However... the soldiers who followed shouted loudly that they wanted to kill her. Their remarks were filled with the flavor of Nandu dialect.
At this time, the Nandu soldiers pretending to be under King Xin’s command headed for the east gate. They would inevitably clash with the Crown Prince’s men or even fight. She might need to find a way to make them fight, preferably capturing a few alive. Once the news reached King Xian, he wouldn’t be able to sit still.
A person rode quickly from afar, leapt down before the horse came to a stop, and said, "Miss, the east gate of Dadu City is fighting. The commander who led the troops to our mansion actually had their own people shot, seemingly not wanting any alive. They later fled in embarrassment. I followed them and saw those soldiers returning to Liuhuai Alley in the west of the city."
Bai Qingyan tightened her hands behind her back. It seemed she didn’t need to go to the trouble of making them fight. Now who was most concerned about Dadu City’s movements? It had to be King Xin and King Liang, who were waiting for the right moment to strike. King Xin would definitely send someone to investigate the commotion at the east gate to see if there were any captives.
She thought for a moment and then said, "Go watch Liuhuai Alley. If anyone comes out for information, find a way to send the news that... King Xin’s men captured some soldiers alive at the east gate. Say that... the captured soldiers claimed they were Nandu soldiers, ordered to impersonate King Xin’s men to rebel and support King Liang’s ascension. Deliver the news immediately."
The recently returned guard responded affirmatively and left quickly.
Bai Qingyan then looked at another Bai family guard and said, "Keep an eye on King Xin’s residence. If anyone comes out looking for news, tell them that King Xin’s men captured alive soldiers at the east gate who claimed to be Nandu soldiers. Say these soldiers supported King Liang. Pass the message to those secretly monitoring King Xin’s residence. If there’s any movement, return immediately to the east gate."
"Yes!" The Bai family guard responded, mounted his horse, and left quickly.
Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on the remaining eight guards. She said, "You eight will split into four teams to guard outside the four gates of the Imperial Palace. Report immediately if King Xin leads troops to forcefully enter the palace!"
The Bai family guards looked at each other, and one stepped forward, saying, "If we all leave, who will protect Miss’s safety? One person waiting outside the palace gates is enough!"
"Mr. Xiao brought hidden guards; you don’t need to worry."
"Miss, before we came out with you, Minister Lu repeatedly instructed us to ensure your safety, even at the cost of our lives. How could we entrust Miss’s safety to someone else! We must stay by your side and never leave!"
The Bai family guards knelt and begged to stay by Bai Qingyan’s side.
"Miss, trust us. We were once Bai family soldiers, which is why Minister Lu chose us to protect you. We’ve all been through many battles. Even if we die, we’ll deliver news of any activity outside the palace gates to the east gate! But we can’t leave you alone!"
Bai Qingyan knew that Bai family soldiers were loyal and brave from life to death.
She nodded, bent, and helped the guards up. "Alright, four of you go to the four gates of the Imperial Palace, and the other four follow me to the east gate of Dadu City."
The four guards responded affirmatively, mounted their horses, and left quickly.
Bai Qingyan stood alone outside the empty Crown Prince’s Residence. She looked back at the residence, leapt onto her horse, and headed slowly towards the east gate.
King Xin understood that delay could lead to changes. He could only take risks with his troops, gathering forces with King Liang to besiege the Imperial Palace. In the name of rescuing the Crown Prince and the Emperor, he would first join forces with the Patrol Camp to eliminate the imperial guard and then wield a knife against the Crown Prince. freewebnøvel.coɱ
King Xin patted King Liang’s shoulder and said, "Even if King Xin knows, it doesn’t matter. King Xin has to guard against the 20,000 soldiers from Anping Camp outside the city and deal with the Patrol Camp, already in the palace with the Crown Prince. He won’t have time for us!"
King Xin held King Liang’s hand and turned to the generals from Nandu in the hall. He said loudly, "Since King Xin already knows, let King Liang lead us to the Imperial Palace to kill the traitor King Xin and cooperate with the Patrol Camp to eliminate the rebellious imperial guard!"
Finishing his words, King Xin squeezed King Liang hard and turned to him. "After we kill King Xin, we will wipe out the unprepared Patrol Camp and then the Crown Prince. It will be easy to pin the blame on King Xin. King Liang, it will merely seem you were late in coming to save the Emperor."
King Liang’s heart raced, feeling the throne was almost within reach.
"I... I will follow Father-in-law!" King Liang said timidly.
"Have the Nandu soldiers hidden throughout Dadu City gather at Wude Gate!" King Xin held his sword at his waist and shouted, "We... enter the palace immediately to protect the Emperor!"
The Nandu soldiers in the hall raised their fists, their morale high as if they had already won.
Before leaving, King Xin ordered the Hidden Guard to secure the residence.
Standing beside King Xin, King Liang cautiously stepped forward and said in a voice like a mosquito’s, "Father-in-law, should we capture the second madam and the seventh girl from the Princess of Zhen’s residence? This Princess of Zhen is a military genius. If... if she really has the ability to bring the 20,000 soldiers from Anping Camp through the four gates guarded by King Xin’s men, what then?"
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