Gao Yin later mentioned to Gao Qiao that after he left, just as he was about to have someone dispose of the Shao woman’s corpse, the woman still had a breath left. She had struggled to crawl to the doorway, staring in the direction of Gao Qiao’s departure, mumbling words that seemed like curses. The villagers standing nearby listening could make out that they were Celestial Master sect incantations.

The originally peaceful and harmonious days had been shattered forever by the Celestial Master sect’s rebellion. The people around the capital mentioned the sect with bone-deep hatred. Upon discovering this dying woman was actually a sect rebel, one person angrily picked up a stone and threw it. Seeing Gao Yin didn’t intervene, the crowd became agitated, and all remaining dozens of villagers surrounded her, competing to spit curses and hurl stones. If Gao Yin hadn’t later ordered soldiers to drag away the corpse that had been battered beyond recognition, the furious villagers would likely have burned her as a torch.

Though Gao Qiao hadn’t witnessed this personally, he could imagine how deep that woman’s resentment must have been at death.

He didn’t care how much the Shao woman resented him, but whenever he thought of the resentment she might have inflicted upon his wife, he felt unbearable pain and regret.

Galloping back toward the capital, he hated himself for never having realized how utterly vile this woman truly was.

He hated even more deeply that despite his achievements in official life, though his name inspired respect when mentioned, he was merely living in vain—blind in heart and eyes. From twenty years ago, he had planted the seeds of disaster, culminating in today’s events that harmed his wife.

He recalled his repeated moments of soft-heartedness, mindful of past favors, so that even that day the prison official had misunderstood, and with her impetuous nature, how could she not misunderstand?

Yet at the time, he had considered himself an upright gentleman, merely blaming her for lacking understanding.

Now after all these wasted years, his wife had finally become understanding as he wished.

But everything was too late.

Gao Qiao recalled their first meeting years ago, their newlywed days, the years of marital coldness caused by that Shao woman, and that last scene when he sent her up the mountain—after he had already walked out, she called him back, came over to adjust his robes and whisper gentle instructions…

Unable to suppress it any longer, tears flowed from his eyes.

That woman had been hysterical, swearing adamantly that she had killed her disobedient brother and also murdered Xiao Yongjia, throwing her body in the river.

Yet he preferred not to believe it.

As long as he didn’t see her corpse for a single day, he would consider her still alive.

Once this national crisis was resolved, he would search again until the day he found her.

Jiankang appeared in the distance. On the road, a newly deployed army was hurrying toward the city gates. The soldiers’ footsteps raised dust clouds, and seeing Gao Qiao riding past, they stopped to make way for him.

Li Xie was busy at the city gate.

With over two hundred thousand households and nearly a million people in the city, evacuation was not a matter of one or two days.

By today, several thousand residents still hadn’t left the city. These were either solitary elderly and weak, or those unable to travel, who simply couldn’t walk such distances. Li Xie could only gather this group and send them to Shitou City with his subordinates.

Compared to staying in Jiankang, that place was relatively safer.

He had just returned when he saw Gao Qiao’s party approaching in the distance and hurried to meet them.

He knew Gao Qiao had received word from Gao Yin at midnight and rode out through the night. Having previously participated in the search, he was very concerned about Eldest Princess’s whereabouts. Seeing Gao Qiao’s expression showed no relief whatsoever, his eyes bloodshot, he knew there couldn’t be good news. His heart sank, and after hesitating, he consoled: “My lord, please don’t worry. Eldest Princess is blessed and will surely turn misfortune to fortune.”

Gao Qiao asked about the civilian evacuation situation. Li Xie quickly reported everything.

Gao Qiao nodded: “I leave this matter to you. Before nightfall today, you must send away everyone still remaining.”

Li Xie acknowledged and hurriedly called for men to enter the city again.

Riding past the Qinhuai area in the southern city, he unconsciously stopped his horse, looking toward the direction of the pleasure quarters.

That area, even deep into night on ordinary days, would sparkle with lights and echo with music. Though it was still daytime now, every household had doors tightly locked, boats moored at the banks—looking out, it was cold and desolate with no sign of human life.

He knew that woman had left the city and might already be in Qu’e by now.

