The entire courtyard was filled with people kneeling on the ground, and the whimpering that they tried to suppress could be heard from the crowd, as well as the wails of men being tortured. Other than that, it was so quiet that it seemed to have frozen. Silent fear gripped people's hearts.
Everyone's eyes fell on Mrs. Gantang and Xie Queshan who were kneeling on the ground.
Xie Queshan turned a deaf ear to her pleas and just slowly lifted her up from the ground and let her sit on his chair.
He pressed her shoulders to prevent her from moving, and said slowly: "Second sister, don't hide."
Mrs. Gantang was fixed on the chair, her thin body trembling, and her mind was in a trance for a moment.
"Chao En, don't hide."
When he was a child, Xie Queshan was naughty and climbed a wild hillside with Xie Xiaoliu. He accidentally fell off the slope and half of his arm was pricked by thorns. He did not dare to tell his elders for fear of being scolded. Finally, Xie Xiaoliu took him to the second house in a cowardly manner. In front of my sister.
The second sister applied medicine to him, but as soon as the ointment touched the wound, he started to hide in pain. The seven or eight-year-old boy was already very strong. He ran around the room like a monkey, and no one could hold him down.
In the end, she had no choice but to say to him: "Chao En, don't hide. The more you hide, the more painful it will be."
In such a chaotic time, Mrs. Gantang didn't know why she remembered this past. Maybe it was because she felt Xie Queshan's hand holding her was trembling slightly. She vaguely seemed to notice something, but she couldn't figure it out. Everything in front of her was still in chaos.
Don't hide? Is that what you're looking at? Do nothing?
She doesn't understand. But this thought still left a hole worth praying in her mind. At the moment when she was helpless, there seemed to be a little person in her heart waving her arms randomly to grab the air, always able to grasp a slim hope.
Is there anyone left to turn the tide?
Two bamboo grates have been smashed, and the night is getting dark. The cold water broke out into a bloody shoal on the ground, and Tang Rong's resolute face that refused to give in was reflected in the shoal.
Wanyan Jun was a little impatient: "It seems that Mrs. Gantang's heart is as hard as her mouth."
He stood up and walked over, looking at Xie Queshan: "What do you think we should do in this situation?"
How could Xie Queshan not understand Wanyan Jun's hint?
He has given him enough face, but the trial cannot produce a result, and now he wants to touch his second sister.
Xie Queshan was silent. Seems to be in a tangle.
"Although I promised the young master, my sincerity has its limits. Yucheng's army is hiding in Lidu Mansion. Maybe you and I will be ambushed by them as soon as we go out, but we don't have time to wait... We can't do it for the sake of sincerity. , have you lost the overall situation?" There was a hint of threat in Wanyan Jun's words, "Is the young master still going to protect the criminal at all costs?"
Mrs. Gantang raised her head and looked at Xie Queshan who said nothing. The other party had already said that for the sake of it, and the hope in her heart was shattered little by little. She was shaking violently and wanted to grab Xie Queshan's hand, but he took a step back and her hand was empty.
Xie Queshan cupped his hands and said, "It's getting late. It's time for me to go and rest. Lord Wanyan, please help yourself."
After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving the entire venue to Wanyan Jun.
Before anyone could walk out of the courtyard, they heard a woman's scream, and Xie Queshan stepped out of the courtyard without looking back.
Wanyan Jun grabbed Mrs. Gantang's neck and pushed her in front of Tang Rong.
"If she doesn't say anything, then as for you - all your comrades are hiding, but you are the only one who has left the group and is an obedient dog next to your wife. Are you willing to watch her die in front of you?"
"——Let her go!" Tang Rong's eyes were filled with bloodshot eyes. This hit his weak spot. He didn't know where he still had such strength. He shouted hysterically at Wanyan Jun, making the iron rope clank. .
Wanyan Jun smiled. This move was a bit rough, but it was easy to use. Tang Rong was one of the best soldiers in Yucheng's army, but he voluntarily left the military camp and stayed in Wangmen Mansion as a small bodyguard - how much kindness was it worth for him to do this?
Maybe Mrs. Gantang's heart is like a mirror, but it's not necessarily true for the passionate young man.
"Not to mention she is just a housewife. For my victory in Daqi, even if she slaughtered the whole city, it is nothing to me."
The force on Wanyan Jun's hand increased day by day. Mrs. Gantang's complexion turned from red to white, and no sound could come out of her throat.
"Tell me, where is Yucheng's army hiding?"
Tang Rong was anxious: "They fled in such a hurry that they didn't have time to inform me! I don't know!"
