Yang Fan narrowed his eyes. Li Guo'er's heart was thumping wildly. It would be a lie to say that she was not nervous. Her thin lower lip had already turned white from biting it. But when she looked at Yang Fan and saw that he was calm and composed, Li Guo'er's heart calmed down.
"Ah! So it's them … "
Yang Fan softly exclaimed and a relaxed smile appeared on his face. Li Guo'er stared at his expression and cautiously asked, "They are not enemies, right?"
Yang Fan turned his head and smiled at her, "They are your aunt's people!"
"My aunt …"
All the relatives in Li Guo'er's mind were just abstract names. She had never seen any of them. After thinking for a while, she exclaimed, "Princess Taiping!"
Yang Fan said, "That's right! Princess Taiping! "
The characteristics of the guards sent by Princess Taiping were too obvious. Eight plump and strong female sumo wrestlers almost crushed the majestic warhorses. Each of them had two horses behind them. The distance from Luoyang to Yi Que Dragon Gate was so short that they had to change horses in order to not crush the horses to death.
The climb up the mountain was even more strenuous. These eight fat women were astonishingly heavy, and they could only walk a few steps before gasping for breath. Although Princess Taiping had ordered them to rush to the Dragon Gate as fast as possible and protect the Prince of Luling, they really could not move fast enough.
When they stopped, their huge and plump bodies blocked the entire mountain path. The ordinary guards behind them could only stop and wait for them to catch their breath.
On the hillside, Li Guo'er's eyes widened and she said in surprise, "These … these are my aunt's people? They can't even walk, how can they protect us? "
Yang Fan glanced at her and said, "If a top expert who doesn't know how to swim falls into the river, a village urchin who knows how to swim can also take his life. All abilities were relative, and could only be displayed in a suitable environment. They can't climb a mountain. If it's a fight on flat ground, I can deal with one of these eight people. I can barely deal with two. Three I will lose, four I will die. If the eight of them come at me together, I won't be able to escape even if I want to! "
Li Bao'er swallowed with difficulty.
Yang Fan smiled and said, "Your aunt only has a total of eight sumo masters. In the past, no matter where she went, she would bring at least two of them with her to protect herself. Now that she has sent all eight, your aunt … really treats you guys very well."
Li Guoer nodded silently.
The eight female sumo wrestlers finally climbed up the mountain. After panting for a while like sleeping tigers, they asked someone about the whereabouts of the Prince of Luling. The martial monks on the mountain had already received orders from Yang Fan and did not stop them from climbing the mountain. They even sent a martial monk to lead them to Yang Fan.
"Commandant Yang!"
The eight female sumo wrestlers had all met Yang Fan before, and some of them had even heard of Yang Fan and Princess Taiping. Since they were all familiar with each other, there was no need for formalities. The eight women cupped their hands in greeting to Yang Fan. One of them took a step forward and said straightforwardly, "May I ask which one of you is His Highness, the Prince of Luling?"
As she spoke, her eyes were already on Gu Zhuting. She was the only one who had been by Yang Fan's side and was of a similar age and appearance.
Yang Fan took a step back and solemnly said, "This is the Prince of Luling!"
The eight women and the armed guards behind them immediately cupped their hands in greeting to Gu Zhuting. "The guards of Princess Taiping's residence greet Your Highness!"
"Good! Good! Warriors, rise. Sister Taiping … is she well? "
Gu Zhuting's face was filled with surprise and joy. She perfectly imitated the expression and reaction that the Prince of Luling should have.
It was the leader of the eight women who answered on behalf of everyone. "The Princess is well. When we were ordered to rush to the Dragon Gate, the Princess had already entered the palace. I believe she will be here soon!"
"Good! Good, good! "
Based on the principle of saying too much was bound to make mistakes, Gu Zhuting did not say much. In any case, the Prince of Luling had been locked up in Huang Zhuling for sixteen years. No one knew what kind of personality he had now.
Yang Fan said again, "This is the youngest daughter of Your Highness, Princess Bao 'er!"
Now that Li Guo 'er's official identity was brought up, it was not appropriate to tell others her maiden name. However, this princess was born on the road where her father was sent to Fang Province. The imperial family did not care about her and did not even give her a title. They could only use her name for the time being.
Everyone bowed to Li Guo 'er again. Li Guo' er's beautiful face was flushed with excitement.
It was only at this moment that she truly felt the nobility of her identity. Although Yang Fan and the others had been very respectful to her before, that was when they were fleeing for their lives. She had never felt such a respectful attitude.
"Dispense … dispense with the formalities …"
Li Guo 'er was so excited that she even stuttered a little. She only managed to say one sentence, but she quickly regained her composure and quickly adapted to this new identity. She was no longer a lowly prisoner, but a princess of the imperial court!
While they were talking and greeting each other, people shouted and horses neighed in the distance. At this time, the sun was about to set and dusk had already arrived. It was quiet at the foot of the mountain and there were no pedestrians. Therefore, the sudden appearance of a group of people stood out.
Because the people of Princess Taiping's residence were all present, Yang Fan did not joke with Gu Zhuting and Li Guo 'er this time. He only looked at the approaching group of people and muttered to himself in his heart, "Who are these second feudal vassals?"
