As everyone rode towards the city gate, the sky lit up slightly.
When Xiang Shaolong turned onto the post road out of the city, he suddenly reined in his horse and stopped.
Teng Yi, Jing Jun, the Eighteen Iron Guards, Wu Jie who reported the news, and a group of elite regiment members hurriedly stopped with him.
The cold morning wind blew everyone's clothes flying.
There was no one on the long road, and there was a solemn and desolate atmosphere.
The leaves fell in the wind, and the two endless rows of maple trees beside the post road rustled.
Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly and said, "I have to pick up Yanran before I can leave with peace of mind."
Teng Yi frowned and said, "She is in the widow's house, so there should be no problem with her safety."
Xiang Shaolong said: "I understand this, but it still feels like a thorn in my heart. I'm sorry."
Teng Yi and Jing Jun looked at each other with helpless expressions. Returning to the ranch was a matter of urgency, so how could they tolerate such a delay in time.
Na Wujie said anxiously: "Master Xiang, why don't you send someone else to pick up Madam?"
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi exchanged glances, feeling chilled in their hearts. They both recalled Lu Xiong's reaction when they temporarily changed their route on their mission to Wei.
The members of the elite regiment have been trained and are subject to the strictest discipline. When the superiors are talking, there is no room for them to interrupt. Why did Wujie suddenly become bolder? Is it possible that they are not aware of the urgency of the situation?
Xiang Shaolong became suspicious and teased him: "Wu Jie, you and Mr. Jing will go pick up Madam, okay?"
Wu Jie said in astonishment: "How can this be possible? I still have to guide Master Xiang and Master Teng, oh"
Wu Yanzhu and Wu Shu, under Teng Yi's gesture, rode up from behind, with two long swords on the left and right pressed against Wu Jie's sides.
Xiang Shaolong's eyes flashed with cold light and he sneered: "Wujie, do you know what went wrong and exposed your evil plan?"
Wujie's expression changed and he said, "No, I'm not a spy." After he said this, he realized that he had slipped his lips.
You must know that Xiang Shaolong has a high status among the disciples of the Wu family, as high as a god. In front of him, Wu Jie is at a loss due to his psychological weakness.
Jing Jun was furious and shouted: "Drag him off the horse!"
"boom"
Wu Shu flew up with a kick, and Wu Jie immediately fell off the horse. Before he could stand up, Teng Yi, who had jumped off the horse, grabbed his head, whipped him, and punched him firmly in the lower abdomen.
Wujie twitched and bent his body in pain, and two other iron guards held his arms between them, forcing him to stand.
Jing Jun arrived in front of him early, pulled out the dagger, put it at his throat, and said in a cold voice: "As long as you tell a lie, this dagger will cut your throat. But I will be very measured, and you won't be able to do it for more than ten days."
Neither will die."
Wu Jie showed a look of distraught, collapsed, and sobbed: "The young master forced me to do this. Alas, I owed him a lot of money when I was not his attendant."
Everyone suddenly felt like they were lucky. If Xiang Shaolong hadn't suddenly gone to pick up Ji Yanran and left the city together, they wouldn't have even known what was going on.
This vicious scheme cannot be said to be endless.
Hope ignited in Xiang Shaolong's heart and he said in a deep voice: "Is the eldest master really dead?"
Wujie shook his head and said: "That's just a lie. Nothing happened in the ranch. The only thing the young master has to deal with is you three uncles. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it."
Wu Shu hit him hard on the waist and kneed him hard.
Xiang Shaolong's mood improved and he said: "I'll leave this guy to my second brother for questioning. Xiaojun and I will go to Qin Mansion, pick up Yan and then make plans."
After making an appointment at the meeting place, he and Jing Jun rode towards Qin Qing's mansion. Only then did he have the chance to wipe off the cold sweat on his brow.
When going to Qin Mansion, Xiang Shaolong felt like he was reincarnated.
