After crossing, I was forced to hold on to my thighs and build a kingdom

That night, the third prince received a secret report from the servants who had been waiting outside the Du family's door all night.

Not long ago, the doctor who often visited the Du family and treated old lady Du's illness came again.

When leaving, the two young masters of the Du family also went to the drugstore with him, claiming that they wanted to buy the herbs themselves to show their filial piety to their sick grandmother.

About an hour later, the two young masters returned to the Du family with several bags of medicinal herbs in their hands and looked calm.

The Third Prince asked again, "Where are the others? Have the two masters of the Du family made any unusual moves?"

The answer was no. Apart from the necessary work, the two masters stayed at home all the time.

It seems that the Du family has accepted their fate. It would be better if they could just be content and live longer.

Thinking of this, the Third Prince instructed his servants, "Go back and continue guarding! The palace has been busy these past few days. If there's nothing important happening at the Du family, don't report everything to me."

It sounded like these words meant turning a blind eye to the Du family.

The servant withdrew respectfully, and went back to guard the Du family, trying to figure out what his master meant.

On August 7, Prince Dingbei's son Su Cheng'an was finally able to sit up and eat some porridge, but his movements were still very difficult and he could only walk extremely slowly.

Seeing that the grand ceremony was approaching, the Prince of Dingbei sent someone to present his name card to the court. His words were respectful and detailed that he had become physically weak and his vitality was severely damaged due to improper diet two days ago.

Until now, he has been staggering and unable to move. He feels that his sick and disabled body makes it difficult for him to enter the solemn court and participate in such a grand ceremony as the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony. He is afraid that his embarrassed appearance will undermine the solemnity of the court and make him a laughing stock.

Therefore, he earnestly requests the court to revoke the decree allowing him to watch the enthronement ceremony, and hopes that the court will understand his difficulties.

If he doesn't go, how can the Third Prince implement his plans?

After learning about this, the third prince immediately stepped forward and rejected the request of the Prince of Dingbei with an unquestionable attitude.

Anyway, the main target tomorrow is Su Cheng'an, and it doesn't matter if there are a few more or fewer people. The third prince is full of confidence about this, so he issued an edict in a high-sounding manner.

Taking into account Su Cheng'an's poor health and the fact that he had many inconveniences in moving, the Third Prince, out of magnanimity, specially allowed him to bring several personal guards with him so that they could serve him closely during the ceremony and ensure that he could smoothly participate in tomorrow's enthronement ceremony.

Upon learning the result, Su Cheng'an and Chen Zhe looked at each other and both showed a cold smile that was not surprising.

"Now I've asked to resign due to my poor health, but he won't even approve it. It seems the Hongmen Feast has already been prepared. He'll definitely treat me to a meal tomorrow!"

"How did the conversation between the two princes go?" Chen Zhe thought for a moment and asked.

"Having obtained so many good things and being able to help them get revenge, they were naturally overjoyed and readily agreed."

Su Cheng'an rubbed his tightly furrowed brows, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face. "However, I don't intend to rely solely on those two useless people. We still need to prepare everything ourselves to be foolproof and perfect. But if we do so, I'm afraid Li Bao will be trapped in a desperate situation of life and death..."

"Don't worry, Prince Li Bao. Even you personally risked your life, let alone a mere commoner like him."

Chen Zhe looked out the door and sighed softly, "Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things have never sought perfection in everything. We are facing the most powerful enemy of our lives. Your ability to escape safely is already the greatest victory."

"As for the rest, even if some sacrifices are necessary, they are unavoidable. If there ever comes a day when my life can be used for a greater cause, I will certainly not hesitate to die."

"What's more, Li Bao's hatred for the Third Prince and Chen Jie runs deep. If it weren't for Your Highness's appearance, he wouldn't be able to easily defeat Chen Jie, let alone the Third Prince. Now that Your Highness has helped him avenge half of his family's vengeance, the remaining hatred will surely be fulfilled sooner or later."