… …
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong came from the Political Affairs Hall and did not bring many family warriors with them. However, they were the Prime Ministers. According to the rules of the Tang dynasty, the Prime Minister was in charge of the Sixteen Imperial Guards of the Southern Yamen, while the Imperial Guards of the Northern Yamen reported directly to the Emperor.
After Wu Zetian ascended the throne, the direct guards of the Eastern Palace, led by the Crown Prince, were reduced and the power of the Prime Minister was also weakened. He no longer had the power to directly mobilize troops. However, the Prime Minister was still the supreme commander of the Southern Yamen Imperial Guards in name. Therefore, when they went out, the Imperial Guards were equipped with a guard force.
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong led their guards out of the Dingding Gate as fast as lightning. Today, the old soldiers guarding the Dingding Gate had their eyes opened. One after another, big shots led a large group of people and rushed out as if they were fighting a fire. They did not know what was happening outside the city.
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong urged their horses and rushed towards the Dragon Gate. Suddenly, they saw a group of people and a soft sedan in the middle. Wei Zhigu's heart suddenly sank and he thought, "Master Di!"
The group heard people shouting and horses neighing behind them. They turned around and saw the flag they raised. They knew who was coming and had already informed Di Renjie. The group of people waited by the roadside.
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong drove their horses to the front. They got off their horses and quickly walked to the side of the soft sedan that had been lowered. At a glance, they saw Di Renjie lying on the sedan. He looked haggard and had sunken eyes. He used to be such a humorous, tough and lively person, but now he had been tortured by illness.
Wei Zhigu and Di Renjie had been ministers in the same palace for many years. Even though they had different supporters in the end, they had always been on the same side in the political upheavals. They could be considered like-minded old friends. Seeing Di Renjie in such a state, Wei Zhigu felt a lump in his throat and cried out, "Master Di!"
Yao Chong had not interacted much with Di Renjie, but he greatly admired this old minister of the nation. Seeing Di Renjie like this, he could not help but sigh. He silently bowed to Di Renjie and stood to the side with Zhao Jianing, the Renunciator of the Secretariat of Government.
The corner of Di Renjie's mouth twitched a few times. He seemed to want to smile at his old friend, but in the end, he couldn't. His eyes dimmed, and he tried to open his mouth to say something with a trembling voice.
His voice was too soft. Although no one around dared to speak, Wei Zhigu still didn't hear it clearly. He bent down and pressed his white-haired head against Di Renjie's mouth. Only then did he hear a very faint voice, "Duke Wei, please, please …"
Wei Zhigu's tears that had just stopped gushed out like spring water. He straightened his body and nodded to Di Renjie. He choked and said, "Don't worry, Master Di. This time, I will go, even if I have to give up my life, I will protect Luling!"
Di Renjie nodded gently. A hint of gratification flashed through his eyes.
Wei Zhigu wiped away his tears and said to Di Renjie, "This matter is urgent. This servant will hurry over right away. Master Di, please do not be anxious. Travel slowly, and your health is more important!"
He didn't try to persuade Di Renjie to go back. He knew that Di Renjie wouldn't be at ease until he saw the King of Luling with his own eyes. There was no need to say such useless words.
Wei Zhigu had his family help him onto a horse. He whipped the horse, and it galloped in the direction of the Dragon's Gate under the setting sun.
…
"It's King Liang's men!"
Yang Fan could already see the flags at the foot of the mountain. His eyes narrowed.
"Who is it? Are they here to help us, or …? " Li Guo'er didn't hear Yang Fan's mutterings. She was rather short, and there was only a short tree in front of her. She stood on her tiptoes and could only make out the figures on the mountain, but not their flags.
Yang Fan took a deep breath and said, "It's your uncle, Wu Sansi."
Li Guo'er's face immediately paled. The trauma of being imprisoned in the mountains for so many years resurfaced in her mind.
Yang Fan suddenly smiled. These Wu Clan kings were obviously not to be trifled with. However, wasn't his goal precisely to draw these people here? If Wu Sansi was here, then Wu Chengsi shouldn't be too far away. The more people that came, the more smoothly his plan would go.
Yang Fan turned around to take a look. Princess Taiping's eight female sumo wrestlers had their hands clasped behind their backs. They were dressed in sumo attire, and they stood there in high spirits. Only now did Yang Fan notice that they were actually equipped with weapons today.
The eight of them were each equipped with a pair of blades. The blades weren't very long, because they were sheathed at their waists. The hilts of the blades could be seen on either side. If the blades were of normal length, even with their burly backs and bear-like waists, there should still be a blade on either side of their thighs.
In the distance, there were a few monks wielding heavy black cudgels. Their appearances were imposing and indomitable. The inner guards and hundred cavalrymen, who had rested for an entire day, rushed out when they heard the news. Every one of them had sharp blades in their hands, and they were brimming with killing intent.
Yang Fan smiled in satisfaction. He waved his hand at the eight sumo wrestlers and said, "Escort the king and the princess back to their rooms to rest!"
The 'King of Luling' gave him a worried look and asked, "Then … what about you, Officer Yang?"
Yang Fan tightened his belt, dusted off his robes, and said indifferently, "I'll go down the mountain to meet him!"
…
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