C216

"Young prince, we …" The palace doors were already in front of them, but the few of them had already stopped in their tracks.

Zhao Qingyan took off a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to the person closest to him. "Walk to the right from the entrance of the palace. There will be someone waiting for you around a hundred steps away. It's already curfew time, you can go to the inn for a night's rest first, then you can leave the city tomorrow. The inn belongs to me. Even if you leave the city tomorrow, you will be in my carriage. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to give orders. Take this jade pendant and show it to the innkeeper. Tell him to pay you ten thousand taels of silver from the bill. The Wang Residence usually uses the capital's official money, but if something urgent happens, I won't be able to bring out more silver. You all, take care of yourselves. "

"But, if young prince lets us go like this, the crime of secretly releasing the imperial court will be …"

Zhao Qingyan interrupted them with a soft voice, "So don't get caught."

The few of them were startled, then quickly said in a deep voice, "We ran out ourselves. No one helped us. Even if we get caught, they won't be able to get anything out of us. "

Zhao Qingyan smiled and said, "En, go quickly. By the way, please help me tell them that I will personally go to the Sky Prison. As long as I'm still in prison, nothing will happen to me. The sky will change, and everyone will be in danger.

Everyone nodded and knelt on one knee. "Yes, we will remember." This humble one will always remember your kindness. When we meet again in the future, we will definitely return the favor. "

Zhao Qingyan lowered his eyes and smiled gently, "I hope you can leave safely. We will meet again in the future."

Everyone thanked him once again and quickly left.

Zhao Qingyan watched as their figures disappeared into the night. Her left hand was covered by her sleeves. She raised her right hand and gently stroked her hair, which had been blown up by the night wind.

Light flashed from the tips of his fingers, and his hidden weapon brought with it wind, showing no mercy at all.

"En!" With a groan of pain, a figure flashed out from the shadows at the corner of the wall. He covered his shoulder with one hand and barely dodged a few silver needles. Before he could do anything, the young nobleman raised his hand again and said, "It's me! Please show mercy! "

Zhao Qingyan's movements faltered and his eyes narrowed. He seemed to be trying to identify the person in front of him. "Han?"

Han Yan looked at the jade hairpin on his shoulder and grinned. "It's me …" He took in a breath of cold air and didn't say anything else. His right hand covered the wound, and in that short period of time, his hand was covered in blood. He pulled out the hairpin and quickly sealed the acupuncture points around the wound. He wanted to find something to treat the wound.

The faint scent of orchid mixed with the smell of his own blood filled Han Yan's green boots. He subconsciously raised his head, and his pupils shrank as he asked, "Sir, you want to kill me?"

The hairpin was stuck on Han Yan's shoulder, and Zhao Qingyan's hair had already been completely scattered, covering up some of the expression on his face. He bent over and took out a dagger from Han Yan's bosom. Then, he tilted his head. "Do you think I can kill you?"

After a brief moment of shock, Han Yan's pale face regained some color. "If my lord wants to silence me, the result of my death is only waiting for death to come. The difference is that I'm dragging you down with me."

"A slaughter by the neck, a battle to the death." Zhao Qingyan seemed to be deep in thought. "Actually, in order for them to leave, the guards outside have been extremely relaxed. Everyone in the palace knows that you are my trusted aides, and those who just left probably thought the same. If you tell them that you were sent by me to protect them, you might be able to escape. "

Hearing his words, Han Yan didn't even hesitate as he forced a smile, "I'm injured."

Zhao Qingyan lowered his head and looked at him for a while. Then, he suddenly smiled and said, "You have always been smart. Why did you follow me?"

Han Yan's face was filled with helplessness. "I've worked with Young Prince for many years, but I never knew that with my ability of concealing and converging energy, Young Prince could easily see through me."

Zhao Qingyan glanced at him with a cold glint in his eyes, "I've known you for several years and raised you to your current position with one hand. I never knew that Lord Han, who has always been weak in the inner court, could also avoid all seven of my silver needles."

Han Yan was speechless. He then sighed, "All efforts fail."

Zhao Qingyan lowered his eyes and played with the dagger in his hand. "This is not the knife you usually use."

Han Yan was slightly startled. "Indeed, that's not it. This sword was forged just a few days ago."

Zhao Qingyan smiled with his eyes half-lidded, "Is your sword on you?"

Han Yan said helplessly, "Yes, does Young Prince want it?" He reached out for it.

"No need." Zhao Qingyan walked to the side and retrieved all the silver needles on the ground before asking, "You're not on duty tonight. Did anyone else know about this when you came out?"

Han Yan didn't understand what he meant and answered truthfully, "No one."

Zhao Qingyan waved the dagger in his hand, "Has anyone ever seen this dagger before?"

Han Yan thought about it and shook his head.

Zhao Qingyan was silent for a long time before he finally raised his head and said, "I'll give you a chance to live, do you want it?"

Han Yan was stunned. "Survive? "Why?" Did Zhao Qingyan have any reason to let him live?