That day, acting on personal feelings, he had quietly sent a trusted aide to the pleasure quarters, wanting to arrange for her to take a military supply wagon to Qu’e and have someone settle her there, fearing she’d have nowhere to stay upon arrival. However, his man returned to tell him she had already been taken away by Gao Yin’s people.

He guessed the Gao family members were grateful for her previous assistance and were now repaying the favor.

At the time he had felt relieved, but deep down also experienced a trace of loss, somewhat regretting not coming earlier to see that woman once more.

His ancestors had served as military officers, and through this family connection, he had entered the Imperial Guard in his youth.

Long ago, when still serving in the Imperial Guard, during daily leisure time, like many other military officers in Jiankang with similar backgrounds and status, he spent his days calling friends together, drinking and gambling, archery and hunting, living in muddle-headed idleness without other thoughts—his days were carefree. Until later when circumstances suddenly changed and he was assigned to accompany Li Mu, then still a Deputy Commander, to suppress the Shu Commandery rebellion.

That experience of emerging from near-death, and Li Mu’s extraordinary courage and determination, had deeply shaken him and completely changed his life.

He knew Jiankang was in peril this time and had long resolved to follow Gao Qiao to the death, sharing his fate.

He was prepared to die in battle.

His parents were both dead, and having always feared constraints and preferring casual relationships, he had never married—truly without ties or burdens. Dying in battle would be acceptable.

Yet somehow, thinking that if he died here, his heart seemed to have some attachment.

Before his eyes, that woman’s image appeared again.

Given her background, even if she no longer entertained guests, if he had taken a liking to her, he could have simply supported her.

His official position and status couldn’t compare to the capital’s aristocratic families, but obtaining such a woman of her background would be effortless—she wouldn’t dare resist.

Yet somehow, this time he had acted refined, not daring to offend her lightly.

Li Xie turned again to glance toward the pleasure quarters, about to leave with a sigh, when suddenly a subordinate ran up saying: “Metropolitan Guard Li, there’s a woman at the south city gate wanting to enter. She was stopped but says she’s looking for you.”

Li Xie’s heart skipped slightly. He turned his horse around and immediately headed for the city gate.

He rushed there in one breath, dismounted, and ran outside the gate, looking around. He saw not far away, at a less crowded roadside spot, a small mule cart with a woman beside it.

She wore plain gray cloth, her hair wrapped in a head scarf, carrying a bundle in her hands, standing there quietly. Their eyes met, her eyes brightened, and she beckoned to him.

Li Xie felt his heartbeat quicken and hurried over, stopping before her.

“Didn’t they say you’d already been taken away? Why did you come back?”

Lü Niang smiled: “Yes, but halfway there, I remembered something and came back while fighting hasn’t started yet. I wanted to enter the city to find you just now, but they said orders from above were exit only, no entry, so I had to ask someone to call you out. You’re not angry that I’m disturbing your work, are you?”

“How could I be!” Li Xie said quickly.

“What did you need me for?”

“Earlier I saw your clothes were torn and unrepaired. Having nothing else to do, I made you an outfit, but forgot to give it to you when leaving. I didn’t measure your size—just estimated and made it carelessly. Please don’t mind.”

Lü Niang handed over the bundle in her hands.

Li Xie slowly took it, looking at her, momentarily at a loss for words.

Lü Niang gazed at him: “Nothing else now. I’ll go first. War is dangerous with blind weapons—be careful.”

“…Once things are over, having made this return trip, if Metropolitan Guard Li doesn’t despise me, I’m willing to be your foot-washing maid.”

She said this quietly, lowered her eyes, and turned toward the mule cart.

Li Xie watched her climb onto the cart and sit inside. The curtain dropped, and just as the driver was about to urge the mule forward, he finally reacted, chasing after to stop them. Lifting the curtain and leaning in, he said: “Lü Niang, wait for me. I will certainly earn you an imperial patent someday!”

Looking at her eyes that suddenly blazed with light, he unhesitatingly grabbed her hand and squeezed it firmly before releasing her, closing the curtain for her, and instructing the driver to be careful.

He stood roadside, watching the small mule cart gradually disappear eastward, then gazed south.

In that direction, with troops marshaled and dust clouds rolling, a great battle for the capital’s defense was about to begin.

In early December, about a month after Luoshen returned to Jingkou, the flames of war finally reached Jiankang’s vicinity.

