Chapter Nine: Nothing Goes to the Tiger's Den

Chen Jiao's sharp words were like poisoned needles, piercing the eardrums of everyone in the earthen house.

"Father, my sister is as fat as a pig. I'm afraid Commander Liu won't like her when he sees her. We're all going to be killed because of her!"

The air seemed to freeze. Zhang secretly tugged at her daughter's sleeve, signaling her to shut up. If Chen Qing didn't go, wouldn't Jiao'er have to go instead?

Her beloved son is to marry the heir of the Zhao family in Cangcheng!

Chen Zhenyan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He snapped, "Jiao'er! Shut up!"

Although he was concerned that Chen Qing's appearance might not meet Liu Shoubei's standards, how could he say such a thing in public? Besides, who else could go besides Chen Qing right now?

Pei Xuan trembled with rage, his fists clenched tightly. Among everyone present, he was probably the only one who dared to stand up and defend Chen Qing.

And he did just that.

"Second Miss, what you're saying is so heartless! You're unwilling to go yourself, and you're belittling Qing-jie and forbidding her from going. Do you want everyone to be trapped outside the city with you and devoured by refugees?"

He was just a beggar. If it weren't for his slight connection with Chen Qing, the Chen family probably wouldn't have taken him seriously at all.

Chen Jiao was so angry she gritted her teeth and yelled defiantly, "Who do you think you are! How dare you offend me again and again!"

Pei Xuan's chest heaved, his eyes blazing with anger. He'd just leave! He'd take Qing-jie with him! It was better than dealing with these selfish people!

Just as he was about to speak recklessly.

Chen Qing gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Okay."

Pei Xuan immediately fell silent, like a little beast protecting its master, standing in front of Chen Qing with sharp eyes, glaring at Chen Jiao.

Chen Qing wasn't angry; instead, she chuckled softly. The laughter carried undisguised sarcasm, making Chen Jiao inexplicably guilty.

“Sister, what you say is quite different,” Chen Qing said calmly, her gaze sweeping over Chen Jiao before finally settling on Chen Zhenyan’s face. Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant. “Commander Liu is an official appointed by the imperial court, responsible for the defense of a region. How could he be such a shallow person who only cares about looks and disregards the overall situation? When Father sent the token, the commander still carefully examined it, which shows his caution. My journey here represents Father’s sincerity and the reputation of the Chen family. When the commander sees me, he will naturally understand Father’s situation. He will open the gates to welcome us into the city out of our shared hometown and Father’s past relationship. What does it have to do with whether I am fat or thin?”

Her words not only elevated Liu Shoubei's reputation but also highlighted that the key to this trip lay in Chen Zhenyan's influence, cleverly transforming what would have been an unpleasant situation of offering a daughter for peace into a negotiation.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhenyan paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected his usually dim-witted daughter to utter such reasonable and considerate words. In comparison, the noisy Chen Jiao seemed even more immature.

"Qing'er, you're right." Chen Zhenyan sighed, his tone softening considerably. "It's just that this trip might be risky. That Commander Liu..." He hesitated, ultimately not revealing the other party's potential malice.

“Father, I understand,” Chen Qing replied, her eyes resolute. “But staying outside the city is riskier. I’m willing to give it a try.”

Chen Zhenyan finally agreed to Chen Qing's request to go into the city to see Commander Liu. He sent two guards, while Chen Qing took Pei Xuan with him.

"Come into the city with me. It's a life-or-death situation. Are you afraid?" Chen Qing asked Pei Xuan.

Pei Xuan was slightly taken aback, then immediately shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid. You've saved me countless times. Without you, I would have died long ago."

"Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, I won't allow anyone else to hurt you."

He was still young, not yet the emperor sitting alone on the throne in the book, and didn't understand the fickleness of human hearts. He simply looked at Chen Qing, and Chen Qing saw his true heart through his clear eyes.

Chen Qing chuckled twice. Regardless of what Pei Xuan would do in the future, at least he was sincere now.

That's enough.

Besides, she would never give up her things to others.

If he's capable, then let him try to take her away from her.

Wang Zhong prepared some dry rations for Chen Qing, his expression worried: "Miss, let this old servant go with you."

Chen Qingwei raised his chin slightly and said gently, "Uncle Zhong, you stay here to protect everyone. Don't worry, I will bring you into the city soon."

Without horses, they had to walk. Chen Qing changed into a clean set of clothes, put on a cloak, and, with Pei Xuan and two guards, struggled against the wind and snow towards Qibao Town.

