The Physician Consort Empties the Enemy’s Warehouse and Ventures into Exile

Chapter 211

The hour of Mao.

The civil and military officials had all gathered for the morning assembly, but the Crown Prince, who was overseeing the state, and Eunuch De, who assisted in governance, had not appeared.

Everyone looked at each other in dismay, whispering amongst themselves.

"I haven't heard that court was canceled today. Why haven't Eunuch De and the Crown Prince arrived?"

"The Crown Prince is definitely here; his carriage is still at the palace gates!"

"Could something have happened? Last night, an eight-hundred-mile urgent memorial was delivered into the palace."

"I heard about that too. A memorial delivered to the palace in the early hours of the morning is certainly no simple matter."

While the officials were debating what kind of memorial could have kept Eunuch De and the Crown Prince from attending court on time, in the imperial study, the Crown Prince furiously smashed a teacup onto the floor.

"If I admit to ordering the extermination of the Qi family, my life is over!"

Eunuch De looked at the enraged Crown Prince, his pale, beardless face exuding a sinister aura.

"Your Highness, this is the Emperor's will. Do you intend to defy a royal decree?"

Of course, the Crown Prince did not dare to defy a royal decree.

But if he admitted to ordering the execution of the entire Qi family, not only would he lose his position as the Crown Prince, but he might also be imprisoned like his imperial uncle.

Then all his years of hard work would be completely in vain!

"Why must it be me? Can't we just push someone else out to take the blame?"

His imperial father did not have only one son!

Eunuch De handed the blood-stained memorial to the Crown Prince. "You are the Crown Prince currently overseeing the state. No one is more suitable than you."

After reading the memorial, the Crown Prince's face turned deathly pale.

By now, the royal family's intent to exterminate the Qi family was known to all.

Only if he, the Crown Prince, took the blame for his imperial father could they give the people of the world an acceptable explanation!

The memorial slipped from his hands and fell to the floor, and the Crown Prince slumped to the ground along with it.

"If I take the fall for the Emperor, what will be the outcome?"

Eunuch De looked at the defeated Crown Prince and spoke the truth.

"Deposition from your position as Crown Prince, relocation to a separate estate, and house arrest."

"Then you might as well let me die!"

"Are you truly willing to die?"

That light, airy sentence drained all the color from the Crown Prince's face.

Of course, he was not willing.

Because only by staying alive would he have a chance to turn the tables!

Seeing that the Crown Prince had accepted reality, Eunuch De shared a piece of good news with him.

"Your Highness, the Emperor knows you have been wronged, so he has arranged an opportunity for you to stage a comeback."

These words brought a greedy gleam to the Crown Prince's eyes.

"What opportunity?"

"After you are placed under house arrest, help the Emperor do one thing."

Eunuch De detailed the plan to use refugees to spread a plague, trap the exiled group in a town, and then burn the city to the ground.

"Your Highness, first you will secretly carry out the poisoning. Then, as a man bearing guilt, you will petition to bravely venture into the plague-ridden area to stop the disease from spreading. By earning this merit, your house arrest will be lifted, and the throne will still be yours."

The Crown Prince knew this plan was extremely dangerous and unlikely to win him back the position of Crown Prince.

But he had no other choice now; he could only agree.

He laid out his condition, "I can take the blame for the execution of the Qi family on my imperial father's behalf, but the condition is command over ten thousand imperial guards."

Eunuch De narrowed his eyes, looking coldly at the Crown Prince.

"Does Your Highness know what demanding military power means?"

Throwing caution to the wind, the Crown Prince curled his lips into a mocking smile and scoffed coldly.

"Is the position of Crown Prince not worth a mere ten thousand troops? If my imperial father does not agree, I would rather die than admit to forging a royal decree!"

Only with military power would he have a chance to fight for his future.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had suddenly grown a brain, Eunuch De nodded in agreement.

"Very well, ten thousand troops will be given to you."

"I want my imperial father to acknowledge it personally, with a royal decree as proof, never to be retracted!"

