chsdbacks Chapter 249 Liu Hongyan has been arrested? What happened in the Li Yang Dynasty?
Chapter 249 Liu Hongyan has been arrested? What happened in the Li Yang Dynasty?
Xu Longxiang sat behind the long table, motionless.
He was still wearing the same dark black python robe he wore yesterday, the robe was full of wrinkles, and the collar was slightly open, revealing his cold and hard collarbone.
His hair was a little messy, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead. There were deep dark circles under his eyes, and a bluish stubble on his chin.
sleepless nights.
Xu Longxiang's gaze fell on the few empty pigeon coops.
The cages had their doors open, and they were empty.
Only a few gray feathers were scattered at the bottom of the cage.
His brows were furrowed tightly.
His brows furrowed into a deep "川" shape.
His fingers tapped lightly on the long table, once, then again.
The sound was exceptionally clear in the silent Zhenyue Hall, like a silent urging.
Inside the hall, three more people were standing.
Sikong Xuan was still wearing that old, dusty gray robe, standing on the left side of the long table, his aged face full of solemnity.
Fan Li stood on the right, the hem of his blue scholar's robe dusty, clearly indicating he had jogged all the way.
Han Ying knelt in the center of the hall, head bowed, not daring to breathe.
The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.
Still no news?
Xu Longxiang spoke.
His voice was hoarse, carrying the fatigue of a sleepless night, yet unusually steady.
Han Ying raised her head, her young face filled with fear.
"Your Highness...no."
His voice trembled slightly:
"This morning, I released three more carrier pigeons, the fastest in our Northern Army. Judging by the distance, they should have already reached Liyang territory. But..."
He paused, then lowered his head:
"Still no reply."
Xu Longxiang's fingers paused for a moment on the long table.
Then, they continued striking.
one more time.
"Where are the spies?" he asked.
Han Ying quickly said:
"My subordinates dispatched three groups of scouts, all highly skilled in stealth and reconnaissance. The first group should have arrived at the border of Liyang this morning, the second is still on its way, and the third has just set off..."
He paused, then added:
"We haven't received any news from the first wave yet."
Xu Longxiang remained silent for a moment.
His gaze fell on the few empty pigeon coops.
It then fell upon the increasingly bright morning light outside the window.
Then, he slowly began to speak.
The voice was soft, yet every word was clear:
"Is Liu Hongyan's location surrounded by soldiers of the Li Yang Dynasty?"
Han Ying nodded:
"Yes. According to our informants in Liyang, two days ago, the residence where Liu Hongyan was hiding was suddenly surrounded by a group of Liyang Imperial Guards. They blocked all entrances and exits, and no one was allowed to enter or leave."
Xu Longxiang's brows furrowed even more deeply.
He recalled the message he had received a few days earlier.
Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang was assassinated at the Nujiang ferry crossing. Her sword god Li Chunfeng intervened and wiped out the entire Nujiang Gang.
At the time, he thought it was just an accident.
They assumed Zhao Qingxue was safe and sound and had returned to Liyang.
But now it seems...
Things don't seem to be that simple.
"Your Highness," Fan Li said, his voice tinged with seriousness, "Do you think... something might have happened in Li Yang?"
Xu Longxiang remained silent for a moment.
Then, he shook his head.
"No," he said, his voice firm.
"Zhao Qingxue is not that kind of person."
Fan Li opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But looking at Xu Longxiang's resolute face, he ultimately said nothing.
Just then.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
All eyes turned to the palace gate at the same time.
A spy dressed in gray strode into Zhenyue Hall and knelt on one knee.
"Your Highness!" His voice was urgent. "There's news from Liyang!"
Xu Longxiang sat up abruptly.
"explain!"
The scout took a deep breath and quickly reported:
"Our scouts have just returned with news. The residence where Liu Hongyan is hiding has indeed been surrounded by the Li Yang Imperial Guards. However, according to our scouts, the guards are merely carrying out an encirclement mission and have not made any arrests. There are no signs of fighting or killing inside or outside the residence."
