The little dark guard who travels between two lives

Chapter 82 Blackmail

Shen Tuo was unwavering: "Queen Mother, I am also considering my daughter. She should be patient for now and wait for me to arrange everything for her. She will naturally thank me as her father for making such a good plan for her."

The Queen Mother was so angry that she almost fainted. Her fingers were shaking as she pointed at Shen Tuo, but she couldn't utter a word.

As the two sides were confronting each other, a soldier rushed in in a panic and fell in front of Shen Tuo: "My lord, the troops you transferred from Southern Xinjiang were ambushed outside the city and were almost wiped out!"

Shen Tuo looked at the soldier in disbelief: "What did you say?" The soldier wiped the blood off his face and repeated it again. Shen Tuo looked at the prince and the others in surprise: "It's you?! Impossible, impossible."

The prince ignored the sharp blade that had been pressing against his back and looked at General Shen. "Sir Shen, you only brought a small part of your troops into the palace. You were afraid of being discovered because there were too many people and the target was too big, so you only brought this part into the palace."

"You originally planned to control my mother and me, and then send a large number of troops to Beijing. This way you can be sure of victory, control the situation in Beijing, and then control the power of the world."

"Little did you know that we got the news in advance and knew that your troops were going to enter the capital. Father had already quickly sent troops to ambush at the city gate, so we were able to catch all of you rebels today."

Yu Huaian yelled, "Old thief, you only have these few men left. You don't think you can turn the tables with just these few men, do you?"

Shen Tuo still couldn't believe it: "Who, who leaked the news?" Qin Mingxuan glanced at Prince Cheng who was standing silently aside. The news was sent to the palace by Prince Cheng, but before Prince Cheng sent the secret report, the emperor had already received the news.

The emperor has been on guard against Shen Tuo since he knew that he had evil intentions. The emperor took the news that Shen Tuo had close contacts with Southern Xinjiang very seriously.

After all, the biggest turmoil during the previous emperor's period was the Southern Xinjiang Rebellion. The Southern Xinjiang rebels even attacked the capital. That rebellion involved a wide range of people. Afterwards, many ministers in the court were executed, and even the favorite concubine in the harem was implicated.

Even though the rebellion had been over for a long time, the current emperor was still vigilant about the movements in Southern Xinjiang. Shen Tuo was a high-ranking official in the current dynasty, and he had close ties with Southern Xinjiang. How could the emperor turn a blind eye to it? He had already ordered Yu Huaian to send secret guards to keep a close eye on Shen Tuo.

Therefore, before Prince Cheng sent the so-called secret report to the palace, the emperor had already learned about Shen Tuo's misdeeds in southern Xinjiang, and Prince Cheng's report was just another piece of evidence.

The emperor had already sent Lord Wang, the left commander, to ambush troops near the capital, and to kill them immediately once the troops from southern Xinjiang arrived. Otherwise, how could the emperor feel comfortable pretending to be poisoned in the palace to lure Shen Tuo to send troops?

Qin Mingxuan looked at Shen Tuo again: "Lord Shen has secretly sent people to Southern Xinjiang many times. You don't think the emperor knows nothing about your whereabouts, do you? Lord Yu's secret guard camp is not a fake. Your every move has long been under control."

Qin Mingxuan took another step forward and said, "Sir Shen, I advise you to wake up as soon as possible. If you let go of the prince and confess your guilt, you can save your life. You can also keep the Shen family safe."

When Prince Cheng heard what Qin Mingxuan said, he couldn't help but close his eyes. Sure enough, his guess was correct. His evidence was only delivered to the palace yesterday, and the emperor was still in a coma. Even if the prince had this ability, it would be impossible for him to deploy troops so quickly. Such a result only proved that Shen Tuo had already been trapped in a jar. Shen Tuo would definitely not benefit from this palace coup.

Fortunately, I have been hiding behind Shen Tuo and have not revealed any information about myself. Now as long as I cover Shen Tuo's mouth and prevent him from reporting me, I can rest assured. Of course, if I can make a great contribution and gain the trust of the emperor, it will be even more beneficial to my future actions.

Thinking of the step he had arranged in advance, Prince Cheng was secretly proud, and calculated that the time was almost up. Prince Cheng stepped forward and reported to the Queen: "Your Majesty, there is a court doctor in my house, who originally came from my mother's family, the Mu family in Southern Xinjiang. Because I have been weak and sick since I was a child, the court doctor in my family mostly treats me according to the secret methods of Southern Xinjiang. Therefore, there are many rare medicines from Southern Xinjiang in my house, which may be able to cure the poison of the emperor and Concubine Shen."

The Queen knew that Prince Cheng's mother was a woman presented to the Mu Mansion in southern Xinjiang by the late Emperor. She was deeply loved by the late Emperor, but unfortunately she was implicated in the rebellion in southern Xinjiang and died in the cold palace.

