More officials rushed forward, but those who couldn’t escape in time were shot dead. Some didn’t even have a chance to speak.
Shen Du deeply regretted letting go. He had thought the previous example would deter others from foolishly sacrificing themselves.
Unfortunately, some fools took advantage of moments when no one was watching to attempt persuasion, only to be quickly killed by Mo Qianzhi.
He wanted to stop them, but he couldn’t prevent those determined to throw their lives away.
The root cause was Mo Qianzhi’s considerable influence. Even Shen Du might have made the same choice in their position.
Due to insufficient manpower at the city gate, more civilians joined in. Shen Du was surprised, but seeing Zhu Yan standing in the crowd from afar, he felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart, steadying his resolve.
Zhu Yan gazed directly at Shen Du, her eyes gleaming.
Shen Du nodded slightly before turning to command the defense formation.
However, what followed spiraled out of control.
Someone in the crowd called out “Lord Mo,” informing him that the gate was guarded by Yingzhou’s civilians.
“Lord Mo, please stop! The people of Yingzhou want you to return.”
They weren’t there to defend the gate; they were there to open it.
Shen Du knew this was bad. Sure enough, Mo Qianzhi’s steady, persuasive voice came from outside:
“People of Yingzhou! You’ve always been in my heart!” Despite the wall between them, his voice retained its usual soul-piercing power.
“But Great Zhou is sick! Someone must save it. Please rise against the White King of Hell. He’s now Great Zhou’s lapdog. If you speak for me like this, he’ll soon kill you all, including your families.”
They might not know Shen Du, but they knew the infamous White King of Hell, the organization that eliminated the Empress’s opponents. Speaking for Mo Qianzhi now meant they couldn’t escape later.
Realizing this, the civilians stopped defending the gate and turned to look at Shen Du, who stood not far behind them, and Zhu Yan, who was further away.
But neither Shen Du nor Zhu Yan moved or spoke.
Outside, the attackers continued battering the gate. Inside, only the imperial guards and officials remained to resist. The civilians were paralyzed with indecision.
Fearing Shen Du might lose patience and kill these obstinate people, Zhu Yan stepped forward to stand beside him, calling out fervently:
“Don’t be fooled by him! If he breaks in, he’ll kill you all. He’s in league with Half-Face Ghost.”
“Have you forgotten? There are hundreds of Half-Face Ghost’s men outside, waiting to come in and take your heads, just like on the day of the massacre.”
But no one heeded her words. They huddled together, whispering and pointing at Shen Du and Zhu Yan.
Outside the gate, Mo Qianzhi spoke again: “He’s the White King of Hell, ruthless in his actions. Haven’t you seen what happened to my wife and child? They’ve already perished because of him. You could be next.”
The crowd immediately became restless.
They trusted Mo Qianzhi, believing him to be an upright official with good reasons for his actions. His governance record was proof enough.
“Lord Mo has always taken care of us. How can we keep him out now?”
Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up, and others joined in agreement.
“Lord Shen, please open the gate and let Lord Mo in.”
“Lord Mo cares for the people. He must have his reasons.”
“His wife and child are dead. Please show mercy, White King of Hell.”
The civilians bowed collectively, pleading for Mo Qianzhi.
Only then did Shen Du realize how terrifying Mo Qianzhi was. He felt that if left unchecked, Mo Qianzhi could succeed in his rebellion.
But under the Empress’s rule, the four seas were at peace. How could he allow such bloodshed to occur before his eyes? Moreover, Mo Qianzhi had chosen the wrong path, already staining his hands with innocent blood. He couldn’t possibly win.
“Please, White King of Hell, open the gate and let Lord Mo in.” The civilians pleaded again. Judging by their eager looks, they might force the gate open if Shen Du refused.
“Silence!” Jing Lin, unable to bear the civilians pressuring his master, drew his sword with a “swoosh.”
The glint of the blade reflected in the civilians’ eyes, finally silencing them, though they didn’t retreat.
“Which of your earlier words describe the current Mo Qianzhi?” Shen Du finally spoke after a long pause. “The Lord Mo you speak of no longer exists. Opening the gate now is suicide.”
But it was useless. These people believed in the good official who had served Yingzhou for over a decade, not in him. They were completely under Mo Qianzhi’s spell.
It started with one, then two, and soon the entire crowd surged towards the gate.
They wanted to open it, to let Lord Mo in and retake control of Yingzhou.
The imperial guards were overwhelmed, trying to hold the gate while also fending off these misguided civilians.
Chaos erupted at the gate. Jing Lin led the defense, but was soon tackled by a civilian. He quickly dodged, a fierce light in his eyes, half-drawing his sword before forcibly sheathing it again.
These foolish people had lost all reason.
“If you open the gate, he’ll massacre the city. You’ll all die!” He tried to shout over the rabble-rousers in the crowd.
But those people had long since lost their senses and wouldn’t listen. They besieged the imperial guards and officials, attempting to open the gate.
The surging crowd knocked Zhu Yan down. Sharp-eyed Shen Du immediately caught her, holding her protectively in his arms.
Zhu Yan was grateful, but this was no time for tenderness. She pushed Shen Du away, shaking her head to indicate she was fine.
Shen Du instructed her to hide safely before turning to control the situation.
Jing Lin, scattered by the crowd, watched anxiously from afar.
As Shen Du was about to leap over, he instinctively looked back and his heart skipped a beat. Zhu Yan was gone.
Despite the scorching heat, Shen Du broke out in a cold sweat. He frantically searched for Zhu Yan, calling out her name, but amidst the clamor, how could he get a response?
Shen Du thought, if anything happened to Zhu Yan, he wouldn’t live alone after dealing with Mo Qianzhi.
“I’m here.”
Hearing her voice, Shen Du’s heart leapt with joy. He looked towards the sound and saw Zhu Yan standing beside Jing Lin, who was protecting her tightly, fearing the civilians might harm her.
But Jing Lin’s expression was one of helplessness. This young mistress, instead of staying safe, had come to “help,” adding to his burden when he was already stretched thin.
“How reckless!” Seeing Zhu Yan unharmed, Shen Du’s anxiety eased, but he was still angry.
Zhu Yan sensed his anger and threw herself into his arms, hugging him briefly before quickly letting go, smiling appeasingly. “Don’t be angry. I have an idea.”
The civilians gave them no time. They surged forward in one push. Jing Lin hurriedly led his men to resist, while Shen Du once again shielded Zhu Yan behind him, facing the menacing crowd sternly.
He couldn’t guarantee that if the civilians truly rioted, he wouldn’t resort to force.