The sun slides from overhead to the western horizon. The shadows of buildings, flowers and trees lengthen until the light becomes dim and twilight begins.
In the small building at the back of Prince Qing's Mansion, the light gradually dimmed.
The two brothers Zhu Taihao and Zhu Taihao were both fast asleep in bed. In the past period of time, the two brothers who had gone through a lot of hardships could finally sleep peacefully, so they slept soundly. Except for Zhu Taihao occasionally making one or two moans.
Outside, he was sleeping quietly and soundly.
Zhang Yanling and Zhu Qingyi have been outside. There is a piece of white paper on the table, with a map of twists and turns drawn on it. In one afternoon, Zhang Yanling restored the street map and various places in Ningxia City based on Zhu Qingyi's narrative.
Important. This map will be extremely important as we proceed tonight.
In Zhu Qingyi's narration and Zhang Yanling's continuous questioning, the map gradually became more detailed. Although the dots and marks on it were densely packed, even Zhu Qingyi could no longer recognize that it was a map of Ningxia City. However, Zhang Yanling seemed very familiar with it.
Satisfied. Each mark above represents a certain terrain and location, which may be extremely important in the action and become the key to success or failure.
Finally, Zhang Yanling put down the brush, carefully scanned the entire map, and whispered: "It's done, thank you Princess for your guidance. Without the guidance of you, a person who lives in Ningxia City, it would be difficult to complete this map. Yes.
With this picture in mind, tonight's operation will be much more advantageous."
Zhu Qingyi looked at Zhang Yanling quietly and said, "The Marquis is going to take action tonight. Is there anything you want Qingyi to do? Or is there anything you need to explain?"
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Qingyi and said, "Is the princess very nervous?"
Zhu Qingyi said: "I'm not nervous."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Aren't you nervous? The princess's clothes will be torn to pieces by yourself."
Zhu Qingyi was stunned, and then realized that her hands were twisting the corners of her clothes, which were already wrinkled. Of course she was nervous, especially after listening to what Zhang Yanling said when she was drawing pictures. Where can we hold on and where can we break through? If
How to retreat when things go wrong, where to travel to avoid being surrounded by large groups of soldiers and horses, and where to break through the encirclement and so on.
While listening to these words, Zhu Qingyi had already imagined a tragic fighting scene in his mind.
There are thousands of soldiers and horses in the city, and the Marquis said that he brought more than ten people into the city. Although they are all elites as he said, how can they be defeated with such a disparity in numbers?
Although there are three thousand cavalry outside the city, even Zhang Yanling himself is not sure whether the three thousand cavalry can arrive in time. And even if they arrive in time, they will only be outside the city. If the capture of the city gate does not go smoothly, these three thousand cavalry will
The cavalry couldn't get in at all. How could Zhang Yanling and the others escape by then?
With these questions lingering in his mind, how could Zhu Qingyi not be nervous?
"Zhang Yanling, promise me, you must be careful. If you don't succeed, don't fight hard. You can escape back to me first. At least there is room here. At worst, I will compromise with the old thief and give him what he wants.
It should not make things difficult for me. In short, the green hills are still there, so I don’t have to worry about running out of firewood." Zhu Qingyi said softly.
Zhang Yanling felt a little touched. She and Zhu Qingyi had only been together for a few days, but in fact the two had already experienced many dangerous moments and were already partners in the same boat. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that they were in the same bed together.
Moreover, Zhang Yanling admired Zhu Qingyi's tenacity. A young girl, who had been supporting Prince Qing's palace for several years, could still be firm-willed, not follow the crowd, not weak and timid when encountering such a major change. This is such a rare thing. Change As an ordinary person, I am afraid that I would have succumbed to the lustful power of King Anhua long ago.
In order to protect herself, she made unusual sacrifices, showing both courage and determination. She was definitely a strange woman. He was originally worried about her safety, but she became worried about herself first.
"Qingyi." Zhang Yanling said softly.
This was the first time that Zhang Yanling called Zhu Qingyi's name, but she did it very naturally and kindly, as if she was already used to it. Zhu Qingyi shuddered and hummed slightly, with a smile on her lips.
"Qingyi, you have to understand one thing. Tonight's operation can only succeed but cannot fail. There is no turning back. Once tonight is launched, no place in this city will be safe. Especially your place, it is impossible to be safe. We There is no way out. Do you think that compromising with Zhu Chifan can solve the problem? Then you are wrong. It is precisely because you have a bargaining chip in your hand that he will tolerate you. If you do not have a bargaining chip in your hand, then the fate of the entire Qing Palace will be with you. It will be extremely miserable. If I fail tonight, I won't be able to come back here, and I will die if I come back. Do you understand?" Zhang Yanling said.
