Lian Cheng Yi had delivered Hua Jin Rong's belongings, indicating that the two had successfully made contact.
In other words, Hua Jin Rong and the others were now aware that she and Leng Ning Yue had been captured by Zhou Ze Li.
She recalled Hua Jin Rong mentioning that the signal flare could be used to summon help for survival.
However, she never imagined that the signal flare had been modified by Murong Bai.
Although it could indeed save lives, only Hua Jin Rong had been summoned...
At the same time.
After a long period of contemplation, Prince Wu Cheng finally spoke coldly:
"Xia Cheng Ye, go back and tell Xia Cheng Lin and Yan Xiu Ping.
Both the Northeastern Barracks and the Zhen Nan King's Estate are already within this King's grasp.
Using my things as bargaining chips, don't scheme too loudly!"
"Imperial Uncle, the wind is strong at night, be careful not to strain your tongue~
Also, Imperial Uncle, you should know that hysteria is also an illness and needs treatment~
Speaking of illness, Imperial Uncle, you don't think taking an antidote pill that can cure all poisons will let you rest easy, do you~"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly as it sounds~
Imperial Uncle, you may not know, but the poison that exploded with the signal flare was created by Physician Murong, who is also Young Master Bai of Bai He Xuan.
Imperial Uncle captured the esteemed person and intended to kill them, which made Young Master Bai very angry, and the consequences are severe~
Therefore, how could this poison be easily cured by ordinary antidote pills~"
"Hmph, so what if it can't be cured?
This King has countless capable individuals under his command. Tricks like poisoning are beneath me, and I don't put them in my eyes!"
Hua Jin Rong smiled slightly, "Your Highness's might, Nephew naturally knows~
But the might of the esteemed person and Madam, Nephew knows even better, so please accept Nephew's conditions, Your Highness~"
"Dream on!"
"Imperial Uncle, whether Nephew dreams or not is not important. What is important is whether Your Highness knows the current whereabouts of Madam~"
As Hua Jin Rong's drawling voice faded, the guards and hidden elites protecting Prince Wu Cheng suddenly flew out like kites with snapped strings.
Immediately after, a sharp dagger glinting with cold light was pressed against Prince Wu Cheng's neck.
Unexpectedly, Shangguan Wan'er had not been protecting someone, but had silently knocked out one of her own elite guards, then mixed with the crowd and gotten close to Prince Wu Cheng amidst the chaos. Astonished, Prince Wu Cheng spat out two words fiercely:
"Despicable!"
"Your Highness, you do make jokes. When it comes to the word 'despicable,' you are second to none.
So don't reminisce there. Hurry up and sign here."
"Lin Qing Ge, don't celebrate too early.
This King has eaten more rice than you have walked roads. Such petty tricks, this King will soon turn the tables!"
"Tsk, tsk, no wonder Your Highness likes to stir up trouble so much. It turns out you're just bored.
But it's alright, your subordinate is most skilled at walking dogs, oh no, helping others digest their food."
"Insolent!"
"Your Highness, please don't get agitated. If your subordinate were truly insolent, they would have sent this unfilial son below to pay respects to the past emperors long ago."
"You—"
"You really are something. It would have been fine if you had let your subordinate leave quietly, but you had to go and cause so much trouble."
Lin Qing Ge's complaints reached Prince Wu Cheng's ears word for word. Perhaps it was the poison acting up again, as Prince Wu Cheng couldn't catch his breath and looked like he was about to roll his eyes.
At the same time.
The disturbances in the dungeon alerted other soldiers in the Baosha Temple.
Soon, a general led his men to surround the area, but hesitated to give orders due to the dagger at Prince Wu Cheng's neck.
As both sides remained at a stalemate, Lin Qing Ge spoke at a leisurely pace:
"Your Highness, how about this.
If Your Highness wins this seven-array gamble, plus one more condition: this subordinate's humble life is yours to command.
Given that Your Highness has sent people to chase your subordinate on multiple occasions, you know better than anyone how difficult it is to take this humble life.
But as long as Your Highness wins.
Whether it's being sliced into a thousand pieces or torn apart by five horses, Your Highness can do as you please, whatever satisfies your anger.
Your subordinate will not run or hide. Even if others come to save your subordinate, if this subordinate so much as moves a heel, then your subordinate is a dog who breaks his word and dies a horrible death!
What does Your Highness think?"
As if truly angered, Prince Wu Cheng replied without thinking:
"Agreed.
Hiss..."
The moment Prince Wu Cheng agreed, a long bloody gash appeared on his neck from the dagger.
Knowing that her actions had angered Leng Ning Yue again, Lin Qing Ge smiled pleasingly, only to be completely ignored by the latter.
Seeing their master injured, the general roared in reprimand, becoming even more hesitant to act rashly.
In the end, a relatively elegant courtyard was found in Baosha Temple, where Prince Wu Cheng and Lin Qing Ge's group were housed.
As for watching Prince Wu Cheng, it unexpectedly fell to Hua Jin Rong.
Glancing at Constable Yan, who was circling his esteemed person like a foolish dog, Hua Jin Rong suddenly regretted coming in such haste and forgetting to bring Ling Han.
Here, Yan Ting Hao, having eaten his fill, asked with confusion:
"Esteemed person, why didn't we just kill Prince Wu Cheng and get it over with?"
For a moment, Lin Qing Ge felt as if she had misheard, finding it hard to believe these words came from the straightforward and upright Yan Hanhan.
But meeting those eyes, clear enough to raise fish, she could only lower her voice and explain:
"Even setting aside all other considerations, even if we killed Prince Wu Cheng and broke through the layers of soldiers to escape from here alive.
There would still be others who would take over Prince Wu Cheng's troops and secretly cultivated forces.
After all, apart from Lian Cheng Yi and Zhou Ze Li, no one can guarantee that Prince Wu Cheng has no other offspring, nor can anyone guarantee that Prince Wu Cheng's subordinates don't have other strategists and ambitious individuals.
Therefore, what we need to do now is, like the late Emperor, trap this General Wu Cheng in a cage, rendering him useless."
Prince Wu Cheng's situation was similar to that of the Fourth Prince when he was besieged at the city walls; neither could be killed.
But the only difference was that the Fourth Prince's rank was not as high as Prince Wu Cheng's. While the former could not be killed for the time being, Prince Wu Cheng could never be killed.
This could be seen from the time when the late Emperor was on the throne.
As the saying goes, if the ruler wishes the minister to die, the minister must die.
After the Empress Dowager passed away, the late Emperor could have found any excuse to execute this ambitious brother.
However, the late Emperor did not do so, merely detaining Prince Wu Cheng in the capital.
And the late Emperor's doing so was definitely not out of brotherly affection. It was likely due to a concern that without Prince Wu Cheng's restraint, his successor would no longer care about the Great Xia imperial family's reputation and bloodline, becoming even more unscrupulous.
If they accidentally played too recklessly, the empire might truly change hands.
On the other side, Yan Ting Hao nodded as if he understood, albeit vaguely.
"According to what you said, esteemed person, this Prince Wu Cheng can only be served with good food and drink, and no one can do anything to him?"
"Not necessarily.
If we can ascertain all the forces and hidden connections controlled by Prince Wu Cheng, and then capture them all in one fell swoop, we can send Prince Wu Cheng on his way without any scruples.
However, Prince Wu Cheng's trust is not easily obtained..."