Chapter 69: True Love Unfulfilled?

  Wen Jing's eyes stared intently at Rong Chutai Shi Lan's back.

  As soon as they pushed open the rotten door and stepped inside, the whole family would fall into the pit of quicksand that had been dug out, with countless knives and swords at the bottom. In an instant, people would be stabbed to death and turned into minced meat. Then, the quicksand would collapse, filling the ground, and people would sleep here forever, leaving no trace behind. After a few days, the wind and sand would rise again, covering even the house halfway. These three people would then have no trace in this world, nor could anyone find their traces.

  If they don't fall for it, it's simple now. The archers are ambushing them from behind, just one arrow and they can also shoot them into the pit!

  This is the third time that Xī Jú Lán Tiān has calculated and chosen the most secretive and cleanest way to kill.

  The old cow sneered, "Like those women five years ago, buried alive!"

  The Western Bureau detective leading the way, carrying a flying rope on his body, will serve as bait, push open the door and walk in first, and at the moment of falling, there will naturally be companions pulling him up, as for the family behind - hmm, please enter the pit.

  "This house is still quite tidy, only without a roof. How come all the houses around here don't have roofs?" Xi Ju's expression was calm and collected, chatting and laughing with those in front, he casually pushed open the largest door of the house, "Shi Niangzi, come inside to avoid the wind."

  He finished speaking and stepped forward, pulling Yongchu along with him.

  The door creaked and slammed against the inner wall, and the western detective's body fell. He hastily threw out a flying rope, hooked it on the wall, and fixed his body in place. He remembered that he had already pulled down the container before opening the door, and felt proud of himself. Suddenly, he thought again, why didn't he hear any scream?

  He was startled in his heart and hastily lowered his head for a glance - no one!

  He raised his head again, and his eyes were fixed on her.

  Rong Chuli stood at the door, his hands on the wall for support, his toes already halfway inside, yet still hovering in mid-air, not having been pulled in by him.

  Lao Niu and Wen Jing, hiding in another room, exchanged a glance, knowing that the first plan had failed, but they didn't panic. Lao Niu made a crisp sound, sending out a secret signal.

  "Fire!"

  "Whoosh!"

  From the predicted ambush location, a burst of black arrows shot out, rising like dark clouds before a thunderstorm and falling like torrential rain after strong winds, whizzing through the blue sky and hitting the target.

  "Ah——"

  A mournful cry, a thousand feet of fresh blood, a thousand wounds and a hundred holes, flesh and bones turned into mud.

  The western-style detective on the wall, like a hedgehog, slightly ** several times, vainly stretched out his hand, towards the direction of the arrow, seemed to want to understand why the result would be like this?

  Why is it like this?

  Wen Jing and Lao Niu were also stunned.

  Just a moment ago, they were still rejoicing at the sudden burst of Wan Jian's power. But soon their mood plummeted into the depths because they discovered in horror that although the direction of all the arrows had not changed, they had all risen by three feet, flying steadily over the heads of the family of three and shooting towards the western scout who was still on the wall!

  In an instant, he was pierced by countless arrows and nailed to the wall.

  Fresh blood twisted and turned on the sandy wall, painting a strange symbol of life and death.

  Rong Chu Taishi stood still at the door, wearing a Jingtai blue belt.

  Against the backdrop of the gray-yellow house, the silhouettes of these three people did not seem to be experiencing a crisis, but rather seemed to be in mourning.

  The wind and sand are just like this, and the old friend has returned.

  Facing the open door, Rong Chu gently raised her hand.

  The outer purple cloak fell to the ground, revealing a snow-white dress underneath.

  Purple velvet flowers and hairpins fell to the ground, scattered black hair like silk, like flags flying in the azure sky.

  At this moment, the man's back figure is like a jade tree, but it makes people think of the snowy mountains far away on the horizon.

  He raised his hand over his shoulder towards the inner wall side.

  The room fell silent, and everyone heard the man's long, soft sigh.

  "Roll up your sleeves, and here come my three hundred brothers to see you."

  ……

  Wen Jing suddenly swayed and couldn't stand still, holding onto the wall for support.

  The old cow's face suddenly shrunk into a short face, and all five senses were shocked and rolled together.

  "...Yong......yong......yong......" Behind them, all the Western Bureau scouts were shocked and speechless.

  Everyone saw infinite shock and deep black despair in each other's wide-open pupils.

  Good heavens!

  I knew it was a top-secret mission, but no matter how hard I thought about it, I never expected the target to be the Duke of Jin!

