Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 774 The Life-Saving Master! Part 3 [Thank you! Bow again! 16k words owed]

Jinming Pond in the west of the city
The chaos subsided slightly.

There were still many boats in the pool, with golden-armored guards standing on them, patrolling the surface of the pool.

On one of the boats heading towards the Linshui Palace, Xu Zaijing stood at the bow, wearing a robe draped over his shoulders.

The soldiers in charge of rowing looked at Xu Zaijing with eyes full of admiration and fear.

As the cruise ship moved forward, various floating debris was constantly being knocked aside in front of it.

Xu Zaijing had entered the water countless times near the large dragon ship, his hair and body already covered in red pool water.

It was late March, and the midday sun was already quite intense. Xu Zaijing stood facing the wind again.

Although Xu Zaijing's body was not dried by air or sun, the moisture was disappearing rapidly.

As a result, the smells of pool water, blood, and other unidentified odors on Xu Zaijing became increasingly pronounced.

"Om-"

Two flies, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, circled around Xu Zaijing's head before landing on his slightly dark red hair.

Xu Zaijing moved his head.

"Buzz—" The fly took flight, but hadn't gone very far.

"Crack! Crack!"

Xu Zaijing flicked his finger, and the flies around him stopped buzzing.

Arriving at the colorful pavilion a few dozen steps away from the Linshui Palace, Xu Zaijing stepped ashore.

Looking around, there were many unconscious people lying on the ground in the shed next to the Linshui Palace, with a thick layer of wood ash under them.

Xu Zaijing had excellent eyesight and even saw that there was a layer of fine salt around the navel of the unconscious person, and a moxibustion stick was placed on the salt, emitting blue smoke.

Some of the high-ranking medical officers, including Yu Huguang, were administering acupuncture, while others were ordering people to light moxibustion.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's gaze, the golden-armored imperial guard beside him said, "Fifth Brother, Physician Xiao Yu is saving someone!"

"Can this save lives?" Xu Zaijing asked, his eyes filled with doubt.

The imperial guard sighed, "Alas! Let's do our best and leave the rest to fate!"

Walking along the way,
Officials, eunuchs, and newly appointed scholars who had just come ashore or had already washed up would bow and clasp their hands in gratitude to Xu Zaijing for saving their lives.

The violent shaking of the large dragon ship at that time not only caused the bronze incense burner to be thrown off the ship, but also many passengers.

The clothes, soaked after entering the water, were used to pull the non-swimmer towards the bottom of the pool.

Before they could even react to what was happening, they felt a tremendous force coming from behind them. They were choked by the pool water and were suddenly lifted to the surface.

Although everyone was still shaken in the pool, they could still recognize who had saved them.

After nodding in return, Xu Zaijing soon arrived at the entrance of the Linshui Palace.

The hall was filled with the sound of voices.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Fifth Prince has returned!" a palace official announced loudly.

Everyone inside the hall turned their heads to look at the entrance.

Seeing the Emperor, Empress, and Zhao Fang stand up, everyone else also stood up.

The Emperor, looking at Xu Zaijing who was bowing respectfully, said as he walked away, "Fifth Prince, you've had a hard day!"

Xu Zaijing hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, this is my duty."

Then, looking at the tearful faces of the officials' wives in the hall, Xu Zaijing felt a pang of guilt and lowered his head.

"Wulang, good boy, rise quickly! In such a drastic change, to be in this situation is already a stroke of luck," the Empress said gently.

The people in the hall nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing straightened up and glanced around the hall. He saw Minglan and Hualan standing together next to Madam Sun and the others. Beside them were Changbai and Zaizhang, whose hair was still wet.

Not far from the Xu family,

After giving Xu Zaijing a thumbs-up, Rong Xian turned his head and spoke to Rong Feiyan, whose skirt had some stains.

But Rong Feiyan seemed to ignore her brother's words, her attention entirely focused on Xu Zaijing.

When Xu Zaijing looked over, this noblewoman, unusually, did not look away but stared directly at him.

