Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 843 - 821: Assault on the Gate
After Lin Xiao received orders from Fang Chuning, he immediately left the palace, but was blocked at the palace gates. The city gate guards did not allow him to leave, and all four major palace gates were under strict lockdown. When Lin Xiao attempted to force his way through, the guards suddenly moved to capture him. Sensing the danger, Lin Xiao quickly retreated, hiding in the shadows of the night, waiting for a chance to escape the palace.
Having witnessed the open and secret struggles during the Yuwen Dynasty, and having trained with Xie Xun at the border for several years, he was both agile and intelligent. The lockdown at the palace gates was clearly premeditated. The Prince was likely in grave danger within the palace, so reinforcements from the courier station must enter the palace immediately. He knew the Shadow Guards were inside and would certainly signal for aid. All he needed was to protect himself and wait for Zhang Boxin to lead troops into the palace. Lin Xiao ran swiftly within the palace, with a group of Forbidden Army soldiers chasing him. He quickly jumped into a pond, using the lotus leaves to conceal himself.
He soon saw the unique signal for aid from the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, which put his mind at ease. He and Zhang Boxin not only indulged in leisure in Mudan City but also thoroughly understood the military deployments within the capital. That was the task Fang Chuning assigned them—to discern the troop deployments at the city gates and the overall military arrangements within the city while wandering around aimlessly. Ying Yi had already reviewed them once and compiled very clear documents. Fang Chuning had them check again to see if there were any changes.
Fang Chuning was mainly concerned that the military deployment in Sannan City might change, which would affect the ongoing peace talks. Recently their investigations revealed only some routine rotations, without significant issues. Moreover, since King of Sannan had signed the letter of submission, the entire courier station was quite relaxed. Privately, they discussed how they might be able to return home in a few days.
No one expected such a big event at tonight’s palace banquet.
Xie Jue and Fang Chuning entered the palace with three hundred men, while the rest stayed at the station. Recently everyone was busy shopping and preparing to go home, and the soldiers were quite relaxed. When the palace signaled, Zhang Boxin and his men were playing cards, thinking they could go to Chunfeng House to listen to music after Xie Jue returned. The green signal smoke of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry was particularly conspicuous in the night. Zhang Boxin’s spine chilled, his smile vanished, and he ordered sternly, "Everyone, get ready to set off immediately!"
"Yes!"
Though everyone was prepared to head home, they assembled swiftly, and Zhang Boxin led the cavalry out of the station, only to encounter Sannan’s five thousand Guard Army and Forbidden Army. The leader was the Sannan General Zhou Lin, who had drunk with Zhang Boxin before, blocking his path with a fully armed Guard Army.
"Young General Zhang, where are you headed this late?" Zhou Lin, though not tall, had a handsome, fair face. Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin privately joked that he looked more like a scholar rather than a battle-leading general. During drinking and revelry with Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin and others, he was obsequious and humble, even gifting gold, hoping to gain favor after submission. His demeanor now was worlds apart, as if he had become a different person.
The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry’s signals for aid are divided by urgency, and every cavalryman must discern this. A green three-shot signal means that any Ningzhou Iron Cavalry member, regardless of location or situation, must arrive at the event scene at all costs. This signal equates to the commander being in peril; if Xie Jue wasn’t facing life and death, the Shadow Guards wouldn’t send such a signal. Because they know that once it’s sent, Ningzhou Iron Cavalry from the station will fight their way to the palace, and the peace talks will be shattered. Zhang Boxin understood this, knowing the situation was grave, so he didn’t want to entangle with Zhou Lin.
"General Zhou, the Prince is in danger, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry must enter the palace. If you block me, face my sword!" Zhang Boxin, in full armor, slowly drew his sword, with a cold glow passing his eyes, drastically different from his usual boisterous, not-too-smart demeanor.
General Zhou Lin said, "Young General Zhang, calm down. It’s just a little misunderstanding during the Prince’s banquet in the palace. The Shadow Guards exaggerated, and it’s been resolved. Young General Zhang, you could wait an hour for news. Ahead is the heavily guarded Royal Palace; the Guard Army is responsible for its security. No one can enter without authorization, much less the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. If you insist, war ensues, undoing our efforts for peace talks. General, why not wait with your troops for news..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
"Men, charge, kill them all, anyone who dares block, kill without mercy. Ningzhou Iron Cavalry must escort the Prince tonight!" Zhang Boxin raised his longsword skyward, and, at his command, thousands surged forward, engaging the Sannan Guard Army in fierce battle.
A little misunderstanding?
The Shadow Guards never err—it’s the Prince’s Shadow Guards, solely devoted to him. For ordinary dangers, they don’t disturb the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry unless they encounter an unsolvable issue.
Years ago, Xie Jue was nearly assassinated by Yuwen Jing’s death squads in Ningzhou, barely surviving. Even then, the Shadow Guards did not signal for help. Anyone who has been with Xie Jue knows that the Shadow Guards execute tasks cleanly and accurately—there’s no such thing as a "misunderstanding." Waiting an hour here might mean Xie Jue’s corpse cools. If anything happens to Xie Jue, their entourage can’t face returning to Xie Xun!
Zhang Boxin didn’t want to waste a single word, spurred his horse, and went directly at Zhou Lin, understanding that capturing the leader was crucial. Zhou Lin raised his knife to meet him. Just days ago, they drank and called each other "brother," but now they met as foes. Zhang Boxin gritted his teeth, "I’m General Zhang, not Young General Zhang!"
Zhou Lin couldn’t withstand Zhang Boxin for several bouts. Zhang Boxin, who had fought against the Beiman Army on the Ningzhou Battlefield, was not only experienced but also fiercely and precisely lethal. Within a few bouts, Zhou Lin was knocked off his horse, in an utterly sorry state. The Sannan Guard Army could only withstand the valorous Ningzhou Iron Cavalry by heaping human lives.
Zhang Boxin leapt on horseback, his horse’s hooves nearly trampling Zhou Lin as he tumbled to the ground and narrowly dodged. Zhang Boxin did not tarry, "I’ll lead the men to the palace gates. Li Ming, cover the rear."
"Yes!"
Zhang Boxin was clear-headed—they were to rescue at the Royal Palace, not to battle with Sannan Guard Army. Thus, he led the men to the palace gates, while Li Ming covered the rear. The Sannan Guard Army was scattered and couldn’t stop them. Zhang Boxin led half the men hastily to the Royal Palace. This contingent of Ningzhou Iron Cavalry was the finest cavalry, taking merely a quarter of an hour from the station to the palace gates. Zhang Boxin soon arrived at the gates with his men.
The palace gates were sealed shut, and Zhang Boxin saw the second signal from within the Royal Palace. As the Sannan Forbidden Army atop the gates was about to intervene, Zhang Boxin, cold sweat descending in the cold wind, didn’t waste any words, "Attack the gate, kill your way in!"