  Top-ranking minister, descendant of the founding hero, generations of pillars of the state, a giant military clan... countless halos and illustrious titles are not enough to describe that family and that person.

  That is a legend belonging to all young heroes, belonging to the glory of the empire, belonging to the brilliance of the era, and belonging to the gaze above all power.

  Although it has been low-key and silent since the emperor's departure, including Rong Chu, it seems to be gradually withdrawing from the court stage, but the spies of the Western Bureau know that the real power of the Duke of Jin is far beyond that of ordinary princes. Even in the wilderness, his penetration into the imperial politics is still omnipresent.

  It was just a secret military force belonging to the Rong family, and no one could figure it out.

  How could such a person be allowed to come and kill him!

  Wen Jing's whole body trembled, he was more aware of some things than others - in front of him was the sweet water well of Lantian Pass, where that battle which had affected Rong Chu's life took place. It was here that Rong Chu lost his trusted three hundred men, lost his friends, and lost the trust of his low-ranking officers. Here, he experienced the most tragic defeat in his glorious military career, a defeat that left an eternal scar on his heart, one that would never fade despite the passage of time.

  Now he actually chose to assassinate him here, in front of the shrine of three hundred generals!

  How can Rong Chu bear it? How can he tolerate it?

  Wen Jing's fear had reached its peak, and he let out a low growl from his throat, actually disregarding his companions and turning to run.

  A pair of hands grabbed him, it was the ignorant old cow, he cursed angrily, "Damn it, how could it be Rong Chu? A person of this status, how dare to disguise himself as a woman!" On the other hand, he shouted loudly, "What are you running for? Don't you know that running is also a dead end? Let's fight and see if there's still a chance to survive!"

  Wen Jing's whole body was covered in cold sweat, and he trembled so much that he couldn't speak.

  At the gate, those three people didn't even look at them.

  Under the vast sky and before heroic souls, all schemes are unnecessary.

  The Chu facing the wall without a roof.

  Tai Shi Lan was also quietly looking at the inner wall.

  A hail of arrows, shaking the walls, a layer of yellow sand on the wall slowly collapsed, revealing the inner greenish-gray brick wall filled with rice paste, and on the wall were murals.

  A long mural painting that tells a person's life story. A young girl in her prime, like a flower in full bloom, cut off midway, blood and sand.

  "There was no roof here to begin with." Rong Chu's voice sounded as if it came from the ends of the earth, "Fu Zhou said she died suffocated and liked openness when she was alive, liked looking at the sky, so don't add a roof for her."

  "Very well," said Taishi Ran.

  "This brick wall here is specially made and will never be eroded by wind and sand." Rong Chu looked down at his feet, "Five zhang below this place, her clothes and headdress are buried, as for her remains, they cannot stay outside, they were transported back to her family."

  Tai Shi was silent, she had recently studied the history of Southern Qi and knew that the soldiers who died in battle were always buried locally. This woman, even if presided over by Rong Chu, was not buried here, indicating that her identity must be extraordinary.

  "This place should have been enclosed, not allowing outsiders to enter, but Fu Zhou said she wouldn't like it, he said her soul must always be here, he's afraid she'll be lonely, hoping the footsteps of people coming and going will add some liveliness for her."

  Tai Shi Lan fell silent, thinking of Li Fu Zhou who always smiled and was warm-hearted.

  What makes him still smile after experiencing this farewell, forever smiling?

  Is it her?

  Against the front wall, a smiling girl with hanging hair leaning against the wall, slightly bent waist.

  With a loud noise, a group of people emerged from the mountain slope, drawing their bows as they came. Behind Rong Chu, they dropped their bows and knelt down, bowing their heads.

  "The vast sky is blue, the waters of the Yi River are swelling, in the past I was a heroic spirit, and though I have passed away, my memory will not be forgotten."

  "The wind blows down the snow, and the board is left with residual frost. In the past, I wore the same robe, but now only my bones remain fragrant."

  A bleak eulogy was blown away by a bleak wind. The humble former young general, now the Duke of the State, stood with an isolated and desolate back.

  One's success is built on the withered bones of ten thousand people; what one bears on their back has never been just life.

  There are countless moral principles, conscience, and endless sighs that turn over in the quiet night.

  "Jing Tai Blue." Ta Shi Lan said to the child who had been quiet all along, "This is your Southern Qi hero, a true hero who guarded the country with his flesh and blood. You have come here, you should thank them."

