There was a "buzzing" sound in Wang Beiwang's head, and five thunders struck his head. His face instantly turned pale, and he was stunned.
Wang Xiu has been selected by the court? The notice came out yesterday, and it is right to start collecting boys and girls today. This kind of thing is unscrupulous even in feudal society. It must be done quickly rather than slowly. The longer it is delayed, the more obstacles it will have.
Zhang Yuanqing, who was in the dungeon, also heard the conversation between the two, and his heart sank.
The image of a timid little girl with a flattering look flashed in his mind.
"Why did you choose Xiu'er? Why did you choose Xiu'er?"
Wang Beiwang's expression became distorted, and a burning anger ignited in his heart, licking his soul, and his hands and feet spasmed due to the anger.
In fact, after the court posted the notice, an emergency meeting was held within the Qinglong Gang, planning to ambush the officers and soldiers sent by the court to collect boys and girls near the official road to Beijing, and rescue those children.
In their eyes, it is impossible for the court to collect children from the city to serve as human sacrifices, because the lives of city people are more valuable than those of mud-legged people in the countryside. This is the shallow understanding of most people in the contemporary era.
Wang Beiwang took the initiative to participate in it, knowing that it was dangerous, so he went home to meet his parents and kept the money he had saved.
Unexpectedly, Xiuer was chosen.
Wang Beiwang walked out with bloodshot eyes, burning everything and destroying everything in his heart.
"Wait a minute!" The faint Lord Zhao Shun shouted from behind: "Have you forgotten Elder Xu's order?"
Wang Beiwang paused, his face twisted again, and he rushed back like crazy, with a stern voice:
"Hunjun, all of this happened because of you. I'll kill you now so you don't have to guard me anymore. You'll die sooner or later anyway. Why wait for the gang leader to execute you? Then I go to rescue Xiu'er. I'll kill anyone who stops me.
Who, this is such a stupid court, such a stupid king, and such a stupid world."
Amidst the angry curses, Wang Beiwang took out the key and opened the iron door, and took off the sword on his back with murderous intent on his face.
The sharp sword stabbed straight into the throat.
Zhang Yuanqing raised his face and showed no fear:
"I can save Xiu'er."
The tip of the sword paused, less than half an inch from his throat.
Zhang Yuanqing repeated: "I can save Xiu'er, but there is a condition. You have to take me out of here."
Wang Beiwang stared at him fiercely, passed the tip of his sword forward, and stabbed Zhang Yuanqing's Adam's apple: "You want to trick me into taking you out? You can't think of me as a fool."
"Then you can kill me now and go to save Wang Xiu alone. Then you will die, Xiu'er will die, and your parents will die." Zhang Yuanqing spoke very fast, for fear that this angry guy would really die.
Stabbed himself to death and said:
"Don't you think it's strange, why Xiu'er was chosen? It means that the imperial court wanted to hold the heaven-sacrifice ceremony as soon as possible and complete this matter, so it chose boys and girls in the city instead of in the village.
"The war between the Northern and Southern Dynasties was in full swing. People outside the city fled south in large numbers, resulting in population loss. To gather three hundred boys and girls, it was necessary to search in various villages, issue orders, launch operations, and transport the people back to the capital.
time, and we have to consider changes along the way.”
Wang Beiwang said coldly: "That's it?"
In his opinion, this information can be understood with just a thought.
Zhang Yuanqing spoke calmly:
"What I want to tell you is that the imperial court attaches great importance to this heaven-sacrifice ceremony. Just relying on your three-legged cat's swordsmanship, you want to rescue Xiu'er? No, you will only hurt Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang."
Wang Beiwang's expression froze.
Zhang Yuanqing struck while the iron was hot: "Only I can save Xiu'er, because I am the emperor of the dynasty and the supreme emperor of the Ninth Five-Year Plan. Take me out of here, and I will help you save Xiu'er."
Wang Beiwang looked hesitant, as if weighing the balance, and suddenly snorted coldly: "Hunjun, you want to trick me into taking you out. If I really believe you, it will be inevitable that the rabbit will die and the dog will be cooked by the time. Just stay here and wait to die, Xiu."
I can save you myself."
After saying that, he put away his sword and strode away.
Zhang Yuanqing shouted at his back: "Stupid, I left the palace two days ago."
Wang Beiwang paused and stood there motionless, like a sculpture. After a long time, he suddenly turned around and gritted his teeth and said:
"Hunjun, if you dare to lie to me, I will kill you even if I go to poverty and fall into hell."
He immediately untied the handcuffs and shackles of Jiang Jingwei and Zhang Yuanqing. He held Zhang Yuanqing in one hand and Jiang Jingwei in the other, and strode out.
