Chapter Twenty: The New Bride Was Not Dead

  A butterfly in the Amazon rainforest of South America, flapping its wings a few times, can cause a tornado in Texas two weeks later.

  ——。

  A storm is brewing, the wind fills the tower.

  Li Yuan became famous, and the excellent postal system of Qin State spread the result of the Battle of Da Liang throughout Guandong in just a few days. With 1,000 miscellaneous troops from various counties annihilating 600 elite soldiers, such an achievement would attract attention no matter where it was placed.

  At the same time, the butterfly effect was also fermenting unexpectedly, starting with Li Yuan as the center, affecting the people and things around him, from the humble grass-roots Zhang Youfu, Han Si, to Xinyang's new governor Yang Xiong, and even Liu Bang, who had already been appointed by King Xiang Yu of Chu as the commander-in-chief of the Western Expeditionary Army. The whirlwind was getting stronger and stronger.

  "Let the storm come more fiercely!" Li Yuan, who had put down his restraints, was fearless. From being penniless when he first woke up to now having thousands of soldiers under his command; from being surrounded by desperate situations to gaining some reputation, Li Yuan unknowingly started his struggle from a grassroots to a working-class life.

  "How hateful, how infuriating, how detestable!" Upon learning of Fan Kuai's death, Liu Bang was shocked and enraged, his anger choking him. In his haste, he flatly rejected the suggestion of Gao Ying's wine servant, Li Yiqi, to launch a surprise attack on Xingyang, then shift the battle to Yingchuan and Nanyang. This time, he wanted to deploy his troops in front of Xingyang City, kill Lü Yuan that clown and take revenge.

  He wants to use a thousand, not ten thousand, heads of the Qin people to sacrifice to Fan Kuai. He wants to cut off the head of that dog Li Yuan and use it as a night pot.

  Xingyang

  All parties are also surging with momentum, unable to stop.

  During this period, Zhao Bi and Wang Ming's faction, which was gaining the upper hand, accelerated their efforts to win over neutral officials after successfully pressuring Yang Xiong into making the decision to lead troops out of the city. Yang Xiong's isolated position at military meetings also led many people to choose to side with Zhao Bi.

  Profiting from advantages and avoiding harm is a common human tendency, especially when Yang Xiong was about to go on an expedition and fight against the rebels. As long as one is human, they will have seven emotions and six desires. Some people might think that since Li You died in battle, it's unlikely that Yang Xiong could be more formidable than him. Rather than sending oneself to death, why not hide within the safety of a strong city and enjoy peace and security? Even if one is not afraid of death, they should consider what would happen to their family and children at home during these chaotic times.

  Apart from luring, Wang Ming and others also made the investigation of Li Youyi's case more prolonged and extensive. The crime of suspected treason was a big stick to suppress people, whoever disobeyed would be dealt with by the big stick, arrested and imprisoned. Just at this time, the news of Li Yuan's military victory arrived, as if he had slapped Wang Ming and others in the face.

  Li You is dead, and the dead cannot speak to defend themselves. Li Yuan is still alive, and his troops are Li You's main force. In the situation of communicating with the enemy, they are still fighting fiercely, which is inexcusable under any circumstances.

  The day of Yang Xiong's expedition was approaching, but Zhao Bi did not expect that a freak like Li Yuan would emerge, relying on more than 1,000 defeated soldiers gathered from who-knows-where to defeat Fan Chou, the number one general of the rebel army.

  Who is Fan Kuai? Others are not clear, but Zhao Bai is very clear. In the Battle of Sui Water four months ago, Zhao Bai's reinforcements were defeated by Liu Bang, and among them, Fan Kuai beheaded 42 levels, including two military marquises under Zhao Bai.

  Kill Fan Zeng, Liu Bang still does not fight desperately?

  Zhao Bin could imagine that the following days in Xingyang would not be peaceful, and perhaps it was safest to quickly urge Yang Xiong to send troops and then replace all the soldiers guarding the city with his own men. However, there were still many fence-sitting officials in Xingyang City, and if any of them had contact with Yang Xiong, how could the city be defended? Zhao Bin fell into a dilemma for a while, hating Li Yuan so much that his teeth itched.