Prince Cheng has suffered from many illnesses since childhood. It is not easy for him to live to this day despite all the hardships. It can be seen that the Nanjiang doctor in his mansion must have some skills.

The Queen was pleasantly surprised: "Now we can only ask the doctor in the Prince's Mansion to come and see the Emperor and Concubine Shen. If the poison can be cured, it will be a great achievement. Please ask the Prince to invite the doctor to the palace as soon as possible."

Prince Cheng walked over and whispered something to Yu Huaian, who signaled a secret guard to come and obey his orders, and then flew away. Shen Tuo was furious when he saw Prince Cheng trying to sabotage him: "Okay, Prince Cheng, you..."

Before Shen Tuo finished speaking, a man dressed as a guard from the Taiwei Mansion rushed in with a panicked look on his face. He knelt on the ground and said, "Sir, sir, I was ordered to protect the lady and the young master from leaving the capital. I didn't expect that the lady and the young master were kidnapped. Please forgive my incompetence!"

Shen Tuo's eyes turned red at this moment: "What a bunch of good-for-nothings, who kidnapped the Madam and the Young Master?" The guards fell to the ground: "I don't know, a bunch of black-clothed men, whose identities are unknown, but whose martial arts are extremely high. We are powerless even if we fight to the death."

Shen Tuo looked at the prince: "Even if Shen is guilty, the Queen Mother and the Queen have said that the crime does not extend to his wife and children. Why did Your Highness still attack Shen's wife and children!"

The prince, Yu Huaian, and Qin Mingxuan looked at each other, and they all shook their heads, indicating that they did not do anything. Yu Huaian shouted, "Do you think we are as bad as you? We are upright and will not do such a thing as taking someone's wife and children as hostages."

At this moment, someone behind Shen Tuo came forward and handed him a note. Shen Tuo quickly unfolded it, and after reading it, his eyes widened, almost bursting with anger.

He looked at Prince Cheng with red eyes. Prince Cheng did not change his expression and smiled slightly at Shen Tuo's hateful gaze. He knew what was written on the note because he had written it in advance and gave it to Mr. Mei. It was also he who asked Mr. Mei to arrange his own people to kidnap Shen Tuo's wife and children.

The old man wanted to send his wife and children away to leave himself a way out, so the Prince of Cheng naturally had to leave him a guarantee. With Shen Tuo's wife and children in hand, Shen Tuo naturally didn't dare to shout about his alliance with Shen Tuo. This time, Shen Tuo had to bear the responsibility of forcing the emperor to abdicate.

The note was written in his own handwriting, telling Shen Tuo that his wife and children were in his hands. As long as Shen Tuo did not reveal the fact that Prince Cheng and he had conspired to rebel, his wife and children would be safe. Otherwise, Shen Tuo would be left without any descendants.

Shen Tuo has many wives and concubines, but unfortunately he only has this one young son. Shen Tuo favors his young son very much and regards him as more precious than his own eyes. He can use his daughter to poison and do evil, but he escorts his son out of the city in times of crisis. He is really partial.

With such a hostage in his hand, he naturally didn't have to worry about Shen Tuo biting him, and he could get away safely, and at most he would have to sacrifice a few of his men.

Shen Tuo clenched the note tightly in his hand, feeling extremely angry. It was not until this moment that Shen Tuo realized Prince Cheng's sinister intentions and that he was being used by him and became a knife in his hand.

Prince Cheng instigated him to gather troops and rebel, but he himself hid behind the scenes and did not reveal his identity. If he could succeed, he could just sit back and reap the benefits.

Now that he has seen his plan fail, he has held his wife and children hostage and forced me to take all the blame, and I can't say anything about my suffering.

Shen Tuo worked hard all his life and thought he was a shrewd and wise man, but he didn't expect that in the end he would be harmed by the seemingly weak and innocent Prince Cheng.

Shen Tuo wanted to vomit blood in his heart, and he just wanted to go forward and stab this bastard. He thought about his youngest son, the only one in the Shen family, and he couldn't let anything happen to him. Shen Tuo clenched his teeth and couldn't say the words he wanted to yell at Cheng Junwang.

Shen Tuo looked up at the dark mass of archers on the palace wall, then turned around and looked at the men he had brought into the palace. The reinforcements outside had been completely wiped out, and those who had entered the palace had no chance of survival.

Think about how he had worked hard for decades, but in the end he ended up like this. If he confessed his guilt, he might be able to keep his life, but what's the point of living on in vain? Since Prince Cheng had betrayed him, he must have the emperor's antidote in his hand. When he gave himself the poison, he had already left himself a backup plan, waiting for the day when he could use the antidote to make great achievements.

