The entire Gaoding City was filled with cheers and laughter.
Red lanterns and couplets were hung on the doors of every household.
There was a joyous atmosphere everywhere!
Red was everywhere.
It looked very harmonious.
There was no fluctuation at all.
Just like in previous years, everyone was looking forward to reunion on New Year's Eve.
Joy for the whole family!
The calm before the storm was so quiet that it was scary.
Finally, it was the day before the annual sacrifice.
Late at night, the city gates were closed.
There was silence everywhere!
It was as if someone had deliberately 'cleaned' it up!
A group of armored soldiers came to the city gates.
The leader was called Zhu Yuan!
He exchanged a look with the guard at the gate.
He ordered, "It's time, open the gates."
The guard obeyed and ordered his men to open all three gates.
There was only the sound of the cold wind blowing outside the city, making people's hearts numb.
The people on the gate tower lit three torches.
They waved them!
It seemed to be a secret signal!
After half an hour, the two thousand soldiers arrived at the city gates.
They were all cautious and did not say a word.
They were arranged to enter the city one after another.
Zhu Yuan said to the guard at the gate, "The Marquis has ordered that the city gates will be closed when the annual sacrifice begins tomorrow. No news can be brought out of the palace."
"Understood!"
King Huyi's army in Gaoding City was only 1,200 men!
Most of the soldiers were deployed outside the city.
Once something happened to the palace, someone would bring the news out of the city. At that time, the thousands of soldiers outside the palace would enter the city to rescue the King.
Marquis Pingyang had already made arrangements. Once the city gates were closed, even if something happened to the palace, the news would not be brought out. Even if the people outside the palace knew, they would not be able to enter.
The two thousand soldiers entered the city one after another and were deployed outside the palace gates.
But —
Zhu Yuan soon discovered something strange!
There were footprints all over the ground!
Footprints stained with red mud!
Suspicion arose in his heart.
He asked the guard, "The Marquis's soldiers came from the Ten Mile Slope outside the palace. There should be no red mud on the road. Why are there red mud on the soldiers' shoes?"
The guard shook his head, "This … I'm not sure."
"Huh?"
Strange!
Did the route change?
Zhu Yuan stopped a soldier, "Did you come from the Ten Mile Slope?"
The soldier replied, "Yes."
"Where did the red mud come from?"
"We were worried that we would be discovered, so we arranged to take a detour. After we passed the mountain, we stepped on the red mud," the soldier said.
"Is that so!" Zhu Yuan no longer had any doubts. He waved his hand and said, "Be careful. Follow them."
"Yes."
The soldier followed the team and headed towards the east gate of the palace according to the original plan!
After the two thousand soldiers entered the city, Zhu Yuan gave some instructions and ordered the guards to guard the city gates.
"Tomorrow, without the Marquis's orders, we must not open the city gates."
"Yes!"
Only then did he leave!
Return and report to Marquis Pingyang!
At this moment, in the Prime Minister's Residence.
It was already past midnight.
Gong Chi couldn't sleep. He was in the ancestral hall of the mansion, staring at his son's memorial tablet.
His expression was calm!
His eyes were sad.
He did not move for a long time.
It was supposed to be the New Year, and every family was in a festive mood, decorated with lanterns and colored banners.
However, the entire Gong Residence was the same as usual. There was no new year atmosphere at all. Even the ancestral hall was decorated with white silk and white lanterns.
It was blown by the cold wind!
His eyes narrowed bit by bit. He looked at the memorial tablet and said, "Shilin, wait for another day!"
Wait for another day, and he would get his revenge.
He wanted to use the blood of King Huyi and Na Tuo to worship his son!
The butler stood at the side and said worriedly, "Master, you should rest. The sun is about to rise."
He waved his hand and said, "You don't have to worry about me. Go and rest."
"I'll stay with Old Master."
The butler had been by his side for many years. He could empathize with him when he saw his son die before him.
After all, he had watched Gong Shilin grow up!
How could he not be heartbroken?
Gong Chi stood in the ancestral hall for the whole night.
He kept looking at his son's memorial tablet.
It was not until dawn that he changed into a clean set of clothes and sat in the hall.
He was waiting!
Waiting for the annual sacrifice to begin.
On the other side, Na Tuo had been dispirited and listless since he saw the moths and the blood that night. Even though Marquis Pingyang had repeatedly told him that it was just an illusion and that it was because he was too tired, he still felt uneasy.
Even in the next few days, he saw some strange things.
But when he woke up, he found that there was nothing at all!
But the imperial physicians and doctors all said that he was not seriously ill and was just too tired.
He just needed a good rest.
The people in the residence began to spread all kinds of strange speculations.
They said that the Third Prince had encountered a ghost and that the ghost was Gong Shilin.
They said that he felt guilty because he personally supervised the execution of Gong Shilin, so he had nightmares and could not sleep.
They said that he was cursed by the Second Prince, so he was like this!
Some said that he was punished by the King of Huyi to write scriptures and was grounded for five days, so he was dissatisfied and couldn't accept the blow, so he became delirious.
…
Messy speculations spread in the residence.
But no one dared to spread it to Na Tuo.
If he knew, the entire residence would be punished.
So in front of Na Tuo, everyone kept quiet!
But this morning, Na Tuo could not get up.
He lay on the bed, his face pale.
His whole body was weak.
Finally, he got up with the help of the maid.
The corners of his lips were pale.
"Go, go and bring me the court clothes. I want to go to the palace."
On the day of the annual sacrifice, as a prince, and the son of the first wife, how could he not go?
The maid said, "Your Highness, I'm afraid you are …"
"Shut up, hurry up and bring me the court clothes."
"…"
The servants in the room trembled and did not dare to speak again.
The maid brought the court clothes and helped him change into them.
But he almost fell to the ground after taking two steps.
Until Marquis Pingyang arrived in time and stopped him.
Then, he sent the other people in the room out one by one.
"Your Highness's health is more important. You should rest in the residence first."
Na Tuo was shocked. "What did you say? Let me rest? Marquis, have you forgotten what day it is today? "
Marquis Pingyang said, "Of course I know, but if Your Highness insists on going, wouldn't it be a big loss if your body can't bear it?"
"No! I must go. "
"No!" Marquis Pingyang grabbed Na Tuo's arm tightly and said solemnly, "The annual sacrifice is just a pretense. It doesn't matter whether you go or not. In short, I have arranged everything. When the matter is settled, I will order someone to fetch Your Highness.
When I go to the palace, as long as the King gives way, I can read the imperial edict! "
Na Tuo's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Marquis Pingyang's hand. "Really?"
Marquis Pingyang nodded heavily. "In short, Your Highness, don't worry. Everything is under control tonight."
Na Tuo was relieved.
He heaved a sigh of relief.
He dismissed the idea of entering the palace to attend the annual sacrifice.
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