News arrived that Xuan City rebels and the Celestial Master sect were jointly attacking Jiankang. Her father Gao Qiao was engaging the rebels at Liyang, less than two days’ journey from Jiankang.

The bad news didn’t stop there. The western front at Wangjiang Commandery was also in grave danger. Jingzhou rebels could break through this defensive line at any moment and kill their way to Jiankang.

Once Wangjiang Commandery also fell, Jiankang would face enemies on two fronts—the crisis was unimaginable.

But this was all news from seven or eight days ago.

Starting seven or eight days ago, she had received no word from the outside world and didn’t know how the battle was progressing.

Because Jingkou was also under siege.

A force of several thousand river pirates had sailed downstream, bypassed Jiankang, and struck directly at Jingkou.

These pirates had originally operated around Poyang Lake, rampaging upstream for years, occupying marshlands as kings. Taking advantage of Great Yu’s internal turmoil, they robbed passing merchant vessels, and relying on their familiarity with terrain and waterways, they came and went without trace. At their peak, they numbered over ten thousand. Only in recent years had Gao Qiao deployed heavy forces for multiple campaigns, finally checking their momentum and forcing them to restrain themselves.

Unexpectedly, these pirates had now emerged in full force during the chaos to attack Jingkou.

The pirates arrived in the dead of night with lightning speed, seizing the ferry crossing, then landing and heading straight for Jingkou town. Fortunately, Jingkou’s defenses were tight. The guards discovered them and raised the alarm, with a thousand defenders immediately joining battle.

Though most able-bodied men in Jingkou town had already enlisted under Li Mu, the remaining townspeople showed no fear, taking up weapons to join the defenders in combat. After fierce fighting through the night, they finally repelled the pirates.

These pirates were all desperate river bandits familiar with water warfare. They surrounded the several routes in and out of Jingkou, preventing messengers from getting out to summon reinforcements. Relying on superior numbers and equipment, after resting, they attacked again the next day.

Luoshen immediately thought of Xu Mi.

Poyang bordered the Yangtze River bend and faced Jingzhou across the water. The reason these pirates had once been so fierce and the court’s repeated campaigns couldn’t eliminate them was said to be due to Xu Mi’s tacit approval—the pirates shared their gains with him, so he turned a blind eye, allowing them to operate on the upper Yangtze, even providing intelligence when the court organized campaigns.

Most likely, after Xu Mi’s previous failed attempt to capture A’Jia, he had decided on a direct approach this time, colluding with pirates to launch a surprise water attack on Jingkou.

Luoshen immediately protected Lu Shi. Considering that if Fan Cheng and Fan Wang couldn’t hold them off and pirates broke through, they would have to fight street by street.

If it truly came to that, at least the estate could provide some shelter.

The next day, as Fan Cheng and others led defenders and townsmen in desperate resistance, Luoshen opened the estate gates, calling all women, children, and elderly from the town to take temporary shelter inside.

The estate was extremely large—accommodating several thousand people was no problem. Shen Shi with her children, neighbors from Li family’s street, and countless townspeople all entered the estate.

With so many people needing food and rest, Luoshen and the estate servants were overwhelmed with work. Fortunately, everyone shared the same enemy, and after entering, all actively competed to help. Even Third Miss Xie came, leading people from her restaurant to work with Shen Shi and others, cooking porridge and meals in bustling activity.

The pirates were fierce and had numerical advantage. What Luoshen had most feared indeed occurred.

The defenders gradually retreated.

Three days ago, they had been forced back near the estate. Fortunately, Fan Cheng had previously deployed barriers and positions around the estate, and the estate had stockpiled much food, arrows, fire stones, and other strategic supplies. With these thorough preparations, they managed to hold on without letting pirates break through.

Three days ago, a messenger finally broke through the chaotic battle and went to Jiankang for help.

Though this news gave everyone in the estate hope, and they awaited Jiankang reinforcements constantly after the messenger’s departure.

But Luoshen couldn’t be optimistic.

Once Father received news of Jingkou’s peril, however difficult, he would certainly send troops to rescue. She had no doubt about this.

What worried her was whether Jiankang, which had been without news for over ten days, was also in crisis.

She also worried that the estate’s arrow and fire stone reserves were decreasing daily.

Once depleted, the estate would likely be in danger.

