Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

This was the first time He Lingsi and He Lingman had met Liu Baitu.

Judging from the way Hong Chan and Jia Dong treated Liu Baitu, it was clear that the young man in black robes was an important figure under Duan Yu.

After Jia Dong led Liu Baitu into the courtyard, Liu Baitu bowed slightly to He Lingsi and He Lingman, who were sitting under the tree enjoying the shade.

"Liu Baitu greets the two ladies."

Liu Baitu was addressed as "Madam," not "Empress" or "Empress Dowager."

The He sisters exchanged a glance and then turned their gaze to Jia Dong.

Jia Dong immediately understood and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Oh, oh, oh, I forgot, I forgot. This is the most trusted subordinate of the Lord, and also the youngest... uh, I guess you could call him a general."

Most trusted, youngest.

That's not an exaggeration.

Because Liu Baitu is younger than Tie Shitou, Wang Hunu, and Chen Qing'an.

"The Lord sent me here to welcome the two ladies out of the city and prepare to take them to Liangzhou."

Liu Baitu explained his purpose to He Lingsi and He Lingman.

Return to Liangzhou.

Upon hearing those three words, the two women's eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

After fleeing from Luoyang, He Lingsi and He Lingman knew that they were ultimately going to Liangzhou.

If things had gone according to schedule, they should have arrived in Liangzhou long ago.

Even if you take the detour through Jizhou, you'll be almost at Liangzhou by then.

However, He Lingsi was already nine months pregnant when she fled Luoyang.

Moreover, having lived a life of luxury in the palace for many years, her delicate and frail body could hardly withstand such a long journey.

She was already close to giving birth, and after the bumpy journey, she was already beyond saving when she arrived in Wei County.

So she could only stay temporarily in Wei County, and then gave birth to her son in the household.

You can't leave right after your baby is born.

So he could only settle down and recuperate in Wei County for the time being.

Upon hearing that Liu Baitu had come to pick them up, He Lingsi smiled charmingly and gently rocked the baby in her arms who bore a striking resemblance to Duan Yu.

“My son will soon be able to see your father,” He Lingsi said with a smile.

Slender, snow-white fingers gently traced across the baby's face.

Whether or not it understood its mother's words, the baby in the swaddling clothes opened its eyes and looked at He Lingsi.

A pair of double pupils can be clearly seen in the large, dark eyes.

A small, pink and white hand grasped one of He Lingsi's fingers and brought it to her mouth.

This prompted He Lingsi to chuckle and say, "This child is just as strong as his father."

Sitting next to He Lingsi, He Lingman's eyes were full of envy for her sister.

I envy my sister's good fortune; she only had one son.

"Ladies, I will send someone to pack your things and then escort you out of the city together."

Jia Dong bowed and said with a smile, "I have prepared some gifts for the two ladies and the young master. Please stay in Liangzhou with us."

"You're too kind, Manager." He Lingsi nodded with a smile and said, "We sisters will always remember your kindness during this time."

Hearing He Lingsi's words, Jia Dong, knowing that his goal had been achieved, did not say anything more.

Hongchan began instructing the maids in the courtyard to pack their things.

"Teacher, it's my sister..."

Hong Chan looked at Liu Baitu with some trepidation, then lowered her head as she spoke, her hands clenched tightly together: "This student knows she shouldn't ask, but..."

After considering it for a moment, Liu Baitu began to tell Hong Chan about Duan Liuqing's ordeal.

Liu Baitu knew that the relationship between Hongchan and Duan Liuqing was more than just a normal colleague relationship.

Back when we were at Tanhan Mountain, Hongchan wouldn't have survived to this day without Duan Liuqing's protection.

Later, when Hongchan's identity was exposed in Yuan Shu's mansion, it was Duan Liuqing who risked his life to save her, which allowed Hongchan to survive.

This time, Duan Liuqing took He Lingsi and He Lingman with him during the retreat from Luoyang, which was also Duan Liuqing giving Hongchan the hope of survival.

When they heard that Duan Liuqing had disappeared and was very likely dead.

With her head bowed, Hong Chan shed two lines of clear tears, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

"The mission of the Military Intelligence Bureau has been clear to you since the day you joined," Liu Baitu said.

Hongchan wiped away her tears, nodded gently, and then returned to her room to retrieve a package, which she handed to Liu Baitu.

"This is the cloak that my sister gave to Lord Houxiu."

Hongchan gently rubbed the package, her eyes filled with sorrow as she said, "Sister originally wanted to give it to Lord Jun herself, but the situation was urgent, and the cloak wasn't finished being embroidered yet... Sister asked me to give it to Lord Jun."

Liu Baitu accepted the package and said, "All the sacrifices were worthwhile. The merits of each of you will be recorded in the Liangzhou merit book. This applies to Qing and Hu Nu as well."

..............

You said it was two women?

Zhen Jian frowned as he sat in the study of the mansion.

The Zhen family assassin standing opposite Zhen Jian nodded and said, "Reporting to the patriarch, they are indeed two women. Although they are wearing black robes and hoods, they can still be distinguished by their figures."

Moreover, one of the women seemed to be holding a baby, and the carriage was already heading out of the city.

