Chapter 1460 A High-Stakes Gamble

Shang Ruyi pondered for a moment and then said, "You speak first."

Upon hearing her words, Guan Chiying was completely relieved and even let out a long breath.

He had heard quite a bit about the reputation of Yu Wen Family’s Young Madam, now Princess Qin, especially when he came to Xiao Yuansui’s camp and found out that she was the one who stopped Shi Yuxin from leading tens of thousands of troops westward. He realized that she was a heroine not inferior to men. Even at this moment, while meeting and talking with him, she remained cautious and composed, without any attitude of being manipulated, which reassured him further.

He could thus conspire with her.

So he took a deep breath and said, "I want to hurry back to Luoyang in the next two days, but with just a few of us, I’m afraid we can’t break through Prince Qi’s blockade line. We need Xiao Yuansui to send troops to help us."

Shang Ruyi instinctively wanted to say something, but Guan Chiying immediately said, "I know, he definitely won’t agree, so I want to ask the Princess to find a way to persuade him."

"..."

Shang Ruyi did not elaborate on her relationship with Xiao Yuansui. Clearly, Guan Chiying should already know some, and in the face of major events, there was no need to bother with these trivial matters. She thought for a moment before asking in puzzlement, "Why do you want to go back? Luoyang is in such a state now. What can you do when you go back?"

Thinking further, she understood that these people must have family detained in Luoyang, so she said, "I see the current situation, Xiao Yuansui will certainly soon employ troops against Hulao Pass, and King Qin will definitely try to end the standoff here quickly. Once Hulao Pass’s outcome is decided, the situation in Luoyang will be settled too. There’s no need for you to rush back within these few days."

Guan Chiying slightly shook his head: "I’m not worried about that."

Shang Ruyi looked at him: "Then what is it?"

"..."

Guan Chiying hesitated for a while and finally seemed to make up his mind, saying, "It’s Liang Shide. Before leaving Luoyang, I unintentionally heard some news. He seems to plan to ascend the altar for a sacrificial ceremony and declare himself king in ten days."

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi widened her eyes in shock.

Ascending the altar for a sacrificial ceremony? Declaring himself king?

Speaking of it, they are both heroes of a region. Yu Wenquan could replace the Daye, and naturally, others also have similar thoughts. Besides, Liang Shide is different from other rebel armies, having control of the wealthiest city in the east, Luoyang, once half the royal capital of Da Ye Dynasty. He certainly longs for it more and is more qualified to establish his own legacy.

But in any case, it shouldn’t be now.

Currently, within Luoyang City, there is a food shortage and unrest among the people. Yu Wencheng has besieged the city for days, though remains unable to capture it, yet it’s a wartime crisis. Moreover, Luoyang Eight Passes are hardly under his control, with the recent defeat at Huilu Storehouse, and the standoff at Hulao Pass is ongoing. He considers declaring himself king at this time?

This person, is he insane?

Seeing Shang Ruyi’s tightly furrowed brows and puzzled look, Guan Chiying said solemnly, "I guess he may be worried about Luoyang’s safety and wants to make one last gamble."

"..."

"Moreover, when leaving, I unintentionally saw him order his men to transport gunpowder to the altar he built, and some were sent to the sturdy city walls."

Shang Ruyi immediately became alert: "What do you mean?"

Guan Chiying said, "If I’m not mistaken, he may feel his path is nearing its end, so he wants to fulfill his dream in the last step and declare himself king."

"..."

"And then, he wants to destroy Luoyang entirely, as a burial for himself."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but gasp.

Yes, when people are about to reach a dead end, they tend to go mad, and the first step of madness is often destruction.

Destroy everything, destroy what matters most.

Luoyang is Liang Shide’s most important possession, captured and defended with all his effort, yet now it’s the place where he sits trapped and worried.

Guan Chiying continued, "He carried out all these plans secretly, almost no one knows. I want to tell my family, but they have long refused to see me. Furthermore, at that time, I was dispatched out of the city to Huilu Storehouse. The situation was urgent, so I didn’t have time to inform my family. This time, regardless of anything, I must go back. First, to save my family’s lives, and second, if Liang Shide truly has such a plan, I have to stop it."

Shang Ruyi’s brows knitted tightly, and she said solemnly, "Are you saying his plan will be in ten days?"

"Yes."

"In other words—"

Guan Chiying nodded: "Counting, there are only five days left."

Shang Ruyi immediately felt a chill spread over her scalp.

