Chapter 666: Finally, the wait wasn't in vain

Xiao Ningyuan walked over, picked up the jade pendant in her hand and turned it over: "Where did you get this jade pendant? It's of fine quality!"

Tuan Tuan smiled proudly: "It's that bastard Qing Wang's!"

Xiao Ningyuan gasped: "How do you have his jade pendant?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head: "I picked it up while dreaming!"

"This thing belongs to that big bad guy; those people should recognize it, right, big brother? Would this work?"

"Dreaming?" Xiao Ningyuan looked at the jade pendant in his hand, "Tuan Tuan, you really do pick up treasures!"

"Tell big brother, where in the Prince's Mansion did you pick this up?"

Tuan Tuan thought: "That big bad guy was asleep, his clothes were placed beside the bed, and this jade pendant was lying on top of his clothes!"

She pursed her lips: "I did ask him, he didn't say he wanted it, so of course it was something nobody wanted! So I just took it."

Xiao Er's eyes lit up: "Sure! Young master, given that, this jade pendant was once Qing Wang's personal item; his subordinates would definitely recognize it!"

Lu Qi nodded: "This works better than a token or anything! With this, we can legitimately take the Ninth Prince out of the Prince's Mansion."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Right, that'll do."

"But we still lack something to lure Qing Wang out of the Prince's Mansion."

He glanced at Chen Hao: "You can't go; trading a life for a life isn't worth it."

"Exactly! Not worth it!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "My big brother is the best at making deals!"

Chen Hao was about to speak.

Xiao Ningyuan interjected: "Since you know Xiao Ran treats you sincerely, if he comes out and realizes he misunderstood you, and you ended up imprisoned trying to save him, he certainly won't let it rest."

"Does that mean we have to go rescue you again?"

Chen Hao was speechless.

Xiao Ran's temperament, he would indeed do that.

He pondered a moment: "What do you think, young master? Aren't they planning to use Xiao Ran to sacrifice to the flag?"

Xiao Ningyuan sat up straight: "What do you have in mind?"

Chen Hao whispered for a moment.

Chu Yuan's eyes lit up: "Good! This plan is excellent!"

He looked at Chen Hao: "You are a talent; don't sell yourself short. When His Majesty restores order to the court, with your abilities you can still serve the imperial court."

"Father is father, son is son; you and your father are not on the same path, so there's no need to force it."

"Thank you for the advice, National Preceptor." Chen Hao nodded, a smile appearing on his face for the first time.

Tuan Tuan beamed: "I just said Chen Hao is a good guy!"

Xiao Ningyuan thought: "However, we indeed lack manpower. Chen Hao, follow Xiao Er to rescue the Ninth Prince; you personally rescue him, and he'll naturally understand everything."

Chen Hao clasped his fists: "That's only right, I cannot shirk this duty!"

Xiao Ningyuan looked at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: "Tonight you prepare; tomorrow morning, we rescue them!"

"Yes!"

The next morning, at the si hour.

On the streets of Jingcheng, people came and went, carriages and horses flowed like a tapestry.

The old man selling fried dough shouted, the wonton stall was full of diners, and several children chased a spotted cat through the crowd.

Everything looked like an ordinary day.

Suddenly.

"Giddyap——!"

"Make way! Everyone make way!"

A swift horse galloped from the direction of the city gate, its hooves striking the blue stone slabs and sending up a shower of sparks.

The rider was tall and broad, dressed in a courier's uniform, covered in dust, his head and face smeared with ash, looking as if he'd been dug out of the earth, his features indistinct.

"Eight-hundred-li urgent——!"

His voice rang like a bell, he shouted with all his might: "The northwestern rebels have reached the outskirts of the capital——!"

The whole street instantly exploded into chaos.

"What?"

"The rebels are at the outskirts?"

"They're about to break in any moment!"

The bowl on the wonton stall clattered to the ground, hot soup splashing everywhere.

The old man's fried dough pole was instantly knocked over by someone, golden cakes rolling all over the ground.

Women scooped up their children and ran into the alleys.

The street that had been orderly just moments before fell into utter chaos in an instant.

The courier spurred his horse into a mad dash toward the Ministry of War, his cries unceasing: "Eight-hundred-li urgent——the northwestern rebels have reached the outskirts of the capital——"

Along the way, civilians scattered, screams, wails, and the sound of breaking things mingled together.

Outside the Ning Prince's Mansion, two guards on duty were chatting idly.

Hearing the commotion in the distance, one guard frowned: "Why is the street so noisy today?"

The other stretched his neck to look: "Who knows? Maybe there's just some other excitement!"

"Hey! No! Look over there!"

Only to see the crowd on the street scattering like sheep before a beast, fleeing in all directions.

Several panicked civilians ran past the Prince's Mansion gate:

"The rebels have reached the outskirts!"

Run!

What? Two guards' faces changed dramatically; one turned and ran back into the mansion.

He ran all the way to the study's door: "Your Highness! Something serious has happened!"

Qing Wang was sitting, drinking tea.

He frowned, put down his teacup, and asked: "What's the matter?"

The guard rushed in, knelt on the ground: "Your Highness! Everyone on the street is saying that the Xibei rebels have reached the outskirts of the capital!"

What? Qing Wang sprang to his feet, the teacup clattered to the floor, shards flying everywhere.

His face instantly turned ashen, he paced back and forth in the room twice, and shouted sternly: "Convey my order!"

Close the nine gates at once! Without my hand order, no one may enter or leave!

Yes! The guard turned and ran.

Qing Wang's eyes shone with excitement; Xiao Jieyun, you've finally come!

Immediately he shouted loudly: "Come here! Help me change clothes!"

Quick! Prepare the horse! Enter the Palace!

A few attendants rushed forward, fumbling as they helped him put on the court robes he had just taken off.

Qing Wang strode out of the Prince's Mansion, mounted his horse, leading a detachment of personal troops, and galloped toward the Imperial Palace.

The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away.

In a dark alley opposite the Prince's Mansion.

Xiao Er and Chen Hao, in disguise, led Tuan Tuan as they leaned against the wall, watching Qing Wang's back disappear around the corner.

Tuan Tuan whispered: "He's gone! Uncle Seven did a great job!"

Xiao Er nodded: "With the streets in such chaos, the Prince's Mansion surely isn't any better; now's the perfect time to strike."

Chen Hao's heart pounded: "From dusk until now, our wait hasn't been in vain."

The three walked to the back gate of the Prince's Mansion and waited patiently.

Meanwhile.

The courier who had been galloping all the way stopped shouting and looked around.

The townspeople on the street had mostly fled, leaving only overturned stalls, shattered bowls and plates, trampled vegetable leaves scattered haphazardly across the ground.

He could see that turning the next corner would bring him to the gate of the Ministry of War.

He suddenly pulled hard on the reins.

Whoa—!

The horse neighed loudly, lifted its front hooves, spun in place, as if startled, and bolted down a nearby side alley.

The courier clung to the horse's back, gripping the reins tightly, shouting hoarsely: "Make way! The horse is startled! Make way!"

The few pedestrians on the street hurried to the side, and the horse plunged deep into the alley, vanishing from sight in an instant.

The courier dismounted, patted the horse's neck, and said: "Go on, find somewhere to stay."

The horse let out a loud snort, flicked its tail, and galloped off down the other end of the alley.

He quickly stripped off the courier's outer robe, revealing the plain, dingy short jacket underneath.

He then roughly smeared the grime on his face twice, tucked his hat into his bosom, and altogether looked like a different person.

It was Lu Qi.