C140

"Otherwise …" We will escape from prison! " These two words had been held in Xiao Yin's heart for a long time. He was a martial general, so the most direct method was to rush into Dou Jing and send him away from the Imperial City.

"I can't accept it!" If Dou Jing really was robbed, what would the old prince think of it? At that time, the Crown Prince would have a chance to slander the person who robbed the prison as someone from the Southern Yue. Then, it would be difficult for the entire Dou Residence to escape death! "If that's really the case, do you think Dou Jing will still be able to survive?" Zhu Xu firmly denied.

"Then what should we do? If that doesn't work, then that doesn't work. We can only beg the emperor! " Xiao Yin let out a long sigh as a myriad of emotions flowed through his heart. Zhu Xu couldn't help but shake his head. But now, there really wasn't a better way.

On the morning of the next day, Zhu Xu and Xiao Yin once again sought an audience with the Emperor, but were blocked by Eunuch Li.

"Milords, the emperor is busy with official business, so it would be inconvenient for him to meet the two sirs. Please go back …" Eunuch Li spoke gently.

"If we can't see the emperor today, we won't leave! "Your majesty!" Zhu Xu let out a long shout before kneeling down in front of the imperial study. By his side, Xiao Yin also knelt down. If they couldn't see Duan Chen, they would not rest.

Seeing the two ministers so insistent, Eunuch Li could not help but sigh and walk into the royal study.

"Have they left?" In the past few days, Duan Chen seemed to be even more haggard than Xiao Yin and the others. Although his voice was loud, there was a distinct sense of dejection.

"In reply to the emperor, the two of them have hardened their hearts to meet the emperor. They're currently kneeling outside the palace, saying that even if they don't see the emperor, he won't leave even if he dies." Eunuch Li truthfully reported.

"Sigh …" "Then let them kneel. If it's time for dinner, bring the food to the royal study and prepare a set for each of them. Send some robes to them to help them fight the cold weather." Duan Chen sighed deeply. Zhu Xu, Xiao Yin, how can you understand my intentions?

"This old servant will do it now …" Although Eunuch Li also felt sorry for Dou Jing Jing, as a eunuch, it was inconvenient for him to say too much in front of Duan Chen.

In the blink of an eye, it was already deep into the night. Xiao Yin and Zhu Xu knelt outside the imperial study without the slightest intention of leaving. Even though Duan Chen had ordered people to send over robes and food, they refused to eat.

"He still hasn't left?" Duan Chen worriedly asked.

"Not only did they not leave when they returned to the Emperor, they didn't even have the time to eat and the robe that you gave them. This old servant saw Prime Minister Zhu's body swaying, and I'm afraid he won't be able to last much longer …" Eunuch Li replied truthfully.

"These two old fogeys!" "Do you really want me to die of anger before I give up!" Duan Chen slumped against the Dragon Throne. If the two of them didn't get up, there was no way he could leave the study room either.

When the time came, Zhu Xu could no longer bear it any longer and tumbled to the ground.

"The old prime minister …" Xiao Yin's condition was not much better. Just as he went to help Zhu Xu up, his eyes were filled with golden stars. Before he could help Zhu Xu up, he had already collapsed onto the ground.

Just as the two of them were falling down, Eunuch Li suddenly rushed out of the study and ordered the young eunuchs to carefully lift him and bring him back to the various residences.

"Your majesty, the two of them have already fainted. This old servant has already followed your instructions and brought them back to the estate. You should also return to your chambers to rest …" Eunuch Li looked at Duan Chen with a pained expression. After following the Emperor for dozens of years, other than the day the First Prince committed suicide, he had never seen the Emperor so haggard before.

"Eunuch Li, do you really think that I was wrong to kill Dou Jing?" At this moment, other than Eunuch Li, Duan Chen did not know who to ask. Other than some opposition, there was only silence. No one was actually supporting him.

"This old servant doesn't understand the politics of the court. This old servant can't say clearly about the matters of the court, but …" Eunuch Li wanted to speak but hesitated.

