At the Noon Gate of the imperial palace.
Because of the public execution, the usually closed Noon Gate was wide open.
Qi Xutao concealed herself among the on - looking crowd and subtly nodded at the jailers below the stage.
After making sure that the prisoner had been replaced with the one sentenced to death, Qi Xutao was just about to leave.
Suddenly, a dull rumbling like thunder came to her ears.
At first, it was very faint.
But Qi Xutao, a battle - hardened veteran, keenly sensed something was wrong!
Immediately afterwards, the ground began to tremble slightly.
Along with the screams and pleas for mercy from the common people.
On the horizon, a thick, inky tide line suddenly emerged!
Three thousand black - armored iron cavalry, each showing only a pair of blood - red eyes from their bloodlust.
It was as if a giant hammer had struck everyone's hearts, shattering their courage!
Qi Xutao's eyes were bloodshot with rage. She threw off her face - covering cloak and roared at the guards at the palace gate, "Quickly close the palace gate!"
In an instant, panic spread like a plague.
The screams of the palace maids, the fleeing of the eunuchs, the clanging of the guards' swords hitting the ground, and the desperate wails all made it extremely chaotic and noisy.
Qi Xutao was bare - handed and no match for the black - armored army.
Carelessly, she was pressed against the neck by a spear.
Just when she thought she was about to lose her life here, she heard a voice in her ear, "We mean no harm to Your Highness. Please leave this place as soon as possible."
Qi Xutao opened her eyes in astonishment, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw.
Amidst the chaos, Pei Zhaolin walked slowly with an oil - paper umbrella in his hand.
His robe brushed past the blood - splattered jade steps, looking as leisurely as if he were strolling in his own courtyard admiring the flowers.
He seemed oblivious to the whistling arrows and the flying blood around him.
A guard blocked his way with a sword.
A cold light flashed across Pei Zhaolin's fingertips, and immediately a blood hole appeared in the guard's throat. He fell silently.
His steps never hesitated for a moment as he walked straight into the imperial city!
Qi Xutao shook her head and roared, "This man is crazy!"
---
"Whoa—"
Zhu Er pulled the reins in a hurry.
"Master!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Cui Jintang quickly lifted the curtain.
Seeing the Grand Elder and the group of personal guards behind him, her brows furrowed tightly.
"Why is the Grand Elder here?"
As soon as A Xun saw the Grand Elder, she shrank back behind Cui Jintang in fear.
This evasive look made the Grand Elder so angry that his beard twitched.
He bowed his hands and bowed towards the direction of the imperial palace from afar. "Didn't the master send a message for us to enter the palace to rescue the emperor at an appropriate time?"
"Since we happened to meet the master here, it's even more convenient. May I ask when the master will enter the palace?"
Cui Jintang's brows furrowed even deeper. She immediately jumped out of the carriage.
Without someone to hold for courage, A Xun immediately panicked and hugged the stunned Ying Lan.
"When did I send a message to you in the prison?"
The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment and immediately took out a secret letter from his sleeve.
The handwriting on it was indeed Cui Jintang's.
But she was sure she had never written it!
Inside the carriage.
Zhu Er looked back at the confused Ying Lan and suddenly laughed.
Ying Lan immediately glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"
Zhu Er lowered his voice but there was a strange eagerness in it. "Tell me, in the capital, what kind of status is not considered 'low'?"
Ying Lan was stunned, obviously confused by this out - of - the - blue question.
It took her a long time to stammer, "Naturally, it's those noble families and imperial relatives."
Zhu Er's voice became even lower. "Do you know the 'Cui Clan of Qinghe'?"
Ying Lan nodded subconsciously. "The leader of the noble families, a prestigious family for hundreds of years. Who doesn't know?"
She suddenly stopped and looked at Zhu Er suspiciously. "Why do you mention this?"
Zhu Er didn't turn back, but his proud voice clearly floated into the carriage.
"What if I say that our young lady is the head of the Cui Clan of Qinghe?"
Ying Lan almost burst out laughing. "Zhu Er, are you crazy?"
"The head of the Cui Clan is such a remarkable person. I've heard that... no, few people even know whether it's a man or a woman. He or she is as mysterious as a dragon, and even a prince would give way in deference..."
Just as she finished speaking, she saw A Xun, who had been holding pastries, suddenly patted her chest seriously.
Then she pointed at Zhu Er and nodded heavily at Ying Lan.
Indicating that what Zhu Er said was true.
In an instant, the air in the carriage seemed to freeze.
Ying Lan opened her mouth wide, her eyes bulging. It was as if a heavy hammer had struck her head, making it buzz. All her thoughts were shattered into pieces.
Several scenes flashed through her mind repeatedly.
She remembered the open and veiled taunts at the banquet hosted by County Mistress Zhiheng, and the proud looks on the faces of those people when they showed off their family backgrounds.
The things they showed off so desperately and were so proud of were probably not even as good as the dust under their feet in front of their young lady's real identity!
Ying Lan felt dizzy and almost slipped off the cushion.
She said almost blankly, "Our young lady is actually the head of the Cui Clan! The eldest young master married County Mistress Zhiheng for power. I really want him to know all this and see his jealous face!"
Just this seemingly complaining sentence from Ying Lan.
Made Cui Jintang tremble violently all over.
A cold raindrop fell on her hand.
It instantly woke up her muddled nerves.
--- But Pei Zhaolin already knew her identity!
The heart - wrenching scene at the birthday banquet suddenly rushed back into her mind—
Pei Zhaolin looked down on her haughtily, his eyes full of contempt, and said, "An unseemly orphan girl? She's not fit to be a legal wife."
At that time, she only felt humiliated and heart - broken. But now, connecting the dots before and after, she tasted a completely different meaning.
It was not disdain, but...
A deliberate attempt to distance himself?
Immediately afterwards, more doubts came one after another.
Leaving the city today was too smooth.
The city - gate guards checked loosely and didn't even look closely at the document presented by Chu Yingfeng, which was completely different from the strict guard in the past!
And these days, Pei Zhaolin's actions were all very strange!
Countless mysteries wrapped around Cui Jintang, making it impossible for her to breathe.
"Return to the capital!"
Cui Jintang suddenly shouted, her voice trembling slightly due to her excited thoughts.
Chu Yingfeng beside her immediately looked over. "Going back now is like throwing yourself into a trap!"
Cui Jintang's sharp eyes scanned the seemingly calm official road and finally fixed on the vague outline of the imperial city in the distance. "Something's wrong. All of this is wrong!"
She said firmly, "Grand Elder, lead the personal guards and follow me back to the capital!"
The Grand Elder had been waiting for this order. Immediately, he led two horses over and mounted one.
Just as Zhu Er was about to follow, he heard Cui Jintang's order. "You stay here and protect A Xun and the others."
"Yes!"
---
In the imperial study.
Broken armor and halberds were scattered all over the ground, and the sound of fighting surged in like a tide.
The whole imperial city was filled with the smell of blood.
The emperor looked crazy. He staggered into the secret room, and his dragon robe was stained with the blood of who - knew - whom.
He pushed aside several gilded boxes angrily and fumbled randomly on the wall.
There was none! None! None!
Where was his royal sword?!