Chapter 132 Surrendering to the Rebels

Xu Lin didn't care anymore. She thought Lu Jinlan was a young man who had never met a high-ranking official before and didn't know etiquette, so she had no choice but to tidy herself up and kneel properly.

As soon as Xiang Ruzhen and the others appeared, she was about to pay her respects when she suddenly saw several high-ranking officials and their entourage kneel down in unison, bowing in her direction and saying, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Xu Lin froze, turning her head in surprise to see Lu Jinlan raising an eyebrow at her with a smile.

Xu Lin was both amused and terrified. She immediately turned around, her knees refusing to obey her commands, and kowtowed to beg for forgiveness.

"This sinner, Xu Lin, kowtows to Your Majesty! I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival, failed to greet you, and spoke rudely. I beg Your Majesty for mercy!"

Lu Jinlan told everyone to rise and helped Xu Lin up.

"I have already witnessed your talent from your proclamation. I have come to the prison to hear your heartfelt words. You are right, I do indeed lack someone like you by my side, whose writings astound the world and move the people."

"You will stay by my side and serve as a sixth-rank official in charge of recording the emperor's daily affairs. If you do well, I will send you to the Hanlin Academy to compile history and write books."

Xu Lin's eyes lit up with excitement; what a stroke of good fortune!

A middle-aged man in his forties, who had accomplished little in his life and could only barely make a living by setting up a roadside stall, was suddenly selected as a central government civil servant, and even received an official title!

Xu Lin quickly expressed her gratitude and followed behind Lu Jinlan, beaming with joy.

As soon as Lu Jinlan stepped out of the prison gate, Zhang Siyuan hurriedly led Li Yi forward to apologize.

"Your Majesty, we were foolish to mistake you for a traitor and imprison you in this jail. We deserve to die."

Lu Jinlan smiled, "I've heard you're meticulous in your work here; even if you haven't achieved anything remarkable, you've certainly put in the effort. Your head constable is diligent and quite incorruptible, it's just a pity his eyesight is a bit poor. Consider your merits and demerits balanced out, no reward or punishment. I'll reward you when you've rendered meritorious service in quelling the rebellion, then you'll be satisfied."

The two men thought they were lucky to have kept their heads and were even prepared to be imprisoned and beaten. Unexpectedly, the emperor laughed it off, and the two men thanked him profusely.

As Lu Jinlan was speaking, she heard a clattering sound coming from the corner. Zhang Tiezhu was carrying a tray of food, which was shaking like a leaf, causing the bowls and chopsticks to collide with each other on the plate.

Lu Jinlan smiled and pointed to the overflowing bowl of rice on the tray, "This is for me."

Zhang Tiezhu said tremblingly, "Yes, Your Majesty, it's for you."

There was a piece of braised meat on top of the rice. Lu Jinlan said, "This doesn't look like the food in prison."

Zhang Tiezhu said, "Your Majesty is wise. This is pork knuckle that my husband marinated in his own soy sauce jar. I was thinking... you look like a rich young lady, and perhaps you're not used to the food in prison, so... I secretly put a piece on your plate."

Lu Jinlan picked it up and tasted it. "Hmm! It tastes good. Your husband is quite skilled."

Zhang Tiezhu was so guilty that he immediately put down his food and, crying, took out the silver he had just received. "Your Majesty, please stop. I know I was wrong. Here's the silver back. I'll accept any punishment. Please don't involve my husband and children."

Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "You're overthinking it. I'll have your husband make a jar of braised meat for me later, and I'll bring it back to the palace when I return to the capital. You can keep the money; consider it money I bought for you."

Remembering their earlier agreement, Lu Jinlan pointed at Zhang Tiezhu and said to Xu Lin, "Make a note of this for me. I ran into Zhang Tiezhu, the jailer, in Xinping Prefecture. He is a kind-hearted and helpful man, a true hero."

