◎Young Master, I won again◎

This shout instantly threw everyone into panic. One woman hurriedly said, “Enemy attack? Where’s the enemy attack coming from? We’re not even at the border…”

“Treason… imperial army…”

Cuizhu reacted extremely quickly. She picked up a sheet of paper, looked at the words on it, and said in shock: “The Zheng clan plots treason… Is this from the Eastern Capital? The Emperor’s people?!”

Hearing this, everyone suddenly calmed down. They looked at each other, and one medical woman said somewhat bewildered: “Then… if the eldest young master called us here because he already knew there would be fighting, and he’s going to fight the Emperor, then us being here… does that count as treason?”

With these words, everyone became panicked. After a long while, Cuizhu suddenly thought of something and became somewhat excited: “How could we count as treasonous? We’re the ones being harmed! My family’s grain is handed over to those corrupt officials year after year. My brother went to report them, but they beat him to death…”

As Cuizhu spoke, tears welled up in her eyes: “My mother sold herself… and now my father has sold me… I still have younger brothers and sisters… Director Xie has come…”

Cuizhu seemed to suddenly find her backbone. She looked down at the notice in her hand, her eyes lighting up. She suddenly realized something and rushed frantically toward the outer courtyard, saying urgently: “Director Xie has come! I need to go find him to file a complaint.”

As Cuizhu spoke, she rushed out through the moon gate, excitedly saying: “He’s right outside! I need to leave the city to find Director Xie…”

Before she could finish, everyone heard her voice suddenly stop. Luo Wanqing sensed something was wrong, then saw Cuizhu covering her neck, which was bleeding profusely, stepping back one by one.

Everyone screamed in alarm. Luo Wanqing hurriedly stepped forward, catching Cuizhu and covering her wound, but it was already too late.

Someone had slashed her throat. Blood gushed out wildly. Luo Wanqing pressed on her wound and saw her eyes widen as she mumbled: “Director… Director Xie…”

Before she could finish, she kept her eyes open and slowly stopped breathing.

She kept looking at the sky, at those paper kites flying in mid-air, as if looking at her only hope.

Luo Wanqing’s hand, covering her wound, trembled slightly. She could feel the warmth of the person beneath her hand. Her heart surged with emotion as she suddenly realized that beneath all of Cuizhu’s mockery, indifference, and jokes, what was hidden was her despair toward Si Prefecture.

Both she and Si Prefecture had long been like a fully drawn bowstring, on the verge of collapse.

Such a Si Prefecture, whether there was warfare or not, was already beyond saving.

And Si Prefecture in the previous life… even if Xie Heng hadn’t gone, it would have already been devastated.

Although she had long known through case files what kind of place this was and had seen countless tragedies here, none of it had the impact of someone truly dying right before her eyes.

She should have come earlier.

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, suddenly realizing this.

She, Xie Heng, the Supervision Department… they should have come to Si Prefecture earlier. They had swords in their hands, they had the ability to change things, they should have come earlier.

She pressed on Cuizhu’s wound, forcing herself to calm down and not think too much.

A guard walked in carrying a sword, shouting sternly: “What’s all this commotion? We’re preparing for battle now—follow all arrangements!”

With these words, everyone fell silent, not daring to say more, only supporting each other and crying quietly with bowed heads.

Luo Wanqing also lowered her head, forcing herself not to look at the killer.

As everyone quieted down, Nanxing’s voice rang out, without a trace of emotion: “Enemy attack tonight. I need to take fifty people to the medical station on the city wall. Everyone else will work through the night making medicine—we need to prepare two thousand sets of wound treatment supplies and bandages.”

As she spoke, Nanxing selected fifty people, including Luo Wanqing, then turned and said, “Follow me.”

The selected people stumbled forward, helped Luo Wanqing up, and followed Nanxing out of the mansion.

Nanxing led everyone to an area not far from the city wall where a temporary medical station for treating the wounded had been set up. Zheng Bikui was extremely familiar with battlefields—the medical station he had constructed was very practical, with each area divided.

Each medical woman was assigned her position, waiting to treat the wounded at any time.

Luo Wanqing rested at her position for a moment before having the heart to look up and survey her surroundings. She saw Zhuque standing not far from the city gate. He and Luo Wanqing exchanged a glance, then looked away again.

The atmosphere on the entire city wall was very tense, with people coming and going, quietly transporting equipment for defending the city.

Before long, they heard the sound of gongs and drums from outside the city wall. Everyone became nervous, and soldiers above shouted: “Prepare! Prepare! Archers, draw your bows!”

