Chapter 26: Turning One's Hand Over Is Like Rain

  Time was running out, Qing Xia looked at the bookworm who was lying on the ground like a lump of mud and couldn't help but scare him by saying: "You'd better run quickly, or those people will catch up with you again."

  The bookish Lin didn't know that those people had already been killed by Qing Xia. Upon hearing this, he suddenly remembered and jumped up fiercely, running forward crazily. Qing Xia was frightened by his sudden and violent movements, and stood there in a daze without following him. Who would have thought that Lin ran for two steps before turning back, grabbing Qing Xia and shouting impatiently: "Hurry up and run! You're really stupid to death!"

  Qing Xia's eyes widened in shock, this bookworm actually scolded himself to death? It was indeed unbelievable. After a frantic sprint, he finally arrived at the Xihua Gate. But when he saw the situation at the Xihua Gate, his anger dissipated. The small palace gate was surrounded by more than 200 guards, unless he could turn into a mosquito, there was no way to sneak out of the palace quietly.

  Looking at the formation here, Qing Xia knew that even if he found another palace wall to climb over, there was no hope. The rebels would not be unaware of setting up secret sentries, and this side was strictly guarded.

  "Let me go and reason with them, they must have been deceived by someone, once they know the truth, they will definitely let us out." Lin Shusheng's words were not surprising, he suddenly stood up and was about to rush towards the palace gate.

  Qing Xia was shocked and grabbed the bookworm, saying in a bad tone: "I'm afraid you haven't even talked to them yet, but you've already been shot into a beehive by random arrows!"

  "What's to be done?" Lin Shiguan sighed and squatted down, "We finally managed to escape, and we've made it this far. No matter what, I must get out."

  With your moral integrity, I'm afraid you can't even get a single hair out. Qing Xia glanced at this pedantic bookworm, picked up the two sets of guard uniforms he had just pulled off, handed one to Lin Shusheng and said, "Put it on!"

  "Will wearing this allow me to blend in?" Lin Shiguan's eyes lit up, and he turned his head to look at Qing Xia with great joy, asking with hope. Unconsciously, he had already regarded this mysterious but brave little palace maid as one of his own people.

  "Just you wait and see!" Qing Xia raised an eyebrow and smiled, her small face full of confident radiance.

  "Are you dressed?"

  Qing Xia turned his head, looking impatiently at Lin Shi Guan who was wearing a guard uniform. He saw that he had put on his clothes awkwardly, tied his hat properly, and hung his sword at his waist, which actually gave him a bit of a heroic air.

  "Alright...alright." Lin Shiguan stuttered, clearly nervous and a little frightened.

  Qing Xia looked at him and couldn't help but smile. She said to him in a serious tone, "Later, just follow me, remember, look fierce, got it?"

  "Alright," Lin Shiguan nodded and then glared at Qing Xia with gritted teeth, asking: "Is this fierce enough?"

  "Hmm..." Looking at him, Qing Xia couldn't help but burst out laughing, but she still had to hold it in, nodding her head and encouragingly saying: "It's almost there."

  "Who's there!" A loud shout suddenly came, Lin Shiguan was so frightened that his legs softened and he almost fell down. Qing Xia turned her head and glared at him angrily, meaning how could you be so cowardly. When Lin Shiguan saw Qing Xia looking over, he immediately remembered the words Qing Xia had instructed him, and with a sweep of his fearful expression, he furrowed his brow and glared fiercely, looking extremely ferocious.

  "One, two, three, run!" Qing Xia shouted, and the two of them instantly ran out from their hiding place, dashing towards Xi Hua Gate like thunder!

  "Someone has broken in!" The gatekeepers shouted in unison, drawing their swords and rising to their feet, the bright light flashing on the two men's faces, making them look pale and bloodless.

  "Prepare the horses! Quickly! Someone has escaped from Nanhuamen, immediately take stock of the personnel and follow me out of the palace to catch the fugitive!" Qing Xia shouted loudly while running, his voice loud and clear, with an air of confidence and authority.

  The guards heard someone had escaped, and this was unbearable. Everyone knew that today's events were a matter of stealing the house and exterminating the family; if the crown prince returned to the palace, they would all die without a place to bury their bodies. Suddenly, there was a flurry of panic.

  Qing Xia's move is a psychological warfare. These rebels are already startled, and any slight movement can make them lose their color, so this bad news can further shake their morale. Moreover, if it were the Crown Prince's people, they would definitely try to sneak out of the palace quietly, and wouldn't dare to leave through the main gate in such a high-profile manner. By being so blatant, Qing Xia can actually make them let their guard down, and even if they still don't believe him, he has another trick up his sleeve, and isn't afraid that these fools won't fall for it.

  "Halt! Show the royal decree, no one is allowed to approach the city gate!" Apparently, these few words were not enough to fool this group of vigilant imperial guards.

