Qin Yining was protected in the center, with the sounds of clashing weapons constantly ringing in her ears. She was protected so tightly that not even air could get through, but if this continued much longer and Lu Heng sent reinforcements, they would have no way to escape even with wings!
The group gradually showed signs of being outnumbered. To protect Qin Yining’s safety, they could only fight while retreating. But just as Qin Yining had thought, the opponents’ numbers gradually increased, and Jingzhe and the others’ movements became increasingly labored.
“This won’t work. We probably can’t hold out until we reach the inn,” Jingzhe said quietly.
Before Qin Yining could answer, another set of chaotic footsteps approached.
“Master, this can’t continue,” Ji Yun said with a serious expression, pulling Qin Yining’s hand as they ran toward a nearby alley. The others formed a semicircle to resist the pursuing troops while fighting and retreating.
“We must find a hiding place!”
Qin Yining ran until she was gasping for breath. “But where can we hide at this time?”
Looking around, the streets were completely quiet. Apart from the sounds of fighting between the pursuing troops and Jingzhe’s group behind them, the streets were silent. The people who had been gradually released didn’t dare linger in the streets—they went home and locked their doors tight.
Where could they hide?
Just at this moment, everyone turned a street corner and arrived in front of the Huichuan County yamen.
The yamen’s main gate was tightly closed, and there were even more troops gathering outside, obviously preparing to attack the yamen.
Qin Yining was greatly alarmed. With more and more enemies, what could they do?
Her thoughts racing, Qin Yining immediately took out the seal from her waist that proved her identity as Prince Zhongshun’s consort and pressed it into Ji Yun’s hands: “Go quickly to the side gate and say I’m here!”
“Yes!”
Everyone hurriedly retreated toward the alley where the side gate was located.
Because the alley was narrow, the pursuing troops couldn’t swarm in all at once, greatly relieving the pressure. Moreover, their timing was fortunate—Lu Heng’s people had just arrived at the main gate and hadn’t had time to position themselves at the side gate. Everyone quickly reached the side gate.
While Jingzhe and the others held them off, Ji Yun pulled Qin Yining and pounded forcefully on the door: “Open the gate quickly! The princess consort is here! It’s Prince Zhongshun’s consort, open quickly!”
There was movement inside, but the door didn’t open immediately.
The pursuing troops obviously heard Ji Yun’s voice. Several were extremely surprised and attacked even more desperately as if they feared nothing. Jingzhe and the others were already covered in blood—some from their own wounds, but more from the pursuing troops.
Qin Yining pressed her lips together and called out loudly: “If you shelter me, the prince will certainly send people to rescue us, and then you can also escape danger!”
Perhaps Prince Zhongshun’s reputation was too illustrious, or perhaps they also wanted to borrow the prince’s troops to quell the rebellion. The side gate was finally opened a crack, and two bailiffs waved their hands: “Quickly! Come in quickly!”
Ji Yun hurriedly pulled Qin Yining through the doorway.
Jingzhe and the others breathed a great sigh of relief and also retreated while fighting, entering the yamen’s side gate one after another.
The bailiffs quickly closed the side gate tight, securing it with the door bar and finding heavy objects to brace against the door.
Qin Yining looked around and saw many bailiffs standing in the courtyard, all tense and guarding the perimeter with the appearance of facing a great enemy. She couldn’t help but sigh: “If the opponents attack by force, do you have any chance of winning?”
The lead bailiff shook his head: “If they use fire attacks, we have no chance of winning.”
Qin Yining nodded gravely. “Where is your county magistrate?”
Just as she finished speaking, a middle-aged man with several attendants walked over quickly.
Seeing Qin Yining, the man’s steps paused slightly, then he bowed: “Huichuan County Magistrate Lu Weigui pays respects to the princess consort.”
“Magistrate Lu, please rise.” Qin Yining asked worriedly: “I see that Lu Heng has completely rebelled. Does Magistrate Lu have any plan?”
