Prison break was such a serious crime!

Jingrong could no longer concern himself with these matters. He summoned the generals and ministers in court whom he trusted to secretly discuss the Mount Ji rescue operation, while simultaneously blocking news of his prison escape and ordering someone to send false information out of the capital to Mount Ji in the name of Left Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Justice.

The false message—Prince Rong’s prison break attempt failed. The Ministry of Justice arrested him for his crimes and has already sentenced him!

The capital’s troops had secretly assembled! Jing Zhaoyin said, “Your Highness, this official has sent five hundred yamen officers in plain clothes out of the city first under the pretext of arresting rebels, heading to the Mount Ji area to scout for information. We’ve also notified General Yang of the Ministry of War. He’s riding swiftly out of the city with an authorization token, having mobilized five thousand troops to arrive at the Mount Ji mausoleum by early tomorrow morning. Commander Xiao has also taken his men to wait outside the city to rendezvous with Your Highness.”

All reported one by one! Minister Yu Dali also reported, “This official has tightly sealed off news of what happened outside the Ministry of Justice today. That Left Vice Minister Liu is timid and afraid of death, so without thinking he agreed to defect. He personally wrote a letter sending news of Your Highness’s fake death to Mount Ji for Prince Xian. This official has additionally dispatched people to maintain strict vigilance throughout the capital, just in case.”

This was a comprehensive strategy.

“Mm.”

But—

Jing Zhaoyin was puzzled and asked, “Your Highness, why not directly lead troops to Mount Ji to rescue His Majesty?”

That would be more straightforward! Jingrong spoke seriously, explaining, “If we rashly lead troops there, Duke Yuguo will receive word and might act ahead of schedule. At that time His Majesty would likely be in grave danger. It’s also possible that seeing things going poorly, he might temporarily cancel his plan and withdraw his deployment from Mount Ji. Then if this prince leads troops charging up Mount Ji, it would be a capital offense. So this matter cannot mobilize too many troops, to avoid alerting the enemy.”

“I see.”

Ji Yunshu stood beside him with a worried expression, instructing, “Be careful.”

“I know.” He said, “If anything happens at Mount Ji, Ziran will immediately escort you out of the capital.”

“Nothing will happen to you.”

“This time is no joke. Success means life, failure means death. And if something happens to me, you need not follow me in death. I want you to live. Do you understand?”

I want you to live!

He gripped Ji Yunshu’s somewhat cold hand tightly.

Her eyes moistened. She lifted her gaze slightly to look at him, saying, “I’ll wait for you.”

I’ll wait for you!

At that moment, Jingrong drew her into his embrace.

Ji Yunshu nestled against his burning chest, so greedy for this moment.

Someone urged from the side, “Your Highness, it’s time to depart.”

Only then did Jingrong reluctantly release her, cupping her cold cheeks: “Wait for me to return.”

She nodded heavily.

Outside the residence, troops had already assembled. The soldiers on horseback were imposing, already prepared, just waiting for Jingrong’s command.

Ji Yunshu escorted him out of the residence, not yet reaching the gate.

A young servant hurried forward saying, “Your Highness, Miss Ji, outside…”

“What?”

He pointed toward the gate!

Following his gaze, they saw three figures standing at the entrance, one in front and two behind.

Because they were backlit, their faces couldn’t be clearly seen from afar, only their three shadows stretching long.

Ji Yunshu looked carefully with fixed eyes and recognized the person in front.

She slowly approached. Not until that face hidden in the darkness gradually became clear did she recognize him.

“Wei Yi?”

Wei Yi stood upright there. Different from usual, he had an added toughness and resilience, completely lacking the gentle scholarly air. His originally clear and clean eyes were now melancholy and heavy, with a trace of sorrow.

As if he had become a different person!

Ji Yunshu was both delighted and shocked. When she stood before him, tears were already flowing from her eyes.

Wei Yi looked at her, a faint smile gradually appearing at the corner of his mouth: “Shu’er, I’m fine.”

Still that clean voice!

Ji Yunshu couldn’t stop her tears, her heart turning sour. She pursed her lips: “You know everything?” “Yes.” He responded lightly, without much emotion, saying directly, “Actually, when we were in Jinjiang, I heard what you and Fu Bo said in the room. I thought if I pretended not to know, I could treat it all as untrue. But I was still wrong. What must come will ultimately come. But I didn’t expect it would be so soon. However, I’m fine. Shu’er, you don’t need to worry.”

A bitter laugh.

As if discussing something completely unrelated to himself!

“But how are you here?”

“I begged them to bring me.” He indicated Zhao Huai and Wen Xian.

Zhao Huai sighed helplessly and turned his head, not wanting to speak.

But Wen Xian was relatively composed, “We want to believe in the Young Master once. Revenge breeding revenge will ultimately only result in rivers of blood. We hope our choice wasn’t wrong.”

Actually, he had already given himself a definite answer.

Wei Yi spoke seriously, looking toward Jingrong who was walking toward him.

The two men’s eyes met!

Jingrong walked to stand before him, his eyes carrying an inscrutable expression.

One was Duke Yuguo’s son!

One was the Emperor’s son!

How awkward their identities were now.

Wei Yi: “What happened back then has nothing to do with you and me.”

Jingrong: “Yes, it has nothing to do with you and me.”

Wei Yi: “He wants the empire—I don’t! He wants revenge—I don’t!”

Jingrong: “I know.”

A bright, clean smile spread across Wei Yi’s lips.

Such a smile eased the tense atmosphere of this moment considerably. He seemed to carry a force throughout his body that could inspire people’s hearts and put them greatly at ease.

Jingrong told him firmly: “No matter what happens, whether it’s me, or Yunshu, or you—we won’t change.” “Yes.” Wei Yi nodded lightly, his heart at ease. He looked around, took a deep breath, and said earnestly, “I know you’re going to Mount Ji now to rescue people. But Mount Ji is now filled with Duke Yuguo’s men, and before dawn tomorrow… a hundred thousand troops will arrive. He not only wants the Emperor to die, but also wants all those accompanying the Emperor to die.”

He didn’t call him father!

He called him Duke Yuguo!

A hundred thousand troops?

Jingrong’s expression was grave, his brow deeply furrowed. He had nearly forgotten that Duke Yuguo still controlled a hundred thousand troops.

Lu Jiang calculated from the side, “There’s only one road up Mount Ji. If a hundred thousand troops truly besiege Mount Ji, even if you go now, it will be too late to save anyone.”

Those around them also became distressed and tense.

With a hundred thousand troops besieging Mount Ji, those on top couldn’t hope to come down alive. And the five thousand troops deployed from the capital would be like eggs striking stones.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do, then looked toward Jingrong one after another, waiting for his decision.

But—

Wei Yi’s brow furrowed slightly, “But I can help you.”

Extremely certain!

“You?”

“The hundred thousand troops—I’ll help you block them.” He quickly added another sentence, “But you must promise me one thing.”

“What?”

Wei Yi said in a solemn voice: “When the time comes, spare his life!”

He naturally referred to Duke Yuguo!

In the end, that was still his father!

If he truly had to watch his own father die, he couldn’t bear it.

Jingrong gazed at his nearly pleading eyes.

Silence for a long moment.

“Alright! I promise you.” …