Chapter 61 The Battle of Nanpi (Part 2) What a pity. What a pity...

The sound of soldiers charging was deafening, and the speeding carriages swayed and rocked.

Deng Jie was secretly surprised to see Zhen Mi's calm and composed demeanor with her eyes closed.

She moved closer to Zhen Mi and whispered in her ear, "Isn't Madam afraid?"

She thought of how the two armies had just lined up and drawn their bows, and now the soldiers were charging forward. If they weren't careful, they could die on the spot at any moment.

Zhen Mi looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.

Her pitiful appearance at that moment melted Deng Jie's heart. He disregarded his status and manners and pulled her into his arms. "I misspoke... How could I not be afraid of such a scene?"

"It's alright..." Zhen Mi said, but she paused when she was about to push Deng Jie's hand away. She then hugged her waist and began to sob with lingering fear.

"How could I have frightened you like this... It will never happen again, never again." Deng Jie was heartbroken and whispered her promise, while secretly praying.

"I'm not afraid, I can't be afraid... I have to survive..."

Since the fall of Ye City, Zhen Mi had long been accustomed to locking her true emotions deep inside. For some reason, faced with this unfamiliar embrace, she lost her composure and uttered these words.

The words "survive" struck Deng Jie with a sharp pain. She inevitably recalled those lonely nights when Guo Jia and she encouraged each other to "survive," and a sense of resonance arose within her.

“That’s right, you need to live, live well…” Deng Jie closed his eyes, recalling again the bloody hand that separated Consort Dong and her child. “Not only you need to live, but your child also needs to live, and live well.”

“I understand, I understand everything…” She clutched Deng Jie’s clothes tightly, the scene of her family seeing her off at the wedding flashing through her mind, “I still have my older brother and sister…”

Deng Jie was taken aback. Bian Shi had told her privately before that Zhen Mi was indeed obedient, but she seemed to be deliberately trying to be considerate, as if she was carefully playing the role of an impeccable filial daughter-in-law.

Fortunately, her son liked it, and they weren't in the same place. It was also her first time being with a new bride, so she was probably a little unaccustomed to it.

At this moment, Zhen Mi's words gave Deng Jie a different understanding. That obedience and thoughtfulness were not his nature, but rather a forced choice to wear the Nuo mask in order to protect his family and maintain his clan, and to try to conform to the expectations of this world.

Deng Jie felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He realized that it wasn't just orphans who suffered in this world; those with families and clans suffered just as much.

Everyone suffers misfortune; the poor face their own hardships, and the rich have their own struggles. Everyone is burdened with various heavy shackles, struggling to survive in the storms of a chaotic world.

Ordinary people struggle to make a living, while wealthy merchants rack their brains to curry favor with the powerful. Even the emperor is subject to the machinations of a ruthless hero like Cao Cao. Cao Cao, in turn, must lead from the front, risking his life on the battlefield to guard against political enemies in the imperial court.

Born in chaotic times, how many people are truly happy?

After returning to the military camp, Zhen Mi unsurprisingly fell ill.

Even with Deng Jie and Hua Tuo doing their utmost and taking turns caring for him, it took more than ten days for his condition to stabilize.

When Deng Jie heard that Cao Pi had caused a scene in Cao Cao's tent, he ended up running away in tears.

She couldn't help but complain a little when she was alone with Guo Jia, saying that he was still a descendant of the Cao family and how could he be so cold-hearted.

“Your Excellency has many considerations… In truth, he himself is also feeling uneasy, but there are very few people with whom he can confide his difficulties,” Guo Jia said, trying his best to defend Cao Cao.

"You're so understanding," Deng Jie muttered, then boldly asked, "If one day I were in that situation, would you still support him?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Guo Jia chuckled absentmindedly. "Neither of us has that kind of value, so there's no need to worry unnecessarily."

Clearly, Deng Jie didn't want to hear his evasive remarks, but he also didn't want to delve any deeper, lest he cause unnecessary trouble.

