"My lord, my second son." The brother and sister saluted.
Duke Zhao waved his hand: "No need, let's talk about the situation first."
"Yes." Hu Liang reported, "When we arrived at the outskirts of Beijing, we found out that the city gate had been closed for half a month. No one was allowed in or out except for rice, grain, firewood and other items every day. It took some effort for my subordinates to find a way to get around.
The food team was finally able to enter the city. The city was heavily guarded, with guards constantly on the road, and the people's homes were closed. My subordinates contacted Manager Zhou and finally got the exact information from him."
"What?"
Hu Liang raised his head and said in a deep voice: "There was a palace incident. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a banquet in the palace, and even King Duan was given wine... At the third watch, there were soldiers and horses coming and going in the street, and suddenly there was a fire in the palace.
, the shouts of killing continued. On the second day, martial law began in the city, and Manager Zhou secretly sent someone to inquire about the news, only to learn that the imperial city had changed hands."
Yan Ling had been in Beijing for more than half a year and had many eyes and ears in the palace. He only got the news on the second day, which showed that the other party was fully prepared.
Duke Zhao asked calmly: "Your Majesty gave Prince Duan a poisonous bar? Didn't you have time?"
"Yes. The chamberlain who gave the wine was kidnapped. King Duan used this to call the palace door open, and then..."
Yan Ling couldn't help but sigh. The emperor still cared too much about his reputation. If he had killed Prince Duan early, this would not have happened. However, having said that, the imperial power has declined. Even if Prince Duan is gone, Jiang Yi will still find him.
Any other excuse is just another way of doing it.
"Where is the prince?"
Hu Liang shook his head: "The East Palace was attacked for the second time. Liao Ying followed His Majesty's dying orders to rescue the prince, but unfortunately he was not rescued."
Yan Ling's heart twitched and she lowered her head sadly.
He originally had some hope in his heart, maybe the prince could escape the disaster? Unfortunately, God was not merciful in the end.
"Is this news accurate?" Duke Zhao asked cautiously.
"It's true, General Manager Zhou has sent someone to check it." Hu Liang said with certainty, "Prince Duan originally wanted to force His Majesty to write the edict of passing the throne, but His Majesty had a heart attack and went immediately. The prince was shot by random arrows.
, also died on the spot.”
It sounds like they didn't suffer too much, which is a consolation.
After asking about the matter, Duke Zhao waved them away, and only the father and son were left in the study.
"One month, it seems we will receive the edict soon."
After King Duan cleans up the mess, he will issue an edict to inform the world.
"Father, what should we do?" Yan Ling raised her eyes, her eyes a little confused, "Do you want to register?"
Duke Zhao laughed: "Of course."
Yan Ling was stunned: "Do you want to admit him?"
"No. We are not here to celebrate, but to question."
The emperor died in an unknown manner, and even the prince suffered an accident. As a minister, how could he not ask questions?
"As soon as the edict comes out, the world will be in turmoil. We can't be the first to take the lead, but we can't ignore it either. I, the Yan family, have been ministers of the Gao family for two hundred years and have been loyal and loyal. How can I lose my way of serving in the end?
The closer we get to a critical period, the more patient we must be."
Listening to his father's explanation, Yan Ling slowly gained a sense of reality and breathed out slowly: "I will return to Rongguan in the future to guard the gate for Guanzhong."
Duke Zhao Guo nodded and said apologetically: "Miss Xu San will get her hairpin next month, and I originally promised you to celebrate in person. However, the current situation is such that my father can only break his promise."
Yan Ling nodded without any complaints: "I understand, kid."
Compared with the great changes in the capital, this matter is not that important, and I think Xu Yin will understand.
Duke Zhao Guo said again: "Of course, my father will send someone else to discuss the marriage. It didn't matter if your marriage was earlier or later. But now that something like this has happened, our alliance with Nanyuan has become imminent. The world will be in chaos at any time. , it’s better to settle it as soon as possible.”
Yan Ling couldn't help but smile.
He didn't feel unhappy because of his father's plan. He was always the person he liked. If this marriage could help the family, it would be the best of both worlds. It couldn't be better.
Duke Zhao patted his second son on the shoulder, got up and walked to the window, looking at the dark night.
There is no moon tonight, and the stars are twinkling brightly, vying for glory in the night.
Yan Ling listened to her father's voice, low and firm: "From tomorrow, our Yan family will embark on that road. There may be flowers and brocades ahead, or there may be mountains of corpses and seas of blood. We must all be prepared. , we can only move forward without looking back!”
He calmed down his emotions and responded solemnly: "Yes."
…
Under the cover of night, a shabby-looking carriage was speeding along the avenue.
While running, the horse suddenly neighed and jumped forward.
The coachman hurriedly reined in his horse, but unfortunately he was too hasty and eventually capsized.
"Ah!" Several people exclaimed, and someone fell out of the carriage.
The maid on the outermost side hurriedly got up and went to help her master: "Madam, Madam, are you okay?"
The woman she was supporting was about thirty years old. Although she was wearing a sarong, her pretty face was clearly that of Concubine Liu Xian in the palace.
"Aunt!" Another younger girl also stumbled over, but it was Liu Xi'er.
Concubine Xian rolled out like this, feeling like her bones were about to fall apart, but she knew she could only endure it for now, so she gritted her teeth and got up: "It's okay."
She raised her head to see the maid driving the car: "What's going on?"
After observing it, the chamberlain replied in panic: "Madam, the horse, the horse has run to death..."
There were three people in the carriage, plus him as the driver. The horse was already running hard and was being whipped forward all the time. It was already at its limit.
Liu Xi'er panicked as soon as she heard it: "What, what should we do? Without the horse, will we be overtaken? I, I..."
"Why are you panicking!" Concubine Xian scolded, with deep disgust in her heart. She thought that when the eldest sister was still here, all the daughters of the Liu family were smart, but unlike now, they couldn't even pick out a decent one, so she could only With such a fool!
She couldn't help but think of Miss Xu San. If her niece were her, why would she need to take advantage of the chaos to escape? Maybe she could be a blessing in disguise and reach the sky in one step.
It's a pity that the reality is like this. For the sake of her own life, she can only bear this breath - this girl is still useful.
"We have entered the realm of Guanzhong. The pursuers dare not come. Just be patient and it will be fine when we reach Tongyang."
Liu Xi'er calmed down a little, but then she became worried again: "Aunt, how are we going to get there without the horse?"
"Without the horse, do we still have no feet?" Xian Fei gritted her teeth and said, "We are already here, and we have to walk over there!"
"Ah? This..." Liu Xi'er was at a loss. How could he possibly walk such a long distance?
Concubine Xian was too lazy to talk to her. She had finally escaped from the capital and saved her life, so of course she couldn't stay here.
Fortunately, she still has a way out, as long as she finds him, finds him...