The ace special forces who dominated the Sui dynasty's late period

  "Sister, get up quickly." Gao Xiuer helped Hui Niang up, but then said, "There's just one thing. Impersonating someone is a serious crime, after I enter the palace, you must sell this inn as soon as possible and leave for a distant place, remember, remember!"

  As Liu Ziqiu had expected, Gao Xiuer had the intention of assassinating Yang Guang to avenge her father's death after learning of Gao Jiong's demise. However, although she arrived in Luoyang, she couldn't find a way into the palace. The selection of new concubines was just what she needed, and it would be killing two birds with one stone. But Gao Xiuer had a kind heart and knew that if she took action, whether successful or not, Yang Guang wouldn't let her family off.

  Shi Shun and his wife also knew the severity of the situation and repeatedly agreed.

  Gao Xiuer said, "I have an older brother and a younger sister living in Yuhang County's Yangguan Village of Changshan Town. My brother is called Liu Ziqiu and my sister is called Xiangcao. This time, my brother is also in the Eastern Capital City, but I'm afraid he won't be able to meet with me. If Uncle and Aunt pass by Yuhang in the future, please help me deliver a message."

  Hui Niang said with tears in her eyes: "Sister, rest assured, I've remembered it."

  Shi Shun and his family thought that Gao Xiuer was eager for the glory and wealth of the palace, thinking that this was a situation where everyone would be happy, but they didn't know that she had already harbored a determination to die.

  But just as Li Jing and Han Shiwei were walking back home with big strides, they had just closed the gate when a black shadow flashed on the roof, and Liu Ziqiu was already standing in front of them, bowing his hands and saying: "Big brother, Master Han, I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

  Li Jing asked in surprise: "Younger brother, how did you arrive so quickly?"

  Liu Ziqiu smiled and said: "Big brother walks through the streets and alleys, little brother only walks on the roof, doesn't take a detour, naturally it's faster."

  "Pharmacist, where have you been? You're back now!" A loud roar echoed from the house, and then a young woman rushed out, dashing towards Li Jing. Suddenly, she saw Liu Ziqiu standing in the courtyard and was slightly stunned.

  However, the woman didn't seem embarrassed either, and immediately put on a smiling face, softly scolding him, "Husband, since we have guests arriving, why didn't you say so earlier?"

  The change was so rapid that Liu Ziqiu was also amazed. He knew it was Li Jing's wife, and hastily paid his respects: "Younger brother greets elder sister."

  "This is my newly sworn brother Liu Ziqiu."

  The woman hastily returned a bow and said: "Uncle, please come in and sit down."

  Everyone entered the house together, taking their seats as host and guest. Liu Ziqiu couldn't help but stare at the woman, who was around twenty years old and extremely beautiful. When she spoke to Li Jing, her words were full of grandeur, yet when speaking to him and Han Shizhen, she was polite and courteous, leaving him secretly amazed - could this woman be the legendary Hong Zhuan Nu?

  The woman seemed to have also seen through Liu Ziqiu's thoughts, and couldn't help but laugh: "Uncle, don't worry, I am indeed the one who ran away at night, everyone in the Eastern Capital knows."

  There was a legendary story in the Tang Dynasty called "The Story of Qiu Mao Ke", which tells that Li Jing, at the end of the Sui Dynasty, visited Yang Su, the Minister of Works, in Chang'an and was admired by Hong Fu, a maid in Yang's household. She eloped with him and on their journey, they met Zhang Zhongjian, a heroic and chivalrous man. Later, they arrived in Taiyuan together and through Liu Wenjing, Li Jing met Li Shimin. Zhang Zhongjian had originally had ambitions to contend for the empire, but seeing that Li Shimin was extraordinary, he knew he could not match him, so he contributed his family's wealth to support Li Jing, enabling him to assist Li Shimin in achieving great things.

  At that time, when Liu Ziqiu saw this legend, he had already secretly questioned it. According to the legend, Yang Su was not dead at that time, and Li Shimin was already 20 years old, which is quite contradictory. Now the two principals are right in front of him, Liu Ziqiu couldn't help but feel curious, and cupped his hands saying: "I wish to hear more about it."

  Liu Ziqiu's question was quite abrupt. The beauty recognizing the hero is a romantic move that should be passed down as a beautiful story in his eyes as a modern person. However, in that era, it was considered to be against the wind and morals, or even viewed as licentious.

  Hong Fu did not get angry. Although Li Jing's current official position is humble, his family background is not poor and cold, but it is indeed ordinary, far less than her days in Yangfu with fine clothes and food. However, she believed in her own vision, and her husband would one day stand out from the crowd. Therefore, she regarded the matter of eloping as a proud achievement in her life, and was not ashamed to mention it in front of people.

  It wasn't until then that Liu Ziqiu realized that legends were indeed unreliable.

  Hong Fu's surname was Zhang, and her name was Chu Chen. She was a singing girl in Yang Su's household. Because she admired Li Jing's talent, she fled to him at midnight. However, Li Jing was an upright person and did not elope with her to Taiyuan as rumored. Instead, he waited for the Yang family to come and ask for punishment at the government hostel. Therefore, it was impossible for them to encounter any bearded guests on the way.

  Yang Su not only did not send someone to capture Hong Fu Nü, but instead sent people to deliver her clothes and jewelry. Yang Su also appreciated Li Jing's talent and had once sighed that Li Jing would one day take his place. A beautiful singing girl was nothing in Yang Su's eyes, so he simply acted out of personal feelings. Indeed, with Yang Su's status and power at the time, if he didn't give in, it would be difficult for Li Jing and his wife to find a place to settle down, let alone enter the imperial court as officials. However, in Liu Ziqiu's opinion, Yang Su was still being petty, and should have at least given more gold and silver to let Li Jing's family live a good life.

