Sima Ruodan followed the deputy general through the Ye residence gates. On the way to see Ye Shouguan, the deputy general introduced himself as Ye Shouguan’s deputy general, surnamed Zhao. Only then did she speak in a low voice as if seeing a relative: “Before coming, my mother said… the relationship between grandmother, mother, and uncle was very poor, and told me if I had troubles, I could seek Deputy General Zhao’s help.”

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhao became completely convinced that Sima Ruodan was Ye Yingyan’s daughter. He comforted Sima Ruodan: “Those are all grievances between the elders. The general is a person of a broad mind and won’t involve the younger generation in the previous generation’s grudges. Miss Cousin, please be at ease.”

“But I’m still afraid!” Sima Ruodan looked pitiful and helpless, crying as she spoke: “Now, mother, father, and younger brother are all with Great Zhou. Originally, we were all going to come to Yecheng Pass, but halfway there, my mother received news that our Majesty had already been captured by the Great Zhou. Mother felt that our Western Liang’s situation was hopeless, and worried that even if we came to Yecheng Pass, uncle might not take us in. That’s why she insisted on forcing Father to turn back to Suining City!”

As she spoke, they had already reached the door of Ye Shouguan’s study.

Sima Ruodan saw the stubbled Ye Shouguan with bloodshot eyes, stepped forward to bow, timidly called out “Uncle,” then told Ye Shouguan the entire sequence of events. She knelt down and pleaded: “Please, uncle, send troops to save my parents and younger brother!”

Ye Shouguan looked at Sima Ruodan kneeling and kowtowing on the ground, narrowed his eyes, and only asked after hearing the sound of sparks crackling: “Your mother was afraid I wouldn’t let your family enter the city, but why did she insist on returning to Suining City? You had already escaped early… even if you didn’t come to Yecheng Pass, you could have gone to other cities to hide. Why did you have to go back?”

Upon hearing this, Sima Ruodan’s body trembled, and she looked at Ye Shouguan with a guilty expression…

Seeing Sima Ruodan’s appearance, Ye Shouguan’s expression became even colder: “Heaven above, you’d better tell the truth, otherwise… I’ll treat you as a spy and chop you up to feed the dogs!”

Sima Ruodan’s small face immediately turned deathly pale with fright, and only then did she kowtow in panic: “It’s because my mother heard that our Western Liang Majesty was captured and felt that Western Liang’s situation was hopeless. She thought that before Great Zhou’s army reached Yecheng Pass, our family could return and use her identity as Ye Shouguan’s daughter… uncle’s sister, to deceive the Great Zhou Emperor by saying she could persuade uncle to open the city gates.”

Sima Ruodan secretly glanced up at Ye Shouguan, quickly withdrew her gaze, and said timidly: “If… Great Zhou wanted to avoid war; they would have to let me marry the Great Zhou Emperor’s brother, and only then would she be willing to come and persuade Uncle to surrender! Mother… mother… originally thought that as long as I could create a fait accompli with the Great Zhou Emperor’s brother, then even if the uncle was unwilling to surrender, she would have done her best. If I could even conceive Great Zhou imperial family’s child, our family’s wealth and honor would be secured!”

Hearing this, Ye Shouguan sneered: “This is truly Ye Yingyan’s style!”

“But, uncle, no matter what, my mother is still your sister! Please send troops… save my mother!”

Ye Shouguan’s guard entered, replacing Ye Shouguan’s tea with a hot cup. His gaze fell on Sima Ruodan kneeling on the ground, her back trembling as she cried, and he immediately noticed the jade pendant Sima Ruodan wore. His pupils contracted, and he stood up to the side, not daring to look again.

He hadn’t expected that their young miss would give the jade pendant he had given to the young miss to her daughter. Did this mean… the young miss had always been thinking of him? He wondered how the young miss was doing now!

Ye Shouguan looked at Sima Ruodan, trembling all over as she cried, and asked again: “Your mother calculated so cleverly, so why are you here?”

Sima Ruodan prostrated herself, trembling: “Great Zhou Emperor said… his brother’s marriage wasn’t something just anyone could aspire to. Not only did he refuse, but he also imprisoned our entire family. Mother originally wanted both my brothers to escape, but in the end, only I got out!”

As she spoke, Sima Ruodan began to cry: “It’s my fault for not taking good care of my younger brother. I beg uncle to show mercy – when rescuing our Majesty, please also save my mother, father, and younger brother! Please, uncle!”

“How are you certain that our Western Liang Emperor is in Great Zhou’s hands?” Ye Shouguan leaned forward and asked. “You’re just a small prefect’s daughter. Even if you were fortunate enough to enter the capital, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to see the imperial countenance! How can you so definitively claim that His Majesty is in Great Zhou’s hands? Could it be… You want to trick me into sending troops to save your mother and father?”

“Uncle, your niece absolutely wouldn’t dare deceive uncle about such matters!” Sima Ruodan kowtowed repeatedly. “Years ago, our Western Liang suffered a great defeat in the northern frontier battle. General Yun’s elite forces were completely lost at Weng Mountain. When our Western Liang sought peace, His Majesty was still the princess who was to be sent to Great Zhou for political marriage. At that time, His Majesty stayed at the prefect’s residence! Your niece was fortunate to see His Majesty once!”

“And this time, when our family returned, His Majesty was imprisoned in the courtyard next to ours. His Majesty was throwing things and cursing loudly in that courtyard! Saying he would kill all those Zhou people! Wanting to avenge someone called Tianzhuo…” Sima Ruodan seemed to be recalling as she spoke. “It’s just that the people guarding us were too strict at that time, so your niece didn’t dare to speak with His Majesty! But when I escaped, I heard those Great Zhou soldiers talking. They said Great Zhou Emperor and his forces would soon come to attack Yecheng Pass, and they would follow the example of General Yun from years past, hanging His Majesty and my parents at the very front of their army as shields!”

Deputy General Zhao’s eyes widened, and he turned to look at Ye Shouguan: “General!”

Ye Shouguan’s hand suddenly clenched tight, the veins on the back of his hand pulsing, his face iron-blue. To hang their Western Liang Emperor at the very front as a shield – this was humiliating Western Liang, trampling on Western Liang!

Deputy General Zhao knelt on one knee: “General, this subordinate requests permission to lead a team to Suining City to rescue His Majesty! No matter what, our Western Liang Emperor must not be humiliated by the Zhou people!”

How could Ye Shouguan not know that the Western Liang Emperor must not suffer humiliation? But had Western Liang suffered little humiliation? First, Li Tianjiao brought in Tianfeng Nation, practically handing over all of Western Liang to Tianfeng Nation.

Later, the eight great families and Tianfeng Nation supported Li Tianfu’s ascension. Although Ye Shouguan was quite dissatisfied in his heart, Li Tianfu was, after all, the late emperor’s bloodline, so he accepted it!

But Li Tianjiao insisted on getting entangled with Tianfeng Nation, going to participate in the Four Nations Alliance. He tried to stop Li Tianfu, but Li Tianfu was determined to go!

The Four Nations Alliance had no results, and instead, as Western Liang’s Emperor, she fell into Great Zhou’s hands!

First a Tianfeng Nation puppet, and now about to be used as a shield by Great Zhou – if the Western Liang imperial family so disappointed the soldiers and people, once hearts scattered… Western Liang would fall apart!