Return of the Pearl

The secret guards supported each other, struggling to hold on. They stared at Altai with angry eyes. One of them gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain in his body, and said angrily, "You knew that the emperor was here, yet you still dared to act so disobediently. You are simply courting death! Aren't you afraid that the emperor will tear you into pieces?"

Altai raised his head and laughed, the laughter seemed particularly harsh in the silent space. He said disdainfully: "Life? Of course I want it, but the emperor's life will probably remain in this cave. He shouldn't have come. I will let you go back today. Tell the emperor that tomorrow morning, I want the emperor to come alone, without any soldiers. Otherwise, I can only give him the body of Concubine Xiao!" After that, he glanced at the secret guards with contempt, turned and left, leaving the secret guards there, their hearts full of resentment and worry.

When the secret guards heard Altai's threat, the anger in their hearts was instantly ignited and burned fiercely. Their eyes were wide open, as big as copper bells, and fire seemed to be spewing from their eyes. The angry look seemed to be able to pierce Altai. Their hands were clenched into fists, and the veins on the back of their hands bulged, winding like earthworms, showing the extreme resentment in their hearts.

However, they also knew that they were outnumbered and unable to fight back. Although they were filled with reluctance and helplessness, they also understood that they were powerless at the moment. They could only grit their teeth and support themselves with pain all over their bodies, staggering back step by step. Every step seemed to use up all their strength, and every step was filled with deep humiliation and grief.

Xiao Yun, who was in the room, naturally also heard the sounds of fierce fighting coming from outside. The crisp sounds of swords clashing and the dull sounds of collisions were like heavy hammers hitting her heart. She knew that Hongli must be extremely anxious and sent people to rescue her.

However, not long after, the sound of fighting gradually stopped. Xiao Yun's heart sank suddenly. She knew clearly that this meant the rescue had failed. An indescribable sense of self-blame and guilt surged in her heart, drowning her like a tide.

She seemed to be able to see those figures who fought bravely to save him, they fell in a pool of blood, their eyes still filled with concern and worry for her. She seemed to be able to feel their hot blood spilled on the cold ground, and the warm touch made her heart ache.

She didn't know how many people had sacrificed their lives to save her. How could she not feel guilty about all those lives lost because of her? She felt so useless. Her eyes were wet, tears welling up in them, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. Her heart was filled with pain and regret. How could she face those who had given their lives for her?

County Office

The secret guards gritted their teeth, endured the tearing pain in their bodies, moved step by step with great difficulty, and finally returned to the county government office.

When Qianlong saw that the team of secret guards that had been sent out in a mighty force of dozens of people was now reduced to only four people returning in a miserable state, and each of them was covered with scars, new and old wounds intertwined, bloodstained, and it was a horrible sight, Qianlong's eyes flashed with a trace of regret and helplessness. Without asking, one could guess that the rescue operation ended in failure.

Qianlong's eyes slowly swept over the four secret guards, his eyes full of regret and sorrow. He carefully looked at the shocking wounds on their bodies. Those wounds seemed to be silently telling him the cruelty and tragedy of the battle.

Some of those wounds were so deep that the bones could be seen, some had the skin and flesh turned inside out, and some were still oozing blood. It looked horrifying. Qianlong seemed to be able to see the scene of them fighting desperately with the enemy and hear their roars and the sounds of fighting.

He originally thought that even if only one or two secret guards were unable to complete the task, he would send out all the secret guards around him and should be able to bring Yun'er back safely. However, he never expected that the final result would be like this. This made his heart full of disappointment and self-blame. He regretted that he had not thought more carefully and made more adequate preparations.

The secret guards all knelt on the ground with their heads lowered, as if a heavy burden was pressing on their shoulders. Their voices were full of self-blame and guilt, and their words were trembling, as if they were crying: "We are useless and cannot save Concubine Xiao. Altai also asked us to bring you a message. Tomorrow morning, he wants you to go to the Shandong Governor's Mansion alone, otherwise he will kill Concubine Xiao." Every word was filled with their deep pain and self-blame, as if one could see the endless regret and sorrow in their hearts.

As Qianlong listened to the words of the secret guards, he felt grief and indignation in his heart. The emotion was like surging waves, one wave higher than the other, hitting his soul. His throat seemed to be tightly strangled by something, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Thousands of words were stuck in his throat, unable to be expressed smoothly.

After a long time, Qianlong slowly raised his hand. That hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and he waved it with difficulty. The secret guards were relieved. They stood up with difficulty. Every movement seemed so heavy and difficult. They received the order to go down to heal the wounds, and every step seemed to be stepping on Qianlong's heart, making his heart ache even more.

At this moment, Fu Heng's brows were furrowed tightly, and a look of worry hung over his face like a dark cloud. He was extremely anxious, knowing Qianlong's temperament well and fearing that he would make an impulsive decision.

So, without the slightest hesitation, Fu Heng resolutely knelt on his knees. His resolute posture seemed to speak of his determination. He said earnestly, "Your Majesty, please think twice. You must not go to the banquet alone tomorrow!"

Almost at the same time, Erkang also knelt down, keeping the same posture as Fuheng, and pleaded with Qianlong in unison: "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Qianlong showed no anger at Fuheng and Erkang's behavior, nor did he blame them. He knew very well that attending the banquet tomorrow was inevitable.

"If anything happens to me, then the fifth prince Yongqi will be made emperor." Qianlong said slowly.

After hearing this, Fu Heng could no longer suppress his inner worry and anxiety. He couldn't help but persuade again: "Your Majesty, you clearly know that this is an elaborate trap, why do you still insist on it..." He frowned, his face full of worry and confusion, and his voice also revealed deep concern.

Qianlong suddenly became extremely calm at this moment. His voice was low but full of power. "Because he has strangled my lifeline! The Qing Dynasty can do without me, but I can never do without Yun'er. If I can return safely, what I said today will be regarded as never said; if I encounter an accident, you will act according to this decree." After speaking, Qianlong turned around without looking back and returned to the room alone.

Fu Heng and Fu Lun looked at each other, and saw full of emotion and helplessness in each other's eyes. For a moment, all kinds of emotions intertwined in their hearts, emotion, helplessness, worry, melancholy...all kinds of thoughts surged like a tide, making their hearts full of mixed feelings, and their thoughts were complicated and difficult to sort out.