Seeing his expression, Zhao Qingyan could not help but laugh out loud. The coldness in his eyes disappeared, "Because I like you very much." Pausing for a moment, he then added, "Or perhaps I should say I admire your calmness, patience, and intelligence."

Han Yan sighed, "Actually, I don't really like hearing Young Prince praise me at this time."

Zhao Qingyan smiled, "You don't have to be surprised that I didn't kill you. There are two reasons. First, I never kill people myself. Secondly, I am still willing to treat you as my trusted aide. "

Han Yan's eyes slightly shifted. "I am no longer the Han Yan that young prince knows. I am probably not the young prince that I have always seen." So... You really dare to treat me as your trusted aide again? "

"I dare." Zhao Qingyan answered decisively, "I prefer to use sharp blades. As a blade, one could be disloyal, but one could not be smart. Because, intelligent blades should know that if it doesn't listen to me, I have the ability to kill it. "

Han Yan laughed. "What kind of blade does young prince want me to become?"

Zhao Qingyan's answer was simple and clear: "A knife for me."

A light flashed in Han Yan's eyes. He was tempted. After careful consideration, Han Yan raised his head with a serious expression. "I have one last question."

Zhao Qingyan nodded. "Yes."

"Chen Huayi, is that the young prince's blade?"

Zhao Qingyan laughed softly, "He is just like you. He will not use his blade unless it's absolutely necessary."

Han Yan hesitated before speaking, "I, too, know that I bear a deep grudge against you and that there are things that I cannot tell you. If the young prince can allow it, then I can offer the same loyalty as Chen Huayi. "

Zhao Qingyan's eyes were exceptionally beautiful under the moonlight. "Then you should know that I have never been one to pry into other people's past. As long as your concealment does not reach the level of betrayal, I will not pursue this matter further. "

Han Yan pressed down on his shoulders and painfully got up, kneeling down on his knees. "I hope I can become the kind of knife that young prince likes."

Zhao Qingyan nodded slowly. She raised her head and looked at the snowflakes falling from the sky. After a while, she said softly, "The snow this year is especially heavy."

Han Yan casually replied, "Yes, it was even worse than the previous years."

Zhao Qingyan narrowed his eyes and said, "When the guards return, the footprints should be covered, right?"

Han Yan's pupils constricted. "Young Prince, what do you want?"

Zhao Qingyan turned the dagger around and returned it to Han Yan: "Go, you have failed to catch me. Return in vain after eight hours. This short blade is the weapon they used to stab you. "

Han Yan looked at the wound on his shoulder and nodded, "I understand." He grabbed the dagger with his backhand and was about to stab it into the wound on his shoulder.

"Wait, it's too early." Zhao Qingyan reached out to grab the blade, "The wound is small after all, so it won't affect your movements. "If you want to stab me, do it again when you're almost back."

Han Yan's strength was immediately reduced. He looked at the young prince's finger and hesitantly said, "Young prince, your hand …"

Zhao Qingyan let go. There was not even a tiny wound on her pale finger. His wide sleeves fell, covering his hands. He looked in the direction of the city gate and said, "Hurry and go."

Han Yan nodded and got up. Before he left, he thought of something and asked, "What if someone sees these footprints?"

Zhao Qingyan pulled the cloak tighter and said, "I will wait here for a while before leaving."

— —

"Stardust, open the door." The door was knocked three times.

Ran Xingchen stood up and pushed open the door, "Uncle Jiang."

Jiang Wuyan had changed into a tight-fitting black robe, and her hair was also tied up with a headband. There was no trace of her usual elegance and elegance. He walked into the room, turned around and covered the door. Only then did he ask, "Regarding the matter of me coming here tonight, does the Qingfeng Palace not know about it?"

Ran Xingchen Wu Chen shook his head, "I shall do as usual today. I didn't tell anyone that I was waiting for Uncle Jiang at night."

Jiang Wuyan murmured, "That's good."

Ran Xingchen asked, "What is Uncle Jiang here for?" "Why are you so cautious?"

Jiang Wuyan gestured for him to sit down. After he sat down, Jiang Wuyan said slowly, "Can Tong Xuan tell you about the prophecy that came from the previous generation of the Marquis of the Trojan Horse, twenty-four years ago?"

Ran Xingchen was slightly startled and shook his head, "I have never heard my father mention it. However, after the marquis' manor was massacred, the White House came to visit. "

"Whitestorm?" Jiang Wuyan furrowed her brows. She was not too surprised, "Did he come personally?"

Ran Xingchen nodded. "There's also a young man who calls himself 'Xia Chan'."

Hearing his tone, Jiang Wuyan couldn't help but ask as if she didn't know Xia Chan at all: "Xia Chan is Xia Ruyu's disciple, do you not know him?"

Ran Xingchen said, "Uncle Jiang knows that when I was young, father never wanted me to have any contact with outsiders in the palace. Although I met Martial Senior Xia's disciple a few times, it was only to greet him. Frankly … I don't think we even know each other. "

Jiang Wuyan did not ask any further questions, but nodded her head and signaled for him to continue, "What did the White House master say to you?"