  Jingtai Blue released her hand, clasped her hands together in front of her abdomen, and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

  Rong Chu didn't move, but Tai Shi Lan seemed to see him smiling with relief.

  "Mom." Jing Tai's voice was clear and childish as he looked at the wall carving of a girl, "She is the one you and I were talking about, who was buried alive..."

  "It is." Tai Shi Lan did not evade, "She died for love, a heroic death."

  Rong Chu's back trembled slightly, without turning around, "Fu Zhou should be comforted to hear you say that."

  "I think what she wants isn't someone else's memories." Ta Sili gazed at the girl on the wall, "But forgetfulness."

  Rong Chu suddenly turned his head and looked at her.

  Tai Shi's eyes were clear and transparent, with no concealment. In front of such eyes, the words that had reached his lips finally went unspoken.

  Want to ask her: Do you like Li Fu Zhou?

  I want to ask her: If you like him, why are you still so calm and composed after knowing about his emotional scars?

  I want to ask her: If you don't like him, why are your words no longer indifferent today? Why can you understand the wind and sleeves across time and death? Is it because there is a common mood that there is a common wish?

  But in the end didn't ask, didn't want to ask.

  Let her think whatever she wants, it was indeed the young man who charged into the enemy camp for his deceased lover on that windy and snowy day. But he believed that in her eyes, there must be another young man reflected, one who stayed behind to guard the battlefield, built an ice castle with the bodies of his comrades, and exchanged their blood and flesh for the deaths of tens of thousands of enemies.

  She may yearn for the gentle sunlight, subconsciously liking the spring breeze that sweeps across the icy lake thousands of miles away, but deep in her heart, the snow line on the high mountain is forever falling with the same temperature as him.

  One day she will know.

  ……

  The wind was howling, and the yellow sand was swirling like a boiling cauldron. Rong Chu stood before the deep blue wall carvings, slowly turning around.

  His guards, led by Zhao Thirteen, came forward with excitement and solemnity. Zhao Thirteen knelt down three steps away, knocking his head heavily on the ground, "The subordinate failed to protect you, please punish me, master."

  "Thirteen." Rong Chu looked up at the sky, and in this moment, the man who was as radiant as a pearl, had an air of calmness and killing intent that was faintly born. "This place is where heroes sleep, it can accommodate the people they once protected with all their might, but it cannot accommodate despicable and cunning villains to set up traps and defile their place."

  "Yes."

  Rong Chu nodded slightly and left, Zhao Thirteen draped a black satin cloak over him, with a golden dragon pattern running through it, fluttering in the wind like a living thing.

  He never looked back at those Western detectives from start to finish.

  Wen Jing had already collapsed on the ground, Lao Niu pulled his leg and ran away. Zhao Thirteen's cold shout came from behind him, echoing through the forest.

  "Kill."

  ……

  Tai Shi Lan hugged the blue glaze and walked out of that roofless house, leaving behind the loud shouts of the Western Bureau's spies.

  She had no sympathy or pity. If it wasn't Rong Chu and her being calculated by Xi Ju at this moment, there would be more tragic deaths under the hands of these people.

  If it weren't for Rong Chu's absolute wisdom, these people would have been playing with him in the palm of their hands all along. If he hadn't finally contacted Zhao Thirteen last night, today might have brought another turn of events.

  Rong Chu would not allow anyone to trample the place where Feng Wu's soul rested, just as he would not allow anyone to dare challenge his authority.

  Even if he smiles, looks harmless and even women don't mind dressing him up.

  But in essence, he is forever the god of war who, on that snowy night, used his flesh and blood as a fortress to slaughter tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and refused to accept their surrender.

  They stood on the high platform, looking down at what was below them.

  Sun Yu and others who were confronting the Western Bureau detectives below saw them at a glance.

  See the tranquil Taishi Lane, see the small face of Jingtailan rarely serious, see - black cloak white brocade robe, cloak with embroidered noble dragon pattern of Rongchu.

  Sun Yu's eyes were slightly confused - where was Shi Nu?

  Then he stared at Rong Chu, slowly widening his eyes, and suddenly couldn't help but shudder.

  He is... He is...

  Rong Chu's cloak fluttered in the wind, his gaze looking down was devoid of emotion, a true gaze of a superior being.

  Not the affected and artificial gesture of covering one's face with a sleeve, nor the charming and flirtatious gaze of Shi Nu, the only similarity is that slightly raised eyebrow, shining brightly like a pearl in the emerald sea.

