The morning mist had just dissipated, and the street leading to Chongzhi Gate was already crowded with people who came to watch the excitement. Elite soldiers in Yulin Guards uniforms lined up in neat rows, escorting a prisoner car slowly through the crowd. The excited people pushed and jostled each other, talking about how today, Xia Mingyuan, the right prime minister who once held great power, would be taken to the execution ground outside Chongzhi Gate and beheaded in front of the public.

In the chaos, a middle-aged man dressed as a storyteller was telling a story in a very serious manner: Xia Mingyuan relied on his power to commit all kinds of evil deeds such as corruption and embezzlement over the past decade. The most hateful thing was that when the current emperor was preparing to settle accounts with him for his crimes, he actually wanted to take a risk and collude with Prince Qi to cause chaos, attempting to help him enter the capital to kill the emperor and commit treason. Fortunately, Xia Qing, the commander of the Yulin Army, who was Xia Mingyuan's nephew, understood the greater good and told the current emperor the whole conspiracy. He planned to deliberately let the rebels in from the north gate, and then set an ambush in the dark alley to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop and shoot the rebel leader with one arrow, thus preventing the people of the capital from suffering from the war. Seeing the admiring eyes of the people around him, he twirled his long beard and continued with increasing pride: "It is said that Xia Mingyuan committed the crime of genocide, but our family is so kind-hearted that we only ordered to behead him alone and send all the men of the Xia family into the army." "Everyone was suddenly enlightened after hearing this, and they all praised Mingjun's benevolence. Then they looked at the prison car with even more contempt. Someone took the lead and shouted: "Traitor! The traitor who brings disaster to the country and the people! Kill the traitor quickly! "

Xia Mingyuan listened to the incessant shouting and cursing around him, and slowly closed his eyes. The raging cold wind blew his messy white hair into his mouth, which was dry and bitter. He entered the officialdom at the age of sixteen, and was appointed prime minister at the age of twenty-eight. He once led the Xia family to become the most prominent clan in Damu, but he did not expect that he would end up being despised by thousands of people and a traitor. Suddenly, he thought of his sister who was like him. With her death, she aroused the guilt of her own son and exchanged the last way out for the rest of the Xia family. They have pursued too much and carried too much in their lives. It is finally time to let go. Thinking of this, he sighed deeply. The sunlight shining on his face made him unable to help but open his eyes and stare greedily at this last light of his life.

Suddenly, his eyes swept across a familiar figure on the tower, and his heart jumped: Impossible, it can't be her! She hated him to the core, how could she come to see him off. Her voice with a strong sense of sarcasm that day seemed to echo in his ears again: "From now on, I have nothing to do with the Xia family. I wish Prime Minister Xia's wish will be fulfilled, his power will be forever, and his descendants will be cut off!" Xia Mingyuan smiled bitterly. Perhaps this was God's punishment for him. He sacrificed his own flesh and blood for the road to power, and now he ended up with his head and body separated and no one to see him off.

Yuan Xi stood on the city wall, her green skirt fluttering high in the wind, her eyes fixed on the prison van heading towards Chongzhi Gate amid the crowd's curses. She knew very well that once she left the city gate, she would never see him again.

At this moment, a pair of big hands tightly embraced her shoulders, and Xiao Du whispered softly in her ear: "Do you want to go to the execution ground to see him off?"

Yuan Xi shook her head and watched the prisoner's carriage slowly drive out of the city gate. She could easily see the man's graying head and hunched body in the crowd. Finally, everything turned into black spots and disappeared on the long street. Let's end it here. From now on, there will be no more debts or attachments between father and daughter in this life.

Xia Mingyuan was finally beheaded, the remaining members of the Xia family were all exiled, and the imperial army once led by the Xia family was also wiped out in the battle of the capital. The imperial power of Damu finally returned to Emperor Wen Zhao Yan. But just as people were looking forward to a clear and stable era, a bigger change was happening.

First, there were rumors in the mansion of Marquis Xuanyuan. It was said that because there was a spy in the mansion, Marquis Xuanyuan began to be extremely wary of the people serving him. Servants were constantly expelled from the mansion, making the servants in the mansion panic, not knowing when it would be their turn.

In early April, even more shocking news spread throughout the capital. A lieutenant general who had participated in the defense of Pingdu Pass submitted a memorial to the court, saying that in the battle of Pingdu Pass five years ago, Xuanyuan Marquis Xiao Du led his soldiers to eat the corpses of other soldiers to satisfy their hunger due to the lack of food in the city. When this news came out, everyone was shocked. Many people who lost their loved ones in that battle shouted in anger, and they must make Xuanyuan Marquis pay with his life. The former battlefield hero turned into a demon that everyone wanted to kill. The court also began to write letters to the emperor, demanding that the current emperor must severely punish Xiao Du to quell the surging public resentment. Emperor Wen Zhao Yan initially tried to calm the situation, but was succumbed to the increasing number of memorials and had to summon Xiao Du to the palace for trial.

