Outside the door, fierce winds raged, the trees swayed, and the air hung heavy with the earthy smell of vegetation.

Xiu Qu murmured, “Once this rain passes, summer will arrive…”

She opened the latticed window to let in fresh air. In the middle room, the mistress was speaking with Chen Yi. She walked to the stove beneath the eaves of the side room, where a medicinal pot still simmered with pregnancy-stabilizing medicine for the mistress. A young maid with freshly grown hair was tending the fire, fanning it vigorously with a cattail leaf fan.

Xiu Qu snatched the fan from her and scolded in a soft voice, “When brewing medicine on a slow fire, how can you fan so forcefully? Where is Madam Xu who usually prepares the mistress’s medicine?”

The little maid, startled, stammered in response, “Madam Xu went to the outer courtyard kitchen to fetch a bird’s nest. She asked this servant to watch the fire…”

The little maid was inexperienced, and Xiu Qu didn’t wish to scold her further. She told her to go, taking the fan herself to brew the medicine for the mistress.

Xiu Qu looked up toward the middle room, wondering what they were discussing that took so long…

The wind grew stronger, giving a sense of impending storm.

It was not a good omen.

Soon, Chen Yi emerged, followed by the mistress whose expression looked extremely troubled.

Xiu Qu immediately set down the fan and hurried forward, abandoning the medicine.

Just as she was about to speak, Gu Jin Chao waved her hand and said, “Go inform everyone in each quarter to stay indoors tonight if they have no business outside. Don’t wander about.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “The guards will be entering the inner courtyard soon. Tell everyone not to panic.”

Xiu Qu was somewhat surprised but acknowledged the order and left to relay the message.

Gu Jin Chao’s palms were damp with sweat.

She asked Chen Yi again, “Outside… how many people are there exactly?”

Chen Yi replied, “It’s hard to see clearly but to surround the Chen residence would require the strength of an entire garrison… at least a thousand men. Besides that, there are also people from the Divine Machine Battalion, which concerns this subordinate the most. Now that we’re surrounded, the situation is indeed precarious.”

The strength of a garrison meant nearly a thousand men. Zhang Ju Lian had dispatched nearly a thousand troops to besiege them—he truly regarded the Chen family highly!

“If they launch a forceful attack, can you withstand it?” she asked.

Chen Yi smiled bitterly, “The Third Master took only a dozen guards when he left, leaving the rest at the manor. But we only have about three hundred men, or five hundred if we count the manor guards. If our defenses falter, we could be overrun… but this subordinate will resist to the utmost—we can hold for an hour or two without issue.”

Gu Jin Chao took a deep breath, “What exactly is Chen Yan Yun doing? He only took a dozen men with him?”

Chen Yi nodded, “This subordinate doesn’t know either.”

He was the Third Master’s most capable man, yet he too had been left at the Chen residence.

It seemed the Third Master had anticipated Zhang Ju Lian would make such a move, but Zhang proved even more ruthless than they expected, directly deploying a garrison’s worth of troops. His available forces in the capital were already limited, showing his decisiveness.

Gu Jin Chao disliked this feeling, her heart growing heavy.

“There’s nothing to fear in death,” she said flatly. “Can any of our people still slip out undetected?”

“Those with better martial skills could still manage it…”

But trying to lead a group out would be impossible.

“That’s enough,” Gu Jin Chao said. “Take a team and slip out, hide under the eaves at the alley corner. If anyone tries to send messages into the city, shoot them dead.”

Chen Yi was startled by her words, “Madam, you mean to…”

“Since the situation is beyond remedy, let’s not burden the Third Master. No news from us is the best news for him.”

Gu Jin Chao’s tone remained calm.

Chen Yi suddenly felt a strange, inexpressible sensation.

They all respected Gu Jin Chao, but this respect stemmed from her status, in the Third Master’s position. Yet who would have expected that the young Gu Jin Chao could face death so calmly, prioritizing the bigger picture?

“This subordinate will go at once,” Chen Yi said hoarsely.

Gu Jin Chao returned to the middle room and sat down, while Cai Fu brought her a cup of tea.

Looking at the distant trees swaying in the wind, she said softly, “Cai Fu, aren’t you past the age to be released from service?”

Cai Fu smiled, “This servant enjoys attending to the mistress and has no desire to marry and bear children.”

Gu Jin Chao said, “Isn’t that a pity? After today passes, I’ll find you a good match in the Chen household.”

Cai Fu shook her head, “This servant has no one she fancies, please don’t trouble yourself, mistress.”

Cai Fu was in the prime of her life—if she were to be buried alongside her in the Chen residence, wouldn’t that be too great a waste?

Gu Jin Chao closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.

…

“It’s about to rain, isn’t it?” Chen Yan Yun stood on the steps of the Huangji Hall, gazing toward the distant Meridian Gate.

“Chen Yan Yun…” Ye Xian said, “We probably won’t survive today.”

“What’s wrong?”

Ye Xian pointed at the troops surging like a tide, “How long do you think it will take them to breach the city?”

“About half an hour,” Chen Yan Yun said. “If they’re quick, a quarter-hour would suffice.”

“We only have six thousand men, but they have thirteen thousand. Not to mention the Divine Machine Battalion’s superior firearms—if they used those weapons to attack the city, even if we had another six thousand men, it wouldn’t be enough to die with. When did Zhang Ju Lian manage to buy off all the capital garrison? They’re all risking their heads to follow him in rebellion. I tell you, besides Zhang Ju Lian, you’re the person I despise most in this life. If we’re going to die, don’t die together with me…”

This was where his calculations had failed.

