Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

After the matter was discussed, everyone dispersed.

Pei Zeyu noticed Liu Wenying's worries and deliberately slowed his pace to walk to her side.

"Still worried?"

Liu Wenying answered honestly, "Yes."

Their plan was meticulously crafted, with each step linked to the next; however, if even one step went wrong, disaster would strike.

"Wenying, you..."

Pei Zeyu wanted to offer some gentle words of comfort, but Liu Wenying interrupted him.

"Second Master, I understand that throughout history, there has never been a change of dynasty without bloodshed. One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. It's not that I don't understand, I'm just afraid."

The window was half-open, and the night breeze rushed in, ruffling her hair.

"Wenying, it's excellent that you think this way. What we're doing today is to prevent that kind of blood from flowing again, to let those who deserve to live live, and to let those who deserve to die receive their retribution."

It was rare for him to say such cold and harsh words, but strangely, it calmed Liu Wenying's heart.

They are not starting a war; they are ending a tyranny that should have ended long ago.

"Second Master, there is one more thing I would like to say."

Pei Zeyu listened attentively.

"I want to go save Third Master."

Looking into his eyes, Liu Wenying explained her thoughts one by one. When chaos ensued, the city's troops would be deployed to defend the city gates and the palace, leaving the Ministry of Justice's prison unguarded, which would be the best opportunity for them to rescue people.

Pei Zeyu pursed his lips and said after a long while, "The plan is feasible, but there are conditions. I'll go in your place."

Before he could finish speaking, the study door was gently pushed open.

Pei Dingxuan stood outside the door, clearly having listened for a while.

"Let me go," he said.

Liu Wenying shook her head: "You won't do it."

Both men looked at her at the same time.

"We need you to conquer the city, and Xiao Yiheng needs you too."

This is also one of the reasons why Liu Wenying decided to go and save Pei Yaojun.

Pei Dingxuan frowned, while Pei Zeyu hesitated to speak.

Just then, two soft sounds came from outside the door.

Xue Bi and Lu Ye rushed into the study one after the other, and they didn't go far at all.

"Then we'll go with you," Xue Bi said matter-of-factly.

Lu Ye didn't say anything, but simply took a step forward, showing his attitude through his actions.

Pei Zeyu shook his head, disagreeing.

"Xue Bi, you're good with words, but the Heavenly Prison isn't an ordinary place. Lu Ye, are you sure you've fully recovered?"

Xue Bi raised an eyebrow: "It is precisely because the Heavenly Prison is unusual that we cannot let Wen Ying go alone. As for Lu Ye, he is still better than some pampered young masters."

Now that things have come to this, the two of them will stop at nothing to argue with each other.

Pei Dingxuan pressed down on Pei Zeyu's arm, stopping him from speaking, and looked at Liu Wenying: "Wenying, what do you think we should do?"

All eyes were on her.

Liu Wenying looked at them.

Xue Bi's eyes held the usual calm and clarity.

Lu Ye remained silent, like a stone or clay sculpture, but his eyes shone brightly.

The older men looked disapproving, but their concern was genuine.

She walked over and stood between Xue Bi and Lu Ye, taking their hands in her left and right hands respectively.

"Then let them come with me."

……

Three hundred miles outside the capital, at the Yanzhou military camp.

The morning mist, like a veil, enveloped the continuous camps.

In front of the central command tent, the Duke of Zhenguo stood with his hands behind his back, his temples frosted with white, but his figure as upright as a pine tree.

He gazed in the direction of the capital, its majestic outline faintly visible behind the mist.

That was the imperial city he had served for many years, and now he was about to personally point his blade at it.

The lieutenant strode over and knelt on one knee.

"General, our scouts report that Xiao Chenlin has mobilized all the troops in the capital region to defend the imperial city. Even the elite cavalry battalion guarding the northern border has been recalled. As for the Northern Barbarians... he probably can't afford to worry about them anymore."

