This was Lu Weigui’s first time having close contact with Ji Zeyu. This figure comparable to Prince Zhongshun, a war god-like person, naturally inspired reverence. Combined with Ji Zeyu’s extremely handsome appearance and his noble temperament as cold as frost, he could only evoke feelings of awe in people’s hearts, with no other emotions.

Therefore, Lu Weigui held nothing back, respectfully recounting the situation in the city in detail. When he spoke of how Qin Yining had resolved the crisis and made the people change their minds, his face was full of admiration and respect.

Ji Zeyu nodded, then smiled at Qin Yining: “You’ve worked hard.”

Qin Yining said gracefully: “It can hardly be called hard work. I heard from Young Master Mu about your situation outside the city and was truly very worried. The Tatars’ sudden arrival this time – do you know the reason?”

Ji Zeyu’s expression stiffened for a moment. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and said quietly: “The Tatar forces have launched a full-scale war against the Zhou Dynasty. Lu Heng allied with old faction forces and led Tatar cavalry through the passes. The Dragon Cavalry Army’s commander was turned by Lu Heng and is now trapped at Tianlang Pass by the Tatars, with more than half his forces lost. The Tatar army took this opportunity to surge forward, occupying every city they passed.”

“What!”

Ji Zeyu’s words filled everyone present with despair.

For how many years had the four northern passes – Tianyu, Tianlang, Tianshu, and Tianmen – stood like four barriers, closely guarded by Ji Zeyu’s Dragon Cavalry Army? When Tatars mentioned these four passes, mentioned Ji Zeyu, which of them didn’t feel fear in their hearts?

But now, Ji Zeyu had been stripped of his military authority by the Emperor and was idle at home, while the originally tiger-and-wolf Dragon Cavalry Army was handed over to a useless fool – and a traitor who had been turned at that!

What a pity for the men of the Dragon Cavalry Army! They were all Ji Zeyu’s painstakingly trained soldiers, just like this calculated against by Lu Heng!

Though Qin Yining had guessed that Lu Heng might collaborate with the Tatars, she hadn’t expected him to go this far. Leading Tatars onto Zhou territory was completely inviting wolves into the house! Now he was using the Tatars to deal with Li Qitian, but had he not considered how he would drive the Tatars out in the future?

Did he want the Zhou people to be enslaved by the Tatars?

Qin Yining clenched her teeth tightly, so angry her teeth ached.

What Lu Heng had done was truly heinous! For his own selfish ends, he hadn’t considered the people’s lives at all!

“If so, wouldn’t Huichuan become the current border between the Zhou Dynasty and the Tatars?” Lu Weigui’s worried voice pulled back Qin Yining’s thoughts.

Qin Yining also looked toward Ji Zeyu.

Ji Zeyu nodded, holding the riding whip Pang Xiao had once given him, and gestured for everyone to go up to the city gate tower.

“The situation is indeed dangerous.” Looking at the Tatar forces gathered outside the city gate, Ji Zeyu’s voice remained calm. “However, though dangerous, it’s not yet a desperate situation. I’ve already memorialized the Emperor requesting reinforcements. It takes time to mobilize troops from various places, so we can’t count on them. But closest to us, besides the Five Army Camps, Three Thousand Battalion, and Divine Engine Battalion, there’s also the Huben Army.”

Turning to look at Qin Yining and Lu Weigui, Ji Zeyu’s lips curved up slightly: “The Huben Army that His Highness brought out has good odds against the Tatars.”

Qin Yining nodded trustingly: “Everyone believes in Duke Dingguo’s abilities. Fortunately you’re here. If it were someone else, the Tatars would probably have already broken through. Then not only would the people in the city be in danger, but if Huichuan fell and Tatar forces launched a surprise attack on the capital, how would we respond?”

Then the Zhou Dynasty would truly perish at Tatar hands.

Lu Weigui and others all nodded in deep agreement, looking at Ji Zeyu with worship and dependence.

Ji Zeyu thought for a moment and said: “How is it I don’t see Young Master Mu?”

“Young Master Mu went into the city to investigate Lu Heng’s whereabouts. But I suspect Lu Heng has already escaped.”

Ji Zeyu nodded: “Based on recent developments, he should indeed have already fled.” Looking at Qin Yining and thinking of Pang Xiao’s situation in the capital, Ji Zeyu said: “This place has become a battlefield between two armies. As a lady, the Princess Consort really shouldn’t stay long. You should take advantage of the situation not being too critical yet and return to the capital with your people.”

Lu Weigui also nodded in agreement: “Yes, Princess Consort. Huichuan has now become a battlefield. Your staying would only add one more person to the danger. You should return to the capital.”

Qin Yining hesitated somewhat. She was worried about the situation here and wanted to contribute.

But she was also clear about her own abilities – staying would only create trouble for others to protect her when danger arose. The wisest thing she could do now was not to hold Ji Zeyu back.

Qin Yining nodded: “You both speak reasonably. Let’s proceed this way. I’ll set out once I’ve made proper arrangements.”

Ji Zeyu nodded expressionlessly, but felt relieved inside. He knew how much Pang Xiao valued Qin Yining. If something happened to Qin Yining under his watch, how heartbroken would Pang Xiao be? They probably couldn’t even be brothers anymore.

“I’ll arrange for people to escort you out of the city.”