Xu Lin smiled and said, "I will certainly remember it."

*

Upon returning to the back hall of the government office, Zhang Siyuan immediately reported the situation of the local rebellion to Lu Jinlan.

"The rebels gathered in the Yuhuang Mountain area, where they set up a stronghold. There was a pass at the mountain pass called Tianmen Pass, which was extremely dangerous. The narrowest part could only allow three people to pass at most, making it a place where 'one woman can hold the pass against ten thousand.' The general of Yaozhou led his troops to attack it twice, but both times he returned empty-handed."

Lu Jinlan nodded, and Xu Lin added, "Tianmen Pass is guarded day and night, and there are rolling logs and boulders at the pass. Not only will the government troops be unable to maneuver freely in the mountains, but taking the pass will also be an uphill attack. If they try to take it by force, they will suffer heavy casualties."

Lu Jinlan said, "If I intended to launch a direct attack, I would have already ordered the general of Yaozhou to destroy the rebels' stronghold at all costs. This group of rebels is the first group of rebels I have encountered since I ascended the throne, and I do not want to deal with them by the brutal method of killing them all."

"I have come in person to resolve this extraordinary situation with extraordinary measures. Ideally, the rebellion should be quelled with zero casualties and zero costs. This will also serve as a warning to future generations, so that there will never be another rebellion in the future."

"I will outsmart them, make the rebels admit their mistakes to the court, and walk out of Tianmen Pass on their own."

Zhang Siyuan hesitated for a moment, "Um... Your Majesty, the rebels know they have committed a capital crime, so they have been fighting desperately. They will not surrender easily, much less confess."

Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "It's all up to human effort. I haven't even made a move yet, how do you know it's impossible?"

As Lu Jinlan spoke, she looked at Xu Lin and asked, "What is your status among the rebels? Are you able to bring people up the mountain?"

Xu Lin hurriedly replied, "Ji Yunyao, the patriarch of the Ji Yun clan, and I get along quite well. I was also imprisoned for rebelling, so the rebels trust me quite a bit. Bringing one or two people up the mountain is not a problem, but bringing more is probably not an option."

Lu Jinlan said, "Then get ready. I will go up the mountain with you tonight, and we will go together to join the rebels."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiang Ruzhen quickly said, "No!"

She said urgently, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. I know Your Majesty is eager to quell the rebellion, but that rebel stronghold is a den of dragons and tigers. Your Majesty's precious body must not go there. If you wish to place a reliable person in there, I will go in your stead."

Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "Even if you go in my place, you won't look like one! We'll pretend to be a few notorious bandits, and people won't think you look like one. If you try to pretend to be a rebel, people will definitely suspect you."

Xiang Ruzhen said, "Then let Grand Commandant Yan go. She won't be exposed if she pretends to be a rebel."

Lu Jinlan said, "Wuxin needs help even when she's alone. Why don't I go with her? That way, someone can come down the mountain to deliver messages from time to time."

Yan Wuxin hurriedly replied, "Your subject would be more than willing."

Yan Wuxin patted Xiang Ruzhen's shoulder lightly, "My Lord, don't worry. With me protecting you, what could possibly happen? As long as the news doesn't leak out from the government office, the Emperor and I definitely won't recognize you. Just relax and wait with your men. Maybe we can settle this matter without bloodshed."

Left with no other option, Xiang Ruzhen immediately blocked the news and followed the plan.

*

As night fell, a commotion broke out at Tianmen Pass, and the sound of horses' hooves seemed to be chasing after them in the distance.

The guards immediately went on alert. Seeing someone heading up the mountain, they shouted, "Halt! If you go any further, we'll fire arrows!"

Xu Lin hurriedly said, "Sisters, please don't shoot arrows. I am Xu Lin. Please inform the chief that I have come to seek refuge with two young heroes."

The two young heroes were naturally Lu Jinlan and Yan Wuxin. They reverted to their aliases, Lu Er and Yan San.