Soldiers hurriedly ran up the city wall, everyone began preparing, but after the gongs and drums, they only heard countless people outside shouting in unison: “Welcome the imperial army! Open the city gates! Welcome, the imperial army! Open the city gates!”

The sound was extremely loud—the entire Xu City could hear it. It was impossible to tell how many people were outside, but it made everyone inside the city anxious.

After shouting for a few phrases, the voices outside quieted down again. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Luo Wanqing heard soldiers nearby saying, “Aren’t they attacking?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Heaven be praised.”

After this shouting, there was no more sound. Many civilians living in houses in the distance poked their heads out to quietly take a look.

With the outside quiet and no attack for a long time, everyone relaxed.

But after less than an hour, the outside suddenly started gongs and drums again, shouting in unison. The soldiers panicked and prepared for battle, then it quieted down again.

This continued for most of the night. At intervals—sometimes half an hour, sometimes an hour, sometimes a quarter-hour—the outside would suddenly become noisy, then quiet again. It was a night of constant anxiety. Later, the soldiers didn’t even want to draw their bows when they heard it.

Seeming to realize that Xie Heng had no intention of attacking tonight, everyone became lax. When the officers fell asleep in the latter half of the night, the guards became even more lazy. Everyone leaned against the walls, talking quietly, all discussing the content of the notice Xie Heng had distributed today.

Not only these guards, but even the medical women began chatting casually. No one wanted to fight this battle for the Zheng family, but no one dared to say so, so they sat together talking about their family affairs.

As the medical women talked, the guards also came over. A group of people chatted lazily. No one dared to say they wouldn’t fight, but as everyone talked about the past, the fundamental question was: why should they fight this battle for the Zheng family?

Everyone whispered among themselves. Luo Wanqing glanced at a medical woman beside her who still seemed somewhat unsettled.

This medical woman had entered the mansion around the same time as Cuizhu and seemed to be called Fu Wenshan.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, moved closer to her, and began chatting casually.

After chatting for a while, Luo Wanqing said nonchalantly: “I wonder if we’ll be able to see the eldest young master today.”

“Definitely,” Fu Wenshan said with certainty. “I heard that before dawn, the eldest young master will come to inspect the medical station.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt relieved, knowing this was her opportunity to assassinate Zheng Bikui.

As long as she killed Zheng Bikui, the city would descend into chaos. Zhuque would then open the city gates according to plan. Without a leader, based on what she had observed in the city, it wouldn’t be difficult for Liang Hui to take control of Xu City.

She felt reassured and nodded happily: “It would be wonderful to see the eldest young master once.”

After saying this, she chatted with the other woman for a few more sentences before returning to her position.

When Zhuque looked over, Luo Wanqing gave him a reassuring gesture, indicating everything should proceed according to plan.

Xie Heng made noise outside all night while Luo Wanqing rested against the wall.

Before the hour of Mao, Luo Wanqing suddenly heard urgent hoofbeats. She immediately opened her eyes and saw Zheng Bikui leading people in a hurried approach from afar.

Luo Wanqing and Zhuque exchanged glances, both understanding that with little time left until dawn, she needed to find an opportunity to act.

Zheng Bikui dismounted. Fu Wenshan and others, seeing this, immediately stepped forward respectfully saying: “Young Master…”

Before she could finish, Zheng Bikui’s men pushed Fu Wenshan aside. The group didn’t stop but headed straight for the city wall.

This was obviously beyond Fu Wenshan’s expectations, and Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but become nervous.

She unconsciously fingered her Qianji bracelet, watching Zheng Bikui walk while questioning the soldiers beside him, asking quickly: “Have you confirmed how many are on the other side?”

“Can’t confirm—it’s too dark to see clearly.”

His subordinate said, “But judging by the flags and sounds, at least ten thousand. We only have ten thousand in the city, and they’re all cavalry…”

“Hold for a few days,” Zheng Bikui said calmly. “We’re defending the city while they attack—no need to fear.”

With that, Zheng Bikui headed upward. As he passed Zhuque, he paused and looked at him.

Zhuque lowered his head without speaking. Zheng Bikui stared at him while Luo Wanqing’s heart began racing. She placed her hand on her Qianji bracelet, ready to act at any moment.

However, after staring at Zhuque for a long time, Zheng Bikui ultimately said nothing and turned to walk toward the upper part of the city wall.

