The guards outside the Prefect's mansion in Shu Commandery complained about the cold night.
Shu Commandery had become exceptionally chilly in winter nights.
Under the night wind, several guards shivered uncontrollably. As they finally endured until late at night and thought Madam Huang had fallen asleep, the guards split into two groups. One group returned to the guardhouse to warm themselves.
Just then.
The nightingale let out a series of long, whistling calls. On the courtyard wall of the Prefect's mansion, a few faint torchlights suddenly flared.
"Eh..."
In a daze, a gate guard looked up and exclaimed.
"What?" The other gate guards asked, also looking up in the direction of his gaze towards the roof beams.
At this moment... within the alley, the warriors, almost fused with the darkness, slowly raised the "Zhuge Crossbow" bound to their wrists. Their faces were expressionless...
As if all the power of life and death in the world had nothing to do with them!
"Whoosh..."
Almost simultaneously, the faint sound of wind breaking whistled out.
Then...
Several crossbow bolts fiercely pierced the guards' foreheads.
Fast...
As fast as lightning.
This was almost instantaneous!
This instant-kill attack prevented these gate guards from even a last cry for help before they died.
Seeing the guards about to fall to the ground...
"Rustle..."
Like the rustling of wind, faint footsteps quietly sounded on the ground, and then... dark figures caught the guards and dragged them into the alley.
Not long after, several new men, dressed in Shu army guard uniforms, emerged from the alley.
Who else could be leading them but Jiang Wei!
"Rustle..."
With another sound of gravel rubbing against the ground, Jiang Wei led a group of special forces into the Prefect's mansion. They were clearly divided in their tasks: some replaced the original guards at the entrance, some cleaned up the bloodstains, some hid on the rooftops, some concealed themselves in the courtyards, and some hid in the alley outside the gate.
They communicated nothing throughout...
They acted solely on Jiang Wei's gestures.
Ahead were two paths, one leading to the main pavilion, and the other... leading to the guardhouse.
Jiang Wei gestured a few times, and over ten special forces soldiers split up. Half went towards the main pavilion, and half went to deal with the guards in the guardhouse.
Scarlet crossbow bolts;
Scarlet armor. People collapsed in scarlet blood. The crescent moon hanging in the sky grew dimmer, while the lanterns hanging in front of the main pavilion's courtyard became much more crimson.
The infiltration of five or six special forces soldiers was as subtle as the fluttering of butterfly wings, leaving no trace.
It was also like dragonflies touching water.
At this moment, Huang Yueying was in the courtyard. Even in the dead of night, she couldn't help but… come to observe the cannons.
She held a lantern in one hand, and with the other, she repeatedly touched the cannons, trying to deduce… the materials used.
Beside her, only a maidservant held another lantern, drowsily dozing.
The guards of the Prefect's mansion were not allowed to enter the inner chambers.
Huang Yueying also cared greatly for her reputation. She didn't want to hear any "gossip" and didn't want household affairs to affect her husband's grand cause!
"Hmm… here..."
As if she had made a major discovery, Huang Yueying brought the lantern closer, her eyes practically glued to the barrel of the cannon. … Just then…
"Ah..."
A faint female voice suddenly sounded.
The flame of the candle in Huang Yueying's lantern flickered. With the keen senses she had developed over many years of following her husband through hardships and escapes, she immediately realized there were outsiders in the courtyard.
She instinctively looked for the maidservant, but… the maidservant had disappeared.
She was about to cry out, but before the sound could escape, a sharp dagger was pressed against her throat.
"If you dare to make a sound, Shu Han's only master craftsman will be gone!"
The appearance of this voice made Huang Yueying shut her mouth…
She realized that the other party had grasped her weakness. Her craftsmanship… was tied to her husband's cause, and she absolutely dared not die easily.
"Who are you?" Huang Yueying asked in a very low voice.
"Jiang Wei!"
"I don't know you, and I have no grudge against you."
"It is my duty." Jiang Wei's tone was as cold as ever. Some special forces soldiers were already binding Huang Yueying, while Jiang Wei told her truthfully, "The ruler of Great Wei requests Miss Huang to visit Wei territory for a discussion!"
They…
So they were from Wei country?
Huang Yueying looked at Jiang Wei, "You want to kidnap me? Kidnap me to Wei territory? How is this possible? This is Chengdu, this is Ba and Shu!"
Huang Yueying had her confidence.
To travel from Chengdu to Wei territory, one would have to pass more than just "five passes and six generals." Just the Peishui Pass guarded by Zhuge Liang would be absolutely impossible to get through.
"That won't be Miss Huang's concern."
"Are you planning to use the flying balloon?" Huang Yueying tried to stall for time.
