Under the noon sun, at the same time that Wanyan Qingjue and the others went to the Imperial Palace, carriages and horse caravans were gathering in a small square on the side of the Imperial City.
The palace servants carried and carried all kinds of boxes to the square. The imperial concubines of the rear palace followed with panicked expressions. Some of the boxes were smashed to the ground in the process of being carried, and the various items inside poured out. The imperial concubines shouted anxiously at the side and even started to beat and scold the palace servants.
Everything was as lively as a vegetable market.
Accompanied by the guards, Zhou Pei came out from inside. Her temperament was indifferent but dignified. The palace servants and concubines nearby unconsciously avoided her eyes.
She walked all the way through the square, looking at the busy scene around her. The gate to the Imperial Palace was tightly shut in front of her. She walked to the staircase leading to the top of the city wall, and the guards around her hurriedly blocked her way.
"Your Highness, please don't go up."
"Try and block me!"
"It's dangerous up there."
"What danger! Has the Female Zhenren attacked? "Zhou Pei's eyes seemed to be filled with blood." I want to see them attack! "
"Your Highness, please don't make it difficult for me."
Zhou Pei and the guard stood facing each other at the entrance of the stairs. The people in the square secretly glanced at them from the corner of their eyes. When Zhou Pei looked back at them mournfully, they all avoided her gaze.
A breeze blew over the parasol tree in the palace. Zhou Pei's eyes swept over the fleeing scene. Many years ago, she was not in Bianliang during the humiliation of Jingping. Later, when they searched the mountains and searched the seas, it was more like they were forced to flee after a great war. It was not until this moment that she suddenly understood what it meant to be one hundred and forty thousand people stripped of their armor, and not one of them was a man.
The sky was still warm. Zhou Yong, wearing a loose robe, strode to this side of the square. He was thin and quiet a few days ago, but now he seemed to be a little lively. When the people around him knelt down, he waved his hand as he walked and said, "Rise, rise. Hurry up and move. Don't bring those useless things."
The Imperial Palace was in chaos. Many people hadn't expected this day's upheaval. The officials in the throne room were still arguing. Some people knelt on the ground and begged Zhou Yong not to leave. However, these officials were blocked outside by Zhou Yong's troops. The two sides had been at odds before, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Zhou Yong didn't care about the inner concubine in the Imperial Palace. In his early years, he indulged in debauchery and had no children after ascending the throne. Concubines were just playthings to him. Crossing the square, he walked towards his daughter. His face flushed red, but at the same time, he was embarrassed....
"Alas, my daughter …" He deliberated for a moment. "Father, you were too harsh with your words. However, there is no other way. There are thieves making trouble in the city. I know it has nothing to do with you, but … the messenger of Lady Zhenren has entered the city."
Zhou Pei looked at him coldly.
