"Save me..."
Qi Changyi muttered silently.
Yes, he really wanted to escape from Pei Zheng, but he simply couldn't do it.
It was easy for Pei Zheng to keep him by his side. He could make him live or die at his will. He never had the strength to resist.
But this time, could he actually escape from Pei Zheng
Several men in black stepped aside, and the figure hidden in the darkness behind them appeared.
"Brother Tang! Why are you here?" Qi Changyi was a little surprised to see Zhao Litang, "Did you arrange all these people?"
Zhao Litang walked up to him and saw the little man holding the tattered lantern. He was overwhelmed with longing and heartache.
"I arranged it." Bending down to look at the little man, Zhao Litang said softly, "I'm here to save you."
He stretched out his hand, and his warm, broad palm opened in front of Qi Changyi.
"Will you come with me?"
Everyone around him looked over here, waiting for Qi Changyi's answer.
Qi Changyi looked at the hand and raised her little hand tremblingly. When she was about to shake it, Pei Zheng's threatening words rang in her ears again.
"Don't even think about running away, or I'll let you know the price."
The little hand immediately retracted, and he shook his head and said repeatedly, "No, no, I can't leave, I can't leave..."
"Chang Yi, Chang Yi! Don't panic, listen to me first!"
Zhao Litang held his thin and frail shoulders, and used a little more force, causing the little guy to tremble and cry out in pain.
"Forehead… "
Seeing the pain on his face, Zhao Litang quickly let go of his hand and asked, "What's wrong with you? Did I hurt you? Or is there an injury on your shoulder? Let me take a look."
As he said this, he was about to open his clothes to check.
Qi Changyi's eyes suddenly turned red.
Before meeting Pei Zheng, Zhao Litang had not yet led troops to fight. Every time he was injured, it was only Zhao Litang who cared for him and protected him.
It had been a long time since he heard Zhao Litang's anxious and concerned tone, which made him feel unreal. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Zhao Litang, with tears as big as beans rolling in his eye sockets. He was afraid that if he blinked, he would find that he was still in that dark and deep cell, and all this was just a dream.
It was not until the warmth of Zhao Litang's fingers came from her neck that Qi Changyi's tears suddenly fell on his hands.
They are warm, unlike Pei Zheng, whose fingers are always cold.
Qi Changyi quickly grabbed his collar, not wanting Zhao Litang to see the injuries on his body, "Brother Tang, I'm fine, don't worry, I'm really fine..."
Unexpectedly, when he raised his arm, the wide cuffs revealed a small piece of his fair arm with several shocking red marks on it, which looked like pink new flesh that had grown after the skin was broken.
Zhao Litang saw it, took his arm and pulled up his sleeve again, revealing more red marks, which extended upwards and were hidden in the clothes further inside.
Zhao Litang's hand holding his arm immediately became very gentle, "What's going on! Is it Pei Zheng? He actually hit you?"
Qi Changyi pulled his arm back, pulled his sleeve back, wrapped his arm tightly, took a breath, and said nothing.
This pitiful look really made Zhao Litang's heart ache.
In fact, the emperor had already ordered him to return to the border area as soon as possible to guard the border, but he was always thinking about Qi Changyi and had not set off yet.
It was not until the emperor issued an imperial decree that Zhao Litang had no choice but to reorganize the troops and prepare to return to the border.
He secretly found out that Pei Zheng had brought Qi Changyi back to live in his house. After the marriage, Zhao Litang's original prejudice against Pei Zheng was actually lessened a little.
Since Pei Zheng was willing to hurt himself to protect Qi Changyi, he must be able to treat him well.
This way, I can go back with peace of mind.
Although he was reluctant to let go of that little guy, Zhao Litang thought that as long as he was happy, he had to let go.
He held an important position and died on the battlefield. He might die in a battle in a foreign land and never come back.
He was happier than anyone else to see that the silly little guy was protected and loved by someone.
Unexpectedly, on the night before departure, the young eunuch Li Yu, who had always been with Qi Changyi, suddenly ran to his general's mansion in the middle of the night covered in blood.
"General Zhao!" Li Yu knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily, "Please save His Highness! I don't know what happened between His Highness and Lord Pei. Now His Highness is locked up in a secret cell by Lord Pei, and his life or death is uncertain! His Highness is already weak and can't bear the suffering!"
But the departure could not be delayed any longer. Although Zhao Litang was extremely anxious, he had to lead the team on the next day. Then he took a few trusted subordinates and quietly returned to the imperial capital.
"Changyi, what happened between you and Pei Zheng? Why did he treat you like this?" Zhao Litang did not check the scars on Qi Changyi's body, as they must have been very horrific.
"I originally thought that although Pei Zheng approached you because of the Fourth Prince, after such a long time, it is impossible that he had no feelings for you at all. Now it seems that I was wrong. How could he torture you like this if he had feelings for you! His heart has been cold from the beginning to the end, and no amount of hot blood can warm it up!"
