and brought up the sandalwood box containing the jade seal. Prince An took it, took out the jade seal, and was about to speak when he suddenly realized something. His face changed slightly, and he turned the jade seal over to take a look.

What was engraved on it was not "Mandated by Heaven, may you live long and prosper", but four big characters "How dare you, you thief?"

The jade seal is too valuable. After Zhong Yansheng was imprisoned two days ago and the location of the jade seal was confirmed, no one has touched it since then.

The sandalwood box landed with a thud. Prince An's heavy eyes swept over, first touching Zhong Yansheng, revealing the words, and asked in a cold voice, "What is this?"

Zhong Yansheng opened his eyes wide innocently, showing a shocked expression, and was extremely surprised: "You, you lost the jade seal?"

He looked too timid to lie, and his expression of surprise was too genuine.

Prince An frowned. Zhong Yansheng was unaware of the situation before Prince Jing was exposed, and he was being watched the entire time, so how could he have exchanged the jade seal? Now he was imprisoned, so how could he have such a great ability?

That gaze immediately fell on Pei Hong, and he asked coldly: "Where is the jade seal?"

Pei Hong's expression looked even more surprised than Zhong Yansheng's.

He even forgot to fan himself. He took two steps forward, carefully examined the four characters, and laughed. Then, under the increasingly cold gaze of Prince An, his smile faded: "You ask me? I still want to ask you, the jade seal has been placed in the hall for the past few days. Our people are guarding it, and I have no chance to touch it. You are not hiding the jade seal and putting on this show for others to see."

Prince An's slightly sinister gaze fell back on Zhong Yansheng, with murderous intent in his eyes.

Pei Hong opened his fan and blocked Zhong Yansheng. His smile faded. "Fourth Brother, I have detained Xiaosheng's men. He has been staying in Lanqing Palace these days. What are you thinking about?"

Prince An's eyes were filled with deep suspicion, and his tone was strange: "Did you really lock up all his people? Are you willing to keep a close watch on him?"

Zhong Yansheng took a step back slightly uncomfortably, feeling very uncomfortable with his tone.

Pei Hong said calmly: "I know what to do and what not to do."

"You know?" Prince An's voice was filled with sarcasm, and his eyes were fixed on Zhong Yansheng again. "If you really knew, would there be so many troubles?"

Zhong Yansheng was stared at by him, his heart pounding. He understood the meaning of his words, and when he thought of his murderous look just now, his hair stood on end.

Prince An also knew that he was connected to the poison in Xiao Nong's body. If he was killed, Xiao Nong would also die.

No wonder they tried to kill him again and again after learning his identity.

Perhaps King Jing was hesitant at the beginning, but later, with Xiao Nong, Wei Ling and others around Zhong Yansheng, it became difficult to take action.

...Fortunately, the poison has been resolved.

Zhong Yansheng thought quietly in his heart that even if he died, Xiao Nong would not be hurt.

However, looking at the current situation, it seems that it was Pei Hong who wanted to hold him hostage to threaten Xiao Nong. Prince An was more inclined to kill him and get rid of Xiao Nong at the same time.

King An and King Jing should have restrained each other, otherwise King An would have killed him long ago. King An knew that King Jing's bloodline was impure, so how did King Jing restrain King An?

Zhong Yansheng turned his head desperately, and his eyes inadvertently swept across the familiar ring on Prince An's hand.

Pei Hong still had a smile on his face, but his tone was heavy: "Fourth Brother, don't offend me. If I withdraw my troops, I won't even need to get Xiao back. Do you think those people under King De will tear you apart with their bare hands?"

Prince An paused.

Zhong Yansheng struggled to identify it for a while, and finally recognized where he had seen the Hetian ring.

This thing was originally in the hands of King De. It symbolizes King De’s power and is also a token of his power.

Combined with what Prince An said in a light tone when he came over just now, Zhong Yansheng suddenly realized.

Prince An has been cautious and prudent over the years. In order to keep a low profile, he probably has only a few soldiers under his command. Perhaps more than half of the rebels rely on the power of Prince De.

If King Jing were to expose this, the rebel army would surely be in chaos.

Zhong Yansheng looked frail and had to wear several more layers of clothes than others. Now he was imprisoned in the deep palace with no one at his disposal, so Prince An told him about this matter without any care.

With the attitude of a winner.