"Then what is Yucheng's army's plan?"
Tang Rong was silent for a moment. This silence showed his knowledge and hesitation.
Mrs. Gantang shook her head at him painfully.
This reaction made Wanyan Jun laugh immediately. He tightened his hand again and veins popped out on the back of his hand: "You don't have time to think about it anymore."
Seeing Mrs. Gantang's breath getting weaker and weaker, Tang Rong finally shouted in panic: "We want to steal the keel warship!"
Wanyan Jun suddenly let go of his hand, and Mrs. Gantang collapsed on the ground. It's over, it's too late. Her vision went dark, and the double mental and physical torture made her unable to hold on any longer and she fainted.
There was some deep thought on his face. He didn't even expect this purpose.
Since the beginning, they have been fighting around King Ling'an, and all the way to Lidu Mansion, they have been stuck in their thoughts, blinded by a leaf, always thinking about what secret method they want to use to finally send King Ling'an away, but they ignore it. The best solution is right at your fingertips.
The keel warship was originally used for combat. It was a mobile military camp for attack and a fortress for defense. If the Yucheng army snatched it, they could fight a bloody path for King Ling'an and escort him to Jinling.
No wonder if Wanyan Pu wanted him to stop the launching ceremony, the Yucheng army must have planned the boat-stealing operation on that day.
Fortunately, he was found out! Otherwise, the keel boat that took so much effort to build will become a wedding dress made for others.
Wanyan Jun felt scared but also grateful. He quickly realized that the Yucheng army would still be keeping an eye on the keel ship. As long as they guarded the dock, they would be able to crouch down and catch the rebels in one fell swoop.
"Take these two people back to the prison -" he glanced at Tang Rong and Mrs. Gantang, paused, and then said, "No, let them stay in Wangxuewu, lest the Yucheng army becomes suspicious. Keep safe. Not a fly can come in or out here.”
"Yes!" All the soldiers took the order.
After hearing these words, Xie Queshan, who was standing outside the courtyard wall and paying attention to the movement, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This seemingly reasonable purpose seemed to have deceived Wanyan Jun.
Song Muchuan came to him in desperation, just to ask him to help put on a play. He couldn't hide the Yucheng Army's affairs, so he simply used a trick and asked Wanyan Jun to keep all his troops on the keel boat.
The water-entering ceremony was cancelled, but the ship must be blown up. There must be as many Qi soldiers on board as possible to achieve the goal. We can't wipe out all of them, but it would be good to wipe out some of them. The Yucheng army did not have an advantage in numbers. They could only weaken the Qi people first, and then they would have an advantage even if they faced each other head-on.
Tang Rong had informed him in advance and asked him to perform this painful trick. But Mrs. Gantang didn't know it. She was actually the starring role in this scene. The more real her emotions were, the more credible Tang Rong's confession would be.
Xie Queshan felt sorry for his second sister for putting her in that dangerous position. An ordinary woman would be scared to death, but the situation was critical and there was no other way. Although he was lucky enough to pass the false news to Wanyan Jun, Xie Queshan was still a little powerless. Since the beginning, he seemed to be sacrificing himself and the people around him, but this was a choice he had to make... He thought for no reason After leaving Nan Yi, maybe letting her go is really the best choice.
It was the last few days, and he had to retain Wanyan Jun's trust without falling short. If we can get some information in advance, it will be crucial to the current situation. Zhang Yuehui bought him a few days of precious time, and he had to help Song Muchuan complete the final plan within these days.
At this time, the cold midnight sound sounded in the distance.
Nirvana Project, the day before.
——
Zhang Yuehui lay bored on the bed and thought about what the success or failure of Bingzhusi had to do with me.
Doing something you know you can't do is a dead end. If a person himself is useless, even the immortals cannot save him.
Of course he is the biggest winner. He stayed away from the disputes, escaped unharmed, and was able to embrace the beautiful woman.
What keeps him awake?
It just happened that I was tossing and turning and couldn't fall asleep. I always felt that something was about to happen, and I felt very uneasy. The auspicious light flashed across his mind, and while he was half asleep and half awake, it was as if the intervening years had no longer existed. He returned to the old house of the Bianjing family as usual. When he opened the door, he saw that the weeds in his hometown were growing wildly and everything was in decay.
The door was suddenly pushed open with a creak, and Zhang Yuehui woke up with a cold sweat on his back. Just as he took a breath, he heard Luo Ci's nervous voice coming from outside the tent.
"My boss, the Qi people are chasing us."
Zhang Yue recalled a carp sitting up straight, but one of its legs couldn't use the strength, and she suppressed her blush, so she reluctantly stood up and said anxiously: "Get ready to run if you catch me. What are you doing here?"
