latelenovela Chapter 281 Alive
Chapter 281 Alive
Ye Jiuchen and Ye Jinghao had been anxiously waiting in the secret chamber of the Prince's mansion. Upon seeing Xinyan's return, they hurriedly took the package. The moment they opened the package, the atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy. What came into view was a corner of a meticulously drawn map of the country's border military deployment. The markings and lines on the map were clearly visible, obviously drawn with great care.
Ye Jiuchen's eyes instantly turned icy cold; he knew the gravity of the situation far exceeded his expectations. If this defense map fell into the hands of foreign envoys and was brought back, the nation's borders would face a massive catastrophe. Therefore, he decisively decided to take the initiative and discuss countermeasures with Ye Jinghao. After careful consideration, they decided to take advantage of the foreign envoys' incomplete understanding of the nation's situation and devise a plan to deceive them.
Ye Jiuchen swiftly summoned the most skilled craftsmen in the palace, adept at forging documents and drawings, and ordered them to create a fake military deployment map as quickly as possible. These craftsmen dared not slacken their efforts, working day and night. Relying on their superb skills and study of the genuine map, they finally produced a forged deployment map that was virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. At the same time, Ye Jiuchen secretly deployed troops along the border. Wave after wave of well-trained soldiers surged towards designated locations like a silent tide, setting up ambushes in valleys, forests, and riverbanks. They concealed themselves, waiting in full battle array, ready to trap the enemy.
Xinran accepted the mission again, this time even more arduous. Under the cover of night, she infiltrated the envoy's residence like a ghost. The inn was heavily guarded and brightly lit, but Xinran skillfully evaded the patrolling soldiers with her superb lightness skills and agility. She quietly slipped into the envoy's room and, in the darkness, used her keen senses to locate the true fragment of the map. Then, she carefully replaced the real fragment with a fake one, leaving some ambiguous clues around it. These clues, seemingly carelessly left behind by someone within the envoy's ranks, were in fact meticulously designed by Xinran to mislead the envoy into believing there was a traitor among them.
The foreign envoys were completely unaware of this and believed their plan was flawless. After obtaining the fake map, they returned home with great joy, secretly plotting how to use this "precious" intelligence to launch a surprise attack and seize the territory and wealth of other countries.
When the foreign army rashly invaded the border according to the false map, they were met with an impregnable defense prepared by Ye Jiuchen and a fierce attack from his army, like tigers descending from the mountains. On the battlefield, shouts of battle shook the heavens and the earth, arrows flew like locusts, and swords flashed incessantly. Ye Jiuchen personally commanded the operation, his eyes resolute and calm, every command precise and accurate. Under his command, the soldiers were in high spirits and fought bravely. With his exceptional military talent and meticulous planning, Ye Jiuchen decisively defeated the foreign army. The foreign army fled in disarray, abandoning their armor and weapons, leaving countless corpses and defeated soldiers on the battlefield.
After this battle, Ye Jiuchen's fame spread far and wide. In the imperial court, his position became even more secure, like a towering mountain, unshakeable. The emperor praised his achievements highly, not only bestowing upon him lavish rewards but also many precious gifts. Ye Jinghao also received rewards for his outstanding performance in this event, gaining even more trust and favor from the emperor, and his influence in the court grew daily.
Xinran became a revered heroine in the Prince's mansion. Her deeds shone like a bright star within the mansion. Whether it was the guards and maids of the mansion, or those from the martial arts world and the court, everyone had heard of her heroic name. Her name gradually spread between the martial arts world and the imperial court, making her a legendary figure sung by the people.
Seeing Ye Jiuchen so spirited and radiant filled Dongfang Wan'er with joy and relief. She knew the hardships and difficulties he had endured, and understood the heavy responsibilities he bore. Therefore, she quietly and diligently cared for Ye Jiuchen's daily life in the palace. When Ye Jiuchen was busy with court affairs and military matters, she would always prepare a cup of hot tea and a delicious meal for him, providing him with a peaceful haven to rest and relax.
After weathering these storms, Ye Jiuchen realized even more deeply that the support and loyalty of those around him were his most precious treasures. Whether it was Ye Jinghao, who fought alongside him, the valiant Xinran, or the quietly supportive Dongfang Wan'er, they were all like steadfast beacons guiding him through the treacherous court and martial world. Standing in the courtyard of the royal palace, gazing at the distant sky, he silently resolved that the road ahead was long, and he would continue to rely on his wisdom and courage to write an even more glorious and legendary chapter in this world full of challenges and opportunities.
In the cramped space of the Prince's mansion's backyard, Xinran, imprisoned there, was like an ant on a hot pan, anxious and restless. She had initially thought that Ye Jiuchen's coma would be a golden opportunity for her to rise to power, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the worse, like a runaway horse. Now, Ye Jiuchen's influence in the court was being purged and suppressed on a large scale, and she was trapped in this backyard, like a bird with broken wings, deprived of the freedom to soar. However, she was not one to easily accept her fate, unwilling to be trapped in this small cage. Thus, her mind began to spin rapidly, calculating how to overcome the numerous obstacles again, to send the message out, to reconnect with the network of connections she had carefully cultivated outside the Prince's mansion, and to strive to find a glimmer of hope in this seemingly hopeless situation. She paced back and forth in the cramped and somewhat gloomy space, her hurried footsteps seeming to echo her inner anxiety. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of cunning and resentment, and each step seemed to carry her scheming and burning desire to regain her freedom and enjoy wealth and luxury.
Xinran suddenly stopped, her eyes lighting up. She remembered there was a dog hole in the corner of the backyard, extremely well hidden, but it might be a way for her to escape. She hurriedly went to the corner, laboriously moved aside the clutter, revealing the small hole.
Xinran gritted her teeth, her small frame barely managing to squeeze out of the cave. She'd only crawled halfway out when she discovered someone guarding the outside. The person was startled to see her; it was Dongfang Wan'er's maid. The maid sneered, "Where is Miss Xinran going?" Xinran's face paled, and she quickly said, "Sister, please let me go! I'll repay you handsomely in the future." The maid remained unmoved. "Please don't make things difficult for me, Miss. Just stay here." With that, she summoned guards to reinforce the defenses.
Xinran collapsed to the ground in despair, her eyes filled with resentment. Meanwhile, Ye Jiuchen was in the front hall discussing with his loyal subordinates how to rebuild their strength. He knew that the enemy would not give up easily, but as long as he had these people who trusted him, he was confident that he could make a comeback. As for Xinran, who harbored ulterior motives in the backyard, he had already made arrangements and would never let her cause trouble again.