In the woodshed, Li San’s expression was solemn.
“General Du, I dare to stake my life on it.”
Princess Pingyang then said, “Don’t dawdle any longer, General Du. Even without you, we will still act adventurously tomorrow morning. However, with you, we have a better chance of success.”
“Since that’s the case, I will certainly pledge to cooperate with Princess Pingyang until death. However, I have one more request for Princess Pingyang,” Du Heng said hesitantly.
“Please speak, General Du.”
“I have now put life and death aside. My only concern is my wife and children. I hope Princess Pingyang can take my unworthy son and wife to Qingzhou tonight to seek refuge with His Royal Highness Prince Qi.” Du Heng’s eyes held a hint of determination.
Princess Pingyang sighed, she said, “I promise you.”
Du Heng nodded. He said, “In that case, I will have no regrets, and will only wait to act with Princess Pingyang tomorrow morning.”
“Then you can stay at the Princess’s mansion tonight. If you go back alone now, it will surely arouse suspicion. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to escort you into the palace.”
With that, Princess Pingyang led Li San out of the woodshed.
When they got outside, Princess Pingyang said to Li San, “I will send someone to escort you back now. Tomorrow’s rescue will depend on you.”
“Yes, Princess Pingyang.” Li San bowed in response.
At this time, Princess Pingyang called the mansion’s coachman, and Li San boarded the carriage and headed towards his residence.
The carriage gradually receded with bumps. At this time, Li San couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. Ever since he arrived in Chang’an, he had been planning the rescue of Consort Zhen to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.
However, he never expected the court situation to undergo such a significant change, so much so that he had to rescue Consort Zhen immediately.
But being in Chang’an, and being outnumbered, he was well aware that his plan carried risks, yet he could not afford any risk at all.
Because once he failed, he might face the death of Consort Zhen.
So when Princess Pingyang found him, after weighing the situation, he quickly decided to cooperate with Princess Pingyang, which would make his plan even more secure.
However, despite this, he didn’t fully trust Princess Pingyang and Du Heng. This trip to Chang’an, he was already prepared for sacrifice, and this was not his ultimate dead-end plan.
He was well aware that he had been targeted by the Lijing Gate upon entering Chang’an. He was using himself as bait to mislead the Lijing Gate, and beyond him, the secret police had a separate rescue plan.
And Princess Pingyang’s joining was merely icing on the cake.
“Many people will probably die tomorrow.” Li San looked at the Chang’an streets gradually shrouded in night, his expression grim.
At the Princess’s Mansion, Princess Pingyang went straight back to her sleeping quarters after Li San left. At this time, Yang Zhen had woken up, his face filled with panic.
“Princess Pingyang, why is this?”
Yang Zhen was now tied up tightly with five ropes. Ouyang Mu stood in front of him like an iron tower, his sharp sword pointing at Yang Zhen’s chest.
“Why?” Princess Pingyang, at this moment, showed none of her usual grace and charm, her face only as cold as winter. “Betraying the Emperor and pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince, isn’t that enough for me to punish you?”
Yang Zhen’s head still ached a little. He tried hard to recall the events of last night and finally remembered telling Princess Pingyang everything about the palace after getting drunk. “You put a sedative in my wine.”
“Of course, otherwise how would you have told me everything?” Princess Pingyang sneered.
A hint of panic flashed in Yang Zhen’s eyes, but after a moment of thought, he suddenly said, “Princess Pingyang, a wise man submits to circumstances. The Emperor is deeply poisoned, and his life is now merely hanging by soup and medicine. He won’t live much longer. Moreover, Prince Zhao’s troops are about to enter the capital. If you follow me, I can guarantee you glory and wealth for the rest of your life. Otherwise, your end will be miserable. Prince Zhao’s troops are all like wolves and tigers, and Princess Pingyang will not be able to serve them!”
“Bastard!” Ouyang Mu was furious upon hearing this. He kicked Yang Zhen in the chest, sending Yang Zhen flying two meters away.
Princess Pingyang’s face also turned pale with anger, but she understood that Yang Zhen could not die yet. She needed Yang Zhen to remove all the informants near the firearms camp.
“Cough, cough.”
Ouyang Mu’s strength was immense. With that kick, a trickle of blood flowed from Yang Zhen’s mouth.
Princess Pingyang said, “Yang Zhen, you have misunderstood me. Do you truly believe I am merely a person who indulges in pleasures? And do you truly believe I would fancy you? Whether I can escape from Prince Zhao’s grasp is my business, but you will not live to see the day you meet Prince Zhao.”
Yang Zhen’s face changed. He was filled with regret at this moment, having never expected to be ruined by Princess Pingyang.
“What exactly do you want?”
“It’s simple. You immediately order the withdrawal of all informants near the firearms camp,” Princess Pingyang said.
Yang Zhen immediately realized something. “You are planning an uprising!”
“You are so rebellious, you should have expected this day,” Princess Pingyang said sternly. “Give the order, or I will kill you now.”
As if responding to Princess Pingyang’s command, Ouyang Mu’s long sword, pressed against Yang Zhen’s chest, exerted a little more force. Yang Zhen felt a sharp pain, and the fear of death clutched his heart.
“Princess, you can’t defeat Prince Zhao,” Yang Zhen still refused to give up and continued to persuade.
Princess Pingyang remained cold and indifferent. She said to Yang Zhen, “You still don’t understand. I never participated in the struggles between the princes simply because no matter who won, the Great Yu Empire would still be named Xiao. But Prince Zhao’s wild ambition is known to all. How could I live under his power? I will give you one last chance. Even if you don’t withdraw your informants, the firearms camp will still launch an uprising. It just means more obstacles.”
At this point, Yang Zhen finally understood Princess Pingyang’s intentions. ‘I never expected that even a princess would remember the royal ancestral teachings.’ “Alright, I’ll have the informants monitoring the firearms camp withdrawn.”
“Give him paper and pen,” Princess Pingyang said coldly.
At this time, the servants of the Princess’s mansion immediately placed paper and pen in front of Yang Zhen. After hesitating for a moment, Yang Zhen took up the brush and wrote a handwritten order to withdraw the informants, which he handed to Princess Pingyang.
“Princess Pingyang, are you satisfied now?” Yang Zhen asked.
Glancing at the content of the handwritten order, Princess Pingyang slowly nodded. “I will send someone to deliver the handwritten order. Your Lijing Gate is full of tricks. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, you will have to remain here.”
Yang Zhen nodded dejectedly. Just then, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, and then lost consciousness.
Ouyang Mu withdrew his hand and said to Princess Pingyang, “Your Highness, what’s the use of keeping Yang Zhen? It’s better to kill him.”
“No, keeping him still has some use,” Princess Pingyang said, frowning. This time, rescuing Consort Zhen and the Emperor was a desperate gamble for her, but at the same time, she needed to secure a retreat for herself.