Chapter 201 Direct Sons and Grandsons

Chapter 201 Direct Sons and Grandsons

Xue Yubai said, "Keep an eye on Hong'er. I'll go intercept him right now."

"Brother, you must get the Imperial Seal back." Xue Qingning's eyes were filled with boundless hatred.

Xie Hongrui successfully ascended the throne, but he was a young ruler, and neither Prince Qi nor Shen Nanzi dared to touch him easily.

Even if he is young and weak, his legitimate status as the eldest son and grandson is a protective charm.

In addition, he possessed the imperial seal and had the witnesses of civil and military officials, and had offered sacrifices to Heaven to comfort Heaven, Earth, and his ancestors.

If successful, the feudal lords would not dare to openly usurp the throne, otherwise they would be accused of treason.

To dare kill Hong'er is to commit treason against the emperor.

Unfortunately, all our efforts were in vain!

After Xue Yubai left, Xue Qingning looked at Xie Yu in the main hall and saw his gloating expression. She asked angrily, "What? Happy now?"

Xie Yu sneered: "Of course you're happy. I knew you were unworthy of your positions, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly!"

Xue Qingning: "Hong'er is the legitimate son and grandson, and he is the most rightful heir of Yunhan. What makes you illegitimate children think you are not qualified?"

Xie Yu: "Don't forget, Prince Jing is the legitimate prince, and Xie Chengze is the legitimate grandson of the emperor."

Xue Qingning chuckled: "The late emperor has already deposed them, mother and son, and their identities have been erased. What right do they have to compete with our Hong'er?"

Xie Yu said, "Even if you don't admit it, you can't erase the fact that they are the legitimate sons and grandsons."

Xue Qingning looked at Xie Yu with pity in her eyes, "Xie Yu, your protection of Shen Nanzi and her son is truly touching."

"But he only has eyes for Prince Jing, he's never even looked at you. Are you worth it?"

A moment of tenderness flickered in Xie Yu's eyes: "I only wish for her to be well. If she is well, I will be content."

"Unlike you, Xie Yan was completely sincere to you, but you trampled on his flesh and blood, reaped his fruits, and enjoyed the fruits of his labor."

"If I were Prince Jing, I would be extremely disappointed in you and regret ever knowing you."

Xue Qingning felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her cheeks twitching involuntarily.

"Guards, take them all to the imperial prison."

Immediately, guards stepped forward, grabbed Xie Yu, and as he was dragged away, he turned back and chuckled, "Aren't you going to run away tonight? If you don't run now, you won't have a chance to run away tomorrow."

Xue Qing stared at him, "Xie Yu, you'd love for our Xue family to run away so that Shen Nanzi and her son can clear out Luoyang City, wouldn't you?"

"You really do put yourself in their shoes and think about them."

Her eyes were dark, revealing a look of determination. "Isn't there still time? There are still many things we can do. Everything is uncertain, and the outcome is still unknown."

The Xue family had a plan; they only ran away because all their plans failed.

*

In an inn outside Luoyang, Xie Yan stood by the window, watching a man in black riding a fine horse galloping down the street.

The man jumped off his horse in the darkness, and soon after, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

After the man entered the room, he knelt on one knee and said, "Prince Jing, the people we sent have stopped Xie Hongrui from ascending the throne, and the imperial seal has been returned to us."

"Imperial Censor Zhang also protected the officials and helped them escape safely, but... I deserve to die. The rescue of the princes and grandsons failed."

"King Liang also took the opportunity to escape."

Xie Yan nodded: "Their defenses are very tight. Your ability to sneak into the palace and retrieve the imperial seal is already beyond my expectations."

The man in black continued, "Imperial Censor Zhang said that the Xue family has a second plan: to target the young prince and eliminate him completely."

Xie Yan's hands, which were behind his back, instantly clenched into fists.

He couldn't help but whisper, "Xue Yubai, you guys are truly heartless and insane."

*

After traveling for a day and a night, Cheng Wangjun rested temporarily ten miles outside Luoyang before dawn.

