Chapter Twenty-Four: Forcing One's Way into the Imperial Palace

  Before the holiday, Old Man Kong started to instill ideological education in everyone again. He talked about many famous people and events of ancient times, such as Zu Di's "hearing the rooster crow and starting to dance" and Su Qin's "hanging a knife above his head to stimulate his studies". All he wanted was for them not to waste their precious holiday time and to devote all their energy to studying.

  This old fellow is indeed the greatest Confucian scholar of the Tang Dynasty. When he starts talking, it's truly unstoppable even for ghosts and gods. He spoke a whole set of profound and abstruse long-winded theories that lasted almost an hour before finally stopping.

  Du He heard that was drowsy, just short of snoring.

  Just as Du Heqiang was gathering his spirits, he suddenly heard a "thud" and saw that Princess Chang Le had inexplicably rolled onto the ground in the front row.

  Du He's brush stood up, walked forward and moved her body, not frightened or discolored, but saw the face of Princess Chang Le in front of her, with eyes rolled back, a terrifying look like dead fish eyes, small mouth open wide, panting heavily, chest heaving non-stop, with an unbreathable feeling.

  "Oh no, the princess's illness has relapsed!" Li Xueyan cried out in alarm.

  Du He's expression changed slightly, recalling that in history, Empress Changsun and Princess Changle both suffered from asthma, and the two also died prematurely due to this illness. Asthma was later referred to as "zhēn chuǎn" in ancient times, a disease that even in modern times is considered one of the four major chronic illnesses.

  What's more, it was in ancient times?

  This sudden turn of events threw everyone into a panic, and they couldn't avoid it.

  Princess Yongle, a golden branch and jade leaf, was the most beloved princess of Emperor Taizong of Tang and Empress Changsun. If anything unexpected happened to her, it would certainly make His Majesty furious, and if they intervened, it would be impossible to end well. In the midst of chaos, everything they did and thought about was calculated to avoid getting involved.

  "Cousin! Cousin!" Zhangsun Chong's feelings for Princess Chang Le were genuine, and when everyone else was avoiding her, he rushed forward.

  "Get out of the way!" Du He pushed Chang Sun away with one hand, while helping Princess Chang Le up with the other. She leaned her body forward slightly, resting on his arm, so she could breathe in some fresh air.

  "Quickly call for the imperial physician! Quickly call for the imperial physician!" Du He shouted loudly at all the people who were already flustered.

  Du He's late mother also had hereditary asthma, so she knew how to deal with this situation.

  It has to be said that ancient education really didn't emphasize personal practice. When encountering sudden events, they all panicked and were at a loss for what to do. Only a few people could remain calm.

  Kong Yingda and Luo Tong were among them.

  However, old man Kong was already advanced in age and had a willing heart but lacked the strength, only Luo Tong rushed out of the school.

  Time is passing minute by minute and second by second.

  Princess Changle's illness was particularly severe this time. Even though Du He had used the correct scientific method, the effect was still minimal.

  Du He held Long Le Gong Zhu, and clearly felt the breath of the beauty in his arms becoming more and more urgent, with her chest heaving also getting bigger. This was obviously a symptom of not being able to breathe, an extreme need for oxygen. If this continued, Long Le Gong Zhu would inevitably die suddenly from lack of air.

  "What to do, what to do!" Li Xueyan, who was standing beside her, became even more flustered and cried out loudly, bursting into tears.

  Du He was also somewhat flustered and saw that the imperial physician had not yet arrived, so he called out: "Why hasn't he come yet? Where is the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

  Kong Yingda said: "The Imperial Medical Office belongs to the Tai Chang Temple, which is located on the east side of the imperial palace."

  "How can this be done in time?"

  They were in the Hongwen Hall, which was under the Ministry of Etiquette. The Ministry of Etiquette was one of the most important departments of the Tang Dynasty, so it was located deep within the imperial palace, adjacent to the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Secretariat and Li Shimin's office palace.

  It takes a while to get out of the palace from here, and by the time the imperial doctor arrives, the Huanghuacai will have gone cold.

