As they neared Jinzhou City, before she could make a move, the Chief Executive arrived with his men.
The sudden appearance of someone in the room in the middle of the night startled Zhao Jiaqi. Fortunately, the Chief Executive spoke first, otherwise, the dagger in her hand would have already been plunged.
"Princess Consort, your subordinate arrived late to save you!"
Zhao Jiaqi stood up, put on her clothes, and helped him up. "You've arrived just in time."
In the dark room, they did not light an oil lamp. Instead, they discussed their strategy by the moonlight filtering through the window.
"The Prince voluntarily stayed behind as a hostage to save me. Prince A Le wants our inner city. The reason they let me out is for me to cooperate with him in the exchange. The Prince, Prince Xian, and Prince Xiaoyao should be safe now."
The Chief Executive nodded silently, waiting for the Princess Consort to outline the next plan or assign him a task.
"What does the Princess Consort want this subordinate to do?"
Zhao Jiaqi turned and retrieved a piece of paper from under her pillow, handing it to him. "This is the formula for explosives. This thing has very strong destructive power. I've recorded it in detail. Find a few brave and meticulous individuals to experiment with it. Once successful, it will be of great importance to our attack on the Axi tribe. At the same time, you must send people to rescue the several princes and ensure they are brought back unharmed."
"Also, deliver an order to Shi Haoming to secretly mobilize grain and provisions and transport them to the border first, to prepare for war."
The Chief Executive cupped his hands. "Princess Consort, please rest assured, I will handle it personally."
Zhao Jiaqi knew that if the Chief Executive went personally, the chances of bringing the Prince back were high, so she did not stop him.
"The coachman who returned with me is a spy, and there is also a group of spies in this small town. You need to investigate and eliminate them. I will go to the military camp outside Jinzhou City to take charge. Additionally, there are many spies in the border towns. You must be particularly careful and cautious in your actions this time."
The Chief Executive replied, "Eliminating spies is very easy. If Prince A Le does not receive any secret reports of the Princess Consort's whereabouts, it might attract their attention. Therefore, before I can rescue the Prince, please bear with me and cooperate with me in putting on a show for them."
After he said that, she suddenly felt much clearer-headed.
She took a deep breath and exhaled gently. "Yes, I was thinking too simply."
However, being asked to stay here and act for a group of spies was like being repeatedly roasted over a fire. She couldn't calm her mind.
"Find someone to impersonate me, pretend to be sick and stay here temporarily. I will go to the military camp first to make arrangements."
The Chief Executive thought this was a good idea, as it would save the County Princess and the two young lords from worrying if they couldn't help but make a fuss. That would not be beneficial to the entire situation.
"Princess Consort, the County Princess and the two young lords are on their way and will arrive in Jinzhou City tomorrow. Additionally, Ying Xiong and Ling Feng have also arrived, and... the Empress Dowager, upon learning that the Prince was captured by the Axi tribe, had some complications with her pregnancy. She is accompanying the Emperor this time."
Hearing about her entire family, the young ones, the pregnant women, and the temperamental Zong Han, all moving at once, Zhao Jiaqi knew this news would surely reach A Le's ears.
"Moreover, Zong Han has already sent people to mobilize the army and is heading towards A Le," the Chief Executive said, his voice growing softer.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled wryly and shook her head. He wasn't going to save his father-in-law; he was clearly going to avenge his wife, Xiao Junjun.
With his vindictive nature, how could he let the Chief Executive off the hook if his wife had suffered?
That would be a joke.
"That's fine. Let him make his move. It can serve as a cover for us and also serve as a deterrent to A Le, preventing him from acting rashly. This will also provide some security for the Prince."
After a pause, she continued, "Tell those three little brats to wait for me at the military camp outside Jinzhou City. They are not to run around, and they are to hasten their training with the troops. I will arrive soon."
The Chief Executive noted this down and left the room as silently as he arrived, leaving no trace. If she hadn't felt her mouth dry, Zhao Jiaqi would have even suspected she had been sleepwalking.
Later that night, the Chief Executive returned with a man who resembled her in build. In terms of appearance, height, and physique, he looked very much like her.
However, his face...
"A high collar can conceal the Adam's apple, but your face is a bit difficult to pass off."
What if the disguise was exposed, leading to failure?
Upon hearing this, the plain-looking man chuckled and said, "Princess Consort, please wait a moment. I will definitely provide you with a satisfactory answer."
As soon as he spoke, Zhao Jiaqi was stunned.
She looked carefully at the unremarkable man before her. Why did he speak with the same cadence as her?
The emphasis, the speed, and the inherently soft yet detailed tone of a woman's voice were all imitated flawlessly.
This was already shocking enough, but when she saw him after the makeup was done, Zhao Jiaqi felt as if she were looking in a mirror.
"Is this a disguise technique?"
The Chief Executive nodded. "It's a type of disguise technique, but it's primarily makeup. As for his imitation of others' voices, that's ventriloquism. Few people have a talent for it. He is one of the rare few. Now that it can be put to use, it shows that his skills are indeed effective and have found a place."
Receiving praise from the stern Chief Executive, Xiao Qi was so excited that he became a little flustered. "Thank you for your praise, Chief Executive. This subordinate will not fail the expectations of the Chief Executive and the Princess Consort."
Zhao Jiaqi was very fond of such talented individuals. "That's wonderful. Then, you will have to endure some hardship for the next few days. I will have the three of them stay and cooperate with you well."
Xiao Qi replied, "This is what this subordinate should do."
After arranging this, Zhao Jiaqi, taking advantage of the dark night, sneaked into the room of the three of them, clearly explained the matter of the body double, and instructed the three of them to cooperate well. Then, she followed the Chief Executive, scaling walls and leaping over roofs, flying out of the inn.
For the first time, she experienced what it was like to glide through the air without wings. However, looking down, her legs trembled and her backside clenched. They were indeed very far from the ground, and she feared that if the Chief Executive let go, she would fall and break into pieces.
She might not die, but her limbs would be broken, and her ribs might be questionable.
After landing safely, they got on horses and, while the night was still dark, continued their journey.
At this time, the Chief Executive discovered that the Princess Consort could actually ride a horse by herself. Although she didn't look like an expert, her body swaying from side to side, she hadn't fallen, which was quite good.
Perhaps it was in times of hardship that people unleashed their potential.
Wearing a cloak and a felt hat, and dressed in men's clothing, she traveled without anyone discovering she was a woman.
As dawn broke, they dared not rest too long. They ate a simple meal of dry rations and continued on their way. They arrived at Jinzhou City that afternoon, and after entering the city, they headed north. It was only when they reached the camp on the outskirts that she dared to relax.
At this moment, Yu Meng, Sen Sen, and Yao Yao had already arrived. Upon seeing Zhao Jiaqi dressed in men's clothing, the three children couldn't help but worry and burst into tears, rushing into her embrace.
The eldest was no more than thirteen, and the youngest no more than eleven. No matter how mature they were, they were still children.