“There’s a woman in the formation—they’re not Grand Commander Lei’s subordinates!”

With this shout, the area near the city gate immediately erupted in commotion.

The defending general didn’t even bother putting on his outer robe before rushing out, shouting loudly: “Chase them!”

Normally at this hour, the guards would be sleeping soundly and their movements would be sluggish, but tonight had been too strange. The city gate had already been opened three times in succession, and the defending general had long since instructed his subordinates to stay alert.

As a result, many guards quickly gave chase, while over ten archers took positions on the city wall.

Cold arrows sliced through the night sky, and several anguished screams immediately rang out.

With pursuers surging from behind and their own people screaming beside them, Eighth Concubine’s will was completely shattered. Her legs went soft and she pitched forward.

A hand reached out and hauled Eighth Concubine up.

Hong Dou dragged Eighth Concubine along while running and cursing: “At your age, what are you screaming about? Now we’re done for!”

The formation that had been crossing the bridge in an orderly manner instantly fell into chaos.

In the entire force, Yun Dong led a portion of the Jinlin Guards at the very front, with the Luo residence’s people in the middle. Among the Luo residence’s people, the female family members walked in front while the Grand Commander Luo walked behind.

Hearing Eighth Concubine’s cry of alarm, the Grand Commander Luo knew it was bad. He drew his blade, turned around, and shouted loudly: “Cut down the bridge!”

The Jinlin Guards responsible for the rear immediately drew their blades and hacked at the ropes.

Chaotic arrows fell like raindrops. The Grand Commander Luo wielded his long blade to block them.

“Grand Commander, you must go quickly!” A Jinlin Guard blocked in front of the Grand Commander Luo, urgently urging him.

The night was deep, the screams chilling. The Grand Commander Luo gritted his teeth and rapidly retreated backward while blocking the chaotic arrows, facing the city gate.

The rain of arrows paused briefly. The pursuers had already gotten onto the bridge.

Over ten Jinlin Guards formed a human wall to block the pursuers. One of them shouted: “Faster!”

Behind him, his companions desperately hacked at the chains.

Finally hearing the sound of chains breaking, the Jinlin Guards who still had time swiftly ran toward the opposite shore. The Jinlin Guards who didn’t have time, along with those forming the human wall blocking the pursuers, fell into the river.

The pursuers also fell down with them.

Splashing sounds rang out one after another, followed by the defending general’s furious roar: “Damn it!”

Seeing the formation that had deceived their way out of the city gradually running into the distance, the defending general decisively said: “Cross the river!”

From Grand Commander Lei’s abnormal behavior of leading troops into the city at night, one could tell that something enormous had certainly happened tonight. If something went wrong on his end, there would only be a dead end. Only by stopping these people could he survive.

The Jinlin Guards Yun Dong brought plus the Luo residence’s people numbered over a thousand. Unfortunately, the formation was too mixed. Although cutting down the bridge had gained them considerable time, the pursuers were still getting closer and closer.

Hong Dou dragged Eighth Concubine along, panting heavily.

Eighth Concubine choked out: “Let me go. I’m just a burden—”

“Shut up!” Hong Dou rolled her eyes and quickened her pace.

Seeing that the female family members in the formation could no longer hold on, the Grand Commander Luo shouted loudly: “Stop!”

The entire formation immediately stopped.

The Grand Commander Luo gripped his long blade tightly and looked toward the direction of the West City Gate, saying calmly: “Our strength is limited. We can’t keep running. Let’s deal with this batch of pursuers first before talking about anything else!”

All his subordinates gathered around the Grand Commander Luo, each gripping their long blades, their expressions resolute as they looked in that direction.

Since this battle was unavoidable, then let it come.

Hong Dou released Eighth Concubine, placed her hands on her hips, and gasped for air: “That was so exhausting—”

Before her words fell, the young maid’s eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Eighth Concubine.

