"I also find it strange, but thinking about it this way makes sense. They split into two teams - one to divert attention, and one to secretly set fires and rescue people."
"If that's the case, then they must have already gathered intelligence on the location of the person they want to rescue."
"Not good! Quickly, go check on the prisoner!"
The General reacted immediately, leading his men to where Grandma Gu was being held.
It turned out they hadn't imprisoned her in the military camp, but secretly kept her in a civilian's house.
If the General hadn't brought her there, she might have searched all night without finding where Grandma Gu was being held.
When the General arrived, Grandma Gu was lying in bed sleeping. Hearing the loud bang of the door being kicked open, Grandma Gu trembled in fright and quickly climbed out of bed, smiling ingratiatingly at the General:
"General, what's happening?"
The General stared at Grandma Gu for a while, seeing nothing unusual.
Only then did he speak: "The city is not quiet tonight. Be extra vigilant."
"If you hear any suspicious people outside, shout loudly."
Grandma Gu nodded vigorously, saying submissively: "Yes, yes, I understand, General. Don't worry, if anything seems off, I'll shout loudly."
When the Elder Princess saw this person up close, she knew immediately that this was not Gu Sang's grandmother!
Hearing her fawning tone with the General, her submissive attitude, her fear and reverence for authority - these shouldn't appear in a modern person!
The Elder Princess was 100% certain that this person was an impostor!
Gu Sang had told her that her grandmother had lived through the country's most difficult times. Though she was old, she had spirit - people from that time all had spirit.
That kind of spirit doesn't disappear with age.
But the person before her had no spirit at all. She was clearly someone who had long been accustomed to fawning and pleasing others. Even the kindness on her face seemed so fake.
Although the Elder Princess had only heard about Gu Sang's grandmother from Gu Sang herself, she knew that Gu Sang's grandmother was clever and wise, strong yet gentle.
The Elder Princess secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she had confirmed this was a fake, things would be easier to handle.
The Elder Princess silently followed the General as he left. After passing through a small alley, she slipped away and returned to the previous residence.
When it was time for the guard shift, the Elder Princess swiftly left the city.
Zhou Qichen personally received the Elder Princess outside. When they met up, Zhou Qichen's gaze was full of questions as he looked at the Elder Princess: "Elder Princess, how was the situation?"
The Elder Princess said:
"It's a fake!"
Zhou Qichen let out a sigh of relief, his eyes full of joy and gratitude: "It's good that it's fake. This way Gu Sang won't be in a difficult position! Otherwise, it would have been really troublesome."
The Elder Princess walked with determination, no longer hesitating, and ordered: "Attack the city tomorrow!"
Zhou Qichen immediately perked up: "Good!"
"Without the threat, it's time for Pei Changying to step down from that position!"
The longer that dog emperor stayed on the throne, the more the Elder Princess worried about unforeseen complications.
After all, although the dog emperor was incompetent, he still had many civil and military officials around him offering advice and strategies.
Who knew when the dog emperor might come up with some new bad idea.
The next day.
The army marched majestically towards South City.
Pei Changying hurriedly stood atop the city wall. When he saw the Elder Princess riding at the front of the army, he suddenly had a bad feeling.
Pei Changying quickly pushed this feeling aside and resorted to his old trick of having someone bring out the fake grandmother.
Just like yesterday's scene, the fake grandmother's mouth was bound, and she could only look pleadingly at the approaching army with muffled cries.
Pei Changying confidently stared at the Elder Princess and said something to the General behind him. Then, the General shouted in a voice loud enough for soldiers on both sides to hear:
"Pei Weiqi, Gu Sang helped you stabilize public opinion. It's because of Gu Sang that you have soldiers in the plague city!"
"It's also because of Gu Sang that your plague city doesn't lack food, that you have enough to eat and wear. It's because of Gu Sang that your plague city can produce miraculous weapons!"
"To be precise, without Gu Sang, you, Pei Weiqi, would be nothing!"
"But today, you've brought troops to South City without Gu Sang's knowledge!"
"Once the battle starts, weapons don't have eyes. If Gu Sang's grandmother is hurt even slightly, how will you face Gu Sang's trust in you!"
"She helped you wholeheartedly, and this is how you repay her? By hiding things from her and even threatening to kill her beloved grandmother? How can someone so unrighteous and unjust govern the people of the world!"
As these words were spoken, the soldiers on both sides changed their expressions.
Especially the soldiers from the plague city and Liujiang City, who had all benefited from Gu Sang's kindness.
But now, the person being threatened up there was Gu Sang's grandmother!
Could they still fight?
How could they bring themselves to do it?
Just as the soldiers were caught in this dilemma, the Elder Princess smoothly took the bow from her side, drew an arrow from her back, and smiled coldly: "Fool!"
Her mounted archery skills were excellent, even her father the emperor had personally praised her, saying her mounted archery was unparalleled in the world, not inferior even to the generals at the border.
The Elder Princess's movements were fluid, without any hesitation.
Under Pei Changying's surprised gaze, an arrow flew towards him with the force of wind and thunder.
Pei Changying's face immediately changed, but before he could react, the General beside him had already pulled him back.
However!
No one had expected that this arrow was not aimed at Pei Changying.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the arrow hit the fake grandmother on the city wall!
"Thud!"
The arrow struck right between her eyebrows, blood immediately spraying in all directions, seeming to form a spray of blood under the sun's illumination.
By the time the imperial General reacted and rushed to save her, the fake grandmother's eyes were wide with disbelief, unable to close even in death.
How... how had she just died?
Wasn't she just supposed to play a role?
The General caught the fake grandmother as she fell backwards, and felt for breath at her nose.
She was completely and utterly dead!
The General's heart instantly sank, and he looked up at Pei Changying in fear.
Pei Changying had also lost his composure. This fake grandmother was his lifeline!
No longer caring about imperial dignity, he took a few quick steps to the fake grandmother, his face ashen as he asked:
"How is she?"
"Your Majesty, she's dead," the General replied.
"Pei Weiqi!!!"
Pei Changying suddenly turned to the Elder Princess below the city wall, shouting in fury, his face ashen.
But the Elder Princess remained calm and powerful. Her unperturbed voice rang out, carried by the wind to the army behind her, allowing every soldier to hear what she said.
"After my personal investigation, the person I just shot and killed was a fake grandmother of the Divine Lady, found by Pei Changying!"
"The real grandmother has already been found by me and safely relocated!"
"Pei Changying used this to threaten us to retreat, his intentions were vicious, but fortunately, I saw through his scheme!"
