Chapter 107: Unavoidable Situation

  Xiaoyu immediately rushed to the Prince of Yan's mansion with Ximen Qing as soon as he received the news.

  When the King of Yan died and Northern Ping was bombed, it's hard to say whether this would really stimulate the various forces of Northern Yuan who were fighting a civil war to once again harbor ambitions for Central Plains, join hands and march into Northern Ping. Even if Old Zhu was still in charge in Nanjing, he could still mobilize troops to drive them back, but it would inevitably lead to a disastrous outcome with many lives lost. The consequences were too severe, and Xia Chuo couldn't afford to think about it anymore.

  He had Peng Zhiqi take those Beiping friends to keep an eye on the Mongols scattered around, while he took Ximen Qing to the Yanwang Mansion. He brought Ximen Qing along because he thought this Ximen Daren was sometimes very clever and experienced, but his temperament was too frivolous, and from time to time he would do some unseemly things, and really couldn't bear to leave him there.

  Arrived at the Yan Wang Fu's Zhaobi front, Xia Xian made Ximen Qing wait outside, himself dismounted and walked quickly up the steps. A guard with a sword came over and shouted: "Halt! Who dares to rush into the palace gate?"

  Xia Fu hastily made a fist and saluted, saying: "General, I was at the Wang Manor a few days ago. At that time, even the Crown Prince himself saw me off at the gate. Do you still remember me, General?"

  This guard was not on duty that day and did not know about this matter, but as soon as he heard that the man had been sent out by the young master himself, he must have been a person with a great background, and he didn't dare to be rude. He immediately became friendly and asked: "I don't know what the young master has come for? Is there an invitation from the king or the young master?"

  Xia Fu said: "This has never happened before, but... I have a matter of utmost urgency to report to Your Highness."

  "Oh?"

  The guard's expression changed as he looked him up and down, his tone becoming cold as he asked, "What is it?"

  Xia Chong said: "It's like this, a group of Mongolians secretly entered Beiping and attempted to attack the Yanwang Mansion."

  The guard's gaze changed, becoming like he was looking at a mentally ill person, with some sympathy and some ridicule. He asked with a hint of a smile: "Attack? In Beiping? Sir, do you think those people are going to bite their way in or punch their way through this thick palace gate behind me?"

  "To be precise, it's not an attack, but a bombing"

  "Oh..."

  "Thirty years ago, when the Yuan people withdrew from the Central Plains, they buried a large amount of tung oil and gunpowder under the imperial palace. These Mongols are here to ignite these tung oil and gunpowder."

  "This is indeed a very important piece of news. But if I report it to the prince and he asks how they got into the secret passage, what should I say?"

  Xia Fu's anger rose, and he said loudly: "They went in through the sewer, it was the drainage ditch of the Wang Mansion."

  The school lieutenant wanted to laugh but held back: "You know that the drainage ditch is as dense as a spider web, how complex it is? Don't mention going in one person, even if a group of mice go in, they can't find their way out."

  Xia Fu said: "This... Since they know the news of gunpowder buried below, they must have the construction drawings of drainage pipes. They can find the exit according to the map."

  It was not necessary for Xi Ri Ba to tell Na Ren Tuo the reason why he crawled out of the sewer, and as Na Ren Tuo's identity could only listen and act, there was no need to ask clearly. So Xie Yu Fei was very smart not to pursue it, but Xia Jun's guess was also quite accurate.

  The officer crossed his arms, looked up at the sky and said lightly: "You're not clear-headed, I don't bother to send you to jail, you can leave."

  It's a helpless situation. If it were him, thirty years after the founding of the country, he would suddenly go to the armed police standing guard at the entrance of the provincial government and say that thirty years ago, there was something underground here... Now the enemy spies want... I'm afraid he would be considered crazy too. But he didn't dare offend this guard, in case he really got sent to the authorities, it might delay the big deal.

  He endured and came down from the steps one by one, bypassing the giant stone lion. Ximen Qing led the horse to come over and asked: "How is it?"

  Xia Liu smiled wryly and said: "That guard thinks I'm out of my mind and doesn't believe me at all, what can be done about it?"

  Ximen Qing's eyes rolled around and he handed the reins over to him, saying: "Watch this."

  Ximen Qing raised his hand to take off his long gown, just undoing his belt, when he suddenly saw a delicate and beautiful woman, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, leaning against the chest of a big-bellied official, walking towards him with gentle steps. Ximen Qing originally wanted to take off his outer garment to pretend to be a package, but as soon as he saw the woman, his eyes lit up, and he rushed forward in one swift step, stretching out his hand to grab her fox fur collar.

  The woman was frightened by his actions, she couldn't believe that someone dared to rob her in front of the Yanwang Mansion, and even forgot to shout loudly. Ximen Qing shouted sternly: "Don't shout, I'm acting on orders from Prince Yan to take your fox fur collar!"

  That fat eunuch was frightened and asked stupidly: "Yan... Yan Wang, why..."

  Ximen Qing shouted: "Why? You say why? Look at the color of this fox fur collar, hum, dare to ask, not afraid of losing your head, hurry up and roll" After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked away, holding that fox fur collar and rushing towards the stairs.

  The fat official muttered to himself: "This fox-fur collar... is yellow, but my yellow doesn't break the law, only bright yellow is forbidden for civilian use, how can this be..."

  His concubine timidly said: "Master, is it that the imperial court has changed its rules and we don't know about it?"