Both Luo Wanqing and Zhuque breathed sighs of relief. Just then, Zheng Bikui suddenly ordered: “Replace the defending soldiers with Wang Chong’s men—transfer them all to defend the city wall now.”

Hearing this, both Luo Wanqing and Zhuque were startled. Zhuque instinctively looked toward Luo Wanqing, then quickly looked away, afraid of being seen.

Zheng Bikui had already headed to the upper levels, long beyond Luo Wanqing’s assassination range. Now Zhuque had no other choice but to follow the soldiers up the city wall reluctantly.

With Zhuque on the city wall, Luo Wanqing became somewhat uneasy.

The city wall wasn’t a place where medical women could go. If Zheng Bikui didn’t come down, she had no opportunity to get close to him. Moreover, with Zhuque now on the city wall, no one could open the city gates, meaning their escape route was gone if they failed to assassinate Zheng Bikui.

Now she had only two choices: directly open the city gates and let Xie Heng attack Xu City, or…

Go up the city wall and gamble once according to the original plan.

If she and Zhuque couldn’t kill Zheng Bikui, she could create a diversion on the city wall, while Zhuque might still have a chance to escape.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Wanqing looked at Fu Wenshan and said quietly, “Sister Fu, my stomach hurts. I need to go…”

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Fu Wenshan waved her hand. “Go quickly and come back quickly.”

Luo Wanqing agreed, turned around, and walked into an alley. She went to an alley she had passed when coming, moved aside some boxes, and reached up to remove bricks from the bottom.

When she and Zhuque entered the city, because she was a woman and searches were less thorough, she had taped her Xiling sword to her back and brought it in, finding a place to hide it.

Now she retrieved the Xiling sword, then took Lianqing from her sleeve, whispering: “Go find them.”

She had sprinkled tracking incense on both Nanxing and Madam Yao. Lianqing flew off following the scent while Luo Wanqing followed in the darkness, eventually arriving at a nearby inn that had been requisitioned. This inn was very close to the city wall, with layers of guards. Luo Wanqing climbed over the wall into the courtyard and soon heard Nanxing’s voice.

“Madam Yao is already preparing to sleep—no need to disturb her further. I’ll go check.”

With that, Nanxing turned and left with her people.

Luo Wanqing followed the eaves to the roof of the room where Nanxing had been standing, lifted some tiles, and saw Madam Yao alone in the room changing into sleeping clothes.

She thought for a moment, dropped from the roof to outside the window, used her blade to open the window latch, then leaped inside. Before Madam Yao could cry out, she covered her mouth with one hand and held the blade to her throat with the other, saying calmly: “I need to get onto the city wall. Where is your token?”

Madam Yao breathed rapidly, trembling as she raised her hand to point at a pile of clothes nearby.

Luo Wanqing knocked her unconscious and quickly retrieved the token. Just then, the door was suddenly opened. Luo Wanqing moved like a ghost, but the other person had already cried out: “Ah!!”

The sound only lasted one syllable before Luo Wanqing covered the person’s mouth while simultaneously closing the door. Only then did she see clearly that the newcomer was Nanxing, carrying medicinal soup and breathing heavily. Luo Wanqing stared at her coldly, hearing guards rushing into the courtyard outside, shouting: “What happened?”

“Make them leave.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her voice, pressing the blade against Nanxing’s abdomen.

Nanxing’s body trembled slightly, but she quickly composed herself, pretending to be calm: “Nothing—I saw a bug and got startled.”

“Miss Nanxing?”

The guard recognized Nanxing’s voice and asked alertly: “Are you alright?”

“What could be wrong?”

Nanxing slowly calmed down. Holding the medicinal soup with one hand, she pressed down Luo Wanqing’s blade with the other, using her eyes to plead with Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing saw her goodwill and looked at her warily, but still stepped back.

Then she saw Nanxing place the medicinal soup on a nearby table, turn to open the door. Luo Wanqing immediately moved aside to hide in the shadows. Nanxing stood in the doorway, looking at the soldiers outside, smiling as she lied: “I’ve disturbed Commander Zhao, but I’m truly fine.”

The guard outside looked suspiciously into the room. Nanxing didn’t dodge or avoid, saying: “Madam has changed clothes and is sleeping. Commander Zhao, since there’s nothing wrong, there’s no need to disturb her, right?”

Hearing this, Commander Zhao paused. Seeing Nanxing standing alone in the room and being somewhat wary of Madam Yao, he bowed and left.

