That night,
The starlight was brilliant.
While the noble families were still waiting for news, the area outside the imperial palace was already swarming with people.
Flying fish robes!
So many flying fish robes!
They seemed to stretch endlessly, and every wearer of a flying fish robe had a solemn expression.
This was because today's mission was extremely important!
For this reason,
All the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the Sili Province were mobilized by Yu Huatian, totaling nearly eight thousand men.
Of course!
Such a large mobilization was not solely for the protection of a single Emperor Ling.
There were quite a few people who needed to break through this time!
Some were on Ye Feng's list of those needing assistance, while others were discovered by Yu Huatian himself.
In any case,
By the time Emperor Ling emerged with his harem and the Ten Eunuchs, the number of people gathered had already reached close to two hundred.
"Your Majesty, this..."
Empress He, who had already understood the situation, tightly gripped Emperor Ling Liu Hong's arm, her voice filled with sorrow as she said,
"There are no carriages or anything. How can Bian'er endure this?"
"Endure?"
Emperor Ling Liu Hong cast a cold glance at Liu Bian and said impatiently,
"If he cannot even endure this hardship, what right does he have to inherit the Han Dynasty?"
"Enough!"
Seeing that Empress He was about to say more, Emperor Ling abruptly waved his hand.
"This breakout is fraught with peril, and we will discuss everything once we are out!"
"Yes, yes..."
Empress He suppressed her sorrow and followed Emperor Ling to the center of the square.
However,
As they turned a corner behind a wall of people, they found a carriage parked in the open space.
"Hmm?"
Seeing the carriage clearly from within the palace, Emperor Ling's brows furrowed slightly.
He remembered Yu Huatian telling him that everyone would be riding horses this time.
"Your Majesty, Empress..."
As Emperor Ling was puzzled, Yu Huatian strode over.
"Your Majesty, due to the limited number of carriages and the need to transport a few very important individuals, for now, only the Empress and the First and Second Princes can ride in it."
"No matter~!"
Upon hearing that his wife and children could ride, Emperor Ling's expression improved considerably.
He knew it!
If even he, the Emperor, didn't have a carriage, who else would be qualified?
It seemed the carriage was prepared for the women.
But...
Glancing at his collection of consorts, Emperor Ling Liu Hong felt something was amiss.
Why were only the Empress and two princes getting on?
What about the others?
Were these young ladies expected to ride horses alongside them?
If they fell off along the way, wouldn't they be taken advantage of by those Yellow Turban rebels?
Unfortunately,
Yu Huatian clearly had no intention of explaining to him that his wife and children were fortunate enough to get a ride in the carriage.
If it weren't for the individuals his lord specifically requested, he wouldn't have bothered preparing a carriage.
As for those who fell off their horses?
Rest assured!
The charging warhorses would have trampled you to death long before the Yellow Turban rebels could get to you.
"Everyone, mount your horses~!"
As Yu Huatian gave the order, men, women, and children in the square mounted their horses.
No one caused trouble, no one spoke, and no one found anything amiss.
Who could blame them? These people were being saved.
They had all heard vivid descriptions of the Yellow Turban rebels outside the city countless times.
Thinking of the scene after they entered the city, everyone couldn't help but shiver.
Therefore,
When they heard that Yu Huatian could escort them out of the city, most people, except for a very few, expressed no objections.
As for those few exceptions?
Upon seeing that the current Emperor was also accompanying them, even they conceded.
They had no choice but to concede!
If even the current Emperor had to ride a horse, who were they to complain?
Moreover,
In their eyes, with the Emperor present, they were still considered subjects of the Han Dynasty.
Where couldn't they go?
Thus,
The square, which had been somewhat noisy, became unusually calm after Liu Hong's appearance.
Looking around,
Seeing that everyone was ready, Yu Huatian gently gestured forward.
"Depart!"
"Yes!"
Amidst a chorus of quiet affirmations, the massive cavalry force moved out from the palace gates towards the city's exterior.
Along the way,
Apart from the stunned scouts, the only sound was the intermittent clatter of hooves.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"I don't know!"
"Hurry!"
"Go back and inform the Family Head, tell him, tell him..."
At this point, the scout choked, unsure how to continue.
What was there to say upon returning?
Just that a cavalry force had emerged from the imperial palace, and their destination was unknown?
"B-big brother..."
A scout beside him stroked his chin thoughtfully and couldn't help but remind him,
"They aren't planning to escape, are they?"
"Escape?"
The scout addressed as "big brother" glared at the younger one and grumbled impatiently,
"They're surrounded by Yellow Turbans; where could they possibly run to?"
"Besides..."
"Even if these people break out, Luoyang, Luoyang..."
"Damn it?!"
The scout, who was about to say that even if they escaped, Luoyang would remain, suddenly had an epiphany.
Isn't that right?!
If it were just a single cavalry unit breaking out, the Yellow Turbans might not relentlessly pursue them.
After all, Luoyang was still there!
The Yellow Turbans' goal was the city of Luoyang itself, and the Emperor and others within it.
Wait?
The Emperor?
