Hibiscus Tent: The Prime Minister’s palm is reborn

Chapter 623: Giving Someone a Handicap

As the night faded, the sky began to glow white, and the noise outside the wall gradually faded away.

Liang Qian frowned and looked at the people kneeling in the courtyard one by one.

Apart from King Pengcheng's wife and children, there were only servants and maids left in the palace.

Seeing that she seemed to be looking for someone, everyone showed fear, lowered their heads and sobbed softly.

The more Liang Qian looked, the more serious her expression became.

Two bodyguards stepped forward and saluted.

"My lord, there is none in the East Garden."

"Neither does Xiyuan."

We have searched the place thoroughly, but there is still no trace of Zhao Heng.

Liang Qian fixed her eyes and glanced at the person kneeling on the ground crying.

"Lock them up first."

"Yes." Several people took the order and directed the soldiers to escort the people.

Liang Qian turned around and was about to go to the outer courtyard. Just as she took a step, she heard footsteps behind her. Looking back, she saw Qingzhu leading a group of people, hurriedly catching up with her from the inner courtyard.

"Madam, Liang Jiao is missing!"

Liang Qian's eyebrows jumped, but before she could open her mouth, Mu Shan hurried over.

He frowned and said hurriedly, "Madam, we found Zhao Heng. He kidnapped a woman in brown clothes and said she was your sister. Your subordinates dare not act rashly."

Qingzhu's eyes darkened, and she gritted her teeth in annoyance: "When I left, I tied Liang Jiao up on purpose, fearing that she would wake up halfway... I think Zhaoheng must have realized that something was wrong in the palace, and while running away, he hid and entered that room by mistake."

"Where are they now?" Liang Qian lowered her voice, her eyes deep.

Mu Shan replied, "It's at the alley entrance two blocks away from the palace."

Liang Qian's eyes were sharp, and she walked towards the outer courtyard. "No matter what, Zhao Heng must not stay."

As soon as you walk out of the gate of Pengcheng Palace, you will see Zhou soldiers guarding the streets and alleys.

On both sides of the street, people were squatting like quails, shoulder to shoulder, with their backs against the wall, their heads hung and their faces pale, looking frightened and uneasy.

In the distance, there were teams of Zhou troops patrolling, some searching house by house, some directing the clearing of the streets...

In just one night, the city was not in chaos as imagined, but instead was busy but orderly. There was no sign of anyone swearing at or using violence against the people.

It is rumored that the Zhou army has strict discipline, and it seems to be true.

Liang Qian took a quick look and followed Mu Shan to the street without stopping.

Qingzhu followed Liang Qian closely, looked up at the street in the distance, and wondered, "Look at this direction, it seems to be heading to the residence of the Langya King."

These days she has been investigating openly and covertly, and has a very good understanding of the layout of Pingwu City.

Mu Shan responded, "Yes, it's nearby, just cross the street."

Sure enough, when they turned out of the alley, they saw a circle of Zhou soldiers gathered on the not-so-wide road ahead, and they seemed to be talking to the people they were surrounded.

Liang Qian's heart trembled and she quickened her pace.

Seeing someone approaching, the soldiers blocked their way with their spears and prevented them from moving forward.

He looked serious and said in a cold tone: "Who are you?"

Liang Qian did not dodge or evade, and let him look at her.

No wonder the soldiers were suspicious of her, as she was clearly dressed in Qi clothes and her clothes were gorgeous.

Mu Shan's face turned cold, and he took out a token from his bosom: "Yes, Madam, why don't you get out of the way?"

"lady?"

The soldier was startled, staring with wide eyes at the dragon-patterned token that was handed over to him, and knelt down in surprise.

The leader stepped forward quickly, looked at him secretly, and asked tentatively: "I wonder if you are the noble——"

Qingzhu glanced at him and interrupted him coldly: "Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask. Have you seen Yuchi Yuan?"

The commander of the troops did not dare to say anything more when he saw that the maidservant not only came with Mu Shan, but also called General Yuchi by his full name.

Qingzhu was about to speak again, but when he turned his head, he saw Liang Qian walking straight into the crowd.

She was anxious and hurried to catch up. "Madam."

The leader signaled the soldiers in the front to make way.

The long knife in Zhao Heng's hand was placed on Liang Jiao's neck. Liang Jiao's face turned pale with fear, and she tensed up and dared not move.

The concubine of Prince Langya stood beside him with red eyes.

They were surrounded by guards armed with sharp weapons.

Liang Qian stopped some distance away from Zhao Heng.

The two sides were in a stalemate, as if they were waiting for her to appear.

When she saw Liang Qian, Liang Jiao bit her lips tightly, her eyes turned red, but she didn't say a word to ask for help. She just closed her eyes as if she accepted her fate.

Liang Qian stood in front of the crowd calmly.

She looked at Zhao Heng and said in a tone that was neither light nor heavy, full of sarcasm: "Are you planning to use her to negotiate terms with me?"