The surrounding security was extremely tight, and my subordinates dared not act on their own initiative to follow them, for fear of being discovered. Therefore, I have come specifically to report to the master.

Zhen Jian nodded slowly: "Good, you did a good job."

Two women and a baby.

Zhen Jian rubbed his eyebrows, then suddenly seemed to remember something and abruptly stood up from his seat.

Two women!

Two women!

Could it be Empress He and He Lingman, the wife of Imperial Physician Zhang Feng?

After the emperor's death, rumors circulated that Empress He Lingsi harbored ulterior motives and had disgraced the royal family, leading to her removal from the position of empress.

Subsequently, General He Jin was killed in Luoyang.

When the He sisters fled, the imperial court ordered a manhunt in all directions.

The relationship between He Shi and Duan Yu needs no further explanation.

Jia Dong is one of Duan Yu's men.

Is it possible that those two women are the He sisters?

They escaped from Luoyang under Duan Yu's protection, and now Jia Dong is going to transfer them to Liangzhou.

Judging by the time, the deposed Empress He Lingsi was about to give birth when she fled Luoyang, and now the child has been born.

It's possible!

It's highly possible!

Zhen Jian's eyes darted around.

How to do?

Are you going to pretend you didn't see it?

still......

Standing in the study, Zhen Jian clasped his hands together, finding it difficult to make a decision.

Should we reveal this secret?

What benefits would the Zhen family gain if this were to be exposed?

Zhen Jian pondered carefully.

The current emperor has just ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Dong is in power, and Grand Tutor Yuan Wei holds great authority.

If it were to spread at this time that Duan Yu was secretly receiving the deposed Empress He, then Duan Yu would be defying the world and going against the imperial court.

Moreover, it's not hard for people to imagine that the evil fetus in Empress He's mansion might be related to Duan Yu.

Duan Yu had always had a very good relationship with the He family.

The last time Empress He was trapped in the palace, it was Duan Yu who was ordered by General He Jin to enter Luoyang and rescue her.

So, the illegitimate child in Empress He's womb is probably most closely related to Duan Yu.

He engaged in illicit sexual relations with the empress and secretly had an affair with her.

In any case, once this news gets out, Duan Yu will inevitably be rejected by the world and become the target of everyone's hatred.

Disgraced and abandoned by all...

Will the Zhen family be implicated?

It's very likely.

But if he were to betray his own family and spread the news, revealing this secret...

Not only will the Zhen family not be implicated, but they may also be able to get back everything they lost in Jizhou.

After much deliberation, Zhen Jian made a decision.

"Someone, prepare the carriage, we're heading to the governor's mansion immediately," Zhen Jian said to the outside of the study.

..............

Governor's Mansion.

Yuan Shao was sitting in the council hall.

At this moment, the council hall was filled with numerous advisors.

After taking office as the governor of Ji Province, Yuan Shao devoted himself to governing the province for more than a year.

Because Ji Province was the birthplace of the Taiping Rebellion and also the prefecture that suffered the most, Yuan Shao, at the beginning of his term, petitioned the court to exempt Ji Province from taxes for three years.

This move enabled Yuan Shao to quickly establish himself in Ji Province and gain the support of the people.

Although the Taiping Dao rebellion was powerful and involved many counties, Ji Province was fortunate to be a large and resource-rich region with a dense population.

Under Yuan Shao's rule, the area quickly began to recover.

This year, in particular, has been blessed with favorable weather, and once the autumn harvest is over, the people will be able to rest and recuperate.

He governed leniently to the people and won over the local gentry.

This was Xu You's advice to Yuan Shao.

With the support of the Yuan clan, Yuan Shao's diligent governance that year also earned him the recognition of many local gentry in Ji Province.

He also recruited a large number of talented people under his command.

At this moment, Yuan Shao, sitting upright in the governor's seat, looked noticeably more mature than he had a year or so ago.

He exuded a calm and composed aura, and every gesture he made was filled with confidence.

"Gentlemen, the autumn harvest is approaching, and it is of utmost importance that we cannot afford to make the slightest mistake." Yuan Shao said to the people in the hall, "I plan to personally inspect the autumn harvest situation in each prefecture during the harvest season."

"We also need to expedite the production of those autumn harvest tools that were copied from Liangzhou, and strive to deliver more to the people to facilitate the autumn harvest."

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Xu You, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, Shen Pei, Xin Ping, Xin Pi and others, who were kneeling below the hall, nodded and took notes one by one.

"grown ups."

Yan Liang, dressed in armor, entered the hall and bowed to Yuan Shao, saying, "Zhen Jian, the head of the Zhen family, has come to visit."

Ok?

Yuan Shao, seated in the main seat, looked at Yan Liang standing in front of the council hall.

Zhen Jian?

Isn't that Zhen Jiang's uncle, Duan Yu's wife?

"Alright, everyone, please disperse for now. In three to five days, I will prepare to organize the manpower to set off. Please make your preparations."

Yuan Shao stood up.

After everyone bowed and left, Yuan Shao went to the reception room and asked Yan Liang to bring in Zhen Jian, who had come to pay his respects.