"He shares our goal, and this isn't necessarily a dead end. Even if he truly were to die, Li Bao wouldn't shirk responsibility."

"Uncle Chen is right. With important matters at hand, we really can't care about so many things. Let's just leave it at that!" Su Cheng'an sighed and ended the topic.

Thinking of the Du family, he called Qingying over and asked, "How are things going at the Du family?"

"According to the Young Master's instructions, Qing Huan and Qing Yue returned home safely last night in place of the two young masters of the Du family. This morning, the two young masters, escorted by several Qingyun Guards, rode at full speed to the northern border."

Su Cheng'an nodded and asked, "What about my uncles and aunts?"

"This morning, my two uncles went to work as usual, and my uncles and their wives went to the Great Buddha Temple outside Beijing as planned to pray for the old lady. They must have arrived by now. Unfortunately, our carriage will break down this evening, so we will have to stay overnight at a kind family's farm nearby."

Su Cheng'an nodded, "Then, after the two uncles are dismissed from their posts, they will worry about their wives and rush from the mansion to the Big Buddha Temple. After a night of tossing and turning, they will eventually find the wife of the farm owner."

"The Third Prince's enthronement ceremony will begin at dawn, so I'm sure these trivial matters won't reach his ears in time. Even if they do, he'll be able to clearly distinguish the importance of the enthronement ceremony over the small Du family."

"Besides, as long as I'm present at the ceremony, he won't care even if he knows the Du family is playing tricks. So let's use this big watermelon of mine to force him to completely give up this tiny sesame seed of the Du family."

The prince took good care of the Du family, but had no mercy on himself.

Qingying nodded, a look of worry on his face. He reluctantly advised, "Since Li Bao will come forward tomorrow, why would you risk your life again, Master?"

"I've made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me any further. If I don't go to tomorrow's enthronement ceremony, Li Bao alone will definitely not be able to make it to the end. He will be alone and face numerous crises, and I'm afraid he will be unable to cope. This matter is of great importance. I must go."

Su Cheng'an turned to Qingying and continued to instruct: "In addition to making arrangements for the Du family, make arrangements for the brothers who will enter the palace tomorrow."

"At this critical moment, you don't have to protect me. Just focus on protecting Li Bao. As long as Shenyou doesn't recognize my identity, I can escape alone without any worries."

Qingying nodded, but still made a decision in her heart.

There are eight Qingyun Guards who will enter the palace tomorrow. Six of them will protect Li Bao with all their strength. Only he and Qingxiao will stay by the prince's side to ensure that he is safe.

If the necessary moment comes, the two of them will be the prince's best shields.

Seeing Qingying lowering her head and remaining silent, Su Cheng'an's eyes flashed slightly. After a while, a look of understanding appeared on his face, and there was some sincerity in his eyes.

He said earnestly, "Have you and Qingxiao discussed that tomorrow you two will just guard me?"

Qingying blushed when his thoughts were spoken to him. The corners of his lips moved for a long time, and he was about to open his mouth to make a few words of defense, but he heard Su Chengan chuckle: "Well! You two have always been close to me. If something happens to me, you two will probably not be able to survive. In this case, just do what you want!"

Seeing the joy on Qingying's face, the young man reminded her: "Just remember, unless it's a matter of life and death, you must not show any signs of protecting me."

Qingying nodded repeatedly.

The prince's kung fu is better than both of them. If he doesn't become the focus, the possibility of escaping safely is very high, so the two of them must not make things worse.

After persuading Qingying, Su Cheng'an pointed at Chen Zhe and said, "The scenery outside the capital is very beautiful. Uncle Chen, go and have a look. Except for the old housekeeper and the Qingyun Guards who will enter the palace tomorrow, no one else in the mansion will stay."

Chen Zhe sighed and said only four words: "Take care, Prince!" Then he got up and left.