A dagger was embedded in Eighth Concubine’s abdomen. The corners of her mouth held a tragic smile as she said haltingly: “I’m… I’m sorry…”

“Eighth Sister (Eighth Sister)—” The concubines all gathered around.

The Grand Commander Luo heard the commotion and walked over.

Eighth Concubine’s eyelids trembled as she looked at the Grand Commander Luo with difficulty.

The Grand Commander Luo crouched down and frowned: “Old Eight, why must you do this…”

There were too many concubines—in the secret passage he hadn’t been able to tell at first, but just now on the moat bridge he had immediately recognized it: the one who caused the trouble was Old Eight.

In that instant, he had also felt anger enough to want to beat this woman, but if asked whether he regretted bringing her out of the city—he did not.

Weren’t they, these grown men, supposed to protect women? If they encountered danger and left behind the old, weak, women, and children to await death, how would they be any different from beasts?

Eighth Concubine’s face was deathly pale, her breath barely there: “Master, this concubine… this concubine cannot hold everyone back anymore… this concubine has wronged everyone—”

Eighth Concubine died with her eyes wide open. Before her consciousness faded, she saw no disgust on the master’s face.

A tear slid down from the corner of Eighth Concubine’s eye.

Before her eyes there seemed to be light. Passing through the brightness, she saw a slender young woman in pink robes being embraced by a tall, sturdy man.

The man said to her: “Old Eight, since you’ve come to the Luo residence, then live peacefully. Wear silks and satins as you please, eat delicacies from land and sea as you please. Just one thing—don’t scheme against the children.”

She had done it, and indeed lived happily and steadily from then on—the most comfortable few years of her short life.

However, she was somewhat greedy. If there was a next life, she still wanted to follow the master. She could do without delicacies from land and sea, without silks and satins—she only wished to bear a daughter as beautiful as the young ladies, who would call the master “Father” and call her “Mother.”

Low sobbing sounds rose around Eighth Concubine’s corpse.

The concubines quietly touched the daggers hidden in their sleeves.

These had been prepared after receiving the news, one for each person, for the purpose of not falling into enemy hands and being humiliated when pushed to the absolute limit.

Looking at Eighth Concubine’s corpse, the concubines simultaneously had the same thought: Perhaps the purpose of this dagger was not only to avoid humiliation.

Eighth Sister was right—people like them were actually holding everyone back. Right now, because of Eighth Sister’s death, at least a dozen guards had died. Who knew how many people would die because of them next time?

If they weren’t here—

The Grand Commander Luo could have achieved his current position naturally not by being brave but foolish. Seeing the concubines’ expressions were off, he cursed: “You foolish women, don’t think about all this nonsense. Even if you’re going to die, you have to wait until all of us men are dead first!”

“Master—” The concubines wanted to speak but hesitated.

The Grand Commander Luo said irritably: “The pursuers are about to arrive. Don’t make me lose focus!”

The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer.

The pursuers who had caught up were estimated at over two hundred people—this was the number of guards normally stationed at each city gate. If a situation arose that couldn’t be handled, they would immediately send a signal fire to summon reinforcements.

However, the capital had been peaceful for a long time. Even if smoke signals were sent as a warning, it wouldn’t be a short-term matter for large forces to arrive. What the Grand Commander Luo needed to do was quickly deal with these pursuers to gain time for their escape.

Seeing the pursuers nearly upon them, the Grand Commander Luo’s expression tensed as he prepared to engage. Suddenly, a rain of arrows flew out from somewhere unknown, and the pursuers immediately fell in droves.

“There’s an ambush!” The pursuers and their own people shouted in unison.

The Grand Commander Luo was stunned.

There were… reinforcements?

After a brief moment of stupefaction, the Grand Commander Luo immediately looked toward Yun Dong.

His usually composed adopted son shook his head in confusion: “It wasn’t me.”

At this moment, Luo Sheng said in a low voice: “Father, why don’t you try persuading the pursuers to simply escape with us?”

The Grand Commander Luo: ?