Xiang Beizheng thought that Zisu had guessed his identity through the jade seal of the Great Jin Dynasty. He never expected that there was someone else who knew his true identity.
Lati and Mundi, who had been hiding on the chariot, were slowly escorted forward by the soldiers.
When Zisu came to attack Cixi City, she brought Lati and her daughter with her. Her intention was to prevent Xiang Beizheng from denying his identity when they confronted each other.
"I can testify," Lati stepped forward. "Back then, after He Yanshu returned from the Great Jin Dynasty, she was pregnant with the child of the deposed emperor of the Great Jin. In order not to let the young lady marry the deposed emperor and disrupt the rules of the southern border, the master drove the young lady out of the house. Your are the young lady's child."
Xiang Beizheng looked at Lati standing below the city wall. He had no idea who she was. "Who are you? What right do you have to testify?"
"I'm the woman of the heir of the He Yan family, and she's the heir's daughter," Lati said, pulling Mundi. "If you don't believe me, we can use the red lotus of the He Yan family to prove it." Lati said straightforwardly.
Now that the princess had returned and would avenge the He Yan family, she didn't need to hide anymore. She wanted to avenge the young master and the master who had died.
The red lotus of the He Yan family was not a secret. It was a recognition of the direct descendants of the family. When everyone heard what Lati said, they knew that she was telling the truth.
Xiang Beizheng rolled his eyes. "Why should I confront you?" With that, he got off the city tower.
Yi Qing brought a megaphone to Zisu. "It can make your voice carry farther."
Zisu felt a bit strange holding this thing, but she took it anyway. "Defenders of Cixi City, Xiang Beizheng is not a subject of our southern border. He has evil intentions. We must drive this jackal out together..."
Soon, chaos broke out in Cixi City. After a while, the drawbridge was lowered, and the common people and some defenders came out to welcome the princess.
Everyone entered the city and went straight to Chen Yuqing's palace. It was in a complete mess. Some people were trying to grab things and run away, while others were trying to stop them.
They searched everywhere and finally found Chen Yuqing's body in the dungeon. The body was crawling with insects and was beyond recognition.
"Xiang Beizheng has escaped," Su Ge came in and bowed.
Zisu knew it wouldn't be easy to catch Xiang Beizheng today.
Xiang Beizheng must have realized that his situation was hopeless. He must have run away when he got off the city tower. Now he was just a stray dog.
No!
The southern border had never been his home.
Zisu looked at the body on the ground. "Bury her. Don't leave any tombstone."
"Yes," Su Ge bowed.
Lu Tianzuo led his men to camp outside the city. The task of cleaning up the battlefield was left to the people of the southern border. King Zhen came out to talk to them.
"The general is missing?" Lu Tianzuo stared wide - eyed, as if he couldn't believe it.
In his eyes, the general was omnipotent. He couldn't believe that the general could be missing.
But this trip to the southern border was full of unexpected events for Xiao Jinghan. The Ruyi Cake involving so many forces was an accident, Xiang Beizheng's identity was an accident, and the He Yan family's connection with the jade seal of the Great Jin was also an accident.
King Zhen patted Lu Tianzuo on the shoulder sympathetically. He had fought side by side with Xiao Jinghan and knew it was normal for Lu Tianzuo to have a hard time accepting this news.
"I will definitely find the general. Even if I have to turn the southern border upside down, I will find him," Lu Tianzuo said firmly.
He thought that being missing just meant being lost and that nothing bad had happened.
The general was the god of war of the Great Jin. He was omnipotent and there couldn't be any accidents.
King Zhen didn't say anything. How could he just tell Lu Tianzuo that Xiao Jinghan might be dead?
This time, the Great Jin had fully assisted the princess of the southern border in subduing the southern border. With Chen Yuqing dead and Xiang Beizheng's identity exposed, he had become a stray dog. Chen Yu'an's army advanced like a broken bamboo.
"Where's Yi Qing?" Zisu didn't see Yi Qing when she returned to her residence.
"Mrs. Xiao said she went out to look for General Xiao," Su Ge whispered.
"I told you to watch her. How did you do it?" Zisu was angry.
"Let her go. It will make her feel better if she has something to do," King Zhen came in. "She's not a reckless person. She'll be okay after this difficult time. Nothing bad will happen to her."
"You don't know. She's slow to react to emotions. The longer the time passes, the more sad she might be."
King Zhen really didn't know.
"I've already sent people to follow Mrs. Xiao. There should be no problem," Su Ge said uncertainly.
"Xiang Beizheng hasn't been caught yet. What if she runs into his men?" Zisu couldn't be at ease.
The southern border had a tropical climate. Yi Qing had already studied the map of the Cixi area. She put on a witch - doctor's robe and walked downstream along the moat of Cixi with three secret guards.
Xiao Jinghan had been seriously injured. He must need a doctor. Even if he was unconscious, the people who saved him would find a doctor for him.
She walked slowly along the river. Whenever she came across a village, she would go in to inquire and also treat the villagers' illnesses.
There were many parasites here, but most people were used to them. Yi Qing taught them some simple ways to treat parasites.
When she was tired, she would find a place to rest, treat patients, eat something, and then continue on her way.
Zisu finally found Yi Qing. Seeing her concentrating on treating patients, Zisu didn't disturb her. She waited until Yi Qing was done before approaching her.
"I've already sent people to look for him. Why do you have to do this?" Zisu said with concern.
"Maybe he's in a place where he can't be found by ordinary means," Yi Qing said as she slowly packed up her things.
Zisu looked at Yi Qing. In her perception, Yi Qing was a person who never got discouraged. No matter what happened, she always seemed confident.
But as soon as something happened to Xiao Jinghan, she seemed to lose all her luster. She looked extremely solemn.
"Then you should at least let my men follow you. Xiang Beizheng should still be in the southern border."
"Look, Xiang Beizheng is such a big man, and you can't even find him in the southern border. How much harder would it be to find General Xiao?" Yi Qing forced a smile. "Besides, you're very busy now. The southern border is in ruins and needs your help. By the way, when are you going to ascend the throne?"
"The date has been calculated. It's on the third day of next month."
Yi Qing nodded. "You want to catch Xiang Beizheng, don't you?"
That was exactly what Zisu wanted. Xiang Beizheng knew the southern border too well. If he escaped, he would be a hidden danger. "Come back and help me."
"I don't think Xiang Beizheng will go to his death. Moreover, this man is venomous and may use poison," Yi Qing thought for a while and said.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about," Zisu looked at Yi Qing. "I need you."
Yi Qing looked into the distance. "I heard there are two more villages ahead. I'll go and check them out and then come back. Don't worry too much. I'll come back after I'm done."
"I'll go with you," Zisu couldn't be at ease.
Xiang Beizheng didn't run far. He had always known his own identity and had already built up his own forces and camps. After leaving Cixi, he went to his own camp.
It was a huge underground cave. No matter how hard Chen Yu'an tried, he would never have thought that Xiang Beizheng was not far from Cixi.
After hearing the report from the spy, he sneered. "The day of your ascension will be your death day. How's the excavation of the treasure vault going?"
"It's almost done," Wang Qiyao replied.