Chapter 200
There were two secret rooms in the prefectural governor's manor.
One was beneath the study, and the other was in the deepest part of the prison.
Cao Liang's secret room was naturally not as impenetrable as the dog emperor's, so it was easily opened using supernatural abilities.
Ring, ring... ring, ring...
The crisp sound of bells rang out, indicating that someone had broken into the secret room.
Yuan Ting's expression changed slightly as he heard the familiar sound.
He walked quickly to the innermost part of the study, looked at the neat bookshelves, and frowned.
Someone had dug a tunnel into the secret room!
He knew that the things in the secret room were very important to Cao Liang, so he hurriedly shouted, Men!
The twenty men watching Ye Chutang did not move.
A guard walked in from outside the study and quickly came to Yuan Ting.
What are your orders, Lord Yuan?
Listening to the endless ringing of the bells, Yuan Ting beckoned to the guard.
When the guard drew near, he whispered, Go and inform Lord Cao that someone has entered the secret room. Go quickly!
By the time Cao Liang hurriedly arrived, Ye Chutang had already emptied the secret room.
She used her earth-element ability to build a secret passage leading to the Chen family.
And she blocked off the last thirty feet of distance with earth.
This would not only make Cao Liang suspicious of the Chen family but also buy some time, killing two birds with one stone.
Cao Liang looked at the empty secret room, his eyes fixed on the secret passage, and cursed in anger.
Yuan Ting, send men to pursue them!
This humble official obeys.
When Cao Liang came out of the secret room, he was full of anger.
He left without even glancing at Ye Chutang lying on the ground.
Because news had come from the Chen family that Qi Qingyu had chosen to betray the Qi family for the sake of her child.
His plan could now be implemented!
Cao Liang went to the resting room behind the main hall.
He occasionally worked and rested here, and the four walls were covered with the round openings of copper pipes.
Many yamen runners carried out eavesdropping tasks here.
Besides the exiled group that had just entered the governor's manor, the prisoners held in the cells were also being monitored.
Of course, these copper pipes had another use: transmitting orders!
Cao Liang walked up to a copper pipe that had just been added two days ago and spoke into the round opening, Release poison into the Elegant Courtyard and take away Qi Wenyue and his wife.
He never pinned his success or failure on others.
Just as he had told Han Chong, even without Ye Chutang's cooperation, he could still take down the Qi family.
Therefore, Ye Chutang poisoning the Qi family merely meant she had passed his test.
The Elegant Courtyard.
Qi Yanzhou had been waiting for Cao Liang to make a move.
When white smoke billowed from the copper pipe, he noticed it immediately.
Then, following Ye Chutang's instructions, he immediately warned everyone.
Everyone come out! There is poisonous gas in the room!
As he spoke, he immediately evacuated the side room and went to the main room of the two elders.
Then he found that the two were missing!
Qi Yanzhou immediately lifted the bed boards and jumped into the pitch-black secret passage.
He knew this trip was dangerous and he would likely fall into an ambush, but he could not ignore his parents' life or death.
As a result, not far along, the secret passage was blocked by earth.
Father! Mother!
The deafening shouts received no response.
With a dark expression, Qi Yanzhou retreated from the secret passage.
Just as his head emerged from the secret passage, a sharp sword thrust toward him.
The blade gleamed with a green light, clearly coated with a deadly poison that sealed one's throat at the sight of blood.
He did not pull his head back.
Because, as long as he took a step back, more swords would thrust at him, making his situation even worse.
He casually grabbed a handful of dirt and sent it flying with his inner force.
The dirt turned into sharp blades, striking the incoming sword blade with a clinking sound.
The sword was deflected, stabbing backward close to Qi Yanzhou's neck.
The masked man holding the sword gripped the hilt tightly and slashed horizontally.
Qi Yanzhou grabbed his wrist a step ahead and forcefully crushed his bones.
The poisoned sword slipped from his hand and fell downward.
Qi Yanzhou flicked the tip of the sword with his finger.
The poisoned sword flipped.
He quickly grabbed the hilt and pierced the man's heart.
Then he struck a palm on his shoulder.
The man flew backward, crashing into his companions who couldn't dodge in time.
