After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 208 Counterattack
Wen Caifu's heart pounded like a drum in Duan Zhuo's arms.

Her cheeks were as red as ripe apples, and her eyes darted nervously away from Duan Zhuo's burning gaze.

"Let me go right now, it would be so bad if someone saw us."

She said softly, her voice tinged with shyness.

Duan Zhuo hugged her even tighter, and whispered in Wen Caifu's ear, "A day apart feels like three autumns."

"I've already told you I miss you, do you miss me or not?"

The redder her face became, the deeper Duan Zhuo's smile grew.

It was as if he wouldn't let go of her unless she said she missed him.

Wen Caifu's heart pounded faster and faster. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "I...I miss you too."

As soon as she said it, her face turned even redder, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhuo's smile deepened.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. You must be tired from the journey, go and rest."

The hands that had been restraining Wen Caifu were released, and she hurriedly got up, her eyes still darting away.

Duan Zhuo smiled slightly as he looked at her reaction.

"Once this matter is resolved, I will return to the Wen residence with you."

"What are you going back to the Wen residence with me for?"

Wen Caifu frowned slightly as she said this, adding that their relationship was still far from settled.

"Of course, I'll visit my future father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Duan Zhuo smiled and took Wen Caifu's hand: "Didn't you say that we could get to know each other first, and then I could marry you?"

"As far as I'm concerned, I feel that there's nothing about me that you don't know."

After listening to Duan Zhuo's words and thinking about it carefully, Wen Caifu realized that it was indeed true.

Duan Zhuo was that kind of person; he didn't hide anything he had from Wen Caifu.

Aside from Duan Zhuo's background.

"Well, I... didn't say anything, I just felt it was too fast."

Wen Caifu spoke haltingly. Duan Zhuo looked at her and smiled faintly, "Why are you so afraid of me?"

In fact, Duan Zhuo could sense that after spending this time together...

She wasn't that afraid of herself.

They got along very well, and sometimes she would reveal a side of herself that she didn't know about.

Whether charming or cute, she was completely different from the appearance Duan Zhuo had seen before.

It was precisely because of this that Duan Zhuo felt his heart growing closer and closer to her.

He wanted her to stay with him for a long time, and even more so, he wanted her to belong to him completely.

It was a feeling that Duan Zhuo had never experienced in decades.

Perhaps it was what Pei Yanzhi meant by being moved.

"Duan Zhuo, didn't anyone tell you that you can't do this if you want to win a girl's heart?"

Wen Caifu reached out and tapped him on the forehead. Before he could react, she hurriedly left.

Duan Zhuo covered his head with his hand, his smile deepening.

Meanwhile, the military doctor carefully examined Pei Yanzhi's wound and breathed a sigh of relief.

"The adult's wound is healing well. As long as the dressing is changed on time and he rests for a while longer, he will be fine."

After the military doctor left, Pei Yanzhi looked at Cheng Hua. Although he didn't say anything, Cheng Hua scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Master, please don't blame me. I'm only doing this for your and Miss Xiangning's sake. I can tell that Miss Xiangning cares about you a lot, otherwise she wouldn't have rushed here to see you so urgently."

Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of barely perceptible pleasure flashing in his eyes, yet also a touch of melancholy.

Xiang Ning didn't come to see him eagerly; it was because Cheng Hua said he was about to die.

She wasn't a heartless person, so she was naturally drawn to Chenghua's words. "Don't publicize that I've recovered yet. Just tell everyone that I'm dying."

Pei Yanzhi snapped out of his thoughts and said this to Cheng Hua.

Chenghua was taken aback at first, then realized what he meant and said, "I'll take care of it right away."

Before long, General Lin and Duan Zhuo also learned of the news. When they came over and saw Pei Yanzhi sitting on the headboard, they didn't ask any questions.

"Is the master keeping this news from us to lure Lu Yongkang into making the first move?"

Pei Yanzhi smiled meaningfully and nodded slightly.

“Lu Yongkang is an old fox. He has always been wary of me. Hearing that I am about to die, he will definitely be unable to restrain himself.”

"He wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of me so that his plan could proceed smoothly. So we turned the tables on him, waiting for him to make a mistake before taking him down in one fell swoop."

General Lin said, "Sir, your plan is excellent, but your injury has not yet fully healed, so you will need to be extra careful."

Pei Yanzhi waved his hand: "It's alright, I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, he looked at Duan Zhuo. There was a plan that needed to be carried out by Duan Zhuo, and it was indispensable to him.

As Pei Yanzhi had predicted, Lu Yongkang began to stir after hearing the news that Pei Yanzhi was nearing death.

He summoned his confidants and discussed in a secret room how to take the opportunity to get rid of Pei Yanzhi.

With Pei Yanzhi dead, no one can stop our plan.

"One of the aides said smugly."

Lu Yongkang frowned and said cautiously, "We must not be careless about this matter. Pei Yanzhi has always been cunning, and this may be his scheme."

But everyone was blinded by the impending victory and urged Lu Yongkang to seize the opportunity to make a move.

However, what ultimately prompted Lu Yongkang to take action was another victory during the second clash between the two armies.

The commander was Duan Zhuo, and everyone in Lu Yongkang's army knew him.

I heard he fell down the mountain and now his fate is unknown.

Pei Yanzhi was wounded by a poisoned arrow and was near death. Duan Zhuo's fate was unknown. The only one who could hold on was General Lin.

Lu Yongkang's advisors felt that if they didn't press their advantage now, when would they ever get another chance?

Under the strong persuasion of everyone and his own perceived advantageous position, Lu Yongkang finally made up his mind.

They assembled a large army, preparing to launch a massive offensive, hoping to destroy Pei Yanzhi's forces in one fell swoop.

He gazed at the soldiers lined up neatly outside the tent, a hint of arrogant confidence in his eyes.

War was imminent, and Lu Yongkang's army surged in like a tidal wave, their battle cries deafening.

General Lin led his soldiers in a tenacious resistance, and for a time the battlefield was filled with smoke and flames.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Duan Zhuo led a small elite squad and quietly circled around to the enemy's rear.

Under the cover of night, they moved cautiously forward and finally succeeded in sneaking into the capital city.

After Duan Zhuo led his elite squad to successfully infiltrate the capital, they headed towards the imperial palace.

Lu Yongkang had mobilized most of his men and finally managed to storm the palace.

Now that things have come to this, he no longer cares about his reputation; he wants to force the young emperor to write an abdication edict.

Unfortunately, the young emperor did not give him any face and refused to comply even at the cost of his life.

In a fit of anger, Lu Yongkang imprisoned Empress Dowager Feng, the young emperor, and Wei Ziqian.

Duan Zhuo's goal this time is to rescue them.

Before entering the city, Pei Yanzhi gave Duan Zhuo a map of the imperial palace.

Empress Dowager Feng and the young emperor were Lu Yongkang's escape route.

Even if his army suffers a crushing defeat, as long as he holds Empress Dowager Feng and the young emperor in his hands, Lu Yongkang can use the emperor to command the other lords.

But Pei Yanzhi will not give him that chance.

He wanted to cut off all of Lu Yongkang's escape routes.

(End of this chapter)