Shao Mingyuan showed his identity token and explained the whole story to Censor Xing, who finally believed his identity.

“You only learned of my situation because you encountered my two daughters?” Censor Xing’s expression darkened slightly.

“Yes, we attacked Mingfeng Island to rescue the two young ladies, who happened to be your daughters. They are now heading to Jia Feng with my friends and subordinates. Rest assured, Master Xing, you’ll be reunited with them before long.”

Censor Xing closed his eyes for a long time, then opened them and said: “Thank you, Marquis. Do you have any news of my wife and son?”

Shao Mingyuan paused before saying, “When we first arrived, we made inquiries. Your wife and son are no longer here.”

This was also why he could rescue Censor Xing without any hesitation.

Censor Xing’s whole body trembled, his lips shaking violently. His eyes instantly aged to match his current appearance as he murmured: “I understand.” As soon as he finished speaking, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Censor Xing—”

Qiao Zhao quickly took out a pill and put it in Censor Xing’s mouth, calling out: “Chen Guang, water.”

Chen Guang brought water and helped Censor Xing drink it down.

Shao Mingyuan gently touched Qiao Zhao’s arm.

Qiao Zhao shook her head slightly, indicating it was fine.

After a while, Censor Xing recovered. With tears in his eyes but his expression still calm, he said: “Thank you, Marquis, for telling me. I had already anticipated this.”

“Please accept my condolences, Master Xing.”

Censor Xing waved his hand: “I’m fine. I just want to be alone for a while now.”

“Then please rest well, Censor Xing. We’ll go out first.”

The three walked to the door. Shao Mingyuan signaled for Chen Guang to stay behind and walked out with Qiao Zhao.

The autumn air in the courtyard was even thicker, already showing signs of early winter. Shao Mingyuan put his arm around Qiao Zhao’s shoulders and said quietly: “Let’s go inside to talk.”

The two returned to their room.

“Censor Xing vomited blood from shock – will his body be unable to handle it?”

“He has been harboring grief for a long time. Vomiting stagnant blood from this shock is beneficial rather than harmful to his body. However, the grief of losing his wife and son is more than ordinary people can bear. It will take some time for him to recover.”

“Censor Xing won’t suffer these losses in vain.” Shao Mingyuan said in a low voice.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together: “Yes, those people will certainly be punished.”

The night passed without incident. Chen Guang went out early to investigate and returned looking panicked.

“Why are you panicking?” Shao Mingyuan, who had just finished his medicinal bath and changed into a fresh outer robe, felt an indescribable lightness in his body.

“General, Fuxing City is in complete chaos.”

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows, his expression still calm: “What kind of chaos?”

With his body fully recovered and having regained his foundation for survival, he naturally wouldn’t feel anxious over every little disturbance.

“There’s a rumor spreading through the city that someone in General Xing’s residence has contracted plague, and everyone in the entire household has died. The wealthy who got wind of this have all fled, leaving only the common people in the city to await death. Now, almost all the citizens of Fuxing City are rioting. Every city gate is blocked by crowds of people demanding to leave the city.”

Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan exchanged glances, both sensing something suspicious.

Seeing that neither spoke after he finished, Chen Guang scratched his head: “General, Third Miss, didn’t the information we received earlier say that bandits had attacked Xing Wuyang’s residence? How has it now become a plague? Which is true and which is false?”

Shao Mingyuan glanced at him and said calmly: “Truth can’t be made false, and falsehood can’t be made true. I found the bloodied token of Captain Fu Dong Zheng at Xing Wuyang’s residence, which proves our initial information was correct. The current plague story is likely someone deliberately stirring up unrest.”

“Are the people behind this targeting Xing Wuyang?” Qiao Zhao frowned and murmured: “But what benefit would stirring up unrest bring them?”

“Regardless of what benefit it brings them, Xing Wuyang must be overwhelmed right now, and his search for us should have relaxed.”

Public opinion was light, normally like ants trampled underfoot by high officials and wealthy households, but sometimes it was very heavy, like now. When all the city’s citizens were in turmoil, even someone as powerful as Xing Wuyang would have a massive headache.

“Will Xing Wuyang mobilize troops to suppress them?” Qiao Zhao asked.

“If things get beyond his control, very likely.”

“Then Fuxing City will be even more chaotic.”

Shao Mingyuan stood up: “Pack up. Let’s see if we can slip out of the city in the confusion.”

Indeed, as Chen Guang had said, the streets of Fuxing City were filled with common people carrying bundles and dragging children as they rushed toward the city gates.

Qiao Zhao’s group blended in with them, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, completely inconspicuous.

The city gate was packed with people.

“Let us out, let us out! We don’t want to stay in the city and wait to die!”

Plague! That was a plague that could kill an entire city if even one person contracted it!

The soldiers maintaining order were sweating profusely, waving their weapons and shouting hoarsely: “Don’t make trouble, don’t make trouble! There’s no such thing as plague – go back quickly!”

“Don’t try to fool us! All those officials have fled, and even old Zhao, who lives next door, took his little grandson and ran. We won’t stay in the city to wait for death!”

“That’s right, we can’t stay in the city to wait for death!”

At this moment, a military officer jumped out, stood on a hastily moved table, and shouted: “Fellow citizens, look carefully – if there was plague, how could we still be staying here? These are all rumors fabricated by troublemakers. Don’t be deceived. Go home peacefully!”

The officer had a loud voice, and the agitated citizens quieted down a bit.

Then someone in the crowd shouted: “If there’s no plague, then have General Xing bring his family out so we can see them!”

The citizens echoed: “Right, let us see them!”

The officer’s face darkened, and he sneered: “How can General Xing’s family members come out casually for you to see? Stop making trouble and go home quickly—”

Before he could finish speaking, a cloth shoe flew from the crowd and hit him directly on the nose bridge.

“You’re still lying to us! General Xing’s family members have all died from plague, and maybe General Xing has plague too. He’s afraid we’ll spread the news, so he won’t let us leave the city, making us stay and wait to die together. Let us out, let us out—”

The citizens became agitated again, recklessly breaking through the soldiers’ control, forcing open the city gates, and countless people surged out of the city.

Shao Mingyuan and Chen Guang each protected one person – Qiao Zhao and Censor Xing – and the four of them slipped out of the city in the chaotic crowd.

Chen Guang could hardly believe things would go so smoothly, excitedly saying repeatedly: “We’re out, we finally made it out!”

Finally leaving this wretched place, they could reunite with their brothers. Watching the General and Miss Li being lovey-dovey every day had made him question his very existence.

“Look ahead.” Shao Mingyuan’s voice was cold and clear.

All the citizens fleeing outward stopped in their tracks, staring blankly ahead.