There was a grove of trees here. Shen Nanzi and Zhao Zhendong discussed their plan and then led a team of a hundred people to scout ahead.

Cheng Wangjun will rest for about an hour before continuing his journey.

The soldiers slept on the ground along both sides of the road.

Inside a carriage, Xie Chengze opened his eyes and found that the carriage was at a rest.

"Auntie, when is it?"

He got up and found that his aunt was not there, so he lifted the carriage curtain and saw a little light outside.

Xiao Wen came over. "Your Highness is awake?"

Where is your great-aunt?

"Going to fetch water."

Xie Chengze nodded, straightened his robes, jumped off the carriage, and walked forward.

"Is Your Highness going to see Princess Jing?" Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu followed.

"Um!"

"Your Highness, where is the Princess?" Xiao Wen pointed to a woman's figure in the woods, dressed in general's armor.

Who else could it be but Princess Jing?

"What is Mother going into the woods for?" he muttered to himself, already following after her.

I was about to shout when I discovered the soldiers sleeping on the ground.

Afraid of waking them, he raised his index finger to signal Xiaowen and Xiaowu not to make a loud noise.

They quietly led them into the woods.

I chased after her for a few steps, but then I couldn't see my mother anymore.

It was only just getting light, and the woods were not very bright yet, with shadowy figures that were not very clear.

Just as Xie Chengze was about to shout, several men in black suddenly appeared, covered Princess Jing's mouth and nose, and took her away as if they were kidnapping her.

Xie Chengze was very anxious, but he also sensed something was wrong. Where was Qinghe, who was by his mother's side?

"Oh no! Princess Jing has been kidnapped!" Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu also noticed.

Xie Chengze glanced behind him; the army was not far away. "Xiao Wen, go find General Zhao and bring your men over."

Xiaowen immediately turned around and ran outside.

Looking at that familiar figure, Xie Chengze was extremely anxious. He was worried that it really was his mother. If she had been kidnapped and something had happened to her, he would never be able to forgive himself.

"Xiao Wu, you and I go after them. You're in charge of leaving a mark."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Clear division of labor.

Xie Chengze followed behind the men in black, quietly tracking them.

The forest was full of thorns, with no path, making it very difficult to walk.

The two walked into the woods one after the other for a while, when they heard a "Ah!" from behind. When they turned around, they saw that Xiao Wu had been ambushed and was lying on the ground, unable to get up.

They saw two men in black suddenly appear behind them.

Xie Chengze immediately raised the crossbow on his wrist, aimed, and fired.

The two men in black looked at the child with disdain.

Xie Chengze flicked his crossbow, and a short but deadly bolt flew out, killing one of the men in black who fell to the ground.

The other man in black instantly showed fear and began to act cautiously.

After several rounds, under the powerful attack of the man in black, the long sword was about to slash at him.

His crossbow bolt had already pierced the black-clad man's abdomen.

Just as Xie Chengze was about to stop, he smelled a strange odor, his small brows furrowed, and he quickly held his breath.

But it was too late.

Immediately, his mouth and nose were covered, and an even stronger smell of medicine wafted over, instantly knocking him unconscious.

Just before he lost consciousness, he seemed to see Yunxiao's figure appear in the woods.

The man in black who was holding Xie Chengze removed his hands from Xie's mouth and nose, and then picked him up.

At this moment, the woman who had previously resembled Princess Jing walked over, crossed her arms, and looked at Xie Chengze, who had already fainted.

"This kid is pretty good. He killed two of us and almost got away."

She smiled, dressed head to toe like Princess Jing, except for her face.

"Go! Go back and report," the man in black said.

Just as the group was about to leave, a figure appeared on his inevitable path.

He was dressed in all black, with a black mask covering his face, and his attire was almost identical to that of the other men in black who were carrying Xie Chengze.

The woman pondered for a moment, noticing the discrepancy in the number of people and their wary expressions, and asked suspiciously, "Who are you?"

"Put down the child, and I will spare your lives, leaving you to report back to me."

The man in black had a clear, cold voice, carrying a chilling aura.