novelSusiti Chapter 20: Ice Lotus Relieves Calamity, Secretly Investigating Hidden Clues
Chapter 20: Ice Lotus Relieves Calamity, Secretly Investigating Hidden Clues
Outside Wei's camp, dust and sand swirled in the wind.
The glint of the sword was reflected in the twilight.
The murderous aura remained stagnant.
Sima Yi reined in his horse and brandished his sword.
His gaze was like a cold blade.
He stared intently at the jade box in Zhuge Liang's hand.
The oppressive aura emanating from him almost froze the air.
Sima Yi's heart was filled with malice.
Zhuge Liang was too cunning.
If we let him escape with Binglian today...
Li Yan will not die.
Liu Shan now had capable assistants.
His grand plan to conquer Shu will surely be thwarted!
"Release the arrows!"
Sima Yi gave the order.
Decisive and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.
The Wei archers immediately drew their bows and nocked their arrows.
A dense swarm of arrows hurtled through the air.
They were closing in on Zhuge Liang and his entourage.
Zhuge Liang remained expressionless.
He waved his feather fan lightly.
He gave stern orders to his personal guards.
"Protect the jade box and break through with me!"
"Head straight to the camp; rescuing General Li is the most urgent matter!"
Ten elite guards immediately formed a battle formation.
The longsword was drawn.
He fought desperately to block the incoming arrows.
They escorted Zhuge Liang closely.
They sped off towards the edge of the camp.
"Chase them! We can't let them get away!"
Sima Yi roared angrily.
He urged his horse onward and followed closely behind.
Wei soldiers swarmed forward.
They held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Zhuge Liang urged his horse forward.
He looked back over his shoulder.
Seeing that Sima Yi was in hot pursuit.
A calculating glint flashed in his eyes.
He thought to himself.
Sima Yi is eager to seize the Ice Lotus and will definitely pursue it to the end.
But he doesn't know.
He had already prepared a backup plan.
Zhuge Liang raised his hand.
He pulled a signal flare from his pocket.
Once lit, a beam of red light shot straight into the sky.
It cut through the deep twilight.
After a while.
A thunderous sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out.
In the distance, a cavalry unit galloped towards them.
Flags fluttered in the wind, creating a grand spectacle.
It turned out to be the White Feather Soldiers sent by Chen Dao to provide support!
"Prime Minister, do not panic, this humble general is coming to your aid!"
The leader of the White Feather Army shouted sternly.
He led his troops into the Wei army's formation.
Long spears stood like a forest.
They forcibly tore open a gap.
Sima Yi saw this.
He was furious.
But he also knew very well.
The White Feather Soldiers were formidable in combat.
If this drags on any longer, things might get unpredictable.
We can only withdraw temporarily.
He was unwilling to accept this.
Enough! Zhuge Liang has reinforcements today.
Let's let him off the hook for now.
Although Binglian is gone.
But the hidden chess pieces in the palace.
It will surely deliver a fatal blow to Liu Shan!
"withdraw troops!"
Sima Yi gritted his teeth and gave the order.
He watched Zhuge Liang and his entourage walk away with resentment.
It gradually faded into the distance and disappeared into the twilight.
at the same time.
Inside Zhuge Liang's camp.
Hu Miao had already prepared the medicinal soup.
He anxiously stayed by Li Yan's bedside.
The silver needles in his hand rose and fell continuously.
They barely managed to suppress the spread of the poison.
Li Yan's eyes were tightly closed.
His face was still bluish-purple.
His breathing was weak.
The black blood at the corner of his mouth had stopped.
But there was still no sign of him waking up.
Hu Miao was extremely anxious.
Ice Lotus will not arrive again.
General Li was truly powerless to reverse the situation.
Prime Minister, you must return as soon as possible!
Just then.
Hurried footsteps could be heard outside the tent.
Zhuge Liang holds a jade box.
He rushed in.
In an urgent tone: "Dr. Hu, Binglian is here!"