He had thought that with the grave charge of treason, few would follow Zhang Ju Lian, yet somehow he had still managed to gather so many troops.

Chen Yan Yun smiled, “Young Master, if not dying with me, how would you prefer to die?”

He could still laugh!

Ye Xian felt large raindrops hitting his face, cold as ice. “When I left, my mother was crying inconsolably. She nearly tied me up to prevent me from leaving… My grandfather gave me this.” He placed the cold bronze tablet into Chen Yan Yun’s hand.

Chen Yan Yun was stunned upon seeing it. The Changxing Marquis family possessed a military tally…

“Too bad there’s no time to summon reinforcements. Let’s see how long the Iron Cavalry can hold out!”

The rain grew heavier, and the dull sounds of the assault grew louder, heavy and reverberating as if the walls could be breached at any moment.

Ye Xian took back the item. He stood in front of Chen Yan Yun and coldly commanded, “Shield bearers and crossbowmen to the front! Everyone else, fall back.”

Chen Yan Yun stepped back, and the Embroidered Guard hidden in the shadows all aimed their weapons at the city gate.

“Third Master…” Jiang Yan approached, “The Emperor has left the city.”

They were playing the empty fort strategy against Zhang Ju Lian, but even so, they could only save Zhu Jun’an’s life.

Chen Yan Yun grunted in acknowledgment, “Any news from the Chen residence?”

Jiang Yan shook his head, “All is well.”

…

The encirclement was steadily tightening, and even Old Madam Chen sensed something amiss.

She came to speak with Gu Jin Chao: “…What exactly is happening? Where is San’er?” Her tone was severe. “Third daughter-in-law, you mustn’t evade me. Has something serious happened?”

Gu Jin Chao felt a headache coming on. Xiu Qu quickly explained, “The Old Madam insisted on coming, and this servant couldn’t stop her.”

Old Madam Chang seemed to understand, taking Old Madam Chen’s hand with a sigh, “Come, sit down. Let me explain things to you.”

“It wasn’t intentional concealment,” Gu Jin Chao said. “Mother, please sit. I need to go outside and check on things.”

Old Madam Chen was somewhat angry.

At this moment, Gu Jin Chao had no patience to explain. She stepped outside the room and saw that indeed, the rain was now pouring heavily.

In the pitch-black night, she could almost hear the faint rustling sounds from outside. The guards stationed around Muxi Hall were already on alert.

Two figures were moving through the rainy night.

Gu Jin Chao frowned, and the guard beside her immediately prepared to act.

She quickly restrained him, “Wait, it’s the Ninth Young Master.”

Chen Xuan Yue had arrived with Nurse An. He wore a cloak, and Nurse An held an umbrella for him as they walked quickly.

Seeing it was indeed him, Gu Jin Chao stepped forward and grabbed his hand, “Why have you come at such a time? It’s very dangerous outside!” Why couldn’t anyone behave sensibly?

Chen Xuan Yue removed his cloak, “The commotion outside is too obvious—there must be troops surrounding us. The Chen family guards seem insufficient, don’t they?” He clicked his tongue at the torrential rain, “Too bad the weather isn’t cooperating.”

Gu Jin Chao continued to glare at him.

Chen Xuan Yue smiled, “Aunt, I truly came to help you. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!”

As he spoke, he walked inside, casually handing his cloak to Nurse An, “Where is that Chen Yi who’s always with Third Brother? I don’t see him.”

Thinking of his actions in his previous life, Gu Jin Chao restrained herself and said, “I sent him out.”

Chen Xuan Yue frowned slightly, “Sent him out?”

Gu Jin Chao explained the situation, and Chen Xuan Yue couldn’t help but sigh, “I’m a step too late! Why did you send him away? Even if someone went to report to the other side, what difference would it make? Could Third Brother Chen rush back here?” He didn’t care whether Chen Yan Yun worried or not—perhaps knowing that Gu Jin Chao was in danger would make him deal more harshly with Zhang Ju Lian.

“Well then, just find me someone capable of talking to,” Chen Xuan Yue said, sitting down in a master chair in the main hall.

After some thought, Gu Jin Chao decided to listen to Chen Xuan Yue. She called for the guard captain.

Chen Xuan Yue pondered for a moment, then asked, “I saw crossbows at Heyanlou. How many do you have in total?”

The guard captain answered, “Not many. We have more bows and arrows, long sabers, and the like.”

“What about lamp oil?”

The guard captain was momentarily confused—what did they need lamp oil for?

Chen Xuan Yue gave him a cold look, and the captain quickly replied, “Ordinary households don’t store large quantities. At most, three barrels…”

Chen Xuan Yue suppressed what he was about to say.

“Never mind the lamp oil. You must have pine oil, right?”

The guard captain nodded, “Yes, we do have that. May I ask what the Ninth Young Master is planning?”

Gu Jin Chao was also curious about what Chen Xuan Yue intended.

Chen Xuan Yue had no time to explain, “Aunt, I can help everyone hold out longer—at least keep the attackers from breaking in. But once we run out of supplies, there’s nothing more I can do. Let’s hold on as long as we can.”

He immediately began giving detailed instructions, leaving the guard captain breathless with admiration.

The captain dared not question further and immediately left with his men to carry out the orders.