The lights ahead suddenly flickered.
Pingzong raised her head, thinking for a moment that her eyes were playing tricks on her, and rubbed them.
Jingxu made exactly the same motion.
Ahead, countless doors appeared on both sides of the corridor, and many “Tie Ci’s” were walking out of these doors.
All dressed in black with silver-blue sashes, jade writing brushes at their waists, slender figures, and dignified bearing.
Seeing the real Tie Ci walking in the corridor, they all nodded and said: “You’re here?”
Their tone and expression were calm and gentle, almost identical to the genuine Tie Ci.
But seeing so many identical people using the same expression, the same tone and inflection, saying the same words—it looked truly eerie.
The hair on Pingzong’s arms was already standing on end.
Tie Ci, seeing these people, showed no surprise at all. She opened the package she had taken from beside the map earlier, which contained some shuffled paper slips, and randomly distributed them to those duplicates.
“You take the Tiannan Street route.”
“You take Tianming Street.”
“You take Changming.”
“You take Sifang Street.”
“You take West Market’s Zhua Flower Lane…”
She distributed them one by one. Those who received the paper slips all nodded and turned back to their respective rooms.
Pingzong saw that those rooms had other exits.
These should lead to Tiannan Street, West Market, Sifang Street, and so forth.
These places weren’t actually far—perfectly positioned with Ningfang Pavilion as the center extending in all directions, with the farthest barely outside the inner city.
What Pingzong didn’t know was that if viewed from above, the underground layout of Ningfang Pavilion looked like a chrysanthemum with its petals spread.
This flower bloomed silently yet vibrantly in the most prosperous market area of the capital.
Ningfang Pavilion had once occupied the very center of the bustling district in its heyday, but due to its involvement in the Chongming Incident, the building was abandoned. This made the location particularly sensitive. In the subsequent years, no officials or merchants dared propose purchasing this land to renovate and rebuild.
In everyone’s understanding, the emperor must be keeping this land as a warning to others.
No one wanted to touch this bad luck. Even when buying and operating land nearby, everyone deliberately stayed away from Ningfang Pavilion, avoiding the ill fortune.
Even the most aggressively expanding Gui Qizhai avoided this place.
This resulted in Ningfang Pavilion having an excellent location but being left completely undisturbed.
And this former den of luxury, while only slightly damaged above ground, naturally had secret chambers underground, hiding large amounts of supplies that Qiu Wujiu and Tong Rushi hadn’t had time to destroy.
Including materials, masks, disguise and makeup tools, weapons, various forged identity documents and costumes for different types of people…
This was what Murong Yi had once called “even a broken ship has three pounds of nails.”
The business-savvy Murong Yi had keenly discovered this place and, even while fleeing and seeking revenge, hadn’t forgotten to acquire Ningfang Pavilion at an extremely low price, leaving it for Tie Ci.
Thus Tie Ci gained a location that was well-positioned, well-equipped, very hidden, and unaffected by Gui Qizhai.
Seeing all the duplicates walk into their respective passages, Tie Ci continued forward.
At the end of the corridor, Tie Ci put on ordinary soldier’s armor, and the other two did likewise.
At this point, Jingxu had no more objections. The other side was indeed powerful, but the emperor was indeed extraordinary—her mind was deep and her preparations thorough. Perhaps she really could escape?
It was better than him running around blindly and becoming a target.
At the exit ahead, Tie Ci opened a door the same color as the wall, and a not-too-pleasant hot, stuffy smell hit them.
Tie Ci’s expression didn’t change as she walked out.
Pingzong and Jingxu followed, thinking that this exit should be the most suitable route Tie Ci had carefully chosen. So where could it open to?
At the same time.
All the people in the capital were busy catching birds and stray cats and dogs, because the government had ordered the purchase of birds, cats, and dogs. A bird was worth two wen—the most expensive.
But they required that when catching birds, one must wear masks properly, cover hair and hands well, and the caught birds must also be properly contained. If protective measures weren’t taken when catching or delivering birds, not only would they not be paid, but they would also be fined.
The people originally didn’t believe it—there was no reason a bird would be more expensive than a cat, with so many rules. But the government sent strong men beating gongs, notifying every household. The people had to believe, so countless people poured onto the streets, climbed trees, picked up slingshots, and began searching for birds.
