Chapter 302 - 300: Can’t Follow in His Tracks and Become Inhuman (Second Update)

Chapter 302: Chapter 300: Can’t Follow in His Tracks and Become Inhuman (Second Update)

Unlike the resentful expression he showed towards Yan Ci, Cui Shidu appeared resolute and steady when discussing serious matters, clearly a veteran who had weathered countless storms.

It was evident that between him and Cui Han, he still took the lead.

Xu Jing slightly raised the corner of her eyes and said, "If Li Yuan wants to make sure that Mr. Cui and Lord Cui are seen as traitors, he will definitely target Vice Minister Xiao and Prince Zhao. We must find a way to tell Vice Minister Xiao and Prince Zhao the truth about what’s happening..."

"With Miss Xu’s intelligence, you should know that this matter isn’t so easily resolved."

Cui Shidu interrupted Xu Jing with a calm voice, his dark eyes steady, and said, "As Miss Xu mentioned, Yuan Zaili has betrayed us. Now, within Lingzhou City, there are many of Yuan Zaili and Li Yuan’s men lying in wait. Yuan Zaili knows the people around me and my son like the back of his hand. If our people make an appearance, they will easily be discovered by them, let alone trying to reach Vice Minister Xiao and Prince Zhao."

Xu Jing promptly replied, "And now you can’t fully trust me, nor could you allow me or my people to deliver a message, right? I have an idea, but before I speak of it, I’d like to know what you initially planned to do."

According to Cui Han and his father’s plan, it was apparent they didn’t originally intend to join forces with Xiao Yi and Prince Zhao, preferring to break through the siege on their own.

"There’s no harm in telling Miss Xu our original plan."

The generals standing beside Cui Han and Cui Shidu looked tense, as if about to speak, but they saw Cui Shidu raise his hand slightly. He glanced softly at Yan Ci not far away and said, "Like Miss Xu said, she is now under our control, watched by us, she can’t act even if she wanted to. Besides, she is someone Ci trusts, and I believe in Ci’s judgment."

He had been discreetly observing both Xu Jing and Yan Ci, and it was clear Yan Ci had immense trust in this woman.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly gave a self-deprecating chuckle and said, "Besides, our original plan wasn’t particularly brilliant. It was merely a desperate struggle, and I fear Miss Xu would mock us for it.

As Miss Xu mentioned, Li Yuan’s men have already infiltrated Lingzhou. In two days, he will use our names to initiate a military action in Lingzhou. In fact, within Lingzhou City, there are still many generals loyal to us. The incident happened too suddenly, and we didn’t have time to inform the other generals of the truth. What worries me now is that if Li Yuan mobilizes forces in my name and my son’s, it may mislead our remaining generals in Lingzhou City..."

Xu Jing’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately said, "Mr. Cui, are you suggesting that the other generals in the city might lead their soldiers to participate in this conflict?"

That would be the worst-case scenario!

From what Xiao Yi had previously told her, the inner circle of Cui Han and his father in the city was highly loyal to them. If they were misled by Li Yuan into thinking that Cui Han and his father were indeed rebelling, they might indeed join the fray.

At that point, things would be even harder to clarify!

Cheng Xiao, who hadn’t spoken until now, became anxious and exclaimed, "Those generals are at least of some rank in the army; they should have some ability to discern the truth, no?"

Xu Jing’s mind was racing, and she suddenly said, "Could it be that besides Yuan Zaili, there is another traitor among your confidants in the city?"

As Cheng Xiao suggested, the confidants of Cui Han and his father were certainly no ordinary people. Under such treacherous circumstances, they would be even more cautious and shouldn’t be easily deceived by Li Yuan.

However, what if there was a traitor among them? Someone who pretended to be extremely loyal to Cui Han and his father but was actually the first to lead troops to respond to their rebellion, possibly confusing others’ judgments and leading them to make rash and erroneous decisions.

Otherwise, Cui Han and his father wouldn’t be so worried.