  A team of burly guards walked up the hill, stood beside Rong Chu, bowed their heads respectfully to report the results of the battle, and blood dripped from their swords. Rong Chu still just nodded slightly.

  Sun Yu was so frightened that he didn't dare move a muscle.

  He had already recognized the special emblem on the corner of the guard's uniform.

  So he couldn't gather his emotions.

  At present, one of the invisible masters of the empire, a legendary figure who can move mountains and rivers with a wave of his sleeve, how can he be connected to those heavenly, gentle and charming ladies in history?

  A superior person, if he can do what others disdain to do with equanimity, how strong must his will be?

  Shocked, regretful, unable to understand, flustered... countless emotions flashed by in an instant. Sun Yu suddenly let out a loud cry amidst the chaos, abandoned his western chess opponent and turned around to flee.

  In the heat of battle, he lost his focus and rashly turned his back on the enemy, an irreparable mistake. A sword seized this opportunity, stabbing him mercilessly in the back without hesitation.

  The sword was icy cold, while the blood was boiling hot. The extreme sensation of alternating between cold and heat suddenly made the dying Sun Yu think of "Shi Niangzi".

  This was the most unimaginable, with the greatest contrast, and thus the most terrifying person he had met in his life.

  ……

  "The young heroes" all died at the hands of the Western Bureau detectives, and Tai Shi Lan still didn't move.

  These people were caught in the conflict between Xi Ju and Rong Chu, and their deaths had already been sealed.

  To say nothing of these people can't be considered good people. If they were really an ordinary couple, what would happen next is imaginable.

  The western detective who was fighting with Xiaoxia and others under the mountain suddenly realized that something was wrong on the mountain.

  Zhao Thirteen and his men had already retreated, so there was a corpse that was blown up by the wind and sand, rolling down the mountain slope.

  The remaining Western detectives found the familiar corpses and the fierce guards on the hill, shocked and no one dared to fight back, turned around and fled in all directions.

  Zhao Shi San was about to chase after him when Rong Chu raised his hand.

  Zhao Thirteen stopped moving.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't care about these things and asked directly, "Why not eliminate them completely?"

  "After all, someone has to report back." Rong Chu smiled, "They have to know that I already know about this matter."

  This statement is a bit awkward and doesn't quite add up. If Rong Chu had killed the person, wouldn't the other party still find out that he knew about it?

  However, Tai Shi Lan thought for a moment and understood that the key was not "knowing", but "I".

  "You mean they didn't even know it was you who was supposed to be killed?"

  Rong Chu smiled slightly and nodded in approval, "If they knew it was me who was going to be killed, how could they possibly set an ambush here."

  "Then let him go back..."

  "The Western Bureau is not a monolithic entity, currently under the leadership of King Kang, but the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief is Qiao Yurun. The two have different views on governance. King Kang believes that since we dare to do it, there's no need to worry too much, and the Western Bureau should be a feared institution that makes people tremble with fear; Qiao Yurun thinks that would lead to internal strife within the bureau, causing people to lose heart and making it difficult to obtain effective information. He advocates for differentiated treatment, dividing and conquering, improving the external image as much as possible, and building the Western Bureau into a semi-open, semi-secret institution above the law. So I can be certain," Rong Chutu said calmly, "this assassination order is not Qiao Yurun's intention, but King Kang's."

  "So, you're going to return to others what is theirs and also differentiate them?"

  Qiao Yurun is currently in this area, and the Western Bureau's secret agents must also be under her direct control. The King of Kang's hand has stretched too far, disregarding everything with an extremely confidential order, instructing the Western Ling Blue Field Agency to assassinate me but failing to do so, instead suffering losses and startling the enemy. How can Qiao Yurun swallow this? Those who ran back said that the entire Blue Field Agency, including the Third Agency, cannot help but have grievances. In their view, dealing with me is like hitting a stone with an egg; they were deceived and ordered by King Kang to go to their deaths. This grievance, they also cannot swallow.

  Rong Chu smiled slightly, "In this dark world, walking around every day, thinking about harming people, these kinds of despicable people have already been driven mad by the days, whoever wants to offend them, they dare to bite back, even if King Kang's power is great, it's not necessarily enough to withstand the daily calculations of these small people who are steeped in evil plans. So I'll just kill a few less, leave more people, and give our respected King Kang a bit of fun, isn't that right?"

  Tai Shi Lan was speechless.

  It's just a small matter, but this guy has already figured out all the causes and consequences, no need for verification, he must be right.

  He calculated all the facts and then took advantage of the situation to frame the mastermind.

