Chapter 491: Beat Him At His Own Game
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wang Jianan was anxious.
“Why are you still fighting among yourselves at a time like this? Run!”
Wei Liao asked, “Where can we go? They’ve already surrounded Jinwu City. Unless we grow wings, we can’t leave Jinwu City.”
Xiao Juan said expressionlessly, “Then don’t leave.”
Wang Jianan said anxiously, “Then won’t we have to wait for death?”
Xiao Juan said, “I’ve already sent someone to send a secret letter. The reinforcements should be here soon. Continue digging. You must find the secret passage!”
Wei Liao was surprised. “When did you send the secret letter?”
“Before we executed the plan.”
Xiao Juan was used to preparing for the worst. Of course, he had to be sufficiently prepared for an important matter like assassinating Princess Ni
Yang.
Yuan Gui had a lot of troops, but the Imperial Court had even more.
If they really fought, it was still uncertain who would win in the end.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, they still had a chance to turn the tables.
Xiao Juan raised his hammer and smashed it fiercely at the rockery. A hole was punched in the mountain rock, and gravel fell.
His arms were already sore and numb, and there was faint blood seeping out from between his thumb and index finger. However, he could not stop. He had to find the secret passage. He had to save Niaoniao!
His heart filled with regret.
He should not have let Niaoniao meet Princess Ni Yang. He should have guarded her at all times and not let her leave him even a step!
Wei Liao flicked his arm and said nothing else. He picked up the shovel again and continued digging.
Seeing this, the others also got busy.
Lo Pingsha was injured and could not join the team digging the rockery.
He could only wander around to see if he could find any useful clues.
The night was dark and the moon was hazy.
Lo Pingsha held the lantern, his eyes wide as he carefully searched every inch.
Suddenly, he felt something under his feet, as if he had stepped on something.
He raised his foot, then bent down and reached out to push through the grass.
In the dim light, he saw a paper ball lying quietly in the grass.
He picked up the ball of paper and unfolded it. He found a golden earring wrapped inside. There were also three words written on the paper in very scrawled handwriting—
Chillywind Valley.
Lo Pingsha looked up and around and saw the study window not far away.
The window had long been burned beyond recognition.
But Lo Pingsha already had a guess. He rushed to find Duke Lang with the paper and gold earring.
“Your Highness, I found the clues left behind by the Princess Consort!”
His shout immediately made everyone stop.
Everyone looked at him in unison.
Xiao Juan threw it away and took the paper and gold earring with his bleeding fingers.
Although the handwriting was messy, he recognized it at a glance. It was Niaoniao’s handwriting!
She had worn earrings too.
Niaoniao was telling him that she had been brought to the Chillywind Valley. Xiao Juan stuffed the note and earrings into his arms and said in a low voice.
“Get out of the city and go to Chillywind Valley!”
Wang Jianan hurriedly reminded him, “The city gate has long been blocked from the outside. Now, the city wall is filled with archers arranged by Yuan Gui. As soon as we appear, we’ll be shot by them.”
Xiao Juan turned to look at Wei Liao.
“I accept your suggestion just now.”
Wei Liao was stunned. “What do you mean?”
Xiao Juan said, “Don’t they just want my life? If you tie me up and send me to them, will they reject?”
Wei Liao immediately understood what he meant.
“Are you planning to beat him at his own game?”
Yan Nanguan was a little uneasy. “But this is too dangerous. If anything goes wrong, His Highness will really die.”
Xiao Juan was determined.
“Time is tight. I have to leave the city immediately to save Niaoniao.”
He looked around at everyone and spoke in a low voice.
“I need someone to help me send me to Yuan Gui now. I wonder which of you can help me?”
Yan Nanguan and Lo Pingsha immediately stood up.
“We can!”
Wei Liao sneered. “The two of you are Duke Lang’s trusted aides. The entire world knows that you are loyal to him. Yuan Gui is not a fool. How can he believe you?”
Although Yan Nanguan and Lo Pingsha were angry, they did not refute.
Because what the other party said made sense.
Wei Liao crossed his arms. “I’m willing to help, but Yuangui already knows that I’m in cahoots with Duke Lang. He definitely won’t believe me.”
Wang Jianan hesitated. “Why don’t I go?”
Xiao Juan said, “You betrayed Princess Ni Yang and Yuan Gui. If Yuan Gui sees you, he might kill you.”
Wang Jianan immediately stopped talking.
He had yet to settle his grandson down. He could not die yet.
At that moment, a slightly childish voice sounded.
“Let us go!”
Everyone made way, revealing Ling Hai and Ling Miao standing at the back of the crowd.
The siblings held hands and strode towards Duke Lang.
“Your Highness, we’re children. They won’t be too wary of us.”
“We usually hid in the backyard of the princess’s residence and rarely appeared in front of others. Not to mention Yuan Gui, even Princess Ni Yang had never seen us. They definitely won’t know us.”
Wei Liao stroked his chin. “They’re indeed good candidates.”
Xiao Juan looked at the Ling siblings in front of him and asked solemnly.
“This is very dangerous. Are you sure you want to go?”
Ling Hai said, “As long as we can leave this place and capture Princess Ni Yang, we might be able to find our family. As long as we can see our family again, we can bear any danger!”
Ling Miao nodded vigorously, agreeing with her brother.
Xiao Juan had never liked children. The reason why he took in these two children back then was because Niaoniao was soft-hearted.
He usually ignored the two children, but now that he saw how they looked without hesitation, he could not help but be moved.
“Alright, I’ll leave this to you.”
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
The entire Jinwu City was in a panic. No one could sleep peacefully.
The streets were empty. The commoners had their doors and windows closed, not daring to go out for fear of being implicated.
Ling Hai and Ling Miao pulled the handcart all the way through the streets and alleys before finally stopping near the city gate.
The archers on the city wall immediately pulled back their bowstrings and aimed their arrows at the Ling siblings.
Ling Hai hurriedly raised his hands to show that he had no ill intentions. He shouted, “Officers, don’t shoot arrows. I’m here to collect my reward!”
A moment later, the armored Yuan Gui appeared by the window of the city tower.
He looked down at Ling Hai and asked.
“What reward do you want?”
Ling Hai said, “Didn’t you say that as long as we capture Duke Lang, we’ll get a reward of a thousand taels? I brought him here. Shouldn’t you give us the reward?”
Hearing this, everyone on the city wall stirred.
Yuan Gui’s expression changed slightly.
“You really captured Duke Lang? Why should I believe you?”
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