Chapter 86 – Ghost Rebel

Miantang walked off easily, but the Old Princess Consort was confused.

 

To be honest, her proposal was just a test. Miantang is so soft-tempered. Even if she doesn’t want to bring the topic up, the Old Princess Consort can exchange a few verbal fights with her. After several rounds of speech, there will be an opportunity to discuss.

 

After all, Miantang’s birth is a hard wound, and it is an indisputable fact that she was once a mistress of Cui Xingzhou outside. It would be great if she had learned the common part of giving way to a virtuous person and volunteered to be a concubine.

 

At that time, there will be Lian Binglan, a pure and honest wife in the royal residence, and a woman that his son really likes to serve him as a concubine. Naturally, everyone will be in harmony.

 

This is the compromise that the Old Princess Consort came up with after she was pitied by Lian-Chu’s disguise and was shaken by the rumors several times.

 

However, what the Old Princess Consort did not expect was that Miantang suddenly started to become hard-tempered, with a posture of not giving up an inch, and unexpectedly left.

 

If her son comes back and finds that she has made her left… Old Princess Consort Chu knows that her son will definitely be angry.

 

For a moment, she regretted that she had spoken too straightforwardly today, and she was angry that Liu Miantang would not step down. Only the servant girl in the room was told to keep her mouth shut, and no one was allowed to talk about Liu Miantang’s leaving the house.

 

After a few days, the Old Princess Consort thought about looking for another chance to let Liu Miantang come back.

 

Because Liu Miantang did not go out of the main gate but went through the side gate, so few people in the residence knew about it.

 

Although the Old Princess Consort has planned well, she did not expect the following changes, so she had no time to look for Liu Miantang.

 

Just three days after Liu Miantang left the residence, all the letters sent from the residence to the Prince were returned halfway. It is said that the post road has been blocked, and the letters cannot be delivered at all.

 

It is said that those rebel troops have received reinforcements from nowhere, and they are very powerful…

 

Five days after Miantang left the residence, the news from the State of Dong became more and more popular. At last, it was said that Prince Huaiyang was ambushed by King Lu, and was trapped on the outlying island. The reinforcements were also blocked by the Rebels. It was too late to reinforce in time. At that time, people everywhere were worried. They were all saying when the State of Dong Rebels would come and attack the city.

 

The Old Princess Consort couldn’t hold anything in her heart. She was so worried that she fell ill again.

 

Miantang also received a letter and asked Fan Hu to ask for specific details.

 

Fan Hu came back from the post station with a dignified face. He only reported to the County Mayor about the situation before the post road was blocked, saying that the Rebels had indeed got more troops, but the way the Prince was ambushed was very strange.

 

However, no matter how specific the details are, they can’t find out more. After Fan Hu came back and reported to Miantang, he decided to wait. If there was still no news, he would bring people to enter the border and inquire around the outlying island.

 

Miantang bit her lip and spread out the map of the State of Dong she bought at the bookstore.

 

Since Cui Xingzhou went to the State of Dong for battle, she asked Fang Xie to buy this map and mark the advancing position of the State of Zhen troops from time to time, to know the position of Prince Huaiyang.

 

Things on the battlefield are changing rapidly. Even the martial saint Guan Yu may lose in the State of Mai.

 

Miantang’s heart is worrying about Cui Xingzhou’s safety. She can only rely on a thin map to repose her feelings.

 

Now looking at the map with full marks, Miantang only felt that there was a thorny crisis lurking everywhere. But these rebellious peasant rebels are just starting from scratch. Where can they get the reinforcements from?

 

Miantang suddenly remembered how he met Lady He when she came back.

 

She returned to Lingquan Town that day and didn’t tell anyone, but when she got off the carriage, she saw He Zhen coming back from the blind date, so she asked her to enter her new house to have a chat.

 

He Zhen was having a blind date with the son of Ministry Councillor Zhang in the neighboring town. It is said that he has been studying hard for fame and has vowed that he will not marry without building his fame. As a result, the scholar who just passed the exam this year can report back to his parents and start to plan his marriage.

 

Just as He Zhen woke up from her first love when she was young, she also agreed to look at others. The two older people are also predestined. They have been delayed until now, and just met.

 

He Zhen finished the blind date. According to her, although Young Master Zhang was not as good-looking as Prince Huaiyang, he was more gentle. He would not frighten his wife at first sight.

 

The two families have the same family background. The marriage was decided at that time because the children are not young, and the marriage date is also very close.

 

He Zhen did not expect that she could get married earlier than Liu Miantang. She was also very happy. In her opinion, it is better to marry a rich and small family than to marry the high gate courtyard of the royal residences.

 

Otherwise, how would Liu Miantang return to Lingquan Town again? She surely can’t tolerate the royal residence anymore.

 

Although she asked Liu Miantang curiously about the reason for her return, she only said that she would come back to manage the accounts, and ended this topic.

 

However, He Zhen said something about her experience in the State of Hui.

 

It is said that Prince Sui moved his family to the Capital and assigned many escorts.

 

A night boat of the He family was almost detained by the officers and soldiers when it passed the dock in the State of Hui. If it wasn’t for the experienced captain on the boat he quickly bribe with a lot of silver. At that time, they couldn’t even get back the boat and people.

 

When Miantang heard this, her heart was slightly moved, “When officials and relatives travel, they always hurry up early rather than late. Even the soldiers and horses escorting Prince Sui’s relatives to the Capital do not need to be shipped at night, right?”