Soon, people came from inside to take them in. Xu Lin hurriedly said, "We escaped from prison, and soldiers are chasing us."

Before he finished speaking, a commotion erupted down the mountain.

The guards didn't seem to care and said, "Don't worry, this place is a natural fortress. Even if they don't come soon, the government troops can't break in." As they spoke, they arranged for people to throw things down.

Zhang Siyuan's pursuit with his troops was merely a show. After a few logs were thrown down from above, she took the opportunity to retreat with her men.

After passing through Tianmen Pass, Lu Jinlan and the others walked along a narrow path along a cliff face, barely wide enough for one person to pass at a time. On one side was a bottomless abyss, which looked like a black hole in the night, eerie and terrifying.

Even though Lu Jinlan had been practicing his martial arts to the extreme every night, he was still secretly terrified as he walked on this plank road where there were no ropes to lean on and no railings to hold onto.

Fortunately, after walking more than a hundred meters, we finally reached flat ground. Passing through the cave, we were greeted by brightly lit lanterns, and the view suddenly opened up before us.

The heart of Yuhuang Mountain is spacious and flat, with beautiful scenery, and the rebels built their stronghold here.

Lu Jinlan whispered to Yan Wuxin, "This place has a bit of a Shangri-La feel to it. It wouldn't be bad for us to retire here when we get old."

Yan Wuxin curled his lips, quite disgusted, "You can come if you want, but I'm not coming. Is that road outside for good people? I'm afraid that I've finally lived to be eighty years old, and if I accidentally fall down the mountain, I'll be gone without a trace."

Lu Jinlan chuckled and shook her head.

The three were led to the largest hall in the center of the stronghold to wait. After a short while, Ji Yunliu came out first.

Although she had sustained a minor injury today, she seemed to be alright. Upon seeing Lu Jinlan and Yan Wuxin, she was overjoyed and said, "My two benefactors, what brings you here, Master Xiang?"

Lu Jinlan said, "You are two years older than us, so please call us Lu Er and Yan San. When I was arrested and imprisoned, my eldest sister and third sister broke me out of prison and also rescued Senior Xu. However, in the chaos just now, Hero Xiang got separated from us."

Ji Yunliu said, "It's alright. I'll go down the mountain to visit her tomorrow. As long as she hasn't been caught by the soldiers, she'll be fine."

Xu Lin hurriedly said, "We have nowhere to stay in the city. I heard that you two know each other, so I brought them with me to seek refuge. I don't know if Chief Yao can take us in for a few days."

Ji Yunliu laughed and said, "My master is a man of great righteousness, of course she would take us in. When my junior brother and I told her about meeting our three benefactors, she scolded us for leaving first."

"I was planning to visit a few people tomorrow, but it just so happens that Senior Xu brought you all here. Don't worry, Master will definitely agree. If she doesn't agree, I'll make a scene with her."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ji Yunyuan said, "Senior Sister, you're talking nonsense again."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Ji Yunyuan walking out of the back hall with a smile.

"The weather has been getting colder these past few days, and my mother's old ailment has flared up. She coughs badly whenever she's exposed to the wind, so I'm sorry I can't come out to greet you. My mother asked me to take you to see her. Senior Xu, Second Hero Lu, Third Hero Yan, please come with me."

Ji Yunliu hurriedly said, "I'll go too."

The group followed Ji Yunyuanzhen inside. Just as they crossed the bamboo bridge, they suddenly heard a commotion: "The eldest young mistress has committed suicide by poison! Quickly, summon the clan leader!"

Ji Yunyuan's expression changed drastically, "Sister!"

He shouted and immediately ran towards the house where the incident had occurred.

"Junior brother, wait for me!" Ji Yunliu ran after him, her voice trembling with tears, "Senior sister, please don't let anything happen to you!"