A glint of wild joy flashed in Hu Miao's eyes.
Get up immediately.
"The Prime Minister has arrived at just the right time."
"If we had been any later, it would have been too late!"
Zhuge Liang quickly opened the jade box.
A pure white ice lotus, exuding a chilling aura.
Come into view.
The ice lotus exudes a faint fragrance.
It instantly dispelled the smell of medicine in the tent.
Hu Miao carefully took out the ice lotus.
After crushing, it is combined with thousand-year-old fritillaria.
Quickly boil it into a decoction.
He carefully fed it into Li Yan's mouth.
The herbal decoction went down the throat.
In less than half an incense stick's time.
Li Yan's purplish complexion gradually faded.
My breathing became much more steady.
His fingers twitched slightly.
"efficient!"
Hu Miao was overjoyed.
"Prime Minister, General Li's poisoning is subsiding."
"He'll wake up in another hour!"
Zhuge Liang felt a sense of relief.
The weight that had been hanging over us has finally been lifted.
A feather fan is gently waved.
A hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
he thought to himself.
With Li Yan rescued, the gentry of Yizhou will not cause trouble.
Your Majesty's policy of checks and balances was thus preserved.
Today's adventure was worthwhile!
Zhuge Liang turned around.
He gave instructions to his personal guards.
"Guard the camp well; no one is allowed to enter without permission."
"Inform me immediately once General Li regains consciousness."
"promise!"
The guard bowed and agreed.
Outside the Chengdu Imperial Palace.
The sounds of fighting gradually subsided.
Dong Yun led fifty garrison troops.
Fighting alongside the palace guards.
All the Wei soldiers disguised as Shu soldiers were killed.
Corpses are everywhere.
Blood stained the stone path in front of the palace gate.
Dong Yun leaned on his long sword.
He was covered in injuries.
He was panting heavily.
His gaze swept across the battlefield.
His expression remained solemn.
"My lord, all the ambush soldiers have been killed, but..."
A guard strode over.
His expression was hesitant.
"But what?"
Dong Yun asked sternly.
"But we found this on one of the suicide bombers."
The guard handed over a jade pendant.
It is completely black.
On the jade pendant.
It is engraved with a small character "Sima".
There is also a special pattern.
Dong Yun accepted the jade pendant.
My fingertips traced the patterns on it.
His heart sank.
He thought to himself: This jade pendant is definitely not something an ordinary assassin would possess.
The patterns are bizarre.
Judging from the appearance, only someone planted in the shadows by Sima Yi would wear it!
Could it be that he has spies inside the palace?
"Immediately seal off the palace and thoroughly investigate all personnel entering and leaving!"
Dong Yun gave the order sternly.
"Especially the guards and eunuchs around His Majesty."
"We must find the person wearing the same jade pendant!"
"promise!"
The guard bowed and agreed.
They immediately led a team to investigate.
Dong Yun gripped the jade pendant tightly.
His gaze was directed toward the city gate tower.
He was filled with worry.
His Majesty is still overseeing the battle from the city tower.
Unsure of their safety.
If there really are spies inside the palace.
His Majesty's situation has become increasingly perilous!
On the city tower.
The fighting gradually subsided.
Liu Shan leaned on his long, blunt-bladed sword.
Covered in blood.
The dragon robe was tattered and torn.
But he still kept his back straight.
His gaze swept over the exhausted garrison.
His voice was steady and powerful.
"Today, I thank all my comrades for fighting to the death."
"The west gate was preserved, and Chengdu was able to remain safe."
"I will remember it!"
The defenders all knelt on one knee.
They shouted in unison.
"I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and I swear to protect Shu Han with my life!"
Liu Shan raised his hand.
He gestured for everyone to stand up.
A hint of warmth flashed in his eyes.
Then it was replaced by solemnity.
he thought to himself.
Sima Yi has retreated today.
But they will never give up easily.
There are ambushes outside the palace.
There may be spies within the city.