Because of this, a man in a black cloak hurrying through Tianming Street wouldn’t attract anyone’s attention.
Just as that black cloak was about to walk past this street.
At the end of this street stood a two-story Gui Qizhai.
The moment he passed the storefront of Gui Qizhai.
The welcome sign at the Gui Qizhai entrance suddenly made beeping sounds, flashing red lights.
As soon as the beeping started, the shop assistants and manager who had just been enthusiastically introducing goods to customers suddenly dropped what they were holding and rushed out of the store.
They saw that black figure, and something shot from their hands—a device that moved at an indescribable speed, instantly hitting the back of the black cloak, then exploding into a net that trapped the person.
The black cloak tumbled to the ground. As the cloak was thrown back, it revealed a face with handsome features.
The surrounding onlookers said in surprise: “It’s actually a woman!”
“How can they treat a woman this way!”
The person who had fallen to the ground shouted sternly: “Gui Qizhai, are you rebelling? How dare you treat Us this way!”
This cry was like thunder, shocking the people into dropping the birds in their hands.
But the Gui Qizhai people paid no attention, their faces like masks. A silver-clothed man came out from the store, saying in a muffled voice: “No wonder we couldn’t find her at Ningfang Pavilion—turns out she ran here.” He pressed something on his watch while turning his wrist back, scanning “Tie Ci” with the watch.
At the same time, red light flashed on the watch, making beeping sounds.
A mechanical female voice said: “Scan complete, sample does not match.”
Countless red dots exploded on the watch interface. The silver-clothed man saw this and stood frozen, murmuring: “How can this be?”
On Sifang Street.
An explosion startled the people. They turned to see a black-cloaked woman fallen to the ground, with a group of silver-clothed people surging forward to surround her.
They scanned the woman with black tablets in their hands, then beeping sounds arose.
“Scan complete, sample does not match.”
On Tiannan Street.
A black-clothed woman swept through the street like wind, knocking over several stalls.
The stall owners hadn’t had time to curse when they saw several people chasing from behind—their bodies clearly stiff, yet as if pushed by something, flying with long white trails behind them.
The stall owners and passersby looked up in puzzlement, then heard the black-clothed woman shout: “Gui Qizhai has rebelled and is assassinating the emperor! Everyone evacuate immediately!”
The crowd erupted in noise.
Those flying people pursued indifferently. Several white lights enveloped the black-clothed woman as they said coldly: “Don’t move, touch the white light and you’ll be shattered.”
The black-clothed woman indeed didn’t move.
But then beeping sounds arose.
“Scan complete, sample does not match.”
The silver-clothed people cursed: “This works too!”
…
In Tianshan Lane, Zhua Flower Alley, Floating Water Bridge… within several li around Ningfang Pavilion as the center, such scenes kept occurring.
Such beeping sounds kept arising.
“Sample does not match…”
“Sample does not match…”
The silver-clothed people were scattered in many places, exhausted from running around.
In the command center, Yun Buci frowned looking at the constantly flashing dots, murmuring: “Why won’t the councilor bring out the DNA tracking cannon…”
At this moment, shocking news also quickly spread through the streets and alleys.
Gui Qizhai has rebelled!
The Grand Preceptor failed to assassinate His Majesty in the palace.
His Majesty is fleeing through the capital, with the Grand Preceptor in hot pursuit.
The people were momentarily confused—weren’t His Majesty and the Grand Preceptor master and disciple with deep affection?
And to the people, both His Majesty and the Grand Preceptor were gods in their hearts. The former was the supreme ruler who loved all people and governed with clarity; the latter was His Majesty’s benefactor who benefited the region and constantly did good works. Both were beloved figures. Hearing they had turned against each other, the people felt as if thunder had struck their heads.
But when the people saw the black-clothed woman being chased in such a sorry state, they became angry. Some questioned, some rushed up to obstruct, and some began attacking Gui Qizhai.
No matter what, in the people’s hearts, imperial authority was still supreme. The Grand Preceptor was a minister—how could a minister be so treasonous?
The silver-clothed people were in quite a mess. The orders they had received were not to directly attack the capital’s people, to avoid arousing public anger and destroying the good public opinion foundation that the Grand Preceptor had worked so hard to build among the people.
