Chapter 593
Chapter 593
When Fang Sheng saw General Liu relent, he, too, breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he was only allowed to take five hundred men, at least they would be enough to deal with the emergency.
Fang Sheng quickly selected five hundred soldiers and led them out of the Northwest Military Camp in a grand procession.
“General, you’re really letting Fang Sheng take those men?” asked a Deputy General surnamed Zhou, standing beside General Liu. There was clear displeasure in his voice.
“What’s there to fear? A man who disregards military regulations for the sake of some young woman will never amount to much.” A mocking smile curled General Liu’s lips. He had never taken Fang Sheng seriously.
“But he is General Wen’s man. What if he has some ulterior motive?” Deputy General Zhou said uneasily.
General Liu fell silent for a moment before saying, “Then follow him and find out.”
Fang Sheng had not gone far when Deputy General Zhou rode after him with a squad of men.
“Deputy General Fang, why is Deputy General Zhou here?” someone nearby asked in confusion.
Seeing Deputy General Zhou appear, Fang Sheng also developed an uneasy feeling.
He was in a hurry to rescue Prince An. If Deputy General Zhou found out, he would certainly try to stop him.
Especially since he had brought so many men with him.
“Oh, Deputy General Fang! I heard you’re planning to take your brothers with you to snatch back your bride. Let Old Zhou tag along and join in the fun!” Deputy General Zhou finished speaking and burst into laughter.
“If Deputy General Zhou is willing to help, I’m sure I’ll be able to snatch my wife back,” Fang Sheng replied through gritted teeth, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place.
Where was he supposed to find a young woman to pretend to marry?
At the thought, he maintained a confident, determined smile, but inside he was suffering terribly.
The men following him were all baffled. Deputy General Zhou had never been close to Deputy General Fang. Why was he suddenly taking such an interest now?
On the other side, Xu Heming had already fallen unconscious.
Xu Chuan and Xu Song were frantic with worry.
Fortunately, the physician had come to examine him and said that he had merely caught a chill and was in no serious danger.
“What do you think is wrong with His Highness?” Xu Chuan asked anxiously, looking at Xu Song.
“I don’t know either. Perhaps the injuries he sustained this time have weakened him,” Xu Song replied uncertainly. After all, their prince had always been in excellent health and had never fallen into such a prolonged unconscious state.
“Why don’t you return to Lu City first?” Xu Song suggested. Before falling unconscious, the prince had specifically instructed Xu Chuan to return and protect the princess consort.
“I’ll wait until His Highness wakes up before I leave.” Xu Chuan was afraid he would have no way to explain himself to the princess consort if he returned alone, so he did not dare leave.
“I wonder when the reinforcements from the Northwest Military Camp will arrive.” Xu Song sighed.
“Fang Sheng has already gone to the Northwest Military Camp. I’m sure the reinforcements will arrive soon.” Xu Chuan tried to reassure himself as much as anyone else.
“But the Northwest Military Camp isn’t far from where Lu He and the others are stationed. Why haven’t the men arrived yet? Could something have happened?” Xu Song said worriedly.
“Is Prince Zhennan familiar with the people at the Northwest Military Camp?” Xu Chuan asked quietly.
Xu Song frowned and glanced at Xu Chuan with an unreadable expression.
How was he supposed to answer that?
Still, he had entertained the same thoughts. If Prince Zhennan was close to the people at the Northwest Military Camp, would they really send reinforcements? It was difficult to say whether the Northwest Military Camp was actually Prince Zhennan’s backer.
And if the people from the Northwest Military Camp refused to come to their aid, what awaited them?
Xu Song did not dare imagine it.
The two men fell silent as they looked at Xu Heming lying on the bed.
“His Highness has already ordered us to send a message to the capital.” Xu Song kept telling himself that surely the emperor would not abandon them.
“What if Prince Zhennan also has people in the capital?”
Xu Chuan fell silent after saying this.
“Who was originally in charge of the Northwest Military Camp?” Xu Chuan suddenly asked.
“General Wen—Wen Zhaonan.” Only after answering did Xu Song turn toward Xu Chuan in disbelief.
“You don’t suspect that General Wen is involved in this as well, do you?” Xu Song asked. If that were truly the case, then perhaps the heavens really intended to destroy Prince An’s residence.
“I didn’t say that!” Xu Chuan felt troubled. Wen Xiu was still with Li Zhiwei and the others. If something was wrong with Zhang Yanchu, then wouldn’t the princess consort be in danger as well?
“I have to return to Lu City!” Xu Chuan declared, turning to leave.
“Didn’t you say you would wait until His Highness woke up?” Xu Song grabbed the hem of Xu Chuan’s robe and asked with a frown.
For some reason, he felt that Xu Chuan was hiding something.
“His Highness isn’t in any immediate danger. He’s only unconscious and hasn’t woken up yet. I have to return and protect the princess consort,” Xu Chuan replied.
“Xu Chuan, is there something else you haven’t said?” Xu Song asked with a frown.
“I’m going back to bring reinforcements,” Xu Chuan answered.
“Don’t act rashly. Wait until His Highness wakes up before doing anything. Consider the consequences carefully.” Xu Song was worried that Xu Chuan might ruin the prince’s plans, so he hurriedly tried to stop him.
But just as the two men finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“I’ll go see who it is. You stay here and watch over His Highness.” With that, Xu Chuan left the room.
“General Wen?” When Xu Chuan saw Zhang Yanchu, his heart lurched.
Could it be that General Wen really had colluded with Prince Zhennan?
“Xu Chuan, where is your prince?” Zhang Yanchu asked anxiously, frowning at him.
“General Wen, what brings you here?” Xu Chuan did not answer his question. Instead, he asked in confusion. Shouldn’t General Wen have been in the capital at a time like this?
“I have come on the emperor’s orders to assist Prince An. Where is your prince?” Zhang Yanchu asked with a frown.
He had hurried to Heping without stopping, eager to learn the situation there.
Since this was a covert mission, he had not brought many men. When he entered the city, he could immediately sense the oppressive atmosphere hanging over Heping County.
Fortunately, he had visited the Northwest Military Camp before and was familiar with the area. He soon located the place where Xu Heming and the others were staying.
“His Highness is occupied with something…” Xu Chuan answered evasively.
“Then arrange a courtyard for me first. I’ll take a nap. Once your prince returns, wake me up at once.” Zhang Yanchu assumed that Xu Heming had gone out to attend to some matter. He had traveled without rest and wanted to recover his strength before discussing their next course of action with Xu Heming.
“General Wen, please follow me.” Xu Chuan had no idea what Zhang Yanchu was really planning, but he nevertheless led him to a room nearby so he could rest.
Zhang Yanchu did not complain about the room’s plain furnishings. He lay down fully clothed and soon fell asleep.
After all, he had endured conditions far harsher than this in the military camp.
For now, all he wanted was to get a good, uninterrupted sleep.
Xu Chuan stared at Zhang Yanchu, who had fallen asleep without the slightest hint of caution, his face filled with confusion.
Still, he quickly returned to Xu Heming’s room.
“What happened?” Xu Song asked anxiously.
Xu Chuan shook his head. “General Wen said he came on the emperor’s orders to assist His Highness.”
Xu Chuan was not certain whether Zhang Yanchu had truly come under imperial orders.
“Where is he?” Xu Song asked, puzzled when he did not see Zhang Yanchu.
“I don’t know whether he really intends to assist His Highness, so I told him that His Highness had gone out and had not yet returned. He’s resting in the side courtyard,” Xu Chuan explained.