"My lord, Jia Huan is dead."
The news of Jia Huan's death reached the government office in Pingnan City the following day.
Zhang Shengmin was not surprised, his gaze remaining fixed on the documents on his desk. "As a subject, it is my duty to be loyal to the emperor and love my country."
“Jia Huan harbored rebellious intentions, and he deserved to die.”
Since the Feather Camp was able to arrive in Yingzhou ahead of others, they must have been lying in wait in the vicinity of Yingzhou for a long time.
While they might not be able to defeat a massive army, killing Jia Huan would be more than enough.
What's troubling Zhang Shengmin right now is how to settle the emperor.
Even though the emperor was in distress and had fled to Yingzhou, his subjects still had to take good care of him.
"Lord Luoyu has arrived," a yamen runner announced from outside.
Luo Yu removed his cloak and sat down in the armchair. "It is truly a blessing for our dynasty that His Majesty has Lord Zhang at his disposal."
Why doesn't Lord Zhang run?
His tone was very relaxed, as if he were describing something insignificant.
Zhang Shengmin bowed politely to Luo Yu, "Your Excellency, I, Zhang Shengmin, am loyal to the emperor and love my country. I will never collude with traitors and rebels, even unto death!"
"I am willing to lead three thousand militiamen from within the city to fight to the death against the rebels!"
Even at this point, he still believed that the emperor had a glimmer of hope; even when the nest is overturned, some eggs may still remain intact.
Luo Yu nodded slightly, then looked up and caught a glimpse of the resolute expression on Zhang Shengmin's face. "Lord Zhang, are you troubled by the matter of settling the Emperor?"
"Yes," Zhang Shengmin answered truthfully. "The treasury is tight right now, and His Majesty will arrive in Pingnan City soon. There probably isn't enough time to build a temporary palace. The backyard of the yamen is also too crude and unbearable. There really isn't a good place for His Majesty to stay."
With a narrowing of her eyes beneath the mask, Luo Yu spoke leisurely, "I do have a good place in mind. Knowing the Emperor as I do, I'm sure he'll like it."
"Please speak, sir."
"Duhuan Tower".
Zhang Shengmin's expression froze, and half of his body stiffened. "This... Duhuan Tower is a place of pleasure, a place with many people and eyes, a place of the lowest class."
"Oh?" Luo Yu's lips curled up. "Then can we find a more suitable place in Pingnan City?"
"In terms of layout, furnishings, and food, Duhuanlou is top-notch."
Unable to find a rebuttal, Zhang Shengmin could only grit his teeth and agree, "What you say is true, sir. Then I will leave it to you to arrange."
"Shanqiu, go to Duhuanlou and tell them that Duhuanlou has been temporarily requisitioned by the government and that no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter for the time being."
Upon hearing the words "Duhuanlou," cold sweat broke out on Shan Qiu's hand gripping the knife.
That day in Tingyue Pavilion, Dongli Xiaoxiao's words were like daggers to the heart, and to this day he still doesn't know how to face her.
"yes."
Shan Qiu didn't know how he got to Duhuan Tower.
Several constables followed behind him, chatting with him all the way. He listened absentmindedly, his mind filled with the few words Dongli Xiaoxiao had said.
She wanted to enter the palace; she wanted wealth and status.
"By imperial decree, His Majesty, the Emperor's carriage will arrive in Pingnan City soon. Duhuan Tower is to be requisitioned by the government. All unauthorized personnel are to be cleared immediately!"
Upon receiving the order, the guests who were still drinking and making merry in the building immediately looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Sir, your notification is too sudden. We should have been prepared."
The guests were also dissatisfied, but the ordinary people lived peacefully in their corner.
Yingzhou was unaffected by the war, and they didn't care who the emperor was. They were all prepared for a change of dynasty because the emperor's arrival suddenly made their lives less fun.
There will inevitably be complaints.
"Young master, please don't talk nonsense."
A charming female voice suddenly rang out from behind the beaded curtain upstairs.
A woman in a pomegranate-red dress and heavy makeup descended from upstairs; her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and her figure as graceful as a willow branch.
Dan Qiu couldn't look away for a moment; he panicked.
My mind is in complete turmoil.
The woman's gaze never lingered on him for even a moment.
With graceful steps, her figure appeared before me in a daze.
"Officer Shan, how have you been?"
Dongli smiled with a frivolous smile on her lips; she knew what she was doing.
She insisted on doing it this way, insisting that he leave heartbroken and disappointed, without a trace of regret.
In that way, she would no longer fear the threat behind her. Now, in this world, only Shanqiu could be a burden on her heart.
"May the girl from Dongli be well."
He answered her questions with restraint, but a sudden urge to ask her something arose in his mind.
But he held back.
Sun Miao'er stepped into Duhuan Tower through the main gate and happened to witness this scene.
She had come to Dongli Xiaoxiao to discuss the emperor's escape to Linying Prefecture, but she suddenly found herself in an extremely awkward atmosphere.
“Miss Dongli, please don’t make things difficult for me, everyone, please.”
He didn't ask anything, only made a gesture of invitation, and spoke in a firm tone.
Unable to withstand the threat of swords and knives, the guests had no choice but to obediently go downstairs.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the drinks are on the house today. I apologize to you all. I'll invite you all again when things are at peace!"
Dongli smiled apologetically and bowed as he saw the guests off.
"Miss Sun, would you please come in as well?"
Shan Qiu remained unmoved; his mood was now extremely gloomy.
Dongli smiled and reached out to stop her, "Officer Shan, you don't know this, Miss Sun is my honored guest. If you don't let Miss Sun in, then these girls will have to serve the Emperor naked!"
"you!"
Danqiu's face flushed instantly; he hadn't expected such words to come out of Dongli Xiaoxiao's mouth.
He couldn't believe that she, who had been so innocent and naive before, had become so dissolute after just a few days!
Dongli smiled, but her heart was also being pricked by needles. She still forced a smile and said, "Officer Shan, if you have any orders, please come back tomorrow."
Before she could finish saying "Leave us alone," Shan Qiu and his group had already left the Duhuan Tower.
But as soon as Danqiu left, Dongli Xiaoxiao's eyes involuntarily reddened.
Sun Miao'er sighed helplessly and took Dongli Xiaoxiao's hand, "Why bother?"
I understand your difficulties.
She answered her own question.
Dongli Xiaoxiao could no longer force a smile. She suddenly hugged Sun Miao'er, "Miao'er, I miss my brother so much. Why won't he come back..."
Now she finally understands Hu Tingzhi's good intentions and why her brother has kept her hidden away and protected her so carefully for so many years.
She also knew that she and Shan Qiu could never be together.
Her fate was sealed the moment she was picked up by the King of Wei; she was merely a pawn, utterly meaningless.
"It will all pass. We'll wait a little longer. It's not like we can't live without you."
Sun Miao'er gently comforted her. Perhaps it was the mutual understanding between women, but she could understand all too well the pain of loving someone but not being able to stay together.
Dongli Xiaoxiao's emotions gradually calmed down, and she slowly stopped crying. "By the way, Xiaoxiao, has Mr. Fu told you about the Ji family's matter?"
"The Ji family? What happened to the Ji family?" Sun Miao'er asked, puzzled. Was her master hiding something from her?
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