Hearing this, Eunuch De took the Crown Prince to the Emperor's bedchamber.

The Emperor, awakened once again, was angry enough to kill.

After learning of the Crown Prince's condition, out of a guilty conscience and to appease the Empress's maternal family, he immediately wrote a royal decree granting the Crown Prince command over ten thousand imperial guards.

"Chengyu, this matter regarding military power cannot be made public."

Otherwise, the common people would suspect that there was an ulterior motive behind the Crown Prince's confession.

Holding the bright yellow royal decree, the Crown Prince nodded. "Rest assured, Imperial Father. Your son knows the gravity of this."

He wanted military power firstly to prepare for a forced abdication, and secondly to show his brothers that their imperial father had not abandoned him!

The Emperor waved his hand wearily. "Go to the morning assembly."

As the Crown Prince closed the royal decree, he suddenly noticed that the impression of the state seal looked wrong.

After examining it closely, he furiously threw the decree to the ground.

"Imperial Father, if you do not want to give me military power, you can just say so. There is no need to give your son a fake decree!"

The Emperor, who was just about to lie back down, roared, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Right after shouting, he realized why the Crown Prince said the decree was fake.

He dismissed the palace servants from the chamber.

"Chengyu, the state seal was stolen by the 'Ghost Thief' a long time ago."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving the Crown Prince utterly shell-shocked.

"Imperial Father..."

"Chengyu, when we burn the city and exterminate the Qi family, it will be the best opportunity to catch the 'Ghost Thief'. If you can retrieve the state seal, the throne will be yours."

The Crown Prince naturally knew that the Ghost Thief had followed the Qi family toward the northwest.

Thinking of the Ghost Thief's vast abilities, he had absolutely no confidence in retrieving the state seal.

But there was no need to say that out loud; securing the military power first was what mattered.

"Rest assured, Imperial Father. Your son will do his utmost."

With that, he picked up the royal decree and left with Eunuch De, heading to the Golden Throne Room.

It was already past the middle of the Mao hour, and the civil and military officials were growing very impatient.

When the Crown Prince and Eunuch De finally arrived at court, they hurriedly knelt and paid their respects.

"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Greetings to the Grand Eunuch!"

As soon as the words fell, the Crown Prince knelt down facing the officials.

"I am guilty!"

***

While the Crown Prince took the fall for Eunuch De's crimes of forging a royal decree and persecuting loyal officials, being demoted to a commoner and placed under house arrest at his estate...

...the exiled procession was just about to leave Liangzhou City.

The commoners of the entire city had come to see them off. The scene was grand and enthusiastic, which delayed them for some time.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍Protectorate Army was stuffed with plenty of food, filling several handcarts to the brim.

Song Jingning, along with Cui Yunchen and Cui Shuyue, waited at the city gates.

Knowing that Ye Chutang was not lacking in food, he gifted some rare melons and fruits instead.

"Safe travels, Madam Qi. See you in Tianshan Commandery."

Ye Chutang gave some everyday medicines and poisons to Song Jingning.

"I hope you won't have to use these bottles and jars."

Qi Yanzhou waved to the commoners.

"Everyone, go back!"

Han Chong had taken over Wu Chenggang's position, becoming the leader of the exiled procession.

"Move out!"

A deafening shout rang out as the group departed from Liangzhou City.

Because the Chen family had joined them, the procession had grown a bit larger.

Qi Qingyu had bought a handcart and a donkey to pull Chen Shaoping, who had an injured leg, along with two children.

Seeing his gray-haired mother suffering from walking, Chen Weiming set his sights on the handcart.

"Qingyu, your grandmother's health is poor. Let her sit in the cart for a while."

"Father, there are no empty seats on the cart. How about you carry the bedding on your back to make room for Grandmother to sit?"

Qi Qingyu's cart was already carrying one adult, two children, and the belongings of the second branch; it was completely full.

Let alone carrying another person, even adding one more item would be difficult.

Meanwhile, the Chen family not only had to carry their own luggage but also shared the load of items needed for the exile journey.