  Han Shi'e couldn't wait for them to chat and anxiously said, "Brother, Su Su was taken into the palace by Xu Tingfu today!"

  Li Jing exclaimed in great surprise: "Can such a thing really be?"

  Originally, Su's surname was Hou, and she was from a family in Chang'an. Her father was originally a general under Han Qiu, but her mother had died early. Later, after her father died on the battlefield, Han Qiu took her in as his own and raised her alongside Han Shiyan, with whom she grew up without any distinction. However, since Han Shiyan went to serve in the military, they were unable to get married. Recently, Xu Tingfu somehow heard about Hou Su's beauty and repeatedly tried to bring her into the palace. When Han Shiyan received the news, he hastily returned from the military, but unfortunately arrived a step too late.

  Han Shi hastily brought Li Jing back, precisely to discuss this matter. He sighed and said: "Brother-in-law, I want to go to Yulin to see the Emperor, but my sister-in-law disagrees."

  Hong Zan said, "The current emperor is most fond of beauty. Even Xuan Hua and Rong Hua, the two noble ladies, dare to vie for his favor, and have long abandoned all moral principles. If we were to go and beg him, once he sees Su Su's beauty, I fear he will be even less willing to let her return."

  Li Jing nodded and said, "What your sister-in-law said makes sense."

  Liu Ziqiu listened to them talking while falling into deep thought.

  Wang Guizhi was just the daughter of a wine family, with a lowly status. Being taken into the palace was already a fate she couldn't escape. Hou Susu's father had died in battle for the country, and she was also the fiancée of General Han Qiu, one of the founding generals of the dynasty. With such an identity, she could only be manipulated by others. In the end, it all came down to the emperor's power being too great, with his every word carrying the weight of law and his speech being as precious as jade.

  Liu Ziqiu has been transported to this era for a month and a half, his greatest wish is to return to modern times, but he doesn't know how he came here, let alone how to go back. For this reason, Liu Ziqiu even thought of asking Yuan Tiangang to calculate the divination, such an unreliable idea.

  Before returning to modern times, Liu Ziqiu only struggled to survive. But in such an era of absolute power, survival was also a luxury. From Yang Jishan's massacre of the village to the emperor's selection of concubines, human life was as worthless as straw, and dignity was trampled at will. To survive with dignity in this era, one had to have power, supreme and boundless power!

  Suddenly Li Jing asked: "Younger brother, what's your opinion?"

  "Oh, me? I also agree with sister-in-law's opinion."

  Liu Ziqiu was not being perfunctory. Although he hadn't read much about the history of Sui and Tang, he had heard too many unofficial histories and legends about Yang Guang, including the famous "Heroes of Sui and Tang". According to these unofficial histories, Crown Prince Yang Zhao once fell in love with a palace maid while playing in the Western Garden, and asked Empress Xiao for her. Empress Xiao then told Yang Guang, asking him to give the palace maid to Yang Zhao. At first, Yang Guang agreed, but after seeing the palace maid, he took her for himself. The thing that Hong Fu Nu was worried about might indeed happen.

  But Han Shiyan was somewhat unhappy and said, "Brother Liu, for the sake of Wang Guizhi, you didn't hesitate to fight with Xu Tingfu, how come when it comes to my matter, you..."

  "Ah, so you went to see Yun Lixi!" Hong Bu Nu suddenly flew into a rage, grabbing Li Jing's ear and shouting loudly, full of jealousy.

  Li Jing smiled and said: "Don't be ridiculous, I'm just accompanying my younger brother to take a look."

  "Yes, yes, it was I who invited Big Brother to go." Liu Ziqiu had no choice but to take the blame and quickly changed the subject, "Lord Han misunderstood, my intention is not to ask the Emperor for confirmation. There's only one way, enter the palace and rescue Princess Hou!"

  "What!" As soon as this word came out, everyone was shocked.

  "This won't do!" Li Jing waved his hand and said, "Isn't this similar to rebellion? Besides, it's also too dangerous."

  The idea of gaining absolute power once sprouted, grew wildly like a weed. Liu Ziqiu didn't have time to think carefully, but he understood the principle of a good man having three helpers, and there were two excellent helpers right in front of him.

  Li Jing, a famous military general of the Tang Dynasty, did not have much opportunity to show his talents during the Sui Dynasty, but after joining the Tang Dynasty, he became a renowned general. Han Shizhi also came from a noble family and was a talented individual.

  But then Han Shiyan gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! Brother Liu, I'll follow you into the palace. As long as we can rescue Su Su, from now on, I'll obey your every command!"

  Liu Ziqiu shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't trust Brother Han's skills, but the imperial palace is heavily guarded, and there are no shortcuts to get in. Only one person can go, but there are three things that need to be said beforehand."

  Han Shiyan said with a smile: "Liu brothers, you say!"

  Liu Ziqiu paused for a moment, then said: "Firstly, I need an identification token to prove my identity to Princess Hou. Secondly, as Liu Mou is new to the Eastern Capital, he doesn't know the way to the imperial palace."

  Han Shiyan immediately took off the jade pendant from his body and said, "Su Su will see this as if she sees me myself, she must believe you. However, we have never been to the imperial palace either, so we don't know what the layout is like."

  Li Jing said seriously: "Younger brother, are you really going?"

  "Really going!"

  Li Jing saw that his mind was made up and did not persuade him anymore. He said, "When the Eastern Capital was built, the Ministry of Works should have left some drawings. Tomorrow I will go and take a look to see if there is any gain."