Chapter 227: Pursue!

Not long after the Shunhe Emperor and his party had left.

Cheng Wu brought the disguised Cheng Chengxuan and a few others to the City Gate.

They were carrying several food boxes.

Still several meters away, Cheng Wu began greeting them warmly.

"Brothers, are you busy? I've come to bring you all a meal."

The gate guard squad leader cheerfully called for someone to take the food.

"Oh my, you've spent money on us again today, Brother Wu."

Cheng Wu smiled and waved his hand.

"It's nothing, just something I did on the way."

A few gate guards rubbed their hands together, staring longingly at the food boxes.

The smell of wontons!

They had been hungry all night; a piping-hot bowl of wontons at a time like this was simply heavenly.

"Much appreciated, thanks a bunch."

Cheng Wu glanced toward the City Gate without leaving a trace.

"Come to think of it, the ones who really have it tough are you lot—one whole night on watch."

The squad leader tore off a chicken leg and muttered under his breath.

"Ain't that the truth? Can't sleep well either; just when you finally doze off, someone wakes you."

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan behind him gave Cheng Wu a look.

Cheng Wu gave a slight nod. He first slipped the squad leader an extra meat bun, then asked a question as if offhandedly.

"Oh? Who's got that kind of nerve?"

A gate guard nearby slurping wonton soup looked up at the words and answered.

"Who else but the Imperial Guard? Two carts, no idea what they went out for."

"Ahem!"

The squad leader coughed heavily twice and shot the man a sharp, warning glare. The guard immediately shrank his neck and dared not speak further.

Connecting it with the news Chu Yuan had shared last night, Cheng Chengxuan's hands clenched tight.

This is bad!

He gave Cheng Wu a look.

They had to go.

Cheng Wu bade them farewell, and the group hurried off.

"Young General, did you notice something?"

Cheng Chengxuan quickly instructed Cheng Xin beside him.

"Go tell Chu Yuan at once—the Shunhe Emperor has very likely already left the city!"

Cheng Xin's expression turned grave.

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news Cheng Xin brought, Chu Yuan cursed under his breath.

Sly old fox!

Just last night the news he'd received was still that the Emperor was half-dead and had summoned the imperial physician in the middle of the night.

Who would have thought the bastard had fled the city at dawn?

He hurriedly packed up and gathered his men.

"Tell your Young General not to worry—I'll send people to pursue right now!"

……

Meanwhile, after the Shunhe Emperor's party left the City Gate, they had been traveling less than half a day when a Qianlong Guard sent ahead to scout came to report.

"Master! Five li due north, a large rebel army spotted!"

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor's brow furrowed even tighter.

They had originally planned to rendezvous with the main Qianlong Guard force.

Who would have thought the Cheng Family would strike this fast!

Their party was small and could only avoid the enemy's sharp edge.

Thinking that he, the sovereign of a nation, had been reduced to fleeing his own city and was now forced to change course, the Shunhe Emperor felt both wronged and furious.

He gritted his teeth hard.

"Take a detour!"

"Yes!"

The party changed direction and was about to continue on their way.

"Report!"

The Qianlong Guard covering the rear came galloping up at full speed.

"Master, someone is pursuing!"

The Shunhe Emperor cursed under his breath and gave rapid orders.

"Leave three men to cover the rear! The rest, escort me out of here as fast as possible!"

Hearing this, Noble Consort Jia put on a frightened face and clung tightly to the Shunhe Emperor's arm.

"Xiyue Emperor, I'm so scared."

The Shunhe Emperor offered a distracted word of comfort.

"Imperial Consort, don't be afraid. We'll be safe very soon."

Yet Jia Guipin, leaning against his chest with her head lowered, showed not a trace of fear on her face. Instead, there was a sense of anxious urgency.

The few left behind to cover the rear naturally couldn't wait in place. After erasing the tracks left by the Shunhe Emperor's party, they drove the Horse Carriage off in another direction.

Chu Yuan caught up, and after a bout of fighting, realized he'd been tricked.

He looked at the captured Qianlong Guard, pointed his sword at the three men, and asked.

"Where were you originally headed?"

The three said nothing and bit their tongues in unison, killing themselves.

"Damn it!"

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking in the opposite direction.

"We chase that way!"

Meanwhile, after a bumpy ride of several li, the Shunhe Emperor, whose health had never been good, could hardly hold on any longer.

The party could only stop to rest briefly.