Cui Shidu was slightly taken aback, then he couldn’t help but look seriously at Xu Jing and said, "Miss Xu is indeed extraordinary. Yes, although we don’t have concrete evidence, we are almost certain that besides Yuan Zaili, there is another traitor among our people in the city. But Yuan Zaili operates openly while this person works in the shadows.

When Li Yuan uses our name to raise troops, this person will be the first to respond to Li Yuan and persuade the others to do the same."

Yan Ci’s heart was gripped with tension as she listened and she asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Or rather, what can you do?

This seemed like a hopeless situation!

Seeing Yan Ci taking the initiative to speak to him, Cui Shidu brightened up, evidently quite excited. Suddenly, he pursed his lips, looking somewhat aggrieved, and said, "What can we do? Although this is Li Yuan’s conspiracy, it’s also due to our negligence in daily precautions. These consequences, we must bear. But Han’er is still young. As a father, I can’t let him take such risks. When the time comes, I will lead a team of elite soldiers into the city and announce the truth aloud, and our people, upon seeing me, will understand everything..."

"That’s too dangerous!"

Yan Ci tightly furrowed her brows, staring at Cui Shidu with a face full of words left unsaid.

Cui Shidu, seeing this, was overjoyed internally but tried to appear even more pitiful, letting out a long sigh, "It’s something that cannot be helped. As you mentioned earlier, this is the consequence of my predecessors’ actions, and I must bear the responsibility to end it..."

Yan Ci tightly clenched her fists, opening her mouth as if to speak but closing it again. Seeing this, Cui Han couldn’t stand it any longer and gave his father a reproachful look, "Mom, don’t worry. Although we do plan for Dad to lead troops into the city, we will split our forces into six ways to confuse the enemy and cover for Dad’s successful entry into the city.

Dad retired from the position of Shuofang Jiedu Envoy nearly ten years ago and has been away frequently in the past few years. Many of Li Yuan’s subordinates may not recognize Dad, which is why I agreed to let Dad take the lead into the city. While there is some danger, it’s nowhere near what you imagine."

He couldn’t stand by and let his father keep up the act.

Yan Ci was taken aback, realizing she was deceived once again. Her face quickly turned red, and she couldn’t help but walk up and give Cui Shidu a hard kick, intending to leave, only to be stopped by Xu Jing.

Xu Jing looked towards Cui Han and his father, smiling slightly, "I understand your plan. It does indeed resemble a desperate gamble with risks that needn’t be detailed by me.

I have a better suggestion, depending on whether you’re willing — I, along with Doctor Yan, can enter the city ahead of time, to inform Vice Minister Xiao and Prince Zhao of the situation and cooperate with them. You may not trust me, but you should trust Doctor Yan.

Li Yuan and Yuan Zaili don’t know our identities, and since we are women and doctors, we have many unobtrusive ways to approach Vice Minister Xiao and Prince Zhao..."

The situation was very clear now. The Cui father and son wanted to connect with their people in the city but were constrained, leading to their current drastic measure.

They never considered cooperating with Xiao Yi and the others, partly because they had no way to approach Xiao Yi and Prince Zhao, and partly because they couldn’t be sure of securing their trust.

However, before Xu Jing could finish speaking, the Cui father and son immediately and soberly said, "No way!"

"We can’t drag Ci into this!"

Xu Jing patiently said, "If you’re worried, you can send someone to accompany Doctor Yan. Yuan Zaili and Li Yuan will undoubtedly focus on your confidants in the city, so it should be easier for some of your less exposed people from your side to enter the city, though they may not reach your confidants.

With them protecting Doctor Yan, and Doctor Yan keeping an eye on me, you should have some peace of mind, yes?"

The expressions of the Cui father and son remained deeply serious, and as they seemed about to speak again, Yan Ci suddenly said, "I think Miss Xu’s plan is feasible."

Cui Shidu immediately said anxiously, "Ci..."

Yan Ci didn’t even look at him and said calmly, "However, to ensure everyone’s peace of mind, I hope Miss Xu can agree to one thing for me."