"My boss, you are injured and can't withstand the bumps on the mountain road. My subordinates think it's better to pretend and follow the official path?"
"No, it's too dangerous." Zhang Yuehui immediately refused.
"But with your legs, you can't move fast no matter which way you go... If you are caught up in the wilderness, our people will not be able to provide reinforcements in time. If you don't think about yourself, you should also think about Lady Nanyi."
Zhang Yue replied silently, Luo Ci's statement was not unreasonable. The blame was that he was a wounded person and was holding him back.
Luo Ci cautiously suggested: "My boss, how about... the troops split into two directions? Let Madam Nanyi evacuate from the original route, and my subordinates will escort you from the official road. We will meet at Xuping County ahead."
"I definitely can't leave alone." Nan Yi walked in carrying a baggage, interrupting the argument between the two.
Nan Yi glanced at Luo Ci: "I have to stay with your boss and die with him, otherwise he will always think that I want to run away."
Nan Yi obviously said it very naturally and with a bit of joking, but when these words fell into Zhang Yuehui's ears, he blushed.
It was as if he was some kind of paranoid who had to tie her up even though he knew the danger.
"It goes without saying, Luo Ci, you arrange for Nan Yi to go first, and I'll take the back seat. That's it."
Who can't be a hero?
He, Zhang Yuehui, can't even fuck Wanyan Jun?
"Don't say such angry words," Nan Yi glared at him speechlessly, "If you really let me go alone, I will run away by myself."
"You don't know how." Zhang Yue replied confidently.
Nan Yi was still arguing with him back and forth, as if he was deliberately trying to relax the tense parting atmosphere: "Are you so sure?"
"Are you willing?" Zhang Yuehui suddenly raised his eyes and asked aggrievedly.
"..." Nan Yi was speechless.
"My boss, Madam Nan Yi, you'd better get on your way quickly, now is not the time to talk."
Zhang Yuehui walked a few steps toward Nan Yi with difficulty, leaning on a crutch, and stood in front of her, reaching out to caress her face.
"It's just over a day's journey from here to Xuping County. Don't miss me too much."
Unexpectedly, Nan Yi did not knock off Zhang Yuehui's hand as usual. She looked at Zhang Yue half-jokingly and half-seriously, and said, "Don't miss me either. We will see each other soon..."
Zhang Yue replied with a playful smile: "Why do you say this as if you can't see her anymore?"
A trace of weirdness flashed across Nan Yi's face, and he quickly covered it up with a playful expression: "I'm afraid you'll hold me back. I'm telling you, I'll just wait for you for one day, and don't wait until you're too late."
Zhang Yue smiled back: "If you come late, I will wait for you until you come."
Nan Yi was stunned. He was obviously being hypocritical, but he seemed to be serious at the same time.
She felt guilty and couldn't accept the words anymore. She picked up the bag and walked out: "Let's go."
"Luo Ci, after you settle her down, you must send someone to escort her all the way."
"Yes, boss."
Luo Ci followed out immediately.
In the stable, Luo Ci led a horse to Nan Yi and handed him a sheepskin map.
"Yajiu set off from Qingzhou Ya Taoist Temple and is now almost at the border of Lidu Prefecture. If you pursue him through this shortcut, you may be able to catch up with him in half a day."
Nan Yi took the map and stuffed it into his sleeve. She and Luo Ci teamed up to deceive Zhang Yuehui.
Luo Ci came to her and told her that Yajiu had found out the core information of the Nirvana Project, but the boss did not intend to care about it. He stated frankly that he hoped Nan Yi could leave his employer. She had the righteousness of her family and country, but her employer was by no means a member of her group.
In Lidu Mansion, there are Nan Yi's lovers, friends, and countless innocent people. If the Nirvana plan fails, everyone will die. She can't ignore it. She must stop Yajiu before he enters Lidu Mansion.
She didn't want to judge whether Zhang Yuehui was a good person or a bad person. Whatever decision he made was understandable. People who don't do it for themselves will be punished by heaven and earth. And no matter what, he was sincere to her. When she agreed to go with him, she was indeed ready to spend the rest of her life with him. But things that come through force are ultimately fragile.
She was going to break her promise. From now on, she owes him. If there is no chance to meet again, then she will wait until the next life and the next life to pay him back little by little.
"If I can kill Yajiu and come back intact, that would be great. If I don't come back, tell him that I am dead. Let him not wait and let him live happily for the rest of his life."
Nan Yi got on his horse and rode Juechen.