Zhong Yansheng carefully recalled Prince An's attitude when he said those words. He was so proud and full of himself, as if he was not just talking to him.

Maybe it was speaking through him, to his father, who once was a pressure on him.

In terms of their obsession with a dazzling existence that appeared in their lives, Prince An and the old emperor are indeed father and son.

Prince An and Prince Jing faced each other in silence for a moment. Zhong Yansheng twisted his fingers out of boredom and looked outside.

What’s the situation in Mobei? Has my brother received the news and returned?

He was in a daze when Prince An suppressed his murderous intent and said in a cold voice, "Search in secret and make sure to retrieve the jade seal."

The people outside the house were all startled and immediately followed the order and went down.

There was still deep suspicion in Prince An's eyes. He glanced at Zhong Yansheng, waved his sleeves, and strode out.

After Prince An left, there were only three people left in the room. Tian Xi turned around and bowed to Zhong Yansheng: "Your Highness, I hope you won't blame me."

Zhong Yansheng said softly, "My Lord, you have done nothing wrong to me, so there is no need to say more. However, I have something to ask you - do you know what I have and what His Royal Highness Prince Ding has?"

Tian Xi has been with the old emperor for decades and is the person who knows the old emperor's private matters best.

The old eunuch lowered his head and said, "At this point, there is nothing to hide. The Gu that was planted in you, and... the Gu that was given to His Royal Highness Prince Ding, were all personally brought to you by me under orders."

After a moment, to the surprise of Pei Hong and Tian Xi, Zhong Yansheng was not angry, and even nodded calmly: "I understand, thank you."

No wonder King Jing and King An knew about the poison. It was indeed Tian Xi who revealed it.

Tian Xi was stunned by his attitude. Without waiting for his reaction, Zhong Yansheng asked again, "Did you help King Jing to deliver the Wuxiang Pill to this old man?"

The old emperor still stared with his eyes wide open, and it was unclear whether he was looking at Tian Xi or Pei Hong.

The little prince's question was still so disturbing. Tian Xi shuddered slightly and lowered his head and said, "Yes."

"Why did you help Lipin conceal it back then?"

Tian Xi sighed deeply and said, "Because the Taoist who committed a serious crime back then... was my godson."

Zhong Yansheng stared at the kind-looking old eunuch for a long while, without saying a word, he turned and left the bedroom.

Tian Xi seemed unable to bear it any longer, so he bent down and closed the old emperor's eyes.

Pei Hong finally spoke, his tone was light: "During these troubled times, the whereabouts of the imperial seal is unknown. Your Majesty died at an inopportune time, so let's keep the death a secret for now."

After being away for such a while, Xiao Wenlan must be worried to death. Zhong Yansheng was really afraid that he would be so courageous as to find a beam and hang himself, so he wanted to return to Lanqing Palace as soon as possible.

After taking a few steps, I felt footsteps following me.

When he walked fast, the footsteps were fast; when he walked slowly, the footsteps were slow.

Zhong Yansheng got angry all of a sudden. He stopped walking and turned around angrily. He was handsome, and his anger made his face even brighter and more beautiful. Pei Hong also stopped and smiled at him: "Xiao Sheng has never been so angry with me when I was naughty before."

Zhong Yansheng's face was tense: "Your Highness Prince Jing, you and I are enemies now, please stop calling me that."

Pei Hong's smile froze, and the fan that he always waved so casually was now clenched in his hand.

Zhong Yansheng looked straight at him, his eyes were bright and sharp, but his thin red lips were soft. The sunlight from outside the corridor poured in, giving his body a faint golden edge, making him as beautiful as a little fairy.

He felt that he was drawing a line. Pei Hong stared at him, but his eyes seemed to change slightly. He suddenly leaned over and spoke in his usual gentle voice: "Xiao Sheng, why are you so wary of me? I didn't hurt you or your people, nor did I do anything to Xiao Wenlan. You've been too tired these days. Isn't it great that you don't have to worry about anything now? You used to be so afraid of trouble and liked to stay quiet and not move."

Zhong Yansheng was just about to say that was in the past when he realized something was wrong.

Pei Hong was getting closer and closer to him.

Those eyes that always smiled had dimmed at some point, revealing a bottomless whirlpool with a hint of obsession that couldn't be hidden in the eyes.

"Tell Brother Jing the whereabouts of the jade seal. After solving the problem of the fourth brother, Brother Jing will rebuild a palace for you, okay?"

