Chapter 190: It's Qi Shihuai!

Qi Shihuai?!

Mu Yuanzhi never expected to see Qi Shihuai here; she instinctively looked at Gu Rongjin, but his eyes were also full of surprise.

It was obvious that Gu Rongjin also hadn't expected to see Qi Shihuai here.

So what does this mean? Are these soldiers Qi Shihuai's troops?

Did the Son of Heaven order him to secretly train troops here?

No, it doesn't look like that.

She felt these weren't the court's regular troops.

Could it be that Qi Shihuai is privately raising troops?

What does he intend to do?!

Countless questions flooded Mu Yuanzhi's mind.

The others stood on guard, clearly sensing that Qi Shihuai came with ill intent.

"I, your humble servant, pay my respects, Princess." Qi Shihuai bowed with clasped hands, then nodded to each person in turn; when his gaze fell on Gu Rongjin, they exchanged a look before he looked away.

Mu Yuanzhi: "General Qi, why are you here?"

"In reply to Your Highness, I constantly worry about the safety of the realm; being here naturally concerns this matter." Qi Shihuai said with a laugh.

"If so, is it Father Emperor's order for you to secretly train troops here?"

Mu Yuanzhi's words clearly made the atmosphere turn eerie.

The aura emanating from those cavalry was even stronger than before, the sense of oppression unprecedentedly high.

Qilin unconsciously clenched the hidden weapon in his hand.

Qi Shihuai burst out laughing and said, "Princess, your words are still as amusing; do you know what order your father issued?"

"What order?" Mu Yuanzhi had a bad premonition.

Qi Shihuai's gaze swept over Gu Rongjin, then he composed himself and said to Mu Yuanzhi, "Peace talks."

National Teacher: "Valuing peace is not wrong."

"Indeed, war only brings suffering to the people, but does the National Teacher not know that our borders have been lost, two cities seized by the enemy, and countless civilians slaughtered?" As Qi Shihuai finished, his eyes nearly overflowed with anger.

What?!

At this moment, even the monk was surprised, raising his eyebrows.

In the few days they've been inside the primeval forest, the outside world has actually undergone such a tremendous change?!

Civilians were slaughtered by the enemy, and two cities were lost?!

Mu Yuanzhi chewed on Qi Shihuai's words in disbelief, unable to digest them for a moment.

"In that case, His Majesty still refuses to send me to lead troops against the enemy; he'd rather meekly seek peace, letting the enemy encroach further. Princess, do you think this is right?" Qi Shihuai pressed Mu Yuanzhi for an answer.

Gu Rongjin's expression grew solemn as he said, "So you're gathering troops here to rebel?"

These troops clearly aren't hastily assembled; they look well-trained, not at all like new recruits.

Now, without a tiger tally, Qi Shihuai certainly couldn't move the imperial forces.

Qi Shihuai laughed again, almost laughing to tears; his laughter in the empty space now seemed eerie and terrifying.

After finally finishing his laugh, Qi Shihuai retorted to Gu Rongjin, "Rongjin, you know better than I who is really rebelling. His Majesty ascended the throne illegitimately; he doesn't even have the right to command you—what kind of Son of Heaven is he?"

He said these treasonous words with a calm, contemptuous face, curling his lip in disdain.

"Do you still remember the oath you took when you first joined the Frost Descent Sect—to defend the realm unto death? Now the realm has been thrown into chaos by a usurper; shouldn't we overthrow the ruler?"

Qilin was greatly startled.

Is this person really intending to overthrow the Son of Heaven?

Just with these troops?

At most he probably has only ten thousand troops; even if he secretly hid more, the court surely has at least a million, right?

Like striking a stone with an egg?

"Qi Shihuai, you've lost your mind." Gu Rongjin furrowed his brows, "Do you think this is children playing with mud? You're tying the nine clans of everyone to your waistband."

"So you're afraid?" Qi Shihuai said coolly, mocking.

Mu Yuanzhi was still digesting the situation: the Son of Heaven sought peace instead of resisting the foreign invasion, while Qi Shihuai was urging Gu Rongjin to rebel…

This is no joke.

Just thinking about it made Mu Yuanzhi's heart race and her whole body tremble uncontrollably.

Gu Rongjin: "This isn't about whether I'm afraid; it's about whether the empire's people will plunge into dire straits!"

"Aren't the border people also people?" Qi Shihuai countered, "Or do you think that after seeking peace, the enemy won't encroach further, but instead will exacerbate the empire's fragmentation, causing feudal lords to rise in revolt—what then of the people? Don't forget this land once knew an era of warlords dividing the realm."

Gu Rongjin fell silent.

"It's fine; take your time to think—no rush, a day more and everything can change unpredictably." Qi Shihuai chuckled.

"Are you already a wanted criminal of the court?" Qilin asked.

His words made the already eerie atmosphere even more unspeakable.

"Qilin!" Mu Yuanzhi whispered to stop her junior.

"Not really; on the surface I'm still an unsuccessful general stuck in the capital." Qi Shihuai said.

Mu Yuanzhi thought, "Could Qi Shihuai also have a double?"

His gaze fell on the monk, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "And what about this master?"

"Amitabha, I'm just an insignificant monk."

"Interesting." Qi Shihuai obviously didn't believe it; he could tell at a glance that none of these people were ordinary.

Qi Shihuai's gaze returned to Mu Yuanzhi: "Princess, do you still want to go back?"

Gu Rongjin also looked at Mu Yuanzhi.

She wanted to go, no matter how far to the ends of the earth, he would follow; if she returned, he would accompany her.

"I naturally have to go back; there are still important things left undone."

Symbiotic Gu!

Moreover, Rongjin hasn't made a decision yet, and she hasn't either.

Nothing should be done impulsively without considering everything.

Qi Shihuai nodded, "Does this humble official need to send people to escort the Princess?"

"Qi Shihuai!" Gu Rongjin shouted low, his eyes still faintly carried killing intent.

Qi Shihuai didn't expect to see killing intent toward himself in Gu Rongjin's eyes.

As soon as Mu Yuanzhi is involved, this comrade-in-arms who has shared life and death loses his reason, right?

"Don't be so agitated; I mean it literally, I don't intend to use her as a bargaining chip, and besides, if I wanted a hostage I could just seize the Crown Prince." Qi Shihuai said.

Upon hearing that, Gu Rongjin finally restrained his killing intent.

Mu Yuanzhi then remembered that Qi Shihuai's younger sister was the prospective Crown Princess; was he going to abandon his own sister?

"How about it, Rongjin—will you answer me now, or stay and consider for a few more days?" Qi Shihuai issued an ultimatum, "Rest assured, I won't detain your sister-in-law."

Won't detain her, then what about others?

Mu Yuanzhi was certain she had heard the implied meaning in Qi Shihuai's words.

But who here would be suitable as a hostage?

The Crown Prince isn't so easy to seize; one would take someone useful as a hostage…… the National Teacher?