Chai Zhengzheng, standing beside the Empress, looked at Xu Zaijing, who was in a disheveled state, with concern in her eyes and a look of heartache in her eyes.

"Take Wulang to bathe and change his clothes," the emperor said loudly.

Feeling somewhat unwell, Xu Zaijing bowed respectfully and walked to the side with the eunuch Huaibao.

Minglan stood beside her elder sister, watching Xu Zaijing's figure disappear through the palace gate.

At this moment, Cao Yi stepped into the hall, bowed and said, "Your Majesty! Commander Song Chaozhong of the Divine Guard Army has arrived! But he made it clear that he will only send troops into the city after seeing that Your Majesty is in good health!"

The emperor stood up somewhat helplessly: "He is indeed loyal! Very well! I will let him see!"

With that, the emperor led his entourage south toward the Linshui Palace.

"Crash-"

The sound of water running could be heard.

Looking at Xu Zaijing with his eyes closed, the eunuch Huaibao asked, "Fifth Prince, how do you feel, hot or cold?"

"Perfect, let's continue."

"Hey!" Huaibao tilted the copper kettle again.

Clear, warm water flowed from the spout and poured onto Xu Zaijing's hair.

The water turned red when it flowed onto Xu Zaijing's cheeks.

Soon, Xu Zaijing saw the clear water and blood mixed together at his feet, slowly flowing downhill.

After rinsing several times, an imperial eunuch presented the palace's special bath beans.

After another round of scrubbing and rinsing, Xu Zaijing's body became clean, and a delicate fragrance wafted out.

"Puff puff--"

Xu Zaijing washed his face again with water and then reached out to pull down the plain white brocade draped over the screen.

The brocade had loose threads along its edges, clearly indicating that it was cut directly from a long bolt of brocade.

Given the large number of people who have fallen into the water today, this is the only emergency measure we can take.

After wiping his body, Xu Zaijing looked at the vague figure of a female official outside the screen and said, "Clothes."

"oh oh!"

The lady-in-waiting outside the screen responded and handed in a neatly folded undergarment from the side of the screen.

Looking at the familiar fabric on the lady-in-waiting's wrist, the fair fingers holding the clothes, and the nails dyed with flower petals,

Although Xu Zaijing had some doubts, he still reached out and took the clothes and put them on quickly.

"Sniff!"

After smelling the surroundings, Xu Zaijing frowned and peeked out from behind the screen.

Looking at the girls outside the screen, one holding clothes and the other holding belts and shoes, Xu Zaijing's eyes widened suddenly.

The two noble ladies outside the screen were also startled by Xu Zaijing's peeking out.

What are you doing?

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words.

Rong Feiyan looked away from Xu Zaijing's collar, her face flushed, and she lowered her head, pursing her lips without saying a word.

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Xu Zaijing, then looked away and said, "Fifth Brother Xu, the palace is short-staffed, so Her Majesty the Empress sent us over."

Xu Zaijing quickly stood up straight and hid behind the screen, saying, "This, that, you don't need to wait outside, just put it aside! It would be even better if you put it on the screen!"

"Ok!"

"it is good!"

After two responses with different tones, clothes and belts appeared on the screen, while shoes and boots were placed beside the screen.

Outside the screen,
Seeing Rong Feiyan's flushed face, Chai Zhengzheng asked in a low voice, "Shall we go?"

After thinking for a moment, Rong Feiyan looked at the figure behind the screen and replied softly, "But... he hasn't combed his hair yet!"

Chai Zhengzheng pondered for a moment, then asked with great surprise, "Sister Feiyan, you know how to comb hair?"

Rong Feiyan was taken aback.

Chai Zhengzheng continued, "I wouldn't do that. My hair is always styled by Yunmu and the others, let alone a man's hairstyle."

Upon hearing this, Rong Feiyan quickly said, "Then let's go. Please ask a nanny to come over later."

After saying that, the two glanced at the figure behind the screen again and walked together toward the front hall.

As the two figures walked away, Xu Zaijing, behind the screen, scratched his head and muttered to himself with a blank look in his eyes, "What are they trying to do?"