Lu Weigui’s brow was furrowed so tightly it could crush a fly, and he shook his head with a face full of sorrow. “In reply to Your Highness, this official truly has no way. The rebel Lu has quite a few troops. If they really swarm forward, these people here are no match at all. This official has already prepared to die for the country.”
Given the Emperor’s temperament, with such a major rebellion occurring, if Lu Weigui didn’t apologize with death, his entire extended family of nine generations would probably be implicated.
Qin Yining nodded helplessly and comforted the bailiffs who were on high alert around them: “Everyone can rest assured. Lu Heng won’t attack the yamen with fire for now.”
Everyone looked over in puzzlement. Because Qin Yining had lived in Huichuan County for quite some time, everyone found her familiar, and they had always known of Pang Xiao’s renowned reputation, so they showed even more respect for Qin Yining.
Therefore, although a woman was speaking, no one showed the slightest contempt.
Qin Yining said: “Just now in the square, although Lu Heng’s actions showed no concern for the people’s lives and deaths, his words were honeyed. He was playing the emotional card. Moreover, if he really wanted to leave no good impression, he wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of gathering people to hear his speech—he would have directly ordered a massacre.
“Therefore, Lu Heng clearly has ulterior motives. He still hopes Huichuan County can be preserved intact for future use. If he really used fire attacks on the yamen, the people would certainly be extremely panicked, and pacifying them would become a major problem. Lu Heng is a clever man. He won’t kill us before his plans are accomplished, as that would bring him extremely bad consequences.”
Qin Yining spoke unhurriedly, and the bailiffs all nodded as they listened.
Lu Weigui also suddenly understood and said admiringly: “The princess consort is absolutely right. This official lost his composure in his urgency. The incident happened so suddenly that this official only had time to close the main gate.”
Fortunately, the yamen’s walls were different from those of ordinary people’s homes, or they might not have been able to hold out until now.
While everyone was talking, the chaotic footsteps outside had stopped.
An elderly voice carried over the courtyard wall: “The incompetent ruler is without virtue and disregards the people’s lives and deaths. Are you bailiffs on duty at the yamen willing to be the incompetent ruler’s running dogs? Open the gates quickly, and we absolutely won’t harm the lives of you innocent people. If you resist to the death, I’m afraid the losses will outweigh the gains!”
As soon as these words fell, a younger voice said: “Bring out Prince Zhongshun’s consort, and we absolutely won’t massacre anyone in the yamen!”
“Right! Hand over the princess consort!” The men outside roared with earth-shaking voices.
Lu Weigui’s face turned deathly pale upon hearing this, his hands trembling as he looked at Qin Yining with hesitation and worry.
But Qin Yining showed no fear at all. She sneered coldly: “You see, the opponents are determined to occupy this place. Right now we should take advantage of the fact that matters in the city aren’t finished yet and defend against them stubbornly, delaying time while waiting for the court’s rescue.”
Huichuan was too close to the capital, this place had an imperial mausoleum, and it had been maliciously destroyed with fire oil. How could someone with Li Qitian’s temperament tolerate this? If rebels said they would occupy Huichuan and he let them, where would Li Qitian’s imperial dignity be?
Therefore, Qin Yining was certain that reinforcements would arrive very soon.
Lu Weigui also nodded: “Princess consort, rest assured. We are loyal to our sovereign and love our country. We absolutely won’t allow rebellious ministers and traitors to stir up trouble!”
These words strengthened everyone’s resolve, and all the bailiffs wanted to hold their position and wait for reinforcements to arrive.
Therefore, regarding the clamoring of Lu Heng’s subordinates outside the gate, everyone remained unmoved and only arranged their defenses even more tightly.
Seeing this, Qin Yining knew there would be no trouble for now, so she turned back to tell Jingzhe and the other eight: “Your injuries are serious. Go quickly and treat them. There’s no immediate danger here.”
How could Jingzhe and the others feel at ease leaving Qin Yining alone in this place? Upon hearing this, they all refused: “Princess consort, rest assured. We have thick skin and tough flesh. These are just superficial wounds, nothing serious.”