Batuer tightened his shoulders and back.
If I don't speak up, I might anger the old Grand Commandant.
Saying too much would be leaking military intelligence.
She looked at Lin Zhenshan's face and picked out what she could say.
"There isn't enough food for winter in the Northern Territory."
Lin Zhenshan's finger paused on the rim of the teacup.
Batuer continued, "The Northern Camp of Great Yan defended us against two cavalry attacks."
The guard looked up and glanced at her.
Batuer gritted his teeth.
But the enemy did not retreat.
They're waiting for the snow to thicken.
"Once the snow is thick, the sound of horses' hooves will be faint, and there will be more night raids."
Lin Zhenshan put down his teacup and laughed loudly.
It seems that Murong Xue has been very well-behaved since getting married.
They didn't even know about the great victory in the Northern Territory.
Hahahaha.
"Rest assured, our Great Yan will not break our promise regarding the marriage alliance."
He looked at his personal guards.
"The supply and Ministry of War should double-check the supplies; don't let the troops below get bogged down on the northern front."
The personal guards clasped their hands in a fist salute.
"Yes."
Lin Zhenshan then looked at Batuer.
"If my timing is correct, General Lin is already on his way back to the capital."
Batuer looked overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
Lin Zhenshan stood up.
He walked to the wall and took down his sword.
The guards immediately stepped forward.
"Grand Commandant?"
Lin Zhenshan fastened his wrist guards.
The leather clung to the wrist bone, making a dull rubbing sound.
"Select twenty riders, and have them change into civilian armor."
The personal guards clasped their hands in a fist salute.
"Does Your Excellency intend to go to the Imperial Prison in person?"
Lin Zhenshan hung his sword at his waist.
"Under the pretext of increased security in the capital before the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, the alleys outside the imperial prison were sealed off."
"Let people through the west alley, the side gate, and the entrance to the old city ward."
The guard asked, "What if the prison really is on fire?"
Lin Zhenshan looked out the window.
The darkness of night after the rain pressed down on the courtyard wall, and water still lingered along the stone steps.
"They only care about people, not about putting out the fire."
"Keep a close watch."
"Any prisoner, jailer, eunuch, or carriage attempting to leave through any gate other than the main gate shall be arrested."
The guards withdrew in response.
Batuer wanted to go too.
Lin Zhenshan called out to her.
"Stop."
Batuer stopped.
Lin Zhenshan pointed outside the door.
Take your stuff out of that car.
Batuer his hands in a fist salute.
"Don't worry, Grand Commandant, I came through the back door, and I'll leave through the back door too."
Lin Zhenshan's expression worsened.
"I told you to get rid of the smell."
Batuer said earnestly, "The smell dissipates slowly."
Lin Zhenshan looked at her.
Batuer added a sentence.
"It's safer if they disperse slowly; even tracking dogs won't tolerate that."
The guard outside the door couldn't help but cough.
Lin Zhenshan grabbed an old military newspaper roll from the table and threw it at the table.
The guards quickly lowered their heads.
Batuer completed his task and ran briskly out the door.
Lin Zhenshan watched her retreating figure and spoke again.
Go back and tell Gu Moran.
Batuer turned around.
Lin Zhenshan, " The Grand Commandant's Residence will be keeping an eye on the Heavenly Prison."
"If anything happens to Lin Qingdai, your prince won't have any peace."
Batuer clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and ran.
The smell from outside also wafted out.
Lin Zhenshan stood in the study.
After a moment, he looked at his personal guards.
"Pick ten more skilled fighters."
The guard was taken aback.
"Grand Commandant?"
Lin Zhenshan walked out with a cold face.
"Disguised and lurking around the Prince Yi's Residence."
The lights in the Eastern Palace Hall of Proper Beauty were dimmed.
Crown Prince Gu Moyuan sat behind his desk, holding a jade paperweight in his hand.
He spun Yu Zhen around a few times before finally slamming him heavily onto the dossier.
The staff member knelt at the lower end, sweat beading on his forehead.
"The imperial edict of amnesty has been issued."
"The troop rotation is complete. Jail Officer Wei has received the silver, and the pine resin has been delivered to the west storage room."
The crown prince stared at him. "Where is he?"
"The messengers have already infiltrated the prison. After the fire started, they led Xiao Jinghan out of the west alley through a side gate. A gray-canopied cart was parked outside the alley, carrying a warrant from the Ministry of Punishments to transfer prisoners."
"File?"
"It would be written as a fire, with Xiao Jinghan dying in prison. His remains were charred and unrecognizable."
The crown prince pressed the jade weight down again.
The jade stone struck the wooden table with a dull thud.
What happens after we leave the city?
The advisor glanced at the doorway, making sure no one was outside, before whispering, "Send her to the old city ward first, then transfer her to the estate outside the city. Someone will tell him that Lady Liu is at Prince Yi's Residence."
