Hearing this, Ming Yanchu quickly put on an apologetic smile. He was truly pitiable, having just hurriedly returned to handle affairs, only to encounter Suzhen, this hot potato.

“Prosecutor Li, it’s not that this servant doesn’t want to take you there, but it’s His Majesty’s command…” he said with difficulty, then quickly glanced at Xiao Zhou beside him, asking her to help speak.

Suzhen looked at him quietly without speaking, but that cold expression made his hair stand on end. Even with his clever mind and sharp tongue, he couldn’t find words for a moment. Fortunately, Xiao Zhou was used to getting along with Suzhen. Seeing the situation, she hooked Suzhen’s shoulder and spoke softly, “I know how you feel. I’d be angry too. Master wants nothing more than to have you by his side, but he can’t. Look, the battle has just begun and casualties are already heavy. If this continues, the situation will only become more chaotic. He has no way to look after you.”

“I don’t need him to look after me. He knows that.” Suzhen gave a low laugh, gritting her teeth slightly.

Xiao Zhou shook her head. “But he worries. Think about it – the Empress Dowager and Murong Ding are right there in the military camp. In the palace you could avoid them, but how much space is there between military tents? The Empress Dowager promised on the surface not to target you anymore, but during wartime chaos, with you right under her nose, who can say she won’t seize the opportunity to act again? No matter how careful Master is in handling affairs, with the war pressing, he must personally command. He can’t avoid giving the Empress Dowager opportunities.”

“Even if the Empress Dowager doesn’t move against you, being separated by just a few tents, living day and night in the same place as your enemy – wouldn’t that be unbearable for you? Finally, with both sides at war, whose army doesn’t have the other’s spies? You and Master have reconciled – how could Quan Feitong not harbor resentment? Who knows if he’ll secretly send people to capture you!”

“Huaisu, only if you are safe and unharmed can Master fight with peace of mind. The person he cares about most isn’t anyone else – it’s you.”

After Xiao Zhou finished speaking carefully, she quietly observed Suzhen’s expression, planning to say more soothing words if she saw things going badly. But unexpectedly, Suzhen nodded and said directly, “Fine, I understand. I’ll wait here for his return.”

She and Ming Yanchu were somewhat unable to react for a moment. That settled it? That was too easy, wasn’t it? Originally when Lian Yu first gave the order, he wanted to leave Xuan Wu and Qing Long by Suzhen’s side, since these two had stronger combined combat ability. But considering that the two brothers were far less eloquent than she and Eunuch Ming, he switched them out.

He hadn’t expected Suzhen to be different from other imperial consorts – none of those petty temperaments appeared, and moreover… she was very independent.

Still, both of them breathed a sigh of relief, with Ming Yanchu even wiping his sweat.

“Prosecutor Li, you cannot stay here indefinitely.”

The two exchanged glances and were about to speak when someone pushed open the door and spoke first.

It was Bai Hu, who had rarely appeared recently.

Suzhen looked over. “What is it?”

Xiao Zhou waved her hand, indicating Suzhen should wait, and asked Bai Hu first, “Is your side finished?”

Bai Hu’s face showed an expression of relief from a heavy burden. She nodded quickly, “Just finished, so I came immediately to notify you.”

Fine, everyone knew except her being kept in the dark… Suzhen nearly ground her teeth to powder. Lian Yu, when we meet again, let’s see if I acknowledge you! She glared fiercely at Xiao Zhou. “What’s going on?”

Xiao Zhou smiled mischievously and answered first, “Bai Hu was ordered to dig a secret tunnel.”

“Yes, Prosecutor Li. Master commanded Bai Hu to lead people in excavating a secret passage. Once war breaks out, by the third day at the latest, regardless of the battle situation, we must take Prosecutor Li away.” Bai Hu quickly explained, “We cannot take the city gate route – we must secretly evacuate.”

“Even if he wins the battle later, I still have to leave?” Suzhen looked scrutinizingly at the three of them. “This battle – he has no chance of winning, or the chances are extremely low, correct?”

At the end, she gripped her slightly trembling hands. “What exactly did he tell you? Tell me truthfully! Otherwise, I’m not going anywhere!”

Bai Hu didn’t know how to respond and looked anxiously at Xiao Zhou and Ming Yanchu. Ming Yanchu stepped forward and lowered his voice, “Prosecutor Li needn’t worry. How could His Majesty fight a battle without certainty? Look, today Quan Feitong rebelled, bringing all these troops secretly, but didn’t His Majesty handle it?”

Suzhen thought to herself: Losing over ten thousand troops – what a “small” loss indeed. But she didn’t argue, only stared intently at Ming Yanchu. Ming Yanchu felt guilty and pretended not to see, still smiling, “The Imperial City is a symbol of imperial power. Who knows when rebel forces might suddenly attack? Though the city has nearly twenty thousand Imperial Guards, it’s still not safe. Temporarily returning to civilian life is the most expedient approach.”

Suzhen almost immediately understood Lian Yu’s intention.