Within Bianjing City,

Zong Zhengsi's prison,
Despite its name, the prison is a large prison, but the cells inside are spacious and clean, and all the necessary equipment is provided.

In the prison cell,
The Prince of Jing, who was having his meal, was taken aback and then stood up.

"Father! Listen outside!" the Crown Prince of Jing cried out. "It sounds like weapons clashing."

Upon hearing this, the much thinner-looking Prince Jing quickly put his hand to his ear as if listening intently: "What's wrong?"

King Jing had just finished speaking.

"boom!"

The cell door not far away was kicked open.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Where are you?" a hoarse voice shouted.

"We're here! We're here!" the Crown Prince of Jing responded excitedly.

Soon, several valiant warriors dressed in leather armor arrived in front of the King of Jing's prison.

"You! What brings you here?" King Jing looked at the person opening the prison door in surprise.

The man had scars around his eyebrows and his cheeks were hunched over, as if he had suffered a serious injury to his face before. He was the former commander of the King of Jing's personal guards.

"Your Highness, isn't this all your arrangement?" The commander of the personal guards looked at Prince Jing with some surprise.

The King of Jing shook his head: "What do you mean I arranged this!?"

The commander of the personal guards said urgently, "Your Highness! We were stopped during our exile, and the person claimed that it was you who arranged it! After that, he ordered us to lie in wait outside Bianjing City."

"Taking advantage of the recent parade of newly appointed scholars on horseback, we were able to enter the capital."

"Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!" shouted the Prince of Jing on the other side.

Upon hearing this, the other strong and capable men nearby exchanged shocked glances.

The commander of the personal guards exclaimed urgently, "A trap? But something terrible has really happened at Jinming Pond in the west of the city today! They say the large dragon ship was capsized by a monster in the pond!"

"Is the Emperor on the warship?" King Jing hurriedly asked.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

A smile appeared in the King of Jing's eyes. He said, "Whether it's a scheme or not, let's get out of here first! How many people have come in total?"

"Ring ring ring—" The chains in the cell were pulled off.

The commander of the personal guards tossed the chains aside and said regretfully, "Your Highness, there are only twenty-eight men including me."

Looking at the commander of his personal guards who was removing his shackles, the King of Jing laughed and said, "Twenty-eight men? Haha! That's an auspicious number!"

Taking the leather armor handed to him by another guard, the Prince of Jing said, "With the great dragon ship capsized, the Emperor is likely in grave danger! Today is a golden opportunity to make a name for yourself!"

After donning his leather armor, the King of Jing took a waist knife and said, "Let's go! Let's have a good meal first, conserve our energy, and observe the situation!"

Beijing,

Outside the garrison of a part of the Dragon Guard Army,

"Whoa—" Liang Xu reined in his horse.

The dozen or so riders following behind also stopped.

Frowning at his subordinate who was pulling on the reins of his horse, Liang Xu said, "Tangtang, what are you doing! His Majesty ordered us to come to the camp immediately, why are you stopping me!"

Zhao Tangtang, who came from the Western Army, shook her head repeatedly and said urgently, "Young Master, something's wrong! Something's wrong at the camp gate!"

Liang Xu demanded, "What's wrong?!"

Zhao Tangtang quickly said, "I personally set up the sentry posts at the camp gate today! When we return to camp with the flag, they should open the gate immediately upon seeing the flag!"

"But what about now!?" Zhao Tangtang asked, pointing to the tightly closed camp gate not far away.

"You mean?" Liang Xu asked solemnly.

Zhao Tangtang nodded: "Young Master, our soldiers have been under the command of Tan Silang for many years! You've seen what happened today, we have to be careful!"

Liang Xu frowned and pondered for a moment, then looked at his subordinate beside him and said, "No! His Majesty's order is a military order, we must go in!"

"male"

Liang Xu waved his hand to interrupt his subordinate and continued, "Tangtang, you have the best riding skills, stay outside the camp! If you don't come out within half an incense stick's time after we enter the camp, you immediately go outside the city to report the situation here!"