Before Lu Jinlan could ask any questions, an elderly woman in her sixties with a full head of white hair rushed over, leaning on a cane, and cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, "Shu'er! My Shu'er, please don't abandon your mother..."

Before the old man could finish speaking, he began to cough violently.

She cried and coughed, tears streaming down her face, her white hair swaying in the air. The scene was desolate, but Lu Jinlan, standing to the side, couldn't help but suggest, "Why don't you go and check first? Maybe she's not dead yet."

The old woman nodded and quickened her pace to get there. People were constantly going in and out of the house where the incident had occurred, and the scene was chaotic.

Yan Wuxin shook his head. "Tsk, we don't know if the Ji Yun family can change their habit of crying and lamenting before anything happens. They always have to wail a few times. I feel tired just looking at them."

Lu Jinlan said, "Since we've arrived, let's go take a look. Anyway, with things in such a mess, they won't have time to bother with us."

The three rushed over, but they had already given up on treatment.

Ji Yunyao held her daughter Ji Yuntieshu in her arms, while Ji Yunyuanzhen knelt on the ground holding her sister's hand. People stood around the bed, all bursting into tears.

Lu Jinlan craned her neck to look, and saw that Ji Yun Tieshu's eyelids could still move, so he hadn't died yet.

She hurriedly said, "My family is a family of doctors. I have an antidote pill here. Taking it may save the young mistress's life."

Ji Yunliu cried, "She took the Soul-Eating Grass, a highly poisonous herb from our clan. It's no use; even a great immortal couldn't save her."

Lu Jinlan was speechless. "Let me try. Can't I just give it a shot?"

Ji Yun Tieshu shook his head weakly, "No...don't save me, let me die."

Lu Jinlan rolled her eyes at her; she disliked people who gave up on themselves the most.

Ji Yun Tieshu continued, "I've become like this, and I don't want to be a burden to anyone anymore. Mother, I know you rebelled for my sake. But you... please listen to me, don't rebel again. After I die, you... you..."

Lu Jinlan was initially hesitant about whether to forcefully save the person, but upon hearing her words, she decided to do so.

Seeing that Ji Yun Tieshu was about to die, Lu Jinlan rushed over without saying a word, pulled her into his arms, and forcibly threw the pill into her mouth, making her swallow it.

As Ji Yun Tieshu closed his eyes, Ji Yunyao cried out sorrowfully, "Shu'er!"

Ji Yunyuan cried out in tears, "Sister!"

The Ji Yun people around had already begun the rituals, and they all stopped crying and sang a very mournful tune in their Ji Yun language, which was probably meant to send the person off to their final rest in peace.

The person in his arms remained motionless, and Lu Jinlan began to doubt himself. Could it be that his antidote pills were not compatible with the Ji Yun clan's constitution?

She patted Ji Yun Tieshu's face and pleaded gently, "Hey, young lady, please hold on a little longer and finish what you have to say. My medicine is always effective, don't ruin my reputation. You're so young, don't think too much about anything, wake up!"

Ji Yun Tieshu slowly opened his eyes, two lines of hot tears streaming down his face. Lu Jinlan said happily, "Stop singing, she's not dead!"

Ji Yun Tieshu said in despair, "Why is it so hard for me to even die?"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Yunyao hurriedly said to Yuan Zhen, "Quickly kowtow to this young hero; she saved your sister."

Yuanzhen hurriedly said, "Mother, this is Lu Erxia."

Ji Yunyao suddenly realized, "Then I really have to thank you. You saved my son before, and this time you saved my daughter. You are a great benefactor of our Ji Yun family. Please forgive me for my poor hospitality. Your visit has made you laugh at me."

Lu Jinlan quickly replied, "It's nothing, every family has its own problems."

Ji Yunyao shook his head. "Sigh, my family's affairs were originally not difficult to resolve, but it's all that dog emperor Lu Jinlan's fault."

Lu Jinlan: "Oh, does this have anything to do with her?"