As for Dong Yun's side, it remains to be seen whether they can successfully eliminate him.
Liu Shan turned around.
He looked at the bodyguard beside him.
He instructed, "Go to the palace immediately and check on Dong Yun's situation."
"By the way... keep an eye out for anyone suspicious."
"I obey your decree!"
The guard bowed and agreed.
He turned and sped away.
But Liu Shan was unaware of this.
The moment the guard turned around.
A corner of a jet-black jade pendant was visible at the cuff of his sleeve.
That jade pendant.
It has the exact same pattern as the one Dong Yun found.
sunset.
Dusk was falling.
Inside Zhuge Liang's camp.
Li Yan slowly opened his eyes.
He looked weak.
Yet he could still clearly see Zhuge Liang guarding his bedside.
"Prime Minister..."
Li Yan's voice was hoarse.
His eyes were filled with guilt.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty was confused before."
"Thanks to the Prime Minister for disregarding past grievances and saving my life."
Zhuge Liang waved his hand.
The tone was calm.
"General Li, you flatter me."
"We are both subjects of Shu Han."
"National affairs should be the priority; past grievances need not be brought up again."
Tears welled up in Li Yan's eyes.
He said slowly.
"Prime Minister, this is when I was poisoned."
"I saw the assassin's wrist clearly."
"There is a flame-shaped tattoo."
"Moreover... he seemed to have mentioned the word 'insider'."
Zhuge Liang was startled.
He held the feather fan tightly.
A hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
He was secretly alarmed: An inside man? He had just suspected it!
Sima Yi not only sent assassins to launch a sneak attack.
They even planted an accomplice among us.
If this man is not eliminated, Shu Han will never have peace!
Inside the Wei camp.
Sima Yi sat upright inside his tent.
His face was gloomy.
He was playing with a matching jet-black jade pendant in his hand.
A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
He sneered inwardly.
Liu Shan, Zhuge Liang.
You thought you had saved Li Yan and protected the West Gate.
Did that mean we won?
My hidden chess piece.
They had already been lurking around Liu Shan's side for some time.
It won't be long.
Chengdu will inevitably fall into chaos, and the Shu Han dynasty will inevitably perish!
He raised his hand.
He summoned a personal guard.
He said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: have the hidden agents proceed according to plan."
"When the time is right, we will seize Liu Shan and take Chengdu!"
"promise!"
The guard bowed and agreed.
He turned and left.
On the city tower.
Liu Shan gazed at the setting sun gradually sinking below the horizon.
The unease in my heart grew stronger.
He had a vague feeling about it.
Today's crisis is just the beginning.
Sima Yi's conspiracy.
It's far more than just sieges and poisoning.
The undercover agents around me.
They became increasingly well hidden.
And his hidden brilliance, which he had concealed for many years.
It seems it's time to reveal ourselves a little.
Liu Shan made up his mind.
Sima Yi, you have your hidden cards.
I have my own plans.
Today's humiliation.
I will repay you a hundredfold in the future!
I will surely protect the land of Shu Han.
I will bring an end to this chaotic world!
The evening breeze was blowing.
The wind blew Liu Shan's tattered dragon robe.
It also stirred his imperial ambitions.
Inside the camp.
Zhuge Liang was discussing the matter of an inside agent with Li Yan.
His expression was solemn.
Inside the palace.
Dong Yun's investigation yielded no results.
The spies remain hidden.
And the guard who was lurking beside Liu Shan.
He was quietly turning around.
They walked into the shadows.
He held a token for sending messages in his hand.
A hidden dragon lies dormant in the abyss, its brilliance just beginning to emerge.
But this is a chaotic game of chess.
The anxiety has only just begun.
No one knows.
That jet-black jade pendant.
What kind of conspiracy is hidden behind this?
No one knows.
A spy lurking in the shadows.
When will it bare its fangs?
I have no idea.
Liu Shan's forbearance and scheming.
Can they withstand Sima Yi's relentless pressure...?