"Help me!"
"I'm Zhu Mo! There's an assassination attempt!"
Seizing an opportunity when the two women were not paying attention, Zhu Mo suddenly shouted.
With a bang,
Four burly men who had been ambushed in Guanyin Temple rushed out. The Consort of the Prince of Dai, who was accustomed to such matters, had a sharp gaze and immediately signaled them to apprehend the person.
And at this moment,
A stern shout suddenly erupted:
"Scoundrels, retreat!"
A porter, who had entered at some unknown time, arrived ahead of others and charged into the moon gate, blocking the four burly men.
"Brother Ma?"
Zhu Mo was suddenly overjoyed.
This porter was none other than Ma Fang.
He had traveled south day and night to Desheng Fort, taken Naji, the prisoner from the dungeon, and handed him over to the wounded soldiers, then headed straight for Datong. He was extremely anxious, thinking that with Anda's army pressing down, Li Wenjin and the others wouldn't last long. Once the news reached the city, Zhu Mo would surely be killed. Therefore, he believed speed was of the essence and pushed himself to his limits.
But because of this, he had no time to inquire along the way. He took off his armor, changed into a short jacket, and sneaked into the city. When he briefly asked a passerby on the road, he was shocked to learn that Zhu Mo, the imperial envoy, was stationed at Huayan Temple.
After all,
Ma Fang had fought in Datong for twenty years, and he was well aware of what Huayan Temple was! It was a den of the White Lotus Sect! How could Zhu Mo not inquire? Was this a place to be stationed? He immediately thought that Zhu Mo had likely been placed under house arrest as soon as he entered the city.
Familiar with the terrain of the area, he went around to the back of the temple, climbed a large qing tree, and flipped into the temple, arriving directly at Guanyin Temple.
At this moment,
Seeing four burly men dressed as house guards protecting a woman, he immediately guessed everything and roared:
"Shameless!"
Turning, he grabbed Zhu Mo's arm and said sternly, "Young Master Zhu, hurry and leave! Anda's army has arrived, and the city is extremely dangerous. Quickly leave the city with me!"
The four house guards, seeing Ma Fang's imposing figure blocking the moon gate like a divine being, were startled and retreated a few steps. When they realized it was just a porter, they immediately shouted, "What villain dares to yell in front of the Consort?"
Ma Fang, being a man of great vigilance, had no intention of getting entangled with them. He grabbed Zhu Mo and fled, quickly reaching the back wall of Guanyin Temple. There was an old plum tree in the corner, and he shinnied up it in a few swift movements, grabbed Zhu Mo, and pulled him up without question.
At this moment,
The house guards stopped chasing, and the sound of dense footsteps could be heard from the front courtyard of Huayan Temple.
Zhu Mo rejoiced, "Brother Ma, it's alright here, it's very safe. The ones coming are our own people!"
Ma Fang, a veteran who lived by the sword, was not easily disturbed in a moment of crisis. He rebuked, "Be quiet! Let's go!"
While speaking softly, he was also inwardly cursing in his heart: This foolish nephew! Doesn't he have any sense? I told you back then that Datong was complicated, why did you insist on stationing yourself at Huayan Temple? Is that woman someone to be provoked? Why don't young people learn anything? Coming to Datong and getting involved with that bitch?
With a bang,
He had already pulled Zhu Mo over the wall and then ran wildly through the alley.
Zhu Mo was also confused. Several times he wanted to use the situation to his advantage, but as soon as he was about to speak, Ma Fang covered his mouth with his hand, preventing him from making any sound.
After running for a while, they finally stopped in the backyard of an old house.
Ma Fang slowed down, and a wave of anger surged in his heart again: This kid, actually dared to provoke that bitch! He was playing innocent back in the capital!
He forced himself to suppress his anger and said, "Young Master Zhu, I, Ma Fang, am a rough soldier, and I don't understand matters between men and women... But as an elder brother, I must tell you this: lust is a sharp blade... You are young and vigorous, I can understand that, but why couldn't you find anyone else? You went after her? Look, aren't her house guards here to catch you? Alas..."
As he spoke, his anger was completely undisguised. If the person in front of him were not the son of his sworn sister from years ago, he would have slapped him by now.
Zhu Mo gave a wry smile, wanting to explain, but not knowing where to start.
Ma Fang took a breath, realizing the urgency of the matter, and decided to deal with these trivialities later. He then said sternly,
"Young Master Zhu, the situation is critical... Brother Li Er and the others are currently engaging Xin Ai's cavalry near Desheng Fort, and Anda's three armies have already broken camp... In Datong city, it's all Yang Xuan's men, and the Right Guard cannot enter the city anymore! I think we should disguise ourselves and leave the city, heading to the Right Guard. Those are all old brothers there, perhaps they can hold on for a while... Let's go! Come with me to change clothes!"
