The first time in history

At the second watch, Qian Ming was already standing inside the palace wall of Guanwa Palace. He arrived a little earlier than the time agreed with Jiang Ying. After inspecting the guards, he stood under the towering old tree outside the palace and hid his figure in the shadow of the tree.

He needed to use this quiet moment to think about what had happened in the past few days.

It was a relief to successfully connect with Miss Tian and Xi Shi, but the arrest of Mr. Tian was a cause of great concern.

I wonder what rescue strategy Tian and Xi Shi are planning? What are the chances of a successful rescue? What are the follow-up plans after a successful rescue? If the rescue fails... I guess everyone will die together.

Although Zheng Dan's matter doesn't need to be taken too seriously for now, Qian Mingduo has been struggling with whether he should tell Xi Shi about Zheng Dan's matter.

At this moment, the door of the hall slowly opened with a creaking sound. A maid walked out of the hall and went down the stairs.

"It's Xiaoke." Qian Mingduo waited until Xiaoke walked to the big tree and then slowly appeared.

"Is Lord Ling on duty tonight?" Xiao Ke asked softly.

"Yes, I'm on duty tonight."

"The young lady wants to go to Shihu Lake for sightseeing the day after tomorrow. Please accompany her and serve as a guard."

"Then..." Qian Mingduo was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand. When will the young lady leave?"

"It's five quarters past the hour of Mao." Xiao Ke saluted and said, "My lord, you are on duty tonight and will have to accompany me tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work."

"Where is Miss Xishi going the day after tomorrow?" Jiang Ying happened to hear Xiaoke's words, so she walked to Qian Mingduo and asked softly.

"The young lady will go to Shihu the day after tomorrow. Please ask the adults to protect Zhou Xiang."

"Why did Miss Xiaoke come to tell us so late?" Jiang Ying said puzzledly, looking at Xiaoke's back.

"It's possible that Miss Xi Shi made the decision suddenly on a whim!" Qian Mingduo saw Jiang Ying with a little makeup on under the moonlight, exuding fragrance.

"Miss Ying," Qian Mingduo looked Jiang Ying up and down, nodding his head. "You are like a delicate flower tonight, beautiful and fragrant."

"Lord Ling, you're joking." Jiang Ying smiled reservedly.

Qian Mingduo walked around behind Jiang Ying, put his nose in her neck, and took a deep breath. He couldn't help but exclaimed: "What kind of makeup Miss Ying is wearing is much better than some French or Italian perfume from 2,500 years later."

"I don't know what kind of makeup she is." Jiang Ying paced a few steps under the shadow of the tree.

Qian Mingduo looked back at his surroundings, put his hands in his pockets, and was about to slowly walk under the shadow of the tree.

"Shua, shua, shua" suddenly heard a burst of orderly footsteps behind him, Qian Mingduo turned around quickly and saw a line of imperial guards walking towards them not far away.

"What are the imperial guards doing here?" Jiang Ying stood beside Qian Mingduo and asked softly.

“I don’t know.” Qian Mingduo cursed in his heart, “What a bunch of shit.”

A Minggang guard stopped the imperial guards, and Qian Mingduo and Jiang Ying hurried over.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Ying asked loudly, "Don't you know your responsibilities?"

"Jiang Gongzheng," a leading sergeant came from the middle of the line and bowed, "We are under the order of the lieutenant to patrol and inspect the Guanwa Palace every night during the King's Huangchi Alliance."

"It is my duty as a palace guard to inspect the Guanwa Palace." Qian Mingduo said, "Why bother with your imperial guards?"

"Sir," the leading sergeant said, "We are patrolling and inspecting Guanwa Palace under the order of our Imperial Guard Captain. Why don't you go and ask our Imperial Guard Captain for advice? Why bother us?" After the sergeant finished speaking, he waved his hand at the team and said loudly, "Continue patrolling and inspecting."

"How dare you?" Jiang Ying drew out her sword and stopped the queue. "You all know that this is the bedroom of the king's beloved concubine. Except for my palace guards, no one is allowed to approach."

The royal guards in distinctive armor took a step back at the same time, pointing their spears at Jiang Ying. Qian Mingduo stopped several guards who wanted to rush over to help, and signaled them to return to their posts.

Just as the little leader of the imperial guards was commanding his men to gradually approach Jiang Ying, a chill came from the back of his neck. It turned out that when Qian Mingduo pretended to dissuade each other, he took advantage of the little leader's unpreparedness and suddenly drew out his sword and put it on his neck.

"Miss Ying, come behind me." Qian Mingduo said softly.

"Do you want to die?" Qian Mingduo said calmly to the little leader.

"Sir..." the little leader said in a trembling voice, "I am just following the orders of the captain. Why do you have to treat me like this?"

"I'm asking you one last fucking question!" Qian Mingduo's voice was chilling, like a chill wind blowing from the depths of hell, making people shudder. His eyes were like those of a hungry wolf, staring closely at the imperial guards.

"Do you want to die?" he asked again coldly, his tone full of threats and murderous intent.

As he finished speaking, he pressed the sword down hard, and the sharp blade pierced his skin, oozing a trace of blood. This action made the little leader feel unprecedented fear and pressure. He knew that if he didn't make a choice, he might really die.

"No, no." The little leader said tremblingly, "I don't want to die, please spare my life, sir."

"Tell your subordinates to put down their spears and weapons." Qian Mingduo said slowly.

"Do you want to go in for inspection?" Seeing the imperial guards putting their spears and halberds on the ground, Qian Mingduo asked jokingly.

"No... I don't want to think about it anymore." The little leader felt the blood slowly flowing down his neck. He trembled all over and said, "I don't want to think about it anymore."

"Actually, it's very simple for you to get in." Qian Mingduo slowly moved the sword to his crotch and tapped it gently. The little leader shuddered all over. "Just snap this thing of yours, and you can enter this Guanwa Palace."

"Sir..." the little leader begged, "Please let me go, I will take my brothers and leave here. I hope you will show mercy and forgive me."

"Get lost." Jiang Ying held Qian Mingduo's sword-holding hand and shouted to the little leader, "Take your people and leave here quickly."

Looking at the imperial guards fleeing in panic, Jiang Ying breathed a sigh of relief. She realized that she was still holding Qian Mingduo's hand, so she quickly let go and glanced at Qian Mingduo shyly.

Qian Mingduo sheathed his sword, put his hands in his pockets, looked at the direction where the Imperial Guards were going, and said thoughtfully, "Maybe the commanding general of the Imperial Guards and our general manager have already discussed this matter, but just didn't tell us. Miss Ying, do you think this is possible?"

"Hmm..." Jiang Ying thought for a moment and said, "It's possible. But the Imperial Guards have been on duty at the palace walls. Even if the commanding general of the Imperial Guards and the general manager have discussed this matter...why would they do this?"

"Ask the steward tomorrow and everything will be clear," said Qian Mingduo.