Once the guards left, Nanxing closed the door. Luo Wanqing immediately headed for the window to leave, but Nanxing grabbed her sleeve, saying urgently: “You want to kill Zheng Bikui, don’t you?”

Luo Wanqing looked back in confusion and saw Nanxing staring at her, her eyes holding some madness that she was desperately trying to control: “He’s on the city wall—you can’t get there. Madam Yao’s token isn’t enough.”

Luo Wanqing immediately understood. Nanxing wanted to help her. She examined Nanxing but asked: “Then what should I do?”

“Zheng Bikui has injuries and needs to take medicine every day at the hour of Mao. I’m responsible for delivering his medicine.”

Nanxing said quickly: “I’ll take you up there.”

Luo Wanqing looked up at her.

If she took her up, once she acted, she wouldn’t be able to look after Nanxing. With Nanxing’s martial arts skills, she would certainly die.

And Nanxing understood this point; her eyes filled with determination.

Seeing Luo Wanqing hesitate, Nanxing immediately said: “Don’t worry that I’ll betray you. I’m here to kill him. My sister was humiliated by him, became pregnant, and was beaten to death. I could never help him.”

With that, Nanxing stared at her, tears welling up: “As long as you can kill him, I’ll do anything.”

“The maid who was pregnant and killed—that was your sister?”

Luo Wanqing immediately realized. Nanxing’s tears fell as she responded: “Yes. She sold herself to pay for my medical studies. When I finished my studies and could work as a doctor, I wanted to buy her freedom and bring her home, but…”

Nanxing couldn’t continue. Luo Wanqing was silent for a moment, then asked: “Are you from Xu City?”

Nanxing was startled and nodded in confusion: “Yes.”

“Do you usually deliver the medicine?”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

Luo Wanqing glanced outside. She heard urgent footsteps and pulled Nanxing out through the window.

Just as they left the courtyard, they heard guards shouting behind them: “There’s an assassin! Madam Yao has been attacked! Catch Nanxing and the assassin!”

But by then they had reached the wall. Luo Wanqing took Nanxing over the wall, then tucked Xiling into Nanxing’s arms and took her token, saying: “I’ll give you the sword to keep. Find a place to hide, and I’ll find you to retrieve it when it’s safe. If something happens,” Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and looked up at her, “at least fight with all your strength.”

With that, Luo Wanqing turned and left. When Nanxing realized what was happening, she called urgently: “What about you?”

“I’m going to kill someone.”

After Luo Wanqing spoke, she disappeared into the alley.

At this time, on the city wall, Zheng Bikui gazed at the army arrayed in the distance, lightly tapping the city wall, saying calmly: “My grievance with Xie Heng goes back to childhood. When he was around, everyone could only see him. When the Dao Sect came to select disciples, they chose him. When His Majesty selected a study companion for the Crown Prince, they chose him. Standing beside him, I was like a star next to the moon—no one could remember me.”

Zhuque stood not far from him—not close, but not far either. He wasn’t sure who Zheng Bikui was talking to. He was somewhat nervous but had to pretend to be calm, acting as if he understood nothing, looking down at his shoes.

“Only my master believed in me. He always firmly believed that someone like Xie Heng, who doesn’t hide his brilliance, will surely break. The result…”

Zheng Bikui’s tone paused, then he said slowly: “Xie Heng challenged the Eight Grandmasters. He could have chosen anyone, but he had to choose my master. Fine, he chose him, but why did he have to kill him?”

Zheng Bikui turned to look at Zhuque. His gaze was too direct for Zhuque to ignore.

Zheng Bikui stared at Zhuque. After looking for a long time, he chuckled: “Do you know what your biggest flaw is?”

Zhuque honestly stared at his shoe tips. Zheng Bikui spoke slowly: “You shouldn’t have had Liang Hui help you.”

Hearing this, Zhuque knew things were bad. But there was no time to think more. The moment Zheng Bikui finished speaking, his blade wind struck simultaneously!

Zhuque had nowhere to dodge. He flipped and pressed down, stepping on Zheng Bikui’s blade tip. Too lazy to maintain his disguise, he asked directly: “Where’s Liang Hui? What happened to him?”

“Those who betray me naturally deserve to die!”

With that, Zheng Bikui raised his hand and waved. Liang Hui’s head dropped down from the eaves behind him. Zhuque’s eyes widened as soldiers nearby surged forward, rushing toward Zhuque one after another.