Qin Yining smiled: “No need to trouble yourself. I have sufficient people with me. It won’t be difficult for them to quietly take me out.”

Just as they were speaking, they saw Mu Jinghu walking briskly up to the city gate tower.

Seeing Ji Zeyu, Mu Jinghu cupped his hands briefly, then said directly: “Lu Heng left the city two days ago. The rebel troops in the city have been arrested one after another, but there may still be many hidden among the civilians. To be safe, we need to keep our eyes open.”

Ji Zeyu returned the greeting and nodded: “Thank you for the information.”

Mu Jinghu waved his hand: “No matter.”

Qin Yining said: “Then I’ll go prepare my luggage.”

Both Ji Zeyu and Lu Weigui nodded.

Qin Yining bid farewell to both men again, then led her people quickly down from the city tower. Mu Jinghu followed behind Qin Yining, saying in a low voice: “Lu Heng has escaped. What do you plan to do?”

“I can’t think of any good solutions at the moment.” Qin Yining sighed: “Even now I can’t understand why Lu Heng would go this far. He wasn’t originally this kind of person.”

For power, for wealth, to make himself stronger – though Lu Heng’s actions might achieve his goals someday, he had also paid a dear price, including his once bright and clear gentleman’s heart, as well as his image in Qin Yining’s mind.

The group returned to the government office without encountering any danger along the way.

But Qin Yining knew that huge hidden dangers still lurked in this city, and she wondered how Ji Zeyu would deal with them to completely resolve the situation.

Arriving at the side room, Ji Yun and the others went to pack while Qin Yining spoke quietly with Mu Jinghu.

“Young Master Mu, strictly speaking I shouldn’t meddle. But I can see your emotions are really not right. Whatever troubles you have, just speak them out. If the Prince and I can help think of solutions, we’ll certainly do our utmost.”

Mu Jinghu remained silent, his eyes showing changing emotions. He and Qin Yining were old acquaintances. When she and Pang Xiao weren’t yet married, he had once served as her guard. Over the years he had witnessed her relationship with Pang Xiao firsthand, knew her character, and trusted her in his heart.

“Forget it.” Mu Jinghu’s voice was somewhat powerless as he sighed: “It doesn’t matter if I tell you. That woman and I are completely finished. I never want to see her again in this lifetime.”

Qin Yining frowned tightly. Seeing Mu Jinghu so angry and dejected, she chose her words carefully: “Might there be some misunderstanding in between? I can see that Boss Qiu’s feelings for you are genuine. She even bore you Yan Ge’er. When a woman is willing to bear children for a man, even if there are misunderstandings between husband and wife, you should be more understanding.”

Mu Jinghu shook his head: “You don’t know. We’ve all been used by that woman. She’s extremely cunning and sinister, calculating all of us into her schemes. Including this time when she fell ill – that was also deliberately feigned sickness to lure me away from the capital.”

Qin Yining was speechless: “What’s this about?”

Mu Jinghu said: “Think about the relationship between their Qiu family as a hidden family and the Lu family as a prominent family, and you’ll understand.”

How intelligent was Qin Yining? With this hint, she already had vague suspicions in her heart.

Before she could speak, Mu Jinghu said angrily: “From the beginning, she cultivated Zhixi to use him against her uncles to reclaim everything of hers in the Qiu family. Now that Lu Heng has fallen and the Lu family has been purged by the Emperor, with prominent families suffering devastating blows, it’s exactly the time for hidden families to come to the fore.

“Now among court officials, there are probably already many related to the Qiu family. This woman’s ambition and lust for power are simply astounding!

“Before, she had common goals with us, working together against the Lu family, so she was fairly devoted to us. But now that people the Qiu family planted have become court officials, it’s as if she’s become part of the Emperor’s faction.”

Qin Yining nodded and sighed lightly.

Li Qitian was the Son of Heaven. Only with the Son of Heaven’s arrangements could court officials secure their positions. So their former common interests with Qiu Feishan crumbled after the Lu family’s destruction. Now the person who shared common interests with Qiu Feishan had instead become Li Qitian. Once they could eliminate Lu Heng and settle the Tatar affair, all of Qiu Feishan’s goals would be essentially achieved.

“Do you know how her beloved grandfather originally died?” Mu Jinghu said mockingly. “She spoke as if she were some filial granddaughter, talking about revenge and this and that. Who knew that now with interests before her, she could even shake hands and make peace with the person who killed her grandfather.”

Qin Yining was even more surprised: “You’re saying Boss Qiu has reconciled with Qiu Yuanqing?”

“Yes.” Mu Jinghu said through gritted teeth: “This woman is simply too sinister. Her desire for control is extreme – she absolutely won’t listen to others’ suggestions and ideas. She thought it was dangerous for me to stay in the capital, so she lied to trick me out and even feigned illness, making Bingtang do so much useless work. Now that her goals are achieved, she naturally cares even less about my thoughts.”

Mu Jinghu took two deep breaths to calm his inner turmoil, then said heavily: “She’s reconciled with Qiu Yuanqing. All previous efforts have become a joke. She even wants me to continue deceiving Zhixi by feigning illness. To put it plainly, she just wants to control me, doesn’t want me getting too close to Zhixi. After all, she and Zhixi had common goals before, but not anymore!”