A slight smile finally appeared on the crown prince's face.
"He hates the Gu Clan, and he hates the Lady Liu too. Isn't the third son protecting that courtesan? Let him taste what it's like to be unable to protect someone."
The staff member did not laugh.
He knew Xiao Jinghan was in danger.
Those who survive ten years in prison cannot be used as ordinary assassins.
But what the crown prince wanted wasn't a loyal bodyguard, but a mad dog.
A mad dog bites indiscriminately, and Eastern Palace Road becomes wide.
"Your Highness, what if, by some chance, Xiao Jinghan disobeys..."
The crown prince looked at him. "Whose orders can he not listen to? Didn't you arrange everything perfectly?"
The staff stopped.
The Crown Prince's eyes flashed with irritation. "Besides, now that he's out of the imperial prison, only the Eastern Palace is left to give him a way out. This is the Gu Clan's domain; he's just a remnant of the Xiao Clan. If he doesn't rely on me, who else can he rely on?"
The aide lowered his head. "Your Highness is wise."
The flattery was too weak, and the crown prince wasn't particularly pleased.
He pushed the file aside. "Go away. Don't let me hear any more bad news."
"Remember to send a skilled person to keep an eye on him. After the deed is done, take advantage of his unpreparedness and secretly eliminate him to prevent future troubles."
The staff member rose and withdrew.
After the door closed, the crown prince sat alone for a while.
It was eerily quiet in the direction of the side hall outside.
He thought of Chen Qinglan's always stoic face, and felt even more agitated.
Now that no eggs have been laid, the Chen Family is backing down.
The Qin Family is still waiting for official recognition.
As long as that hungry wolf Xiao Jinghan gets out, the Prince Yi's Residence will be in chaos.
The only ones the Emperor would give a second glance to were the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
The prince tossed the jade weight back onto the table.
"Third brother, aren't you good at avoiding trouble? Let's see how you avoid it this time."
Inside the prison, the fire hadn't even been lit yet, but the smell of smoke had already reached the prison.
Xiao Jinghan looked up, his nostrils twitching.
Pine oil mixed with old wax.
Some people were worried that the fire wouldn't burn quickly enough, or that the smell would be too strong and be noticed by others, so they added a layer of old wax to cover it up.
A stranger appeared outside the prison gate.
The man was dressed as a jailer, his hat brim pulled low, but he didn't walk with the heavy gait of a prisoner.
The soles of the shoes were clean, without any moldy mud from the road sticking to them.
Xiao Jinghan glanced at it.
" Xiao Jinghan," the man called softly through the door.
Xiao Jinghan did not respond.
The man continued, "The fire starts tonight. You'll come with me. Once we're out, someone will give you a new identity. You'll obey orders and only kill whoever they tell you to kill."
Xiao Jinghan raised his eyes. "Can't we say now?"
The man hesitated for a moment.
Xiao Jinghan laughed, "You don't dare to say it now? Do you think I'm a fool?"
The contact lowered his voice. "Lady Liu, Liu Xiao's granddaughter, is currently at Prince Yi's Residence."
The iron chain on Xiao Jinghan's wrist moved slightly.
The iron ring struck the ground with a clang.
The accomplice, thinking he had hit the nail on the head, quickened his pace.
"Both the Gu Clan and Lady Liu should repay their debts. Prince Yi Gu Moran, is the emperor's most favored prince and he's also protecting Liu Ruyan."
Xiao Jinghan lowered his eyes and touched the old scar on his wrist with his fingertips.
" Gu Moran is the most favored?"
The contact said, "He's at the height of his power right now. Killing him will throw the capital into chaos."
Xiao Jinghan slowly stood up, the iron chains dragging across the ground, stirring up damp dust.
"Good."
The accomplice breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't ask any questions after the fire starts, just follow along."
Xiao Jinghan stared at the half-exposed rope of the playing cards at his waist.
The weaving method used in the Eastern Palace.
He didn't waste his ten years in prison.
The waist tags and hanging ropes of prison guards, eunuchs, minor officials of the Ministry of Punishments, and former servants of the Eastern Palace were all different.
The crown prince wanted to use him as a weapon.
Can.
But once the sword is drawn, it's no longer up to the crown prince!
At around 11:30 PM, a fire broke out in the storage room on the west side of the prison.
First, the straw mat was burned, and the flames followed the pine resin up to the beam.
Smoke seeped out from under the door and seeped into the cell.
The jailers' shouts became chaotic, and the gong was banged on and on.
"Fire has broken out!"
"West! Hurry to the west!"
"Keep an eye on the prisoner!"
The shouts grew louder and louder, and the iron gate was pounded on repeatedly.
Some people coughed, some cursed, and some took advantage of the chaos to bang on the door.