On the outskirts of Andu, Nanda Temple and the Main Hall.
The huge golden Buddha statue is gorgeous and solemn. Hundreds of burning candles illuminate the palace as if it were daytime. Emperor Andi Li Xuan is kneeling in front of the Buddha statue with his hands clasped together, looking extremely pious.
He stationed the troops from the central part of the country that he had transferred back to Nanda Temple, and he specifically chose tonight... to go out of the palace to pay homage to the Buddha.
Burn incense, pray, and pray again and again.
After rubbing his stiff legs, Andi stood up.
"Everyone get out."
Emperor An looked at the eunuch guards serving on the left and right, as well as the abbot of Nanda Temple: "Close the door."
The sound of closing the door sounded, and An Di knelt down again in front of the Buddha statue. This time, there was another person beside him.
The visitor stood there, and the strong smell of blood, mixed with the Buddhist incense, gave people an indescribable nauseating feeling.
"it's over?"
"Missed."
"What!?"
"The information you gave didn't say that he would appear at the Changqing Marquis Mansion."
A hoarse voice sounded from the black robe.
"Him? That Taoist priest?"
"right."
As if he couldn't get used to the candlelight in the Buddhist hall, the black shadow took a few steps back and merged into the darkness in the shadow: "The little girl you asked me to kill went to the Changqing Marquis Mansion after leaving the Chu Kingdom Palace. I want to go in. Kill her, and the Taoist priest will appear."
"That's because you have killed all the great masters I trained, so no one is looking at that Taoist priest."
No sound came from the shadows.
"This is the first time you have failed. If you fail again, I think we should discuss the terms of cooperation again."
"you dare!"
A gust of cold wind came from the shadows, and the candles lit in the Buddhist hall swayed, and most of them were extinguished in an instant. The cold voice was like a sound coming from Jiuyou, which chilled the bone marrow.
"Don't forget it! Li Xuan! I won't kill you! It's not because I don't want to kill you!"
——————
Andu, Siyi Pavilion.
Yang Ying yawned, and under Du Changzhi's eager eyes, she picked up the hat on the table and put it on her head.
There is no other reason.
Early in the morning, Duke Chu of Anguo came to Siyi Pavilion in person.
In order to rescue Emperor Wu these days, Yang Ying has visited too many Anguo officials. Most of them have been conciliatory, and some have simply closed the door.
The Duke of Chu had a high position and came in person, which surprised Du Changshi.
"My lord, I've been waiting for a long time. I didn't know that my lord was here and I missed you from a distance. Please forgive me."
As she led Du Changshi and Ning Yuanzhou into the main hall of the Siyi Pavilion, Yang Ying's eyes fell on the man standing in the center of the hall.
There was a seat next to the man and tea on the table, but he still stood and made no move to move the teacup.
"Please go out, please. I have something to discuss with His Royal Highness, Prince Li."
His eyes swept over Ning Yuanzhou and Du Changshi, and Duke Chu stared at Yang Ying, who was much shorter than him.
"this……"
Ning Yuanzhou and Du Changshi looked at each other, hesitantly.
"good."
Yang Ying nodded and looked at the two people behind her: "Master Du, Master Ning, you go out first. I believe that since the Duke is here, he is not here to harm me."
"yes."
Bang ~
There was an almost imperceptible sound of the door closing.
"My lord, please sit down. We can talk slowly if you have anything to say."
Yang Ying signaled Duke Chu to sit down.
"I can help you welcome Emperor Wu back."
The first words of Chu Guogong shocked Yang Ying: "Officials from Shaxi Province account for 20% of Anguo's court. If necessary, I can ask them to jointly submit a letter to ask Your Majesty to replace him as soon as possible. Prisoners."
"What does the Duke want?"
Taking a deep breath, Yang Ying forced herself to calm down.
"I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Li has a master. I have something to do. I hope he can help."
"Please forgive me for not agreeing to the Duke's conditions."
Without hesitation, Yang Ying rejected Chu Guogong's request.
"His Royal Highness, do you know what you are talking about?"
"I know very well that what the Duke wants my master to do for help must be very dangerous. Since I became a master, my master has always favored me and protected me. I must not put my master in danger because of my own selfish desires."
The girl's eyes were firm.
"His Royal Highness Prince Li..."
"My lord, please stop talking."
Yang Ying directly interrupted Chu Guogong, and then tried to persuade him: "Although the prisoner exchange is difficult, it depends on human effort. I have already written to Emperor An. Regardless of success or failure, there may be results in the near future. I will work hard on my own." .”
"Pindao agrees."
When Duke Chu was sighing, a sudden voice interrupted the conversation between the two.
Jingting, wearing a green Taoist robe, appeared beside the two of them at some point, with a smile on his face.
"Master~"
Seeing the fine cloth wrapped around Jingting's legs, Yang Ying's face was full of worry. She subconsciously wanted to go forward to check, but because of her identity, she stayed in place.
"My Lord Chu, I would like to thank the Taoist Priest for saving my daughter's life last night."
Seeing Jingting, Duke Chu took two steps forward and bowed down directly.
"No need."
Jingting raised her hand and a soft inner force came out of her body to support the Duke of Chu.
"Then...does the Taoist priest agree to my terms?"
"yes."
"Master~"
Yang Ying frowned and called Jingting again urgently.
"rest assured."
Jingting gave Yang Ying a reassuring look.
"In that case, please also ask the Taoist priest to move to the Duke of Chu's residence."
"No need, Pindao is at the Siyi Pavilion. If you are in danger, just call and Pindao will rush over immediately."
Jingting looked at Duke Chu in front of him: "You don't have to worry about the one in the palace. I can't help you with other things."
"That's enough. When I get back, I will start preparing for the prisoner exchange. Taoist priest, Your Highness, I bid farewell."
After bowing to Jingting again, Duke Chu turned and left.
"Master~"
As soon as Duke Chu left, Yang Ying ignored Ning Yuanzhou and Du Changshi who walked in outside, rushed to Jingting's side, and checked the wound on the Taoist priest's left leg.
"The minor injury is very superficial, it's okay~"
Jingting patted Yang Ying's back, indicating that the girl was still being watched.
"Hmm~"
Yang Ying blushed, then returned to her seat and sat down, assuming the posture of paying homage to His Royal Highness.
"Okay, what's going on when Duke Chu comes?"
Ning Yuanzhou couldn't help but smile when he saw Yang Ying's serious look.
"The Duke of Chu has promised to help us send a letter to Emperor An to rescue the emperor's brother."
Yang Ying looked at the two people in front of her.
"Very good."
Du Changzhi slapped his thigh: "Now the Holy One is saved!"
"What did it cost?"
Ning Yuanzhou noticed Jingting in the room and looked at the Taoist priest with a frown.
"Nothing, just protecting him for a while."
The Taoist priest smiled flatly.
"That master in the palace injured you yesterday."
"Not next time."
"..."
Ning Yuanzhou wanted to say some words of thanks, but looking at the Taoist's smiling face, it felt like a lump in his throat.
"If there is nothing else, I have to go to sleep for a while. I slept too late yesterday, which made me feel lack of energy early in the morning."
Stretching, Jingting walked towards the door. The Taoist priest's next words made Ning Yuanzhou's hair stand on end: "I might kill a prince tonight, so I have to have a good rest."
