These two thoughts flashed by almost instantly, and she had made up her mind.

People are like this – in the face of danger, instinct is always faster than thought. She didn’t answer Quan Feitong, her gaze slowly searching for Lian Yu.

Qinglong and Baihu were in front, dragging along Si Lanfeng… The two were covered in blood, though whether it was their own or others’ was unclear. Si Lanfeng didn’t know martial arts and bore heavier injuries, looking quite bedraggled. Suzhen had no interest in him… Lian Yu was protected in the middle by Lian Jie and Lian Qin on his left and right, but he was obviously injured, with wounds and bloodstains on his shoulders and arms. Oddly, Lian Jie and Lian Qin weren’t as injured as him. Suzhen could see clearly – it appeared that Lian Jie and Lian Qin were protecting him, but in reality, he was protecting both younger brothers, taking on the swift and fierce attacks himself.

Now he was fighting with two men. One wore gray robes with sharp, ruthless moves. Though Suzhen didn’t know Lian Yu’s depth, she felt his martial arts must be considerable, but fighting this person, he hadn’t gained any advantage. With another man attacking from the side – this one was sinister, striking whenever he saw an opening – the situation was even more difficult…

She could see his figure swaying, gradually unable to hold on.

The two men attacking Lian Yu both had their faces covered with cloth. Chao Huang wasn’t beside Quan Feitong either. Suzhen suspected these two were Chao Huang and Yu Jinglun, whose voice she had heard earlier. Reportedly, Chao Huang’s bare hands alone were unmatched under heaven. Combined with Yu Jinglun’s extreme cunning, and the other masked fighter battling Qinglong should be Mao Hui.

Though Quan Feitong and Huang Tianba had decided to take his life, they were still extremely careful, fearing any mishaps, so they absolutely wouldn’t let Lian Yu and others know their opponents were Chao Huang.

Just then, Lian Jie suddenly let out a long whistle, but after a long moment there was no response. Huang Tianba was startled at first, then sneered slightly: “Seems there are reinforcements, but sadly these reinforcements appear to be too busy with their own troubles to come.”

Li Zhaoting was extremely careful, saying indifferently: “Magistrate Huang, it would be best to send someone to investigate the inner courtyard, otherwise, failure at the last moment would be unfortunate.”

Huang Tianba tensed, nodded, and immediately whispered instructions to someone beside him.

Suzhen glanced at Li Zhaoting and slowly moved closer to Quan Feitong. Capture the leader first.

“You want to capture me as leverage? If you keep this up, you’ll become annoying, you know?”

Quan Feitong’s smile faded, his form retreating backward. Suzhen lunged at empty air as Quan Feitong’s guards surged forward, capturing her and pressing half her body against the tower’s railing.

Quan Feitong was also angry, his eyebrows slightly raised. The guards had been tricked by her earlier and held grudges. Seeing Quan Feitong’s tacit approval for punishment, they pressed on her shoulder blade. Suzhen had never been a hero – when it hurt, she cried out.

Suzhen turned to look at Li Zhaoting, her eyes pleading for him to persuade Quan Feitong to release her.

Li Zhaoting rarely spoke to her in front of others. Now with a stern expression, he said: “Li Huaisu, pitiful people must have detestable qualities.”

Suzhen no longer begged for herself, watching the fierce battle from afar. The encirclement grew smaller and smaller. Qinglong and Lian Qin were wounded again, Mao Hui laughed triumphantly, Lian Qin roared angrily… Lian Yu’s brows were calm, his lower lip tightly pressed, still appearing composed, but his face was already pale and bloodless. She looked at Li Zhaoting again and said: “Please persuade Chancellor Quan that Lian Yu cannot be killed. If the emperor dies, the country will certainly be in chaos. Have you forgotten that Great Chu and Great Wei are still watching like tigers?”

Quan Feitong sneered slightly, only looking toward the courtyard. Li Zhaoting frowned deeply, remaining noncommittal. But Huang Tianba suddenly laughed loudly: “Good! Lian Yu can’t hold on anymore!”

Suzhen was shocked. Looking down, she indeed saw Lian Yu supporting himself with his sword tip against the ground, a strand of hair falling loose across his chest.

It was like returning to that first meeting night. Starlight brilliant.

Suzhen smiled, then suddenly said to the guard chief holding her: “How dare you! Though I’m now a prisoner, how dare you touch me!”

Quan Feitong and the others looked over. The narrow-eyed guard was startled. In that moment, his grip on Suzhen’s hands instinctively loosened. Feeling that reduced pressure, Suzhen reached out, counter-gripped his pulse point, squeezed hard, and pushed him away. The guard was furious and channeled his internal energy to make this woman suffer great pain, but Suzhen wasn’t planning to fight him. Having anticipated his retaliation, she didn’t dodge to the side. As her body loosened, she pressed her hands against the railing, gathered her qi, and leaped down.

Both Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting were shocked, reaching out simultaneously to grab her, but only caught half a corner of her clothing.

Quan Feitong suddenly smiled. Li Zhaoting slowly withdrew his hand.

They looked back at the battlefield ahead.

That was where the real important matter lay.

This was about three or four stories high. Though Suzhen’s martial arts were amateurish, at least she had learned from her brothers and Leng Xue, so she still had some skills.