"In addition, that dog thief Wu Shu's cavalry has broken camp and is coming over to put pressure on us. Qin Qing is right. Let's go first and stay on the Qiantang Navy's ship. As long as they can't catch me, they can't do anything. If they can't destroy the Wu dynasty, they'll have to talk! "
At this moment, Zhou Yong was quite proud of his adaptability. When the Jurchen envoy came to the palace, she would definitely be shocked. No matter how fierce and powerful you are, I'll leave first and endure you. If you demand an exorbitant price, I won't agree … The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Zhou Pei looked at him. After a moment, she said in a hoarse voice, "Imperial Father, if you leave, the Lady Zhenren won't be able to destroy the Wu dynasty, but what about the people in the city? What about the people in the Chinese plains? If they can't destroy the Wu dynasty, they will search the mountains and seas again. How will the common people of the world live?! "
Zhou Yong was slightly stunned. Zhou Pei took a step forward and grabbed his hand. She walked towards the stairs. "Father, come with me! It's on the other side of the palace wall. Come with me. Look over there, those hundreds of thousands of people. They are your people. If you leave, they will … "
Zhou Yong waved his hand away like it was on fire. The next moment, he took a step back. "I said, what can I do? Can I save them by staying here? I want to be sold along with them! That Ning traitor also said that people have to save themselves!!! "
He shouted these words loudly. Zhou Pei's eyes widened in anger. Zhou Yong said, "I am also saving myself. I can't beat them, so I did this. I am a brave man who cuts his wrist … There's not much time. Get into the carriage. I will go with you to the ship first. The officials and things in the palace can take their time. Even if the Perfected Lady rushes over, they can only lament their inadequacy once I get on the ship! "
As he spoke, he pointed to a carriage not far away and motioned for Zhou Pei to go over. Zhou Pei shook her head. Zhou Yong waved his hand, calling for the nearby female officials to come over and help Zhou Pei into the carriage. Zhou Pei was pushed away in a daze. Only when she was about to enter the carriage did she suddenly struggle. "Let go of me! Who dares touch me! "
The female officials jumped in fright and withdrew their hands. Zhou Pei ran towards the palace gate. Zhou Yong shouted, "Stop her! Stop her! "The nearby female officials came over again. Zhou Yong also strode over." You, get in here! "
"Go! I'll stay! Imperial Father, if you want to go, then go. Leave me here to hold the fort. "
"We won't let you stay! We won't let you stay! "Zhou Yong stomped his feet." Daughter, don't make trouble! "
Zhou Pei and the female officials began to fight.
The people in the palace rarely saw such a scene. Even if they were wronged in the inner palace, the strong-willed imperial concubines would not do such a disgraceful and futile thing. But right now, Zhou Pei finally could not hold back her emotions. She waved her hand and knocked the female official next to her to the ground. The nearby female officials were also slapped or torn by her hands. Their faces were scratched with blood, and they were in a sorry state. The female officials did not dare to resist. Under the emperor's roar, they pushed and pulled Zhou Pei towards the carriage. In the midst of the tearing, Zhou Pei pulled out the hairpin in her hair and suddenly stabbed it into the neck of a female official in front of her!
The sun shone down vertically. Blood splattered everywhere on the square, spraying all over the heads and faces of Zhou Pei and the surrounding female officials. People cried out in fear. Zhou Pei's long hair was scattered. She paused for a moment, then waved the blood-red hairpin. "Out of the way, out of the way!"
"Grab her and take her hairpin!" Zhou Yong bellowed, and a nearby female official who knew martial arts rushed forward and snatched Zhou Pei's hairpin. The other female officials gathered around as well, and Zhou Yong rushed forward as well. He grabbed Zhou Pei by the waist and pushed her into the carriage, which was made entirely out of steel. "Lock her up! Lock her up! "
Zhou Pei's tears were already pouring out. She climbed out of the carriage and was about to rush forward again. The two doors closed with a bang. Zhou Pei hit the door and heard Zhou Yong shouting from outside, "It's alright, it's alright. This is to protect you …"
"Incapable ruler …"
"Don't say anymore …"
"Everyone in the world will look down on you and the Zhou family … Father, you're no different from Zhou Zhe …"
Her body hit the door. Zhou Yong patted the side of the carriage and walked forward. "It's alright, it's alright. It's already happened, it's already happened … Daughter, I can't be taken away like this. I want to give you and Junwu time. I want to give you a way out. Let me bear the blame. It'll be better in the future. You'll understand sooner or later, sooner or later …"
He muttered to himself for a long time. He also got into the carriage. All kinds of things were being unloaded and unloaded in the square. After a while, the palace gate was finally opened. They passed through the long street and headed for the southern city gate.
In the dim iron carriage, Zhou Pei could feel the movement of the carriage. She was covered in the smell of blood. A long strip of light shone through the gap in the carriage door. The carriage was driving along the streets of Lin 'an that she was familiar with. She slapped the door for a while and then began to hit the door again, but it was useless.
