Her guards

Chapter 267 Danger
It was late summer in the capital, but the weather was still scorching hot. Early in the morning, a magnificent carriage drove out of the Duke of Ding'an's mansion.

"That princess went to the palace again."

"They're discussing important military and national affairs."

"It was this princess who discovered Wei Cui's plot to rebel."

"When will the title be bestowed? It's not proper to grant it."

"Just wait, once Wei Cui is pacified, this princess will surely be rewarded with great honors."

Amidst the chatter of the people on the street, and surrounded by imperial guards, Yang Luo arrived at the imperial city by carriage.

Officials came and went in the imperial city. When they saw her, they no longer ignored her as before, and no one questioned her about her qualifications to enter the imperial city. In fact, many officials bowed their heads in respect.

Yang Luo nodded in return and headed straight for the Hall of Diligent Governance.

"Princess--"

The eunuchs outside the Hall of Diligent Governance greeted him with smiles.

Although no official title was bestowed, the eunuchs no longer addressed her as Miss Yang, but directly as Princess.

As soon as the eunuchs began to speak, the emperor's laughter rang out in the hall.

"Luoying's here? Come in quickly!"

Yang Luo walked in and saw the emperor and several officials standing in front of the sand table.

The emperor laughed and said, "Luoying, the Yunyang army has captured Longxi City."

Yang Luo curtsied and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The emperor looked at her with excitement: "This is all thanks to you, Luo Ying! I want to reward you!"

Yang Luo stood up and walked over, smiling, saying, "I made a suggestion, a very risky one, and His Majesty accepted it. This is a testament to His Majesty's wisdom and prowess, and also..."

She looked at the officials standing to the side.

"It is thanks to the court officials who did not take my plans lightly, but offered their advice and worked together with one heart."

She looked at the sand table again, where military symbols were scattered like stars.

"It is also the result of the bravery of all the soldiers."

She then looked at the emperor and curtsied.

"This is not solely due to my efforts. When Wei Cui is captured and Longxi is unified, Your Majesty will reward the soldiers. I would be content with just a word of praise."

The emperor laughed and said to the officials around him, "Look, look, this is my daughter."

The officials looked at Yang Luo with complicated expressions, as if suddenly this Miss Yang, who had previously only existed in the private quarters of her wife and daughters, had stepped into their lives...

Although Miss Yang's praise of His Majesty was modest, it also indicated that she indeed deserved a reward.

This kind of dominance...

One of them couldn't help but laugh and looked at the emperor.

"Indeed, he has the bearing of His Majesty in his youth," he said with a smile.

The emperor was even more pleased, but still dissatisfied: "Shouldn't it be that the student surpasses the teacher?"

The officials all laughed.

Yang Luo smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, what is the situation inside Longxi City?"

"Besides those who resisted and were killed, about a hundred of Wei Cui's clansmen have surrendered," the emperor said. "The fifteen eunuchs and fifteen palace maids I sent were all killed in battle."

In other words, the palace maid who replaced the maid Asheng also died.

Yang Luo sighed inwardly.

The news that the young lady and the maid had switched identities must have reached Longxi City. Since the one in the family was a maid, the Wei family members knew that keeping her alive would no longer be able to blackmail the court, so they naturally killed her.

However, this was expected, as these eunuchs and palace maids were all assassins selected by His Majesty.

"My maid, is there any new news from Asheng?" Yang Luo then asked.

An official spoke up: "The latest news is that Wei Cui has come here to hunt down Prince Mo."

He pointed to the location on the map.

"Judging from its location, it is separated from Wucheng by a canyon."

"They probably intend to join forces with the troops from Wucheng to attack Prince Mo and his party from both sides," another official said.

Although the details were not explained to all officials, the main officials in charge of the war already knew that the so-called uprising of Prince Mo was actually carried out by Miss Yang's maid, Asheng, who led the men left behind by Miss Yang's mother, as well as some men bestowed by the emperor, in an imposter's guise.

The purpose was to lure Wei Cui.

The officials initially didn't have much hope, thinking it was too far-fetched and that Wei Cui wouldn't fall for it. But after Prince Mo started his rebellion, the powerful clans in Wucheng, Gangu, and other places instantly submitted...

This shows that the powerful clans in Longxi do indeed have ulterior motives!

Even if they can't lure Wei Cui, these people alone are enough for the imperial court to send troops.

Next, Wei Cui also joined the war. Although he failed to capture Qin'an City and even seemed poised to kill Prince Mo, a single word from Prince Mo gave the court an excuse to take Longxi City.

Although Wei Cui may have been putting on an act at first, now that Longxi City has fallen, and with the news that the young lady was a maid spreading, Wei Cui will definitely kill this maid for real...

“Princess, don’t worry.” An official pointed to the sand table. “Longxi City is also under the control of the Yunyang Army, and the Nanyang Army is besieging Wei Cui with all its might. With his rear insecure, he will certainly have no intention of pursuing your maid.”

Yang Luo nodded with a smile: "I'm not worried. My maid will be fine, and she will even join forces with the Nanyang troops to attack Wei Cui from both sides."

After saying this, he bowed to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the traitor Wei will surely not escape."

The princess was quite adept at flattering His Majesty, and the officials, realizing what was happening, quickly followed suit and bowed in return.

"Your Majesty, you will surely unify the world."

The emperor laughed heartily, looking at the map: "I have waited for more than ten years, and I thought I would have to wait another ten years."