Even though she knew… this might also be futile, because… if the Wei army could reach here, it was likely that the outer defenses of the Prefect's mansion had already completely collapsed.
"Why bother with a flying balloon?" Jiang Wei crumpled a silk handkerchief into a ball and stuffed it into Huang Yueying's mouth. "Miss Huang, forgive me..."
Mmph mmph mmph…
Even with her mouth covered.
Huang Yueying was still mumbling, as if… if she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't give up.
Jiang Wei, while opening a sack, simply explained, "Miss Huang is right. This is Chengdu, and holding the Madam makes it difficult for us to leave. We need to pass many checkpoints and many cities. However… if these checkpoints and cities can stop Great Wei, then we wouldn't be here!"
Speaking of which…
"Bang," Jiang Wei opened his palm and struck down, landing a heavy palm on the back of Huang Yueying's head.
And with a soft "thud," Huang Yueying fell into the sack.
The special forces soldier skillfully picked up the sack and prepared to withdraw.
But at this moment…
—"Chirp chirp chirp…"
The nightingale's cry sounded again. This voice was high-pitched, clear, melodious, like singing in the night.
But Jiang Wei's expression instantly turned grim.
He lowered his voice and reminded everyone.
"Someone is coming…"
The group, well-trained, quickly hid the sack and all concealed themselves in the courtyard.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
…
…
Chengdu, inside the Imperial Palace.
A new moon cast its light, and the study was filled with a fragrant aura.
Liu Shan, who had just completed his enthronement ceremony that morning, was lying on the table, playing with a newly caught cricket… humming occasionally, "With you here, even if Eunuch Huang sends the 'Great General,' I won't be afraid!"
On the other corner of the table, Zhen Rong was helping Liu Shan with his homework.
"Your Majesty can play a little longer before returning to the palace. There's only a little bit left of the homework assigned by the Prime Minister."
Liu Shan giggled, "I… ah, no, it's Your Majesty's first day on the throne, and Zhen sister is helping me with my homework, ah, no, helping Your Majesty with homework. It's quite awkward…"
Clearly, Liu Shan had not completely transitioned from his status as a prince.
He kept saying "I," as if the word "朕" (Your Majesty) was extremely awkward for him.
"This little woman is Your Majesty's Zhen sister. Since I am an elder sister, I naturally must help Your Majesty share the burden."
Liu Shan sighed, "If only I weren't the emperor. Then I wouldn't have to do homework every day, and I wouldn't have to trouble Zhen sister with this labor."
At this moment, Huang Hao rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has sent Doctor Jiang Wan to collect the homework."
Liu Shan let out a sigh, while Zhen Rong handed the homework to Huang Hao without omission.
She also said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Huang!"
"How can I be as hardworking as Miss Zhen!" Huang Hao glanced at Zhen Rong, then at Liu Shan, and smiled meaningfully before quickly withdrawing.
Liu Shan, on the other hand, looked grateful, "If it weren't for Zhen sister, with so much homework, I don't know when I would have finished it."
"The Prime Minister is also doing it for Your Majesty's own good. Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation!" Zhen Rong said with a smile to persuade him.
"Zhen sister, now that the homework is done, will you teach me to paint, or will you accompany me to play crickets?" Liu Shan asked with anticipation.
Zhen Rong looked at the sky, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. If I stay here, tomorrow… I'm afraid there will be gossip."
Liu Shan's eyes narrowed, "I am so young, what kind of gossip would there be? Besides, didn't Zhen sister say that I am the ruler of a nation? Whoever dares to gossip about Zhen sister, I will punish them… punish them by making them sweep the latrines."
Pfft…
Hearing Liu Shan's innocent words, Zhen Rong couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"It's agreed, I'll only play crickets with you once!"
"Zhen sister is the best… Look at mine, white teeth and black blades… In cricket fighting, it's very glorious!" Liu Shan smiled and set up the arena.
Whoosh…
Zhen Rong let out a light sigh. She couldn't help but murmur in her heart.
Indeed, he's still a child.
Yes, for Zhen Rong, playing along with a child like Liu Shan was too easy…
But it was precisely this "playing along" that could best help Great Wei, and also best help the Zhen family!
"Your Majesty, mine is called Bodhi Seed… Your Majesty must not be careless!"
Late into the night…
A child and a lovely elder sister were fighting crickets in the study.
For a moment, the place was filled with laughter and joy!
…
…
Outside the gate of the Prefect's mansion, as usual, there were heavy guards, with swords and spears standing tall, and a solemn atmosphere.
Wei Yan left a troop of soldiers on the periphery, while he led a few confidantes inside.