A month later, Nanpi City finally showed signs of defeat. Yuan Tan took advantage of the night to run away with his hair disheveled, attempting to escape, but he still could not escape the pursuit of the enemy. He fell from his horse and was killed. His head was hung in front of the army for all to see.

With their commander dead, Yuan Shao's army's morale completely collapsed. Cao Cao acted decisively, ordering his entire army to press forward and launch a final all-out attack.

The deafening shouts of battle mingled with the roar of the city falling, and the flames illuminated half the sky.

In the military camp, Guo Jia put on his outer robe, preparing to enter the city with the army.

"Wait!" Deng Jie grabbed him. "This isn't over yet... Won't it be too dangerous for you to go like this?"

"No." Guo Jia stopped and turned to look at her. The firelight reflected in his eyes, revealing a complex and indescribable sadness. "I'll go see Guo Gongze off... You can wait for me here."

As he spoke, he stepped out of the tent, leaving Deng Jie inside.

Recalling the scene of Guo Tu burning letters and sprinkling wine with him, Deng Jie clenched his fist and quickly chased after him, saying, "I'll go with you!"

Looking at the determination in her eyes, Guo Jia felt the corner of his heart, which had been occupied by loneliness, begin to crumble.

"……good!"

The two men rode their horses, accompanied by a group of guards, through the chaotic siege forces, and arrived at Guo Tu's residence.

Although it was relatively quiet here, the lights were on, and everything seemed to have been arranged properly inside the mansion.

Guo Jia had his personal guards stand outside the gate before he and Deng Jie entered the courtyard.

The scene before Deng Jie's eyes sank his heart: In the hall, Guo Tu sat calmly in the main seat. His wives, concubines, and children, all dressed neatly, sat together, the men silent and the women weeping.

"You've arrived." Guo Tu looked up. "I've already sent the servants away, and the rest... we're all ready."

But Deng Jie clearly saw the young concubine hugging a little girl and crying, which was obviously not voluntary.

“Brother Gongze, why risk so many lives? Why not surrender? I can then speak on your behalf,” Guo Jia said coldly.

These words made the concubine's eyes light up. "My lord! Perhaps..."

"Shut up!" Guo Tu shouted sternly, glaring at her fiercely before turning to Guo Jia, "Guo Fengxiao, stop your hypocritical benevolence."

He looked up and sighed, "In this life, all those reputations—treacherous, power-hungry, sycophantic...—are already rotten to the core. I accept them."

He then sneered, shook his head, and suddenly pointed at Guo Jia, "But how different are our actions in the eyes of outsiders?!"

Seeing this, Deng Jie was furious and was about to retort when a woman beside Guo Tu interrupted him loudly: "Gongze! There's no need to waste words with such people! We will live and die with you!"

Guo Tu smiled with satisfaction, looking at Guo Jia: "Good, good! What you say is true! You are very wise! I have lived a life without shame before heaven and earth, and without shame before my lord!"

Now that Yuan Xiansi is dead, Tu Dui can no longer shamelessly surrender to Cao Cao, lest he become a laughingstock. He will die for his lord, thus fulfilling his duty as a subject to his lord!

But the concubine beside him cried even harder.

Guo Tu ignored the crying, slowly got up, handed the tinder he was carrying to his wife, and gestured to Guo Jia and his wife, "You two may leave now!"

Guo Jia said no more, pursed his lips, held Deng Jie's shoulder, and protected her as they retreated out of the hall.

Guo Tu followed the two out, then turned around and firmly closed the door, bolting it shut.

Deng Jie's heart tightened, and he hurriedly tried to peek inside, but Guo Tu blocked him with his body. "Madam, do you still want to witness the deaths of my family members?"

No sooner had the words left her lips than the young concubine's heart-wrenching cries and pleas echoed through the hall: "Madam, please spare my daughter and me! We don't want to die!"