"in addition--"
He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes:
"Our spies discovered that the commander of those imperial guards is Fang Hecheng, the deputy commander of the Liyang Imperial Guards."
"Fang Hecheng?!" Fan Li exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Longxiang's pupils contracted slightly.
Fang Hecheng.
Deputy Commander of the Liyang Imperial Guards, and one of Zhao Qingxue's most trusted confidants.
He personally led his troops to surround Liu Hongyan's hiding place—
What does this mean?
This means that Zhao Qingxue personally gave the order.
Xu Longxiang's fingers clenched tightly.
A soft "click" came from the edge of the long table.
His expression became extremely solemn.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
The scout shook his head.
"That's all for now. The spies are still observing, and they'll send back any new information immediately."
Xu Longxiang waved his hand.
The scout bowed and withdrew.
Inside Zhenyue Hall, a deathly silence fell once again.
Sikong Xuan and Fan Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.
Han Ying knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.
Xu Longxiang sat behind the long table, motionless.
His gaze fell on the few empty pigeon coops.
It landed on those secret letters that received no reply.
It falls on the increasingly bright morning light outside the window.
Countless thoughts surged wildly in my mind.
He had clearly reached an alliance with Zhao Qingxue, so why did he send troops to surround Liu Hongyan's residence?
Is Zhao Qingxue going to back out?
Is she no longer planning to form an alliance?
But Xu Longxiang quickly suppressed these thoughts.
Will not.
He said to himself.
Zhao Qingxue is not that kind of person.
She is intelligent, cautious, and extremely shrewd.
She must have had her reasons for choosing to ally with him.
She will not easily betray her allies.
Xu Longxiang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, there was a cold calm in those deep brown eyes.
"Pass down the order," he said, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion.
"Everyone stay still. Do not move without my order."
"Continue to monitor Liu Hongyan's situation and report back immediately if there is any news."
"in addition,"
He paused, his gaze falling on Fan Li:
"Send people to secretly investigate the movements of the closest dynasty to Liyang, especially Zhao Qingxue's whereabouts and the unusual activities in the court."
Fan Li bowed:
"yes!"
He turned around and strode out of Zhenyue Hall.
The footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared outside the hall.
Sikong Xuan stood there, looking at Xu Longxiang's tense face.
His aged face was full of worry.
"Your Highness," he began, his voice hoarse, "what do you think... has happened in Liyang?"
Xu Longxiang remained silent for a moment.
Then, he slowly began to speak.
The voice was soft, yet every word was clear:
"I have no idea."
He paused, his gaze falling on the few empty pigeon coops:
"But I have a bad feeling."
Sikong Xuan's brows furrowed tightly.
A bad feeling.
For the crown prince to say something like that, the matter is probably not simple.
"Then we..." he asked tentatively.
Xu Longxiang waved his hand.
"Hold your positions for now," he said. "We cannot act rashly until we have a clear understanding of the situation."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the increasingly bright morning light outside the window:
"I can wait."
Sikong Xuan nodded and said no more.
He turned around and slowly walked out of Zhenyue Hall.
His aged figure appeared particularly hunched in the morning light.
Inside the hall, only Xu Longxiang remained.
He sat behind the long table, motionless.
My gaze remained fixed on those few empty pigeon coops.
It landed on those few carrier pigeons that would never return.
for a long time.
He slowly stood up.
Walk to the window and open it.
The morning breeze swept into the palace, carrying the chill unique to the North, ruffling the stray hairs at his temples and his dark python robe.
He looked out the window.
Looking at the rising sun.
Looking at the vast, boundless northern land illuminated by the morning light.
That question kept replaying in my mind.
Zhao Qingxue, what's wrong with you?
Why surround Liu Hongyan?
Why haven't we heard anything?
Does our alliance still stand?
He didn't know the answer.
All I know is that at this moment—
He could only wait.
Waiting for news that will never come.
He's waiting for the person he's kept hidden in his heart for so many years to give him an answer.
The morning light grew brighter.
A new day has begun.
Inside the Zhenyue Hall of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, the dark figure still stood by the window.
Like a silent statue.