His tone was so gentle, but it made Zhong Yansheng feel creepy. He opened his eyes wide, and when he was about to put his lips on his, he gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and slapped him hard.

There was a crisp "pop" sound, and Pei Hong was stunned for a moment.

Zhong Yansheng was so scared that he turned around and trotted away, hiding behind a pillar. His long eyelashes trembled and his dark eyes stared at him vigilantly, like a frightened deer in the forest.

So beautiful and out of reach.

Pei Hong came back to his senses after a while, and instead of getting angry, he smiled: "Xiao Sheng's strength has increased."

Zhong Yansheng's heart was still pounding, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he nervously grasped the small dagger that Xiao Nong had given him.

Fortunately, Pei Hong had no intention of revenge, nor did he come closer. He just covered his burning face and touched it, and asked in a low and faint voice: "Xiao Nong can do it, why can't I? Xiao Sheng, was I not good to you before?"

Zhong Yansheng pursed his lips and answered his question: "Because I like my brother."

So Xiao rubbed him, nibbled him, kissed him, and did whatever he wanted to him.

Hearing Zhong Yansheng's answer, Pei Hong's curved lips completely straightened. His usually gentle and handsome face looked a little chillingly cold, but his tone was still gentle: "Xiao Sheng likes him?"

Zhong Yansheng felt that he looked extremely dangerous, but he still mustered up his courage and nodded.

"Xiao Sheng is just too young to understand what love is." Pei Hong seemed to have convinced himself and slowly smiled again, "Brother King Jing will teach you in the future."

Zhong Yansheng felt a chill down his spine and indescribably sad: "...Your Highness Prince Jing, why did you become like this, or have you always been like this?"

Pei Hong stared at Zhong Yansheng for a while, then slowly said, "Xiao Sheng, do you know how I felt when you took me back for three days, and then took me away from the Huai'an Marquis' Mansion and returned to that other courtyard that everyone hated?"

Seeing that he really had no intention of coming over, Zhong Yansheng shook his head cautiously.

"I hated you so much during those years."

Zhong Yansheng was stunned, his eyes reddened unconsciously: "What?"

Pei Hong looked at his red eyes and said calmly, "I hate you for showing up, taking me away from the ice and snow, putting your fox fur on me, excitedly giving me all your treasured things, sharing the food you were reluctant to eat with me, and saying you wanted to be my best friend."

The three days when Zhong Yansheng took him back were the happiest three days in his life in the past ten years.

But that happiness was too short-lived. Just three days sustained him for two years, three years... ten years.

So it turned into hatred.

He hated Zhong Yansheng for taking him away and not staying with him.

Sometimes Pei Hong couldn't tell which emotion was greater.

Zhong Yansheng felt that he was being unreasonable and frowned, puzzled and angry: "Do you want me to watch you freeze to death in the snow? Was it wrong for me to bring you back?"

“…Perhaps.”

Pei Hong looked away and stopped asking about Zhong Yansheng's jade seal: "Send Xiaosheng back to rest."

Zhong Yansheng was really angry and didn't want to ask any more questions. He followed Pei Hong's personal guards and left the Yangxin Palace.

As soon as he returned to Lanqing Palace, Xiao Wenlan, who was so anxious that he jumped up and down like a monkey, immediately rushed over and said, "Young prince, are you okay?"

Zhong Yansheng was in a bad mood and shook his head at him. Xiao Wenlan followed him into the house, looking frightened. "Two teams just came and searched the Lanqing Palace from top to bottom. What happened?"

Zhong Yansheng's mouth curled slightly, and he whispered, "The jade seal is missing."

Why did the imperial seal disappear?

Because on the night of the siege, when he asked Wei Ling to leave the city, he replaced the jade seal with a fake one and let Wei Ling take the real one away.

Zhong Yansheng certainly knew how important the imperial seal was.

Although he had experienced betrayal by King Jing, Wei Ling was the person his father trusted the most, and Zhong Yansheng was still willing to entrust this trust to Wei Ling.

If a person cannot even give trust to others and lives in suspicion all his life, he will definitely be deserted by his friends and relatives like the old emperor.

Xiao Wenlan was shocked: "What? The jade seal is missing?"

Zhong Yansheng continued, "His Majesty has passed away."

Xiao Wenlan almost fell to his knees: "What? His Majesty passed away?!"