This was followed by a chaotic thud of struggling and colliding, accompanied by a few muffled groans and the terrified sobs of a child…

Soon, everything returned to deathly silence, except for a strong, greasy smell that wafted out from under the door, carrying a chilling heat.

"You...!" Deng Jie stared at Guo Tu in disbelief, his face a mixture of shock and anger.

He stood outside the door, while his family inside were left to die.

Guo Tu smiled sadly, "Madam, don't worry, I will go with them... However, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I only want to say to Fengxiao."

Deng Jie's heart tightened, and he stepped between the two, "What do you want to do?! Don't even think about harming him!"

Guo Tu did not answer, but slowly took something out of his sleeve and waved it in front of Guo Jia: "If you want to know, then come with me alone."

Guo Jia was slightly taken aback, his brows furrowed, and after a moment's thought, he pressed down on Deng Jie and said softly, "Wait for me."

As soon as Guo Jia followed Guo Tu into an inner room, he hurriedly grabbed Guo Tu's collar and shouted, "Where did you get this? Give it to me!"

Guo Tu tossed the jade pendant to him, and Guo Jia eagerly took it and examined it carefully.

This jade pendant is completely clear and transparent, and is made of Hetian green jade.

One side is engraved with a four-leaf pattern resembling a persimmon calyx, a prayer for abundant offspring.

He had held this jade pendant when he was a child, but his father took it back, saying he wanted to carve another one just like it for his sister.

But after that, he and Pei, along with their entire family, disappeared from his world.

"My mother found it." Guo Tu slowly closed the lattice door, and while Guo Jia was carefully examining the jade pendant, he used his wide sleeves to conceal his actions and locked the door.

Upon hearing the "click" sound, Deng Jie, who had followed, immediately rushed up and banged on the door, shouting, "Guo Gongze! Don't lock the door!"

Guo Jia then discovered that Guo Tu had nailed a copper ring behind the door and locked it with a copper lock.

"Guo Gongze!" Guo Jia was also somewhat anxious, but at this moment he was more concerned about the jade pendant. While pulling hard on the copper lock, he asked him sharply, "Explain yourself! Why has no one ever told me this?! Has my sister been taken away by you?!"

Deng Jie frantically banged on the door outside. When she heard Guo Jia's question, she dared not interrupt him, fearing that Guo Tu would harm her. She quickly ran outside and urgently called for the guards to help.

“We have nothing to say.” Guo Tu remained calm, straightened his sleeves, and sat down. “However, you will have to come with me.”

He raised his hand and gently tugged at the hemp rope hanging from the beam. With a loud "whoosh," a liquid emitting a strong, pungent odor poured down.

Guo Tu took the candle from the lampstand on the table and tossed it gently. Instantly, a strange blue flame ignited in the room, emitting white mist. Guo Jia was choked and coughed violently.

"I've long heard about your poisoning in Lujiang..." The flames around Guo Tu bloomed like a lotus flower. "Since you perished because of the poison, let the poison take your life!"

Thick, toxic smoke filled Guo Jia's lungs. He covered his mouth and nose, knelt on the ground, and coughed up blood.

Behind him, Deng Jie shouted, "Fengxiao, get out of the way!"

The guards burst through the door, brandishing their swords, and the thick smoke immediately filled everyone's eyes.

Deng Jie was already prepared. He forced back his stinging tears and dragged Guo Jia outside, shouting, "Take the Chief Priest away! Take the Chief Priest away quickly!"

After the guards realized what was happening, they quickly stepped forward to help, dragging and carrying Guo Jia out.

"What a pity. What a pity..." Guo Tu was already engulfed in flames, but he remained calm.

Deng Jie couldn't tell whether her tears were from the smoke or from Guo Tu. Instead of immediately following Guo Jia, she stood in front of Guo Tu, separated from him by the sea of ​​fire.

The two looked at each other in silence.

"Mr. Gongze..."

Just as Deng Jie opened his mouth, wanting to take it a step further, Guo Tu pulled the hemp rope again, and with a loud "boom," the charred wood on the top of the beam instantly collapsed.