When Sun Miao'er woke up, she was in a dilapidated temple.

Xia Jiu and Dong Qi stood guard outside the door.

The person by his side was none other than Ji Changru.

What brings you here?

Her head throbbed with a dull pain, and her temples throbbed.

He was being dragged along by a horse by Alisa's maid, and then a man in black rescued him.

Why are Xia Jiu, Dong Qi, and Ji Changru all here?

Ji Changru handed the sheepskin flask in his hand to Sun Miao'er, "Don't talk, drink some water first."

The pain from my lips moving made me realize how pathetic I looked.

She took the sheepskin jug and gulped down half of it, finally feeling the burning sensation in her throat subside.

Ji Changru's voice was hoarse, his stubble was longer than the last time I saw him, dark circles were under his eyes, and he looked extremely haggard.

"Do you believe me now?"

Sun Miao'er turned her head away, unwilling to meet his gaze. "Answer my question first."

“I came with you, but your people were moving too fast, and I couldn’t keep up, so I took a detour.”

Ji Changru kept his head down as he explained, as if he had done something wrong.

"Why bother, getting yourself into this state for him?"

Sun Miao'er stood up, leaning against the wall behind her, and limped outside. "Xia Jiu, who saved me?"

Could he be one of Master's men?

She saw the short feather; it was the same crossbow her master had used when fighting the Feather Camp in the forest last time.

However, the man's physique was too different from his master's, so he could not possibly be his master.

The only plausible explanation is that the master couldn't come forward in person, so he sent someone to rescue him.

However, when they were in the military camp, Fu Yuchi ignored her completely.

Her heart was truly aching at that moment.

She never knew what it felt like to be heartbroken over love before, but now she does.

Is it worth going back for an explanation?

"Let's go back to Yingzhou."

She gazed into the distance, towards the direction of the military camp.

I will eventually meet my master in Yingzhou.

On the third day after they returned to Yingzhou, the King of Wei's army was already at the city gates.

However, to everyone's surprise, Fu Yuchi did not send troops to attack the city.

For him, taking over such a small town was a piece of cake.

However, he did not do that; instead, he chose to remain inactive.

Inside the city, the Pingnan County government office was in complete chaos.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops out to the battlefield and fight the rebels to the death."

Zhang Shengmin knelt down and pleaded, saying he would rather die than betray his loyalty.

In truth, the Empress Dowager knew better than anyone that they had nowhere left to retreat.

But as the Empress Dowager, she would never allow anyone to trample on her dignity, especially that wretched man's son!

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it's overestimating one's own strength."

The Empress Dowager sneered, "Your entire Pingnan City has no more than three thousand elite soldiers."

"What are your thoughts, Empress Dowager?"

The Empress Dowager's lips looked exceptionally vibrant at that moment. "I have a solution."

"Three thousand elite soldiers are far from enough to fight the rebels, but if we add all the able-bodied men in the city, could we gather twenty thousand men?"

Zhang Shengmin froze. "Empress Dowager, no, no..."

"Then why don't you, Lord Zhang, surrender to the rebels and hand over the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?"

The Empress Dowager rose with a flick of her sleeve. "I'm tired. Minister Zhang, please think it over carefully."

Zhang Shengmin's face was filled with horror. He had never expected that the Empress Dowager's final solution would be to have Pingnan City perish together with the rebels.

He was determined to be a good official, loyal to the emperor and loving the people.

Therefore, when the entire court rebelled, he was the only one who resolutely stood by the emperor's side.

However, the Empress Dowager actually wanted to exchange the lives of all the people of Pingnan City for her and the Emperor's lives.

"Shanqiu, tell me, what should I do!"

Zhang Shengmin was in great distress; whether he listened or not, he was going against his original intention.

"My lord, you are the magistrate of Pingnan City, and this matter is up to you to decide!"

No matter what decision Zhang Shengmin makes, Shan Qiu will support him, because Zhang Shengmin gave him his life.

The notice was posted throughout the city the next day.

“Every household with a male child over ten years old should register at the government office.”

When Sun Miao'er saw the list, she understood.

Whether it was the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, they had gone mad.

The city was immediately filled with fear.

However, what's even more terrifying is that the so-called voluntary registration was all a lie.

Within hours of the notice being posted, the yamen's militia began searching house to house, barging into homes with knives and guns, and binding anyone over ten years old without explanation.

Xiaoman and Xiaoning were just nine years old, so they escaped this ordeal.

"They're not arresting people, they're snatching them."

All the shop assistants were taken away, leaving only women and children in each household.

If she sits idly by, the entire city of Pingnan will be buried with the Empress Dowager's insane decisions.

"My lord, please let me out of the city. I am willing to negotiate with the rebels."

Sun Miao'er found Zhang Shengmin and expressed her wishes.

Zhang Shengmin's expression was grave. "Negotiations? They just want me to summon the Emperor and Empress Dowager, don't they? Dream on!"

"Traitors! They're all traitors!"

Sun Miao'er sighed, "The overall situation of the world has been settled, why should you be so persistent, sir?"

"Why do you need to persuade me, Miss Sun? Even if I die in battle, I will not surrender to the rebels."

Zhang Shengmin retorted.

"Then please send a small team of men to protect me and allow me to leave the city for negotiations. This would be my way of doing my part for the people of Ping'an City."

She knew that what the Prince of Wei wanted was not the Emperor's life or death, but a clean reputation. He wanted to remove the label of traitor and leave his name in history with an open and honest record.

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