Leaving the built-in dungeon of the house and coming to the backyard, Wang Beiwang threw the two of them back into the carriage. With A Niu's help, he laid the planks and led the carriage through the threshold.
Outside the door is a secluded path, which is the back door of the house.
Uncle Wang was standing outside with a look of anxiety on his face. When he saw Wang Beiwang come out, he came forward in panic: "Wang Beiwang, Xiu'er has been taken away by officers and soldiers."
Wang Beiwang said "Yes", "I know everything. Dad, I will rescue Xiu'er. You can go back."
After thinking about it, he, who was not very good at comforting people, added: "Don't worry, the Qinglong Gang will never sit idly by."
Uncle Wang held his arm tightly: "We must rescue Xiu'er."
Saying goodbye to his father, Wang Beiwang led the carriage to the main street and headed towards the inner city.
Tianji Tower in the inner city.
In the carriage, Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to sit up. The effects of Ruanjinsan had worn off and he had regained some ability to move. However, the acupuncture points made every movement painful and difficult, like squatting in a pit and numbness.
The person who has.
"Are you going to the inner city?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"You promised me to save Xiu'er. If you break your promise, I will kill you on the spot." Wang Beiwang said coldly.
"Do you know where Xiu'er is?"
"What's the problem? All we need to do is find out."
Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile: "It seems that you don't understand my situation well enough. Elder Xu didn't tell you? Then I'll tell you."
So he told the whole story of how the Zheng family rebelled against the assassin emperor and how he escaped from the palace and lived among the people.
Wang Beiwang suddenly reined in the reins, stopped the carriage, opened the curtain, and widened his eyes: "Seriously?"
Zhang Yuanqing looked around himself: "Otherwise, why do you think I am in this situation? If you take me to rescue Wang Xiu now, it will be like a meat bun beating a dog. Once you go, there will be no return."
Wang Beiwang stared at him for about ten seconds, gritted his teeth and said: "Hunjun, you are kidding me!"
"Be calm and don't be impatient." Zhang Yuanqing raised his lips and said, "Cousin, a swordsman must know how to control his temper, not be alarmed when encountering difficulties, and not be afraid of danger, in order to achieve great things."
Wang Beiwang sneered, "That's not what you did when you begged me for mercy during the day."
Taking a deep breath, he pressed the hilt of the sword and said: "What should I do now? You'd better give me a satisfactory answer, otherwise, blood will be splashed five steps away."
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the busy street and said calmly: "Keep walking, don't stop, be careful of the city defense troops coming to question you."
Wang Beiwang could only shake the reins and continue driving.
Zhang Yuanqing put down the curtain of the car window and said:
"If I want to save Xiu'er and the three hundred boys and girls, I must personally come forward. However, I cannot solve the problem in private. It will only give the Zheng family the opportunity to kill people and silence them. It must be done in public, in front of the civil and military officials of the court."
In the face of the common people of the country."
"Therefore, the day of the heaven-sacrifice ceremony is the time for me to show up. Cousin, you have to wait a little longer." Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile: "Don't be afraid of me playing tricks. I am an emperor in trouble. It's too late to hide. I have to rely on you for safety."
You keep me through tonight, and I'll help you rescue Xiu'er."
Wang Beiwang was silent and thought for a full quarter of an hour before he said:
"I'll believe you for once."
He actually realized that he had been "tricked". When the coward Zhao Shun coaxed him in the dungeon, he did not mention these details. When he took people out of Elder Xu's mansion, there was no turning back.
You can only rely on the foolish king.
Fortunately, the other party cannot carry it on his shoulders or lift it, so his life is in his own hands. This is his only bargaining chip.
In the carriage, Zhang Yuanqing, who sensed Wang Beiwang's wary mood, laughed at himself, saying that the character Zhao Shun really hates dogs.
Anyone who sees it will spit a few times.
So he didn't feel angry because of Wang Beiwang's bad attitude. Wang Beiwang had a good heart and was a young knight who was quite patriotic and caring for the people.
This is the reason why Zhang Yuanqing promised to save Wang Xiu.
Of course, saving Wang Xiu is also his way to break the situation.
He wanted to show up at the heaven-sacrifice ceremony, in front of the civil and military officials of the court, and in front of the people of the capital, to stop this farce and win the hearts and minds of the people.
"Where are we going now?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
Wang Beiwang thought for a while and said: "I have a foothold in the west of the city, which I use to escape the pursuit of my enemies. It is very hidden there and no one knows about it."