Zhong Yansheng tiptoed and patted his head lovingly: "It's okay, go play."

The imperial seal is missing. If it cannot be found, Prince An will lose his patience and will definitely take action.

We must find the secret passage map in the palace as soon as possible.

When the former Prince Jing was staying in the palace pretending to be harmless, he did find out how many secret guards were around Zhong Yansheng, who were inherited from the former Crown Prince.

But in fact, there are several other secret guards around Zhong Yansheng. They never leave any trace and come and go without a trace.

It was someone Xiao Nong sent to follow him.

These secret guards are more lively than Wei Ling and the others. In the past, if they heard any noise, a row of heads would secretly pop out of the window from time to time, curiously looking at what he was doing.

Zhong Yansheng was very familiar with them. Due to Wei Ling's reminder and concern, he had not called them out these days. He only asked them to secretly search for the whereabouts of the secret passage map and did not order them not to show up.

They might be suffocated to death.

Zhong Yansheng leaned on the couch by the window, took out the clay xun given to him by Xiao Nong, and blew it twice somewhat awkwardly. Intermittent sounds of the xun rang out, and a short bird song was heard outside the window.

Zhong Yansheng felt a little relieved.

Since the old emperor's heir is King Jing, the secret passage map should also be given to King Jing.

There was no way King Jing would let him see the secret passage map.

So he asked the secret guard to find someone to help find the whereabouts of the secret passage map.

Hopefully that person is trustworthy.

Because the real imperial seal was missing, the atmosphere in the palace became increasingly tense. In the next two days, Prince An sent people to search Lanqing Palace, using threats and inducements to inquire about the whereabouts of the imperial seal.

However, because Prince An still abided by the agreement for the time being and did not do anything to Zhong Yansheng, Pei Hong did not stop him.

Hiding the jade seal would not be good for either of them. After Prince An calmed down, he realized that it could only have been hidden by Zhong Yansheng.

On the fourth day, Prince An came again.

Zhong Yansheng could see that Prince An was becoming more and more impatient. He had been patient for more than 30 years, thinking that his father had high hopes for him. He had finally turned the tables and proved his ability, but his father's oral order did not mention him. He also lost the imperial seal he had obtained. How could he endure this?

Zhong Yansheng opened his eyes with a clear distinction between black and white, and tilted his head: "I really don't know, the jade seal is clearly in your custody."

Prince An looked at him gloomily and said suddenly, "Nephew, you may not know that Mobei has won a series of great victories, and the Aohan tribe has annexed the Aluko tribe."

Zhong Yansheng's eyes suddenly sparkled.

He knew that his brother was invincible.

Prince An was choked by his inexplicably bright eyes, and then he continued gloomily: "Prince Ding will soon return to the court. I am not interested in playing any games with you and Prince Jing. If you don't hand over the jade seal by tomorrow night…."

He suddenly looked at Xiao Wenlan beside him, his eyes revealing disdain and saying, "I will ask Second Young Master Xiao to be skinned and stuffed with straw."

Skinning and strawing is a punishment in which the skin is peeled off completely and then stuffed with straw.

Xiao Wenlan: “…”

Xiao Wenlan's face turned pale in an instant, his limbs became weak and cold, and he trembled as he hugged Zhong Yansheng's thin arm to build up his courage, and said cowardly and fiercely: "I, I will turn into a fierce ghost and come to find you..."

Prince An sneered and turned away.

Not long after Prince An left, Pei Hong also came. However, he did not ask about the whereabouts of the jade seal in a harsh tone like Prince An did. Instead, he looked at Zhong Yansheng with a very strange look: "Xiao Sheng, did Prince An come over again just now?"

Zhong Yansheng ignored him.

Pei Hong didn't care. He shook his fan and smiled, "Xiao Sheng is more capable than I thought. Last night, the rebels outside the city suddenly spread rumors about Prince An and Prince De, causing quite a commotion. Prince An suppressed it with great difficulty, thinking that I did it. He came to me with a knife this morning. I have been blamed for this."

He looked normal, as if he had forgotten what he had said a few days ago, and his tone was like a sigh and a laugh, exactly the same as before.

Zhong Yansheng shrank back: "That's your business."

Pei Hong said in a gentle voice: "But Xiao Sheng, the general trend is irreversible. It's useless for you to use these little tricks. Xiao Nong can't get back."

Zhong Yansheng pursed his lips and refuted in his heart.