I was laughed at by others for nothing. I couldn't let the emperor off for nothing even if I failed. The more Shen Tuo thought about it, the more unwilling he became. Shen Tuo looked at the prince and the knife in Zi Yuan's hand behind him. This was the only bargaining chip in his hand. He hadn't lost yet.

Shen Tuo looked at Zi Yuan: "Zi Yuan, please invite the prince over." He wanted to kidnap the prince and force his way out of the palace. As long as he had the green mountains, he would have no worries about firewood. He still had hidden gold and silver treasures, and he also had a son. He would definitely be able to make a comeback.

Everyone had seen through Shen Tuo's thoughts. Yu Huaian drew out his sword and pointed it at Zi Yuan, protecting the prince. The queen stood up in a hurry: "No! Commandant Shen, I can be your hostage to ensure your safe exit from the palace!"

The prince also shouted: "I don't want my mother to take my place. I'm not afraid!" The queen looked at the sensible prince and couldn't help crying.

When her elder sister entrusted her with her child before she died, the queen still remembered the look in her elder sister's eyes as she looked at the newborn baby, which was full of nostalgia and reluctance.

The queen, who was still a little girl at the time, cried in front of her sister's bed, holding her sister's hand and shouting at her sister not to leave.

The elder sister waved away the maids and attendants in the room, forced a smile, and comforted her younger sister: "Ruohua, I'm sorry. I know that the emperor doesn't like me, but it's hard to disobey the emperor's order. I still have to come to the palace."

"I always thought that if I had a child, I would live in harmony with the emperor and die in the palace. But now I am leaving, and I am worried about leaving the child to someone else. Daddy is worried that our family will lose favor after I die. So..."

"So, I made a suggestion to the Emperor, begging him to allow you to be his successor. This way, you can raise the children for your sister, and your father will be satisfied that you continue to maintain our glory. We are all relieved, but we are sorry that you have been wronged to become his successor."

"I'm sorry, sister. When you and the emperor have a child, I only ask you not to mistreat my child. I'll die with a smile on my face if he has a fiefdom where he can live in peace. Ruohua, please take good care of my child. I'm sorry, sister will pay you back in the next life."

The elder sister died after she finished speaking, with the last tear still in her eyes. The queen burst into tears after hearing her elder sister's words, thinking of how she and her elder sister grew up together and how they had a deep sisterly affection. The elder sister had always been very caring towards her younger sister.

The queen looked at the baby in the cradle and secretly made up her mind that she would never let her sister down and would do her best to raise her sister's child.

It was because of her sister's entrustment that the queen resolutely entered the palace. In order to prevent her sister's children from being affected by her own children in the future, she resolutely drank the sterilizing soup.

After entering the palace, the queen devoted herself to raising the child. The queen never concealed the fact that she was not his biological mother. Fortunately, the child was sensible and considerate, and he always loved the queen and was very close to her.

As the prince grew older, he became gentle and refined, and made some achievements in both reading and martial arts. He also showed the demeanor of a crown prince by learning government from the emperor. The ministers in the court were still very supportive of this future crown prince.

The queen was very pleased to see that the child she had raised was so outstanding. But now that there was a turmoil in the palace and the emperor was away, she would never let anything happen to the prince.

Shen Tuo looked at the Queen and the Crown Prince and sneered, "It is indeed a deep love between mother and son! Queen, don't worry. I just need the Crown Prince to escort me out of the capital safely. After leaving the capital for thirty miles, I will naturally release the Crown Prince."

After saying that, he looked at Zi Yuan coldly: "Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and invite the prince over. You should think about your brother!"

Xin He was so angry that she stamped her feet: "Shameless! Shameless!" After she finished cursing, she realized that the Fourth Prince was standing there in a daze. Xin He quickly covered her mouth: "Fourth Prince, I..."

The fourth prince shook his head repeatedly: "It doesn't matter, he is not my grandfather, I don't have such a grandfather, I hate him!"

The fourth prince raised his head and looked at Xin He in frustration: "Xin Er sister, it's all my fault. Do you look down on me? I actually have such a grandfather. I..."

Xinhe didn't expect the Fourth Prince to say such words at this time. Seeing the Fourth Prince, who was usually always laughing and happy, now look depressed and sad, Xinhe was suddenly speechless.

At this time, Yu Shen, who was standing next to him, spoke up: "What General Shen did was his own fault. You and Concubine Shen were both victims. You don't have to blame yourself. As you said, he never regarded you as his relative. You don't have to feel sad for him."

Hearing Yu Shen's words, the Fourth Prince suddenly raised his drooping head and looked at Yu Shen with sparkling eyes: "Master Yu, no, can I follow Xin He and call you Brother Shen? Thank you for what you said. Thank you!"

Xin He didn't expect that Yu Shen, who had always been taciturn, would say these words to the Fourth Prince at this time, and a smile appeared on her face. The mature and calm Brother Shen always said cold words, but he was so kind!