After saying this, he looked at the officials in front of him, especially Yang Luo, and his heart was filled with emotion.

All of this is because of his daughter.

His daughter, who had been living away from home and whom he thought did not exist.

He's his lucky star.

……

……

The study in the Ding'an Duke's mansion, which originally belonged to the Duke of Ding'an, has now become Yang Luo's.

At this time, the calligraphy and paintings that Duke Ding'an had used to appear cultured in the study had all been put away. Large and small maps were hanging in the room, and a sand table was set up.

"...This canyon is extremely disadvantageous for you, young master," Zhang Shengyou said in a deep voice, looking at the map. "It's long and narrow, difficult to traverse, easy to attack but difficult to defend. Most importantly, there's no water source in this desert. If the entrance is guarded and the exit is blocked, then it will truly be..."

After saying that, he turned around and was about to rush out.

"I don't care anymore, I'm going—"

"Where are you going!" Hong Lin shouted from the side. "Are you going to disobey the young master's orders?"

Zhang Sheng didn't take a step, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Hong Lin stood in front of the map.

“The Nanyang army has already passed through, and there is pressure on the rear. Wei Cui will definitely retreat. Moreover, the Wuyang army is responsible for attacking Gangu Wucheng, which will relieve the siege of the exit.”

After saying that, he looked at Zhang Shengyou.

“You must believe in the young master. She wasn’t really forced into a corner by Wei Cui. Choosing this place was her decision.”

Peach Blossom whispered from the side, "Shengyou, it's no use if you go alone. There's fighting everywhere over there right now, and you might not even be able to get there."

Just as Zhang Sheng was about to say something, Yang Luo's voice rang out from outside.

"I can get you to Longxi as soon as possible."

As he spoke, he strode forward.

"I can also obtain an imperial decree from His Majesty, which will allow you unimpeded passage through Longxi."

After saying that, he looked anxiously at Hong Lin, Zhang Sheng, and Tao Hua.

"You guys should go help Ah Sheng quickly."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something else.

"Yes, I can also transfer troops from the Beijing Garrison to you..."

“Miss Yang,” Hong Lin interrupted her, his expression solemn, “Thank you for thinking of the young master, but we cannot leave.”

“I know she asked you to stay and protect me,” Yang Luo said urgently, “but I’m not in danger now; she’s the one in the most danger.”

Hong Lin shook his head: "No, Miss Yang, the young master asked us to stay because the capital is the most dangerous place, the most dangerous place for her and for you."

The capital is the most dangerous place? Yang Luo was stunned and looked at him.

“Miss Yang, what would happen if the Emperor found out about the young master’s identity?” Hong Lin said.

Ah Sheng's identity.

Yang Luo clenched her fists.

If she doesn't speak up, and they don't speak up, will the emperor ever know Ah Sheng's true identity?

……

……

A gust of wind swept in, carrying dust that almost blotted out the sky.

Zhu Yunxiao was already used to the crazy weather in Longxi. He reined in his horse and waited until the gust of wind passed before taking off the cloth covering his head.

Even with prior protection, their heads and faces were still covered in a layer of dust.

Having only been in Longxi for a few months, he had almost completely lost the appearance of a noble young master from the capital.

Zhu Yunxiao frowned deeply and looked somber.

He was not angry because of his appearance or suffering, but because he felt he had been tricked.

After he left Yancheng, he received new news from the capital: the Miss Yang he had been talking about was a fake, and the one he had always regarded as a maid was the real one!
No wonder he felt something was off earlier.

How could the emperor send his own daughter to such a dangerous place as Longxi, while that maidservant stayed in the capital and acted like a tyrant?

It turns out that what was sent was fake, and what was kept by my side was the real one.

They switched identities from the very beginning...

No wonder when we first met, the maid was so aggressive and domineering, while that Miss Yang...

Of the few times he had seen it, it was quiet and still.

No wonder, back in the capital, he couldn't help but associate with this maid, and would inexplicably show concern for her...

It turned out that his instincts were telling him that this was the person he should care about.

Zhu Yunxiao breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, the person he was most familiar with and had always been in contact with was Miss Zhen, and Miss Zhen had seen his heartfelt feelings with her own eyes.

but……

We suffered a huge loss this time.

He frowned and looked in the direction of Longxi City.

If he had known beforehand that the woman he was marrying would be a maid, he would never have come to Longxi.

I came to Longxi to rescue a damsel in distress, but now the damsel is gone, and I can no longer be a hero!

The thought flashed through his mind, and he summoned Bingwei to ask, "Has Longxi City been captured?"

Bingwei nodded: "Yes, General Feng has already taken up residence in Longxi City."

Now that we've captured him, going to Longxi City will leave us with nothing but scraps.

He asked again, "Has White Stone Fortress also been recaptured?"

Bingwei nodded again: "The Wuyang Army has arrived in Yancheng."

So when he returned to Yancheng, it was actually to help others.

Zhu Yunxiao threw the cloth covering his head and face hard onto the ground.

Zhu Yunxiao has really become a laughing stock this time!

"Captain—"

Scouts came galloping from the front.

"There are troops ahead!"

Ahead? Zhu Yunxiao was stunned for a moment. The Nanyang army was pursuing Wei Cui's army on the left, while the Wuyang army was besieging the troops of Gangu Wucheng on the right.

Who else is showing up?

The scout looked tense: "It seems to be... the Wei family..."

The Wei family? Zhu Yunxiao was shocked. Could it be Wei Cui?
(End of this chapter)