Su Wanwan frowned: "Didn't you know that the imperial court ordered the exemption of taxes and provisions for areas affected by bandits?"
This is the Gyeonggi region!
Have government orders been so outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied to this extent?!
The old man and woman both shook their heads: "How could there be such a good thing?"
Su Wanwan clenched her fists, her face terribly gloomy.
What good are the policies the imperial court has formulated?
What's the point of implementing it if it can't be carried out?
No wonder Liu Qi and his team grew from a few dozen people to nearly ten thousand in just a few months.
The grassroots support is too strong!
This shows how severely the local people have been exploited in recent years.
Xiao Bin gave the old couple a dime and sent them to sleep.
He said to Su Wanwan and He Ying, "You two rest for a while and wait for reinforcements to arrive."
Su Wanwan pursed her lips, and after a long while, she finally spoke: "What are you doing here?"
"I've returned to Weizhou Guard. The Xuanfu Army was ordered to suppress bandits this time, and I was among them." Xiao Bin's voice was calm but a little hoarse.
Looks like he hasn't had a proper rest in a long time.
The air grew quiet.
Su Wanwan felt a lump in her throat.
Only the deafening chirping of insects outside the house could be heard.
Xiao Bin listened intently to the sounds outside.
I'm both worried that someone will come looking for me, and afraid that someone will come looking for me.
If it's bandits who come first, then we'll be in trouble.
A long time passed.
It was quiet outside and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Su Wanwan asked in a low voice, "Are you doing alright?"
She should have asked that question when they first met in Yansui.
He was just too cowardly at the time, afraid that it would be detrimental to Xiao Bin, so he suppressed it.
Unexpectedly, several years passed after that separation, and we almost died together.
When she encountered danger, it was still Xiao Bin who came to her rescue immediately.
Xiao Bin was silent for a few moments, then said, "It's alright."
He Ying held her breath, pretending she didn't exist.
Having gone through so many hardships, she realized that the Empress and Xiao Bin were different.
The emotions that flow silently in the dark night can only be understood by those who have tasted the sweetness of love.
The air remained quiet for a long time.
In the darkness, everyone remained silent.
Su Wanwan finally spoke again: "Xiao Bin."
Xiao Bin's breath caught in his throat.
Her voice was low and carried a hint of coquettishness.
Just like the tone she used when she gave him instructions back in Jinling.
Su Wanwan said, "If I'm gone one day, please take good care of the child for me, okay?"
Xiao Bin gripped the knife handle tightly in his hand.
She has a husband, and her children have a father.
She entrusted her child to him.
Do you really think he has such great ability to break into the palace and protect the young prince?
He was just a lowly border officer.
However, it seems he never refused her.
"good."
Su Wanwan didn't know what else to say.
No matter how far apart or how long they are.
He seemed to always be her bodyguard, obeying her every command.
Whether this request is reasonable or not.
He appeared to be her protector, but in his own way, he was indulging and spoiling her.
So those years in Nanjing were the happiest and most comfortable days of her life.
Apart from secretly raising a child, there was nothing else weighing on his mind.
These past few years in the palace, although I lived a life of luxury, I was very tired and miserable.
The thought of having to live like this every day for the rest of her life made her feel suffocated.
You never know when you might get infected and suddenly die.
Liu Qi and she have broken up.
The only thing that could prolong her life was the few pills in her hand.
Medicine always runs out eventually.
...
That night, the entire capital region and even Beizhili were in turmoil.
Almost all of Liu Liu and Liu Qi's men were killed.
After the two brothers reunited, they planned to lead the main force to support Yang Hu's troops and jointly besiege Bazhou City.
Now that the imperial army is in hot pursuit, they can only gain a respite by occupying fortified cities.
The capital region is mostly plains with no natural defenses, and their numbers are significantly weaker than those of the imperial army.
If the government troops hadn't been cowardly and unwilling to fight, they wouldn't have been so arrogant.
...
Su Wanwan and He Ying leaned against each other for a short rest, but neither of them felt sleepy.
He Ying felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She and the Empress were finally so close again.
Despite everything that has happened, the Empress still trusts her.
The sound of horses' hooves drew closer, and the light of the torches grew brighter.
Everyone in the house was on edge.
The doors of every household were being pounded on so loudly it was deafening.
"Imperial troops are searching for the traitors!"
Seeing this, Su Wanwan and He Ying asked the old couple for some civilian clothes to change into, and then joined the villagers to gather on the flat ground at the entrance of the village.
Su Wanwan only relaxed a little when she saw Zhang Zhong, a familiar face.
Zhang Zhong was overjoyed: "Your Majesty, this way please. The Emperor is nearby."
Su Wanwan was taken aback.
The capital region is in complete chaos, and the emperor, the Son of Heaven, is actually personally facing such a perilous situation?!
Lu Xingjian appeared surrounded by a crowd.
His expression turned terrifyingly cold when he saw Su Wanwan: "Who gave you permission to leave the capital?!"
That bastard Zhang Yong actually listened to her and secretly let her leave the capital!
Su Wanwan pursed her lips.
“Liu Qi is my man. Now that things have come to this, I have to come and see him and give him an explanation.”
Lu Xingjian suppressed his anger, "So you're going to put yourself in danger?"
"Have you ever considered what would happen if they kidnapped you...?"
Su Wanwan took a deep breath. "Liu Qi won't kill me."
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