Jizhou
Su Mansion
The Su family no longer had many servants, and the large courtyard appeared exceptionally deserted.
Meanwhile, Su Hu sat in the main hall, tapping the table with his fingers from time to time, seemingly deep in thought. He continued this action until nightfall...
In the still of the night, without moon or stars...
Just as everyone was asleep and the candlelight was about to go out, a mysterious black figure suddenly climbed over the wall and walked directly into the hall.
"You've arrived," Su Hu said without even glancing at him.
The newcomer was dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a plump and bloated figure, and his face bore the marks of time. He looked Su Hu up and down, and seeing the sharp and piercing aura emanating from him, Jiang Shang sighed and said, "I never imagined that after five years apart, we would both have changed so much."
Su Hu raised his head to look at Jiang Shang in front of him, his tone unusually calm, "Sir, getting married and having children does make things a little different."
Jiang Shang sat down without saying anything, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a small sip.
The cold temperature made him somewhat dissatisfied with Su Hu's hospitality, and he couldn't help but remind him, "If this tea gets cold, it should be poured out and replaced with fresh tea. If you keep it in your hand, it will eventually become a cup of bitter tea."
With a cold and angry expression, Su Hu said, "Mr. Jiang, I didn't call you here to lecture me!"
Jiang Shang calmly put down his teacup, smiled amicably, and said, "Lord Su, you misunderstand. I have come here with sincere respect. To show my sincerity, I even consulted the oracle two days before you sent me the message and chose the auspicious day to offer you advice! Otherwise, I would probably have had to wait two more days to arrive here!"
"You knew all along that I was asking for your help?" Su Hu raised an eyebrow and asked.
“Of course,” Jiang Shang said with a smile, “I know a lot more besides that.”
Su Hu looked at Jiang Shang, whose gaze seemed to see right through people, forcing him to avoid confrontation.
"Lord Su's incompetence is the worst possible outcome. Perhaps you are unaware that Emperor Xin has already sent Li Jing to accompany him on his way to punish Su, and as far as I know, they should arrive tomorrow!" Jiang Shang said with a smile.
"What?!" Su Hu stood up in a panic, then slumped back down, looking utterly bewildered. "I knew we'd lose in the end, but I never expected to face death before it even began!"
Jiang Shang smiled slightly, "However, I think what's even more disappointing is that in the end, Lord Su Hou didn't have a single trustworthy person by his side."
At this point, Su Hu realized that his recruitment of soldiers had backfired, as they had been recruited by some unknown force some time ago.
Su Hu clenched his fists, his expression one of despair and dejection.
Seeing this, Su Hu shook his head inwardly and said, "Lord Su, I'm afraid you can only rely on yourself now."
Upon hearing this, Su Hu's sharpness faded, and he hurriedly stood up and went to Jiang Shang. "Master Jiang, please guide me. What should I do?"
Jiang Shang frowned slightly, somewhat displeased, and said, "You really overestimate me. I don't have the ability to help you."
Upon hearing this, Su Hu knelt down and tugged at Jiang Shang's clothes, pleading, "Master Jiang, please help me! I beg you!"
Jiang Shang sighed and spoke, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "Since Lord Su is sincere, I will not stand by and watch him die!"
Su Hu looked at Jiang Shang with delight, but then heard him continue, "However, Lord Su, please be prepared."
"Wh-what?" Su Hu looked at Jiang Shang with a blank expression.
Jiang Shang smiled gently, "Just remember, when Emperor Xin comes here tomorrow, you should..."
Upon hearing Jiang Shang's words, Su Hu's expression changed.
——
The next day, at noon
When Di Xin's army arrived in Jizhou, a crowd of people knelt down by the roadside the moment they entered the city.
Su Xian'er stared blankly at the people kneeling on both sides of them, feeling an indescribable shock in her heart.
Seeing Su Xian'er's expression, Di Xin smiled and stepped forward to take her hand. "Su Xian'er, do you see? This is the power of a king! Follow me, and I will give you everything you want!"
Su Xian'er swallowed hard; all of this was beyond her comprehension.
She thought that her father was the most powerful person in Ji Province, but who knew that compared with Emperor Xin, her father was just a minor regional commander.
Seeing that Su Xian'er did not speak, Di Xin assumed that Su Xian'er had tacitly agreed to be with him, and he was overjoyed.
Li Jing glanced at Su Xian'er and shook his head: It seems that Su Xian'er can no longer refuse the throne.
Upon arriving at the Su residence, Su Xian'er saw Su Hu and his servants kneeling on the ground to greet her from afar. She hurriedly dismounted and ran over, calling out, "Father!"
Seeing Su Xian'er dismount, Di Xin waved his hand, signaling the soldiers in front to make way for her.
Su Xian'er arrived unimpeded and knelt down before Su Hu, saying, "Father!"
With a fawning smile, Su Hu said, "So it's Your Highness! Please forgive me for not greeting you properly!"
Su Xian'er froze in place, stunned.
Watching Su Hu's respectful demeanor from afar, Di Xin couldn't help but sneer and said to Li Jing beside him, "Minister Li, sometimes you should learn from him. Look how quick this Marquis Su's reaction is! He's already starting to acknowledge kinship!"
Li Jing's face was gloomy. He never expected that the person he once thought was the most righteous would one day reveal such unknown aspects of his humanity.
What a disappointment!
Di Xin smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Since we are family, there is no need for formalities."
Su Xian'er felt wronged and didn't know how to speak, so she angrily walked into the door.
Su Hu was startled upon seeing this and hurriedly said, "It is my fault for neglecting to discipline your children. Please do not take offense, Your Majesty."
"It's alright, I like her just the way she is!" Di Xin smiled wickedly, and walked in as if he were entering his own home.
Su Xian'er hid in her room, pushed open the wardrobe, saw the blocked escape hole, and knelt down in a daze.
"Oh! Miss, you're back!" Xiao Cui said as she walked in.
Su Xian'er waved her hand, saying with a sigh of reluctance, "Go find me something to eat, I'm hungry."
"This...you won't run away again, will you?" Xiao Cui asked with a worried look.
Su Xian'er felt an unbearable pain in her heart when she thought of Gu Liyan waiting for her to return, but she was powerless to do anything about it.
He sighed, his eyes filled with despair: "No, I will never run away again..."
It's a cage now, there's no way out!
Xiao Cui blinked, nodded, and said, "Okay, Miss."
Xiao Cui walked out, and Su Xian'er finally couldn't hold back her tears and cried, "What should I do... Gu Liyan, what should I do!"
Su Xian'er never imagined that thinking she could get closer to Gu Liyan by escaping this place would lead her to dig her own grave and reach a dead end!
If given another chance, she would definitely humble herself and not hesitate to distance herself from a monarchy that was more powerful than herself!
Now, she is deeply caught in a dilemma...
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