Another three days passed. If all went smoothly, reinforcements should have arrived.

But outside, there was no movement whatsoever.

The hopeful gazes of women in the estate gradually turned to worry and concern.

Reinforcements hadn’t arrived as expected—only two possibilities: either the messenger met with accident en route, or Jiankang was under siege and the message couldn’t reach Father.

That night, the pirates finally stopped their frenzied daytime attacks. The defenders, able to catch their breath, hastily ate food sent from the estate and collapsed against the estate walls to rest.

With too many people, houses couldn’t accommodate everyone, so many slept under temporarily erected shelters outside.

A child fell ill with serious fever. Learning of this, Luoshen had maids bring the woman and child into Qinghui Tower where she lived to rest comfortably.

Late at night, the child next door finally stopped crying after taking medicine and seemed to sleep.

Heavy with worries and unable to sleep, Luoshen quietly rose, stepping through the servant women and maids sleeping on floor mats who had given up their rooms, went downstairs to the courtyard, and sat on stone steps washed by moonlight with a layer of silvery radiance, looking up at the full moon hanging in the treetops.

This scene inevitably reminded her of that night when Li Mu sought her here, and because she wouldn’t open the door, he climbed a tree to the roof and broke through her window into her chamber.

They had been separated so long.

Her beloved lord whom she thought of day and night—where was he now?

Behind her came the soft sound of a walking stick touching ground.

Luoshen turned to see A’Jia had also come out. She quickly went to support her, whispering: “A’Jia, why did you come out?”

Lu Shi said: “A’Mi, I heard the pirates specifically demand I come out, saying if I go out, they’ll retreat. Is this true?”

This was true.

From this, Luoshen was even more certain these pirates must be acting on Xu Mi’s orders.

He probably didn’t know she was also at Jingkou, so he targeted A’Jia instead.

Luoshen had kept this from Lu Shi all along. Just as she was about to shake her head in denial, Lu Shi said: “I’ve thought it over—I can’t let the whole town suffer because of me. Better to hand me over…”

“No! A’Jia, if something happens to you, when Langjun returns, how could I explain to him?”

Lu Shi groped and slowly grasped her hand, saying: “I’ll leave Jingchen a letter explaining everything clearly. Besides, those people won’t necessarily kill me. You needn’t worry so much.”

“That’s still not acceptable! A’Jia, don’t worry. Wait another day or two—in one or two days, reinforcements from Jiankang will definitely arrive!”

Seeing Lu Shi seemed about to speak again, she continued: “A’Jia, you needn’t deceive me. You think I don’t know? You don’t want to implicate the townspeople, and you won’t implicate Langjun either. Have you already decided that once you go out and those people retreat, you won’t live, to prevent them from using you to threaten Langjun?”

Her eyes slowly filled with tears: “A’Jia, if those pirates wanted me instead, would you let me go out? Even if A’Jia there has received no news and no reinforcements are coming, it doesn’t matter. As long as we can hold out longer here, Langjun will certainly send people! With the Southern Dynasties in such chaos, how could he abandon us?”

Lu Shi was silent for a long time, then firmly squeezed her hand and smiled: “Good child, A’Mu understands. A’Mu will listen to you and wait for reinforcements.”

Only then did Luoshen relax, helping Lu Shi back to rest.

The next day, before dawn, the pirates surrounding the estate again tried to attack. Fan Cheng, Fan Wang and others desperately held their ground, while the direction toward Jiankang remained silent.

That evening, dinner changed to porridge.

Despite prior preparations, no matter how much food was stored, it couldn’t withstand so many mouths.

The defenders needed to fight, so Luoshen ordered them to continue eating solid rice. Others in the estate—except the elderly, weak, and sick who also ate solid food—everyone else, including herself, switched to porridge.

After two more days like this, the situation became increasingly critical. Jiankang remained completely silent, while the pirates outside grew more rampant, even setting fire to town buildings during the day, flames spreading in sheets.

Another night fell. Under darkness, everywhere seemed filled with groans from the wounded and children’s cries. The atmosphere in the estate was heavy and oppressive.

Luoshen could feel that not only the townspeople trapped in the estate, but even the defenders were beginning to waver as days passed. Most obviously, the Jingkou magistrate.