On the way, there was a faint sound of chaos in front of them. It seemed that a crowd had surged up and blocked the way of the carriage. After a while, the sound of chaos grew louder and louder. It seemed that someone was attacking the carriage. A figure came through the gap in the carriage door in front of them. He curled up and seemed to be protected by the imperial guards. It was her father, Zhou Yong.
He said, "It's alright, it's alright. They're just clowns. It's alright …"
After a while, the chaos outside was resolved. She didn't know whether the people who came to stop Zhou Yong or to rescue her had been cleared. The carriage moved again. After that, it was smooth all the way until the Qiantang River dock outside the city.
When Wanyan Qingjue, who was full of satisfaction, arrived at the palace, Zhou Yong had already boarded the ship at the dock outside the city. This might be the only thing that surprised him along the way.
Nine years ago, when they were searching the mountains and the sea, Zhou Yong had ordered people to build a huge dragon ship for the stability of life on the sea. Even when floating on the sea, the ship was as calm as if it was on land. After nine years, the ship was taken out again.
After boarding the ship, Zhou Yong ordered people to let her out of the carriage. He arranged a place for her to stay and servants to serve her. Perhaps because he felt guilty, Zhou Yong didn't appear in front of her again that afternoon.
The huge dragon ship fleet anchored on the Qiantang River. Throughout the afternoon, all kinds of things were shipped in. Zhou Pei was locked in her room. She didn't go out for two days on the 28th and 29th of the fourth month. She sat in her room in a daze, unable to close her eyes. It wasn't until late at night on the 29th that Zhou Pei, who had finally slept for a while, was woken up by the commotion. She didn't know what had happened in the fleet, but there was a huge collision.
Hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhou Yong, dressed in white, rushed in. Seeing that she was sleeping in her clothes, he came over with a face full of grief and indignation. He pulled her up and walked outside.
Zhou Pei followed him out without a word. Gradually, they reached the deck of the dragon ship. Zhou Yong pointed to the commotion on the river not far away for her to see. It was a few warships that had already started fighting. Flames were burning, and the sound of cannonballs rang out in the night. Light splashed everywhere.
"Look! Look! Those are your people! They must be your people! I am the emperor, and you are the princess! I believe in you, and you have the authority of the princess's mansion! Do you want to kill me now? " Zhou Yong's words were full of grief and indignation. He pointed to the city of Lin 'an on the other side. There were also vague chaotic flames in the city. "Rebels! They are all rebels! They won't have a good ending! Your people also damaged my rudder! Fortunately, I found out in time. They are all your people. It must be, you are rebelling — "
Tears fell involuntarily from Zhou Pei's eyes. She naturally understood that her father had been scared out of his wits. He was frightened by the act of someone destroying the rudder and thought that he could no longer escape.
At this moment, the distant mountains were dark and gloomy, and the nearby water was clear and crystalline. The flames on the city walls were reflected in the sky. Zhou Pei understood that this was the battle between the various factions in the city, including the battle on the warships on the river. It was the final strike of the desperate pro-war faction. Li Pin, Cheng Zhouhai, and the others must have worked hard. But previously, the princess's mansion had never made any preparations to resist Zhou Yong. Even with Cheng Zhouhai's ability, under such circumstances, it would be difficult for him to do what he wanted. The Huaxia army might have also interfered. But for a long time, the princess's mansion had been suppressing the Huaxia army.
The flames in the night sky were like the ashes of a huge palace burning and disintegrating on the pitch-black sea.
The fleet stayed on the Qiantang River for several days. Excellent craftsmen repaired the minor damage on the ships. After that, officials and noblemen came with their families to carry all kinds of treasures. But Crown Prince Jun Wu never came. Zhou Pei, who was under house arrest, didn't hear any news from him.
It was not until the fifth day of the fifth month that the fleet set sail, carrying the small imperial court and the people attached to it. They sailed past the estuary of the Qiantang River. Zhou Pei looked out through the gap of the sealed window and saw free seabirds flying past.
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