To reach the city gate, she had to get past the menacing refugees. Chen Qing was prepared for this; she still had two intimidation tactics left to use, and she needed to prepare other things to enter the city.

As she walked, Chen Qing searched through the mall, and eventually chose a jade pendant.

The auspicious cloud pattern jade pendant, only 30 points of weight loss, when Chen Qing's hand, which was tucked into her sleeve, took the jade pendant, she immediately felt a warm sensation in her palm, and a warm current flowed from her palm to her limbs.

It makes people feel relaxed in this cold weather.

Sending such a treasure to Commander Liu demonstrates sincerity.

Pie in the sky isn't enough; she also needs a "stick."

In that critical moment, Chen Qing felt as if his brain had been soaked in ice water, clearing away all distracting thoughts and fears, leaving only a clear goal and calm analysis.

After walking for about half an hour, they could already see the dark, imposing walls of Qibao Town and the swarms of refugees below, like ants. The sounds of crying and arguing could be faintly heard, chaotic and filled with despair.

Chen Qing also looked intently and saw several figures huddled in the ravine. They seemed to be a family, all of them thin as skin and bones. A woman was holding a child in her arms, and the child's cries were as weak as a kitten's.

"Please...give us some food..." A man saw that Chen Qing and the others were reasonably well-dressed, struggled to crawl out, and stretched out his withered, brittle hand.

The guard looked reluctant, but still whispered, "Miss, we can't even protect ourselves, let's go quickly."

Chen Qing paused. She wasn't a saint; in chaotic times, such tragedies were commonplace, and she couldn't save everyone.

However, just as she was about to look away, the man who had climbed out raised his head.

Chen Qing's pupils contracted slightly.

It's that refugee leader from last night, Da Niu!

He clearly recognized Chen Qing as well. A complex light flashed in his cloudy eyes, a fleeting fierceness replaced by pleading, and then the excitement of seeing a familiar face.

"Honorable...honorable person..." Da Niu's voice was hoarse as he struggled to kowtow.

Chen Qing looked at him, then at his family members who were dying in the ravine, and the vague plan in his mind instantly became clear.

She stopped and said to the guard, "Stop for a moment."

She walked up to Da Niu, looked down at him, and said in a calm, unwavering voice, "Da Niu, do you want to save your family?"

Da Niu suddenly looked up, unable to believe his ears: "I want to! I want to! My esteemed guest, you..."

“I can give you a chance,” Chen Qing interrupted him, her gaze sharp, “but you need to do something for me.”

Da Niu, as if grasping at a straw, buried his head deep in the snow, ignoring the cold: "Please speak, sir! As long as Tao Hua can live, Da Niu's life is yours!"

Chen Qing glanced at the few barely breathing people in the ravine, lowered his voice to make sure only Da Niu and Pei Xuan could hear: "I need you to help me spread a message."

She paused, then said, word by word, "It is said that Chen Zhenyan, a wealthy merchant from Qingzhou, is grateful for the friendship between fellow townsmen and cannot bear to see the people freeze and starve to death. He has donated most of his wealth to Liu, the garrison commander of Qibao Town, and earnestly requests that the garrison commander open the granaries to distribute grain and provide relief to the disaster victims. Garrison Commander Liu is benevolent and has agreed to consider it. There may be news soon."

Da Niu froze, looking up blankly. Pei Xuan also gasped, staring at Chen Qing with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Chen Qing's eyes were frighteningly calm. She knew very well that with her looks and her father's fading influence, getting Commander Liu to open the gate was an impossible task. She had to create pressure, create public opinion!

This was the "big stick" she had prepared for Liu Shoubei.

If the refugees believe that Commander Liu has taken most of the Chen family's wealth and might open the granaries to distribute food, their attention will be diverted, and their expectations will be raised. At that point, if Commander Liu still intends to harm the Chen family or refuses to open the gates, he will have to bear the backlash of the anger of thousands of starving people and the disappointment of their hopes!

This is a risky move, but it's also the only way to use someone else's strength against them.

"Can you do it?" Chen Qing stared at Da Niu. "Find some trustworthy people who are still able to get around and spread this message quietly. Be quick, make sure as many people as possible overhear it before we enter the city."

Although Da Niu was just a farmer, he was quick-witted enough to be the leader of the refugees. He instantly understood Chen Qing's intention: to use their power to force that corrupt official into submission!

A fierce and resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he kowtowed heavily: "I can! Rest assured, sir! I will risk my life to deliver this message to you! I only ask... I only ask that if you can enter the city in the future, you can give my family a way to survive."

"I promise you." Chen Qing said without any hesitation. "If it succeeds, I will guarantee your wife and children's lives, and that they will have food and clothing."

