Emperor Xingzhao looked at the tall and upright Shen Yun, who was still dressed as a civil official, appearing gentle and amiable.
This young minister had been in office for less than a year.
He had always treated him well, and his promotions had been much faster than others.
Of course, this had something to do with the Emperor's liking for his calligraphy and paintings.
But more importantly, he felt that Shen Yun was talented and deserved his attention and cultivation.
This time, Shen Yun stepping forward was courageous, but Emperor Xingzhao dared not let him go easily.
He said, "Minister Shen, if I recall correctly, you are the top scholar in the civil examinations. Leading troops out of the city is extremely dangerous. Can you handle it?"
Shen Yun immediately assumed a loyal demeanor, stating that although he was a civil official, he would not fail this mission to annihilate the assassins and rescue the Emperor by timely leading troops.
"So be it. However, you alone may not be enough; another person must accompany you..."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone stepped forward.
"Grandfather Emperor, I am willing to go."
Shen Yun looked at the person who had stepped forward and subtly curved his lips.
The two, carrying the tiger tally of the Three Thousand Camp, mounted their horses and sped away.
Meanwhile, watching the two riders disappear into the night, Minister of War Huang Fengxian, who stood beside Emperor Xingzhao, felt uneasy.
He did not know the full extent of the plan, but as a member of the Huang family, he had heard some of it.
He knew better than anyone who the masked assassins were.
According to the original script, the Emperor should have been smashed to death at the Star-Picking Tower.
However, this old emperor had never gone up there.
Therefore, he was still alive and well.
That was not the main issue.
What was puzzling was that the Emperor had already prepared men from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Forest Army.
He had even brought the tiger tally of the Three Thousand Camp out of the palace.
Huang Fengxian had a bad feeling about this.
After all, the Three Thousand Camp was the elite of the elites among the three major camps guarding the capital.
If they attacked, almost no one could resist them.
He had a feeling something was going to happen.
He now desperately wanted to find an excuse to leave and find the Crown Prince, who was waiting for good news at the Crown Prince's mansion.
But what excuse could he use to leave?
As Huang Fengxian was struggling with this, he heard someone mention that the Crown Prince's mansion was nearby and suggested they seek refuge there first.
The person who spoke was Liu Lusheng, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
His words were met with much agreement.
"That's right, that's right."
"The assassins are too fierce. His Majesty should find a safe place to avoid danger."
Many ministers advised.
A cold smile flickered across Emperor Xingzhao's pale face.
He nodded, "Very well."
It seemed that their initial attack had failed, and they were launching another.
In that case, he would play along with their act.
As this group, under the protection of many guards, moved towards the Crown Prince's mansion, Shen Yun and Liang Jingchen, who had also stepped forward, rode their horses through Zhuque Street, where the masked assassins were most numerous, heading south.
During their journey, some people discovered their intentions and immediately called for reinforcements to block their path.
However, neither of them was an easy opponent. They fought their way through, with Zhang Lei and Zhang Feng assisting from the side, managing to break through and escape.
But they were still followed by a large group of masked pursuers.
Su Xiaoqi was leaning against the third floor, observing the situation below, when she suddenly heard the hurried sound of horse hooves.
Her eyes immediately fell upon Shen Yun and Liang Jingchen on their horses.
What she saw next was a dense group of black-clad masked men following them.
She immediately understood and, with Zhang Yu and Zhang Dian, hurried downstairs.
She explained the situation to the Old Madam.
And added, "I suspect they might be carrying out the Emperor's orders to recall the Three Thousand Camp from outside the city to rescue His Majesty."
The Old Madam narrowed her eyes and said, "Indeed. Judging by the sheer number of these Western Border soldiers, there are easily ten thousand of them.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Forest Army within the city are far from sufficient.
The Five City Patrol Command is controlled by the Crown Prince.
Tonight, even if chaos erupts, they may not come out. It's best not to hold out hope."
Therefore, all hope rested on the Three Thousand Camp.
But they had to successfully get out of the city first.
Everyone saw the situation below simultaneously.
Su Xiaoqi resolutely decided to go forward and assist.