  It can be seen that in the following days, Xiyuan will not be peaceful. The two people most favored by Empress Zongzheng, who could barely cooperate before, will inevitably go their separate ways after today.

  It is better to have multiple enemies than to find a friend for yourself.

  Especially when the enemy of the enemy is also a viper.

  But no matter how poisonous, how ruthless, or how deeply calculating one is, it seems that none of these can compare to the subtle smile and careless wave of this person.

  "Jingtai blue." Tai Shi Lan seized every opportunity to teach Xiao Zi, "You see, this is called preparing for the unexpected, being deep and profound. What they call a successful villain, the key to their success lies in the fact that when others are still calculating or retaliating against a certain step, he has already surpassed that step and directly seen several steps or dozens of steps ahead."

  "I thought I should be considered a hero." Rong Chu said discontentedly.

  "Heroes are all underground, while treacherous heroes can bring disaster for a thousand years."

  "I'm not a hero, nor am I a villain." Rong Chu smiled and leaned in, "I just want to harm you..."

  "You're more suited to being a scourge on heroic young masters." Tai Shi Lan turned around and left.

  Jingtai Lan perched on her shoulder, blinking his eyes, biting his fingers, and giggling, "Hubby is a rascal, bitch—is—bitch!"

  ……

  Zhao Thirteen caught up, a whistle sounded, and a horse-drawn carriage drove up from below.

  "Thirteen found the famous doctor who treated my waist disease back then." Chong Chu looked at Tai Shi Lan with some apology, "Back then he said that within five years I would definitely relapse. This person is unpredictable and hard to find, but fortunately he was found, and my father has already sent someone from Lijing to inform him by fast horse, ordering me to go for treatment."

  "Take care of your illness." Tai Shi Lan hugged the blue vase and left, "I'm going back to Bei Yan."

  She took two steps forward, and a soft call came from behind her, "Lan Lan..."

  Tai Shi Lan stopped in her tracks, "Can you not be so disgusting?"

  "So," Rong Chu smiled, "husband?"

  Zhao Thirteen's face turned green, and Jing Tai Blue Grid laughed. He thought the past few days were quite fun, and he also thought that Guo Gong looked good as a woman. It would be fine if it was like this from now on.

  "Can't afford to marry." Tai Shi Lan walked even faster.

  "Are you leaving me behind, or are you coming with me?"

  "Chu." Taishi Lan turned around, looking into his eyes, "Your world, after all, is not mine. A family like the Rong's, I can never enter."

  Chu silently endured.

  This seems to be Tai Shi Lan's first explicit expression of his will regarding the future he implied.

  In the past, he was joking, and she didn't take it seriously. Today, he still joked, but she answered seriously.

  When other girls would hesitate and pretend to be stupid, fearing that others would say they were being overly sensitive, she was still so direct and decisive, striking straight to the heart with one sword.

  He was so serious that he was left speechless.

  It cannot be denied that in his eyes, a hint of desolation gradually emerged.

  "Infatuation has arrived, true love is yet to be fulfilled." Taishi Lan turned around, never looking back.

  Jing Tai Lan held onto her hem, swaying back and forth as she walked, giggling and turning her head to whisper to him, "Mama... mine..."

  Rong Chu watched the big and small figures walking down the mountain slope, getting into the horse carriage. She thought about the days of drifting in the water, relying on each other for survival, with men and women switching roles, and the journey full of hidden dangers amidst playful teasing. She remembered the suitable strength of his fingers when she massaged him every day, and the tenderness on the side of the woman who seemed tough under the lamp light.

  He smiled slowly.

  She said he already likes her.

  But true love is not enough.

  She is such a proud and pure person, naturally she wouldn't accept impure emotions.

  Is it true love?...

  Rongchu's eyes drooped slightly, falling on the gap in the yellow mountain slope. There, a wildflower stubbornly poked its head out in the rustling wind, opening up its thin petals, half pale white and half deep blue.

  The horse carriage rumbled on, Zhao Thirteen personally led the Rong family guards to escort Tai Shi Lan, heading north along the road.

  Tai Shi Lan originally refused his escort, Rong Chu's body was not good, Zhao Thirteen should have gone to accompany him, but Zhao Thirteen said that the top had received a secret report, saying that recently the Western Fan army seemed to be making unusual movements, and was worried that the Western Fan would make a border attack soon. Although the Western Fan wanted to enter Beijian, they must first cross the Xiling Province's Upper Garrison and the Wai Sanjia Army's Xi Dazhen, from a theoretical point of view it is not very possible, but Zhao Thirteen said that the Duke believed that the Western Fan general Ye Lu Jingnan was cunning in his use of troops, bold and arrogant, often making surprising moves, so he insisted on staying behind to make more preparations.