It could be said that, apart from Old Madam Chen, everyone was moving forward under a heavy burden.

Having only walked the short distance out of the city, they were already panting from exhaustion.

Chen Weiming was carrying a large iron pot on his back; he couldn't carry the bedding as well.

"Forget it!"

Qi Qingyu ignored the angry Chen Weiming and focused on driving the cart.

When the sky grew fully bright, Chen Weiming noticed Sun Chu lying on the guards' handcart.

A look of confusion appeared on his face.

Wasn't this the man Lord Cao had captured and locked in the secret room?

Why was he being taken along into exile?

Chen Weiming didn't know Sun Chu's true identity; he only knew that the man was extremely wealthy and highly skilled in martial arts.

Could Qi Yanzhou's taking of this man be a preparation for rebellion?

At this thought, he felt it was time to plan a way out for the Chen family.

Should they submit to the Qi family?

Or remain loyal to the Zhao family?

While Chen Weiming decided to wait and see for a while, Ye Chutang's gaze fell upon Sun Chu.

Sun Chu had been cleaned up. Although he was so skinny that he was just skin and bones, one could still tell he had good facial structure and was a handsome man.

Because his injuries were too severe, he had fallen into a deep sleep, his pale face exuding a deathly aura.

Seeing Ye Chutang staring at Sun Chu, Qi Yanzhou asked, "Atang, you seem to care a lot about Sun Chu?"

He wasn't jealous, just a little curious.

Ye Chutang withdrew her gaze, calmly meeting Qi Yanzhou's eyes with an upturned corner of her lips.

"He said he could lead me to the pinnacle of life. He's a very interesting person."

"Does Sun Chu want you to be an empress?"

"No, he wants me to be above everyone else, making imperial power bow in submission."

Looking at Ye Chutang's dazzling and burning eyes, Qi Yanzhou felt she would definitely be able to do as she said.

"Whatever you want, I will definitely help you achieve it."

"We'll work hard together and become carefree masters of our own fate!"

After Ye Chutang finished speaking, she asked curiously, "Why does Sun Chu look like he's dead?"

Qi Yanzhou explained, "It's the Turtle Breathing Technique."

The Turtle Breathing Technique can not only put a person into a state of suspended animation, but it can also minimize the body's energy consumption after an injury, accelerating recovery.

An injury that would normally take a month to heal can be fully recovered in at most ten days using the Turtle Breathing Technique.

However, using this technique for healing has a major drawback.

If one encounters betrayal or an enemy, they have absolutely no ability to fight back and will undoubtedly die.

After hearing Qi Yanzhou's explanation, Ye Chutang wanted to learn it a bit.

"Do you know how to do it?"

"I do. If Atang wants to learn, I'll teach you once we reach Tianshan Prefecture."

Ye Chutang was pregnant and couldn't practice the Turtle Breathing Technique, otherwise the fetus would suffocate.

She naturally understood this and nodded.

"After what happened yesterday, the emperor should quiet down for a while, right?"

Qi Yanzhou took a bunch of washed grapes from the fruit basket on the handcart and handed them to Ye Chutang.

"If nothing unexpected happens, everything will be peaceful and steady until we reach Dingzhou."

"How long does it take to get from Liangzhou to Dingzhou?"

"At least a month."

The distance from Liangzhou to Dingzhou was twice the distance from Liangzhou to the capital.

However, the time it would take was more than twice as long.

Because the further north they went, the more mountain roads there were. Even if their travel speed remained constant, it would still take a month.

If they encountered accidents on the road, it would take even more time.

Ye Chutang smiled and said, "It's quite good if that dog emperor can stay quiet for a month."

Just as Qi Yanzhou had said, there were no further incidents along the rest of the journey.

They didn't even encounter a single group of mountain bandits.

The Chen family walked until their feet were covered in bloody blisters. After wailing for a few days, they gradually quieted down.

Sun Chu would wake up for half an hour every day to eat and change his dressings.

His pale face gradually became rosy, and his emaciated body gained some flesh.