Zhuque kicked down the approaching attackers. Zheng Bikui stood not far away, watching him being surrounded, saying coldly, “Dawn is breaking. Xie Heng killed my master. Today, I’ll take your head to give him a taste.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuque seized a steel blade from someone nearby and slashed toward Zheng Bikui, roaring angrily: “Seeking death!”

When the city wall erupted into complete chaos, Luo Wanqing had already silently returned to the medical station. She heard the sounds of fighting from above. The city wall was too high, and this sound was some distance from the medical station, so ordinary people hadn’t heard it and continued with their tasks.

Luo Wanqing knew she couldn’t delay any longer. She immediately took a tray with a bowl of medicine, then circled out from behind the curtain, directly bypassing Fu Wenshan, who was dozing, and carried the medicinal soup to the foot of the city wall stairs.

She handed Madam Yao’s and Nanxing’s tokens to the guard, respectfully explaining: “Miss Nanxing is unwell today, so this servant is delivering the medicine in her place.”

The guard checked her tokens and identity, had a female official briefly search her, then let her go upstairs.

Luo Wanqing listened to the sounds of fighting upstairs, Zhuque’s curses, as she climbed the steps toward the heights.

In the distance came the sound of hoofbeats, faintly carrying guards’ shouts: “Report to the eldest young master, an assassin has infiltrated the mansion! Report to the eldest young master—”

Hearing the voices, Luo Wanqing quickened her pace upward.

At this moment, Zhuque was surrounded by countless soldiers. He fought desperately while Zheng Bikui stood not far away, quite excitedly watching him.

All of Zheng Bikui’s attention was focused on Zhuque. Luo Wanqing carried the medicinal soup, calmly passing through the crowd to approach Zheng Bikui. Just as she was about to reach him, an urgent shout rang out: “Eldest young master—”

The moment the sound fell, hundreds of steel needles from Luo Wanqing’s Qianji bracelet suddenly fired!

Zheng Bikui reacted extremely quickly. He grabbed a nearby soldier and held him in front as a shield. Luo Wanqing instantly seized a blade and struck directly at his throat.

Zheng Bikui hastily blocked horizontally with his sword. The blade wind broke the skin on his neck. At the same time, several black shadows rushed up from the side. Luo Wanqing was forced to dodge sideways. Several people instantly separated Zheng Bikui and Luo Wanqing. A subordinate found an opening and hurriedly stepped forward to pull away Zheng Bikui, who had been hit by poison needles.

Seeing this, Luo Wanqing knew things were bad. Assassination always required a single decisive strike. If it came to direct combat, her strength was evenly matched with Zheng Bikui’s, but everyone here belonged to Zheng Bikui. If she couldn’t kill him now, she feared the odds would be against her.

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing instantly erupted, fiercely striking down those beside her and seizing a blade to charge forward.

Her body was light and quick as a ghost, but Zheng Bikui reacted even faster. As she moved, he shouted sternly: “Stop her! Have everyone stop her!”

Several death warriors intercepted her just before she could reach Zheng Bikui, and he hastily got up to dodge.

With this strike missing, soldiers surged toward Luo Wanqing, surrounding her. Zhuque leaped to Luo Wanqing’s side, saying urgently: “Liang Hui is dead. Let’s go!”

Luo Wanqing glanced at Zhuque and immediately said, “You go. I’ll cover you.”

If no one provided rear guard, neither of them could escape.

“What about you if I leave?”

Upon hearing this, Zhuque immediately said: “I’m not worth your sacrifice!”

“I’ll wait for dawn.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him helplessly, kicked away a soldier, and said calmly: “I’ll wait for Xu City’s people to open the city gates for me and welcome Young Master to rescue me.”

“What kind of pipe dream are you having?”

Hearing this, Zhuque became instantly anxious. He looked at the sky and said hurriedly: “At this hour, there’s not a single person who’s going to help you open the city gates!”

“No one will come.”

Zheng Bikui had taken medicine nearby. Hearing their conversation, he chuckled.

He had just been hit by two of Luo Wanqing’s needles. Being hit wasn’t the issue, but the poison on the needles was extremely troublesome.

Fortunately, he had sealed his meridians the instant he was struck. Now, having taken medicine and forcibly expelled the toxins, though he was injured, it wasn’t serious.

He supported himself to stand, took a blade from nearby, and laughed as he flicked it: “A bunch of cowards who fear death—you still expect them to open the city gates? You might as well beg me to give you whole corpses!”

At that very moment, drums sounded outside the city wall. In this stretch of darkness, powerful voices came together like war drums: “Open the city gates! Welcome, the imperial army!”