However, he didn't know that at the corner of the opposite alley, on the courtyard wall of the Prefect's mansion, and among the nearby green plants, Wei country's special forces soldiers were hidden everywhere.
They used various nightingale calls to transmit signals to each other.
… Not right!
Everything was as usual, but after entering the Prefect's mansion, Wei Yan felt something was odd.
On such a cold day, why was the guardhouse so quiet?
Wei Yan, who had been promoted step by step from a private through military achievements, understood those gate guards too well. On such a day, they should have already hidden in the guardhouse to warm themselves.
Thinking of this…
Wei Yan's footsteps halted. He raised his hand to signal everyone to be on alert.
The guards quickly drew their swords and vigilantly looked around.
Wei Yan's eyes narrowed, and his gaze continued towards the main pavilion.
"Also not right."
Wei Yan made a sound, his hand already on the hilt of his saber…
Speaking of which, this wasn't his first time in the Prefect's mansion. He knew the interior arrangements like the back of his hand.
The Prime Minister was incorruptible. Most of the money bestowed by the late emperor was distributed to the families of fallen soldiers, making his Prefect's mansion quite austere.
But even so, in Madam Huang's sleeping quarters, candles were still lit every night, and falling asleep under this candlelight became a huge expenditure for the Prefect's mansion.
Wei Yan could understand that this was the fear of a woman who had long been alone in the Prefect's mansion in her sleep.
But tonight…
Wei Yan could clearly see that there were no candles lit in the sleeping quarters…
Unless Huang Yueying was not in the mansion…
"Retreat…" Wei Yan immediately ordered.
"Thump thump thump…" The soldiers repeatedly retreated.
Wei Yan's eyes narrowed. He used his ears to listen to the surrounding wind. Over the years… to be promoted from a private to a general, he possessed a unique skill: the ability to sense killing intent in his surroundings!
Especially now…
The surroundings could be described as – full of killing intent!
Instinctively, Wei Yan tightened his grip on his saber. Killing intent flashed in his eyes. He could already judge… that there were enemies hidden in several locations.
Through countless battlefield trials, he possessed this sharp insight.
However… it was evident that Wei Yan was nervous.
Of course, if he was nervous, Jiang Wei was even more so.
From the moment he saw the Shu army soldiers drawing their swords, Jiang Wei began to feel nervous.
Their mission was not to kill enemies, but to kidnap Huang Yueying. If their whereabouts were exposed, with the skills of the special forces corps, it would be no problem for them to retreat safely, but the plan to kidnap Huang Yueying would be completely ruined.
Biting his lips tightly, Jiang Wei had already drawn the Zhuge Crossbow. The final resort was a desperate gamble!
The atmosphere became tense.
"General, should we mobilize reinforcements… and the guards outside the gate."
Clearly, Wei Yan's confidant guards had also realized the strangeness of the situation.
"Go…" Wei Yan softly instructed, but as the confidant guard turned around, a dazzling gleam flashed in Wei Yan's bright eyes. "Wait…"
He stopped his confidant and then waved his hand, "All of you, retreat."
Uh… this…
The confidant guards looked at each other. As the personal guards of the general, they were extremely sensitive to danger, and if danger could be graded, then now… it must be at the highest level!
"I am ordering all of you to retreat!"
Wei Yan's voice was unmistakable…
"Yes!" The guards cupped their fists and all withdrew from the Prefect's mansion.
Wei Yan then stepped alone into the main pavilion's courtyard.
Thump, thump…
One step, then another… his steps were slow, but each step was firm and resounding.
"Chirp chirp chirp…"
The nightingale's call continued.
Wei Yan had already stepped inside. He saw the cannons and bent down to observe them.
The special forces, who had originally intended to shoot the Zhuge Crossbow, put away their crossbows at Jiang Wei's signal, silently watching Wei Yan's every move.
This general was also a bit strange!
After a long observation, Wei Yan touched the caliber of the cannon. He straightened up abruptly and turned towards Jiang Wei's location.
"Friend from the north…"
Suddenly, Wei Yan uttered this sentence.
His eyes were fixed on the treetop, his soul-stirring gaze seemingly meeting Jiang Wei's gaze across the distance. "Tell the Son of Heaven in the north that I, Wei Yan, Wei Wenchang, will be of great use on the battlefield to him, and to the north!"
Speaking of which…
Wei Yan lowered his hand from his saber hilt. He cupped his fists and bowed in the direction of the treetop.
"Farewell!"
He left these two words last and turned to leave resolutely.
As he walked, he loudly ordered, "The inner chambers are unharmed. Follow me back. Do not disturb Madam Huang's sleep!"
This statement did not sound like an order to his subordinates, but more like something said to the "friend from the north"!
…
…
.
Niu Nai Tang Tang Tang reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.