By the time Chu Tianling led five thousand men to the outskirts of Lingnan City, half a month had already passed.

At this time, the guards outside the city walls had completely changed; they were all replaced by people brought by the head of the Liu family.

There was nothing that could be done; Chu Tianyang was simply unreasonable, and the fact that the princess was pregnant meant he had even more options.

So, although the head of the Liu family said he would let Chu Tianyang think about it, he had already made arrangements quickly and completely controlled the defense layout of the city.

He kept the pregnant Wen Nuan in a small courtyard by himself; this was his second choice.

When Chu Tianling and Shen Jiaojiao arrived, there were many people sleeping densely outside the city.

Chu Tianling got off the carriage, walked to Zhou Tianqi's side, and looked into the distance, asking, "What's going on? What do those people at the gate mean?"

Zhou Tianqi was also speechless: "When I first arrived, there weren't any of these people. Then, on the second day, these people appeared. They don't do anything, they just stay at the door all day and don't leave. When the time comes, someone will come out and bring them food!"

Shen Jiaojiao also asked, "Who brought the food?"

It was exactly noon when Zhou Tianqi pointed and said, "Look! It's her. She comes out to bring food and drinks every day at the appointed time! She even brought me food, but I refused it. She acts like she's crazy."

Zhou Tianqi was truly speechless. He had brought his men to fight at the door, and then the opposing team sent him food. It was really a headache.

Shen Jiaojiao looked closely and realized that this person... if she remembered correctly... wasn't this Princess An?

What does this person mean?

Shen Jiaojiao and her group simply stood aside and watched Wen Nuan serve them food and drinks with a very gentle attitude.

She had a smile on her face and wore a white silk dress that seemed to glow in the sunlight.

Those people who took her things treated her like a Bodhisattva, expressing all sorts of gratitude.

Even from a great distance, it was visible, like a large-scale modern fan meeting, leaving Shen Jiaojiao completely dumbfounded.

After everyone had been distributed, Wen Nuan turned around and smiled at them. Shen Jiaojiao's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...?

When Zhou Tianqi saw the woman's smile, he thought: Here we go again!

He took a few steps back and stood behind Chu Tianling.

Sure enough, Wen Nuan walked towards them with light steps.

"Greetings, elder brother and sister-in-law. You must be tired from your long journey. Would you like to come to my residence for a cup of tea?" Wen Nuan bowed to the two of them with a sincere expression.

Since the arrival of the Liu family head, she has been living in a separate courtyard and hasn't seen Tianyang for several days.

The head of the Liu family, having somehow heard about my good deeds for others, sent me to deliver food and drink to these poor people outside the city every day.

Although it's a bit of a hassle to travel outside the city every day, she's willing to do good deeds there.

She didn't know why His Highness the Crown Prince had come, but His Highness the Crown Prince and Tianyang were brothers. When the older brother came to visit the younger brother, he couldn't just block him from entering, could he?

Even Shen Jiaojiao was a little lost.

Doesn't this person know what's going on?

I'd rather eat at your house than eat anything there.

Shen Jiaojiao returned the greeting and then asked, "Didn't someone from the Liu family come over a few days ago?"

Wen Nuan said happily, "Oh! Yes, you've come at just the right time. Tianyang's grandfather came to visit him and is staying at our house for the next few days. You can come with me to our house to pay your respects."

So you came here because you heard that Patriarch Liu was here.

No wonder, the Liu family head has an excellent reputation in Jiangnan, so it's only right that he came to take a look.

Shen Jiaojiao was speechless. What kind of greeting is this? I'm here to take his life, okay?

"By the way, what's with those people at the door?"

As soon as Shen Jiaojiao finished asking her question, Wen Nuan turned around and looked at the people eating in the distance, her face radiating light.

"Look how simple they are, all they need is enough to eat. Why don't so many people understand such a simple principle!"

Shen Jiaojiao felt that she was really quite ill.

“I don’t think they’re incapable of working. There are men around; we can definitely let them do the work.”

"Oh, that's Brother Zhang, his leg hurts; that's Brother Wang, his hand hurts; that's Brother Zhao, his head hurts; that one…"

Shen Jiaojiao almost rolled her eyes; this was clearly a freeloader.

That's insane!

I absolutely don't want to hear it!

He interrupted directly: "Forget it, I don't want to hear it anymore. That Liu family head is no good person. He arrests people everywhere, feeds men to insects, and makes women give birth. It's horrific. Don't be fooled by him. You'd better catch him and send him out."

Wen Nuan covered her mouth with her hand, looking incredulous: "What? This can't be real!"

“Patriarch Liu seems to be a very nice person. Even Tianling disagrees with me sending food to the poor every day, but Patriarch Liu is completely different. He approves of what I do, and he prepares this food for me every day.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiaojiao exclaimed, "Such a good thing? When did he become such a good person?"

"Could this food be poisoned? He poisoned one of our officials when he left Hangzhou. That person is still unconscious. He was the one who did it."

Wen Nuan was a little angry: "How can you be like this? You come here and immediately start criticizing others. You're unwilling to do good deeds yourself, but you won't let others do them either."

Shen Jiaojiao didn't want to talk anymore: "Alright, I'm not going to waste my breath on you. Make that Liu family get out here! Otherwise, I'll break in."

Wen Nuan noticed the change in the man's attitude and her face turned cold: "Incomprehensible!"

She turned and left. She had been used to being a kind person for so many years, and arguing would damage her image, so she decided to leave.

Shen Jiaojiao watched her leave, and then looked at those who were still wolfing down their food, lost in thought. Could it be that people have become better?

That's impossible. Driving people to the city gate like this is clearly just making them cannon fodder.

Suddenly, a little boy took a few steps and vomited.

Wen Nuan happened to be walking to the door when she saw it and headed in that direction.

At this moment, several maids who were with her suddenly stepped forward, grabbed her hands on either side, and led her into the city.

What are you doing?

"Something seems to have happened to that child; we need to take him to see a doctor!"

"Let me go!"

Wen Nuan was held captive and unable to resist; no one behind her spoke to her.

The more I look at this situation, the more something seems off.

Sure enough, the child was just the beginning; one by one, the people around him started vomiting.

Wen Nuan was stunned. She was dragged along and the city gate was closed immediately after they entered.

Now she realized that she might have done something wrong, so was what Shen Jiaojiao said just now right?

"Has Physician Zhang arrived? These people look suspicious; investigate them immediately!"

Chu Tianling immediately sent someone to bring Imperial Physician Zhang over.