The carriage stopped at the roadside, turned around, and headed west of the city.
The capital of the Southern Dynasties was very large, and the carriage drove for half an hour before reaching the west of the city and stopping at the foothold of Wang Beiwang.
This is a small courtyard made of gray bricks. The overall color is dark, and the courtyard walls are very elegant, with many weathered potholes exposed.
The courtyard gate is too small to accommodate a carriage.
Wang Beiwang unloaded the carriage, the carriage and horses struggled, the carriage was left outside, and the horses were led into the yard.
It was already noon, and Jiang Jingwei's hungry chest pressed against his back, clamoring for food.
Wang Beiwang, who had a sharp mouth and a tofu heart, took Zhang Yuanqing to the street to buy steamed buns, pork head meat, beef and other food. The three of them made do with food and clothing.
"Cousin, we are now grasshoppers on the same rope. Please tell me first. If you take me out privately, will the Qinglong Gang punish you?" Zhang Yuanqing patted his belly with satisfaction and asked.
"It has nothing to do with you." Wang Beiwang said these words in a cold tone and went to feed the horses in the yard.
Zhang Yuanqing asked Jiang Jingwei to boil water, while he sat at the table to eat and kill time.
The plan couldn't keep up with the change. He didn't plan to go into the inner city to meet his teammates at the Tianji Tower tonight. In this situation, there were too many variables running around outside.
The west side of the city is relatively remote and is not the main area under strict investigation by the city defense army. It is safer here. If you survive tonight well, you will be able to complete the side mission and restore the strength of the saint tomorrow morning.
From escaping from the palace, to meeting Wang Beiwang, to now, he has been in danger several times and become a prisoner, which has made him exhausted mentally and physically.
The conversation between Jiang Jingwei and Wang Beiwang came from the yard:
"Brother, can you teach me how to acupuncture acupuncture points?"
"You practice fire-based exercises, but you don't know how to tap acupuncture points?"
"I only know how to fight, nothing else."
"I haven't seen how good you are in a fight."
"If you hit, hit."
The sound of fists hitting flesh could be heard in the yard. After more than ten seconds, Wang Beiwang snorted coldly:
"My ability is not great, my temper is not small."
Jiang Jingwei was not convinced and fought again.
After a while, she carried a pot of hot water into the house with a bruised nose and a swollen face.
Zhang Yuanqing laughed and said: "You haven't even completed the side mission, which is equivalent to a first-level extraordinary. What can you do?"
Jiang Jingwei said angrily: "If I kill you, my side mission will be completed."
Zhang Yuanqing quickly reassured: "I will find a way to get you back to the camp."
At dusk, Guan Ya returned to Yang Mansion after wandering around the inner city for a day without any results.
I first went to Yang Zheng's study, and after receiving the reply "His Majesty was not found", I left disappointed.
At this time, she saw her servant running over in a hurry and said:
"Queen, there is a woman outside the palace asking to see you. She says she is your old friend, her surname is Xie!"
Her surname is Xie? Guan Ya's heart moved: "Bring her to the outer hall to meet me."
A few minutes later, Guan Ya, who was waiting in the outer hall, saw the servant leading a mediocre young woman into the outer hall.
Guan Ya dismissed the servant and looked at the young woman, who was also looking at her.
After sizing each other up for a moment, Guan Ya tentatively asked, "Lingxi?"
Hearing this, the young woman smiled happily: "Sister Guan Ya? You are really Queen Yang."
Guan Ya smiled and said: "Yuanshi is the emperor and I am the queen. Isn't it natural?"
The mediocre Xie Lingxi nodded: "I am the beauty of brother Yuanshi's harem."
The smile on Guan Ya's face faltered.
"Let's get down to business, where are the others?" she asked.
Xie Lingxi shook his head: "I don't know. I didn't escape from the palace that night, but I disguised myself and lurked in the harem. Today I knocked out a forbidden soldier and put on his clothes to leave the palace."
She told Guan Ya everything about the night of the assassination, her role and tasks, and her brother Yuanshi's analysis of the plot of the copy.
"No wonder Yuan Shi is in such a mess, it turns out that his level has been sealed." Guan Ya suddenly realized, "The queen has escaped from the palace, where do you plan to meet?"
Xie Lingxi said: "We are not familiar with the capital, so we made an appointment to meet at Tianji Tower. Sister Guan Ya, will you go with us?"
Guan Ya shook her head: "It's getting dark and there's a curfew in the city. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
The next day, early morning.
Zhang Yuanqing, who was sleeping lightly, heard the familiar dungeon prompt sound coming from his ears:
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the side mission: surviving for 72 hours.]