He tried so hard to delay time, Xiao Nong would definitely be able to come back.

My brother is His Royal Highness Prince Ding.

"Tomorrow night is the deadline."

Pei Hong stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to touch Zhong Yansheng's hair, but he was dodged by Zhong Yansheng. After his fingers froze, he knocked on Xiao Wenlan's head instead.

Xiao Wenlan was angry but dared not speak.

"If Prince An wants to touch you, I can protect you, but if Prince An wants to touch Xiao Wenlan, I can't protect him."

Pei Hong took his hand back and patiently advised him: "Even if it's for the sake of Second Young Master Xiao, hand over the jade seal."

Zhong Yansheng knew that he couldn't let it go no matter what: "The jade seal was always in that box. You guys lost it. Even if you make Xiao Er a scarecrow, I still wouldn't know."

Xiao Wenlan shuddered all over, looked up at the sky with a pale face, tears in his eyes.

Otherwise, he should find a beam to hang himself on later.

Pei Hong seemed to get to know Zhong Yansheng all over again. He stared at him for a long time before saying, "Xiao Sheng, I used to think you were very well behaved."

Zhong Yansheng does look like a well-behaved person, with no temper and seems easy to bully.

But the slap he gave Pei Hong in the face that day was very loud.

"You don't care about Xiao Wenlan, but what about the Marquis of Huai'an and his wife?"

Zhong Yansheng's expression changed instantly, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Pei Hong revealed a hatred he had never shown before.

"I'll ask someone from Huai'an Marquis' Mansion to come and talk to you."

Pei Hong was stabbed by his eyes. He paused before continuing: "I don't want to hurt them either, Xiao Sheng, be obedient."

When Pei Hong left, Zhong Yansheng's face was still very ugly.

Xiao Wenlan comforted Zhong Yansheng and patted his chest: "My brother must be on his way back. At worst, I will die heroically tomorrow and be a scarecrow for a few days to calm them down..."

Zhong Yansheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You don't need to be a scarecrow, and you don't need to be hanged!"

Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Wenlan stayed in the room for a while, and then the "people from the Huai'an Marquis' Mansion" that Pei Hong mentioned appeared.

It’s Zhong Sidu.

Seeing Zhong Sidu, Zhong Yansheng felt very complicated: "So the person who came to you and told you your identity was really King Jing?"

Zhong Sidu looked even more haggard. He stepped into the house and said "hmm".

Zhong Yansheng was silent for a moment: "Mr. Qiulan, when you obeyed the orders of King Jing and took the risk to serve as an aide to King De, did you not consider your father and mother? Or do you not only hate me, but also your father and mother?"

Zhong Sidu could no longer maintain his usual gentle and elegant appearance. He rubbed his temple tiredly and said, "At that time, I had no choice but to obey his orders."

If it weren't for Zhong Yansheng, Zhong Sidu would have thought of following King Jing, achieving great things, and becoming a loyal minister.

Then he regretted it.

But once you're halfway on the pirate ship, there's no way you can get off whenever you want.

From the very beginning, he became a chess piece in King Jing's hand.

Zhong Yansheng said softly: "So, you didn't send the letter for help to Taiyuan."

Outside were Prince An and Prince Jing's personal guards who were eavesdropping. Zhong Sidu looked at Zhong Yansheng, then suddenly lowered his head and bit his fingertips, causing Xiao Wenlan to hiss.

Zhong Sidu's eyebrows didn't even twitch. He stood by the table, drawing lines quickly, and said calmly: "When you came to Huai'an Marquis Mansion to find me when you returned to Beijing, King Jing's people were listening outside the house. Whether you believe it or not, I really wanted to help you at that time."

Zhong Yansheng stared at the intricate lines drawn in blood on the table, his heart pounding. Xiao Wenlan covered his mouth and dared not make a sound.

The blood from his fingertips stopped flowing, so Zhong Sidu took another bite, causing Xiao Wenlan to close his eyes in pain.

Zhong Yansheng: "But you still acknowledge that King Jing is the master."

"...Prince Jing is smarter than you."

After Zhong Sidu finished the last stroke, he wrote a few words next to it, saying in a cold tone, "I hate idiots like you. I don't want to be your brother at all."

Zhong Yansheng stared at him for a long while, then slapped him in the face.