 

He Zhen waved her hand, “Whatever he’s shipping, it’s none of our business. By the way, my father has bought me a batch of jade hairpins, and I have specially selected some new styles for you…”

 

Later, He Zhen’s topic changed to those who eat and wear the same kind of food and clothing, but Miantang’s heart cannot focus.

 

Now that the post road is blocked, there is no news from Prince Huaiyang’s army. She has been thinking about He Zhen’s story about the blockade of the wharf at night.

 

Is there any connection between the two?

 

The siege in the State of Dong has lasted for a long time, and Miantang can’t stay still any longer. She wants to go with Fan Hu, but Fan Hu stops her, “County Mayor, you are now a valuable person. The war is full of rumors, and most of them are untrustworthy. The State of Dong is in chaos now. It is not only the rebels who make trouble, but also the bandits who take advantage of the battle. If you go, you will make trouble, won’t you? Don’t create the situation that when the Prince returned triumphantly, you can’t come back.”

 

However, before Miantang made a decision, the crisis in the State of Zhen came one after another.

 

It turns out that a group of Rebels broke through the rear encirclement and rushed straight to the State of Zhen.

 

That group of bandits came fiercely and marched quietly. The surrounding counties didn’t get any news, and they went straight to the city gate of the State of Zhen like ghosts.

 

The strangest thing is that this group of soldiers seems to be very purposeful. All the rich and defenseless counties and villages around them are not in their route, and they just went straight to the State of Zhen, which is separated by a river.

 

The Lingquan Town where Miantang lived was also passed by by the Rebels.

 

That night, the streets were full of people shouting and horses singing. The rich merchants in Lingquan Town trembled in their quilts and cursed Prince Huaiyang’s troops for being weak. They let the bandits come to Lingquan Town so quickly that they could not escape even if they wanted to.

 

Liu Miantang heard the voice and asked someone to move a ladder against the wall. Under the cover of the night, she climbed up the ladder and looked out.

 

Those rebels who were on their way carried torches and walked in a hurry. They did not stop to rest or rob. Miantang looked at it for a while, then came down quietly and asked Fan Hu, who was also looking, what he figured out.

 

Fan Hu frowned, “Looking at them, I don’t think they are rebels…”

 

If everyone can live a good life, who would choose to revolt? Fan Hu followed the Prince to suppress the rebels before. Everyone was black and yellow, and their eyes were full of fierce despair.

 

However, those armies just now all look big and round. The most important thing is that they are too well-trained when marching, and they don’t look like the rebels.

 

In fact, Liu Miantang can understand what Fan Hu said.

 

It happened that such a powerful team held the flag of King Lu.

 

Miantang thought for a moment and guessed that someone was fishing in troubled waters, pretending to be King Lu, and attacking the State of Zhen under the siege of Prince Huaiyang.

 

The purpose of their attack on the State of Zhen is self-evident. They must want to control the residence of Prince Huaiyang, detain his family members, and use this to coerce Prince Huaiyang.

 

Before Cui Xingzhou led the army for battle, he also dispatched troops to the State of Zhen. It was not a matter of concern. But a few days ago, the Emperor issued the “Summer Valley Order”, and took away some of the soldiers of the State of Zhen to transport military rations to the State of Lin.

 

The post road was closed, and Cui Xingzhou must have had no idea that most of the soldiers and horses in the State of Zhen were transferred by the imperial edict. Everything was so coincidental, but when they were put together, they were ready to kill Prince Huaiyang…

 

If so, Miantang doesn’t think it’s necessary to worry too much about Cui Xingzhou’s safety for the time being. There must be nothing wrong with him. Therefore, this evil man who hides in the dark will want to attack fast to acquire the State of Zhen and seize what Prince Huaiyang’s cared for.

 

Thinking of this, she hurriedly said to Fan Hu, “Hurry up! You should reach the Royal Residence before these armies and report to the Huaiyang Residence. Take nothing else, but you must bring the Od Princess Consort and the other concubines, young ladies, and masters out of the residence. Saving people is more important than anything…”

 

Fan Hu listened to the footsteps that had never stopped outside the street, and said in a tight voice, “I understand, people are more important than anything, but if I left, you will be too dangerous here…”

 

Miantang quickly walked to her room to change clothes, and speak while walking, “It’s fine. Nobody saw me leaving the residence at the side gate. The Old Princess Consort must have been shameful. The bandits didn’t know that I was not in the residence. You can tell they didn’t know after they walked for so long without knocking at the door. You can bring the people out and wait for me at the rain pavilion in the western suburb of the State of Zhen. But if you go and tell her the truth, the Old Princess Consort might not believe it, or she can’t make up her mind. Take some overpowering drug made by me and drug the Old Princess Consort if neccessary, and then asked the secret sentries to send her out. It will be too late to leave when these people attack the city! The State of Zhen… Is gone! ”

 

Hearing this, Fan Hu dared not hesitate any longer. He quickly led people out of the back street. As Miantang told him, he touched the canal outside the Jade Porcelain Workshop and quickly arrived in the State of Zhen by boat carrying goods in the shop.

 

The number of these “Rebels” are so large that crossing the river will also take time. He must be able to reach the royal residence before these people.

 

Liu Miantang also quickly changed a suit of men’s clothes, learned the way she went to the northwest, smeared her face with the coal from the stove, took some silver notes and some spindles of gold and silver, and then took Fang Xie, Bicao, and several secret sentries who are left in men’s clothes out along the back street.

 

Next, she found a boat to cross the river and hired a simple carriage and a fast horse to wait in the rain pavilion, but she waited and waited, nobody was coming until dawn.