Zhu Mo had listened to his rambling and felt a surge of annoyance—
Old Ma, you save people but you don't even understand the situation... How could I be involved with that bitch? They clearly set a trap for me!
Besides, why are you in such a hurry? Do you think I'm really that weak? If I were weak, would I have asked you to attack Anda first?
You still think it's the same Datong as before. Half of the Right Guard is already stationed to defend the city! That Huayan Temple is my base camp, where else would I go?
Just as he was about to retort, seeing Ma Fang's exhausted appearance and sincere expression, a warmth welled up in his heart—
I, Zhu Mo, have no relatives or friends. It is you few who treat me well... Especially you, Old Ma, you are a man of great character. I stand up for you, and you risk your life to save me. It is truly rare... How much hardship have you endured on this journey? Without even resting, you came to save me...
He was deeply moved and said gently, "Brother Ma, listen to me. The situation has changed... The Emperor has issued a decree, and the case of the Right Guard has been overturned. Malu and Zhang Yue are now on the North Gate city tower, waiting for you and Brother Li to return..."
Ma Fang was stunned and couldn't help but doubt. He thought: I rushed all the way here, could it be that he has really stabilized the situation?
But remembering Zhu Mo's cry for help in Guanyin Temple just now, how could there be no problem?
"Then why did you shout for help just now?"
Zhu Mo gave a wry smile and rambled on for a while before Ma Fang finally understood some of it. But then his suspicion resurfaced, and he couldn't help but look around.
"Brother Ma, it's true... I, alas, it's hard to explain in a moment..."
Zhu Mo told him the whole story from beginning to end.
Ma Fang believed him this time and murmured, "So, we can still fight?"
...
Meanwhile,
In Huayan Temple.
Following Zheng Qin, a team of volunteers, led by Li Chong himself, also rushed in. He and Yang Xuan and Wu Ying had already agreed that once the maidservant of the Consort of the Prince of Dai left the temple, they would rush in to catch them in the act and simultaneously spread rumors throughout the city and the twelve guards that Zhu Mo had forced himself upon the Consort.
Although the maidservant did not come out just now, Zhu Mo's hundred-man team had rushed in. They also immediately rushed out from several alleys and arrived outside Guanyin Temple, following closely behind.
Huayan Temple was large, with trees and open spaces between the courtyards and halls. At this moment, the two sides were facing each other again.
Zheng Qin and the hundred-man team were again bewildered—
Why is it still these people?
Isn't that Li Lai's father?
Do they still want to fight us for revenge?
He steadied himself and looked closely. He saw a beautiful woman weeping in the arms of a maidservant, the four house guards looking dejected, and Li Chong and the volunteers looking indignant...
He was unsure of the situation, but Zhu Mo's four guards had heard Zhu Mo cry for help with their own ears. How could he be careless? Moreover, they had already searched, and Zhu Mo had vanished without a trace... This was unacceptable! The Ministry of War would severely punish all one hundred of them.
He suppressed his anger and fear, deciding to question the four house guards, and said loudly, "Who are you people? Scholar Zhu, the imperial envoy, cried for help here just now. Did you attempt assassination?"
The four house guards rolled their eyes, looked at the Consort of the Prince of Dai, then at Li Chong in front of them, but remained silent.
Zheng Qin was very anxious and angry, "Speak quickly! Where is Young Master Zhu now?"
Unexpectedly,
The four house guards did not speak, but the maidservant cried, "Just now, the Consort was meditating and worshiping in the temple's dwelling. Suddenly, a fair-skinned young gentleman arrived and, well, he made lewd remarks to the Consort! The Consort, she, she called for help, but there was no one at the time... That gentleman, that gentleman then forced himself on her, trying to take off the Consort's clothes... Wuwuwu..."
Ah?
Hiss!
At this time, quite a few commoners had gathered, and there was an immediate uproar.
Zheng Qin naturally did not believe it, but since it concerned Zhu Mo, he had to endure and ask, "Oh? Does the girl remember the appearance of that person?"
The maidservant snorted and said, "He looked refined, but I never thought he would be such a scoundrel! I, I saw he had a bronze seal at his waist, this big!"
As she spoke, she gestured with two fingers, about two or three inches.
Hiss!
Some knowledgeable people were already stirred!
Because based on her description, that bronze seal was likely an imperial seal of authority?
Indeed,
The maidservant gritted her teeth and said, "Hmph! He himself said he was the highest official in Datong city, and even the governor feared him. He also said he was a favored official of the court, intending to reform the country, and was very impressive! He also said that he had taken a fancy to the Consort today and intended to have a casual affair!"
Boom!
The crowd exploded instantly!
Even the hundred-man team felt disgraced and felt very uncomfortable being looked at by those volunteers.