It's such a late hour, and you're still in the mood to reminisce? It's obvious that this is to prevent them from escaping!

But after glancing at Ling Lan, who was standing at the door of Zhaosheng Palace with a long sword in hand and an expressionless face, and then glancing at Ji Jiangxin, who was sitting on the throne with a gentle smile on his face, everyone dared not speak out in anger.

"I didn't expect you all to come. Qing Yan even said that you should all be thinking about escaping and not entering the palace. I don't believe that. Lizhou is a great country, and all the court officials are loyal and patriotic. In Lizhou's critical moment, they would never abandon Lizhou and flee without caring about themselves.

Therefore, I asked Commander Ling to invite you all, but I didn't expect him to invite you all. I am deeply moved by your loyalty to Lizhou." Ji Jiangshen lazily leaned on the throne, his elbows resting on the handles, his head supported, and he spoke a lot of nonsense with a smile on his face.

The officials under them were really angry and ashamed. As officials appointed by the court, the first thing most of them thought of was how to escape with their families, rather than living and dying with Lizhou.

The officials all lowered their heads and remained silent.

However, one person stood up.

He was a young man in his twenties, with handsome eyebrows and eyes, red lips and white teeth. He was wearing a green brocade robe with a trim. At first glance, he looked a bit like a woman, but if you look closely, you will find that his outline is not as soft as a woman's, and his facial features are more deep and three-dimensional.

Apart from the hair crown on his head, he had no other ornaments on his body except for the pair of crescent-shaped jade pendants hanging at his waist. The pendants were tied with a heart-shaped knot with red rope, and there were red tassels below the pendants.

Anyone who knows the value of things will definitely see that this pair of pendants is not valuable, nor is it beautiful, but the jade surface is smooth and the color is even, which shows that they are often played with. Moreover, this pair of pendants has a provenance and a name.

It is called Acacia Buckle, and it is only available when the Lantern Festival is held in Linyi City, Lizhou, and there is only one pair every year.

It is said that lovers who get this pair of love buckles can spend their lives together. Although it is not expensive, it is very meaningful.

The young man walked forward with neither arrogance nor servility, looked up at Ji Jiangshen and said, "The Emperor and Empress Dowager didn't have to come back, but you did. As members of Lizhou, how can we escape in the face of adversity?"

Ji Jiangshen looked at the young man in the hall, his eyes narrowed slightly: "Well said."

The moment Xiao Qingyan saw this young man, her expression turned cold for a moment.

Xiao Qingyan took the female relatives to the harem and returned to Longxiang Palace after making all the arrangements. Ling Lan sent the ministers out of the palace. The purpose of gathering in Zhaosheng Palace this time was to tell those officials that they could not escape.

Ji Jiangshen deliberately did not let Ling Lan bring the sons of officials into the palace. Firstly, he was worried that they would do something desperate, and secondly, he wanted to see if any of them would abandon their wives and daughters in order to survive and continue the family line.

Ji Jiangshen's move was a warning, but also out of bad taste.

When Xiao Qingyan returned to Longxiang Palace, Ji Jiangxin was fighting fiercely with the young man who had just been talking in the hall. Both of them drew their swords, and every move was deadly!

Neither Ji Jiangshen nor the young man showed mercy to the other.

In a flash, Ji Jiangshen made two feints and came behind the young man. The blade in his hand was stained with blood, and a shallow blood mark appeared on the young man's neck.

Ji Jiangshen flipped the sword handsomely, put his hands behind his back, and smiled at Xiao Qingyan who was standing not far away: "Yan'er."