Thinking about where this cavalry force had come from, the scout addressed as "big brother" slapped his thigh again.
"Not good!"
"That dog Emperor might be trying to flee, hurry back and inform the Family Head!"
Scout: "???"
In fact, it was just as the scouts had predicted. The Yellow Turbans paid no attention to the cavalry's breakout.
Even Zhang Bao, upon receiving the news, only ordered a token interception.
He didn't care if anyone escaped!
What he cared about was the city of Luoyang, the noble families within it, and the dog Emperor.
As for whether they would escape?
Impossible!
Those people were likely still waiting for the Imperial Allied Forces to arrive, so how could they take such a risk?
After all,
There were over a hundred thousand Yellow Turban soldiers outside the city; who would dare to venture out recklessly?
Besides,
If that dog Emperor truly fled, it would be a good thing for them, the Yellow Turbans.
If the Emperor fled, who would have the will to fight?
In that case,
They could easily capture Luoyang and use it to block the approaching Imperial Allied Forces.
Either way, there was no loss!
Therefore,
Upon receiving the report of an attempted breakout, Zhang Bao simply waved his hand and went back to sleep.
He was at ease, but the noble families who received the news were collectively stunned.
"What did you say?!"
After receiving the report from his retainer, Yuan Wei, who was already seventy years old, almost jumped up.
"The Emperor, the Emperor has fled?"
"Impossible!"
"We, the entire court, received no such news; where could he possibly go if he fled!"
"..."
Facing Yuan Wei's skeptical and guilty gaze, the retainer said with a dejected face,
"Family Head, we, we went to the imperial palace to check!"
"He really fled!"
"The entire imperial palace, apart from those young eunuchs and maids, had no guards left!"
"Those maids and young eunuchs themselves said that His Majesty had dismissed them all!"
"..."
As the retainer's words fell, Yuan Wei's face completely lost its color.
The next moment,
Pfft~!
With a spray of scarlet blood, the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei fainted.
"Ah?"
"Someone, quickly, someone..."
"The Grand Tutor has fainted!"
"Hurry and call for help!"
While chaos erupted in the Yuan manor, the heads of several major families who had just left returned.
However,
With the fall of Yuan Wei, the head of the Yuan family, there was no one left in the Yuan family!
There were only a few direct descendants in the Yuan family!
Yuan Feng, Yuan Ping, Yuan Cheng, Yuan Wei – these old men propped up the entire Yuan family.
But now?
Apart from Yuan Wei, who was still alive, the others had all died many years ago.
And in the next generation?
Apart from Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the others were still very young.
Let alone discussing important matters, even raising their voices too loudly could scare them into crying.
"What should we do?"
The head of the Li family glanced at Yang Ci, his voice full of solemnity,
"This is a critical period; the Yuan family cannot be without a leader!"
"Where is Yuan Shu?"
Yang Ci ignored the Li family head's words and turned to the old steward of the Yuan family.
"Where is your young master? Where is he? Go and summon him immediately!"
"This..."
The old steward's expression was somewhat grim, and he shook his head with a wry smile,
"To be frank, Sir Yang, the Family Head has been looking for the young master all day, but there has been no news yet!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Ci's mouth twitched, and his expression became somewhat helpless.
What a mess this all is!
If it weren't for the fact that your Yuan family had so many disciples and former subordinates, I wouldn't want to involve you!
"Forget it!"
With a deep sigh, Yang Ci waved his hand at the old steward.
"Hurry and find a doctor to examine him. Brother Yuan's health must not be compromised!"
"I understand~!"
The old steward nodded repeatedly, indicating that he had already sent someone to find a doctor.
It was only natural,
As a servant of the Yuan family, if Yuan Wei had an accident, he would be more anxious than anyone.
Just as eunuchs relied on the Emperor, these servants relied on their Family Head.
As the saying goes:
A prime minister's gate has officials of the seventh rank!
As long as the head of your family held a prominent position, even you, a mere servant, could be on par with a seventh-rank official.
But once you leave the Family Head...
Recalling the fates of his predecessors, the old steward began to feel uneasy.
"Sirs, please rest for a moment, and I will go check on the Master!"
"Go ahead!"
Yang Ci waved his hand upon hearing this, without even looking at the old steward, and sighed,
"Gentlemen, His Majesty has truly presented us with a difficult problem!"
"Hmph~!"
Hearing Yang Ci say this, the Li family head snorted, and defended with a hint of defiance,
"No one at the scene has witnessed it personally, so no one can prove that the Emperor has truly fled, can they?"
"Hmm?"
Yang Ci's eyebrows slightly rose, and he looked thoughtfully at the Li family head.
"Brother Li, what do you mean?"
"Play along with the deception!"
A cold smile appeared on the Li family head's face, and he gritted his teeth, saying,
"Since he, Liu Hong, dares to play such a trick on us, let him die prematurely!"
"Die prematurely?"
Another family head beside him interjected with a hint of suspicion,
"But he has long since disappeared; how can you make him die prematurely?"
"Heh heh~!"
The Li family head chuckled twice at this, and a playful smile also appeared on his lips.
"Who says someone who has fled cannot be made to die?!"