Inside the mansion of Marquis Xuanyuan, the eunuch who was announcing the imperial edict read out the imperial edict in his hand with trembling hands, and kept stealing glances at the face of the man in front of him. He had heard many terrible rumors about Marquis Xuanyuan, and was afraid that this man-eating devil would eat him alive in a fit of anger. He then thought of the thousands of imperial guards waiting outside the door, and he felt a little more confident. Fortunately, His Majesty had already issued an order that if Marquis Xuanyuan dared to disobey the order, he would be immediately taken back to the palace for trial.

He was waiting in a serious manner, but Xiao Du calmly accepted the order, without a trace of panic on his face, as if he had expected it. He stood up leisurely and said with a smile: "Thank you, eunuch, for replying to my request. Please give your Majesty three days. After three days, Xiao Du will go to the palace to confess his crime." The eunuch was in a dilemma for a moment. Was this considered disobeying the order or not? But he didn't want to stay any longer, so he said with a fake smile: "Then I will reply to your Majesty first. Please continue to wait for the order."

Xiao Du looked at the eunuch's fleeing back and clenched the silk in his hand, "Mingcheng, you really can't wait any longer."

Zhao Yan received the report from the eunuch. Although he did not understand what Xiao Du was planning, he finally granted the three days because of their friendship. However, from that day on, a team of imperial guards surrounded the mansion and no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Three days later, Xiao Du got on a carriage and drove slowly out of the mansion. He opened the curtain and saw the elite soldiers still waiting in front of the mansion. He sneered mockingly, then lowered the curtain and leaned leisurely on the brocade cushion.

Inside the Qianyuan Palace, Zhao Yan sat on the dragon chair, looking down at the man. His back was straight, he knelt there with a relaxed smile on his face. Knowing that this trip would definitely end in death, why could he still be so confident? Zhao Yan couldn't help but tap the table lightly, with a suspicious look on his face.

At this time, Wu Yue, who had been promoted to the position of Right Prime Minister, angrily accused Xiao Du, saying: "Xiao Du, you dare to lead your people to eat the flesh and blood of the soldiers. Do you still have any humanity? Can you be worthy of their souls in heaven?"

Xiao Du raised his head and looked straight at him, saying, "I have done things in a way that is not worthy of heaven and earth, and I am not worthy of the brother who has followed me for so many years."

Wu Yue squatted beside him with a sneer, and said, "So you ate their flesh, leaving their souls with nowhere to go, and their relatives can't even collect their bodies."

Xiao Du shivered a little, but did not reply. Wu Yue raised his head and turned to Zhao Yan and said, "Your Majesty, loyal and righteous men fought bloody battles, but Marquis Xuanyuan dared to do such an inhumane thing to them. If we do not punish him severely, how can we be worthy of those loyal and righteous soldiers, and how can we be worthy of their relatives who did not even wait for their bodies to return!"

Zhao Yan sighed deeply, with an expression of reluctance on his face. Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Du suddenly said, "Your Majesty, what time is it now?"

Zhao Yan was startled for a moment, and winked at Eunuch Fu beside him, who quickly replied, "Three quarters past four."

Xiao Du smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you'd better wait a little longer. There should be a report coming in later. It won't be too late for Your Majesty to judge me after reading it."

The people in the palace looked at each other, not understanding what he was up to, but Xiao Du stood up without paying any attention to the questioning eyes around him, as if he had never been the one to be punished. Finally, after a long pause, someone came into the palace and knelt down anxiously to report: "Your Majesty, the front line has an urgent report that Mu Rong and the Wu Kingdom have assembled an army of 200,000 to attack Pingdu Pass together. The remaining troops are outnumbered and have been retreating. If reinforcements are not sent, Pingdu Pass will soon be lost!"

Zhao Yan's face suddenly changed, and then he glared at Xiao Du. It was him! It must be him! Mu Rong and Wu Kingdom had long intended to attack together. If he hadn't deliberately let Xiao's army retreat to Ping County, how could the two countries dare to start a war? It turned out that this was his last retreat!

At this time, Xiao Du lifted his robe and knelt down and said solemnly: "The situation on the front line is critical. I am willing to personally ask for orders and lead the troops to fight. I guarantee with my life that I will lead the army to defend Pingdu Pass to the death and will never let foreign barbarians get involved in our Great Mu River!"

