Through the stone door, the Chief Executive outside could still faintly hear someone shouting.
When the Death Guards went to open the stone door, the Chief Executive heard the shouts even louder and clearer. It was the Princess Consort's voice; he wouldn't mistake it.
He was instantly agitated, but with the Death Guards present and no knowledge of how many such people were nearby, the Chief Executive dared not alert them. He quietly retreated from the secret passage.
Upon returning to the imperial treasury, he quietly withdrew all his subordinates from the secret passage. After returning to their rendezvous point with their master, he immediately delivered the good news.
"My Lord, the Princess Consort has been found. She's in the secret passage beneath the imperial treasury. I inquired, and for now, there are only two Death Guards guarding her. As for whether there are more outside, I haven't investigated!"
Fan Zehao was overjoyed upon hearing this tremendous piece of good news.
"It doesn't matter if we don't know. Someone else knows!" Fan Zehao's eyes welled up with tears. After so many days, he finally had news of his wife.
He couldn't sit still any longer and prepared to seek out Bai Li Fengge to inquire about the Death Guards. However, he couldn't reveal anything about the imperial treasury, so he had to probe indirectly!
Soon, he arranged to meet Bai Li Fengge. The moment they met, Fan Zehao delivered a bombshell: "If your father were to abdicate, could you ascend the throne immediately?"
Bai Li Fengge was so shocked his mouth hung open, wide enough to swallow an egg.
Apart from his face full of disbelief, there was only pain.
"No, I cannot commit regicide. I cannot bear such an eternal infamy!" Bai Li Fengge dared not do such a thing.
Bai Li Kai'en was not only their Emperor but also his father. Although he hadn't grown up showered with affection, he had at least experienced paternal love. Moreover, if this matter were to spread, his reputation would be ruined.
Fan Zehao looked at his timid reaction. He hadn't even finished speaking, yet he was so eager to voice his opinion.
"I won't ask you to kill your father; I am not a beast!" Fan Zehao reprimanded him coldly, then said, "Tell me, if I were to send someone to kill him, what are the chances of success?"
Bai Li Fengge visibly relaxed upon hearing this. He pondered, "The palace guards alone number over five thousand, not including the Imperial Guards and others. As for my father's Death Guards, the chances of success would likely not be very high!"
"Death Guards?" Fan Zehao narrowed his eyes. "How many Death Guards are there, and how many Imperial Guards?"
Bai Li Fengge was still in shock over the matter of killing his father and didn't realize Fan Zehao was trying to elicit information.
"The Death Guards are meticulously selected, around fifty in number. They only obey the Emperor's commands. The Imperial Guard numbers around three thousand. So, no matter how many people you send, you might kill my father, but your men won't escape!"
"Therefore, Uncle, you should find another way!"
He didn't want his father to die. He just wanted to find a way to search for the Princess Consort and get her back. He wished the matter would end here to avoid causing widespread panic.
Many ministers had even emptied their homes of valuables and hidden them. The common people heard that Fan Zehao from the inner city was going to attack. Some were willing to surrender, while others vowed to resist to the death. In any case, all sorts of public opinions emerged.
But regardless of what they thought, the Emperor remained as calm as ever, showing no signs of worry, which puzzled many.
Upon learning that there were only about fifty Death Guards, Fan Zehao began to ponder. He hadn't paid attention to anything Bai Li Fengge said afterward.
He returned to their temporary residence and relayed the information he had gathered. They brainstormed together. He didn't want any of them to lose their lives, so they had to have a retreat plan before taking action.
After a morning of discussion, the Chief Executive decided to use poison or soporifics to incapacitate the guards first, then rescue the person while they were unconscious, striving to avoid alerting anyone outside!
"People like Death Guards have undergone special training. What if poison and sleeping drugs don't work on them? Then we'll still alert them!"
Special Seven's words reminded Fan Zehao of what his wife had said: the people in this place liked to raise insects and use them to control people.
Fan Zehao said, "How about this: find someone skilled in disguise, and have them disguise me as Bai Li Kai'en. Then I'll take the person away. What do you think?"
The Chief Executive thought this plan was excellent. As long as they coordinated well, there would be fewer unexpected situations.
However, before that, Fan Zehao still felt it was necessary to divert Bai Li Kai'en's attention elsewhere, so he wouldn't interfere at the last moment.
"Later, find someone to impersonate me and lure Bai Li Kai'en out of the palace to negotiate. This will buy us time. Once we succeed, we'll send a message immediately!"
This would ensure a smoother operation. If Bai Li Kai'en realized what was happening and returned to the palace, it would take time. If all else failed, he could prepare an excuse for Bai Li Fengge to stall Bai Li Kai'en.
In the afternoon, Fan Zehao arranged to meet Bai Li Kai'en that evening at the Farewell Pavilion outside the capital.
Concurrently, he sent someone to deliver a message to Bai Li Fengge, specifically instructing him to keep an eye on Bai Li Kai'en. If he returned to the palace that night, Bai Li Fengge was to go and discuss the proposal to marry Yu Meng.
With all preparations made, the Chief Executive found someone skilled in disguise and began the process.
About an hour later, under the hands of the special forces soldiers, Fan Zehao had transformed into Bai Li Kai'en. He looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror. If not for the hatred in his eyes, he himself wouldn't be able to tell if he was Fan Zehao or that beast Bai Li Kai'en.
The Chief Executive, disguised as him, looked so convincing that Fan Zehao couldn't tell the difference.
Now, the most important task remaining for the two of them was to learn the language of Xuanyuan Kingdom. This was difficult, but for Fan Zehao, who was solely focused on saving his wife, it was far easier than climbing mountains of knives or diving into seas of fire.
And he didn't need to say much, just remember a few simple phrases. Having been in close proximity to Bai Li Kai'en for over a month, even if he couldn't speak it, he could at least discern the general meaning of the simple words his subordinates often used.
Therefore, for tonight's performance, their effort would account for thirty percent, and the rest would be up to fate. If necessary, they would resort to a direct assault. No matter what, they had to rescue his wife tonight.
As time drew closer, Fan Zehao became increasingly calm, his eyes filled with extraordinary determination. He instructed the men he had painstakingly trained: "Everyone, please be mindful of your safety. If you are captured, do not choose death lightly. I will find a way to rescue you!"
With their master's words, they were deeply touched. At least their master saw them as human beings, not mere tools for killing!
When the time came, the Chief Executive went to the Farewell Pavilion outside the capital.
At this moment, in a stone cave, Bai Li Kai'en was forcing Zhao Jiaqi to implant the Forgetfulness Gu.
He said viciously, "Tonight, Fan Zehao has arranged to meet me to negotiate. I know he will not give up on you, but I cannot give you up either. Therefore, it's better for me to strike first!"
With that, he turned and left.