With only five days left, even if Guan Chiying could return, doing so smoothly, it would take two days just for the journey, and there’s no guarantee he can pass through Yu Wencheng’s blockade line. Even if he returns—

Shang Ruyi said, "I can help you think of a solution, but how are you going to make them believe you?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Chiying’s face darkened immediately.

Previously, he couldn’t tell the official family about this issue to prepare them early because Guan Ao and the others already considered him a disgrace and refused to see him. Even if he could find a way to return, they might not be willing to meet him, and even if they did, they might not believe him.

By that time, he might not even have succeeded in doing anything before Liang Shide has already—

As he saw Guan Chiying at a loss, Shang Ruyi suddenly thought of something and immediately reached for her own collar. Her hand stopped midway as she suddenly realized something and looked up. Guan Chiying, sensing something, hastily turned his face aside.

Shang Ruyi also turned aside and, from the inner pocket of her clothes, took out an item.

It was a jade token, still warm with her body heat.

The official family’s jade token!

Back when she married into the Yuwen family, she received acknowledgment from her mother-in-law, Madam Guan, who not only gave her a box of dazzling jewelry but also this jade token that a woman from the official family is granted from birth. She was told that this jade token was significant and, if needed, she could give it to the head of the family to receive their full support.

Over these years, she seldom contacted the official family. Although she always kept the jade token with her, it had never been used, like a hermit watching the chaotic world from afar.

Upon seeing the jade token, Guan Chiying’s eyes widened.

Although he never received one, he knew about the custom and had seen such a jade token with his own cousins. Naturally, he understood that this jade token was likely the one given to the daughter-in-law by his aunt, Guan Yunmu, who married into the Yuwen family.

He unconsciously held his breath.

Shang Ruyi, holding the jade, still warm and smooth, had not benefited from it all these years but was reluctant to part with it when the time came. After pondering for a while, she looked up at Guan Chiying and solemnly said, "You must have guessed that this jade token was given to me by my mother-in-law. She said that if necessary, I should give it to the head of the official family, and without asking anything else, I could get his full support."

Guan Chiying nodded once, "Yes."

Shang Ruyi said, "If I give it to you, can you take it back to Guan Ao to make him believe you?"

Guan Chiying, with a grave expression, said, "Perhaps, yes."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s grip on the jade tightened further.

She really was unwilling to part with it.

She must be more cautious.

But just then, another patrol of soldiers passed by outside, and the heavy and orderly footsteps made both of their hearts race and pulse more erratically. Shang Ruyi bit her lip and waited until the troop passed far enough before muttering softly, "Then, I will give it to you. Whether you have another motive today or sincerely want to return to protect the entire official family and stop Liang Shide, I will give it to you."

"..."

"I may not fully trust you, but I trust this jade token that has been with me for many years. I hope you won’t let the jade’s brilliance be tarnished."

With that, she finally extended her hand and handed over the jade token.

Guan Chiying stepped forward carefully and took it from her hand, not only feeling the remaining warmth but also sensing a slight quiver from Shang Ruyi’s fingertips. Indeed, tonight was all his word against without any witnesses or evidence. It was her prudence not to fully trust him, and giving him the jade was indeed a gamble.

Guan Chiying stroked the jade token with his rough fingers, grasped it tightly in his palm, and said to Shang Ruyi, "Thank you for your trust."

Having given away the jade token, Shang Ruyi felt relieved. After all, once the decision was made, she had to focus entirely on figuring out what to do.

She said, "I will find a way to have Xiao Yuansui send troops to escort you back. Whether or not you can convince Guan Ao and the others will depend on your abilities. But you people... without troops, how will you stop Liang Shide?"

On this note, Guan Chiying’s brows furrowed even more tightly.

Indeed, this had been his troubling dilemma for days. Even though Liang Shide had thrown him into the army, his archery and riding skills were still poor, and he wasn’t adept at leading troops. However, he could use his wit to notice messages that others couldn’t and secrets that others couldn’t reach.

Yet, matters of warfare were unfamiliar to him, Guan Ao, or the Civil Servant Families, who, like the official family, refused to surrender.

Seeing his troubled expression, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and resolvedly said, "If you really don’t know what to do, I can barely think of a way. After you go back, it would be best to persuade the official family and other Civil Servant Families to join Liang Shide. Use the opportunity of his offering ceremony for self-coronation to present congratulatory addresses, making him believe in you. In this way, he will certainly be very pleased."

Guan Chiying said, "Then, what can that achieve?"

Shang Ruyi replied, "Then, try to persuade him to make the offering ceremony as grand and majestic as possible."

"..."

"And such altars are generally built towards the east."

"...!"

At this, Guan Chiying also started to understand. "You mean—"