  Xing City, East City.

  A row of houses with green bricks and red tiles, tall gate pillars, and intricately carved stone tigers all reveal the identity and status of their owner. This is where Li You, the former governor of Sichuan Prefecture, and his wife, Princess Yushu of Qin State, reside. However, this mansion now appears desolate and quiet, with fallen leaves piled up at the entrance, looking like it hasn't been swept for days.

  After Li You's death, most of the people in the Li household dispersed on their own, leaving only a few loyal guests remaining in the mansion. In the inner courtyard of the mansion, a young woman dressed in white was adjusting her makeup in front of a copper mirror. The copper mirror was polished to a smooth finish, just like the woman's pale complexion, with lightly painted eyebrows and a slightly furrowed brow, making one feel pity and want to protect her.

  Ying Yu, the only surviving daughter of Qin Shi Huang, Princess of Qin State, daughter-in-law of Li Si, former Chancellor of Qin State, and wife of Li Yu, former Governor of Sanchuan County.

  As a member of the royal family, no one had experienced more shocking and stirring events than her in this year. After Qin Er Shi Hu Hai ascended to the throne, he immediately raised his butcher's knife, and the children of the First Emperor, Gongzi Gao, and Kun Zhong were killed one after another in Xianyang. Before that, the former Crown Prince Fusu had been given a premature death. Now, among the many descendants of the First Emperor, only Ying Yu was still alive.

  At that time, the power of the Li family made Hu Hai temporarily dare not to move her at all; and now, Li Si has fallen, Hu Hai's knife has been raised high, this time Wang Ming and Chen Di came to Xingyang, openly investigating Li You for treason, but secretly wanting to eliminate Ying Yu, who could pose a threat to Hu Hai's throne.

  Investigate Li Yu for treason? This excuse is not even as good as saying nothing, directly dragging all the Lis out and beheading them. A general who died on the battlefield was still slandered as a traitor after death. This is how the tyrannical Hu Hai treats his loyal ministers, but one day he will reap what he has sown.

  "Jade sister, the madam asked me to ask you, about the cooperation matter mentioned last time, have you considered it properly?" The woman in purple clothes, Gu Yunniang, glanced around the room with a hint of a smile on her lips. After the conflict with Zhao Bi last time, Gu Yunniang's whereabouts became increasingly unpredictable, and this woman was just like the mysterious force behind her, not someone easy to deal with, making people feel a sense of unconscious vigilance.

  "Madam Gong Sun's body is at peace, as for cooperation, the Li family has nothing valuable to exchange now, why must you insist?" The woman in white sighed softly, her wrists as pale as jade, and her long black hair was coiled into a high bun, showing off her noble and mature charm.

  It's just when the peaches are ripe that a new wife of twenty-five or six is like a fully ripened fruit, waiting for someone with the right fate to come and pick her.

  "Why does the princess have to tell lies in front of everyone, Li family still has a trump card, for example, that Li Yuan, also counts as a member of the Li family!" Gu Yunniang smiled complacently and walked behind Princess Yuxi, continuing: "Didn't the princess hear? Two days ago, Li Yuan defeated the rebels in Daliang and even beheaded an enemy general!"

  "Li Yuan is just a gatekeeper, he can't be considered as anyone in the Li family?" Princess Yu Shui was stunned for a moment, the jade comb in her hand almost fell to the ground, and it took a long time before she replied faintly.

  "Is that so? Is Jade sister afraid of little sister saying it out loud? As for the Li family's affairs, as long as Madame Gongsun wants to know, she will definitely find out." Gu Yunniang's expression stiffened, and with a proud tone, she smiled.

  "Gongsun's wife knows everything, why not go find Li Yuan directly? I'm just a weak woman, being held captive in the mansion, I probably can't help you. If there's nothing else, Yunniang, you can leave now, be careful on your way." Princess Yu Xuan's voice was icy cold, her beautiful face calm and emotionless.

  "Unexpectedly, Yuan Ge also grew up, Li's family, maybe there is still hope......" Ying Yu Xi let out a soft sigh, her lonely heart flashing with the image of a somewhat introverted and reserved young man who liked to stand in the corner silently.

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