Chapter 298 - 296: Absolutely Jaw-Dropping (Second Update)

Chapter 298: Chapter 296: Absolutely Jaw-Dropping (Second Update)

However, before Cheng Xiao had a chance to send someone out, a calm and steady female voice sounded from not far away, "It’s me."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback and immediately stopped all the guards’ actions, silently mouthing three words to Cheng Xiao, "Extinguish the torches."

That was Yan Ci’s voice!

She must have come from another direction. The person Jiang Da discovered earlier should also be her.

Cheng Xiao understood, made a gesture, and the other guards quickly extinguished their torches.

Instantly, only thick and oppressive darkness remained around them. After Xu Jing’s eyes adjusted a bit, she could vaguely make out the outlines of her surroundings in the faint moonlight. She quietly tugged on Cheng Xiao’s sleeve and tiptoed forward a few steps.

Cheng Xiao quickly followed.

During this time, the conversation between Jiang Da and Yan Ci continued not far away.

Jiang Da was obviously surprised to hear Yan Ci’s voice, "Madam..."

"Don’t call me madam."

Yan Ci interrupted him solemnly and said, "I came here just to ask you a few questions. You’re not the real Jiang Da, are you?"

"Jiang Da" was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice no longer had the initial strange hoarseness but was rougher and deeper, "Madam... When did Doctor Yan discover it?"

"The moment I saw you tonight, I realized it. Jiang Da lurked by my side for three years; I have some impression of him. Where is the original Jiang Da? What on earth happened in the city? Were you sent by that man or... by Lord Cui?"

Lord Cui!

Lord is a respectful title for a Military Governor.

And in Great Chu, there is only one Military Governor surnamed Cui, namely Shuofang Jiedu Envoy—Cui Han!

Xu Jing’s gaze darkened slightly.

Unexpectedly, after all the twists and turns, the one connected to Yan Ci was Cui Han!

However, what "Jiang Da" said next made Xu Jing’s eyes widen slightly.

Cheng Xiao and the others were almost dumbfounded.

"If Doctor Yan calls Lord Cui this way, the Lord would be heartbroken. After all, Doctor Yan is the Lord’s biological mother. Doctor Yan chose to live in seclusion in White Poplar Village because she couldn’t stop worrying about the Lord. Doctor Yan should have heard some recent news about the Lord.

Doctor Yan might hope the little one was sent by the Lord, but unfortunately not. The Lord is very worried about Doctor Yan, but his situation is very dangerous now, and he is severely limited in his actions. The original Jiang Da was just an ordinary guard. My master was concerned that Doctor Yan would be implicated because of the Lord, so he sent the little one to replace Jiang Da to protect Doctor Yan..."

"Don’t talk to me about that person’s matter!"

Doctor Yan suddenly said harshly.

"Jiang Da" abruptly halted his speech, and the forest returned to a deathly silence.

In Xu Jing’s heart, however, waves of shock were still rippling, unable to calm down for a long time.

Yan Ci, turned out to be Cui Han’s biological mother!

However, she had indeed heard before that the previous Shuofang Jiedu Envoy was not close to women and consistently had no mistress in his household, not even a concubine. Later, he suddenly brought back a boy, claiming it as his son, Cui Han.

Therefore, many common folks spread the rumor that the Old Envoy was a romantic figure in his youth, incurring numerous romantic debts with women. Eventually, fate caught up with him, and he was abandoned by a woman whom he had fallen deeply for, refusing to marry for life because of her, with Cui Han as their only son.

So, that woman was Yan Ci!

The man who tricked Doctor Yan in her youth, according to villagers, is Cui Han’s father!

Even burning Xu Jing’s brain, she couldn’t have imagined that Yan Ci and Cui Han were actually mother and son!

However, the fact that even Xiao Yi couldn’t uncover Yan Ci’s past suggests that Cui Han and his father spent considerable effort concealing her identity, likely to protect her.

The forest remained silent for a while before Yan Ci’s slightly hoarse voice emerged again, "How is Lord Cui... now?"

"Jiang Da’s" grave voice arose, "The Lord got entangled in this matter, danger is inevitable. In fact, even if Doctor Yan did not come looking for me today, I intended to find Doctor Yan. Please come with me, Doctor Yan; our master orders me to take Doctor Yan to a safe location as Lingzhou is about to descend into chaos."

Xu Jing furrowed her brows slightly.

This was the third person tonight to claim that Lingzhou was about to descend into chaos.

However, both Yan Ci and Xiao Yi had merely speculated, while this man’s tone seemed absolutely certain.

Yan Ci promptly asked, "What exactly is happening?"

"This time, the mastermind is He Dong Jiedu Shi, Li Yuan. He originally intended to seize the opportunity while the Lord was imprisoned to take his life. However, the Lord saw through his plan and escaped beforehand.

Li Yuan... holds incriminating evidence against the Lord and won’t tolerate the Lord’s existence in this world. The spies sent by the Lord to monitor Li Yuan reported this morning that Li Yuan secretly mobilized a troop of three thousand elite soldiers, planning to disguise them as a private army raised by the Lord and attack Lingzhou in three days.

Xiao the Vice Minister and Prince Zhao, who were sent by the Holy Emperor to investigate the rebellion charges against the Lord, are currently in Lingzhou City. If anything happens to them during this incident, the Lord’s grievances will never be cleared, and Doctor Yan will be in great danger if she stays here."

This information was too overwhelming, and Xu Jing couldn’t help but gasp silently.

The Yuanzhou where He Dong Jiedu Shi’s troops were stationed is adjacent to Lingzhou, lying to the west. The mastermind behind this plan turned out to be He Dong Jiedu Shi, Li Yuan!

Moreover, based on "Jiang Da’s" words, Li Yuan’s objective was to completely defame Cui Han, ensuring his downfall. The key to achieving this was—Xiao Yi and Prince Zhao! They were officials sent by the Holy Emperor; if anything happened to them, it would essentially be a direct defiance of the Holy Emperor, almost indistinguishable from rebellion.

Xiao Yi and Prince Zhao are in danger!

Doctor Yan’s voice also held a hint of urgency, "Doesn’t your master and Lord Cui have any countermeasures, are they just planning to surrender willingly?!"

"Of course not... However, further discussions should wait until I’ve cleared the nearby spies."

Before he finished speaking, a man’s startled cry came from not far away, "Chief Guard, it’s an ambush..."

At the same time, a sharp clashing of weapons rang out, startling Cheng Xiao slightly. He immediately shielded Xu Jing behind him while assessing the surroundings, his voice sinking, "Madam, people are closing in on us from all directions!"

Dammit! When did that man notice them!

He remained silent, deliberately revealing heart-shaking news, likely on purpose, to confuse them and allow his people to encircle them!

He was too careless!

Xu Jing’s eyes flickered, but she couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Amid everyone’s surprised gazes, she stepped forward and turned around, spotting "Jiang Da" standing by a small wooden house not far away, his eyes cold and full of murderous intent, along with a bewildered-looking Yan Ci.

Xu Jing’s lips curled slightly, "I just found it strange earlier—why someone serving the Old Envoy would casually discuss their master’s secrets outside, turns out it was a diversion tactic.

Unfortunately, you misjudged your person; I’m not your enemy."

"Jiang Da" extended a robust arm, firmly shielding Yan Ci behind him, and swiftly drew an axe from his waist, shouting sternly, "Who exactly are you! Were you sent by that scoundrel Li Yuan!"