Gaining a moment of respite, Qi Yanzhou flourished his sword, forced back the people coming to kill him, and quickly came out of the secret passage.
Cao Liang's men saw that Qi Yanzhou showed no signs of being poisoned, and their expressions changed slightly.
Ye Chutang had deceived the Lord Governor!
Qi Yanzhou saw that Cao Liang's men were suspicious, and his legs immediately gave way.
Cao Liang's plan had not yet been implemented; he could not expose himself, otherwise there would be no way to beat him at his own game.
He planted his sword on the ground, his face frighteningly gloomy, revealing an almost imperceptible weakness.
When did you poison me?
Cao Liang's men did not answer Qi Yanzhou. They quickly closed in on him, taking advantage of his weakness to take his life!
Someone shouted outward, What are you still waiting for? It's your turn to act!
The Protectorate Army guarding outside the courtyard was just worrying about having no opportunity to help the Qi family, and immediately surged in.
In the Qi family, aside from Qi Yanzhou, only Old Master Qi had somewhat better martial arts skills.
Qi Yunan only knew some flashy but impractical moves.
Therefore, without the Protectorate Army even needing to lift a finger, the Qi family was brought under control.
Qi He'an struggled while cursing loudly.
You bastards, colluding with the governor's manor, you will die a horrible death!
As soon as he finished speaking, a member of the Protectorate Army delivered a strike to the back of his neck.
Concubine Xu hurriedly supported her unconscious son, her face pale with fright.
You... what exactly do you want to do?
The Protectorate Army sneered, Can't you see it yet? The Emperor wants to leave the entire Qi family in Liangzhou City!
Concubine Su laughed out loud upon hearing this.
Everyone looked at her like she was a madwoman.
Concubine Su said proudly, I am the inside agent planted in the Qi family by the Emperor. Now that the Qi family is finished, I don't have to be exiled and will gain my freedom!
Concubine Xu's gaze shifted from looking at a madwoman to looking at a fool.
A person who was of no use to the Emperor anymore still wanted freedom? That was simply a fool's dream!
Concubine Su, however, lacked this realization. She held Yao'er's hand and smiled happily.
Yao'er, we will soon be able to return to the capital and live a good life.
After speaking, she looked at the Protectorate Army to the side.
I...
As soon as she opened her mouth, she was questioned, You say you are the Emperor's person, how can you prove it?
Like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, Concubine Su spilled everything about how she previously monitored the Qi family and sent messages to the Emperor.
Words are no proof; I need evidence!
If Concubine Su had evidence, it could be used in the future when overthrowing the imperial power.
Concubine Su was left speechless.
All along, she had written letters and given them to her maidservant, who then passed the messages to the Emperor.
If the Emperor wanted her to do something, it was also conveyed by the maidservant.
She had no handwritten letter or token given to her by the Emperor.
And the rewards the Emperor had secretly given her were all confiscated during the house raid.
In other words, she could not prove that she was the Emperor's person!
Seeing that Concubine Su could not produce any evidence, the Protectorate Army pressed a sword against her neck.
The Emperor's exact words were: Spare no one from the Qi family!
Concubine Su finally understood; from beginning to end, the Emperor never intended to let her live!
Because she was the evidence of the Emperor's plot against the Qi family!
She took a step back and slumped to the ground, her face ashen.
I regret it. I shouldn't have helped the Emperor frame the Qi family for treason. The reason those weapons could be smuggled into the Tangzhou Courtyard was that there were the Emperor's people among those checking the dowry!
After the incident with the Qi family, she had wanted to get a letter of divorce and leave.
The Emperor, in order to continue using her and squeeze out her last bit of value, had not agreed.
Thinking of this, Concubine Su felt that she was nothing but a joke.
She laughed again, her laughter desolate.
Aside from the expressionless Qi Jingyao, everyone else wished they could slice the traitor, Concubine Su, into a thousand pieces!
The Protectorate Guards looked at the deeply regretful Concubine Su and sheathed their swords.
Whether she lived or died was up to Qi Yanzhou to decide!
With this in mind, he looked toward the fierce fighting in the main house.
The Qi family followed his gaze, their eyes brimming with worry and panic.
They hoped that Qi Yanzhou could win.
Because only if he won, or managed to escape, would the Qi family have a glimmer of hope for survival!