  At first they were washed away by the water to a neighboring province in the north, and all the way south, I don't know if it was blocked by the mountain range, as soon as they entered the northern boundary of Yan, the weather improved a lot.

  Jing Tai Lan was sleeping soundly with his head on Ta Shi Lan's leg, while Ta Shi Lan remained still and watched him. A few days ago, Rong Chu had told her that Jing Tai Lan's current situation was very strange, and even he wasn't sure whether he should send him back or not. Now, some people's reactions were too unusual, making him feel that perhaps Jing Tai Lan could see many secrets outside.

  At that time, Rong Chuyao gazed in the direction of Li Jing and said faintly: "However, no matter what, after four months and twenty days, Jing Tai Lan must go back."

  Four months and twenty days...

  The exact date somehow made her feel a little uneasy.

  Jingtai Lan has been by her side for two whole months, what does the next few days mean? In impression, there is only one date that can be calculated, and the approximate tail number is twenty.

  Tai Shi Lan's eyes gradually turned cold.

  If it's really like that...

  Jingtai Lan suddenly moved and hugged her leg, his body climbed up like a sloth, and his head rubbed against her leg.

  A subconscious way of seeking security.

  Tai Shi Lan suddenly felt that he was not powerful enough.

  In four months and twenty days, Jing Tai Lan will likely face the greatest challenge and crisis of her life, but she has nothing yet. Even on the day when the Yuheba Dam burst, when Jin Zheng threw Jing Tai Lan into the floodwaters, she was unable to save herself.

  If it weren't for Rong Chu, perhaps she and Jing Tai Lan would have died already.

  Jingtai Lan patted her knee with her mouth, making a sound just like a chick when she was little.

  Four months and twenty days... She must have the power to protect him within this period of time.

  Tai Shi Lan slowly raised his head.

  Her eyes were cold and murderous.

  The rest of the journey was quick, and they entered the city because they didn't pass through those flooded villages. Ta Shi Lan couldn't determine the extent of the disaster, but according to Rong Chu, he had already ordered the surrounding cities and counties to pay attention to the disaster situation and provide support at any time before arriving in Bei Yan. The cities and counties she passed through were all prosperous as usual, seemingly unaffected.

  Returning to his own mansion, Tai Shi Lan had Zhao Thirteen take Jing Tai Blue to rest while he changed clothes and rushed straight to the Bei Yan Fu.

  She found it strange that Su Ya wasn't waiting for her at the house, she remembered that when the dam burst, Su Ya didn't fall into the water, could it be that when she fell in, Su Ya also jumped in and was washed away by the water?

  Zhao Thirteen heard that she was going to Beiyan Prefecture, and his expression was a bit strange. He tried several times to stop her, but Ta Shi Lan had something on her mind and didn't pay attention to him. Zhao Thirteen watched as she left the door, thought for a moment, sighed, and waved his hand at his subordinates.

  "This time, I'm afraid something will happen. However, the master has ordered us to protect them... Zhao Thirteen slightly furrowed his brow, "To say... the Northern Yan Manor is really too excessive..."

  When Tai Shi arrived at Beiyuan Prefecture, it was already late afternoon, and the government office was about to close. However, when she arrived, she could hear a loud commotion from afar.

  Looking up, I saw that the gate of the government office was surrounded by many people, but they all kept a certain distance. The innermost group of people were furious, pointing and scolding loudly. In the middle, a group of people were silent, with gloomy expressions. The outermost group of people had angry faces, gritting their teeth.

  Tai Shi-lan had seen some scenes of people besieging the government, most of whom were united in their anger and determination. But he had never seen such a strange and eerie atmosphere with different layers of emotions. From afar, he saw someone inside the inner circle throwing rotten leaves and radishes, and it seemed that there were still people at the gate of the government office.

  This scene is somewhat similar to that of some extremely heinous prisoners being paraded in public with a cangue.

  The cangue display is a humiliating punishment, mainly aimed at destroying self-esteem. Since the Western Bureau appeared, this originally short-term punishment has been extended, and too long a cangue can also be fatal, and it's a prolonged and painful way to die. According to the law, only crimes such as adultery, rape, treason, and extreme depravity will suffer from this kind of spiritual torture that is trampled on and pointed at by thousands of people. Taishi Lan had been practicing for a month and naturally became familiar with the criminal law, but she didn't pay attention to it. At this time, there were many people in front, so she got off her horse and prepared to walk over.