  "Good heavens! That's terrible. Confiscating our fur-lined coats is the least of it; if we're lucky, they won't take us away to be beheaded. Let's hurry, let's hurry, or he might change his mind."

  Ximen Qing held up the fox-fur collar and ran to the front of the palace gate, bowing his head and saying: "Good evening, General, good evening, General, good evening, all you Generals."

  At a glance at his nodding and bowing appearance, one of the soldiers poked his finger on his forehead and shouted: "What do you do?"

  Ximen Qing said: "General, I am a clerk at Xie's Leather Goods Store. Here is a leather collar that was specifically requested by Lady Xu when she and the Empress visited my estate. She instructed me to send it over as soon as it was finished, regardless of the time. Ah yes, my name is Xia Zhen, and the lady knows me, so would you please announce my arrival? I'm sure she will see me."

  Those guards naturally knew that the young lady of Xu Guogong's mansion had come to Beijing to visit her sister and brother-in-law. As soon as they heard her early instructions, they didn't dare to be slow and immediately a soldier opened the small door and walked into the Wang Mansion. Inside the Wang Mansion, there were also front and back halls, and once you reached the back hall, it was the eunuchs and palace maids who served, and the guards outside were not allowed to enter. The soldier told an inner palace eunuch about the message, and as soon as the eunuch heard that it was something entrusted by the young lady, he didn't dare to be slow and immediately went in to report.

  Xia Chou hid behind the stone lion and quietly watched, not knowing what Ximen Qing had said to the other person, but saw that the guard didn't even fart before immediately obeying and reporting back, couldn't help but praise in admiration.

  After about two incense sticks' time, a little maid with white silk pants and a white silk jacket with rolled silver edges, wearing a rabbit fur hat, stepped out of the palace in a pair of white deerskin boots, and stood on the steps, her hands on her hips, shouting fiercely: "Where is that big scoundrel?"

  Ximen Qing hastily pointed to the stone lion at the bottom of the steps and said, "Young lady, take a closer look, that deceitful cat is over there."

  The guards standing on both sides of the gate looked at each other and saw that this person was indeed acquainted with the princess, so they didn't dare to say more and hastily retreated a few steps.

  Xia Liu secretly admired behind the stone lion: "This Xi Menqing is really something, he's even invited the young lady out." He quickly jumped out from behind the stone lion and beckoned: "Lady, Lady, I'm over here."

  Xia Liu said as he ran up, Meng Er said with a mix of anger and amusement: "You have a big nerve, deceiving the county lord's daughter and still daring to come back and tease me again."

  Xia Yu was taken aback and hastily asked Ximen Qing: "Are you teasing me again? Brother Gao, how did you manage to invite the princess out?"

  Ximen Qing waved the golden fox tail in his hand, and said with a smile: "I told you to give the young lady a tail, oh... a fox's."

  At this time, Xu Meng'er's pretty face sank, and she scolded: "Come on, take him down for me"

  Xia Zhen was stunned, remembering the plan to bomb the Yan Wang Palace that could be carried out at any time. He couldn't care about anything else and reached forward, grabbing Xu Mei'er's wrist with one hand and pulling her into his arms. With a small cry, she crashed into his chest. Xia Zhen pretended to choke her neck and shouted: "Quickly, take me in to see the king immediately!"

  "How many times?! You think I'm easy to bully, don't you, surname Yang? This stinky guy, do you think I have no temper? This time, I will not forgive you!"

  Xia Liu didn't care about him, she just wanted to take those gatekeeping officials and soldiers. Those officials and soldiers saw the young princess fall into someone's hands, and under duress, they had no choice but to open the palace gates to let them in. The two little palace maids who had just chased out saw that the princess was being kidnapped, let out a shrill cry, picked up their skirts and ran back to report the news.

  Ximen Qing followed behind, dispiritedly saying: "Again causing trouble, again causing trouble, can't you just talk things out properly? Alas, I hope nothing happens, Heaven and Earth spirits, Supreme Old Lord, please manifest your spirit..."

  The Yanking Palace was in chaos, the alarm sounded, and all the guards were mobilized. Xia Jun dragged Xu Man'er to the main hall where King Yan met with local officials, also known as the Silver Peace Hall, just as King Yan Zhu Di and Queen Xu led a large group of people rushing out.

  The King of Yan was furious, his whiskers flying wildly, and he shouted loudly: "You have a big nerve, you must have lost your mind, how dare you hold the princess hostage? Let go of the princess quickly! I'll only kill one person, otherwise, I'll slaughter your entire family. Did you hear that?"

  These words came from the mouth of King Yan, and they had an unshakeable authority. Xia Xun's heart skipped a beat as he listened, not doubting the truth of these words for a moment. His reaction was swift; seeing that King Yan had already emerged, he immediately released Xu Man'er, made a deep bow, and said in a loud voice: "Your humble subject has resorted to this inferior strategy, but there is an unavoidable reason behind it. It's not something I wanted to do, so please forgive my crime."

  He didn't know, however, that while he was distracted by the Yan king's sudden movement, a figure as light as a leopard had flashed behind him and struck his head with a palm as heavy as a mountain.

  Xia Liu knelt down and loudly begged for punishment, that person immediately sensed that there was another hidden situation, the palm that had almost hit Xia Liu's back of the head stopped abruptly, it was only a hair's breadth away from touching his hair.

  The King of Yan, Zhu Di, was furious and shouted: "What kind of grievances do you have? What kind of nonsense grievances do you have? Speak up, speak up, and after you're done, get out of my sight!"