“Everyone!” Zhong Shaozhong’s expression was solemn and resolute. “Think carefully, everyone. True, the Empress is Prince Xin’s mother… but isn’t she also the mother of the legitimate son in her womb? The Empress is currently pregnant with another legitimate son. If she truly harbored treasonous intentions, she should wait until the child in her womb is born. If it’s a legitimate daughter rather than a son, then she could act this way to force a palace coup! Why would she disregard even the flesh and blood in her womb, plotting His Majesty’s fall from his horse and having someone assassinate the Crown Prince, all to support the already-discarded Prince Xin’s ascension?”

Seeing everyone frowning in deep thought, Zhong Shaozhong clapped his hands together with loud slaps: “This makes no sense emotionally or logically, and would be impossible to explain to the people of the realm! Wouldn’t this be… blatantly telling the world that Prince Xin is a treasonous usurper who committed patricide and fratricide? Is the Empress that stupid?”

The Imperial Guard generals, hearing Zhong Shaozhong speak thus, all nodded, finding it very reasonable.

Initially, to prevent anyone from harming His Majesty before the Crown Prince returned, Grand Princess guarded His Majesty’s sleeping quarters tightly. But now that the Crown Prince has returned… Grand Princess still enters the palace at night to maintain strict vigilance. Haven’t you all wondered why?” Zhong Shaozhong gritted his teeth. “It’s because Grand Princess also sees that the Crown Prince wants to harm His Majesty! If His Majesty dies, the Crown Prince can ascend the throne!”

By this point, Zhong Shaozhong was choking up: “If His Majesty dies and this patricidal villain ascends the throne, the Empress… the legitimate son in the Empress’s womb, and Prince Xin would all lose their lives! The Empress is my sister, and Prince Xin and the imperial legitimate son in the Empress’s womb are my nephews! Therefore… Zhong Shaozhong begs you all here to save His Majesty, save the Empress and Prince Xin… and the legitimate son in the Empress’s womb!”

Having said this, Zhong Shaozhong kowtowed to everyone.

Zhong Shaozhong’s former subordinates looked at each other…

“We swear to follow Sir Zhong to the death and protect His Majesty!” someone bowed to Zhong Shaozhong.

Seeing someone respond, others gradually followed suit: “We swear to follow Sir Zhong to the death and protect His Majesty!”

“Everyone, please rise quickly!” Zhong Shaozhong helped up each of his former subordinates one by one, then filled the wine cups on the table and raised his cup: “Everyone… the safety of His Majesty, the Empress, and the legitimate son in the Empress’s womb is entrusted to you all!”

“Sir Zhong speaks too heavily. As subjects of the Great Jin, we naturally must remain loyal to His Majesty. Since the Crown Prince now intends regicide and rebellion, we absolutely cannot let things take their course!” someone raised their wine cup and spoke with passionate fervor.

Zhong Shaozhong nodded, drained his cup, and said: “The Crown Prince’s power is strong, the Empress’s is weak. Though I’ve called you all here this time, it’s merely my word without proof. That you’re still willing to trust me fills me with deep gratitude. After we rescue His Majesty and His Majesty awakens… the Empress and I will certainly petition for your merits! We absolutely won’t break our word!”

“Sir Zhong, since you say… Grand Princess has already entered the palace to guard against the Crown Prince’s secret harm to His Majesty, then shouldn’t… Sir Zhong goes to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion to ask Princess Zhenguo for help. I heard that when Grand Princess entered the palace, it was Princess Zhenguo who helped her into the carriage. From this, it seems… Princess Zhenguo should also know of the Crown Prince’s vile intentions.”

That someone would raise this question… Zhong Shaozhong had already considered it and had already thought of a very complete reason.

Zhong Shaozhong sighed: “No matter how capable Princess Zhenguo is, she’s still just a woman, and currently has no military authority, so she can’t help! Going rashly to ask Princess Zhenguo… might even bring trouble to Princess Zhenguo and more easily alert our enemies! Moreover, back then, that child Prince Xin didn’t know the gravity of the situation. He fled in fear of death himself, yet still falsely accused Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting of being stubborn and misusing the army!”

