All sects work

Chapter 245: Destroying the Heaven (17)

Guan Xiang was silent.

The two men rested for a while by the roadside, then mounted their horses again and continued on their journey.

The further north you go, the more shocking everything you see is. Corpses can be seen from time to time on both sides of the official road, some are rotting and stinking, and some have been eaten away, leaving only bones.

"This is not the place where the plague broke out, but it's already such a tragic situation. I wonder what kind of hell the north is now." Guan Xiang was terrified when he saw the groups of refugees. He always felt that he could vaguely smell the scent of doomsday. "Mom, can we... get through this difficult time?"

"Yes." Yan Cui answered firmly.

Their purpose was to persuade the Southwest Army of Qu State to join forces to fight against Xu State, and they had never left the southwest. The floods and epidemics in the southwest had not affected a wide range of areas, but it was the main battlefield for the confrontation between several countries. In order to avoid the war, the people could only run to a safe place.

However, a safe place is not necessarily safe.

The war caused huge losses, and people were recruiting soldiers and conscripting men everywhere. At this time, the peace and hope in the rear of the new country became a flame in the dark night. Even though there was a risk of being burned to death, it still attracted countless moths to fly into the flame.

A black shadow fell, and vultures fighting over carrion on the roadside made hoarse cries.

Yan Cui suddenly came back to his senses and glanced at Guan Xiang in shock: What did this kid just call him?
mother? !

Ever since Guan Xiang found out that his mother had changed her mind, although she still kept pestering him, she never called her "mother" as if it was a matter of course again.

In Guan Xiang's heart, no one can replace Cong Yannan. There is only one possibility for his sudden change of attitude - he has forgotten that his mother Xinzi was replaced by someone else.

After the dust mustard channel disappeared, the changes inside seemed to accelerate. The "assimilation" affected not only these "outsiders", but everything in the dust mustard.

Yan Cui already sensed that the final moment of battle was coming.

It is already deep winter.

The north wind chills the earth to the bone, and clouds cover the sky.

On the main road of Qudu covered with snow and wind, a convoy passed by, leaving two black ruts on the snow-white ground.

The convoy stopped at the South Gate. The driver at the front saw that the gate was closed and turned around to report to the inside of the car.

A middle-aged man in a sheepskin coat quickly jumped off the carriage and ran hurriedly towards the city gate.

After a long time, a woman's voice came from the middle carriage: "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

The guard outside the car replied, "Reporting to the princess, the city gate is closed and temporarily inaccessible. Manager Fang has gone to take care of it."

Not long after, the shopkeeper ran back to the princess' carriage with a sullen face.

"The people at the city gate said they would not let anyone in, saying they had just received an order today that no one is allowed to enter or leave the capital."

Other people in the palace and the business had already moved south with the prince. Now only Manager Fang remained in Qudu to handle business matters. The reason why Princess Yu could not leave Qudu was because the Southwestern Army was now in the hands of Prince Yu.

Although Princess Yu stayed in Qudu as a hostage, she was not under house arrest. Some time ago, she tried to leave the city and live in a farm for a day or two, and was not stopped, so she made this trip.

The shopkeepers under her were all shrewd people, and it was no problem for them to manage relationships. If this route was blocked, it meant that the city defense would not allow them to pass today. She said decisively, "Return home."

The carriage turned around.

Princess Yu opened the window, and dense, heavy snow rushed in. She squinted her eyes and looked at the city tower between the dark clouds and snow, muttering to herself, "I'm afraid something big is going to happen..."

After returning to the palace, she immediately sent someone to inquire about the news.

The palace has some connections and informants in the palace, but this time, no one responded after she sent out the secret signal, which made her even more uneasy.

It's getting late.

The candles in the room were lit one by one. The maid asked, "Do you want to wash now?"

"Wait a moment." Princess Yu took a book from the bookshelf and leaned on the couch to read it.

The maid lit a candle on one side, asked two people to move the stove closer, and quickly made a cup of tea and brought two plates of tea and fruit.

One hour passed, then two hours passed, and finally a maid came to report that Manager Fang had returned.

Shopkeeper Fang shook off the snow on his body at the door and walked into the house feeling cold.

Princess Yu stopped him from bowing: "No need to be polite, just tell me the result."

Manager Fang said hurriedly, "I have arranged everything. The shift at the South Gate will be changed in an hour. You can quietly open the gate and let us out then. However, I will use the excuse of going to the farm to do some work, so I may have to ask you to pretend to be a guard."

After all, if Princess Yu went out of the city during the day she could be said to be relaxing, but if she bribed the city defenses and sneaked out of the city in the middle of the night, it looked like she was trying to escape, so no matter how brave they were, they would not dare to let her go.

"Okay." Princess Yu put down the book and ordered someone to disguise her.

About half an hour later, a middle-aged man of medium stature and ordinary appearance walked out of the room. He went to the front yard with Manager Fang and picked three real guards.

Five figures walked out of the palace and disappeared into the snowy night.

A large amount of black liquid suddenly fell on the white snow, emitting a pungent smell.

……

In the palace, there were only two people in the bedroom.

After a moment of dead silence, Emperor Qu slowly spoke: "Tell me, is this epidemic really out of control?"

"Yes!" The judge of the Imperial Hospital panicked and had to push the responsibility away. "The epidemic changes too quickly. I just researched the prescription, and its symptoms have changed. The original medicine is no longer completely effective! This epidemic was caused by Prime Minister Liu. He must know more about it than I do, but I can't find any trace of him recently..."

boom!
The medicine bowl fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

How could Emperor Qu not guess what happened at this time? He had been on guard all his life, but in the end he was still stabbed! Thinking more deeply, behind every major decision he made, there was more or less the shadow of Liu Shuji.

"Cough! Cough! Cough cough..." Qu Di's throat itched, his eyes were red, he took a few deep breaths, "Someone come!"

The eunuchs outside the door led people in one after another.

"Change my clothes." Emperor Qu said.

The Imperial Hospital judge gritted his teeth and advised: "Your Majesty, you are in poor health now..."

Emperor Qu interrupted him: "No need to say more, just go out."

Although the judge of the Imperial Hospital was kneeling on the ground and could not see Emperor Qu's expression, he could still vaguely feel that something was wrong. He did not want to risk being beheaded to advise him, but he still had to do so because it was his duty.

He pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying, "Yes, I'll take my leave."

Emperor Qu changed his clothes with the help of the eunuchs, got on the sedan chair, and headed towards the Observatory.

From the north of the city came the faint sound of a horn.

"Your Majesty! There seems to be a fire in the north of the city?" The eunuch exclaimed in a low voice when he saw what seemed to be fire in the sky.

Emperor Qu said nothing. He held the eunuch's hand and climbed onto the high platform. He watched the flames burn into a huge fire with the help of the north wind, and suddenly laughed.

That smile, calm yet mad.

The eunuch caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and his heart skipped a beat, but he resisted the urge to step back.