Chapter 668 - 498: Changes in the Capital

Spring thunder rumbled, heavy rain poured down.

Pei Jian seemed to have a premonition that something would happen. All night long, he was restless, standing at the central door of the government hall, gazing at the torrential rain falling from the sky.

"Master, it’s late, you should rest." The old servant couldn’t bear it and came over to persuade him.

These days, all the affairs concerning Dongshan Prefecture’s "epidemic prevention" were pressed onto Pei Jian’s shoulders. Even though Pei Jian had martial arts cultivation of the Blood Fusion Realm, enduring with such intensity also wore him down. Not to mention, he had suffered some minor injuries in battle before.

Although it was not a big deal, he had not had the opportunity to recover afterward.

The intensity of the work these days had a significant impact on him. At least he often coughed occasionally into his hand, something he never did before.

"How long has Qingfeng been gone?"

"Mr. Zhuo has been gone a whole day..."

"He should have reached Cloud-Riding Ridge by now." Pei Jian glanced at the downpour in the courtyard outside, his gaze carrying a hint of worry.

"Governor Sir..."

A subordinate hurriedly entered through the archway, his robe almost soaked, clearly just returning from outside.

"Mr. Zhuo’s eagle message has arrived."

"Quick, give it to me." Pei Jian stepped forward and snatched the bamboo tube containing the eagle message from the other’s hand.

"Lamp."

Pei Jian immediately broke the seal on the bamboo tube, took out the letter inside, and upon reading it, his expression immediately changed: "Quick, prepare the carriage to Shanglin Temple."

"Master, right now?"

"Yes, right now, hurry." Pei Jian said coldly, "Send someone to immediately inform Mr. Tie of the Yulin Guard to meet me at Shanglin Temple with Mr. Su."

"Yes."

At Shanglin Temple, Su Mobai wasn’t as exhausted as Pei Jian, but such heavy rain kept him from sleeping well even if he had retired early.

The Crown Prince is about to arrive in Dongshan, and as the Imperial Envoy, his situation might become difficult. If the Crown Prince forces him to take a side, what should he do?

He wasn’t afraid of siding with the Crown Prince; rather, he belonged to the faction of Lien, whose political stance was to remain neutral and not get involved in royal succession matters. If he did take a side, it would go against his principles.

Actually, he leaned toward the Crown Prince’s succession. After all, he was established as the heir long ago. The Crown Prince, besides the flaw of having no heir, is otherwise impeccable.

Even if his talent is not exceptional, at least he has over a decade of experience in governance, participation in state affairs, and policymaking. He may not be a pioneering monarch, but at least he could be a stable ruler.

First the Crown Prince, then his own daughter Su Yi, and he heard that the Crown Prince had once mentioned to the Grant Minister about wanting to take Su Yi as a concubine.

But due to Su Yi’s rumors, now times have changed, and Su Yi’s age, even if the Crown Prince still had this idea, it probably isn’t feasible.

Half asleep and half awake, suddenly he heard a sharp knock on the door.

"Who?"

"Sir, it’s me, Mr. Pei is here urgently!"

"Pei Jian?" Su Mobai was startled, quickly got up from the bed, dressed, put on his shoes, and hurriedly opened the door.

"Mr. Su, the Crown Prince was ambushed at Cloud-Riding Ridge, more than half of his guards were wounded or killed. I have already notified Tie Lin, who will lead troops to Jishi Posthouse immediately." Pei Jian said directly upon seeing Su Mobai.

"What, the Crown Prince was ambushed again at Cloud-Riding Ridge?" Su Mobai heard this and was so frightened that his soul flew away; if something happened to the Crown Prince, Da Li’s world would collapse.

"Yes, I previously arranged for Zhuo Qingfeng to lead people to meet him and just happened to join the Crown Prince. Now it is uncertain if the assassins have further plans, so we must act immediately." Pei Jian said, "Mr. Su, I can’t leave Dongshan City, so I must trouble you to run this errand."

"I, I’m a civil official, unable to even bind a chicken..." Su Mobai pointed to himself and said.

"You can go with Mr. Tie, take a battalion of Yulin Guards. As long as you join the Crown Prince, no thief would dare lay hands on him again."

"Mr. Tie is also going, alright, let me change clothes..." Su Mobai realized he couldn’t dodge this responsibility.

It seems he must board the Crown Prince’s ship whether he wants to or not.

Tie Lin, upon receiving the notification from Pei Jian, also hurriedly rushed to Shanglin Temple. Upon hearing that the Crown Prince was ambushed again at Cloud-Riding Ridge, he was equally frightened.

Pei Jian wouldn’t lie about such matters, hence he immediately gathered a battalion of Yulin Guards to escort Su Mobai out of the city overnight to Jishi Posthouse.

...

"Hoo!"

A graceful figure surfaced from the water, Yue Mei’Er opened her red lips, breathing in air. This "Dual Cultivation" in the water.

Was even more stimulating than on the bed.

Holding one’s breath underwater made the body more sensitive, able to achieve a stronger sense of satisfaction.

Such a fun activity was snatched by that old woman Situ Wan first, but it doesn’t matter, her underwater techniques should be less varied than mine.

Lin Miao was still underwater, not surfacing; he was training in breath-holding, which is beneficial for both cultivation and endurance.

Now he had already advanced to the top grade of the Meridian Passage Realm, although in outsiders’ eyes, he was already a top expert, it still wasn’t enough facing Tianyuan.

His opponents, or rather enemies, were too powerful. He must seize every moment to enhance himself.

"The young master is indeed diligent. I imagine even without entering the Moon Pool Secret Realm, the young master could soon advance to Tianyuan; the young master’s talent is frighteningly strong..." Yue Mei’Er said to herself as she sat on a stone platform at the edge of the hot spring, looking at the silhouette underwater.