I am the champion of palace intrigue, and even the proud prince bows his head in submission.

Chapter 315 The First Hero of the Great Liang Dynasty

Lanterns flickered in the courtyard, and maids stood outside the door, all looking tense.

"What happened? Why is there blood all of a sudden!"

Xu Liuer asked hurriedly, her voice trembling noticeably.

Lin Mama, her face pale, explained, "Yes, it was just now that the servant brought a message saying that Young Master Xie and his wife unfortunately fell off a cliff during the spring hunt!"

"When the princess learned that the Crown Prince's wife was in trouble, she became emotional and immediately started bleeding!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Liuer nearly lost her footing, and her face instantly turned pale.

What?! Something's happened to Jiuwei!

Low moans of pain came from inside the room.

Xu Liuer rushed into the room without thinking and saw Gao Yunzhi lying on the bed with her forehead covered in cold sweat.

He was gripping the blankets tightly with both hands, clearly in great pain.

"Your Highness!" Xu Liuer rushed to the bedside and grabbed Gao Yunzhi's hand.

Gao Yunzhi was in so much pain that she couldn't speak, and the bedsheets were covered in blood.

Xu Liuer was quite frightened and quickly turned to the maid beside her, saying, "Immediately! Go and fetch the imperial physician again!"

darkroom.

"Your Highness, the old lady of the Marquis's mansion suddenly fell ill after hearing about Xie Yanli's accident, and has now fainted."

"Gao Yunzhi and Qin Jiuwei were close friends. After learning about this, she almost had a premature birth. All the imperial physicians in the palace were summoned to the Princess's residence."

"The entire capital is now in a state of panic."

Upon hearing this, Li Wuyang paused slightly in his teacup, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

"It seems that Xie Yanli and Gao Xian have really gotten into trouble..."

"Your Highness, do you mean—"

Li Wuyang raised his eyes, his gaze cold and deep. "Send down the order to immediately prepare the army for battle, and divide the troops into three groups to head straight for the key passes of the capital."

"Now we also have a city defense map, although it's only half a map, it's more than enough to control the imperial city!"

The eldest princess's mansion.

Soon, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy rushed to the scene.

The room was in a flurry of activity.

Acupuncture, decoction preparation, oral administration of medicine, moxibustion...

It took two whole hours of chaos before Gao Yunzhi's condition was barely stabilized.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Liuer breathed a sigh of relief and almost collapsed to the ground.

She looked at Gao Yunzhi, who was still unconscious on the bed, and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She felt both lingering fear and relief.

Soon, he couldn't help but think of Qin Jiuwei again, and a wave of sadness washed over him.

Has something really happened to Jiuwei?

Camps in the outskirts of Beijing.

Shen Xingjian recounted the events of that day at the hut to Xie Yanli in detail.

"Half a city defense map?"

"Yes." Shen Xingjian nodded slightly, a strange smile appearing on his lips.

"Your Highness, as you know, the defenses of the capital were personally planned by the eldest prince when he was alive."

"The eldest prince is exceptionally talented. The city defenses he designed for the capital can only be effective when combined with other elements. Any single part, taken out of context, is a natural trap."

"Having only this half of the city defense map is more dangerous than having none at all..."

As dawn broke, the capital city appeared exceptionally quiet.

By this time, Li Wuyang's men had already gathered in the shadows and were hiding in the houses and shops near the city gate.

They disguised themselves as ordinary peddlers, carrying loads on their shoulders, hawking their wares, and pushing carts on their journeys.

Quietly waiting for the signal.

As the sky grew brighter, the streets and alleys of the city gradually came to life. Early-rising vendors began to set up their stalls, and taverns lit their stoves.

But no one noticed how many pairs of eyes were watching them intently from the corners of the streets and alleys around them.

Suburbs of Beijing.

Xie Yanli looked at the scroll of secret letter in his hand, his gaze slightly darkening.

"Your Highness, Li Wuyang's men have already begun their operation."

Xie Yanli put down the secret letter, frowned and pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The fact that there has been no unusual activity at the four gates of the capital indicates that they are still testing the waters and have not been completely exposed."

"Have people keep a close eye on them, but don't take the initiative. Hold back for now and let them think we're completely unprepared."

“Li Wuyang’s ambitions are considerable, and the forces he has hidden in the capital are far more than what we’ve shown. If we act now, we’ll only alert him. Let them continue to plan and make connections. Only when they think they have victory in their grasp can we strike and wipe them out in one fell swoop, thus eliminating all his followers.”

The next day, Beijing.

Overnight, the once bustling crowds on the streets and alleys disappeared.

The men in black completely blocked off the main roads surrounding the imperial city.

The occasional patrols that appeared on the official road were not the Imperial Guards, but unfamiliar soldiers.

These soldiers patrolled the streets from time to time, arresting anyone they found suspicious.

No one dared to go out anymore.

The once bustling capital city fell silent overnight.

It's like a dead city.

At this moment, in the Qin residence.

Xie Zhongzhi sat upright on his high horse, his gaze cold and fixed on the tightly closed gate in front of him.

Li Wuyang provided him with ample white-robed experts and black-clad assassins, enabling him to wield great power.

Once Li Wuyang's plan succeeds, he will be the greatest contributor to the Great Liang Dynasty, second only to the emperor.

Now, he will use this power to find Xu Liuer's whereabouts.

Xu Liuer did not leave the city and was not among the common people.

Then Qin Jiuwei must have hidden him in the home of that wealthy and powerful family.

It's related to Qin Jiuwei...

The Qin family, the Jiang family.

He wants to check them one by one.

"Open the door!"

Xie Zhongzhi's voice was low and cold.