Zhu Qingyi nodded and said nothing.
Zhang Yanling said: "Not only can I not come back here, but you must also leave here tonight. Take your two younger brothers with you, and you must find a place to hide during the chaos tonight. This is what I am about to tell you. Something. Didn’t you say that there is a secret room in Prince Qing’s palace that no one knows about? After the operation started tonight, you quickly took your two brothers and hid in the secret room. You will prepare some food and drink later, so you don’t need to bring them. There are too many, just enough for one day. Because in one day, Ningxia City should have been controlled by me. By then it will be safe for you to come out. If I fail, then...it is actually useless for you to hide. It is impossible to hide in a secret room for a lifetime."
Zhu Qingyi's eyes lit up and she said in a deep voice: "Master Hou, what you said reminds me. If things don't work out, why don't you go into the secret room and hide? I can prepare more food and water, and we can go there Hide there for a long time. When things calm down, you can find a way to escape. They will never find the location of the secret room. The secret room in Prince Qing's Mansion is underground and there is no way to open it. Even if they find the location, they will enter. No. I will tell you the location of the secret room and how to open it. Then you can escape back and enter the secret room directly."
Zhang Yanling waved his hand to stop him: "Qingyi, don't tell me. It's the secret of your Prince Qing's Mansion. How can I pry into it? Besides, how many people can you hide in your secret room? If things fail tonight, how can I?" Let my brothers work hard outside, while I hide myself? I, Zhang Yanling, cannot do such a thing. I will not hide in the secret room of your Prince Qing's Mansion. I think you should understand what I mean."
Zhu Qingyi was silent for a moment and nodded: "I understand what you mean. Well, Qingyi won't persuade you anymore. I will also listen to you. I will take Tai Hao and Tai Hao to the secret room to hide in the evening. I will Let Caiyun prepare food, water and clothing. Lord Marquis does not need to worry about us."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, then I'm relieved. I don't have to worry about anything anymore, and I don't have to worry about it anymore."
Zhu Qingyi said softly: "So the Marquis is really worried about Qingyi?"
Zhang Yanling was stunned, feeling that there was something wrong with what he said. Looking at Zhu Qingyi's clear eyes, Zhang Yanling nodded slowly and said: "Of course. I originally entered Ningxia City with only one purpose, which was to seize Ningxia City and capture Zhu Chifan. But now, There is an additional purpose, which is to protect the safety of Qingyi and your two brothers. If you are harmed in any way, it will be the regret of my life, Zhang Yanling. I will never forgive myself."
Zhu Qingyi's face turned red, she nodded slightly and said, "With your words, Qingyi is satisfied."
Zhu Qingyi called Caiyun and ordered her to prepare water and dry food to pack.
Zhang Yanling stood by the window and watched the sunset. The twilight slowly rose, and her mood gradually became complicated and tense.
What will be the outcome of tonight's action? Zhang Yanling herself is not completely sure. But Zhang Yanling knows one thing, that is, the arrow has to be fired when the arrow is on the string. No matter what happens, she will not back down.
…
It's getting dark, and the lights in Ningxia City are starting to turn on.
In Qiu Yue's back house on Baishui Lane, giant candles burned high and the lights were brightly lit.
In the main hall, Qiu Yue sat upright next to a sumptuous banquet, squinting his eyes and motionless, seeming to have entered a semi-sleep state. His wife, Mrs. Zhou, was sitting in the room, still mending clothes.
It seems that from the day she married Qiu Yue, Zhou has been sewing various clothes for Qiu Yue.
Outerwear, underwear, socks, hats, and even... armor.
Yes, at this moment, Qiu Yue's wife, Mrs. Zhou, was sewing the lining of an armor for Qiu Yue and the damaged skin on his shoulders, chest and back. When Qiu Yue put this piece of armor that had been under the box for many years. , the armor he wore when he joined the army for the first time was turned out and handed to Mrs. Zhou to be repaired. Mrs. Zhou knew that her husband was going to the battlefield.
Just like before every time her husband went to the battlefield, Zhou did not complain or cry. What she did each time was to sew her husband's armor with her own hands and mend all the damaged armor plates and lining. She Knowing that she can't stop her husband from fighting on the battlefield, what she can do is to use every stitch and thread in her hands to repair her husband's armor so that it can better protect her husband.
Footsteps were heard outside the yard. Zhou's hand shook, and the needle pierced her fingertip. Zhou stretched out her finger and sucked it in her mouth, lowered her head and speeded up. She knew that this armor would be put to use soon. .
"Master Qiu, hahaha. Zhou Ang is polite." Zhou Ang's harsh laughter came from the yard.