After being hit by him, Zhong Sidu seemed to have successfully redeemed himself. He exhaled slightly and touched his face calmly: "You don't want to implicate your father and mother, so hand over what King Jing and King An want."

After saying this, Zhong Sidu's fingertips, with a faint smell of blood, gently pressed on Zhong Yansheng's furry head.

Zhong Yansheng's hair was fluffy and looked very soft, and he had wanted to touch it for a long time.

After a quick touch, he turned and left the house.

It was normal for the two to have a bad relationship. When the people outside the house saw Zhong Sidu coming out with a slap mark on his face, and thought about the slap mark on King Jing's face two days ago, their faces looked strange.

Zhong Yansheng did not waste Zhong Sidu's efforts. He wrote down the simplified but still complicated route bit by bit. When he saw the end, there were only a few words.

"Prince Ding has arrived with reinforcements from Taiyuan."

Xiao Wenlan understood these words and was so excited that he almost shouted out. Zhong Yansheng quickly stuffed half a cold steamed bun into his mouth to block his mouth.

Although he was also very happy.

He read those words over and over again, and great joy and hope surged in his heart.

As expected, my brother noticed that something was wrong in the capital and rushed over.

But Prince An just came to talk about the great victory in Mobei not long ago...Looking at Prince An's expression, it didn't seem like he knew that Xiao Nong had rushed back.

It seems that Xiao Nong found a substitute to avoid exposing his whereabouts, and rushed back with only a few people.

Zhong Sidu finally sent the letter for help to his grandfather. Presumably, on the way to the reinforcements, they met Xiao Nong who took a detour. Zhong Sidu was King Jing's man and was so smart, so it was not surprising that he could receive news from outside the capital.

Xiao Nong came back secretly, probably because he was afraid that he and Xiao Wenlan were still in the hands of Prince Jing and Prince An, so he was afraid to act rashly.

While he and Xiao Wenlan were still in the hands of Prince Jing and Prince An, Xiao Nong did not dare to take action.

Xiao Nong should be near the outskirts of Beijing. Although his people cannot deliver the message too far, they can still deliver it outside the city. Especially Xiao Nong's secret guards, they are very good at contacting Xiao Nong using special methods.

We can take action tonight.

Zhong Yansheng mouthed to Xiao Wenlan: "Don't sleep tonight, we'll leave at three o'clock in the morning."

Xiao Wenlan replied: "Ah?"

Zhong Yansheng decided not to tell Xiao Wenlan.

He was good at painting and had a better memory for pictures than ordinary people. After looking at the map on the table again, he took out a handkerchief and wiped it off bit by bit.

The winter night falls very early and gradually gets darker. It snows again at night, and the snowflakes fall to the ground, making the night even quieter.

Zhong Yansheng didn't dare eat anything at night, nor did he let Xiao Wenlan eat. Xiao Wenlan was hungry and tossed and turned on the couch, unable to fall asleep. Just as he was feeling sleepy at around three o'clock in the morning, he heard light footsteps coming from the other side of the bed. Zhong Yansheng walked over to him and gently pushed him.

The secret guard will temporarily distract the guards outside, and it will be time for him and Xiao Wenlan to leave.

The entrance to the secret passage that I had been looking for for a long time turned out to be between the Yangxin Palace and the Minghui Palace, not far from here.

Xiao Wenlan didn't dare to breathe and stood up following Zhong Yansheng.

Not long after the two men slipped out of Lanqing Palace, they found that their personal guards who had been transferred away rushed back. But before they could check the whereabouts of Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Wenlan, a fire suddenly broke out in Lanqing Palace.

It was done by Xiao Nong's secret guards. Zhong Yansheng could hear the roar coming from a long distance away.

The sound of armor colliding and the chaotic footsteps were all heading towards the place where the water was leaking. Zhong Yansheng pulled Xiao Wenlan and ran towards the secret passage.

Maybe because he had been hanging out with Xiao for a long time, his physical strength had improved significantly. After running for a while, he was not even exhausted and unable to run anymore.

Just when the two of them found the entrance to the tunnel, a torchlight shone in, and a group of cavalrymen rode in on fast horses. The one in the lead was tall and handsome, with an unclear expression under the light of the fire. For the first time, his voice exuded a chill: "Xiao Sheng, come here."

Zhong Yansheng had never expected Pei Hong to react so quickly and chase after him. After being stunned for a moment, he pushed the stunned Xiao Wenlan hard and said, "Go!"

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