Zhao Yan slammed the table hard, his eyes flashing with resentment and anger. It was his fault that he was eager to get rid of the Xia family. Now that Qin Mu was dead, there was no one to take over the military defense of Yanzhou. Apart from relying on Xiao Du, there was no one in the court who could fight against the Wu Kingdom and Mu Rong. If Xiao Du was allowed to lead the troops out of the capital, it would be like letting a tiger return to the mountain. After repelling the foreign enemies, he could use the military power in his hands to attack back to the capital at any time. But if he was not allowed to go, the Wu Kingdom and Mu Rong could break through Pingdu Pass at any time and enter the Central Plains directly. Then the Great Mu would be in danger of extinction!

Zhao Yan hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! Chongjiang has been fighting against them for many years, so they must have a strategy to resist the enemy. I will entrust the safety of Damu to you, and all the troops on the front line are at your disposal."

Xiao Du smiled and kowtowed, saying, "I will definitely fulfill your mission!"

A few days later, the command flag with the word "Xiao" written on it fluttered in the wind. Xiao Du, wearing silver armor and purple caps, with white feathers on his helmet, rode his horse with his head held high and led tens of thousands of soldiers to the battle. When the people learned that Xuanyuan Hou had been ordered to fight in times of crisis, and that he had led the army again to fight and save Da Mu from danger after many years, they immediately forgot all the rumors before, and spontaneously stood by the road to see him off, shouting loudly: "Xuanyuan Hou, Xuanyuan Hou..." The sound resounded through the sky, and all the onlookers were moved. Zhao Yan stood on the city wall with a crown on his head, staring at the heroic figure on the horse. This was the second time he had sent him off to the battle. Perhaps the day they met again would be the day of war.

At this time, Wu Yue, who was beside him, stepped forward and advised: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry so much. Xiao Du's relatives are still trapped in the Marquis's Mansion. I guarantee that he will not dare to act rashly."

Zhao Yan sighed lightly, but suddenly his eyes widened, and he called a guard and ordered, "Quick! Send a spy to sneak into the mansion to see if they are still there!"

Wu Yue heard what he said and immediately understood why no one from the Marquis's Mansion came to see Xiao Du off when he left the city. Even the Marquis's wife was nowhere to be seen. Could it be that... He was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and the tablet in his hand fell heavily to the ground...

————

Half a month ago, a carriage covered with black cloth slowly drove out of the mansion with a lantern with the Chinese character "Luo" on it, and drove along the long street all the way to the front of Qide Gate. The soldier guarding the gate lifted the cloth curtain, questioned him, and said with a smile: "It's Hanlin Luo. Why are you rushing out of the city when it's almost dark?"

Luo Yuan had made contributions in the Xia Mingyuan case and was also very talented, so he was highly regarded by the emperor and was also known among the imperial guards. Luo Yuan smiled slightly, bowed to the soldier and said, "My relative in my hometown passed away, and I rushed to the funeral overnight. I hope this elder brother can help me."

The soldier nodded, and then looked at the other people sitting in the carriage. They were all wearing coarse clothes, sitting in the back with their heads down and not saying a word. He asked suspiciously, "Who are these people?"

Luo Yuan said, "He is a distant relative of mine in the capital, and he is going back with me to attend the funeral."

The soldier thought that a strict decree had been issued today that all people leaving the city must be carefully searched, but he did not dare to make a decision on his own, so he went to report to the commander of the guards. When the commander came, he smiled at Luo Yuan and said, "Can you ask them to come down and interrogate them for a few questions? I have received the emperor's order, and I hope Luo Hanlin will not blame you."

Luo Yuan's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him, "Luo Hanlin, do you still not trust me?"

The commander looked carefully and saw that it was Xia Qing. He felt a little weak. Xia Qing had made great contributions in the campaign to suppress the rebellion. In order to reward him for his achievements, the emperor handed over the other two battalions besides the Yulin Guard to him. But he couldn't afford to offend such an important person. So he nodded and bowed quickly and said, "General Xia, we are also acting according to the emperor's will."

Xia Qing dismounted and said, "How can Hanlin Luo be a traitor? Since he has urgent matters to attend to, why don't you let him leave the city?"

The commander did not dare to delay and quickly ordered the others to let them go. Luo Yuan sat back in the carriage and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Seeing that the carriage was finally getting farther and farther away from the city gate, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said to the inside: "Old Marquis, Madam, Second Young Master, let's go to the ferry immediately. The Marquis has arranged a boat to meet us there, and then we will go to Ping County. The Marquis will find a way to get away."

Yuan Xi took off the black hat on his head, opened the car curtain and looked back in the direction of the capital, silently saying in his heart: "A'du, you must come to us safely."