Zhao Litang clenched his fists, "Don't worry, since I dared to snatch you away from Pei Zheng, I will never let you go no matter what happens, unless, unless you want to leave..."
Zhao Litang looked at Qi Changyi with sincere eyes, "So Changyi, you don't have to worry about other things, you just need to tell me, are you willing to go with me now, at this moment?"
Qi Changyi curled up into a ball, lowered his head and stood motionless, as if he had been thinking for a very long time.
He wiped his tears desperately with his sleeves and raised his head.
"Brother Tang, I want to go with you."
Zhao Litang finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
The people behind him looked a little anxious.
"General, we should not stay here for long. There were many patrolling guards outside just now. It seems that they have mobilized the entire city's army by some means and are conducting a thorough search of the streets and alleys. We must leave the city as soon as possible."
Zhao Litang nodded, "Changyi, let's go."
Qi Changyi was still holding the tattered lantern in his arms. Even though the fire had gone out, he refused to throw it away.
"This lantern is broken. Throw it away and I'll buy you a new one later."
As Zhao Litang spoke, he was about to take the lamp from Qi Changyi's arms. Qi Changyi dodged his hand while holding the lamp, and shrank back, his eyes full of vigilance and panic-stricken helplessness.
Zhao Litang was helpless, "Okay, okay, I won't throw it away. If you like it, just hold it. Come, I'll help you up."
Qi Changyi then let Zhao Litang help him stand up with the help of his arm. However, as soon as he stood up, Qi Changyi's body suddenly swayed twice and he fell back onto the straw mat.
A layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, his face turned paler and paler, his lips lost their color, and he looked like he had lost all his energy.
Zhao Litang hurriedly supported him. His small body was so thin that he could be held in one hand. After not seeing him for such a few days, he became even thinner and frailer, and his body looked extremely weak.
"Wuquan!" Zhao Litang shouted.
—A man in black stepped forward.
"Show him!"
Wu Quan was a soldier under Zhao Litang who had some medical skills. He quickly came over to take Qi Changyi's pulse.
Qi Changyi's pulse was very weak. It seemed that he had been subjected to some great stimulation. Even his consciousness was very weak. His vitality was slowly being consumed and quietly withdrawing from the tips of his fine hair.
It was so cold tonight, and even though he was wearing so many clothes, it was still difficult to resist the cold wind. He had used up all his strength to hold on until now, and now he really couldn't hold on any longer.
Wu Quan leaned over and whispered something in Zhao Litang's ear.
Zhao Litang's eyes shone, and he interrupted him, "What did you say? This is absolutely impossible! If you keep talking nonsense, I will fire you from the army!"
Qi Changyi was breathing weakly, and his face was pale as he asked, "Brother Tang, what's wrong with my body?"
Zhao Litang comforted him, "It's okay, Changyi will be fine, don't be afraid. The world is so big, there are so many great doctors, and it's not just the doctors in the Imperial Hospital who can save people, you will be fine."
Qi Changyi nodded gently, and his well-behaved appearance made people feel distressed.
Zhao Litang helped him walk out of the dilapidated temple. It was pitch black outside, and there were several black horses parked there.
Several subordinates said, "General, just lead His Highness northward until you reach the edge of the city wall. There will be people waiting for you there. After you leave the city, continue northward. In a few days, you will be able to catch up with the army heading north. Then, you will have nothing to worry about."
Zhao Litang nodded, "You guys should be careful, and you must all come back to report."
"yes!"
After they exchanged greetings, they rode their horses towards the south of the city.
Zhao Litang carried Qi Changyi onto the horse, then climbed on himself, and then spurred the horse and galloped towards the north of the city.
When Pei Zheng rushed to the south of the city, the several guards who were blocking the city had been tied up into a knot and thrown aside.
He walked forward and pulled out a mouthful of cotton wool, put his fingers against his throat, his eyes reflected red light, and his face looked gloomy and terrifying.
"Where are the people?"
The guard shrank his neck and said, "Reply... Reply to your Excellency... When we arrived here, we saw two men in black. They were very skilled in martial arts, and we were no match for them even if we fought hard..."
Pei Zheng pressed his fingers hard, "Speak to the point."
"They ran away... And I only saw two men in black, and... I didn't see anyone else..."
Pei Zheng pinched the soldier so hard with his fingertips that he passed out.
He withdrew his hand and stood up straight, and a huge number of guards followed behind him.
"Good, very good, a good move to divert attention."
Pei Zheng raised his lips and gave an order, "Go to the north of the city immediately. Kill all the men in black if you encounter them again."
embankment!"
The guards hurried towards the north of the city with torches in hand.
Pei Zheng also climbed onto the horse and gripped the reins with his cold fingers.
"If you really dare to run away, I will catch you back no matter where you are."