He wanted her to wait three days before acting, to make interested parties think she was still in the palace, then quietly leave through the secret passage under everyone’s noses, switching heaven and earth to evacuate the Imperial City.

Her eyes grew moist and her feelings complex, but she finally didn’t pursue the matter further. Whether he wanted her to leave because his chances were slim or to prevent rebel attacks, she would wait for him regardless.

When Ming Yanchu left, he asked if she had any message for Lian Yu – he would definitely send someone with the words. Suzhen had originally wanted to grind ink and write a letter, but in the end only said this one sentence.

Late at night, Ming Yanchu slept in a side hall, while Bai Hu led a large group of palace guards stationed outside the hall, changing shifts with Xiao Zhou at set intervals.

During this extraordinary time, none of them dared stay too far from her, remaining vigilant and ready to protect her at any moment!

Xiao Zhou provided close protection, but she dared not easily approach either Lian Yu’s dragon bed or the soft couch, pitifully making a floor bed beneath the dragon bed.

Suzhen tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally, Xiao Zhou’s voice drifted from the darkness, “Huaisu, sleep.”

“Can’t sleep – thinking about things.” She smiled in response. “You sleep.”

But Xiao Zhou persisted in asking, “Thinking about what?”

“I’m thinking – if he’s defeated and captured, what should I do?” Suzhen didn’t hide it from her.

Xiao Zhou wanted to slap herself – why did you ask!

She wavered anxiously for a while but couldn’t resist curiosity and asked, “What would you do?”

“Wander the world, what else? Could I possibly die for him?” Suzhen’s voice still carried faint amusement.

Xiao Zhou was stunned for a moment, then finally nodded, “That would be best. In Master’s heart, he would surely want you to live well.”

“So he gave me the choice. If I were by his side and he was defeated, I wouldn’t survive.” Suzhen’s voice grew quieter. “Enough about your master – sleep. I’m tired and want to rest.”

At this time, some places in the palace remained brightly lit, such as atop the Imperial City walls.

After receiving orders transmitted back by the emperor’s head eunuch, the garrison commander led soldiers to post sentries every few steps, vigilantly watching the situation beyond the moat. Several other cavalry units patrolled and searched several li beyond the moat.

Only a wall separated them from the imperial palace.

Even though the royal family had already left in full force and were now fighting enemies in the imperial mausoleum valley, the imperial palace was a symbol of imperial power and absolutely could not fall!

The Imperial City had entered martial law since evening, with seventeen thousand Imperial Guards accepting emergency orders, vowing to protect the Imperial City’s safety unto death.

But these dutiful officers and soldiers forgot to pay attention to conditions inside the city.

Perhaps it should be said that wasn’t a place they should or would pay attention to, because rebel forces would only attack from outside the city. Moreover, even if some of them watched the inside of the inner walls, they might not notice the dozen or so agile, skilled black-clad figures crouching low in the distant bushes.

“Father, where exactly is the breach you mentioned?” At this moment, the leading black-clad figure quietly asked the middle-aged man beside him.

“Right beneath the sixth post of this west tower.”

The other person smiled deeply and gestured toward the target.

Following his brief words, it was clear that from the lead black-clad figure to the remaining subordinates, everyone showed elation.

The man’s eyes flashed sharply as he looked up at the night sky, as if speaking to heaven, “These years, seven palace servant spies passed beneath the wall nightly when garrison soldiers weren’t paying attention, staying briefly to knock and excavate. Through more than ten years of effort, they finally loosened the foundation beneath the west tower… Heaven shows mercy and will surely help my young master and me achieve our lifelong great enterprise!”

“Father, rest assured. Not to mention the snipe and clam fighting while the fisherman profits – the young master was originally the one who should ascend to the throne. This follows heaven’s way and will surely succeed.” The black-clad figure who had spoken first said quietly, then sharply looked at the others, “Do you all see this position clearly?”

Everyone nodded.

“Go!”

The middle-aged man commanded, and the black-clad figures quickly left with him, disappearing into the depths of the inner palace. The man walked in front, slightly pulling down his face covering. The night obscured his face, making it blurry, but his outline was vaguely recognizable.

This person should currently be commanding over two hundred thousand soldiers at the border, defending the passes together with border Murong and Chao armies. Yet he appeared as if divinely assisted in the heavily guarded deep palace.

This inner palace wasn’t easy to enter. A smile appeared on his lips.

But who would have thought his daughter was close friends with the Murong family’s daughter, Murong Qi? Lady Chao’s carriages had entered and exited the Imperial City for years – the garrison soldiers were long accustomed to them and wouldn’t inspect deeply, merely glancing before allowing passage. Thus, before today, before Chao Huang had “rebelled” with Quan Feitong, the large luxurious carriage’s hidden compartments concealed five people, while the accompanying servants decreased from the original ten to seven upon leaving – yet the garrison remained completely unaware. These eight people, including him and his son Wu Jun, plus seven years-long palace spies, fifteen experts total – facing countless Imperial Guards, they seemed like ants trying to topple an elephant, lacking strength. But when the moment came, they would shake Great Zhou’s century-old capital.