Quanzhou.
Mo Liandi's eyes were filled with fury. He couldn't help but clench the letter in his hand tightly, his eyes glaring with rage. "Ye Zhe, accompany this king to the capital!"
Good for you, Mo Yun. If you dare to harm a single hair on her head, I will surely fight you to the death.
Feeling the icy aura around Mo Liandi, Ye Zhe had no choice but to step forward bravely and stop him. "Your Highness, Ye Lin sent a message back. Since it was the princess's intention, she must have had a plan in mind. If Your Highness rushes there rashly, not only might you break the princess's plan and fall into Mo Yun's trap, but it might also endanger the princess's life. That would be a great loss."
Hearing this, Mo Liandi finally stopped in his tracks.
Ye Zhe let out a sigh of relief. Having served by the king's side for many years, he knew the king's character very well. The king would never let the princess take risks. But now that the situation was a foregone conclusion, they could only follow the princess's plan.
"Your Highness, it will only take a few more days to achieve great success. Xue Nan and the others have already arrived in Quanzhou and joined Xue Zhan. Your subordinate has sent someone to inform Xue Nan and Heng Niang to set off for the capital immediately to protect the princess. With their skills, it should not be difficult to protect her."
These two were highly skilled in martial arts. Together with Ye Lin, there should be no problems at all.
Mo Liandi clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with coldness. He took a deep breath to calm the restlessness in his heart. "This king wants to capture the capital within half a month!"
If someone else had said this, they would surely have been laughed at. Even if one rode a fast horse, it would take four or five days to travel from Quanzhou to the capital. There were several cities in between. To capture the capital within half a month was simply wishful thinking.
But Ye Zhe's expression remained unchanged. He bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, your subordinate will go and make preparations immediately."
They had been planning for more than a decade, so their efforts were not in vain. Although it seemed incredible to capture the capital within half a month, it was not impossible. Moreover, half a month was probably the limit that the king could endure.
...
The next day.
Xue Zhan brought Bai Hanfei and Xue Changsheng with him.
Bai Hanfei was filled with uneasiness. But his back was against the wall, and now Mo Liandi was his only hope.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
Xue Changsheng, on the other hand, looked calm and composed. He stood quietly by the side, looking as if he was watching a good show, just like Xue Zhan beside him.
Mo Liandi looked coldly at Bai Hanfei in front of him and said coldly, "You want to cooperate with this king?"
Bai Hanfei gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes. Mo Yun has captured my son, the only heir of the Bai family. Naturally, I cannot ignore this. I owe you for what happened back then. After rescuing Hao Yu, I am willing to be at your disposal. I only beg Your Highness to spare Hao Yu. I am willing to bear all the consequences."
This was his fault, and now that he had to pay for it, he felt strangely at peace.
Mo Liandi said coldly, "This king can help you, but you must also pay a price."
Bai Hanfei was overjoyed. He quickly nodded and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
After Bai Hanfei left, Xue Zhan frowned and said while shaking his fan, "Can this man really be trusted?"
That old fox Bai Hanfei was the most cunning. What if he suddenly turned against them...
But Mo Liandi said indifferently, "Never doubt the people you employ, and never employ the people you doubt."
Now that Liu Liu was in the palace, they naturally needed someone to protect her. Bai Hanfei was the most suitable candidate at the moment.
Xue Changsheng also nodded. "This old fox has a complex and scattered influence in the court. If we can make good use of him, it will be a good move."
Everyone had their weaknesses. He believed that Bai Hanfei was telling the truth when he said it was because of Bai Haoyu.
After all, Bai Haoyu was now the only heir of the Bai family. If something happened to him, would Bai Hanfei have to father another child for the Bai family at his old age?
I'm afraid Bai Hanfei would be more willing than able!
Therefore, he would do whatever it took to protect Bai Haoyu!
Mo Liandi also nodded. Then he handed the letter in his hand to Xue Changsheng. "I'll have to trouble the Grand Marshal."
Xue Changsheng said with a smile, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. Both A Nan and A Zhan are working for Your Highness. In the future, no matter who inherits the Grand Marshal's Mansion, they will have to rely on Your Highness. Please take care of them then."
As soon as he said this, before Mo Liandi could nod, Xue Zhan beside him said dejectedly, "I think the position of the Chief Magistrate of the Capital is quite good. You'd better let Xue Nan inherit your Grand Marshal's Mansion."
Xue Changsheng twitched the corner of his mouth. He couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with A Nan that day. These two brothers had said exactly the same thing! They were exactly alike.
He couldn't help but cough dryly. "I only have the two of you as my sons. No matter what, one of you has to inherit the mansion. I don't care about anything else."
This was no different from being a rogue.
But Xue Zhan was helpless. He couldn't just punch his father, could he? After all, this was his father...
Seeing the father and son like this, Mo Liandi finally showed a hint of a smile in his eyes. He couldn't help but cough dryly. "The Grand Marshal is right."
But this matter would probably fall on Xue Zhan's head...
Xue Zhan was furious. He immediately flung his sleeve and left.
Only Xue Changsheng and Mo Liandi were left facing each other.
...
In the capital, Mo Yun's face was full of gloom. He kicked over the desk in front of him, letting the official documents scatter all over the floor. The maids and eunuchs around him all knelt on the ground trembling, their faces full of fear and uneasiness.
"Let him come in!"
Eunuch Xu said nervously, "Yes."
A moment later, Bai Hanfei was brought into the imperial study. Looking at the mess on the ground, his expression remained unchanged. He bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Eunuch Xu was very sensible. He led the maids around him out and closed the door.
Mo Yun's face was full of malice. He said coldly, "You still dare to come back!"
Bai Hanfei's face remained unchanged. "Your subject has failed to handle the matter well. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Mo Yun snorted coldly, his eyes full of malice. "Where is Xue Changsheng?"
"Xue Changsheng colluded with the traitor and used a trick to lead your subject to Quanzhou. If it weren't for your subject's quick wits, your subject might have..."
Mo Yun sneered. Naturally, he didn't believe this. But thinking that Bai Haoyu was still in his hands, he figured that Bai Hanfei wouldn't be able to cause any trouble. So he let it go. "Go down."
Bai Hanfei breathed a sigh of relief. He then said again, "Your Majesty, your subject has also learned a piece of news."
"What news?"
"That traitor originally planned to march towards the capital half a month later. Now that your subject knows about it, he may be desperate and take a risk!"
Mo Yun sneered, his eyes full of mockery. "Since that's the case, let him come!"
He was not afraid of him!
Hearing this, Bai Hanfei didn't say anything else. He bowed respectfully and retreated.
But in his heart, he sneered. Mo Liandi's power was extraordinary. He had so openly told Mo Yun the time of his military dispatch. It showed that he was coming in full force and had made full preparations.