Just as the scene was descending into chaos, the tinkling of jade ornaments echoed into the city, and the sound of horse hooves drew closer. It seemed a grand procession was about to enter the city.
The common people fell into a tacit silence, for they saw a golden imperial palanquin, flanked front and back by red silk fans adorned with gold, and hung on all sides with pearl curtains and embroidered banners—this was the ceremonial escort of an imperial princess. However, the golden palanquin was surrounded by Qi soldiers and followed behind a luxurious carriage.
A eunuch sang out loudly: “Welcome General Wanyan and Princess Lingfu into the city—”
All who heard wept bitter tears.
The common people had all heard tell that when Bianliang fell, the Qi army had captured the emperor, abducted noble ladies of the imperial clan, and even held a ceremony of presenting captives. They had forced the emperor to remove his robes, while all others, regardless of gender, were made to strip off their upper garments, don sheepskin cloaks, and tie felt strips around their waists to worship at the ancestral temple of the Qi founders. After the captive ceremony, the palace’s former consorts, princesses, and noble ladies of the imperial clan were distributed among the Qi people—some as concubines to nobles, some as camp prostitutes, some as slaves. None were spared.
It was truly an unprecedented humiliation that had not been seen in a hundred years!
And this Princess Lingfu was also one of the captives from that time. Now appearing in Li Du Mansion, her imperial escort was granted by the Qi people. Though the golden palanquin remained the same, what she had endured behind the scenes, beyond everyone’s sight, was all too imaginable.
The carriage stopped at the city gate. The man inside lifted the curtain and called out: “Princess Lingfu returns to her homeland—is this how you all welcome her?”
Not a soul among the masses responded.
The man continued: “You are all Princess Lingfu’s subjects. Those causing trouble today, as long as you cease resistance, your transgressions will not be pursued further.”
Faced with their former princess, they could not refuse to yield. Even knowing this was the Qi people’s silent show of force, they had to receive their princess with the courtesy due from subjects.
The dark mass of confronting crowds fell into utter silence. A tide silently surged and receded through the throng, and a path into the city was cleared.
Nanyi understood—so this was the “one to play the benevolent role” that Xie Queshan had spoken of. Li Du Mansion had gained another high official from Great Qi. The Qi procession thus trampled over the spines of Yu Dynasty commoners and entered the city in grand procession.
“I’m going to kill them all.”
Xie Sui’an’s words were extremely soft yet utterly resolute, drifting complete into Nanyi’s ears without missing a single word. Having spoken, she lingered no longer among the crowd, turned and left, her entire being radiating killing intent.
Nanyi hurriedly caught up with Xie Sui’an.
“Little Six!”
“Sister-in-law, don’t stop me. Even if it means death, I must rescue Third Uncle. The Qi people are trampling right over our heads! If we don’t do something, living would just be scraping by shamefully!”
“Are you going to throw your life away for nothing? The city is full of watching soldiers everywhere.” Nanyi didn’t understand—who was strong and who was weak was crystal clear at a glance.
“The Qi people have deployed defenses throughout the city, haven’t they? Fine, then I’ll steal their city defense maps. Xie Queshan must have them. Knowing their guard distributions, I can then rescue Third Uncle and escape smoothly.”
She spoke lightly, but every step would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Moreover, for this operation, Xie Sui’an was completely on her own. Until the inside traitor was found, she couldn’t reveal her plan to anyone in the Bingzhu Division.
This time Xie Sui’an walked away with determination. Nanyi wanted to speak but hesitated, not stopping her.
When someone is bent on courting death, no one can stop them.
She would absolutely never place herself in such a dangerous situation, Nanyi repeatedly warned herself.
But she turned back to glance at Xie Zhu hanging beneath the city wall, at the academy students and commoners kneeling to welcome the princess along the street, and at that pitiful princess sitting in the golden palanquin yet unable to control her own fate. An indescribable emotion seemed to churn in Nanyi’s chest.
This emotion left Nanyi both clear-headed and at a loss. She didn’t want to return to Wangxue Cottage immediately, so she followed the procession aimlessly forward, letting the crowd swallow her up.
Not knowing how long she had walked, the crowds around her gradually dispersed.
“Damn scholar, still trying to ambush us? Think your little life is too long, eh!”
A stream of abuse reached her ears. Nanyi looked toward the sound and saw several Qi soldiers surrounding and beating a scholar.
The scholar wore plain white robes and had been knocked to the ground, still trying to protect the scattered scrolls beside him. The Qi soldiers laughed as they stepped on his hands, grinding them into the mud, making him appear even more wretched and helpless.
“Yu Dynasty pedant, hahaha! Your life’s about to end and you still want to read? How about we gouge out your eyes so you can’t read anything—”
The Qi soldiers laughed loudly and drew their daggers.
Nanyi stood outside the alley watching in shock and horror. Unable to bear it, the impulse to intervene rose in her heart, yet her feet seemed filled with lead, lacking the courage to step forward.
Just as Nanyi hesitated, a rough hand grabbed her collar and hauled her forward. Nanyi stumbled and nearly lost her footing. Looking back, she saw it was a tall, burly Qi soldier leader.
“Stinking wench wants to watch? Come, come, stand right here and see clearly. Your turn’s coming up soon.”
That Qi soldier directly seized the dagger from another’s hand, about to gouge out the eyes of the scholar on the ground.
“Stop!”
Seeing the dagger about to stab down, Nanyi’s cry of restraint burst forth, clear and resonant.
The several Qi soldiers were startled by her shout. They all paused and turned to look at her.
Nanyi’s heart was hollow with fear. After calling out, she immediately regretted it. She could have taken advantage of the Qi soldiers abusing the scholar to escape, but faced with such brutality, she truly couldn’t ignore it. Yet even stopping them at this moment, with her capabilities… how could she help the scholar and herself escape?
“Sometimes, reputation is more important than reality”—Xie Queshan’s words rang in her mind again.
“Well well, the little wench has quite some temper. Just you dare meddle in grandpa’s business?!”
The Qi soldier looked Nanyi up and down, clearly not taking her seriously. His gaze even held undisguised lewdness.
“Smack—” A resounding slap landed on the Qi soldier leader’s face.
Nanyi struck first, quickly building up her presence: “And what kind of thing are you, daring to bully even my Xie family’s accounting clerk?”
She deliberately straightened her back, adopting Xie Queshan’s manner of looking down on everyone, her face showing righteous indignation.
The Qi soldier was stunned by the blow, covering his face and glaring at Nanyi, momentarily both furious and fearful, unable to speak.
His two lackeys reacted quickly, surrounding their little leader protectively and questioning Nanyi: “Nonsense! Now anyone can claim to be from the Xie family—you need to see if you’re qualified!”
Nanyi sneered and drew out the rent collection ledger she had brought today from her sleeve: “I am the young madam of the Xie family. By order of our family head, I brought the accounting clerk to the city today to collect rent—” She shook her hand forcefully, spreading open the ledger. “Open your dog eyes and see clearly—this bears the Xie family’s clan seal.”
The Qi soldiers approached skeptically to look, and indeed it was the Xie family’s great seal.