If all these conspiracies of Lu Buwei come from the head of Lu Buwei's house named Mo Ao, then this man is really the most intelligent person among the people he has ever met, and he is the best at using calculated methods without any intention.
If this plan succeeds, Xiang Shaolong can only live two days longer than King Zhuang Xiang.
This is a chain-linked vicious scheme.
First, Lu Buwei saw that Xiang Shaolong could not be killed in the red pine forest, so he turned to Wu Tingwei, a man who was always addicted to wine and sex. He poisoned a famous prostitute in a brothel and added the power of the prime minister's office, and then used him to be jealous and dissatisfied with Xiang Shaolong.
The dragon's mentality won him over.
When Wu Tingwei leaked to Lu Buwei that the Uzbek tribe was preparing to evacuate with the mentality of claiming credit, this traitor then made up his mind to get rid of Xiang Shaolong.
The poisoning of King Zhuang Xiang may have been a plan he had made early. The only condition was that he would not implement it until he had established a firm footing.
So Lu Buwei lured him to Xianyang in the name of a banquet. After King Zhuang Xiang died, he tricked him into leaving the city and killed him on the road.
At this moment when the old and new kings are changing, the Qin State is in chaos because of the death of King Zhuang Xiang, and Xiang Shaolong is a person with enemies all over the six countries. Who has the time to understand and pursue this matter?
This conspiracy to lie about Wu Yingyuan's death, the situation in the ranch being in chaos, and the impending struggle was not without its flaws.
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi felt from Wu Jie's words that Tao Fang was unusually powerful. However, King Zhuang Xiang had just been killed, and they were frightened. They would not be surprised that Lu Buwei killed Wu Yingyuan.
In fact, although Wu Tingwei was unworthy, he was only targeting Xiang Shaolong, and he was not so conscientious as to kill his father.
However, as the suspicious person seemed to be coming to Wufu for a sneak attack, they had no time to think about it and had to rush back to the ranch, where they fell right into the trap carefully set by Lu Buwei.
If Xiang Shaolong hadn't been worried and let Ji Yanran stay alone in Xianyang, he would have died without even knowing what would have happened.
Xiang Shaolong let out a long breath, summoned up his ambition, whipped up his horse, and he and Jing Jun ran across the Xianyang Avenue in the early morning, towards the Qinqing Mansion in sight.
Qin Qing, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, met the two of them in the main hall.
The face without makeup is even more beautiful and elegant, which makes people dare not to look at it, but they can't help but want to feast on it.
Jing Jun was dumbfounded. He even held the fragrant tea offered by the maid in his hand and forgot to take a sip.
Qin Qing said calmly: "Master Xiang is here so early. Is there anything urgent?"
Xiang Shaolong heard her displeasure and said apologetically: "It's not an important matter, I just want to take Yanran back to the ranch."
After finishing speaking, I felt that the reason was far-fetched. I had promised to let Ji Yanran stay here for a while, but less than three days later, he came to pick her up. He was still in such a hurry and chose a time before she got up.
, which is actually inconsistent with etiquette.
Qin Qing first ordered his servants to inform Ji Yanran, then frowned his long dark eyebrows and began to ponder.
Xiang Shaolong took a sip of hot tea and glanced around.
The decoration of the hall is simple and elegant, without any tackiness, and appropriately reflects the elegant temperament and taste of the hostess.
Qin Qing said calmly: "Mr. Xiang suddenly changed his mind. Does he owe Qin Qing a reasonable explanation?"
Xiang Shaolong felt a severe headache and was speechless.
He lied to her but was unwilling to do so.
Qin Qing sighed softly: "No need to be embarrassed. At least you won't say unintended words like others. It's just that the king is newly mourning. Taifu Xiang will leave without caring about it, which will cause a lot of gossip."
Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly and said: "I will come back in a short while. Alas, there are many things in this world that make people unable to control themselves."
