Chapter 229

Li County was filled with songs and dances of peace; it seemed no one felt uneasy just because this place was the rebel base.

At the recruitment site to the east, people coming and going to sign up were endless.

Could it be that all these people have been deceived? They don't know that Qi Shihuai has already rebelled? Do they still think the court is recruiting?

But Zheng Gui clearly told him that the court had already posted wanted notices everywhere; now everyone under heaven should know that Prince Jia Gu Rongjin, Qi Shihuai, and others are rebel leaders!

Why has it come to this?!

Why do the common people no longer support the court?

Don't they know that once war breaks out, the people will suffer and be displaced?

"Don't you see, the two of you, this is the life everyone ought to have; now even the border folk can return to such days—shouldn't they feel happy?" Prince Jia turned his head and asked.

Xiao Yichen remained silent, Pei Shangling shook his head, shaking it repeatedly: "But clearly it's you rebels who want to destroy their peaceful life!"

"Is that so? Without me, guess how long the allied forces would take to capture Jingcheng?" Prince Jia countered.

Qi Shihuai: "Besides me, what other capable generals does the court have? Zheng Gui became a prisoner with ease."

"Zheng Gui is nothing but a waste!" Pei Shangling argued.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Yet the court can now only make use of such a waste."

The court has a million troops, yet dares not fight and has no one usable, watching the empire crumble into meat for other nations to carve up?" Prince Jia asked Pei Shangling and Xiao Yichen: "How far have you read in your sages' books?"

Mu Yuanzhi thought to herself that the two of them reading the sages' books was an insult to the sages!

Xiao Yichen clenched his teeth and remained silent; those words struck straight at his spirit.

Pei Shangling also stopped speaking.

Take them away; they're like paper lanterns that can't be lit—anyway we don't lack these two, a civil official and……" Gu Rongjin simply couldn't find any adjective to describe Pei Shangling, and got stuck.

Pei Shangling was made furious by Gu Rongjin's getting stuck.

Who do you look down on?!

"Gu Rongjin!" Pei Shangling snarled angrily: "You, a rebel, actually……"

"I defect." Xiao Yichen suddenly spoke.

Pei Shangling's words trailed off into nothing; he stared at Xiao Yichen in disbelief, anger surging to his forehead as he pointed at Xiao Yichen: "Even you want to become a rebel?!"

Unbelievable, the left and right arms the Father Emperor valued, the Senior Grand Secretary actually also wants to rebel?!

"Are you kicked in the head by a donkey?!" Pei Shangling cursed.

Xiao Yichen didn't look at Pei Shangling, but turned to Prince Jia: "Perhaps you're right."

Have you thought it through, Xiao Yichen? Once you become a rebel, your nine clans will be killed because of you!

Rest assured, your family I myself will protect them out of the city to reunite with you." Prince Jia said.

Pei Shangling scoffed: "What guarantee do you have?!"

Just because I defeated the allied forces." Prince Jia also didn't waste more words with Pei Shangling.

With your guarantee, I can rest easy." Xiao Yichen also had no further worries.

After making this decision, he instead felt relieved.

Pei Shangling laughed loudly: "Crazy, even Xiao Yichen has gone mad!"

Come on, Fourth Prince, you should return to the prison, while your little companion is now free." Gu Rongjin laughed and gave Pei Shangling a push.

Don't push me, I'll walk on my own! You rebels, wait for your heads to fall!" Pei Shangling finally glanced at Mu Yuanzhi before leaving.

Xiao Yichen, you will surely regret it! Your family will also be killed because of you!

Xiao Yichen asked Prince Jia: "What other support do you have in Jingcheng?"

Don't worry about that; I can guarantee you, I will definitely bring all your family over.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Your wife, Pei Yunxi, could come over first, though I don't know if you'll be able to reunite."

Pei Yunxi? Xiao Yichen didn't understand.

Qilin: "You don't know yet, Senior Grand Secretary, your beloved wife Pei Yunxi has already fled the capital to find you!"

Xiao Yichen looked at Mu Yuanzhi: "I have no connection with her; I already gave her the divorce papers."

Gu Rongjin stood in front of Mu Yuanzhi, blocking Xiao Yichen's view: "Well, you really are a heartless man, abandoning one after another."