"This is a military order!" Liang Xu said solemnly. Zhao Tangtang reluctantly bowed and replied, "Yes!"

The two had just finished speaking.

"kill--"

From inside the distant camp gate, deafening shouts resounded.

"Something's happened inside the camp! Let's go!"

Liang Xu spurred his horse and galloped away.

Upon arriving at the camp gate, Liang Xu's personal guard, Lin Luotuo, stepped forward, looked up, and shouted loudly, "His Majesty is in good health! He orders us to return to camp! Open the camp gate immediately!"

The Dragon Guard soldiers on the gate tower were drawing their bows and nocking arrows, watching in horror the scene of fighting inside the gate.

Upon being called by Lin Luotuowei, the soldier turned to look at Liang Xu outside the gate and said, "Commander Liang! But, but, just now Commander Tan came into the camp and said that someone was plotting a rebellion and sank the warship. He was ordered to take over our command!"

Liang Xu also looked up and shouted, "What Commander Tan?! Do you really not know why Tan Silang left the Dragon Guard Army? He's from the Heavenly Martial Army, here to take over our Dragon Guard Army? Do you think I'm just sitting around doing nothing?"

suddenly,

"What are you doing! Put it down!"

Standing in front of the camp gate, Lin Luotuo pointed at the guard tower on the other side and shouted angrily!
Liang Xu turned his head and saw that the soldier had pointed an arrow at him.

Looking at the soldiers on the watchtower, Liang Xu shouted, "His Majesty is in good health! Tan Silang and his men are leading you in a rebellion! Do not be stubborn and ruin yourselves and your families!"

At this time,

Several more elite soldiers, armed with shields and swords, appeared on the watchtowers on both sides and shouted angrily, "Put down your bows and arrows!"

Upon seeing Liang Xu outside the camp gate, the soldiers with swords and shields immediately shouted joyfully into the camp: "Commander Liang has returned to camp!"

A moment later, the massive camp gate swayed and was opened from the inside.

The shouts of battle suddenly grew louder.

"Raise your shields!" someone shouted.

The sound of arrows striking the shield rang out.

Some distance from the camp gate, someone laughed and cursed, "You bunch of idiots! What? You think you can beat me in the training ground? Just because Grandpa and his men were dominating you, you think Grandpa would lose in a real fight?!"

"If you grandfathers win this battle, your wives and children will be granted titles and privileges! From now on, I will often patronize your wives' and daughters' businesses!"

The extremely noisy noise echoed throughout the camp gate.

"Hahahaha!" Laughter erupted from the soldiers.

"Young Master, it's Old Mu's voice!" a guard exclaimed in surprise.

Liang Han nodded.

At this moment, from further away in the camp, someone could be heard cursing angrily: "Mu Cunli, you lowly thieving convict, I'll kill you!"

"middle!"

Someone shouted angrily.

Immediately, someone exclaimed in admiration: "Colorful—"

"Old Mu, that was a beautiful shot!"

The noisy voice rang out again: "Hahahaha, you silly bird, you really fell for Grandpa's provocation!"

"Hahahaha!" Another burst of laughter erupted from the soldiers around them.

"Commander Liang, return to camp!" Lin Luotuo and the others shouted from behind.

After a while,
Soldiers on Liang Xu's side shouted in unison:
"His Majesty is in good health! Do not be led astray into treason! Those who abandon the rebels and return to the righteous path will be pardoned!"

"His Majesty is in good health! Do not be led astray into treason! Those who abandon the rebels and return to the righteous path will be pardoned!"

The shouts of a group of fierce soldiers echoed throughout the camp.

The opposing formation was visibly in disarray.

Mu Cunli, who had come to Liang Xu's side, excitedly shouted, "Young Master, it's time to beat the drums and advance!"

"Beat the drums! March forward!" Liang Xu shouted.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of war drums for the attack rang out in the camp.

"Push them down!" came the shouts, mingling with the drumbeats.

"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!"