  Just squeezed into the crowd, I heard the low curses of the common people in the outer circle.

  "The Northern Capital is rotten to the core!"

  "How dare they say such things with a straight face!"

  "Look at that ambassador! On the day of the dam burst, he was on the dam. What a sorry sight! After falling into the water, he desperately fought with others for the door board and kicked people to the bottom of the water. Now he has the nerve to call himself a meritorious official!"

  "Bastard, who doesn't know that at the time he didn't believe the dam would burst and ran to watch the joke, the real lifesaver is now being... Those people inside are hateful, they're still calling out for praise!"

  "That's Beiyuan's thug, hired by the government with money, scolding and beating all day, for fifty copper coins!"

  "This world..."

  "Keep your voice down! There are government people inside!"

  Tai Shi Lan's face slowly turned cold.

  Could it be...

  He was pushing his way in, when suddenly someone covered their face and hastily said "I'm leaving! There's still a big mess waiting for me in the village!" They turned around and started walking out, but someone behind them pulled on their arm, urgently saying "The officials won't let you leave..." The person didn't pay any attention, shaking off the other person's hand, and muttered under their breath "How dare they! This is too much!" He walked forward with his head down, and just as he was about to collide with Tai Shi Lan, the two of them bumped into each other with a thud. Tai Shi Lan felt a chill on the back of his hand, looked down, and saw - a single tear drop.

  He lifted his reddened eyes, and tears burst forth, with a hint of moisture still lingering.

  "Is it you?"

  The man's face suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, "It's you!"

  The same sentence, the tone of the second sentence is completely different. Shocked and delighted, worried and uneasy, emotions come one after another, and Tai Shi Lan has already asked, "Village head, how are you here?"

  This man was the village chief of Sanshui Village. Before the breach of Yihexia Dam, Ta Shilian had him lead the villagers to relocate. Now he didn't preside over post-disaster reconstruction but stayed here instead, and Ta Shilian's eyebrows were already furrowed.

  The village head of Sanshui Village opened his mouth, turned around and took a look, suddenly grabbed her and pushed her into the crowd, then shouted loudly, "Taishi girl is back!"

  The voice was not loud, but the people around suddenly fell silent and stiffened, then turned their heads in unison. In an instant, everyone's mouth opened wide, eyes widened, and their gaze swept up and down Tai Shi Lan's body again and again.

  Even someone as determined as Tai Shi Lan couldn't help but feel numb all over under the eerie gaze of so many people - the expressions on the faces of the common folk were too strange, like a mix of joy and fear, excitement and worry, what was going on?

  Moreover, these people were not villagers she had saved; they didn't know her at all. Yet, the way they looked at her now was as if they were old acquaintances, sending shivers down her spine.

  Those people swept her with their eyes a few times, then simultaneously took a step back, clearing out a path, and simultaneously opened their mouths to shout in unison, "Taishi girl is here!"

  The outer circle shouted, and the inner circle was eerily quiet again. People turned their heads in unison once more, and that strange gaze returned. Tai Shi Lan could no longer bear it, and with one hand, he pushed aside the village chief who was trembling all over, taking big strides forward.

  Wherever she went, people made way for her in unison, yet didn't go far away. After she left, they gathered excitedly again. The road she traveled was like a two-way zipper, opening up ahead and quickly closing behind. People kept making way for her while continuously informing those ahead, "Taishi Niang has arrived!"

  The sound was transmitted in, and everyone was like a small boat, bringing a few points of excitement to send her into the center of the crowd. Ta Shi Lan initially felt strange, but soon became calm and composed, walking quickly inside. The further she went, the colder her face became.

  Because she heard the voice inside.

  The sound of throwing and smashing objects, angry curses, scolding voices, the crackling of whips, and cold, stern laughter. That cold laughter sounded a few notes familiar.

  "Speak up, why aren't you speaking? Look at you few, soft and weak rich young masters, mysterious women with unknown backgrounds, thieves who have killed countless people. Are you the kind of goods that dare to say you are the saviors of the parents of Yih River downstream? Dare to say that you saved the lives of tens of thousands of villagers in San Shui Ming An Ba Cun? What a joke! A huge joke! This Yih River belongs to Beifang Prefecture, it belongs to me! Who else understands water conservancy? Who can predict flood disasters, who can organize the evacuation of parents during the dam break? It's me! I'm the only one! In front of my Lord Jin, you also dare to covet my merits?"