"But what?" Duan Chen stopped walking and looked at Eunuch Li.

"It's just that this old servant was afraid that the emperor would be so stubborn that he …" In the end, Eunuch Li did not speak. Duan Chen could not help but smile bitterly.

"In the end, he was scolded by an unconscious monarch? Heh … "How could I not know the outcome? But I have no choice but to do this for the crown prince to be able to hold his position in the Great Mo River Mountain …" Duan Chen heaved a long sigh, then walked over to his own Imperial Hall.

When Xiao Yin was sent back to the Xiao manor by the young eunuchs, both Duan Muyan and Zhou Wei were shocked. Only later on did the young eunuch tell them the truth.

"Housekeeper Zhou, help your father return to his room to rest and take good care of him …" Towards Xiao Yin, she respected him from the bottom of her heart. Compared to the high and mighty Imperial Father, the warmth that Xiao Yin gave her was many times greater.

When Duan Muyan returned to her room, she immediately called for Zi Min.

"Zi Min, the situation is urgent. Within two days, I must make a face that's exactly the same as Dou Jing. Can I do it?" Duan Mu Yan decided to save Dou Jing from the moment she decided to become the Empress.

"Princess, don't worry. It's just that …" "If this face is on the face of a dead person, it will expose itself if you can't hold on for more than half a day." Zi Min reminded.

"I'll pay attention to that." She didn't expect that after being tormented for so many days by Xiao Yin and Zhu Xu, his royal father still hadn't changed his original intentions. Seems like his royal father truly dotes on Duan Xingyi, heh?

"Yao'er, come with me to my master's mansion!" Wearing a long robe, Yao'er and Duan Mu Yan left the Xiao manor through the back door.

Duan Mu Yan waited for a moment in the main hall before she saw Zheng Ting Ze hurrying over to step on the doorstep.

"Mu Yan greets Master …" Seeing that it was Zheng Ting Ze, Duan Mu Yan immediately bowed.

"Even though we are master and disciple, you are still a princess after all. In the future, you don't have to be so formal. For you to come so late to find me, did something happen?" Zheng Tingze's sword-like brows tightly knitted as he worriedly asked.

"I wonder if Master knows that General Dou Jing will be beheaded in three days?" Duan Mu Yan went straight to the point. Zheng Ting Ze couldn't help but shudder when he heard this. He then swept his gaze in all directions before bringing Duan Mu Yan to the inner room. Yao'er was naturally waiting outside.

"Your master never thought that the emperor would actually be so heartless this time. I heard that the old prime minister and Prince Xiao knelt for a day and a night because of this matter. In the end, both of them fainted outside the imperial study. Sigh …" "It's a pity that the famous generals of this generation have such a bad ending!" Zheng Tingze lowered his head and sighed.

"Master, Yan`er wants to save Old General Dou, but I wonder if Master is willing to help?" Duan Mu Yan had already thought of a rough plan. It was just that in this plan, Zheng Ting Ze was one of the key figures.

"You … "You already have an overall plan?" Zheng Ting Ze looked at Duan Mu Yan in astonishment as he questioned her.

"It's more or less feasible. Mu Yan is here to recruit dragons and turn phoenixes, but this matter cannot be revealed to the old prime minister and royal father. Only their extreme sadness will not arouse anyone's suspicions." Duan Mu Yan said resolutely.

"Although Master and General Dou do not have a deep friendship, but I admire him for his whole life. Good! As long as you say it, Master will give it his all! " Zheng Ting Ze vowed.

"Yan'er thanks a lot, Master!" Duan Mu Yan said gratefully.

"Is there a need to be so courteous to me?" If anything happens in the future, ask Yao'er to come here and tell Master that it's easy for you to arouse suspicion by coming here in the middle of the night. " Zheng Ting Ze looked at Duan Mu Yan with a pained expression as he instructed her.

"Yan'er understands!" Duan Mu Yan knew that Zheng Ting Ze was doing this for her sake, and a warm feeling surged up from the bottom of her heart.