The Duke of Zhenguo laughed: "Robbing Peter to pay Paul, how utterly foolish!"

The troops were all concentrated in the capital to consolidate their own power, but they handed over the territory of the Great Wei to others, which truly chilled the hearts of the soldiers guarding the border.

Several months ago, Xiao Yiheng visited him under the cover of night and presented him with evidence of Xiao Chenlin's treason, patricide, and usurpation of the throne. The Duke of Zhenguo immediately decided to raise an army.

Xiao Yiheng asked him if he wasn't afraid.

The Duke of Zhenguo smiled. Throughout his life, as a general and a minister, he had guarded the nation's gates and protected the common people.

However, after Xiao Chenlin ascended the throne, the border was constantly ravaged by war, and all the loyal officials in the court were executed. Even an old minister like him had to be on guard against the emperor's suspicion every day and was eventually driven out of the capital.

After making the decision, the Duke of Zhenguo secretly moved his family members in the capital to a safe place.

Even if the Yu family manages to survive in Yanzhou, how long can they remain unscathed if the Northern Di army attacks?

The Duke of Zhenguo's voice was as deep as a bell: "Send down the order to prepare the entire army. Soon after His Highness returns, we will march on the capital."

If this battle is successful, the Yu family will have rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, and their glory will last for generations.

If they lose... they will not lose.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, as rapid as the beating of drums.

The Duke of Zhenguo lifted the tent flap and saw three riders emerging from the morning mist.

The rider at the forefront, clad in gleaming silver armor, was none other than Xiao Yiheng.

On the left and right were two riders, Pei Dingxuan in black robes and carrying a sword, and Pei Zeyu in white robes as white as snow.

The three men reined in their horses, dismounted, and moved swiftly.

Xiao Yiheng brought news: "General Yu, everything has been arranged by me, and we can take action tonight."

"Very well! Then tonight, let us join this old man in slaying the rebellious emperor and restoring order to the world!"

……

The deepest part of the Ministry of Justice's prison is the water dungeon.

The water was murky, mixed with rust and the smell of blood, and it reached up to a person's chest.

Pei Yaojun was chained to the stone wall, with half of his body submerged in water.

It has been three days since we were transferred from the dungeon to the water dungeon.

He closed his eyes, his head resting against the cold stone wall.

He had too many wounds on his body, whip marks crisscrossing his chest and back, some already scabbed over, others still oozing pus and blood.

There are also scars of all sizes, and every breath brings a dull pain.

Even so, his back remained straight.

Even though the chains were heavy, his wounds were festering, and the filthy water was eroding his remaining strength inch by inch, he still did not bend his back.

Once you bend down, it's hard to straighten up again.

The sound of chains rattling came from outside the prison door.

An old jailer came in carrying a food box, his steps dragging on the stone steps of the water cell.

He placed the food box on the dry ground beside the water prison and opened it, only to find that it contained not the usual spoiled rice and cold porridge.

A bowl of white rice, a plate of braised meat, and even a pot of wine.

"General Pei, please eat."

Pei Yaojun slowly opened his eyes.

Only a small window high up let in moonlight into the water dungeon; the pale moonlight shone on his face.

He glanced at the food box, then at the jailer.

"Is this my last meal before I'm executed?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The old jailer nodded and unlocked his shackles. "General Pei, you've eaten your fill. You'll be ready to set off tomorrow."

The water dungeon was so quiet that only the gentle lapping of the water could be heard.

Pei Yaojun briefly gained his freedom, but he did not move.

"You should eat something."

The old jailer sighed, "Since you came in, you've endured almost every kind of torture. In my thirty years in this prison, I've seen very few people who have lasted this long. General Pei, you're a real man."

Pei Yaojun twitched the corner of his mouth, which could be considered a smile: "Thank you."

But he still didn't touch his chopsticks.

The old jailer shook his head and stopped trying to persuade him.

He turned and left, and the prison chains fell again with a clang, shutting out the outside world.

…………