But they hadn’t expected that with just one sentence, this good foundation would be shaken to its core.
No matter how painstakingly Yun Buci had managed things and benefited the world, it was still done under Tie Ci’s will and with Tie Ci’s support that Gui Qizhai had achieved such development speed. Similarly, her disaster relief and people-saving actions, no matter how much they seemed like buying people’s hearts, would be taboo for rulers in any dynasty—only with Tie Ci was there no obstruction, and she could always get full cooperation and support from local government offices.
Every time Yun Buci had disaster relief activities, government offices participated, contributing money and effort, and the people saw this too.
The people had scales in their hearts.
If Yun Buci had won the people’s love and gratitude, then Tie Ci, who had always supported her and spared no effort in caring for the people, had earned even more love.
Therefore, when today’s conflict was torn open without concealment before the people, almost immediately, the people shook off confusion and made their choice.
Gui Qizhai avoided confrontation, closing shop doors and even lowering iron gates. The people pressed against the iron gates, pounding on them with earth-shaking noise.
Only when the people saw they really couldn’t break them open did they leave reluctantly, swearing as they walked that they would never again buy Gui Qizhai goods or accept Gui Qizhai’s charity porridge!
In the distance, Chi Xue and Xia Houchun, who had brought troops to protect the people, reined in their horses at the street side, very surprised but also stirred with emotion.
His Majesty was right—the enemy was unwilling to engage in direct confrontation from the start.
But His Majesty also hadn’t guessed that the people of the capital, for her sake, would immediately choose direct confrontation with enemies possessing powerful weapons.
The people of the capital had always known what kind of wise emperor they possessed.
His Majesty’s sacrifices were all worthwhile.
Chi Xue held the jar in her arms. The jar still radiated faint warmth. She gently stroked the jar’s surface, looking up at the gradually darkening sky.
Dan Shuang, do you see?
When His Majesty is here, the capital is here. When the capital is here, the people are here. When the people are here, His Majesty is here.
The glory and spirit belonging to Da Qian will never die.
She hugged the jar tightly, pressing her face against its surface.
All these years, she had rarely had the chance to press close to the cold-natured Dan Shuang.
Dan Shuang worried about His Majesty’s safety, her eyes constantly circling around His Majesty, while she had to be a steady and comprehensive grand female official, with no thought of acting spoiled or intimate with her close friend.
They had grown up together, and only now was this the closest distance between them in their lives.
…Dan Shuang, my heart feels like it’s being cut by knives right now, yet I dare not imagine what His Majesty’s feelings must be.
Even less dare I imagine that His Majesty must still, in such feelings, flee and wander with imperial dignity, personally drawing danger and enemies out of the capital.
As if the Chongming Incident of four years ago was repeating, she always bore the most torturous and dangerous future at the most difficult and painful moments, silently bleeding, saying not a word.
Now, with night falling, where is she wandering? Has she had hot food? Has she had a chance to rest? Who is by her side to protect and love her?
Dan Shuang, if your spirit watches from heaven.
Remember to protect her.
…
Tie Ci led Pingzong and Jingxu out through the hidden door.
Before them was a modest room with simple wooden table and bed, water and dry provisions piled in the corner, some spare leather armor and helmets, and another small door on the other side containing some wooden buckets with a faint scent of lamp oil emanating from them.
At a glance, one could tell this was a corner tower used for soldiers’ rest atop the city wall.
Only then did Pingzong realize this route led directly to the inner city wall.
Tie Ci didn’t stop, walking straight toward the wall top. The sound of armor clashing arose as a defending captain discovered strangers had appeared on the wall and hurried over with soldiers.
Pingzong stepped forward, raising her hand to reveal a waist token from Chongming Palace.
The other party immediately stopped, addressing her as “Sir” and respectfully retreating. Pingzong said: “Prepare dry provisions and horses for us. We need to leave through the inner city gate.”
At this time night had fallen and the city gates were closed. The other party agreed without daring to ask questions and personally went down the wall to prepare.
Tie Ci and the others also followed down the wall. As they walked down the steps, Tie Ci suddenly heard an extremely faint “beep.”