However, this time Zheng Bikui was present. Hearing the sound, he immediately said: “Have people ride horses patrolling the city, demanding that civilians observe martial law. Anyone who dares go on the streets will be executed!”

With that, he drew his blade and charged toward Luo Wanqing with full force, striking down with all his might and shouting: “Luo Wanqing, go die!”

Zheng Bikui struck down with full force. Luo Wanqing raised her blade to meet it, but the moment their blades crossed, the blade in Luo Wanqing’s hand shattered violently!

Luo Wanqing leaped back rapidly, knowing that Zheng Bikui’s internal strength was comparable to hers. Though he was now injured, he wielded a peerless blade.

Unless one reached the level of Xie Heng’s Formless Sword technique, weapons played a decisive role for martial artists at critical moments.

Although she had studied the Formless Sword under Xie Heng, she was far from being able to ignore the weapon disparity when facing Zheng Bikui.

Zheng Bikui came at her with full force. She didn’t dare meet him head-on and could only dodge continuously, looking for opportunities.

Zhuque dealt with the soldiers nearby while she faced Zheng Bikui with full concentration. For a moment, the two sides were locked in a stalemate, and the entire city wall descended into chaos.

The shouting from Xie Heng’s army outside the city made it impossible for all of Xu City’s people to sleep. At this time, Zheng Bikui’s men rode horses back and forth through the city, shouting: “By order of the eldest young master, no one may go outside. Those who go on the streets will be executed!”

“By order of the eldest young master, no one may go outside. Those who go on the streets will be executed!”

These voices clashed with the voices of Xie Heng’s army. Not a single household dared light a lamp, and not a single household could sleep peacefully.

Nanxing hugged her sword, hiding in the cellar, listening to her uncles and cousins talking.

Her eldest uncle sighed, somewhat worried: “The Zheng clan’s treason… I wonder if His Majesty’s royal army can win today. If they can’t win and the Zheng family rebels, those noble families will probably follow suit.”

“It won’t come to that, will it?” Third Uncle couldn’t help saying. “These are troops sent by His Majesty—surely they can take Xu City?”

“When noble families rule the world and great clans are kings,” Eldest Uncle smiled bitterly and helplessly, “if His Majesty could manage so much, would we be living like this?”

“Isn’t His Majesty himself not a good person, either?” One cousin curled his lip. “The tax increases these past two years—weren’t they to build him some garden? Even if the Emperor’s army enters Xu City, our lives won’t be any different.”

“That’s not true…”

Nanxing listened, the bright eyes of that girl called “Yao Qingqing” flashing through her mind.

She remembered the words on today’s paper, full of hope: “It’s Xie Heng who’s come, the Supervision Department.”

Everyone looked over upon hearing this. Nanxing murmured, “He’s right outside setting up court, saying that if we just open the city gates today, he’ll take on all of Xu City’s grievances and give everyone justice. From now on, Si Prefecture’s taxes will only be twenty percent…”

“You believe such talk?” Her cousin waved his sleeve. “Young girls are so easily fooled.”

“That’s Xie Heng! The Supervision Department!” Nanxing became excited. “He could even take on Luo Wanqing’s case—why couldn’t he take on my sister’s case?! He’s already brought an army to Si Prefecture—why won’t he care about me?!”

As Nanxing spoke, she looked down at the blade in her hands as if clutching her only hope.

She listened to the “open the city gates, welcome the imperial army” from outside, thought of “Yao Qingqing,” and suddenly realized what she should do.

“I need to go open the city gates.”

Nanxing stood up, saying, “I need to seek justice for my sister. If I don’t open this gate, no one will.”

With that, Nanxing stumbled to her feet and headed outside. Everyone quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying hurriedly, “Nanxing, don’t be foolish!”

“Eldest Uncle, Third Uncle, brothers,” Nanxing heard these words and gripped Xiling tightly, looking at them seriously. “You’re already taking risks by sheltering me. It’s better to let me go out—that way I won’t implicate you.”

“What foolish talk!” Eldest Uncle frowned upon hearing this, immediately saying: “We’re family. It’s only right that we protect you.”

“But I don’t want to be protected now.” Nanxing said seriously, “Director Xie wants us to open the city gates from inside. If no one steps forward today, no one will open the gates.”

“It shouldn’t be you!”

“Then who should it be?”

