As the leader drew closer, Bai Jiaojiao's legs began to weaken, and tears streamed down her face: "Help! Help! Your Highness... Your Highness, please save me..."
From her initial screams to her final, almost prayer-like murmurs, she pushed open the window, her voice trembling, no longer daring to look at the approaching murderer.
However, just when she was in despair, the window opened with a "click"!
Bai Jiaojiao's expression immediately brightened with joy, and the next second she was about to jump out of the window, but with a "whoosh" sound, it was the sound of a spear piercing her throat.
Her eyes were open, her mouth agape, but she couldn't utter a single word. Soldiers inside the room had somehow blocked the window, and as soon as she opened it, a spear took her life.
"Why...?" Even in death, Bai Jiaojiao did not know why she was dying, or why these people had slaughtered the Bai family.
What did she do wrong this time?
With a muffled thud, the spear was pulled out, and Bai Jiaojiao's body fell heavily to the ground.
The Dragon Flag Army did not stop. Like a killing machine that only follows orders, they glanced coldly at the corpses on the ground, then turned around to search for those who were still alive.
The commotion at Bai Mansion was immense; the screams from within the mansion could be clearly heard by the people in the city, and a large army had appeared on the streets without anyone noticing.
The defenses of Fucheng have been taken over by the Dragon Flag Army. The residences of all officials in the city, including the Lu Mansion, the Supervisory Office, the Historical Records Office, and others, have all been surrounded by the Dragon Flag Army.
In the dead of night, the commotion caused panic throughout the city, and everyone kept their doors tightly shut, not daring to peek out at all.
Yu Nanqing was at the government office at that time.
The prefect of Fucheng was surnamed Yao, named Yao Ying, and was about forty or fifty years old. He looked very honest and kind.
Upon hearing that Yu Nanqing had arrived, Yao Ziying had no choice but to get out of bed in the middle of the night, dress in his official robes, and come out to greet him.
I thought Yu Nanqing came in the middle of the night because of his wedding with Bai Jiaojiao the next day.
He understood. Yu Nanqing had kept quiet about this matter for so many days, and on this last day, there must be something he wanted to tell her.
That's what he was thinking. Little did he know that when he changed into his official robes and came out, he saw that, apart from Yu Nanqing, the entire courtyard was surrounded by a dense mass of soldiers. His heart skipped a beat, and he had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
At this moment, Yu Nanqing sat in the inner hall, his purple-gold robe embroidered with gold patterns making him appear cold and imposing. He sat calmly in the main seat, and every time he turned over the documents on the table, Yao Ziying's heart skipped a beat.
"Your Highness..." Apart from the initial respectful greetings, Yu Nanqing remained silent, quietly guarding the hall, leaving Yao Ziying puzzled: "I wonder what brings Your Highness here in the middle of the night?"
He dared to ask a question.
Could it be because of Bai Jiaojiao?
But thinking of the soldiers filling the courtyard outside, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. At this moment, the more he said, the more mistakes he would make. It was best for him to keep quiet and not ask questions unless Yu Nanqing brought it up himself.
It must be said that Yao Ming knows very well when to advance and when to retreat.
Once the words were spoken, the hall fell silent again.
Yu Nanqing seemed to have no intention of paying him any attention.
Just when Yao Ziying thought the silence would continue, Yu Nanqing spoke, his voice unhurried: "When I first arrived in Fucheng, I found it to be bustling and prosperous, with spring-like weather all year round, like a paradise on earth."
Yao Ziying nervously swallowed, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by Yu Nanqing: "Heh, Lord Yao, there's no need to be nervous. For me, it's the same now. I really like it here."
That's why he chose Fucheng and wanted to live here with Su Wanyan.
Yao Ziying quickly replied with a smile, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. It's all thanks to Your Highness..."
"When I first met Lord Yao, I felt that... Lord Yao was a good official who served the country and the people. There were no unsolved cases in the city's records, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. This was all thanks to Lord Yao's effective governance."
Normally, Yao would feel somewhat pleased to hear such compliments.
But there was something unfathomable about Yu Nanqing's tone when he said those words today, and thinking back to the cases he had handled...
Yao Ziying felt a cold sweat break out on his back. Could it be... that Yu Nanqing knew something?
That shouldn't be the case. He handled all those cases very cleanly, and he even paid them off. Besides... he only covers up one or two cases a year, not many times at all...
Some of these dates are very old...
Yu Nanqing has only been in Fucheng for a year, and he even returned to the capital in between. There's no way he could have found any clues...
Yao Ziying had no idea that while he was thinking about these things, a cold sweat had already broken out on his forehead.
If he hadn't had such a strong mentality, he probably would have collapsed on the ground by now.
Yao suppressed his inner turmoil and forced a smile, bowing respectfully: "Your Highness is too kind. It is all what I should do."
After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent again.
The more this happened, the more uneasy Yao Ziying felt.
After an unknown amount of time, just as Yao Ziying felt his legs were about to give way, a loud voice came from outside: "Report—"
A person dressed in black armor and wearing a mask with black patterns strode in from the doorway, carrying an exquisite wooden box in his hands. He stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and presented the box above his head: "Your Highness! This was found in Bai Yixun's room. Please take a look!"
Upon hearing this, Yao Ziying's heart sank.
What? Bai Yixun?
What was found during the search of the Bai residence?
Yao Ziying's eyes widened as he stared intently at the box in the leader's hand. What had happened to the Bai family?
What did Yu Nanqing do?
In just a moment, Yao Ziying's lips turned deathly pale, and even his hands began to tremble.
Thinking of the army that had completely surrounded the government office, Yao Ziying dared not even consider it. Could it be...?
Yu Nanqing calmly raised his eyes, looking directly at Yao Ziying. Yao Ziying's fearful expression was undisguised, and Yu Nanqing couldn't help but smile sarcastically: "What is Lord Yao so nervous about?"
Yao's breath hitched. Calm down!
Calm down, calm down!
We don't know what's happening outside yet; it might just be a test, like they used the Bai family's affairs to test him.
That's it, that must be it!
Yao Ziying composed himself and bowed respectfully: "This humble official is merely curious. Your Highness's arrival in the middle of the night, could it be... about the Bai residence?"
He was referring to Bai Jiaojiao's matter.
He didn't want to ask at first, but what was with this box? Why was it said to have been found in Bai Yixun's room? He needed to find out what Yu Nanqing was up to!
“Since Lord Yao is curious, why don’t you take a look at the contents of the box first?” Yu Nanqing said with a smile, his gaze falling on the documents on the table as he casually flipped through them.
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