  The sound of scolding, accompanied by the sound of whipping, but there was no begging for mercy or resistance in response. The prisoner being scolded inside seemed to be resigned to his fate and had already lost the ability to retort.

  Tai Shi's hand under his sleeve slowly clenched into a fist.

  This is Kim Jong's voice.

  Oppose her and Su Ya's transfer of civilians, come to watch the joke, and at the moment of the dam break, throw out the Jingtai blue, harming them three people drifting in the water and almost losing their lives is Jin Zheng.

  Heaven surprisingly didn't drown this scoundrel.

  "Tai Shi girl." The village chief of San Shui Village whispered to her, "The Yi River dam burst, and no civilians were injured. Everyone knows it's your credit and Su girl's credit, so the Bei Yan government announced that they took your credit, everyone is very angry, but also dare not say anything. Who knew that just a few days later, news came out saying that the great thief Huo Hu was taking advantage of the Yi River flood to escape from prison, and he would be severely punished after being caught. It's also said that Chen Mu, the son of Tongcheng Salt Merchant, colluded with the bandits and wanted to put him in a big prison. Su girl went to rescue him and was also taken down, saying she openly clashed with the government office, injured the yamen runners, and all were sentenced to wear a cangue for one month before reporting to the provincial governor to determine the crime..."

  Tai Shi Lan nodded and looked through the crowd at the inside, suddenly saying: "Village chief, can you help me with something?"

  "What's wrong?"

  ……

  Before long, Tai Shi Lan walked in quickly. The people in the innermost circle no longer shouted or passed messages, nor did they look excited and happy like the commoners outside. They turned their heads, with vigilant expressions.

  Tai Shi Lan vaguely heard the sound of footsteps inside, someone rushed out, shouting "Stop her, stop her", but ultimately it was too late, the crowd parted too quickly, she walked without hesitation, stretched out her hand to push away the last person's shoulder, and then she saw the center of the scene.

  The man who was pushed aside next to her heard her take a deep and long breath.

  The sound was so long and drawn out that the person felt, as if in an instant, everything around him had been compressed, rolled up, clenched, and pressed into a thin, sharp blade of anger, shining deep in his throat.

  The little rascal trembled all over and was about to scold him a couple of times, but he didn't make a sound and quietly gave way to the side.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't notice anyone at this moment, she stared tightly at the scene in front of her.

  In front of the Beiyuan government office, three cages were lined up in a row, with three people wearing tattered clothes and covered in wounds. The ground was littered with rotten eggs and vegetables thrown by the crowd, as well as some broken leaves that hung on the even filthier cages. The cages were also covered in yellowish-green phlegm stains, and the people inside were splattered with mud, feces, and other filthy substances, emitting a strong stench.

  Three prisoners, from left to right: Chen Mu, Su Ya, Huo Hu.

  If Chen Mu hadn't been crying all the time, Ta Shi Lan wouldn't have recognized the three people so quickly. In fact, the three people in this cage had been exposed to the scorching sun and pelted with filth for a long time, their faces were completely unrecognizable. Su Ya's forehead was still stuck with half an egg, deep yellow egg yolk, even her eyes were stuck together.

  Born into a wealthy family of Tongshang salt merchants, Chen Mu had been waiting in the Beiyuan government office to testify against the Long Mang Ridge mountain bandits who had slaughtered his entire household, but somehow he ended up in this prison cell as well.

  "Suya, Suya......" Chen Mu cried, "You shouldn't have saved me, you shouldn't have interfered, it would be better if I had died, my family is all dead, and one less of me wouldn't make a difference..."

  Su Ya remained silent, her head still hung low. Huo Hu stood up straight, this proud man, even though he had fallen to such a state, his eyes were still haughty.

  Su Ya and Huo Hu's mouths were sealed shut.

  Beside them was Kim Jong-un, holding a whip stained with blood.

  Jin Zheng heard the movement at this time and turned his head back.

  He turned around and saw Tai Shi Lan.

  He was suddenly as if struck by lightning, and his whole body stiffened there.

  He stood stiffly, half of his face showing the shock of seeing Tai Shi Lan, and the other half still bearing the ferocity that had not dissipated, making him look pale as if he were an evil spirit.

  The four sides suddenly fell silent.

  Watching him, and Tai Shi Lan.

  Across the crowd, two people faced each other, in an ordinary silence, with a bloody and murderous atmosphere.