Over half a month later.

The exiled group arrived at Bingzhou, located between Liangzhou and Dingzhou.

By this time, the rumor that the royal family wanted to exterminate the entire Qi family had spread throughout the whole country.

And the Qi family's attitude towards the rebellion had also spread.

Although the common people did not want civil unrest, in their hearts they hoped the Qi family would rebel and overthrow the Zhao family's tyranny.

Therefore, after the exiled group entered Bingzhou City, the commoners were very enthusiastic.

Of course, this enthusiasm was only directed at the Qi family.

"Young Master Qi, these are the eggs my family saved up, please take them!"

"I've ordered a table of food at the restaurant, it will be delivered to the courier station shortly."

"These are peaches grown by my family. Although they don't look pretty, they are very sweet."

"The further north you go, the colder the weather gets. This fur coat can keep out the cold."

The commoners who supported the Qi family gave away the best things from their own homes.

Ye Chutang selectively accepted a few items and paid the corresponding silver.

The group went to the courier station.

The prefecture's courier station was very large, fully capable of accommodating over a hundred people.

Although there weren't enough rooms, they could fit if they squeezed in.

Of course, staying in a room cost money.

If one didn't want to spend money, they could sleep in the stables or set up pallets in the courtyard.

The Ye family was nearly penniless, so they chose to sleep on pallets and eat the free black flour buns and pickled vegetables.

The Chen family had been completely stripped of their possessions. Aside from Qi Qingyu, who had been tipped off beforehand, they were all paupers.

Along the way, Qi Qingyu had wanted to split the family countless times but couldn't find the right opportunity.

Chen Shaoping's leg had healed quite a bit; he could already walk with crutches but couldn't walk for too long.

The couple were decent people and didn't want the family to bear a reputation for being unfilial, so they were quite tolerant of the Chen family.

Therefore, when booking rooms, Qi Qingyu booked two of the worst rooms.

She left one for the old madam.

As for food, only the old madam and Chen Weiming's couple could sponge off others.

The rest ate the free food distributed by the official guards.

Although the Zhao family didn't have much money left, their accommodation and meals were still guaranteed.

Ye Chutang had plenty of money, so she booked four of the best rooms.

The Qi family occupied three rooms, and Sun Chu had one.

Sun Chu's wounds had already scabbed over. At his rate of recovery, he would be fully healed in another half month.

After the four families settled down, Wu Chenggang took the documents to the prefectural magistrate's office to report.

Han Chong said, "Each family can send one person into the city to purchase necessary items."

Hearing this, Sun Chu hurriedly said, "I want to go too!"

He had properties in Dingzhou and wanted to get some banknotes to use, no longer wanting to live under someone else's roof.

Han Chong's gaze fell on Qi Yanzhou. After Qi Yanzhou nodded, he agreed.

"Fine. Half an hour. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Ye Chutang naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to go shopping and buy supplies, so she went out with Sun Chu.

Sun Chu's life had been saved by Ye Chutang.

After leaving the courier station, he generously said, "The largest gambling house in Bingzhou is mine. Its annual revenue exceeds three hundred thousand taels. I'm giving it to you as the medical fee for treating my injuries."

With that said, he took Ye Chutang to the Qianjin Gambling House to have the manager recognize her.

From a distance away from the gambling house, Ye Chutang could already see a replica of a Macau casino.

Sun Chu had developed the gambling culture very well.

The first floor was for gambling.

Dice, Pai Gow, poker, roulette, Two-Color Ball lottery...

The second floor was for leisure.

Performances, massages, magic shows, shopping, auctions, and so on.

The third floor was for dining.

All major cuisines were available, along with fried chicken, beer, hamburgers, cola, etc.

The fourth floor was an inn.

Single rooms, standard rooms, king-size bed rooms, various themed rooms, as well as special services.

After finishing his introduction, Sun Chu looked at Ye Chutang with immense pride.

"Many prefectures and counties have my Qianjin Gambling Houses. This is called a nationwide chain and industrial monopoly. Aren't I amazing?"