The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1032 - 575: Eight Hours Until Death (5k)

This night, the entire Jingchuan City, its citizens stayed hidden in their homes, unaware of the events outside.

It was only when the next day’s dawn broke, as people began to step out from their homes, that they startlingly discovered many town’s flags atop the city walls had changed in color.

Inside the Huai’an Prince Mansion.

"Father, breakfast is ready, would you like to have some, or shall I have the cook bring it over?" The Princely Heir Xu Qian walked along the winding corridor reaching the third entrance to the main hall, looking at Prince Huai who had sat there for the entire night.

The entire hall was now devoid of candlelight, with the deep autumn morning sunshine penetrating through the mansion’s trees, scattering over the courtyard, where the flower bed was adorned with a thin layer of dew.

The well-dressed Prince Huai was seated upright in the Taishi Chair, alongside him was the elegantly sweet Commandery Princess Xu Junling.

Both father and daughter simultaneously looked at the Princely Heir, Prince Huai’s exhausted face twitched for a moment as he scolded, "Eat, eat, all you think about is food! At this hour? You still have the mood to eat? Why don’t you just piss me off?"

Xu Junling sighed, persuading, "Brother is also concerned about father’s health..."

This whole night, no one in the mansion had slept.

The women had even packed their valuables overnight, ready for an urgent situation, Prince Huai would lead the mansion’s experts to protect the women and break through.

Xu Junling was even more sleepless, yet the anticipated clash and danger did not occur.

As for the current situation in Jingchuan City, the Commandery Princess remained unclear and was anxiously waiting.

The Princely Heir wallowed in grievance, fell silent, suddenly hoofbeats sounded from outside the mansion.

Following that, the Store Manager Feng Xiaolian led a few Guest Elders from the mansion, rushing back hurriedly, still wearing night attire, with a scabbard hanging from the waist, standing firmly outside the main hall, cupping his hands:

"Prince, your subordinate has returned."

Prince Huai’s eyes lit up, he sprang from his chair, took a few steps out, and hurriedly asked, "What’s the situation?!"

Feng Xiaolian explained:

"Last night, per your instructions, we went separately to various scholarly families in Jingchuan City, clashing with the rebel army, amidst some twists but generally it went smooth.

At midnight, the frontline rebel army collapsed, their defeat was catastrophic, scattering in all directions, the court’s army has penetrated deeply, now chasing and obliterating rebels in Jingchuan City.

Just as your subordinate returned, I saw the court’s army had entered the county town, the flags atop city walls were changed to Capital Camp Dragon Flags..."

Xu An, Xu Qian, and Xu Junling all listened dazedly to the latter’s report, each surprised.

The rebel army was defeated?

So quickly?

They originally thought, both sides might confront for some days, unexpectedly only one battle determined victory or defeat.

The court army’s occupation of Jingchuan City happened much faster than expected.

Thinking about this, Prince Huai’s heart surged with relief, involuntarily looking at his daughter beside him, eyes complex:

If it weren’t for Xu Junling’s resolute stance last night, today with the court’s army entering the city, Huai’an Prince Mansion would truly be doomed.

"Did Mu Prince lose so fast? Was he really captured and killed by Zhao Douan?" The naive Princely Heir Xu Qian couldn’t help but ask.

Feng Xiaolian shook his head:

"Your subordinate returned in haste, currently the whole Jingchuan City is in chaos, Commander Zhao’s movements, I do not know. However, last night at Hundred Generations Garden, a fierce battle did erupt, the momentum was astounding."

Last night was too chaotic!

Even with Huai’an Prince Mansion’s abilities, they couldn’t obtain the situation in such a short time.

Just at this time, outside the mansion, dense hoofbeats sounded again, flags raised high along the walls.

"Seems like court’s generals have arrived." Xu Junling’s face changed slightly, reminded.

Prince Huai took a deep breath, hurriedly led daughter and son out to greet.

Arriving at the gate, they saw the whole mansion was already surrounded tightly by Capital Camp’s soldiers.

Outside the gate, atop a tall steed, the Five Army Camp Commander Yuan Feng sat armored upright.

"Commander Yuan enters the city with royal troops, I was just about to pay a visit, didn’t expect General Yuan arrived first." Prince Huai laughed heartily, exchanged warm pleasantries.

Yuan Feng’s gaze was sharp as he stared at him, did not dismount, the atmosphere was tense and solemn, he smiled coldly:

"Prince Huai don’t make any false moves, blades and swords recognize no eyes."

Xu Junling’s eyelid twitched, promptly explained:

"Earlier at Yongjia Prefecture, my father already reached an agreement with Commander Zhao, last night Commander Zhao visited, my father cooperated overnight with the commander to quell the rebellion... What is General Yuan’s intention?"

Yuan Feng paused for a moment, this was unknown to him.

However, regarding the liaison with Yongjia City, and Zhao Douan’s sudden strike on Jingchuan City, he was aware.

At this moment, he couldn’t gauge the truth of the Commandery Princess’s words, but didn’t dare show impudence, hesitated slightly, waved a hand, surrounding soldiers sheathed their blades.

However, the blockade of the prince mansion was not lifted.

Coldly smiled, "This general has not received the message, everything awaits seeing the commander to determine."

Xu Wen breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, carefully asked:

"General Yuan, what’s the current situation? Could rebel Xu Jingtang have been executed?"

Yuan Feng frowned:

"You are not aware? Last night at the frontline battlefield, General Zhao Shixiong single-handedly broke into the enemy camp, killed the second son of Xu Jingtang, thus causing the rebel army leaderless, bringing about their catastrophic defeat.

Afterwards, General Zhao Shixiong hurried to Hundred Generations Garden, unfortunately he arrived to an empty spot, Xu Jingtang was nowhere to be seen. On arrival, he only encountered the Evil Mage from White Clothes Sect, General Zhao battled the sect leader, the latter badly wounded and escaped...

Currently, our Capital Camp army is hunting fleeing soldiers everywhere, General Zhao, being the vanguard, is searching for Xu Jingtang’s whereabouts..."

He briefly mentioned these situations not involving secrets.

The Xu family father and son listened in a daze, Xu Junling stepped forward a bit, biting lips inquiring:

"Has Commander Zhao’s whereabouts been sighted?"