Free Web NovelChapter 391: Chapter 393: Mystic Armor Order
The Emperor ordered thirty thousand troops to be dispatched from each of Hedong County and He Nei County to Shangjing to quell the rebellion.
It would take at least two days to reach Shangjing from the two counties, even at the fastest pace.
Before they arrived, the Emperor needed someone to lead the vanguard.
The first person he thought of was Prince Zhao, Li Ji.
Li Ji was summoned before the Emperor.
"What are Your Majesty’s orders?"
The Emperor briefly explained that Prince Dongyang had launched a rebellion. Finally, he placed a metal token in front of Li Ji.
"This is the Flying Dragon Order. With it, you can command the entire Flying Dragon Cavalry."
Li Ji accepted the token with both hands. "What would you have me do?"
The Emperor said, "You’re in charge of the Tiger Roar Camp, are you not? Find a way to contact Bian Ziming. Coordinate with him from the inside and out to break the city’s defenses."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor cleared his throat. "You go on ahead. We will follow shortly."
Li Ji took his leave.
He returned to his residence. Just as he finished changing his clothes, he heard that a scout from the Tiger Roar Camp had arrived, clamoring to see Prince Zhao about something important.
Li Ji said, "Bring him in."
Soon, the scout was brought before Prince Zhao.
The scout knelt on one knee and began to speak immediately.
"Reporting to the Prince! News came from the Duke Zhen Country Mansion at dawn today. The Princess Consort Zhao was taken away by people from the palace. I fear the worst."
Li Ji’s expression changed drastically. "What did you say?"
The scout pulled a secret letter from his robes. "General Bian asked me to deliver this to you, Prince."
Li Ji took the letter, tore it open, and scanned it in an instant.
In the letter, Bian Ziming explained that Prince Dongyang had rebelled. Prince Dongyang had even sent someone to contact Bian Ziming, trying to persuade him to surrender, but Bian Ziming had put him off with an excuse.
After Princess Consort Zhao was captured, Prince Dongyang sent someone to speak with Bian Ziming again.
This time, Prince Dongyang’s attitude was much harsher.
He declared that if the Tiger Roar Camp did not submit, he would use Princess Consort Zhao’s blood as a sacrifice for his war banner.
Bian Ziming didn’t know what to do and hoped that Prince Zhao could give him instructions.
Li Ji tore the letter to shreds.
With a flick of his wrist, the pieces scattered and fluttered down.
Like falling snow.
At that moment, the look in Li Ji’s eyes was colder than ice and snow.
Chen Wangbei watched, his heart pounding with fear.
He asked cautiously, "Are we going back now?"
"My Princess Consort has been captured. Of course I’m going back."
Li Ji fastened the treasure sword to his waist and strode swiftly outside.
Chen Wangbei hurried to catch up. "What if they get desperate and harm the Princess Consort?"
Li Ji grabbed the reins, swung his long leg over, and mounted his horse.
He looked down at Chen Wangbei from his saddle and said coldly,
"As long as I’m here, no one can harm her."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he snapped the reins.
The fine steed beneath him shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bowstring. WHOOSH!
Two thousand Flying Dragon Cavalry followed close behind.
It had rained heavily the day before, making the mountain road especially slick. Hooves thundered across it, splashing up muddy water.
...
「In Chaoyang Palace.」
Hua Qingqing dampened a cloth, preparing to wipe the bed clean.
That way, they would have somewhere to sit and rest.
While wiping the inner side of the bed frame, Hua Qingqing unexpectedly discovered a hidden compartment.
She pulled a rusty iron box from the compartment.
Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask, "What’s that?"
"Let’s open it and see." Hua Qingqing placed the iron box on the bed.
Perhaps because it had been left for so long, the surface of the box was covered in rust. Even the lock hanging from it had rusted through.
With a little effort, Hua Qingqing yanked the lock off.
Opening the iron box, she found two things inside.
A cloth handkerchief and a token.
Hua Qingqing picked up the handkerchief and the token to examine them.
The handkerchief, originally white, had now yellowed with age. It had no pattern and looked like a very ordinary cloth.
The token was made of some unknown metal. It felt heavy and cool in her hand.
Even after so many years, it showed no signs of rust.
On the front of the token were carved the two words "Xuan Armor," and on the back were the sun, moon, and stars.
Hua Manman’s gaze fixed on the two words, "Xuan Armor."
’In the original text of *Palace Intrigue*, it was mentioned that Li Ji had a Xuanjia Army under his command, but that was after he became the Regent King.’
’But right now, Li Ji is still just Prince Zhao. Logically, the Xuanjia Army shouldn’t have been formed yet.’
’So why has a Mystic Armor Order appeared here?’
Hua Qingqing noticed her younger sister’s gaze and offered the token to her.
"Do you recognize this?"
Hua Manman pouted. "Of course I don’t recognize some dirty old thing like this."
Hua Qingqing knew her younger sister was saying one thing and meaning another.
She wrapped the token in the yellowed cloth and stuffed it into Hua Manman’s sleeve.
"Since you recognize it, you should take it. Maybe you can help it find its true owner."
Hua Manman huffed, feigning disdain.
But she didn’t refuse it.
’I want to give the Mystic Armor Order to Prince Zhao,’ she thought. ’He might know its origins.’
Hua Qingqing continued cleaning.
Soon, the bed was wiped clean.
She took off her outer robe, spread it over the bed, and gently laid the Seventh Prince down on it.
At last, they no longer had to hold the Seventh Prince constantly and could sit down for a rest.
By now, the sky had brightened.
Hua Manman clutched her stomach and began to long for fried chicken and hot pot.
The more she thought about it, the hungrier she got; the hungrier she got, the more she thought about it.
Just when she felt like she couldn’t stand the hunger anymore, a shout suddenly came from outside.
"Someone’s here with food!"
The moment Hua Manman heard the word "food," her spirits lifted instantly.
She shot up and rushed out as fast as she could.
Two strong eunuchs stood in the main hall. Before them was a basket full of steamed buns.
They were distributing the steamed buns to the concubines, princes, and princesses.
How could these nobles, who were used to a life of luxury, possibly stomach such coarse food?
Someone couldn’t help but ask, "Is there nothing else? You’re just giving us steamed buns?"
The eunuch in charge of distribution said coldly,
"If you don’t want to eat, you don’t have to."
Hua Manman squeezed her way to the very front and held out her hand to the eunuch.
"I want some! Give me two... no, four steamed buns!"
The eunuch had been given special instructions. Knowing this was Princess Consort Zhao, he pushed her away and said stiffly,
"Lady Xianfei has ordered that you are not to be given any food."
Hua Manman was furious. "Why can’t I have any food?"
The eunuch replied, "This servant doesn’t know. Those are Lady Xianfei’s orders."
Hua Manman tried to snatch some, but before her hand could even touch a bun, she was grabbed by the arms by two Yulin Guards, one on each side, and forcibly dragged away.
In the end, she could only watch helplessly as everyone else received their steamed buns, while she alone got nothing.
Hua Manman stared at the white flour steamed buns in their hands, so jealous her eyes turned green.
’I want a steamed bun too! Waaaah!’
