“What is it?” He finally calmed down, his hands hanging at his knees, gazing somewhat dazed at the flickering lamplight before him. In an instant, however, his expression became exceptionally resolute: “Let me hear it first.”

Although he was Han Zhengqing’s son, truth be told, his life as this son was not even as good as the trusted confidants by Han Zhengqing’s side. In Han Zhengqing’s heart, he was probably nothing at all. Therefore, if they made a very difficult request, he feared he wouldn’t be able to accomplish it.

Being willing to listen meant his heart had been moved. Marquis Dingyuan looked at him, speaking without evasion: “Don’t worry, we won’t ask you to go back and poison him.”

Han Yu’s lips twitched. Even if they wanted him to do that and he agreed, he couldn’t accomplish it—his father had always been extraordinarily cautious about food, trusting no one.

“We’d like to ask the young master not to go to Hubei, but instead make a trip to Taiyuan.” Marquis Dingyuan’s gaze was calm, without a trace of the disheveled appearance he’d shown during the day: “Your younger brother is already in Taiyuan.”

He now had only one younger brother left, but he didn’t know where his brother had gone. Yet the people before him knew. Han Yu’s expression became somewhat complex.

“Young Master, after the matter is accomplished, you, your younger brother, and your mother can all change your names.” Marquis Dingyuan first stated his offered compensation: “You can stop being Han Zhengqing’s sons. After all, he doesn’t deserve to be your father, much less deserves to be your mother’s husband. Don’t you agree?”

This was naturally true. Han Yu thought of his mother’s face covered in wrinkles, thought of his mother’s terror and fear when facing his father, and said expressionlessly: “Truly?”

Marquis Dingyuan nodded firmly: “I can make the decision on such a small matter.”

Han Yu agreed. He had never had any father-son affection for Han Zhengqing to begin with. Prince Dongping was the final straw that broke him, and the conditions offered by Marquis Dingyuan and Lu Ran, he couldn’t help but be moved by them.

His father’s deranged actions didn’t make him feel his father was impressive—he only felt that such devastation of life was disgusting. Therefore, betraying his father truly gave him no sense of guilt.

Seeing that Han Yu had no objections, Marquis Dingyuan said: “We’d like to ask the young master to go to Taiyuan to find Young Master Han Yang, then do us a favor and escort us to Jinzhong.”

To Jinzhong? Even though Han Yu’s information wasn’t always current, he knew that the Cui family that Prince Gong hated to the point of grinding his teeth yet couldn’t do anything about was in Jinzhong, and there was also someone who had recently just run there—the Prince of Zhennan.

He didn’t like his own father, and his father certainly hadn’t treated him as a son either. Moreover, he disliked the Tartars even more, and he also believed that this realm could never be conquered by a foreign race.

After thinking it over three times, he broke into a smile toward Marquis Dingyuan and Lu Ran. After considering it, he said: “Is it just this one favor?”

To go to Jinzhong, they would indeed need to pass through Taiyuan first. Of course, first they had to escape from Datong Prefecture. And truthfully speaking, the only one who could help them escape without anyone knowing was him.

But this was based on the condition of no one knowing. If Marquis Dingyuan and Lu Ran really wanted to leave, with their capabilities, it would just take more time and more twists and turns.

If they really wanted to leave, they actually didn’t need him.

Marquis Dingyuan smiled, tilted his head to glance at Lu Ran, then turned back: “Lu Ran said you’re a clever person. Now it seems that’s indeed the case. You guessed correctly—it’s not just this. We also want you to try to persuade Young Master Han Yang to cooperate with us.”

Han Yu held a cup of hot tea in both hands thoughtfully. This was a luxurious enjoyment in the winter nights of the northwest. The steaming mist rose onto his face. After a moment, he asked: “Besides my mother, can I request one more person? If you agree to this request, I will work hard to help accomplish what you’ve asked.”

These were merely small matters. Marquis Dingyuan didn’t even consider before nodding his head.

Han Yu smiled, his face showing a gentle and steady smile, without a trace of unease from betraying his own father: “Good then, it’s a deal. Tomorrow we’ll head to Taiyuan first.”

At this time, far away in Taiyuan, Han Yang was still completely unaware. He had already heard the news of the Tartars breaking into Datong, and so felt relieved of a burden. Hearing that Prince Gong had summoned him, he breathed a sigh of relief, washed his face, and hurried over.

“Now speak.” Compared to his previous manic state, Prince Gong had gained several parts of composure. Presumably the Tartars’ entry into the pass had suddenly reduced his pressure considerably. He had finally recovered his usual impassive demeanor.

Han Yang finally didn’t need to be cautiously on guard against Prince Gong losing his temper and having him killed. He uncomfortably wrinkled his nose. Seeing Prince Gong, Zou Yanzheng, and Chief Clerk Ling all looking at him, he stuck out his tongue and said: “Yes.”

His father had originally instructed him that as soon as he heard Datong city had fallen and the Tartars had entered the pass, he could bring up with Prince Gong how to find a reasonable strategy that could win over the hearts of the people while making the Eastern Palace lose the people’s hearts. Now that news had finally come from that side, it was time to tell Prince Gong.

He coughed twice to clear his throat, looking at Prince Gong without blinking: “My father said he has someone by the Grand Prince’s side.”

Prince Gong’s eyes widened. Previously, being able to escape from the Imperial Mausoleum in the capital wasn’t solely due to the merit of the heir of Marquis Guangping—behind it all was much of Han Zhengqing’s network of connections. Only Han Zhengqing knew people in the Imperial Guard. Only Han Zhengqing could command people like Hong Fa.

Who would have thought that Han Zhengqing could not only infiltrate the Imperial Guard, but even had his people by the Grand Prince’s side.

How painstakingly long must he have been planning this?! To be so thorough in every aspect, having people everywhere who could speak effectively and could be used at just the right moment.

After marveling for a while, he stared at Han Yang with blazing eyes: “Continue, what then? So what if he has someone by the Grand Prince’s side?”

Han Zhengqing’s methods had always been ruthless and direct, yet also particularly devious and unpredictable, making it impossible to catch him at fault or guard against him, just like with the Crown Prince’s matter back then. Since Han Zhengqing had mentioned internal chaos this time, Prince Gong’s heart suddenly pounded, and the expression on his face rose uncontrollably.

He didn’t notice, and Zou Yanzheng, who was immersed in Han Yang’s words, also didn’t notice, just like him, the consistently expressionless face of Chief Clerk Ling.

“Doesn’t it speak of father and son, ruler and subject?” Han Yang thought of his father’s cold expression when saying these words at the time, couldn’t help but shiver, and then continued: “So what if the great mountain of the name of father and ruler pressing down on you no longer existed?”

What did it mean for the great mountain pressing down on him to no longer exist?

Right now, it was precisely because Emperor Jianzhang was above him that even raising an army lacked confidence, that he was being cursed at by others, and that even many officials in Jinzhong who had originally been bought by him now had some criticism.

If Emperor Jianzhang died, then of course—then the one he was rebelling against wouldn’t be his father anymore.