"The Dragon's Roar has appeared in this world, and even the Emperor's bones have shattered. The world was lost, the mountains and rivers were quiet. Brothers, we're in the same boat. "The family is ruined, and the people perish. Blood flows like rivers." Ran Xingchen said a few sentences softly and looked towards Jiang Wuyan, "Is this what uncle Jiang's prophecy was about?"

Sighing, Jiang Wuyan replied, "Yes."

Ran Xingchen was silent for a while, and then she asked in a soft voice, "The Light Wind Palace, can they really not survive this disaster?"

Jiang Wuyan narrowed her eyes slightly. Although her voice was not loud, her words were clear, "What brings about this calamity is not destiny, but the human heart."

Ran Xingchen was slightly startled, and his face turned pale in the darkness, "Uncle Jiang, do you mean that this calamity has been solved?"

"Yes." Jiang Wuyan replied with certainty, "Let's just see who can win this round."

Ran Xingchen replied without hesitation, "Last time, Uncle Jiang invited me to join the Board, so I'm willing to join. "Now, it's all up to Uncle Jiang to decide how to play this game."

Jiang Wuyan's gaze moved slightly. "Last time …"

The last time he stood here was half a year ago.

Half a year ago, the government sent the Seven Slaughter Army to cooperate with the Privy Council to annihilate the Puppet Palace. As for them, they just sat there, watching as the Puppet Palace continued to exist.

"Just as I said just now, after winter this year, the Imperial Court will grant an amnesty. Yun Mo will try his best to get them to move their pardon. If the Son of Heaven is unwilling, then the Light Wind Palace will be encircled and annihilated by the imperial government sooner or later. " Jiang Wuyan looked at the bloodless face of Ran Xingchen, trying her best to keep her tone gentle.

Ran Xingchen looked at the letter in his hand. It was written in his father's handwriting, and it was definitely not fake. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, "So my father didn't die by the hands of the Puppet Palace, but under the arrangements of the imperial government … Does young noble know about this matter? "

Jiang Wuyan shook her head, "Before Tong Xuan died alone, he passed this letter to me. I have been protecting this letter ever since. No one else apart from you and me has ever seen it. The Tong Xuan cannot bear Yun Mo to make things difficult, so it is impossible for Yun Mo to know about it. "

Ran star dust's fingers trembled uncontrollably, "The imperial government wanted to use a knife to kill people for harming my father, and they wanted to blame it all on the Puppet Palace. Right now, those who led troops to suppress the Puppet Palace were none other than the young nobleman who knew nothing about this matter … This is too cruel. "

Jiang Wuyan sighed, "That's right." The most cruel was the elder he relied on the most, yet he killed his most respected teacher and friend. As for you and me, no matter what angle we stand from, we can only choose to hide it from you. "

Ran Xingchen placed the letter aside, flicked his sleeve, stood up, and strolled to the window. Pushing it open, he looked in the direction of the Puppet Palace, and pursed his lips into a thin line.

Jiang Wuyan followed him and stood up. After a moment, she said lightly: "Looking at the time, I'm afraid that they have already started fighting."

Ran Xingchen lightly raised his neck and took a deep breath. After a long time, he softly said two words, "Lip is dead and teeth are cold."

"I should have made up my mind earlier." Jiang Wuyan turned around and sat back down. Her eyes showed no emotion, "It's hard to say who will be the next target of the imperial government."

Ran Xingchen leaned against the window, deep in thought. "The Imperial Court has already viewed the Light Wind Palace as a thorn in their side, yet this nail still angered him. Is that really possible? "

Jiang Wuyan shook her head, "This is a matter of life and death. How can it be decided by me, an outsider? I can only say what I think. "As for the rest, it's up to you."

Ran Xingchen looked out of the window and said, "The martial arts world is so big, why do you keep pushing us to the edge again and again? The wild grass of the martial arts world could be disregarded for the sake of brotherly loyalty, wife and children's peace. The imperial government... How dare he? "

Jiang Wuyan said, "The imperial government has its reasons."

Ran star dust slightly frowned: "I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand. You only need to know that we have in our hands a secret that would allow the imperial government to kill everyone in our family. " Jiang Wuyan replied with a frightening calmness.

Ran Star Dust slowly clenched his fist: "But I don't know anything."

Jiang Wuyan narrowed her eyes. With a soft but firm voice, she said, "Tongxuan doesn't know this secret either." He died because the Son of Heaven thought he knew. "

Ran Xingchen's face slowly turned white, and the lines of his lips became even stiffer: "Ridiculous."

Jiang Wuyan lowered her eyes, her gentle eyebrows knitted together as she spoke with a hint of coldness, "The person you fear is already dead, why are you still killing him?"

Ran Xingchen didn't hear it clearly, so he subconsciously asked, "What did you say?"