Lu Qingwan had barely asked a question when Bai Liancheng furrowed his brow. "How would I know the plans of a traitor like Lan Huajing? If the Qin Wangfei is afraid and unwilling to join us in protecting the Empress Dowager and the families of various households, I can understand. I won't force you..."
"Qin Wangfei, you are so skilled, please help them," an official's wife chimed in, unable to bear it. "They say you are often by Qin Wang's side, entering and exiting battlefields. There are so many people here, please be merciful and save us. Everyone will be grateful to you!"
"Yes, Qin Wangfei, we don't know martial arts. If we did, we wouldn't be sitting here waiting to die!"
Bai Liancheng said he wouldn't force her, but his words had cornered Lu Qingwan. It was as if not acting would make her guilty of a grave offense. Yan Ruozhao and Madam Yan watched Lu Qingwan worriedly, fearing she would be tricked into bearing the stigma of not helping.
Lu Qingwan, however, calmly faced Bai Liancheng and the group of aristocratic youths he had incited to act righteously. "Lan Huajing is a Zhonglang General of the Tiger Leopard Camp, commanding thirty thousand troops. Even if he hasn't brought all of them into the palace, he is not someone your passionate zeal can deal with. The palace has the Imperial Guards, the internal guards, and the guards of various palaces. If the Empress Dowager could order those who can lead troops to gather them, they might stand a chance against Lan Huajing's Tiger Leopard Camp. As for all of you, charging out unarmed, do you intend to burn those Tiger Leopard cavalry with your fervent blood?"
Lu Qingwan's words were like a basin of cold water drenching the passionate fervor of the aristocratic youths. Bai Liancheng's words had been so impassioned that they had impulsively stepped forward. But now, in their calmer state, they considered that the Tiger Leopard Camp under Lan Huajing guarded the capital, was well-trained and finely equipped, never to be provoked by ordinary bandits. The thought of them, pampered aristocratic youths who had learned some martial arts, rushing out unarmed to fight against those Tiger Leopard soldiers, made them tremble with fear.
Hesitation began to set in. At this moment, someone finally remembered Gu Xingzhi. "Someone who can lead troops into battle, isn't that Gu Shizi?"
Once one person thought of Gu Xingzhi, others clung to him like a lifesaver, echoing the sentiment. "Yes, Gu Shizi was personally raised by the King of Youzhou. At thirteen, he fought a famous general of Zhanbei Qi. At seventeen, he entered the Turkic lands alone. Compared to those formidable enemies, what is the mere Tiger Leopard Camp?"
"That's right, Qin Wangfei. You may have just arrived, but Gu Shizi's reputation for valor is acknowledged even by the feudal lords of the Nine Provinces!"
The crowd chattered, recommending Gu Xingzhi to Lu Qingwan. Lu Qingwan chuckled to herself. "What good will you telling me do? I have no soldiers under my command, nor the authority to appoint generals. Even if Gu Shizi possesses the talent to pacify the nation, I cannot help in the slightest!"
Lu Qingwan's words were tactful, but the others were not fools. Their gazes naturally shifted towards the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Yangquan Palace was far from Zichen Palace. At this moment, with chaos outside, reporting to Emperor Shengwu was impossible. The only one who could grant Gu Xingzhi the authority to lead troops was the highly esteemed Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager also turned her gaze to Gu Xingzhi. She was certainly aware of his talents. However, he was the Crown Prince's cousin, the nephew of the former Crown Princess. The people of the King of Youzhou's manor had always been viewed with suspicion by the Emperor. As the Emperor's best ally, the Empress Dowager was also extremely wary of the Gu family. She truly hesitated to entrust one-third of the palace's military power to Gu Xingzhi at this juncture.
Just then, Bai Liancheng stepped forward again. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Gu Shizi indeed commands troops like a god. With him here, we will surely be able to protect the Empress Dowager and the families of various households safely. I, your humble servant, am also willing to follow Gu Shizi's side and lend him my strength!"
The hesitant Empress Dowager finally spoke. "Very well. Gu Xingzhi, I shall entrust you with all two thousand Imperial Guards of the inner palace. If you can fight your way out of the inner palace, you may freely dispatch the guards throughout the palace, except for Zichen Palace and Taihe Hall. You must block Lan Huajing's rebel army. I will send Duke Bai to assist you. If you cannot even protect His Majesty, then do not blame me for being harsh!"
Yan Ruozhao was startled by this and was about to speak up for Gu Xingzhi, but he had already stepped forward. "This general obeys the order!" With that, he turned and left, giving the Empress Dowager no opportunity to say another word. Bai Liancheng, wanting to say a few more words to express his loyalty to the Empress Dowager, could only quickly pursue him, fearing he would lose the chance to claim credit.
Yan Ruozhao was frantic. "How can this be? Lan Huajing's Tiger Leopard Camp has thirty thousand elite soldiers, and Gu Shizi only has two thousand Imperial Guards. Who can guarantee no mistakes? Isn't this forcing Gu Shizi to his death?" Her voice, though low, couldn't conceal her anger. Madam Yan, startled, tugged at her sleeve. "Crown Princess, speak with caution."
Everyone present were shrewd individuals. Who didn't know that Bai Liancheng's instigation of aristocratic youths to protect the Empress Dowager and the families of various households, and to accompany Gu Xingzhi in quelling the rebellion, was merely a ploy to seize merit? He had been the first to suggest that those with martial arts skills protect the Empress Dowager, ensuring that as long as the Empress Dowager survived, no matter the cost others paid, this merit of protecting the sovereign would fall to him. And although Gu Xingzhi had the talent to lead troops, the Empress Dowager did not fully trust him. Bai Liancheng's offer to assist him was, in reality, to monitor Gu Xingzhi on behalf of the Empress Dowager, which would allow her to feel at ease entrusting Gu Xingzhi with command. And the merit for quelling the rebellion would, most likely, also fall to Bai Liancheng. Yan Ruozhao, knowing this, was furious.
"Sister-in-law, don't be angry," Lu Qingwan gently squeezed Yan Ruozhao's hand and whispered in her ear. Yan Ruozhao's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" Lu Qingwan confidently raised her eyebrows. "Don't you trust me with my tasks?" Yan Ruozhao nodded repeatedly, her face no longer showing any trace of anxiety. The two then jointly comforted Madam Yan, their intimate demeanor, as if no one else were present, making many unattended noble ladies in Yangquan Palace grind their teeth with envy.
With a "bang," something heavy seemed to hit the door. The nobles closer to the door, startled, stood up. Then, they saw an Imperial Guard, covered in blood, staggering in. "N-not good, the rebels have broken in! The Crown Prince and several princes have been killed..." After saying this, the Imperial Guard collapsed from exhaustion, and only then did everyone notice an arrow still lodged in his back.
"Black three-tailed arrow, it's an arrow exclusive to the Tiger Leopard Camp!" a young master of an aristocratic family recognized it and immediately panicked.
"Your Highness!" Yan Ruozhao cried out in grief. At the same time, two younger women, unfamiliar to Lu Qingwan, also began to weep.