Qin Qing lowered his head and recited "I can't help myself" several times, and suddenly said softly: "Does Taifu Xiang feel that the king's death comes too suddenly?"
Xiang Shaolong's heart skipped a beat, knowing that she had become suspicious of King Zhuang Xiang's death. He secretly thought that she must not confirm this idea, otherwise she would be killed by Lu Buwei sooner or later. He hurriedly said: "The imperial doctor will know more about this matter.
"
Qin Qing suddenly raised her pretty face, stared at him with beautiful eyes, and said coldly: "Qin Qing just wants to know what Taifu thinks."
For the first time, Xiang Shaolong looked directly at this peerless beauty without any hesitation. He suppressed the natural reaction of avoiding his gaze and sighed: "My head is in a mess, I have never thought about this aspect.
question."
Qin Qing's eyes were fixed on him, and she still said in that cold tone: "What did Taifu Xiang say in the ear of the king, so that the king could rest assured and close his eyes and die? At that time, only the government
The prince heard it alone, but he refused to tell me and Queen Ji."
Xiang Shaolong's hands and feet immediately became cold, knowing that he had made a fatal mistake.
There was nothing wrong in saying that. The problem was that he did not confess to Xiaopan afterwards.
If he and Xiaopan say different prevarications when asked, it will be revealed that at least one of them is lying.
At that time, he was only worried about Lu Buwei, so he told him behind his back. But he forgot about Zhu Ji, Lady Xiuli and the concubines on the other side of the couch. This matter may eventually reach Lu Buwei's ears.
Fortunately, Qin Qing was reminded that this matter might be remedied through Li Si.
Qin Qing saw his expression change and was about to ask more questions when Ji Yanran came.
Xiang Shaolong hurriedly stood up, sighed and said, "Teacher Qin has always lived a peaceful life without fighting against the world. Xiang really doesn't want to see Tutor Qin being tainted by worldly affairs."
He led Ji Yanran to say goodbye and left.
Qin Qing looked at Xiang Shaolong with complicated and unexplainable changes in her eyes. Until she sent them away, except for a few words when she and Ji Yanran made an appointment to meet each other, she said nothing. However, Xiang Shaolong responded.
I feel like she's starting to understand herself a little bit.
After meeting with Teng Yi, Ji Yanran learned the whole story.
The traitor Wu Jie is still riding on the horse, his feet are tied with a young rope through the horse's belly. Unless you are careful, you should not be able to see anything strange.
Everyone rode out of the city and ran to the pasture.
We arrived at a dense forest and stopped.
Jing Jun tied Wu Jie to a tree and sent out eighteen iron guards to guard him.
Teng Yi said solemnly: "This ambush on us was personally presided over by Guan Zhongxie, the number one master under Lu Buwei's command. Although there are only about 150 people, they are all outstanding swordsmen among the generals of the Xiangfu family. Tu Guanjia
He didn't know anything about it, which shows that the real power of the prime minister's office has gradually been transferred to Mo Ao and Guan Zhongxie, two men who are both civil and military."
Xiang Shaolong said: "Where are they going to sneak attack us?"
Teng Yi pointed to the Meihua Gorge not far away and said: "Of course we chose the Jedi with nowhere to escape. With our current strength, if we confront them head-on, it will undoubtedly be an egg hitting a stone. The biggest headache is that Lu Buwei has found out from Wu Jie's mouth
Our situation.”
Xiang Shaolong secretly sighed in his heart, Lu Buwei had long seen through that Wu Tingwei was a vulnerability they could break through, but unfortunately they were still ignorant and were at a disadvantage in every aspect.
Ji Yanran said calmly: "Uncle and Wu Jie still have limited knowledge of our true strength, so we don't have to worry so much, okay?"