Nanxing looked at everyone: “Everyone thinks it shouldn’t be me, then who should it be? Will that gate open itself? Should we just wait? How many years have we waited? How many years has Si Prefecture waited? My parents are gone, my sister is dead,” Nanxing said, tears filling her eyes. “I have nothing left anyway—why not let me take this gamble?! Eldest Uncle, I’m still holding that girl’s sword.” Nanxing pressed her lips together, saying seriously, “At least let me return this blade.”

Everyone listened without speaking or stopping her further. Seeing this, Nanxing bowed deeply, then turned and pushed open the door to go outside.

She took a gong from home, strapped Luo Wanqing’s sword to her back, then pushed open the main door, walked onto the main street, struck the gong, and shouted: “Neighbors and fellow townspeople, follow me, Nanxing, to open the gates! With taxes at only twenty percent in the future, Xu City will have a way to live!”

Nanxing’s gong startled the patrolling soldiers, who immediately charged toward her. Seeing the soldiers, Nanxing breathed rapidly, striking the gong as she ran through the main street, shouting: “Open the city gates—only then will Xu City have a way to live! Only then will Xu City have justice! Director Xie is right outside the gates! Open the city gates! Welcome, the imperial army!”

“Wretch!”

The soldier commander rode his horse to Nanxing and raised his blade. Nanxing ran frantically. Just as she was about to be cut down, an iron pot flew out from a building and struck the commander heavily to the ground.

Then someone shouted from the house: “One!”

With this shout, everyone seemed to sense it. Everyone understood. The commander also sensed something was wrong. Nanxing stared blankly at her surroundings, then heard another room shout: “Two!”

“Three!”

With this shout, countless people poured out from the streets and alleys, roaring at the soldiers: “Get out of the way!”

They held everything from their homes that could serve as weapons—hoes, brooms, sickles…

These were ordinary items, but there were too many people, too densely packed. The soldiers saw so many people charging like ants and hurriedly said, “Run!”

The soldiers turning to flee became tremendous encouragement for the people. Everyone gave chase relentlessly. All of Xu City was ignited by this fallen match and completely boiled over.

Countless people surged toward the city wall with tremendous momentum.

Luo Wanqing and Zhuque were surrounded by soldiers on the city wall. Hearing this sound, Zhuque and Luo Wanqing exchanged glances.

Zheng Bikui saw what they were thinking, chuckled coldly, then said leisurely: “What, you expect those ordinary common people to save you? What are you dreaming of? I brought my elite troops to guard Xu City precisely to prevent this day. A bunch of worthless fools who can only wield hoes—once they reach the city wall and we kill a few waves, they’ll behave.”

Zheng Bikui’s words weren’t wrong. These common people were only emboldened by their numbers now—they couldn’t compare to a regular army at all.

Xu City’s soldiers might still have rebellious hearts, but the vast majority here were Zheng Bikui’s direct troops, completely loyal to him.

Zheng Bikui’s intimidation of these soldiers was too strong. The only way…

“I suggest you kill him.”

Zhuque spoke quietly. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying: “Obviously.”

Killing Zheng Bikui was naturally the simplest, most direct, and most effective method.

But she lacked a blade.

Zheng Bikui’s blade was too sharp—she simply didn’t have adequate weapons to contend with him.

Zhuque knew this too, but time wouldn’t wait.

Dawn gradually broke. They listened to the clamor and sounds of fighting below the city wall. Luo Wanqing gritted her teeth and finally decided: “Attack!”

The moment she spoke, both Zhuque and Luo Wanqing moved like flying arrows, slashing toward Zheng Bikui.

Zheng Bikui’s death warriors swarmed toward Zhuque. Zhuque struck with his blade to clear a path for Luo Wanqing, who focused intently on Zheng Bikui’s throat.

She didn’t have adequate weapons to fight Zheng Bikui directly—she could only rely on speed, seeing if she could break through his defenses and kill him directly.

Zheng Bikui obviously knew her thinking. He tilted his head, held his blade horizontally in front, making a feinting gesture that completely defended his entire body.

But at that very moment, someone in the crowd shouted: “Qingqing, your sword!”

Luo Wanqing looked back and saw Nanxing had charged up the city wall. Xiling was thrown high by her. Luo Wanqing caught and drew Xiling, gathering all her internal energy into one strike and slashing horizontally at Zheng Bikui!

The blade was fierce as a tiger, her body swift as an eagle. Zheng Bikui had never expected that Luo Wanqing could possess such a magnificent blade intent, overwhelming like a tidal wave. The instant their blades touched, Xiling cut through Zheng Bikui’s blade and directly severed his neck. Before Xiling’s sheath hit the ground, Luo Wanqing grabbed Zheng Bikui’s hair, took his head, and spun to catch the sheath.

