Not long after Ma Shangtao and the others left, Bai Ruyan rushed into the house anxiously.
"Yanzu, something terrible has happened! Run!"
Her pretty face was ashen white, as if she had encountered something extremely terrifying.
Qin Yu frowned, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong? Who's here again?"
Bai Ruyan shook her head, her tone anxious.
"The Ma family father and son left in a hurry. They must be going back to mobilize their troops. They are not to be trifled with and will definitely come back for revenge. You should leave quickly!"
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow and sneered contemptuously.
"If they know what's good for them, I'll spare their lives. But if they dare to come back to their deaths, it'll save me the trouble of taking action."
"Yanzu!"
Bai Ruyan stomped her foot and said in a huffy, coquettish tone!
"Do you know who they are? You can't scare them with your men's strength! Don't be too idealistic or naive. By the time they mobilize their troops to surround and annihilate you, it will be too late!"
"Heh, don't worry, they don't have the guts to come back!"
Qin Yu snorted coldly, showing no fear.
Seeing Qin Yu's appearance, Bai Ruyan became increasingly worried.
She grabbed Qin Yu's arm and urged him urgently.
"Listen to me, leave now! If you don't leave, I'll never see you again!"
Qin Yu was taken aback for a moment, then reached out and pinched Bai Ruyan's delicate nose, finding her anxious expression quite amusing.
"But we haven't finished our business yet."
Bai Ruyan blushed, embarrassed and annoyed, and said:
"Don't do anything reckless, young master. Now that I've let you into my boudoir, you're naturally yours."
"Come back when things have calmed down... I will definitely serve you well, young master..."
Bai Ruyan's face turned red as she anxiously urged him repeatedly.
Qin Yu was speechless, but glancing at the sun, he realized it was almost sunset and time to return to the palace.
Moreover, he couldn't bear to disappoint the beauty's kindness.
It seems I'll have to wait until next time I have the chance to leave the palace and savor the wonderful taste of this first honey.
Thinking of this, Qin Yu sighed, then slowly got up, straightened his clothes, and called Zhou Xiong and Zhou Hu to leave.
"Zhou Hu, tell them to head back home."
"yes!"
Qin Yu gave some instructions and had just stepped out the door when he ran into the madam.
The madam was deathly pale and kept patting her chest, clearly terrified by everything that had happened that day.
She witnessed firsthand how a soldier's head flew incredibly high into the air.
At this moment, the madam also saw Qin Yu come out and hurriedly went to greet him with a smile.
"Have you gentlemen finished having fun?"
"Having fun my ass! I'm not in the mood today. I'll come back another day."
Qin Yu put on a disappointed look, glared at her fiercely, and said bluntly.
The madam breathed a sigh of relief.
She was reluctant to see these lucky money-makers leave before, but today is different.
She couldn't wait for Qin Yu and the others to leave.
Otherwise, if the Ma family father and son come knocking on our door again, we'll be in big trouble.
Don't drag her Yunshuijian down with you.
Thinking of this, the madam stopped trying to persuade her.
"Gentlemen, please take care on your journey."
"I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you in such a hurry?" Qin Yu waved his hand coldly.
"Oh dear, is there anything else you need?" The madam's face turned green.
Qin Yu's face was cold as he glared at the madam: "Let me tell you, I'll leave Bai Ruyan's innocence with you for now, but I'm warning you, if you dare to let her go out to entertain guests before I return, I'll not only kill you, but I'll also tear down your entire Yunshui Brothel!"
Upon hearing this, the madam nearly collapsed to her knees.
But how could she dare to utter a single word of dissent?
This man was the kind of person who dared to kill soldiers right in front of the Vice Minister of War.
Did she think she was living too long?
"Don't worry, I've remembered what you said. How could I dare to bully you, my dear aunt!"
The madam wiped the sweat from her brow and said with utmost respect.
Qin Yu nodded, then turned to look at Bai Ruyan, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile.
"I'll come see you again next time."
"Um."
Bai Ruyan felt shy and nodded gently.
Only after watching Qin Yu and his group leave did the madam wipe the sweat from her brow.
Bai Ruyan's gaze seemed glued to Qin Yu, unable to look away until Qin Yu completely left before she withdrew her gaze and let out a soft sigh.
Although she and Qin Yu hadn't known each other for long, for some reason, seeing him leave now made her feel very lost.
...
When Qin Yu returned to the palace, he did not take the secret passage.
He led his men around swaggeringly, seemingly unafraid of being watched.
Just as he returned to the palace, a thin eunuch with his head down quickly walked into the Empress's bedroom.
Once the palace doors were closed, the little eunuch finally breathed a sigh of relief, took off his hat, and revealed a delicate and charming face.
"elder sister!"
When Zhao Yan saw that it was her older sister Zhao Lan who had returned, she immediately went to greet her with joy.
Zhao Lan, however, frowned deeply, looking worried, and remained silent, which immediately made Zhao Yan's heart tighten.
"Sister, is the battle against the Xiongnu at the front line intensifying again?"
"well……"
Zhao Lan gave a wry smile and shook her head slightly. "It's not the Xiongnu, it's the three southwestern prefectures. Do you know what's happening there? There's a severe drought!"
"What!"
Zhao Yan's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed in surprise, "A major disaster has occurred in the three southwestern prefectures? Why hasn't the imperial court received any news about it?"
Zhao Lan sneered when this matter was brought up.
"With Sima Lie controlling the government in the past, and the incompetent emperors who followed him only knowing how to enjoy themselves all day long, how could any news possibly get back?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan fell silent.
Although she felt that Qin Yu was not so simple, she had no evidence whatsoever, only some intuition.
She pondered for a moment before asking:
"Sister, is the disaster situation very serious?"
Zhao Lan sat down in the chair, picked up a glass of water, took a sip to moisten her throat, and then frowned.
"This is the most severe drought since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty! The soil in the three southwestern prefectures is extremely parched, many farmlands have yielded no harvest, and countless people have starved to death."
Zhao Yan frowned slightly and murmured to herself.
"How could such a natural disaster suddenly occur? If this is the case, wouldn't the world be plunged into chaos?"
"It's already in chaos."
Zhao Lan sighed deeply, her expression becoming particularly grave as she thought about the military intelligence reported to her by the secret envoy from Longxi.
"According to intelligence, a large number of people who could not survive had begun to exchange children for food. Those who had even finished that had become outlaws and bandits, taking over the mountains as kings. Several of the larger bandit groups had even declared an uprising."
“Everywhere, bandits led by Huang Chuang rose up in rebellion, roaring like tigers in the mountains and forests, harassing the Longxi Pass bordering the southwest, and growing stronger and stronger.”
"Oh my god!" Zhao Yan covered her mouth in surprise, her face full of fear.
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