Xiao Rongyan turned his head and, seeing that the newcomer was the garrison general of Li City, told Bai Qingyan: “It’s the garrison general of Li City!”

“Liu Pinggao, let him through…” Bai Qingyan said to Liu Pinggao.

Liu Pinggao acknowledged the order and stepped forward, calling out loudly: “Let him through!”

The Li City garrison general leaped down from his horse, unbuckled the sword at his waist, and threw it to the Great Zhou soldiers who had stopped him, then ran quickly toward Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan’s direction. He urgently dropped to one knee and said: “Something has happened to the Regent! I beseech you to return to the city immediately!”

“What has happened?” Xiao Rongyan had no intention of avoiding Bai Qingyan and asked directly.

The Li City garrison general glanced at Bai Qingyan, gritted his teeth, and said with lowered head: “Regent, as soon as you left… the county magistrate wanted to break both of Physician Zhu’s hands and cut out his tongue, saying… to prevent Physician Zhu from speaking nonsense before the Regent. General Yue Quanyong led men to protect Physician Zhu and sent this subordinate to request the Regent’s swift return to take charge of the situation!”

The Li City garrison general, speaking before the Great Zhou Emperor, didn’t want to implicate the imperial clan members, only mentioning the county magistrate. After all, family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly. But with the urgent situation, the garrison general could only explain the matter clearly, temporarily pushing the blame onto the county magistrate, planning to explain the details to the Regent on the way back.

Xiao Rongyan’s eyes darkened. Even though the Li City garrison general didn’t speak plainly, he knew the county magistrate wouldn’t have such audacity. It must have been ordered by the imperial clan members, who probably thought that since he had come out to meet the Great Zhou Emperor, he wouldn’t be able to return for some time.

By then, they could claim that Physician Zhu had been interrogated before he arrived at Li City… had his hands broken, and they could say the physician had bitten off his tongue, unable to bear the torture.

“Saving lives is urgent! Physician Zhu delivered medicine to Anshun City early, preventing the epidemic from claiming more lives of the people! Such a person is a hero of my Great Zhou, a hero of the people. He cannot die!” Bai Qingyan spoke to Xiao Rongyan in front of the Yan garrison general. “Regent, this person is someone I want! Please return swiftly to Li City. I… will lead the great army closely behind to receive my Great Zhou hero. I want Physician Zhu and his family to remain completely unharmed!”

Since such a situation had already occurred, if Bai Qingyan was to resolve it, she naturally had to use the best method available.

This place was only five li from Li City, and Liu Pinggao had already brought the great army here. She didn’t mind walking five li to receive Physician Zhu.

If Physician Zhu were left in Li City, who knew whether he might face retaliation once Xiao Rongyan left… It would be better to bring Physician Zhu to a city under the Great Zhou’s control, and also let the Yan people see that the Great Zhou people remember kindness. If you show kindness to the Great Zhou’s people and someone wants to harm you, the Great Zhou Emperor will lead troops to rescue you!

Bai Qingyan’s action was both to force Yan to hand over Physician Zhu and to win hearts… to win the hearts of Yan’s people!

As long as Physician Zhou was brought into Anshun City, the people of Anshun City would surely submit to the Great Zhou with sincere hearts!

When the two nations eventually merged, the people’s resistance would be much less.

The Li City garrison general looked with surprise at this Great Zhou Emperor before him, who wore a face veil, had resolute eyes, and spoke in an unquestionable tone. For some unknown reason, his heart suddenly felt a sour, swelling sensation.

In the Great Zhou Emperor’s view, Physician Zhu, who had once delivered medicine to Anshun City, was a hero…

But the people of Anshun City were also citizens of their Yan nation! During Yan’s most difficult times, they had all donated property and goods to their own country. Now, those imperial clan members, because they gambled on the nation’s fate, didn’t regard the lives of Anshun City’s people as lives at all!

Thinking further of how the Great Zhou had previously sent medical prescriptions to their Li City, and how the physicians all said… Great Zhou’s prescriptions were indeed gentler and more effective, less likely to leave the people with headaches and other aftereffects. His heart was filled with mixed feelings.

The Li City garrison general had always been a timid person, but he was also a soldier who could sacrifice his life for his country!

But looking at the behavior of Yan’s imperial clan, then looking at Great Zhou’s Emperor, the Li City garrison general’s faith began to waver. Did such an imperial clan deserve his loyalty?

Xiao Rongyan bid farewell to Bai Qingyan, turned to Yue Shi, and began to leave…

“What are you standing there for! Follow!” Yue Shi looked at the Li City garrison general still kneeling on the ground and called out loudly.

The garrison general came to his senses and hurriedly followed. Watching Xiao Rongyan’s figure as he leaped onto his horse, the Li City garrison general felt again that… fortunately there was still the Regent, strengthening his resolve to remain loyal to Yan, loyal to the imperial house.

Bai Qingyan watched Xiao Rongyan depart first, then said to Liu Pinggao: “The great army advances, proceed to Li City!”

“Yes!” Liu Pinggao received the order.

·

Yue Quanyong led soldiers to block the prison entrance, protecting the cell where Zhu Chengru’s family was held. The county magistrate, accompanied by bailiffs, was confronting Yue Quanyong.

Physician Zhu, his clothes dirty and disheveled with straw still on his head, his expression panicked, protected his wife, daughter, and son, huddled in the moss-covered corner of the cell, so frightened his legs were shaking.

Physician Zhu’s wife, daughter, and son were holding back their sobs, tears flowing like broken strings, placing all their hope for survival on those soldiers standing guard at the cell door.

“General Yue, you were brought here to assist our Li City, not as our Li City garrison general. This official is the local parent official. Handling and settling the local people is the official’s duty! What is your intention in blocking us like this?” The county magistrate was very anxious. He feared the Regent’s return before he had completed the tasks assigned by those clan members. Once the Regent left again, he would inevitably face punishment from those clan members. “Moreover, the Regent ordered this official to properly settle Physician Zhu’s family. By obstructing like this, you’re hindering this subordinate’s work. When the Regent returns, I’m afraid you won’t be able to explain yourself to the Regent!”

In the county magistrate’s view, those people were all imperial clan members. Even if the Regent punished them, he wouldn’t take the lives of his relatives. At most, there would be a few words of rebuke, and in the end, it would still be small officials like them doing work below who would suffer.

Seeing that Yue Quanyong remained unmoved, the county magistrate’s face darkened as he said: “General Yue, by blocking here, are you opposing the Regent?”

“Whether you’re truly following the Regent’s words wanting to settle Physician Zhu’s family, or wanting to dispose of Physician Zhu’s family cleanly while the Regent is away, we both know in our hearts!” Yue Quanyong wasn’t intimidated at all. It was the garrison general who had found Yue Quanyong, and now the garrison general had left the city to seek help from the Regent. He would wait here until the Regent returned.

“Don’t try to use the Regent’s banner to pressure this general!” Yue Quanyong cupped his hands toward the sky: “This general has also fought bloody battles alongside the Regent. The Regent understands this general’s character well. If the Regent returns and believes this general is guilty, this general will accept punishment!”

The county magistrate was extremely anxious and could only glare at Yue Quanyong in confrontation.

After a long while, the county magistrate turned his head and instructed his subordinates to go invite the clan members over…