On Liang Xu's side, the formation was tight, and their steps were synchronized as they pushed forward to the beat of the drums.

Two quarters of an hour later, there was no one left fighting in the military camp.

The subordinates who were preparing outside the camp also took the opportunity to return to Liang Xu's side.

Riding on his horse, Liang Xu looked at the somewhat chaotic camp and said, "Quickly go and inform His Majesty that the mutiny within the Dragon Guard camp has been quelled! However, several hundred rebel soldiers have escaped from the camp and infiltrated the capital. Please make a judgment, Your Majesty! Go!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Tangtang bowed respectfully and then leaped onto her horse.

Watching their comrade leave with his men, Liang Xu's personal guards, including Mu Cunli, who remained in the camp, all gathered around.

"Commander, what exactly happened outside the city today?" Mu Cunli asked, bowing.

Liang Xu sighed and told them about the dramatic changes at Jinming Pond.

Seeing his subordinates shaking their heads in surprise, Liang Xu said, "Fortunately, you resolutely rallied your troops in the camp today and stabilized the situation. Otherwise, if that scoundrel Tan Silang had instigated them, they might have made a grave mistake!"

"I will report your merits to His Majesty truthfully once things have calmed down a bit!"

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled and clasped their hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Commander!"

Mu Cunli and his comrades Jiu Juanyi and others exchanged glances, then said, "Commander, when the ship in the pond was about to capsize today, didn't the top scholar Xu Wu Gongzi try to stop it?"

Liang Xu looked bewildered: "Old Mu, what do you mean by that?"

Mu Cunli chuckled: "Commander, we've been to Jinming Pond before. We heard that the large dragon ship is moored with thick cables."

"When this dragon ship capsized, didn't Young Master Xu say he would pull on a rope to stop the ship from falling?" Mu Cunli said, gesturing as if he were playing tug-of-war.

“Yes, Commander!” Jiu Juanyi chimed in earnestly from the side.

Speechless for a moment, Liang Xu pointed his finger at the group several times in frustration, and said helplessly, "I can't tell whether you're praising Wu Lang or mocking him!"

"Who do you think Goro is? A god? You think he can hold that huge ship down with just a single rope?"

"Uh..." Jiu Juanyi and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a 'can't it?' expression.

Seeing their expressions, Liang Xu continued, "Do you know where the mooring rope is attached to the ship? Do you know how big and how heavy a gold ingot-shaped iron bar is in the ship's hold?"

Mu Cunli rubbed his nose blankly and asked in a daze, "Commander, how heavy can it be?"

Ning Jierui, who was standing to the side, said, "Commander, we've heard from people in the Western Army that Wu Lang can send Bai Gaotie Yao flying with a single spear thrust!"

“Yes, yes!” several people echoed.

Liang Xu helplessly covered his face and sighed softly.

Suddenly, Liang Xu was stunned.

After lowering his hand, Liang Xu looked at his personal guards and said, "You know that Wu Lang is on the warship, which is why you don't believe what Tan Si Lang said?"

Ning Jierui and the others smiled and cupped their hands, saying, "Commander, you are wise! We have drunk with the guards of the Xu family's heir before and know that Wu Lang is an exceptional swimmer! With him on the ship, how could His Majesty possibly..."

Everyone nodded.

"On our way to gather the troops, Lao Mu said that even if the Great Dragon Ship were to encounter an accident, Wu Lang could dive into the water and use ropes to pull the ship to the shore."

Mu Cunli nodded: "Yes! That's what I did back then."

"Stop!" Liang Xu waved his hand.

The chattering all around suddenly stopped.

Seeing his subordinates hesitate to speak, Liang Xu added, "I will relay what you said to Wulang truthfully."

"Commander, there's really no need to relay this message!"

After changing his clothes, Xu Zaijing walked towards the front hall under the guidance of the eunuch.

Upon entering the hall,
"Your Majesty, the garrison commander of Baokang Gate in the inner city has sent a messenger to report that enemy soldiers are attempting to seize the city gate!"

