In the woodshed, Li Sanâs expression was solemn.
âGeneral Du, I dare to stake my life on it.â
Princess Pingyang then said, âDonât dawdle any longer, General Du. Even without you, we will still act adventurously tomorrow morning. However, with you, we have a better chance of success.â
âSince thatâs the case, I will certainly pledge to cooperate with Princess Pingyang until death. However, I have one more request for Princess Pingyang,â Du Heng said hesitantly.
âPlease speak, General Du.â
âI have now put life and death aside. My only concern is my wife and children. I hope Princess Pingyang can take my unworthy son and wife to Qingzhou tonight to seek refuge with His Royal Highness Prince Qi.â Du Hengâs eyes held a hint of determination.
Princess Pingyang sighed, she said, âI promise you.â
Du Heng nodded. He said, âIn that case, I will have no regrets, and will only wait to act with Princess Pingyang tomorrow morning.â
âThen you can stay at the Princessâs mansion tonight. If you go back alone now, it will surely arouse suspicion. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to escort you into the palace.â
With that, Princess Pingyang led Li San out of the woodshed.
When they got outside, Princess Pingyang said to Li San, âI will send someone to escort you back now. Tomorrowâs rescue will depend on you.â
âYes, Princess Pingyang.â Li San bowed in response.
At this time, Princess Pingyang called the mansionâs coachman, and Li San boarded the carriage and headed towards his residence.
The carriage gradually receded with bumps. At this time, Li San couldnât help but fall into deep thought. Ever since he arrived in Changâan, he had been planning the rescue of Consort Zhen to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.
However, he never expected the court situation to undergo such a significant change, so much so that he had to rescue Consort Zhen immediately.
But being in Changâan, and being outnumbered, he was well aware that his plan carried risks, yet he could not afford any risk at all.
Because once he failed, he might face the death of Consort Zhen.
ThÉŞs chapter is updated by NoveI-Fire.É´et
So when Princess Pingyang found him, after weighing the situation, he quickly decided to cooperate with Princess Pingyang, which would make his plan even more secure.
However, despite this, he didnât fully trust Princess Pingyang and Du Heng. This trip to Changâan, he was already prepared for sacrifice, and this was not his ultimate dead-end plan.
He was well aware that he had been targeted by the Lijing Gate upon entering Changâan. He was using himself as bait to mislead the Lijing Gate, and beyond him, the secret police had a separate rescue plan.
And Princess Pingyangâs joining was merely icing on the cake.
âMany people will probably die tomorrow.â Li San looked at the Changâan streets gradually shrouded in night, his expression grim.
At the Princessâs Mansion, Princess Pingyang went straight back to her sleeping quarters after Li San left. At this time, Yang Zhen had woken up, his face filled with panic.
âPrincess Pingyang, why is this?â
Yang Zhen was now tied up tightly with five ropes. Ouyang Mu stood in front of him like an iron tower, his sharp sword pointing at Yang Zhenâs chest.
âWhy?â Princess Pingyang, at this moment, showed none of her usual grace and charm, her face only as cold as winter. âBetraying the Emperor and pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince, isnât that enough for me to punish you?â
Yang Zhenâs head still ached a little. He tried hard to recall the events of last night and finally remembered telling Princess Pingyang everything about the palace after getting drunk. âYou put a sedative in my wine.â
âOf course, otherwise how would you have told me everything?â Princess Pingyang sneered.
A hint of panic flashed in Yang Zhenâs eyes, but after a moment of thought, he suddenly said, âPrincess Pingyang, a wise man submits to circumstances. The Emperor is deeply poisoned, and his life is now merely hanging by soup and medicine. He wonât live much longer. Moreover, Prince Zhaoâs troops are about to enter the capital. If you follow me, I can guarantee you glory and wealth for the rest of your life. Otherwise, your end will be miserable. Prince Zhaoâs troops are all like wolves and tigers, and Princess Pingyang will not be able to serve them!â
âBastard!â Ouyang Mu was furious upon hearing this. He kicked Yang Zhen in the chest, sending Yang Zhen flying two meters away.
Princess Pingyangâs face also turned pale with anger, but she understood that Yang Zhen could not die yet. She needed Yang Zhen to remove all the informants near the firearms camp.
âCough, cough.â
Ouyang Muâs strength was immense. With that kick, a trickle of blood flowed from Yang Zhenâs mouth.
Princess Pingyang said, âYang Zhen, you have misunderstood me. Do you truly believe I am merely a person who indulges in pleasures? And do you truly believe I would fancy you? Whether I can escape from Prince Zhaoâs grasp is my business, but you will not live to see the day you meet Prince Zhao.â
Yang Zhenâs face changed. He was filled with regret at this moment, having never expected to be ruined by Princess Pingyang.
âWhat exactly do you want?â
âItâs simple. You immediately order the withdrawal of all informants near the firearms camp,â Princess Pingyang said.
Yang Zhen immediately realized something. âYou are planning an uprising!â
âYou are so rebellious, you should have expected this day,â Princess Pingyang said sternly. âGive the order, or I will kill you now.â
As if responding to Princess Pingyangâs command, Ouyang Muâs long sword, pressed against Yang Zhenâs chest, exerted a little more force. Yang Zhen felt a sharp pain, and the fear of death clutched his heart.
âPrincess, you canât defeat Prince Zhao,â Yang Zhen still refused to give up and continued to persuade.
Princess Pingyang remained cold and indifferent. She said to Yang Zhen, âYou still donât understand. I never participated in the struggles between the princes simply because no matter who won, the Great Yu Empire would still be named Xiao. But Prince Zhaoâs wild ambition is known to all. How could I live under his power? I will give you one last chance. Even if you donât withdraw your informants, the firearms camp will still launch an uprising. It just means more obstacles.â
At this point, Yang Zhen finally understood Princess Pingyangâs intentions. âI never expected that even a princess would remember the royal ancestral teachings.â âAlright, Iâll have the informants monitoring the firearms camp withdrawn.â
âGive him paper and pen,â Princess Pingyang said coldly.
At this time, the servants of the Princessâs mansion immediately placed paper and pen in front of Yang Zhen. After hesitating for a moment, Yang Zhen took up the brush and wrote a handwritten order to withdraw the informants, which he handed to Princess Pingyang.
âPrincess Pingyang, are you satisfied now?â Yang Zhen asked.
Glancing at the content of the handwritten order, Princess Pingyang slowly nodded. âI will send someone to deliver the handwritten order. Your Lijing Gate is full of tricks. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, you will have to remain here.â
Yang Zhen nodded dejectedly. Just then, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, and then lost consciousness.
Ouyang Mu withdrew his hand and said to Princess Pingyang, âYour Highness, whatâs the use of keeping Yang Zhen? Itâs better to kill him.â
âNo, keeping him still has some use,â Princess Pingyang said, frowning. This time, rescuing Consort Zhen and the Emperor was a desperate gamble for her, but at the same time, she needed to secure a retreat for herself.