When news of Li Linfu's rebellion arrived, the first thing Old Ge did was pack his things and prepare to leave Chang'an. Although this was where his family business had been built over decades, he knew that Pingkang Ward was doomed.
Tragically, he then discovered that his residence had already been cordoned off by hundreds of fully armed thugs.
Old Ge slumped into his chair, seemingly devoid of any energy. He knew it was all over.
When Lu Xuan and Zhang Xiaojing entered the courtyard, Old Ge's eyes lit up slightly. A glimmer of hope suddenly rose in his heart.
"I wonder what I should call you now?" Old Ge asked in a deep voice, sitting in his chair. At this moment, only the young man named Xiao Yi remained beside him.
"Tonight, His Majesty has temporarily appointed me as the Grand General for Suppressing the Rebellion, giving me command of all the Imperial Guards in Chang'an."
"...General Lu enjoys the highest imperial favor, making him arguably the most favored person in this dynasty."
I saved Li Longji's life at least twenty times along the way. That's twenty times saving the emperor. You try to find me another person who saved the emperor twenty times! What's more, I fought to the death, sustaining multiple wounds, which moved even an old emperor like Li Longji to tears. No reward would be too much for me.
I might be internally complaining, but I still have to maintain a sophisticated demeanor verbally.
"It's all thanks to His Majesty's appreciation and promotion."
Old Ge paused for a moment, then spoke.
"General, you've come here to take my life, haven't you?"
"Yes. I've tolerated this cancer in Pingkangfang for a long time, and this is the perfect opportunity to eradicate it all. There are hundreds of Bad People and Dragon Martial Army guards outside. No matter what tricks you have up your sleeve, it's all over."
"I know, I just wanted to ask if the general remembers that you still owe me a favor."
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Chapter Ninety-Three: The Strongest Backer in Chang'an (Please Subscribe!)
"Of course I remember. You wanted to use this favor to stop me from killing you?"
"No, just because the general doesn't kill him doesn't mean Zhang Xiaojing won't be killed. I still know the names of the Five Yama Kings. So, I beg the general to grant me permission to live through tonight."
"There's less than half an hour left until dawn. Do you think you can escape in half an hour?"
"I want to try it."
"As you wish," Lu Xuan readily agreed.
Mr. Ge immediately stood up.
"Xiao Yi, pack your things, let's go." Lu Xuan and Zhang Xiaojing stepped aside, watching the two of them quickly leave. Some of the surrounding soldiers wanted to attack, but Lu Xuan stopped them. Everyone watched as the two disappeared into the night. Only then did Zhang Xiaojing ask, puzzled.
"Why does Your Excellency allow him to live a little longer? The sins this man has committed are enough to warrant ten slow slicings."
"At this point, he's still confident he can leave Chang'an. He must still have some backup plans. It's not easy to uncover all the secrets of this kind of person. Let him uncover them himself. I suspect he might have a secret passage leading out of Chang'an."
Zhang Xiaojing remained silent. Although it sounded somewhat unbelievable, the fact that Ge Lao had never been caught red-handed despite his various human trafficking activities was indeed difficult for him to understand.
More soldiers poured into Pingkang Ward and began a thorough search of the entire ward.
At dawn, the people who had been partying all night finally grew tired and prepared to rest. But the city's hustle and bustle was just beginning.
Tonight was a bit strange, because the giant lantern rumored to be in the imperial city was not lit. This disappointed many people. Furthermore, the winning float in the final competition was not allowed to enter the imperial city to perform for the emperor, further fueling the discussions among the onlookers.
Moreover, some people saw a large number of soldiers moving around last night. They vaguely guessed that something might have happened. However, since it concerned the capital, few dared to discuss it openly. In this era, speaking carelessly could cost you your head.
And regardless of the situation in the capital, the common people already had enough fun. The lanterns lining the streets kept these ordinary citizens excited all night long. It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the crowds on the streets began to thin out. Meanwhile, the imperial guards of Chang'an were just beginning their work.
The number of Imperial Guard generals involved last night alone was at least twenty. To prevent any of them from turning against him, Lu Xuan summoned all the Imperial Guards of the Sixteen Guards who hadn't participated. He singled out the generals who had harbored rebellious intentions. Since Li Linfu's head had already been sent to the capital, the resistance encountered wasn't as strong as expected. After all, those soldiers weren't fools. Apart from a very few personal guards, few were willing to follow their superior on the doomed path of rebellion.
As for the ministers in the imperial court, Lu Xuan could hardly bear to look. The ants from last night had terrified them. They had never seen a group of veterans wielding axes and hacking at their faces. Of the fifty or sixty officials who had climbed the tower, nearly half were dead. The rest were still trembling with fear.
..............
Inside the palace, the imperial physician emerged from Li Longji's bedroom. The crown prince and others who were waiting outside hurried forward.
"Imperial Physician, how is Father's injury?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, His Majesty is not in mortal danger. However, the arrow pierced his lung, which may leave him with a chronic condition. In addition, he was exhausted from traveling last night and suffered a shock. He currently has a high fever and needs to rest carefully for a long time. Remember not to let His Majesty be subjected to any further stimulation, and he must not experience extreme joy or sorrow."
"Yes, yes, I will arrange it." Logically, this shouldn't be the Crown Prince's responsibility. Normally, when an emperor is ill, no one would dare have the Crown Prince attending to him. But now, Li Longji specifically requested that Li Heng serve him. After all, if it weren't for the Crown Prince saving him last night, he probably wouldn't have been able to leave the Imperial City Guard.
Even Yang Taizhen went back to rest. The entire room was left with only Li Longji and his son Li Heng.
"Heng'er, come here."
Li Longji waved his hand with difficulty, urging Li Heng to step forward.
"You are very good, very good. Heng'er, it was your father who wronged you."
"Father, the imperial physician wants you to rest more."
"I know my own body. I'm not going to die anytime soon. Tell me, how is the minister who went up the tower last night?"
"Reporting to Father Emperor. Nearly half of the court officials died at the hands of the traitors."
"Thank goodness, thank goodness." Li Longji seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. At least they weren't wiped out. "This great calamity in the court is a calamity for our Great Tang Dynasty, but also an opportunity for you. In recent years, I have neglected state affairs, allowing Li Linfu to seize power. Last night, in the midst of the crisis, only Heng'er came to my rescue. This court needs to be cleaned up. You can take this opportunity to penetrate the court."
Li Heng's expression changed slightly.
He didn't believe Li Longji was truly confiding in him. This was clearly a test.
"Father, the imperial physician says you are in good health. You will be able to return to court soon. These important matters of the court still require your approval."