"Furthermore, east of Baokang Gate, the inner city walls and surrounding areas are in complete chaos! Thick smoke is rising! Bandits and thieves are taking advantage of the chaos to commit atrocities, and the sounds of fighting and screams are incessant!"

The emperor stood up: "What?!"

"what?"

"How could something have happened in the southeast of the city!"

"How could this be?"

Inside the palace, people whose residences were near Baokang Gate exclaimed in shock.

Sun suddenly stood up, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a sound.

Seeing that Sun was unsteady on her feet, Hualan quickly reached out to support her.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zaijing hurriedly walked forward.

"Where did these bandits come from?" the emperor's questioning voice became even clearer.

Before the messenger could reply, the emperor sat back on his throne in annoyance, waving his hand and saying, "Forget it! No need to say anything more. In the southeast direction, there is only the Tianwu Army commanded by Tan Erlang!"

"It seems that the Imperial Guards who were sent to relieve him of his military post failed to convey my decree."

suddenly.

"Mother!"

Zai Zhang and Hua Lan's exclamations rang out.

Xu Zaijing arrived in the hall at this moment and saw Hua Lan anxiously holding the unconscious Sun Shi!
"Mother!" Xu Zaijing rushed to Sun's side.

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician to the palace!" the Empress urged urgently.

A moment later, Yu Huguang came running over with his medicine box on his back.

After emergency acupuncture,

“Eek—” Madam Sun opened her eyes.

Staring blankly at Xu Zaijing before her, Madam Sun's eyes filled with tears, and she said in a trembling voice with furrowed brows, "Jing'er, your sister... she's still heavily pregnant!"

Hearing Madam Sun's voice, which was trying to suppress her grief, everyone in the hall showed expressions of pity.

"Brother! Brother! What are we going to do! Sister Anmei, she!" Rong Feiyan looked at Rong Xian anxiously.

Chai Zhengzheng held Madam Chai's hand tightly, looking at Xu Zaijing with heartache in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward when Madam Chai stopped her.

"Zhengzheng, don't go over there and cause him trouble!" Madam Chai said sternly.

“But, Mother, he…” Chai Zhengzheng didn’t finish her sentence.

Xu Zaijing had already stood up, walked to the Emperor and Empress, lifted his robes, knelt down, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty."

Before the Emperor and Empress could give any signal, Zhao Fang quickly went to Xu Zaijing's side, grabbed Xu Zaijing's arm tightly, and tried very hard to pull him up: "Jing-ge, get up, you don't need to do this! Father Emperor..."

The emperor took a deep breath and called out, "Fifth Prince, stand up!"

Xu Zaijing was pulled to his feet by Zhao Fang.

The emperor then said, "He Guan!"

"Wei Chen is here!"

"Prepare armor and weapons for Goro! Also, take a battalion of cavalry with him to rescue people."

"Sir, obey the order!"

The Emperor then said, "Draft an edict ordering the two armies of the Left Wing of the Sun-Holding Army to not come to me! They, along with Liang Xu's Dragon Guard Army, shall go directly to the southeast of the capital to quell the rebellion. Anyone who joins the rebels, regardless of their status, may be executed first and reported later."

At this moment, Gu Tingye stepped forward from the crowd, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty! This humble subject requests permission to go with Xu Wulang!"

Rong Xian patted Rong Feiyan's hand and walked to Gu Tingye's side: "Your Majesty."

"All approved."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the two said in unison.

Beside Bai Shi, Yanran looked at Gu Tingye with concern, but after hesitating, she ultimately said nothing.

Afterwards, Xu Zaijing and the others bowed again and quickly walked out of the hall.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's blank expression, Gu Tingye whispered to He Guan, "Brother He, Fifth Brother."

He Guan patted Gu Tingye on the shoulder: "Second Brother, you may have a chance to see what Jing-ge looked like in the Northwest today."

In less than fifteen minutes,

"Woo-!"

The resounding bugle call of the cavalry gathering troops drifted in from outside the palace.

(End of this chapter)