Chapter 581: Taking the Fall
’Is the General’s manor in Beili really this wealthy?’
"I will accept these items. One day, I will bring this token and pay you a personal visit."
"Enough talk. We’re in a hurry to get down the mountain. Let’s part ways here."
’So long-winded!’
Gu Shuo averted his gaze and walked away without waiting for a reply.
Carrying Sang Zhi, Zhan Chi moved around a flash of red and hurried down the mountain.
Qian Fanji paid close attention. ’His surname is Feng, yet there are no powerful Feng clans in Beili. I must investigate this clan thoroughly when I return.’
’Repaying this favor won’t be simple.’
Feng Xiuyi stared at Ye Qianning for a moment before a wicked grin spread across his face. "Interesting."
"Master, you scared me half to death! Let’s get out of here. It’ll be trouble if we run into the men from the Military Council."
’Interesting? There’s nothing interesting about this!’
Feng Xiuyi looked away and headed in another direction. ’Indeed, descending the mountain with that group would attract unnecessary trouble.’
——
Just as Ye Qianning’s group was about to reach the second broken peak, a clamor of voices drifted up from the foot of the mountain.
"There are people," Gu Shuo said, suddenly wary.
Zhan Chi scanned his surroundings from where he stood, then took a few steps forward. He could faintly make out human figures. "It’s fine. They’re soldiers."
"I fear they don’t come in peace. Be careful," Qian Fanji said, having quickly detected an unusual aura.
"The soldiers must have been sent by the Emperor to search for us." Carrying Sang Zhi, Zhan Chi moved to meet them. ’They’re our Beili soldiers. How could they mean us any harm?’
"Zhan Chi, wait!" Gu Shuo shouted after him.
Zhan Chi turned back. "What’s..."
"Someone, go report to Mr. Yuan! The Eighth Prince is here!"
A shout rang out, interrupting Zhan Chi’s question.
As the shout died down, over a hundred soldiers quickly surrounded Ye Qianning and her party, their sharp weapons glinting ominously.
Zhan Chi froze, completely stunned. His eyes swept over the soldiers. "How dare you."
The soldiers remained silent, their spears aimed at the group.
"It seems they aren’t a search party," Ye Qianning said. She could clearly feel the killing intent radiating from them.
"More like they’re here to claim our lives," Gu Shuo said coldly, his eyes sweeping across the soldiers.
"Are you soldiers under Captain Zhang?" Qian Fanji asked calmly.
"So what if we are?" a soldier replied.
"Have Captain Zhang come and see me."
"Ha! Our Colonel should come see *you*? It’s no use, Minister Qian. Pulling connections won’t help you now," the soldier sneered.
Qian Fanji’s eyes narrowed. ’He recognizes me, yet he’s still this arrogant. Who gave them these orders?’
Even someone as dense as Zhan Chi had figured it out by now. These soldiers weren’t here to rescue them—it looked like they were here to capture them.
"So the fire didn’t manage to burn you all to death. You’re certainly hard to kill." As the voice rang out, Yuan Yintang appeared before the group.
The moment Gu Shuo saw Yuan Yintang, his confusion vanished. Consort Yuan had set the fire; it was only natural her senior brother wouldn’t want them to make it down the mountain alive.
"Yuan Yintang, you’ve got some nerve acting so brazenly!" Gu Shuo snapped.
Yuan Yintang’s gaze fell upon Zhan Chi, and a flicker of delight crossed his face when he saw him holding the Eighth Prince. He walked closer. "Young Master Zhan, I advise you to release the Eighth Prince immediately. Do that, and I might just leave you all with intact corpses."
At these words, surprise flickered in the eyes of Gu Shuo and Qian Fanji as they began to understand the plot.
’The Eighth Prince was lured from the palace, and now we’re about to be framed for it.’
Ye Qianning also sensed something was wrong. ’The Emperor sent Yuan Yintang with men from the Military Council, which shows how highly he values the Eighth Prince. Because of that, even if Yuan Yintang "mistakenly" kills us, the Emperor won’t punish him severely.’
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Zhan Chi snapped, furious.