klisemfg Chapter 186 Nangong Yifeng at the Separate Courtyard
Chapter 186 Nangong Yifeng at the Separate Courtyard
Just as they were preparing to act, a guard rushed in with a message: "General, the Emperor summons you!"
Gu Ye and Murong Xuewei exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes. The Emperor's summons at this critical juncture was no coincidence.
Gu Ye whispered to Murong Xuewei, "You continue with the plan for now. I'm going to see the Emperor. Whatever happens, be careful."
Murong Xuewei nodded: "You should also be careful. I have a feeling that this matter isn't as simple as it seems."
Gu Ye left in a hurry, and Murong Xuewei, watching his departing figure, began to formulate her own plans. She understood that time was of the essence, and every minute and every second could determine Nangong Yifeng's life or death.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wan Ning was in her palace, listening to reports from her subordinates.
"Your Highness, an unexpected situation has arisen with Nangong Yifeng," the subordinate said cautiously.
Xiao Wanning raised an eyebrow: "What accident?"
The subordinate stammered, "Nangong Yifeng... he escaped."
"What?!" Xiao Wan Ning stood up abruptly, her anger blazing. "You bunch of useless trash! You couldn't even keep an eye on Nangong Yifeng when he was drugged?"
His subordinate knelt on the ground, trembling: "Your Highness, please forgive us! We are searching with all our might and will bring him back as soon as possible!"
Xiao Wan Ning coldly glanced at her kneeling subordinate, quickly weighing the pros and cons in her mind. After a moment, she made a decision: "Pass down the order to intensify the covert search. Also, send people to keep an eye on Gu Ye and Murong Xue Wei, and see what they do."
"Yes, Your Highness." The subordinate acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Xiao Wanning stood alone by the window, gazing at the brightly lit palace in the distance, a glint of ambition and determination flashing in her eyes. She murmured to herself, "Nangong Yifeng, you can't escape. I've been planning this game for years, and I won't allow anyone to disrupt it."
Meanwhile, in a side hall of the palace, the Emperor was having a private conversation with Empress Ning Huaiyu.
"Empress, how are you doing with the matter I mentioned to you a few days ago?" the Emperor asked solemnly.
Ning Huaiyu nodded, a worried look on her face: "I'm already thinking of a solution, but Murong Xuewei is General Gu's wife. If we forcibly bring her into the palace, I'm afraid it will give people something to gossip about."
The Emperor's face turned cold. He stood up, kicked over the stool beside him, and said, "So what if he's Gu Ye? He's just a mere general. This entire Taichu Kingdom belongs to me. Do I need his permission to have a woman?"
Ning Huaiyu lowered her head and humbly advised, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Gu Ye is, after all, an important minister in the court and has made outstanding military achievements. If we displease him, I'm afraid trouble will arise in the military camp."
The Emperor glared at Ning with a furious expression: "Enough! I don't want to say any more. I want to see Murong Xuewei in the harem within ten days!"
Just then, a eunuch rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, General Gu is already waiting outside the hall."
The Emperor and Ning Huaiyu exchanged a glance, and Ning Huaiyu quickly lowered her head to avoid the Emperor's gaze.
The Emperor waved his hand: "Summon him in."
A moment later, Gu Ye strode into the hall, bowed, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
The Emperor sat majestically on his dragon throne, looking down at Gu Ye: "Minister Gu, how's your investigation going so far?"
Gu Ye's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "Your Majesty, we are currently investigating and are close to finding Nangong Yifeng."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes: "Is that so? I heard the leads we found have gone cold again?"
Gu Ye hesitated for a moment, realizing it was indeed Xiao Wan Ning's doing. "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case, but I found new clues before I entered the palace, and I believe we will find him soon."
The Emperor sneered, "Minister Gu, do you know that Nangong Yifeng is crucial to our negotiations with the Qu Kingdom? If something happens to him in the capital, the Qu Kingdom and the Taichu Kingdom will go to war again. Because of the last war with the Qu Kingdom, the construction of my villa for recuperation was halted, and I won't have anywhere to escape the summer heat next year."
Gu Ye was greatly alarmed. He clenched his fists, looked at the pure gold throne where the Emperor sat, and then relaxed them: "Your Majesty, I will definitely find Nangong Yifeng."
The Emperor stared into Gu Ye's eyes, seemingly trying to see through his heart: "Considering the many merits you have rendered to Taichu, I will trust you for now, but..." He paused, his tone becoming stern, "I order you to find Nangong Yifeng within three days, or else..."
Gu Ye bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The Emperor waved his hand: "You may leave."
Gu Ye left the main hall, his mind filled with countless thoughts. Xiao Yi was selfish and only thought of himself, completely disregarding the people. Even at this point, all he could think about was his own carefree life.
Back at the general's mansion, Gu Ye went to the study to gather his confidants to discuss countermeasures.
Murong Xuewei rushed over, her face showing a hint of anxiety: "General, I just received news that Nangong Yifeng may be imprisoned in an abandoned mansion in the south of the city."
Gu Ye frowned: "Are you sure?"
Murong Xuewei nodded: "Most likely. I just took some men to investigate, and it's true that someone is being held captive inside."
"I'll take some men to check later. If Nangong Yifeng is really being held captive in the other courtyard, I'll rescue him."
Murong Xuewei nodded. "I'll wait for you at the manor."
Night fell, and the general's mansion was silent. Gu Ye stood in the courtyard, his gaze sharp as he surveyed his surroundings. He took a deep breath, turned to his trusted aide behind him, and whispered, "Check our belongings."
His trusted men nodded silently, each dressed in black, their faces painted with black paint, disappearing into the darkness. Gu Ye nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Let's go!"
The group of people slipped over the city wall silently like ghosts and sped away towards the outside of the city.
Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye were on edge. Nangong Yifeng's safety affected the fate of too many people, and he had to rescue him as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city, Nangong Yifeng was huddled in a dark corner.
Nangong Yifeng's hands were bound with thick ropes, and his mouth was stuffed with strips of cloth, so he could only whimper. Suddenly, a cunning glint flashed in his eyes.
Nangong Yifeng began to writhe violently, groaning in pain. Hearing the commotion, the guards cautiously approached. "What's going on?" one of the guards asked gruffly.
Nangong Yifeng glanced at the guard out of the corner of his eye and continued groaning, banging his head against the ground.
Another guard frowned and said, "Could it be a stomachache? Hopefully nothing bad has happened."
After a moment's hesitation, the two guards finally decided to investigate. Just as they untied Nangong Yifeng's ropes, he suddenly unleashed astonishing strength, flipping over and knocking both guards to the ground.
Nangong Yifeng quickly stood up and, before the guards could react, grabbed a candlestick from the table and smashed it hard on the back of their heads.
"Bang! Bang!" Two muffled thuds followed, and the guard collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. Nangong Yifeng gasped for breath, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He looked around, found a piece of cloth to wrap around the marks on his wrist, then quietly pushed open the window and jumped out.
Not long after Nangong Yifeng escaped, Xin You led a group of men to the villa.
Upon discovering that Nangong Yifeng was missing, Xin You flew into a rage: "Useless! All of you are useless! Search! Find him alive or dead!"
The soldiers scattered like ants and began a thorough search.
Nangong Yifeng hid in the bushes, holding his breath, watching the soldiers pass by without noticing him.
Gu Ye and his group finally arrived at the outer perimeter of the villa. They hid in the shadows, observing the situation inside.
Gu Ye frowned and said in a low voice, "Scatter and conceal yourselves."