Xiang Shaolong secretly called it a fluke. When organizing the Wu family's 5,000-strong disciple army, he used the secrecy methods of the 21st century military. Except for them, the top leaders, the disciple soldiers only knew
Act according to orders. Regarding the number of people, strength, equipment, and weapons, you only know the tip of the iceberg where you are. In order to cover up others' eyes, the soldiers of the Wu family are strictly forbidden to talk about anything related to training. So even if a core like Wu Jie
Molecules, what is known is still limited.
Teng Yi nodded and said: "Fortunately, we have taken precautions, but Lu Buwei will be more concerned about us because of this. This is inevitable. What should we do now?"
Ji Yanran asked: "Where is uncle now?"
Teng Yi replied: "Of course he went back to the ranch to wait for the good news, so that no one would doubt him. As for Wu Jie, if he is in trouble, he will be killed and silenced."
Ji Yanran said: "That's easy to handle. We immediately detoured back to the ranch, forced Wu Jie to confront his uncle, and found out if anyone in the Wu family besides his uncle was involved in this matter. After solving the problem of the traitor,
If we continue to fight with Lu Buwei to the end, the worst possible outcome will be the death of Princess Qian and their blood feud cannot stop there."
Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly in his heart, Lu Buwei could still be prosperous for at least eight years, but his future experiences were unknown. These days were really difficult to endure.
He nodded and said: "Let Guan Zhongxie live a little longer and let's go back to the ranch."
Jing Jun, who had been silent all this time, gave a secret signal, summoned the Eighteen Iron Guards, and escorted Wu Jie through the dense forest to the mountain road to the left, heading towards the pasture.
Because the road took a long detour, by evening we were still more than twenty miles away from the ranch.
When everyone was about to set up camp, Xiang Shaolong said: "Wait a minute. Tu first said that Guan Zhongxie is so wise and brave, and our departure from the city was delayed for an entire hour. He will not be suspicious. As long as he sends out spies, it will not be difficult to find us."
We have already changed our course. We must be careful with the ship of ten thousand years. Even if we overestimate him, it is better than suffering a loss."
Jing Jun said excitedly: "If he attacks in the dark, he will definitely cause a big fight for them."
Xiang Shaolong smiled and said, "That's what I meant."
The camp is next to a small river.
There are five tents, with a dim bonfire burning in the middle, and more than a dozen dummies made of tree trunks and grass leaves around them, pretending to be night watchers, and they look like they are.
They hid in the dense forest on a hill five hundred paces away, with their bows and arrows ready to teach the intruders a lesson.
Little did he know that until the waning moon reached the sky, there was still no movement.
They didn't close their eyes last night, and they had been driving all day today. Even strong people like Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi couldn't hold on, and they yawned frequently.
Ji Yanran said: "If we sleep in groups, everyone will be exhausted."
When Xiang Shaolong woke up, he found that Ji Yanran was still sleeping soundly in his arms. The morning light was dim, the birds were chirping, and the atmosphere was full of early spring.
He felt a sense of peace in his heart, carefully examining the outline of Ji Yanran's beautiful mountains and hills.
In this mountaintop far away from Xianyang, where the air is fresh and the sunlight shines through the forest on Ji Yanran's beautiful body, he is temporarily freed from the tense nerves and heavy emotional burdens he has been feeling for the past few days.
The spiritual platform was clear and empty, with no distracting thoughts at all.
Just like the epiphany of becoming a Buddha, he suddenly realized that the reason why he had been at a disadvantage against Lu Buwei so far was not only because Lu Buwei was calculating mentally but not intentionally, but more importantly because he had a power that he would be unable to do anything to do to him in the next eight years.
Feeling of fate.
If he is still so passive, he will always end up in despair.
He may not be able to kill Lu Buwei within these eight years, but history points out that Lu Buwei cannot do anything to Xiaopan, Li Si, Wang Jian and others.
In other words, there was no way he would implicate these three people.
In this case, why not use their strength as much as possible to fight Lu Buwei without any scruples. The murder of King Zhuang Xiang shows that no one can change fate.
Even if Xiang Shaolong is doomed, Xiaopan will seek justice for him after he ascends the throne at the age of twenty-one.
