novelhk Chapter 346 The Terrifying Orchid
Chapter 346 The Terrifying Orchid
Moreover, even if they could get back, they would definitely be blocked at the border outside Kyoto, and it would be too late to lead troops to Kyoto for rescue at this time.
Xu Sheng paced back and forth in the tent, looking extremely anxious. Once the capital fell and the imperial seal was lost, it would be considered a change of dynasty, and the world would surely be in chaos, and it would be too late to do anything.
"Uncle Xu, don't worry. Kyoto isn't so easy to conquer. Let's think of a way," Shen Li comforted him.
Although she said that, she was anxious. It wasn't that Kyoto, as the capital, was more secure; on the contrary, the more city gates it had, the easier it was to be captured.
It would be too late to lead the army back, and individual strength is even more insignificant in the face of war. She couldn't think of any good solutions for the time being.
"So she infiltrated Kyoto to rescue Li Heng. I knew she wasn't that simple." Lin Wan'er sighed, "But she still succeeded."
Of course, her sigh wasn't just because Hu Ji had succeeded, but because Li Heng had actually seen the light of day again, and now he was besieging the capital. It was truly like spring breezes blowing and life returning.
Shen Li could only shrug at this. The court's procedures were always very complicated. It was no wonder that people could be brought back to life if they weren't killed while they were imprisoned.
She was now only grateful that Gu Chang'an knew how to bide his time and had handed over power in advance, transferring himself from the Dali Temple to the Ministry of Justice, so that everything that was happening now had nothing to do with him.
Once outside the main tent, Lin Wan'er pulled Shen Li aside and whispered, "Are you really helpless?"
In her opinion, Shen Li was someone who could always find a way.
“Our dynasty is not like the desert. Everywhere there are strong city defenses and checkpoints. Unless our army can fly or…” Shen Li thought for a moment and then said, “There are 300,000 people.”
"If you had one, would you need to figure it out yourself?" Lin Wan'er felt an urge to knock her head when she heard this.
"If you want to blame someone, blame that Hu Ji princess for picking the right time. She surrounded the capital before we returned, leaving us with a home but unable to go back," Shen Li said, shifting the blame.
Lin Wan'er sighed again upon hearing this: "This woman is really something. It feels like every step is part of her plan. She has blocked our path in advance, leaving us like headless flies."
"No wonder she's destined to be an empress. If she succeeds this time, the Great Zhao will fall into chaos on its own without any effort." Shen Li shook her head and sighed.
Although the Great Zhao is now corrupt, its foundation is still intact. It may not be as solid as a rock, but it should at least have a hundred years of lifespan. The fact that it can be turned into a state of internal and external troubles in just over a month shows how powerful the methods are.
"Stop praising her. I'm counting on you to be smart enough to come up with a way to control her." Lin Wan'er disliked hearing her praise Princess Huji.
Shen Li helplessly spread her hands: "I really have no way, but I think someone will have a solution. We just need to focus on marching quickly."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Lin Wan'er still listened to Shen Li when it came to the big picture.
The main force then moved at almost twice the speed of before. Shen Li was anxious at first, but after calming down, she was no longer in such a hurry.
Gu Chang'an lived in Kyoto.
She didn't believe that Princess Huji's every move could be kept from Gu Chang'an. Once anything was leaked, Gu Chang'an would definitely be able to follow the clues.
She rushed to Kyoto as quickly as possible, and she trusted that Gu Chang'an would give her some clues about the rest.
On the third night of the march, Shen Li was sleeping in her tent when she suddenly heard a faint whooshing sound of air outside, so she immediately opened her eyes.
As soon as she opened her eyes, a cold wind swept in from outside, and before Peony, who was keeping watch by the bedside, could react, her acupoints were sealed.
The man, dressed in black, moved with incredible speed; Peony fell to the ground without even uttering a sound.
Shen Li's pupils contracted, but she recognized the person in an instant. While feeling relieved, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the peony on the ground.
"We're all on the same side, can't you be a little gentler?" She got out of bed and helped Shaoyao into her own blanket to sleep, while she herself put on a cloak.
"You're quite vigilant. If I were to ambush you, I might not be able to." The newcomer pulled off the black veil covering his face, revealing a bewitching and alluring face.
It was none other than Bai Wuyou, the Holy Son of the Red Lotus Sect.
"Why are you here?" Shen Li asked him, sitting on the carpet.
"Your husband asked me to come, saying the situation is chaotic and he wanted me to protect you." Bai Wuyou sat opposite her, pouring tea for herself.
Shen Li raised an eyebrow slightly: "This little brat is trying to inflate his own value again. What did he promise you?"
Based on her understanding of the two of them, Gu Chang'an must have offered him conditions that he couldn't refuse, and it certainly wouldn't be as Bai Wuyou said.
"Boring." Bai Wuyou looked embarrassed and annoyed after being exposed. When she looked at Shen Li, her tone became a little higher: "Besides, you're not older than me, so don't keep calling me a little brat."
“Okay, what did he ask you to bring? Give it to me.” Shen Li got straight to the point.
Bai Wuyou didn't like the feeling of being seen through, but she resignedly took out from her bosom: "This one, this one, and this one."
It contained a map, a letter, and a bottle of medicine.
Shen Li knew this would happen. She opened the map and could clearly see the cities occupied by the Crown Prince and Prince Ning, as well as the basic situation within those cities.
Obviously, these instant drawings couldn't have been done in time; they must have been prepared long ago.
“He was prepared.” Shen Li took another breath and asked, “Did he have a message for you to pass on?”
"He said his family is all well, and Kyoto won't fall anytime soon. He told you not to worry, the battle will be fought by others." Bai Wuyou, as the Holy Son, felt rather aggrieved to be relaying the message, but he had no choice but to say it.
"Who's attacking?" Shen Li's focus was still on the battlefield.
“Even before the siege of Kyoto, that old emperor gave the tiger tally to Prince Rui, ordering him to mobilize troops to defend the capital.”
"The old emperor isn't stupid; he knew to send Li Rui instead of Prince Yi." Shen Li understood. With the loyalist army there, there really wasn't much for her to do.
On the contrary, Li Heng didn't have much time left. If he couldn't break through the city soon, he would be attacked from both sides once the reinforcements arrived.
Looking at the map in her hand, her mind gradually became active again, and she soon realized that she wasn't completely powerless.
"Just listen to me and take good care of yourself. If you fall ill, who will my Red Lotus Sect rely on?" Bai Wuyou reminded Shen Li, looking at her gaunt face.
"I heard that many of the rebels this time are from your Red Lotus Cult?" Shen Li asked.
"It's all that Elder's doing. When can't my Red Lotus Sect start a rebellion? Why do we have to get involved with these scoundrels and ruin our sect's reputation?" Bai Wuyou said with a look of disgust.
Shen Li nodded: "The analysis is correct."
“Girl, I think you’re quite good.” Bai Wuyou looked up at her. “Why don’t we take advantage of the chaos and go to the south? My trusted men are all there. We can make you our queen.”
Shen Li blinked three times to calm herself down, and said irritably, "What do you think being emperor is? Don't even mention that I can't become emperor, even if you gave it to me, I wouldn't want it."
All she wanted was to travel with her beloved, whether sleeping in guest rooms or tents, to travel all over the world and make up for the regret of being imprisoned in Kyoto for a lifetime.
Becoming emperor is like moving to a nicer prison; she's unwilling to waste any more of her time with Gu Chang'an.
In this life, they only want to live for themselves.