He teased.

Xiao Yichen: "I never wanted to marry her; the only one I want to marry is……"

Can only think ill of your brain.

Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi spoke in unison, the two smiling at each other, which was an even greater blow to Xiao Yichen.

Senior Grand Secretary Xiao, please, I still have matters to discuss with you properly." Prince Jia made a gesture of invitation.

Xiao Yichen gave Mu Yuanzhi a deep look before leaving.

That Xiao Yichen, shouldn't we give him a bit of poison?" Qilin asked uneasily.

Gu Rongjin: "Rest assured, although this person's character isn't great, in this regard he can still be trusted."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Although I agree with your idea, I think giving him a bit of hardship would also be excellent."

You don't have to worry, I'll secretly give him poison, guaranteeing he won't know." Qilin gave a sinister smile and produced a stick of Tibetan incense.

When did you steal it?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

What's with the stealing talk? I asked my master for it.

You little brat, whenever you have something you call 'master, master,' but when you have nothing you renounce your six kin." Gu Rongjin was speechless.

You're no different, for that stinky woman you've scolded me several times, yet I'm willing to put up with you—that's my magnanimity!" Qilin snorted, "I'm off!"

Mu Yuanzhi worriedly said: "I don't know how the National Teacher is doing in Jingcheng; he still needs to help Cloud Mirror Tower sneak into the palace gates."

Don't worry, the Son of Heaven trusts Xiao Yang even more than you imagine; he will surely make it out unscathed." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Hopefully."

At this moment, in the Imperial Observatory, Yun Jinglou was listening to the National Teacher explain the rules and precautions of the palace gate. Since it was necessary, Yun Jinglou was now dressed as a woman, having shrunk her bones, altered her voice, and applied makeup, without a single flaw.

Even the National Teacher would sometimes be dazed, thinking that the stunning beauty before him must have come from somewhere.

"No man doesn't love a beautiful woman; you're the one I recommended, and His Majesty will surely look upon you with new eyes." said the National Teacher.

Yun Jinglou was very confident: "That's natural, after all, it's me."

The National Teacher cleared his throat and continued: "You just need to remember the metaphysics I taught you to recite; when necessary, open the sachet I gave you; if the situation is truly dire, you can only……"

"Improvise!" Yun Jinglou interjected, "Don't worry, National Teacher; I've lived this long and still have made a mistake."

"…Really? I heard you were captured by Master Yuan Yan."

Yun Jinglou blinked and said: "You say you only heard about it, but I have long admired General Qi and wanted to join them for a long time; I just never had the chance, and now this opportunity to defect has come."

"Take this; if His Majesty lets you share his bed, you just need to light it, and he will dazedly think he has already slept." said the National Teacher, producing several specially made incense sticks.

"How convenient—just stab him and be done with it!"

"…"

"Just joking; I certainly know how chaotic Jingcheng will become if the emperor suddenly dies, and when those overconfident people stir things up, the difficulty of our grand plan will instantly increase."

"Young Master Yun is a smart person."

"It's Miss Yun!" Yun Jinglou took the incense, questioning: "Why only a few sticks?"

"A few are enough." the National Teacher smiled.

Yun Jinglou returned a perfunctory smile: "What can I say? Naturally, I just nodded."

"Young… Miss Yun, as long as you find evidence that His Majesty's throne is illegitimate, we will win; don't do any other pointless things, understand?" the National Teacher gave his final warning.

"Don't worry, National Teacher; don't look down on me like this—I'm reliable!" Yun Jinglou left, twisting her waist like a water snake: "I bid you farewell."

The National Teacher blew out the candles in the room, and outside there was suddenly a strange sound!

Obviously, the eavesdropper hadn't expected to be discovered.

He was about to flee in panic, but as he turned, a moment later an oppressive shadow appeared before him.

"Junior Superintendent, you look quite idle." the National Teacher smiled.

"National… National Teacher…"

"Who sent you?"

The Junior Superintendent swallowed his saliva; the National Teacher, usually as saintly as a sage, now showed fear, stammering: "It's His Majesty! His Majesty's oral decree—I dare not disobey!"

"Really?" the National Teacher leaned toward the Junior Superintendent: "I'll give you one more chance—who sent you?"