  He rushed to the front of more than 200 Imperial Guards like a gust of wind, Qing Xia's eyebrows raised, and he shouted: "Don't you hurry up and prepare your horses? Are you all thinking of dying? Where is the person in charge? Come out and make some noise!"

  A light-armored general walked up, looking puzzled, and saw that Qing Xia was indeed wearing the Forbidden Army uniform. He raised an eyebrow in confusion and said in a low voice, "This brother is under which general's command? Why do I find him unfamiliar?"

  "Scoundrel!" Qing Xia cursed, her eyes cold as she pulled out a token from her bosom with the character "Cheng" engraved on it. In a deep voice, she said: "At this time, you're still fixated on this? When we return, I'll report your behavior to General Cheng. Move quickly! Choose 100 men to follow me out of the palace and capture the person. The rest will stay here and continue to guard. Except for the 13th Prince and General Cheng, don't trust anything anyone else says!"

  "But..."

  As soon as the words were spoken, a long whip was swung out and landed heavily on the commander's face with a loud "crack". A long bloodstain appeared on his cheek, skin and flesh rolled up, and it was terrifying to look at. Qing Xia flashed forward in an instant, drew out the long knife from her waist, and in the blink of an eye, it was pressed against the man's neck. Before everyone could react, they heard Qing Xia say in a low voice: "Do you want to get everyone killed? You're still dawdling here at this critical moment. Once the Imperial Army arrives, I'll see who can collect your corpse!"

  "Listen up, soldiers! Someone has secretly exited through the South Gate. The situation is critical and if you want to save your lives, quickly prepare your horses and follow me out of the palace to capture the person. If you hesitate for even a moment, we'll meet on the road to the underworld!" This speech was forceful and resounding, Lin Shi Guan stared blankly at Qing Xia standing in the open space, holding his long knife high. The soldiers who had been eyeing him fiercely immediately responded with a loud "Yes!" and rushed forward, leading their horses.

  Qing Xia's hands moved swiftly as he mounted his horse, and facing the remaining guards, he said: "No matter who it is, as long as they don't have the decree of the 13th Prince or General Cheng, kill them without exception! If we succeed today, I will definitely report to the Prince and reward each of you with a promotion in rank!"

  Having said that, he raised his whip and galloped out of the imperial palace with a loud noise!

  Lin Shiguan followed Qing Xia from behind, feeling as if everything was like a dream.

  Qing Xia said quietly, at this moment outside the palace is in chaos, the 13th prince must be controlling the old emperor within the Forbidden City, as for Cheng Jiang Jun, he will have to go to the underworld to find him.

  The sudden sound of horseshoes broke the silence of Shengdu, and the lights of thousands of families lit up one after another. The tense atmosphere filled the entire city of Shengdu.

  "Kobayashi, the task entrusted by the king must be completed with utmost care. The crown prince Chuli's plot to usurp the throne is a heinous crime that cannot be forgiven. The fate of the entire nation hangs in the balance, and if there is even a slight mistake, countless lives will be lost and suffering will be unavoidable, so take care of yourself."

  Lin Shiguan was taken aback, but then he understood. He immediately composed himself, his eyes shining with gratitude as he nodded at Qing Xia. His voice was slightly choked with emotion as he said in a low tone, "Don't worry, I will definitely complete the task."

  "Sir!" The captain of the guards rode up, a glint in his eye, and said to Qing Xia: "Since Lord Lin's mission is so urgent, do you want me to send a few men with him?"

  "Can anyone do what the prince has entrusted?" Qing Xia glanced at the head of the guards with a cold gaze, her voice chilly and conveying an inexplicable sense of desolation. The man hastily nodded and bowed, hurriedly responding in affirmation.

  "Others follow me, divided into twenty small groups, each going to search, once see suspicious people, all arrested!"

  The crowd responded with thunderous applause as Qing Xia led five guards on horseback towards the northern highway.

  Lin Shiguan watched as Qing Xia's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the long street, then turned his horse around and galloped towards the direction of the military camp.

  Before long, a hubbub of shouting and scurrying footsteps erupted on the main street of Shengdu as the Imperial City guards who had followed Qing Xia rushed out to apprehend the suspicious characters in their sights.

  Qing Xia walked out of a small alley, her eyes cold and stern, wearing a suit of green armor that gave off an air of elegance and sharpness. She easily took care of the five unsuspecting soldiers, gazing at the chaotic scene she had orchestrated with her own hands. This way, even if Lin Shu didn't inform Chu Li, Chu Li would still sense that something was amiss and wouldn't recklessly enter the palace. As long as he was on guard, no one in the imperial city could touch him.

  Things went more smoothly than expected, Qing Xia's eyebrows slightly furrowed, she flipped onto her horse and galloped towards the imperial palace.

  …