Zhong Shaozhong’s face was full of regret as he closed his eyes: “Grand Princess is imperial nobility, Emperor Wuxuan’s legitimate daughter, and the current His Majesty’s aunt. Naturally, she stands with the imperial family, hoping for the stability of the realm! But Princess Zhenguo is already under the Crown Prince’s faction. If the Crown Prince wins this time, she could even kill Prince Xin to avenge Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting and gain important positions! I dare not seek out Princess Zhenguo!”

“Sir Zhong speaks reasonably. Princess Zhenguo wouldn’t betray Grand Princess… because Grand Princess is her grandmother! But the Empress’s legitimate son, Prince Xin, did indeed frame Duke Zhenguo back then! According to military records, all the men of the Bai family were essentially driven to desperate straits by Prince Xin. How could Princess Zhenguo forget this vengeance?”

“But Princess Zhenguo’s loyal and brave heart can be witnessed by heaven and earth! Nan Jiang, Bei Jiang… wherever there’s war, there’s Princess Zhenguo! I think Princess Zhenguo isn’t such an unreasonable person!” someone else said.

“Forget it! If this matter succeeds, so be it. If it doesn’t… We’ll all lose our heads. Why drag Princess Zhenguo into it? Perhaps Princess Zhenguo doesn’t want to get involved in this matter at all! After all… she’s a daughter!” yet another person said.

Just as that person finished speaking, the lookout Zhong Shaozhong had been arranged outside, hurried in: “Sir, Patrol Battalion Commander Fan Yuhuai is bringing people this way!”

Zhong Shaozhong’s palms tightened, but he remained relatively calm. Indeed, it was as he had expected—he was being monitored by the Crown Prince’s people. Fortunately, he had said everything he needed to say.

“Sir Zhong!” someone turned to look at Zhong Shaozhong. “What should we do? Should we leave first?”

“It’s probably too late to leave now!” After Zhong Shaozhong finished speaking, he instructed the messenger: “Have the flower house madam bring the girls in!”

Zhong Shaozhong had prepared for this. Even if the Crown Prince sent Fan Yuhuai to arrest them, so what? Who could forbid people from coming to drink flower wine?

“In a moment, when Fan Yuhuai comes, insist to the death… that I invited you here to drink flower wine to celebrate my promotion! Don’t say anything else! Bi Heng… you go hide under the bed in the back, in case we’re all taken away, so you can return to the Imperial Guard camp to bring people to rescue us! We absolutely can’t let them catch us all; otherwise, who will save His Majesty? Save the Empress!”

“But if Bi Heng hides under the bed and is discovered… what should we do?!”

“With us all sitting here, they won’t brazenly search. Everyone undress… and drink!”

After Zhong Shaozhong finished speaking, he sat in the main seat, his expression very composed and calm. He removed his outer robe and loosened his inner garment ties, which made the others’ hearts settle down as well. They simply sat in their respective seats, also removed their robes, and waited for the flower house madam to bring the girls in.

When Fan Yuhuai led the Patrol Battalion into the flower house, Zhong Shaozhong’s group each had a girl in their arms, enjoying the lightly-clad flower house girls’ singing and dancing.

Seeing the armored Fan Yuhuai leading troops into the building, Zhong Shaozhong, with his garment open, quickly put down his wine cup and stood up: “Commander Fan?! How did you get here?”

While tying his inner garment sash, Zhong Shaozhong walked toward Fan Yuhuai with a smile, swaying like someone who had drunk too much. When he reached Fan Yuhuai, he even burped: “So late at night, Commander Fan, are you… pursuing escaped criminals?!”

Fan Yuhuai waved his hand to dispel the overwhelming wine fumes, staring intently at Zhong Shaozhong while frowning and stepping back.