Jia Guipin looked at the Shunhe Emperor with heartache, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"Xiyue Emperor, this trip was so rushed we didn't have time to bring your medicine. Sleeping rough and eating in the wind—you've suffered."

The words pleased the Shunhe Emperor greatly. He covered his mouth and coughed twice.

"It's nothing. This little hardship counts for nothing."

Outside, the Qianlong Guard had also bought a small pot and dry rations from a nearby village, and boiled up another pot of hot water.

"Master, please eat something first."

Looking at the dry, hard flatbread and clear water, the Shunhe Emperor, who had always lived in luxury, truly found it hard to swallow. He only picked up a bowl of water and gave all the flatbread to Jia Guipin.

"Imperial Consort, you eat. I can't eat."

Jia Guipin's eyes flickered, her face wearing an expression of boundless worry.

"Xiyue Emperor, why don't I go into the woods and look around, pick some wild mushrooms, and make you a soup?"

"You're still ill—you must eat something, no matter how little."

Soup fills the belly better than water, and the Shunhe Emperor gladly agreed.

"Then I'll trouble you, Imperial Consort. Let those few go gather the mushrooms."

Jia Guipin answered softly.

"Alright. You rest well. I'll get down from the carriage first and boil some water."

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Qianlong Guard who had gone into the woods returned with a pouch of mushrooms.

"Imperial Consort (Gongzhu), these have been washed clean. We also caught two wild chickens."

Looking at that small pile of mushrooms, Jia Guipin was a little disappointed.

They could actually tell whether a mushroom was poisonous?

But fortunately, she hadn't intended to tamper with the mushrooms in the first place.

"Good, thank you for your trouble. Leave the rest to me."

An hour later, a simple pot of chicken soup was ready.

Only half a chicken was put in—after all, the pot wasn't very large.

The rest was left for the Qianlong Guard to roast and eat.

"Xiyue Emperor, the chicken soup is ready. Please try it quickly."

Knowing the Shunhe Emperor was deeply suspicious, Jia Guipin blew the soup until it was warm, then drank a mouthful in front of him, blushing as she said.

"I never expected the wild game from these Mountain to be so delicious. I couldn't help myself and took a sip first. Your Majesty won't mind, will you?"

The Shunhe Emperor took it with a smile.

"Imperial Consort has worked so hard for me—how could I be angry?"

After a bowl of delicious chicken soup, the Shunhe Emperor's brow eased considerably, and a bit of color returned to his face.

Outside, after serving the Emperor another bowl of soup, Jia Guipin divided what remained among the Qianlong Guard.

"There's still quite a lot left. Everyone have some together."

The Qianlong Guard looked hesitant and did not dare to move.

The Shunhe Emperor swept a glance over them.

"Since Imperial Consort Jia has bestowed it upon you, take it!"

Yes, Imperial Consort Jia.

As long as she was devoted to him, willing to share his hardships, upon the day of their return, being promoted to Noble Imperial Consort was not impossible.

Jia Guipin—no, now Imperial Consort Jia.

She curtsied joyfully.

"This concubine thanks Xiyue Emperor for his grace."

"Mm, rise. Accompany me for a walk."

The Shunhe Emperor extended his hand to her.

"Yes."

Qingyun quietly tucked the porcelain vial in her hand into her sleeve, then stepped forward with a smile to support his arm. The two walked a few steps into the distance.

After only a few steps, the Shunhe Emperor suddenly felt the scenery before him swaying back and forth.

He grabbed the person before him with a jerk, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only just barely rest his hand on the other's arm.

The Shunhe Emperor bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain cleared his head for a few seconds, and he glared viciously at the person before him.

"What have you done to me?!"

He turned his head and shouted for help.

"Guards! Protect His Majesty! Protect His Majesty!"

The Qianlong Guard heard the noise and scrambled up to rush over, but before they could get close, with a few thuds, those people fell to the ground one after another.

The Shunhe Emperor was greatly alarmed at the sight.

"It's the soup! You tampered with the soup!"

Not only does she look alike,

After shouting this line, he could no longer hold on either; he felt the world spin, his vision went black, and he completely passed out.

Qingyun disgustedly patted her hands, as if something dirty had gotten on them.

Then she lifted her foot and kicked the Shunhe Emperor several times, tossed the already-empty porcelain bottle onto his body, and gave a cold snort.

"Hmph!"

"Putting on that look of bestowing a favor—who are you showing it for? How utterly disgusting!"

"Make me a consort? Who wants that!"