In these chaotic times, this is an extremely heavy promise.

Da Niu said no more, kowtowed again, then struggled to climb back into the ditch. He whispered a few words to the pregnant woman holding the child, then called over a few fellow villagers and gave them some instructions.

Chen Qing didn't linger and said to his entourage, "Let's go."

Pei Xuan quickened his pace to catch up, and whispered, "Sister Qing, will this make Commander Liu open the city gate?"

"I don't know, but let's give it a try," Chen Qing said, his voice carrying through the wind and snow as he continued walking. "If we don't take the risk, we'll just wait to die. If we do, there's still a glimmer of hope. Commander Liu is an official; he's more afraid of civil unrest than we are."

Pei Xuan remained silent, seemingly having grasped something.

He looked at Chen Qing's resolute figure; her broad back shielded him from the wind and snow, giving him a strong sense of security and warmth.

Taking a deep breath, Pei Xuan quickened his pace to catch up with Chen Qing. No matter what, he would protect Sister Qing, even at the cost of his life.

The group continued their arduous journey towards the gates of Qibao Town. The closer they got, the more refugees they encountered, and the more horrific the scene became. Frozen corpses were everywhere, and groans, broken and mutilated by the cold wind, echoed from all directions. Many people's eyes lit up when they saw Chen Qing and his group, whose clothing was relatively neat, but perhaps it was Chen Qing's inexplicable calm and collected demeanor, or perhaps it was the swords tightly gripped by his guards, that prevented them from approaching easily.

Chen Qing remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was on high alert, ready to use his deterrent skills at any moment.

Finally, they arrived at the tightly closed city gate.

The city walls stood tall, covered with soldiers holding weapons and with cold expressions. Below the city gate, a large crowd of refugees wanted to enter the city were thrashed away by the soldiers.

"Halt! What are you doing!" a gatekeeper leader shouted sternly, his eyes scanning Chen Qing and his companions with hostility.

The guard hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Sir, we are from the Chen family of Qingzhou. My master, Chen Zhenyan, is an old friend of Commander Liu. He specially sent my young lady to pay her respects to Commander Liu. Please inform him." As he spoke, he secretly took out a purse and stuffed it into the leader's hand.

The leader took the purse, flicked his wrist slightly, and his expression softened slightly, but it still held a scrutinizing look: "Where is Master Chen?"

"My master is waiting not far outside the city," Wang Zhong said with a forced smile. "Please do me a favor, sir."

The leader glanced at the obese Chen Qing, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, but still nodded: "Wait!" He turned and ordered a soldier to report.

The wait felt incredibly long. The refugees below the city were restless, countless hungry eyes fixed on Chen Qing and his group as if they were moving pieces of meat.

Chen Qing could sense the tension in the others, and her own heart was beating slightly faster, but she was still able to maintain her composure.

About an incense stick later, the soldier returned and whispered a few words in the leader's ear.

The leader nodded and said to Chen Qing, "The garrison commander has given his permission, but only Miss can go in. The others should wait here!" He pointed at Chen Qing, indicating that she should enter the city.

Pei Xuan panicked: "Sir, this is against the rules! My young lady is all alone..."

"This is the garrison commander's order!" the leader interrupted impatiently. "Are you in or not? If not, get out!"

Chen Qing stopped Pei Xuan, who was still trying to argue, and said calmly, "Xuan Nu, it's alright. You wait here, I'll go in and see the garrison commander and then return."

She had long anticipated this. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Chen Qing thought calmly as she followed the soldiers into the city.

Pei Xuan was extremely anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

To prevent refugees from entering the city, deep and wide moats were dug outside the city, and the bottom of the moats was filled with wooden nails. In addition, many wooden spikes were also placed to defend the city.

Chen Qing passed through these obstacles and finally followed the soldiers into the city through a side gate that could only accommodate one person at a time.

The heavy side door slowly closed behind her, shutting out the wind, snow, and noise outside, as well as Pei Xuan's worried gaze.

Inside the gate, a completely different scene unfolded. Although it was also desolate, the streets were clean, and only a few pedestrians hurried by, a world apart from the hellish scene outside the city.

The leader led Chen Qing through several streets to a magnificent mansion—the Qibao Town Garrison Command.

"Wait here!" The leader told Chen Qing to stand outside the gatehouse while he went in to announce their arrival.

Chen Qing stood on the stone steps and straightened his clothes, which were soaked by the wind and snow.

She raised her head, looking at the imposing plaque of the garrison headquarters, her eyes calm.