The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 152

Just then, something seemed to flash past in the shadows, rustling through the grass, startling the two of them.

Especially Xu Tian.

If he gets recognized, then he's really finished.

After only a moment's thought, he rushed into the bushes to see who it was.

To his surprise, when Xu Tian reached inside, he touched something furry and very warm.

He immediately grabbed it and pulled it out.

It was the same black cat from before, now holding a piece of fish meat it had stolen from somewhere in its mouth.

The black cat, which should have been ownerless, is not thin at all now; on the contrary, it's quite chubby, clearly having been stealing food quite a bit.

Xu Tian breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that the admiration in Yan Ji's eyes was growing stronger.

How could an ordinary person so easily detect such a slight disturbance? And they caught the nimble black cat in one swift motion.

"You're quite agile. Have you studied martial arts?" Yan Ji asked with a smile.

“Indeed.” Xu Tian let go of the black cat that had stolen the food, nodded slightly, and replied, “I once learned martial arts from my father.”

"Skilled in both literature and martial arts." Yan Ji clapped her hands. "Good, it's truly wonderful that our Great Tang has such a talented person who is skilled in both literature and martial arts."

"That's right." Yan Ji seemed to remember something and asked with a smile, "Would you like to stay and be my guard?"

Xu Tian was naturally more than happy to accept it.

Now, he intends to hide in the palace of the King of the Western Regions in order to uncover some of his secrets and, incidentally, to inform the Tang Dynasty of some confidential information.

This makes it even easier for him to stay here.

He nodded immediately and said with a smile, "Princess Chang'an, it is my honor to be your guard."

After he finished speaking, he remembered something else and looked up to ask, "If I were to become your bodyguard, would you be obliged to inform the King of the Western Regions?"

“He never cares about these things. If I take a fancy to any maid or guard in the palace, I just bring them in. It’s fine,” Yan Ji said. “His heart is in the war.”

Xu Tian was finally relieved.

It seems that this king of the Western Regions really doesn't keep a close watch on his harem and isn't afraid that any concubines might run away.

At this moment, inside the main hall.

The King of the Western Regions stared at the crowd below with a cold expression and murderous intent in his eyes.

No one said a word, their anxiety growing, and some were trembling all over, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads.

They didn't want to die like this!

The King of the Western Regions took a deep breath, then lifted his eyelids and asked, "When did you escape?"

“Just two hours ago…” The head jailer’s shoulders trembled, and even his voice trembled.

"Two hours ago... they broke into the prison under cover of night?"

"Yes... Your Majesty, they are truly despicable—"

The King of the Western Regions interrupted him directly: "What are you being so humble about? If you had guarded them properly, would things have turned out like this?"

"They poisoned the food..."

"So you don't even bother to ask the unfamiliar jailers a proper question?!" The King of the Western Regions slammed his fist on the table, furious.

After that, none of the prison guards dared to say another word.

"A bunch of useless trash," the King of the Western Regions said coldly. "Pass on my order: search the entire area! If you can't find them, none of you need to come back! Get out!"

And now he knows that the withdrawal of defenses in the southwest was all a lie!

The prison warden immediately agreed and led the group of guards away.

Then, the King of the Western Regions turned to the General of the Western Regions beside him and said, "Spread the word. The Tang people have kidnapped and attacked our people, and now that they are imprisoned, Tang people are attempting to break them out! Such a serious crime deserves an explanation from the Li family of the Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing the words of the King of the Western Regions, the Western Regions general, dressed in armor, immediately nodded and obeyed the order to spread the message.