Su Tiyue didn't know how she got out of the dungeon, and she was still somewhat dazed even after leaving the palace.
It felt like a dream.
So many things happened in just one day.
The emperor has disappeared, and his fate is unknown.
Xiao Heye was arrested without cause, and his identity was exposed.
Under the guise of support, Zhou Lin rightfully became the regent...
And what about her?
Whether they choose to marry into another family or stay behind, they are destined to become victims of this turmoil.
The best outcome would be, as Xiao Heye said, that Han Zhou would arrive as promised and take her away from Yong'an.
However, Su Tiyue also knew that the entire Yong'an was now under Zhou Lin's control, and he was determined to eliminate the forces behind Xiao Heye without sparing any effort.
I'm afraid...
Han Zhou was also in dire straits.
*
"So? What did they say in prison?" Zhou Lin asked casually, half-reclining in his chair, without even lifting his eyelids as he spoke to An Ran.
An Ran lowered her head and replied softly, "It seems that Master Xiao wants Han Zhou to bring people to Yong'an to rescue Miss Su."
The dungeon was extremely quiet. An Ran had very sharp ears and overheard everything Xiao Heye said to Su Tiyue.
Hearing it was fine, An Ran turned around and relayed the words to Zhou Lin verbatim.
“I had already guessed that he would never put Su Tiyue in danger.” Zhou Lin paused. “Eunuch An, this time I must thoroughly eliminate these people with ulterior motives.”
Upon receiving this news, Zhou Lin had already laid a tight trap inside and outside Yong'an City, just waiting for Han Zhou and his group to show themselves...
An Ran stood there for a moment, then walked up to Zhou Lin, bent down, and whispered, "Your Highness, I heard that before the incident, the deputy director of the Eastern Depot led his men and quietly left Yong'an. I also know that they had another hiding place in Suzhou."
An Ran continued, "More than 90% of the people from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been withdrawn to Suzhou. The man surnamed Xiao has even built his own army there, but no one knows exactly how many people he has. If Your Highness really wants to eliminate the threat completely, you'll have to be ruthless."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin suddenly opened his eyes. "You're right. If you want to eliminate the problem completely, you have to be ruthless and decisive."
"Starting tomorrow... I will order all the Imperial Guards to conduct a city-wide search for the traitors who attempted to assassinate the Emperor and the remaining followers of Xiao Heye. I will kill them all, leaving no one alive!"
An Ran said, "Taking this opportunity, Your Highness can also eliminate some thorns in your side at court. Eliminate dissidents and prevent future troubles, Your Highness..."
Zhou Lin hadn't thought of that, but what An Ran said made some sense.
Since Zhou Lin took the position of regent, many people in the court have been dissatisfied, and some even suspect that he sent people to assassinate the emperor.
"Eunuch An is indeed very thoughtful. Let's do it that way." Zhou Lin thought to himself, "A man who is going to do great things should not be soft-hearted. Anyway... he has already taken over the world."
He decides right and wrong, black and white.
Seeing that Zhou Lin had agreed to her suggestion, An Ran added lightly, "However, Your Highness... in my opinion, neither searching nor suppressing is a glorious thing. You can send someone to do it, or you can have someone else do it for you."
What do you mean?
"After tomorrow, whether the army conducts a large-scale search or eliminates dissidents in the name of suppression, it will inevitably arouse public resentment. When the matter is over, the people will bring it up again and will inevitably feel dissatisfied with Your Highness."
"So what you mean is, who should play the villain for me?"
An Ran replied in a sinister tone, "Let the Rouran people take the blame. Your Highness, you have a very good relationship with the Rouran envoy and the Rouran prince, so why not ask them for help and have them send troops to assist you in suppressing the rebels? Whether it's Yong'an or Suzhou, let their people handle it. Later, after the marriage alliance is over and the Rouran people leave Yong'an, the people can only blame the Rouran people if they want to complain, not Your Highness."
Zhou Lin has always cherished his army, and now An Ran's suggestion allows him to resolve the matter without losing a single soldier.
That's really a good suggestion.
Zhou Lin pondered that although this method of using someone else to do the dirty work was a bit vicious, it was indeed a good idea.
With that in mind, he agreed.
However, Zhou Lin's agreement meant that Yong'an would be plunged into complete darkness.
...
The following evening, the gates of Yongcheng were opened wide, and within the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea, hundreds of thousands of Rouran soldiers poured in.
Zhou Lin settled the Rouran soldiers in the eastern part of the city. In just two days, the people in the eastern part of the city were harassed, violently attacked, robbed, and burned by the Rouran soldiers...
The people complained bitterly. Although the news reached Zhou Lin's ears, he thought that he would endure it for a few more days. After he had completely eliminated those things he disliked in Yong'an City, Zhou Lin would then order the Rouran to withdraw their troops.
The Rouran people were inherently barbaric, and seeing that the rulers of Beiliang remained indifferent to their wanton behavior, they went even further.
They roamed the streets of Yong'an day and night, even breaking into people's homes to rob and assault them.
Since they arrived in Yong'an, the women in the city dared not step out of their homes, lest they be dragged into alleys by Rouran soldiers and have their chastity ruined...
Jiang Min sat in the carriage, gently lifting a corner of the curtain to look outside.
The once bustling and prosperous streets were now in a state of chaos, with bloodstains still visible on the road.
The maid, Chun Tao, said timidly, "Miss, Master instructed that you are not allowed to go out. It's so chaotic outside; what if you encounter those barbarians..."
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