The moment her head was about to hit the ground, she supported herself with her hands, rolling several times on the ground. Though extremely bedraggled, she only broke her arm. Of course, even so, the pain was enough to make her grimace and curse. She spat out dirt and dust, climbed up from the ground, felt around her body – well, no weapons. She pulled out her hairpin from her bosom and was about to charge forward—

On this side, one of those fighting fiercely with Lian Yu and others was indeed Chao Huang. Fearing his voice would be recognized by Lian Yu’s group, he didn’t speak. Now his sword tip deflected from the emperor’s body, and he gestured to Yu Jinglun with a nod.

Getting Chao Huang’s signal that Lian Yu’s group had reached the end of their strength, Yu Jinglun said through his face covering: “You rebels, surrender! Otherwise, if you’re chopped into mincemeat, don’t blame us officers.”

Orders from above were that if the opponents were willing to surrender, they could be captured; if not, they should be killed.

Lian Qin was supporting Lian Yu. He had taken two sword wounds, his hair disheveled, completely lacking his usual handsome and elegant young master appearance. He spat fiercely and was about to curse loudly when Lian Jie pulled him back. Lian Yu, in his blue robes now stained with bright red, this Great Zhou sovereign simply raised the sword in his hand and slowly smiled: “Fine, I surrender.”

Suzhen also slowly steadied herself, her heart suddenly aching slightly. In the face of life and death, important people aren’t afraid of death, while small people seek to survive at any cost. Now, the important person was doing what small people do.

She clenched her hands into fists. Was this the final outcome?

Chao Huang and the others exchanged glances. Chao Huang was extremely ruthless – he raised his sword to pierce Lian Yu’s shoulder blade, wanting to cripple his meridians and martial arts. Qinglong, Lian Jie and others hurried to block him, but Lian Yu— Suzhen trembled all over. He wanted to preserve the lives of Lian Jie, Qinglong and the others.

He was gambling, but once captured, he would likely face more bad luck than good…

Heavens, please someone come help, anyone! I’ll offer you big fish and meat in repayment.

“Sixth Young Master, this humble minister has truly achieved great merit this time and requests promotion and nobility.”

Heaven seemed to truly hear her chaotic prayers. Just as the sword tip tore through Lian Yu’s clothing, a long laugh broke through the air, and with a “clang,” it forcefully deflected Chao Huang’s heavy sword.

That figure was agile, tall and imposing, with sword-like brows and bright eyes, an aura both wild and bold. His sword twisted and he fought with Chao Huang, sparks flying from their blades. It was none other than Marquis Xiao Yao, Huo Chang’an.

Chao Huang’s gaze darkened as he used all his martial arts to fight him, wanting to gain no advantage.

Yu Jinglun and Mao Hui looked at each other, both reading shock in the other’s eyes. Wasn’t this the man they’d encountered at the inn? How had he come here?

But the two had no time to worry about this. Behind Huo Chang’an, two men who appeared to be his lieutenants led dozens of men flying over the courtyard walls, landing before them and joining the battle with incredible speed, fighting with their people.

These men seemed like well-trained soldiers from the battlefield, their moves fierce, fighting with abandon.

The situation in the courtyard immediately changed.

“How did Marquis Xiao Yao come?”

Lian Yu smiled and retreated to Lian Jie and Lian Qin’s side, standing with hands behind his back to observe the battle.

“It was Miss Gu who notified Chang’an and Imperial Concubine Wei… they’ve come too.”

Huo Chang’an replied loudly. Though he and Chao Huang were both legendary generals, brave throughout the world, even in intense combat with Chao Huang, he could still spare attention to answer.

When Lian Yu heard “Imperial Concubine Wei,” he paused slightly. How could he not hear the provocation in those words? The implication was that he, Huo Chang’an, was together with Wei Wuyan. Following Huo Chang’an’s gaze, he looked sideways and indeed saw two male guards protecting two women as they quickly approached.

It was Wei Wuyan and Gu Shuangcheng.

Wei Wuyan looked at him with tears in her eyes. Lian Yu nodded to her in reassurance. Gu Shuangcheng gripped her hands tightly, then finally released them and quickly ran toward him.

Reaching him, she seemed to realize her impropriety and hurriedly stopped. But when her gaze touched his blood-soaked robes, she trembled and finally couldn’t help grasping his sleeve: “Sixth Young Master, are you alright? Your injuries…”

“Did you invite Marquis Huo? Thank you. This great kindness will be repaid. My injuries don’t matter – don’t worry.”

Lian Yu looked at her, his originally sharp gaze softening somewhat.

In the shadows, Suzhen held her hairpin watching the two, slowly lowering her head, thinking: I’m going to break up this couple.

“Marquis Huo, stop fighting. Beware of changes – let’s retreat.”

“Good.”

Seeing Huo Chang’an’s guards had slightly pushed back the courtyard’s masters, Lian Yu immediately spoke. Huo Chang’an naturally understood the reasoning and used a feint to deflect Chao Huang’s offensive before leaping back.

The crowd suddenly separated into two opposing formations.

“Sixth Brother, I’m here.” Suzhen was gripping her injured arm and about to walk over when she heard a crying shout.