Thinking of this, the whole person felt relaxed.
Teng Yi's voice sounded from behind: "Third brother is awake."
Xiang Shaolong tried to move Ji Yanran away.
The beautiful woman woke up with a cry of pleasure, climbed up from Xiang Shaolong's arms in embarrassment, sat aside and said sleepily: "Didn't Guan Zhongxie come?"
Her lazy and charming posture made the two men stunned at the same time.
Ji Yanran glanced at them and said slightly angrily: "I'm going to the river to freshen up."
Just as she was about to move, Xiang Shaolong stopped her and said: "Maybe Guan Zhongxie is smart enough to see through this trap, and the camp is set up by the river, making it easy to escape. If I were him, I might go around and set up an ambush."
, or still standing by the camp waiting for dawn. Yan Ran went forward so rashly, and just fell into the enemy's trap."
Teng Yi came to him, looked him up and down, and said in surprise: "Third brother, your whole person seems completely different. This is the first time I have seen you full of vitality, fighting spirit and confidence since you came back from your mission.
"
Ji Yanran said happily: "Second brother is right, this is the kind of hero that Yanran falls in love with."
Xiang Shaolong knew it very well. He knew that it was because he had suddenly untied the knot in his heart that he was able to arouse his ambition and arrogance. He summoned Jing Jun and the Eighteen Iron Guards and told him his thoughts.
Jing Jun nodded and said: "This is easy. We Jing tribe hunters are best at stalking in the mountains. As long as someone from Guan Zhongxie has been nearby, even if they go around to the other side now, they can't hide it from us."
With an order, the six Jing clan masters in the Eighteen Iron Guards followed him.
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi interrogated Wu Jie again and found out the details of Wu Tingwei's trick in tricking him into the game. As expected, something poisonous was involved.
After making breakfast, the two of them went to the slope of the hill with Ji Yanran and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the river flowing through the mountains and breakfast together.
Teng Yi let out a breath and said: "The situation is not too bad. According to Wu Jie, Wu Tingwei should be the only one who has defected to Lu Buwei."
Ji Yanran sighed: "He is Tingfang's biological brother after all. What can we do with him?"
Xiang Shaolong said coldly: "There is nothing more humane to say. Even if we don't kill him, we must at least take him outside the Great Wall and lock him up with my eldest brother. He will never be allowed to set foot in the Qin territory again."
Teng Yi said happily: "Second brother has finally regained the heroic spirit of pretending to be Dong Ma in Handan."
At this time, Jing Jun and others hurried back and said with admiration: "The third brother is really good at knowing things. We found the grass clippings and dung that the horses had eaten about two miles away from the camp, and followed Hen to pursue them. The enemy
It should be heading towards Chimapo in the north of the pasture."
Teng Yi said in astonishment: "He knows how to choose a place. It is the only way to get to the ranch. Unless we turn back and take another route, we will have to climb mountains and ridges."
Xiang Shaolong stared at the river below and said decisively: "He should have left people to monitor us. In this wilderness, he doesn't have to have any scruples about anything he does. Or maybe the people he left behind are already strong enough."
Deal with us."
Ji Yanran said: "Since this evil man is so clever, he will be killed as Xiang Lang said, and he is not afraid of us turning around and running away."
Jing Jun once again showed his fearless character of a newborn calf, and said excitedly: "If they are divided into two groups and intend to attack us from both front and rear, then we can use their tactics to defeat them separately."
Teng Yi said: "You are really young and only know how to fight bravely. If we are entangled by the enemy, how can we escape?"
Jing Jun was speechless.
Xiang Shaolong lay down on his back, looked at the blue sky and white clouds at the end of the treetops above, and said leisurely: "Let us have a good sleep first. When the enemy cannot figure out whether we left early last night, we will return."
What a great time to be home.”
Everyone looked at him in astonishment, wondering what magic trick he had to escape.