In the Crown Prince's Palace, Duan Xingyi had not slept for a long time. As long as he thought of how Dou Jing would be dead at noon in three days, he would be able to laugh out loud with excitement. One must know that Dou Jing had always been the nemesis of the south, and had beheaded many of the great generals of the south.

Just as Duan Xingyi was shaking the wine in his cup, he suddenly heard a sound that seemed to be coming from the secret inner chamber. Duan Xingyi's gaze turned cold as he abruptly stood up and walked into the inner room, opening the door.

"Bing-Er greets Master!" Leng Bingxin, who was dressed in night attire and had a solemn expression on her face, jumped out of the secret passage and arrived in front of Duan Xingyi.

"What's the matter?" Duan Xingyi's sword-like eyebrows slightly knitted together as he faintly felt the nervousness in his heart of ice.

Replying to my lord, a few days ago, a new flower name, Ni Chang, suddenly appeared in the Yichun Institution. Today, she brought Xing'er to visit my Desire Immortal Pavilion, but in reality, she is trying to find out whether or not I know martial arts. I think that this person has a suspicious origin, and most likely, he is someone sent by the third prince. Leng Bingxin spoke truthfully.

"Is there such a thing? Are you sure she is testing your martial arts? " Duan Xingyi was deep in thought. If that was the case, then it seemed that Shen Hanxin's men weren't good people either.

"Your subordinate clearly remembers that the servant girl called Xing'er purposely threw the teapot onto your subordinate's body. Furthermore, that sort of careless behavior was too obvious, your subordinate would not be mistaken." Leng Bingxin said firmly.

"If this Ni Chang is really sent by Shen Han Xin, then I won't be able to visit any of you during this period of time. Bing'er, it doesn't matter if Ni Chang is here, since she has threatened us, we won't be able to survive. When you go back, discuss strategies with Ye Li, we must finish off Ni Chang!" Duan Xingyi solemnly spoke as a strange light flashed in his eyes.

"This subordinate understands …" Just as she was about to leave, she was called back by Duan Xingyi.

"Wait... "Maybe that young lady called Meng Yan can use it …" Duan Xingyi suddenly changed her mind and subconsciously pursed her lips into a smile.

"What does Master mean?" Leng Bingxin was puzzled.

"It's simple, if Ni Chang is really Shen Hanxin's person, what do you think she would do if she saw that I am very close to Meng Yan?" Duan Xingyi leisurely spoke, his voice was as cold as ice.

"Master, you mean …"

"The mantis stalks the cicada, while the oriole is behind. Once that Ni Chang loses her vigilance, it'll be much easier for you to take action." Duan Xingyi suddenly thought of that woman who seemed a bit like a god to Duan Mu Yan. Since it's not convenient to look for her during this period of time, it wouldn't be bad if he went to Meng Yan's place to seek some comfort.

"Master, this is too risky!" Leng Bingxin was worried for Meng Yan and even more so for Duan Xingyi.

"Even if Shen Hanxin were to personally come, he might not even be a match for me, much less his subordinates. Go and prepare, when Meng Yan is at the Spring Festival, call Ye Li to come and inform him." Duan Xingyi lightly waved his sleeves. Leng Bingxin wanted to say more, but she had no choice but to back off.

There were only three days left before Dou Jing was to be beheaded. Xiao Yin and Zhu Xu had only just woken up, and they had already agreed to kneel in the imperial study. There was nothing they could do but use this technique.

Inside the Sky Prison, the prison guard was stomping his feet against the cold as he talked about the matters inside the prison.

"Did you hear? Old General Dou is very ill! It's been three days and I haven't eaten a single thing. Prison guard sighed.

"I already noticed it when I delivered the food yesterday. I don't think I'll be able to live more than a few days. I wonder if I'll be able to make it to the execution grounds alive!" What a pity for such an old general! " Prison guard B shook his head.

"Shh …" "You don't want to live anymore? If Sir Wu hears of this, I might even frame you as an accomplice. When that time comes, Dou Qing will not be able to go to the execution grounds. You can do it for him!" Prison guard reminded.