Suddenly, a woman from Qi State wearing silk shoes and a long mourning robe walked out, and everyone couldn't help but secretly guess her identity.

Just now, the man with the knife kept shouting that he wanted to see Queen Mother Liang of Qi.

When I was still in Yuezhou, I heard that the rumored evil queen Liang was in Pingwu City.

They were also skeptical.

Liang Qian was trapped in a big web of various gazes, unaware of it, and slowly took two steps closer.

Zhao Heng's eyes were cold, and just as he was about to speak, he heard the concubine of Prince Langya gritting her teeth, angry and sad.

"Liang Qian, you invited the enemy into your home, betrayed Pingwu, betrayed Da Qi, not only harmed King Pengcheng, but also killed His Highness. You are selling out your country for fame and fortune, and you will not have a good end!"

The eyes that looked over were bloodshot, flashing with tears of hatred, which made people feel creepy.

With just this shout, the people standing inside and outside, whether they were from Zhou or Qi, all looked at Liang Qian with changed looks.

No one would have thought that this evil queen had actually betrayed Qi and surrendered to Zhou.

The leader was so shocked that his mouth was wide open. He looked at the previous soldier, and then thought of the token, his mind a little confused.

Liang Qian seemed to be oblivious to the strangeness around her, and only spoke to the concubine of the King of Langya lightly: "Since you and the King of Langya are so loyal to the Great Qi, why did you follow the King of Pengcheng in rebellion and establish your own country?"

She pointed at Liang Jiao and asked with a smile: "What was your intention in sending her to me? Also, are you sure I really care about her life or death?"

Upon hearing this, the concubine of Prince Langya's face changed and she stopped talking.

She really had no idea.

At this point, it's just a gamble on a glimmer of hope.

She gritted her teeth and said fiercely: "Okay, if that's the case, then we'll die together!"

When the concubine of Prince Langya said this, Zhao Heng's face changed drastically and he became anxious. He used his eyes to stop her from speaking any further.

The concubine of Prince Langya turned her head away in hatred.

When Zhao Heng turned his head again, his tone softened a bit: "Empress Dowager Liang, all you want is Pingwu City. Now that you have achieved your wish, why can't you let us go for the sake of being Qi people?"

He said as he lowered his eyes to glance at Liang Jiao who was standing in front of him. "You should know that I have no choice but to threaten you like this."

Liang Qian raised her eyebrows and just looked at Zhao Heng in silence.

She pursed her lips slightly and was about to speak when she heard the sound of galloping horses.

Before the horse came up, the person on the horse had already jumped off and ran straight towards him.

"Ah Jiao!"

His usually calm voice began to tremble.

Liang Jiao, who had been silent from beginning to end, suddenly looked up and tears instantly rolled out of her eyes.

"Wang Tingyue."

When Zhao Heng and others saw who was coming, they couldn't help but gasp.

Wang Tingyue glanced at Liang Qian, walked to the front, and said to Zhao Heng: "Let her go, I will be your hostage."

Zhao Heng was stunned, then smiled: "In terms of martial arts, I am no match for General Wang."

Liang Qian sighed inwardly. "What about me?"

Wang Tingyue frowned and grabbed her: "No."

Liang Jiao laughed softly.

Liang Qian brushed away Wang Tingyue's hand and looked at Zhao Heng: "Don't you want to live? I can let you go!"

Zhao Heng raised his eyebrows and said in a gloomy tone: "The Queen Mother is really amazing. She can actually be the leader of the Zhou army!"

Liang Qian's eyes were calm: "You are wrong. Although I don't know if I can be the master of Zhou Jun, I can definitely be the master of your life and death."

Zhao Heng's eyes turned cold, he gritted his teeth in hatred, but he kept smiling.

"Yes, we still need the Queen Mother to spare us." He paused, then added: "In case you change your mind midway, why don't you personally escort us out of the city?"

Liang Qian greeted him with a smile: "No problem!"

When Wang Tingyue and others heard this, they hurriedly spoke out to stop them.

Liang Qian glanced at them, her eyebrows and eyes indifferent: "Don't worry."

After saying this, she was about to take a step forward, but Zhao Heng interrupted her and said, "Queen Mother, where is the dagger in your sleeve?"

Liang Qian stopped and looked at him silently.

Zhao Heng shook his head: "I saw with my own eyes how you killed the King of Langya."

Liang Qian's eyes flashed, she smiled and nodded, then she took out the dagger hidden in her sleeve helplessly, waved it, and threw it on the ground.

"Is this okay?"

Zhao Heng smiled and said, "The Queen Mother has other intentions, so we have to be on guard."

Liang Qian was halfway through her journey when suddenly, a very cold voice sounded behind her.

"stop."

My schedule has been messy these days. I will post it as soon as I finish writing it, regardless of the number of chapters or words.