Then she unhesitatingly carried the head and rushed down, passing Nanxing in an instant. She looked back with a smile: “Thank you.”

With that, she brushed past Nanxing, leaped onto the city wall, held out Zheng Bikui’s head, and shouted to the military and civilians confronting below: “Zheng Bikui is dead! Surrender quickly if you seek to live!”

Everyone was stunned. People looked up and saw Luo Wanqing standing high on the city wall. Dawn light broke through clouds and fell on her. She held the dripping head, and under the morning light’s glow, she seemed like a Shura bodhisattva.

She pointed at the city gate and roared: “Open the city gates!”

While Xu City was in turmoil and fighting, outside the city, Xie Heng sat behind his desk, his expression calm.

Soldiers took turns shouting in shifts. His table trembled slightly from the tremendous volume.

Qingya ground ink beside Xie Heng, grinding while smiling: “Does Young Master think the city gates will open today?”

“I trust Xiniang, not the people.”

Xie Heng spoke calmly. Qingya understood: “Young Master thinks the people won’t dare?”

“Since ancient times, where has there been true popular resistance? It’s either noble families or wealthy salt merchants acting in the people’s name to seize power and profit.” Xie Heng’s tone was flat. “Xiniang always thinks people are braver than they are, but in reality, with Zheng Bikui’s direct troops here, kill a few and they’ll quiet down.”

“Then why is Young Master still waiting here?” Qingya asked curiously, but Xie Heng didn’t respond.

He gazed at the city wall and said slowly: “Since knowing her, I’ve been re-understanding this world. So I want to see what’s different this time. But dawn is breaking.”

Xie Heng seemed somewhat regretful. He stared at the fighting on the city wall, rotating his Qianji bracelet, and said slowly: “Prepare. When sunlight falls on you and me, beat the drums to attack the city.”

Qingya agreed. They watched the sun rise bit by bit, watched the distant city wall become a battlefield, watched sunlight climb from the city wall to their feet.

When sunlight fell on Xie Heng, Xu City’s gates remained tightly locked, quiet as before.

Qingya felt quite regretful and sighed: “It seems this world is no different from Young Master’s understanding.”

“Beat the drums.”

Xie Heng stood up. At that very moment, the sound of the city gates opening came from the distance.

Xie Heng paused. He looked up in surprise and saw Xu City’s gates slowly opening.

Moments later, countless people and soldiers, holding written complaints in the dawn light, ran toward Xie Heng’s desk.

Xie Heng stared blankly at the opening gates and the people running toward him. He realized something and couldn’t help looking up.

He saw Luo Wanqing standing on the city wall, hand resting on her long blade, quietly watching him.

They were separated by a great distance—actually, Xie Heng couldn’t see her features.

Yet at that moment, he felt she must be smiling.

With some pride, hiding audacity, and that gambling spirit always concealed in her bones, smiling as she said, “Young Master, I won again.”

On the twelfth day of the fourth month in the fifteenth year of Changshun, Luo Wanqing led her army into Si Prefecture. Using Xie Heng’s name for justice, she incited the people to riot and open the city gates themselves.

Xu City surrendered.

Then Luo Wanqing led her army forward, welcomed joyfully by the people.

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, Qing City surrendered.

On the seventeenth day of the fourth month, Pingyang City surrendered.

On the eighteenth day of the fourth month, Luo Wanqing camped her army outside Si Prefecture city. The Zheng clan’s new patriarch, Zheng Qiuhe, opened the city gates, welcomed the royal army into the city, and took control of Si Prefecture.

Author’s Note:

Recently I’ll update according to plot points. Sometimes one plot is too long and I can’t finish without writing until dawn. If I haven’t asked for leave, there will be updates, but the update time will be in the early morning (before I sleep—I write until completion before sleeping).

So everyone should read the previous day’s Cang Lan Dao – Chapter when they wake up.

[Mini Theater]

Zhuque: “Come with me! I’m not worth your sacrifice!”

Luo Wanqing: “…You’re not worth it. But I think if we run together, neither of us will escape.”

Zhuque: “Huh? Isn’t it because you care about me too much?”

Xie Heng: “Zhuque, what did you say? Say it again.”

Xuanshan (covering Zhuque’s mouth): “He’s young and doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

Qingya (smiling): “Xuanshan is a good big brother.”