The Old Madam was not to be outdone. She summoned Yu Changfeng and ordered him to lead the Yu family's retainers forward.
The gate of Chun Ya Tower opened. Shen Yun and Liang Jingchen, thinking an ambush was about to spring, urged their horses forward faster.
However, they saw that the approaching reinforcements were those closest to them.
They immediately reined in their horses and turned back.
Shen Yun called out, "Wife."
Su Xiaoqi nodded to him, signaling him to continue forward.
"You just go ahead with confidence. We will cover your retreat," Su Xiaoqi told him calmly.
Shen Yun saw the vast crowd behind them and became anxious, quickly saying, "Wife, no, we can shake them off ourselves."
Su Xiaoqi, however, shook her head.
Yu Changfeng advised, "Hurry and go. We will hold them off for a while. The sooner you find reinforcements, the sooner we can suppress the rebels, which is the priority."
Su Xiaoqi looked at Shen Yun, who was unwilling to leave, and urged him repeatedly:
"That's right, husband, Ah Chen, hurry and go. We will hold them off for a bit. If we can't hold them, we will retreat, and it won't delay the important matter."
Shen Yun saw the retainers from the Duke of Yu's mansion led by Yu Changfeng.
These men had all seen battle.
They had only retired from the battlefield due to some injuries.
Although their combat effectiveness was not at its peak, they were still not to be underestimated.
Therefore, seeing them and hearing Yu Changfeng and the others urge them on, Shen Yun knew they really had to go.
Urging their horses forward, they passed the crowd, and the two disappeared into the darkness once more.
Meanwhile, Yu Changfeng, leading the retainers of the Duke of Yu's mansion, and Zhang Dian, Zhang Yu, and others, had engaged with the masked men.
These masked men seemed to have received accurate information, knowing that the two riders ahead were going to seek reinforcements outside the city.
They had gathered a large number of men and were desperately pursuing them.
Just as they were about to catch up, a group of unexpected helpers appeared midway.
"Kill them," the leading masked man commanded.
Before that, Yu Changfeng had already made his move.
He twirled his long sword in a long arc.
And leaped into the crowd.
Zhang Dian, Zhang Yu, and the others were not to be outdone. They brandished their long swords, reaping the lives of the black-clad masked men like harvesting wheat in autumn.
After a bloody battle, only one-tenth of the black-clad men remained.
Su Xiaoqi felt excited, seeing a glimmer of hope.
But soon she heard shouts of killing coming from behind them.
At first, everyone rejoiced, thinking that Shen Yun and the others had returned with the Three Thousand Camp.
However, they soon discovered the sounds were coming from the direction of Zhuque Street.
They were also black-clad and masked, with the outer ring of people holding torches high.
The Old Madam shouted from the front gate, "Retreat."
They had managed to hold off the first wave of pursuers for Shen Yun and the two of them for a full quarter of an hour, which was enough time for them to get out of the south city gate.
The pursuing enemies now were more numerous, ten times as many as the previous few dozen, numbering several hundred.
Even with their great skill, the dozen or so retainers from the Duke's mansion could not fight continuously.
Therefore, retreating back to Chun Ya Tower was the best option.
The remaining black-clad men exchanged information with those who arrived later.
The leader knew that during the Lantern Festival, many noble families would be inside watching the lantern displays.
And that people from the Duke of Yu's mansion were present. He immediately stopped, mounted his horse, and looked from a distance, letting out a cold snort and making a gesture.
"Take them down!"
With swift execution of orders, a powerful offensive quickly began.
This was no longer a minor skirmish.
In just a moment, the main gate of Chun Ya Tower was breached.
Everyone inside was exposed to the black-clad masked men.
The leader was dressed in black clothes and black pants, with a black face covering that concealed his face completely, and wore a fox fur cloak.
But no matter how disguised, it was difficult to hide her female form.
Su Xiaoqi looked at her appearance, examined her carefully, and recognized her.
She shouted at her:
"Su Yuru, is that you?"
Su Yuru's body stiffened. She looked up at Su Xiaoqi, who was at the second-floor window.
Her eyes shot out a cold, sharp light, and she whispered a command to the archer beside her: "Shoot her dead!"