  Looking at Princess Chang Le's gradually weakening condition, Du He made a decisive decision and shouted: "Can't afford to think so much, let's bet on it!"

  He swept Chang Le Gongzhu off her feet and employed his lightness skill to dash out of the school like a whirlwind.

  Hongwen Hall is located in the depths of Taiji Palace, guarding its profound and severe secrets.

  Du He hugged a person and rushed out of Hongwen Hall in a fluster, and as soon as he rushed out of the gate, he immediately caught the attention of the patrolling forbidden army.

  "Halt, who goes there!" A team of ten imperial guards blocked Du He's path. If Du He stopped to show his token and explain the reason, he would be fine, after all, his father was the Grand Chancellor of Tang Dynasty.

  Just a moment's delay would mean more danger for Princess Chang Le. Du He couldn't stop to chat with them, and turned around swiftly, passing by their side like the wind.

  The Great Tang Imperial Guards were indeed the bravest and most skilled warriors in the land. Faced with Du He's actions, they immediately sounded the alarm bell and gave chase.

  But Du He's light skill was fully open, like a gentle breeze, and he disappeared in a few turns at the corner of the imperial palace.

  Before he could even finish his tea, Du He slipped past Luo Tong's side.

  Luotong may run fast, but can he compare with Duhe's astonishing and unconventional lightness of body?

  Moreover, with such a rapid gallop, every time he encountered patrolling forbidden troops, he had to stop and show his token, then make some explanations before he could pass through.

  It's so troublesome, I should have gone up to Duhe a long time ago.

  Luo Tong reacted, but found that Du He was already 100 meters ahead of him.

  Too fast, Du He's speed was so fast that it made people's hearts palpitate.

  The Great Tang Imperial Palace had a sentry post every three steps and a watchtower every five steps, with as many as ten teams of imperial guards trying to block Du He's path. However, facing Du He who was using his lightness skill to its fullest extent, they could only desperately chase after him from behind, completely unable to stop him.

  Upon arriving at Yong'an Gate, the palace guards who had already received warning signals were waiting in formation and were fully prepared to respond.

  Du He shouted loudly, "Human life is at stake, get out of my way!" He jumped two meters high and stepped on the heads of the guards to rush through the Yong'an Gate, forcing his way past.

  This is really like poking a hole in the sky, running amok in the palace without any restraint. The imperial guards would at most take you down, investigate the reason and then make a decision. But forcibly breaking into the palace gate is a serious crime, just like trespassing on military forbidden ground.

  In serious cases, the guards have the right to shoot intruders on sight.

  Duhua running wildly in the palace is not a great fault, but breaking into the palace gate is a capital offense.

  But human life is at stake, Du He now only wants to save Princess Chang Le with all his heart, regardless of whether he will be put to death or not.

  Du He rushed out of the palace gate and was immediately seen as a suspicious person with ulterior motives.

  The alarm bell rang again, and this time the imperial guards in the palace began a full-scale attack, launching a heavy siege.

  "Hold on, hold on!" Du He saw that the breath of Princess Chang Le in his arms was getting weaker and weaker, so he accelerated again, comforting her with his mouth, giving her strength.

  This time, however, it was hundreds of Imperial Guards who appeared in front of Du He, each holding a long spear that blocked his path.

  Du He clenched his teeth and charged forward, with both sides approaching within three steps of each other.

  A hundred imperial guards simultaneously thrust out their long spears, with a momentum like a surging wave. If one were to be hit, they would undoubtedly die.

  Du He dodged the fatal blow, landed on the palace wall with a slant, and amazingly ran horizontally as if he were running on flat ground.

  As long as he falls behind Du He's body, even with tens of thousands of soldiers, they can't do anything to him.

  PS: I had something to attend to today, so the update is late, sorry.

  As for the update progress of this book, generally speaking, it is updated once at 7 or 8 pm and once at 11 or 12 noon, unless something unavoidable happens, updates will not be interrupted.

  Besides, it's Monday again, let's rush for new book rankings, and I hope you guys will support me!