After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

According to Li Wei's secret report, this person does not attend banquets or visit officials; he only stays within the mission.

However, he was cunning and treacherous. Li Wei had planned to keep him in Huai'an, but the man saw through him almost immediately, leaving Li Wei helpless.

Yongzheng raised his eyebrows in confusion:

"He didn't attend any banquets or visit any officials along the way, so why did he change his ways once he got to Beijing?"

Ortai said, "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right."

He stood up, bowed to the emperor at the head of the table, and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Your humble servant dares to conceive of a theory."

"Speak," Yongzheng nodded.

"This humble servant believes,"

Ortai's eyes narrowed slightly as he said,

"What happened tonight was most likely a conspiracy between Han Qing and Ning Baixuan. Han Qing learned of our dynasty's grand plan and informed Ning Baixuan."

"Then we devised a plan for tonight, sending men with a large amount of gunpowder to storm the embassy, ​​kidnap Prince Jing, and throw the capital into chaos. They left a letter saying they had learned of our dynasty's grand plan and that they wanted to kill Prince Jing. We had no choice but to open the city gates and let Ning Baixuan out of the city... All of these things, one by one, are very likely all designed by Han Qing to allow Ning Baixuan to escape from the city... Han Qing said that Ning Baixuan was a decoy, but in my opinion, Prince Jing was probably the decoy."

Ortai bowed, his tone sincere, but also slightly hesitant.

This conjecture was quite audacious, and contained many inconsistencies. However, Yongzheng did not refute it, but instead added to the conclusions on behalf of his minister:

"Han Qing should have received the news within the next day or two."

Ortai's eyes couldn't help but reveal a sense of admiration and respect:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. If the delegation had not yet entered the city the day before yesterday, he could have informed Ning Baixuan to let the delegation linger on the road for a few more days and plan a secret escape."

Things seemed to be getting a little clearer, and Yongzheng found it rather intriguing at this moment:

"Upon hearing this news, they couldn't even wait a day? There were still more than ten days left; any daytime would have been a good day to travel."

Ortai shook his head and said, "It may seem that there is no curfew during the day and people can leave the city, but in reality, they are all under the control of our dynasty's Sticky Rod Office. This is a fact—"

Ortai glanced at the somewhat silent Mushu:

"Your humble servant is certain that Lord Mu Shu has already made the arrangements."

Mu Shu seemed to be thinking about something, and her reaction was a little slow for a moment, but she still reflexively said:

"Your Majesty, rest assured! The Sticky Rod Office is fully prepared; not even a fly can escape the entire Southern Dynasty embassy. We have also dispatched a large number of people to keep an eye on every Southern Dynasty envoy..."

At this moment, someone outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation reported that there was an urgent matter to be reported to the Sticky Rod Office.

Mu Shu immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this servant will go and attend to an urgent matter."

Yongzheng nodded. At this time, he would naturally not punish Mu Shu for his negligence.

As soon as Mu Shu stepped out of the palace gate, he heard a messenger kowtow and urgently report:

"Sir! That beggar is missing!"

……

……

Dark, heavy clouds drifted across the sky.

The pale moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds and once again shone on the mountain road more than twenty miles south of Yongdingmen.

A gust of north wind blew, causing the trees on both sides to rustle and their shadows to sway on the ground.

The shadows of large horses mingled with the shadows of trees as they passed by.

"Hiss~"

Ning Nan shouted and pulled on the reins. The white horse neighed twice and stopped.

Zhen Susu, Qian Sijin, and others behind him also stopped in their tracks.

Alin raised his hand and commanded the three hundred riders behind him to stop.

Ning Nan pointed ahead and said, "The place Han Qing arranged to meet us is a place called Shuijing Township just ahead. Shuijing Township entrance."

Ning Nan glanced at A Lin with concern: "Brother A Lin, shall I then follow Han Qing's advice and head to Shuijing Township alone?"

Ah Lin frowned. Along the way, the other party had sent back all three groups of spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital. The other party asked him, "Do you know what was written in those three letters?" He answered that he didn't know, but the other party just smiled and didn't say anything.

"Rest assured, Lord Ning," Alin said calmly, "I will follow not far behind you. Even if Han Qing sees me, I don't think he will mind."

Ning Nan hesitated for a moment.

"I would be delighted to accept this offer, but if Han Qing sees that I am not alone... I'm afraid that vicious and wicked Heavenly Principle Sect traitor..."

Ah Lin said, "Lord Ning, please rest assured. I only resorted to this tactic because I was thinking of you. His Majesty has ordered that I must not allow anything to happen to you."

"In that case," Ning Nan said with a smile, clasping his hands in a fist salute, "then I thank Brother Lin for protecting me."

Ah Lin smiled faintly and said, "Lord Ning, you're too kind."

Ning Nan took a torch from Qian Sijin, and A Lin also took a torch.

The two immediately ran forward with torches in hand, while Qian Sijin and the deputy general appointed by Alin lagged behind them by a mile.

……

……

"How do you plan to escape from being surrounded by three hundred riders?"

Several hours earlier, Zhen Susu had asked him this question with concern in the study.

Han Qing does not exist; when you arrive at the so-called Shuijing Village, you will find it deserted.

According to what you said in your letter, they will also send a so-called minister to accompany you.

Three hundred riders are not far from you.

Once you're attacked, there's no way you can escape.

Even if the Imperial Guards and your household servants cover you, even if they all die, they still can't stop three hundred cavalry.

To escape alone under the cover of night would be too risky. With three hundred riders, even if the Imperial Guards could hold off a hundred, there would still be two hundred pairs of eyes watching.

Two hundred pairs of eyes are watching you alone. If you take the main road and you're only on one horse, you definitely can't outrun them.

If you go into the mountains, they will also dismount and go into the mountains. How can you escape like that?

Ning Nan pressed something on the table, then held up one finger:

"Tonight, four groups of people need to escape. The first, of course, is myself."

Zhen Susu looked at him.

"Second," he paused, raising a second finger, "is you, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and all the servants."

Zhen Susu snorted: "No need to count me in."

Ning Nan ignored her and held up her third finger: "The third one is the delegation camp outside Yongding Gate, there are more than two hundred people there."

Zhen Susu felt her scalp tingle.

"Fourth, ah,"

Mr. Ning smiled wryly, then raised his fourth finger:

"It's Prince Jing and a group of envoys from our Southern Dynasty inside the city."

Zhen Susu felt a chill run down her spine and stared wide-eyed as she said:

"It's already impressive that you managed to get rid of one group of people, but you want to get rid of four groups?!"

Ning Nan's smile faded, and he leaned back.

Interlace his fingers, remaining noncommittal.

…………

The first letter that Prince Consort Ning wrote after leaving Beijing was delivered to Chen Yaoqing, who ran a teahouse.

Chen Yaoqing's face was thin, with a small tumor on his right cheek. After solemnly receiving the letter from the prince consort, he repeatedly said:

"Rest assured, Your Highness! This humble servant will certainly deliver the letter!"

Chen Yaoqing led six men on horseback towards the location designated by the Grand Prince Consort, to deliver a message to the Southern Dynasty's envoy camp.

After galloping for a mile, the seven men tacitly slowed down their horses.

After walking slowly for another two or three miles, the prince consort and his entourage, who were leaving behind, could no longer see their torches at all.

Chen Yaoqing reined in his horse and jumped off.

He handed the torch to his brother who had also jumped off his horse.

He took out the letter that the prince consort had given him from his bosom.

The envelope was opened.