The suburban estate.
Green and silent, submerged amidst the vast mountain forests, stretching as far as the eye could see, an expanse of green, like a lush carpet, covered the land.
In the estate, Yun Zhen and Shangguan Lin were awake, as were the dashing young master Yi Yuxuan and Xi Menyao, waiting in the hall for news.
The moment Yun Xiao and Murong Chong appeared, Yun Zhen and Shangguan Lin immediately rose with anxiety and spoke: "No one in the Serious Crimes Department."
"At the Ministry of Justice."
Yun Xiao said in a deep voice, taking out two diagrams from his chest. One was a distribution map of the Ministry of Justice prison, clearly and distinctly marking the guards stationed in various locations.
The other diagram was Murong Chong's preliminary rescue plan based on his observations.
Yun Xiao had already reviewed it. The rescue plan was quite perfect. Now it was a matter of personnel distribution and deployment. It was imperative to assign a specific number of people at every checkpoint to ensure that no one could move, achieving victory in one fell swoop.
Yun Zhen and Shangguan Lin each took a diagram, and after reading it, they exchanged them. Finally, the group sat down together, not yet having had time to say anything.
Footsteps sounded at the door. In the bright lamplight, the figures of Ye Wuyun and the Northern Crown Prince Yan Yu were seen. These two were also awake and waiting for their news in their rooms.
Yun Xiao beckoned them over to sit. The group gathered around the lamp and discussed the upcoming rescue plan.
"We will begin the rescue tomorrow night. Although our manpower is limited, we can take them by surprise. Shangguan Yao will surely have received the news, and as we act, he will also act. The longer it takes, the more unfavorable it will be for the rescue plan."
Murong Chong finished speaking, and Yun Xiao nodded. She was eager to rescue her father immediately. No matter what,
it was the Ministry of Justice prison. The people at the Ministry of Justice would surely conduct secret interrogations. If he did not confess, he would only be beaten and forced to confess and sign, thereby pinning the crime of colluding with the enemy and treason on the Yun family. She absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen.
Yun Zhen, Shangguan Lin, and the others listened and nodded in agreement.
Yan Yu and Ye Wuyun on the side remained silent. They were not qualified to speak on such matters, but they were still concerned about Shangguan Yao's character.
"Shangguan Yao might make a move, so we should be more careful."
Yan Yu spoke. As the emperor of a nation, his mind must be extremely sharp. Coupled with his suspicion and cruelty, it further increased the difficulty of the rescue.
Ye Wuyun nodded in agreement. Shangguan Yao's ability to imprison the Ye family members fully demonstrated his cruelty. However, because he wanted the Ye family's military power, he devised a plan to deal with them, showing his ruthlessness.
He directly sent people to the Ministry of Justice prison. He could have simply found an excuse to dismiss the Ye family from their official posts and reclaim military power, but he insisted on eliminating them completely.
Murong Chong scanned the people around him. His dark, chilling eyes seemed to be filled with a thousand years of frozen water, and a cold aura emanated from him.
A single glance made one tremble, let alone looking directly at him.
However, everyone present was an extraordinary individual, so they did not feel much fear, merely knowing that this man was no ordinary person.
"Now let's assign personnel for each post and who will lead them. As for Young Master Ye and Crown Prince Yan, I would like to ask for your help.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, you do not need to show yourselves. Shangguan Yao has a group of elite guards. I am sure they are lurking around the Ministry of Justice.
Those people have lived in enclosed spaces for many years, and ordinary people cannot detect their aura. But if they appear, you two, leading a group of people, must prevent them from approaching the Ministry of Justice prison.
As long as we can delay them for a while, we can rescue the person."
"Good."
Yan Yu and Ye Wuyun responded decisively. Yun Xiao looked up at them and said nothing. It seemed she had indeed found the right people to help.
Under the lamplight, the group continued to assign personnel, determining how many people were needed for each location, where to start, and so on.
Night deepened, but no one in the hall felt sleepy. The lamplight flickered intermittently.
Through the dense foliage, a faint ring of light emerged, dim and flickering, swaying gently in the green hills, sending a chill down one's spine.
Jingfu Palace.
The grand hall was brightly lit. The vast palace was silent, not a single sound was heard. The eunuchs and palace maids all waited outside the palace doors.
Above the magnificent golden hall, an incredibly sinister man lay reclined. The brocade imperial dragon robe cascaded like water from the soft couch, magnificent and luxurious.
His handsome features were overlaid with a dark, ashen hue. His black eyes glared bloodthirstily at the person below, remaining silent for a long time.
The person knelt in the center of the hall, dressed in colorful clothes, completely enveloped in color, which made his face appear sallow and small. Wrinkles covered his face, and his outstretched fingers resembled the aged bark of trees in a forest, truly frightening.
"Ram, you said these elite guards were very powerful. Why did so many elite guards suffer losses all at once?"
Shangguan Yao's pupils could not have been more unsightly. His face sank, chillingly, frightening the man called Ram below into a cold sweat. His lips moved for a long time before he finally managed to speak: "It is Ram's incompetence. I am willing to accept punishment."
"What use is it to punish you? You still haven't caught the Yun family. Tell me, who exactly rescued the Yun family boy?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was a man wearing a silver mask who charged in with a large group of people. Those people were very formidable. The elite guards, lacking combat experience, were killed," Ram said, covering his chest with one hand and placing the other behind his back as he bowed respectfully.
He was from the western barbarous lands of Xiliang Kingdom, traveling through various countries to cheat people out of money. One day, he was chased by people he had previously deceived.
He happened to be rescued by Shangguan Yao, who was out of the palace. Shangguan Yao, seeing that he had some ability, employed him.
However, to control Ram, he poisoned him, making it impossible for him to escape his control. He helped him cultivate and control a group of elite guards in secret.
"Murong Chong, it's that bastard again. It seems the Yun family is indeed involved with him. Yun Mo must die."
Shangguan Yao sprang up from the soft couch. Now, whenever he heard this name, he was filled with boundless rage. And who was this person?
Generally, people would not directly oppose members of the royal family. He had never thought about it seriously before, but now, thinking about it carefully, this man was clearly targeting him. Who was he? What did he want to do?
Why could he never find their whereabouts? Could it be...
Shangguan Yao's pupils flickered, and an inspiration struck his mind. Could it be that these people were originally from the capital, hiding there all along? This would explain why their whereabouts could never be found.
Shangguan Yao was shocked by his own thought. If this were true, how should he find these people?
"Ram, immediately take that group of elite guards to guard the perimeter of the Ministry of Justice prison. This time, do not let anyone escape, do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ram responded, his small eyes looking expectantly at the Emperor. Shangguan Yao knew what he wanted, and with a wave of his hand, he threw over a packet of medicine.
That packet of medicine was precisely the antidote Ram needed. He had to take it regularly; otherwise, he would be wracked with agonizing pain.
"You may go."