717 The Attitude of the Northern Army (1/2)

Ning Que and the Empress didn't react much when encountering the sudden ambush.

They were bold, but that was not because they were powerful. It was because they trusted the general in the Northern Military Camp since they had chosen to be here instead of going back to Tang with another group of the Tang Army.

The podao swords clashed, and the flying arrows screeched. The cavalries escorting the Empress had already prepared their defenses and striking-back as soon as they heard the crowd panic.

Archers had been long ambushing on both sides of the street, so the Tang army was captured as soon as they were about to ambush the convoy of the Empress.

During the conflict, the Empress remained expressionless. She was cuddling the Sixth Prince, lowering her head to look into the Prince's eyes when talking to him.

Ning Que kept his head down till the conflict was over. Two generals of Tang were shot by arrows and they refused to surrender. Ning Que raised his head and looked out of the window when the two generals pulled out their swords and killed themselves.

Finally the carriage arrived at the gate of the General's mansion.

The Defender-General of the Wilderness of Tang Empire Xu Chi was welcoming the Empress with his subordinates, and all of them were on their knees waiting beside the stairs at the gate of the Mansion.

Before General Xu Chi had the time to apologize, the Empress had come out of the carriage with her hands holding the Sixth Prince's. She said calmly, ”The General's mansion is really a place hard to reach.”

Xu Chi didn't explain, and neither had he tried to apologize. He respectfully settled the coffin of His Majesty in his mansion, and then invited the Empress and the Prince to have a rest in the residence at the back.

Ning Que was no longer around the pine coffin. He was in the study, drinking tea.

Moments later, Xu Chi opened the door and came in.

Ning Que had met three of the Four Great Generals of Tang, and Xu Chi was the one he hadn't met so far. Judging by the descriptions of the Empress and Han Qing, Ning Que had basically pictured Xu Chi's temperament.

”The two rebelling generals, they have nothing to do with Gushan Commandery. They were once my subordinates in the Northern Military Camp.”

Xu Chi admitted it straightforwardly.

Ning Que said, ”It had nothing to do with Gushan Commandery, but that doesn't mean it had nothing to do with Hua Shanyue or the Pricess, unless you insist that it was all about you.”

Xu Chi kept silent for a moment and then he said, ”I was told that the Her Highness and Mr. Thirteen were closely related.”

Ning Que said, ”And I heard that General Xu Chi was the most loyal subordinate of the late Emperor.”

”The rescript of the West-Hill Devine Palace has spread over the world, and Mr. Thirteen must've seen it. The morale of the army was thus influenced, and that was why the conflicting and killing happened today.”

Xu Chi said, ”I knew you were trying to make a point, but since Her Majesty was a believer of the Devil's Dorctrine, then the Sixth Prince could no longer succeed the throne, or even go back to Chang'an.”

Ning Que asked, ”Why?”

Xu Chi said, ”Because the West-Hill Divine Palace won't allow a descendant of the Devil's Doctrine to rule the Tang Empire.”

Ning Que said, ”You idiot, the West-Hill Devine Palace has already been prepared to overthrow Tang.”

Xu Chi was silenced. Then he suddenly asked, ”There's one thing I'm trying to figure out.”

”What is it?” Asked Ning Que.

Xu Chi said, ”It's said that His Majesty's death has something to do with Her Majesty.”