These past two days, his fear and despair had begun showing undisguisedly on his face. If not for Fan Cheng and Fan Wang supporting things, the defenders might have started giving up.

At mealtime, Luoshen personally carried a food box of flatbread and went out with Shen Shi and others delivering food, appearing before everyone.

Days of battle had exhausted the soldiers greatly. Some were lying directly on the ground with eyes closed, resting. Suddenly seeing her emerge, they all stood up.

Luoshen took the bread and personally handed it to each soldier. After distribution, she said: “These days have truly been hard on you all—I’m extremely grateful. Rest assured, we just need to hold on for a few more days—at most a few days—and Prefect Li’s reinforcements will arrive! He’s a filial son with his mother and wife both here. He absolutely won’t abandon us!”

The soldiers gripped their bread, staring at her steadily. Their originally dispirited expressions gradually showed renewed spirit.

Seeing this, Fan Wang shouted loudly: “Did you all hear? Pass Madam’s words along! The bread in your hands was also personally made for you by Madam and the others! Hurry and eat while it’s hot. After eating, pull yourselves together and guard well! With Prefect Li here, none of you will die!”

The soldiers seemed to suddenly come alive, wolfing down their bread and running about passing along the message.

Fan Wang came before Luoshen and respectfully said: “Thank you, Madam. Please go back quickly—no need to come out again. Leave this to us. Madam can rest assured—we will definitely hold firm and not retreat another step!”

The defenders outside the estate held on desperately for three more days.

Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, just as Luoshen had told the soldiers that night, reinforcements at last arrived.

From upstream on the great river came an army of two thousand led by Gao Huan, striking from behind to set all pirate ships moored riverside ablaze, then killing into Jingkou. Together with defenders whose spirits lifted upon learning of the reinforcements’ arrival, they caught the pirates completely off guard, causing them to fall in chaos. Wanting to flee, they discovered their ships had been burned.

Thousands of people massed at the riverside—dead and wounded. By daybreak, large stretches of water were stained dark red, and countless corpses floated on the river surface.

Jingkou, besieged for over half a month, was finally relieved.

The estate gates opened, and everyone joyfully kowtowed to Luoshen before returning home.

Luoshen met Gao Huan, her younger brother.

After nearly a year apart, he had grown taller and looked much more capable.

He told Luoshen that Li Mu had chosen a direct route back to the Southern Dynasties over a month ago, but encountered pincer attacks from Xu Mi’s remaining forces and Beixia troops, unable to quickly break free with his army delayed.

Knowing the Southern Dynasties’ severe situation and that Luoshen was at Jingkou, worried she and Lu Shi might encounter danger, he sent Gao Huan with this light cavalry taking an undefended circuitous longer route, ordering him to ignore everything else and reach Jingkou at maximum speed to ensure its safety.

He had traveled day and night to finally arrive today.

“Sister! That was close! Fortunately you held out without serious incident! If anything had happened to you, how could I explain to brother-in-law?”

Before the soldiers, Gao Huan was gradually establishing leadership authority, but facing Luoshen, he immediately reverted to form, patting his chest with a look of post-disaster relief and lingering celebration.

Luoshen smiled slightly, taking a warm face cloth from the curious A’Ting who was staring at Gao Huan with wide eyes, personally wiping her brother’s face covered in dust and blood. After finishing, she asked: “Before you left, was your brother-in-law’s situation very bad?”

Gao Huan grinned: “Sister, don’t worry. Brother-in-law’s title as War God isn’t for nothing. He only had me come first because he was worried about Jingkou. That garrison force Xu Mi left at Xiangyang couldn’t possibly block him for long! Besides, Beixia should be too busy with their own troubles now. Murong Xi has sent troops to attack Luoyang.”

“Brother-in-law’s plan is to take Xiangyang quickly, then directly cross the river back to the Southern Dynasties—that’s the shortest route. Isn’t Xu Mi’s Jingzhou rebel army attacking Jiankang along the river? Brother-in-law will do the same, chasing him upriver and hitting him from behind—catching him completely off guard! Let’s see how he can still attack Jiankang!”

The heart that Luoshen had kept tense for so long finally gradually relaxed, and a smile appeared on her face that had been absent for so long.

As long as he returned, no matter how difficult the future situation, Luoshen wouldn’t feel too worried.

He possessed such magical power—the ability to make people feel at peace.