Sima Ruodan followed the vice general into the gates of the Ye Mansion. On the way to meet Ye Shouguan, the vice general introduced himself as Ye Shouguan’s vice general, surnamed Zhao. Only then did she, as if meeting a relative, whispered, "Before I came, my mother said... My grandmother and mother have a terrible relationship with my uncle. If anything happens, I can seek help from Vice General Zhao." Vice General Zhao, hearing this, was utterly convinced that Sima Ruodan was the daughter of Ye Yingnan. He reassured Sima Ruodan, "Those are just grudges between elders. The general is a broad-minded person and won’t involve the grudges of the previous generation with the younger ones, so feel at ease, young lady." "But I’m still scared!" Sima Ruodan showed a pitiful demeanor, crying, "Currently, my mother, father, and brother are all in Zhou. We were supposed to come to Yecheng Pass. But halfway, my mother received news that our Emperor had been captured by Zhou. Mother thought Xiliang’s situation was dire and feared that my uncle at Yecheng Pass wouldn’t take us in, so she insisted on pressuring my father to turn back to Suining City!" As she spoke, they arrived at the door of Ye Shouguan’s study. Sima Ruodan saw the unkempt Ye Shouguan with bloodshot eyes, stepped forward to greet him, timidly calling him uncle, and narrated the whole story again to Ye Shouguan, kneeling to plead, "Please, Uncle, send troops to rescue my parents and brother!" Ye Shouguan glanced at the kneeling, bowing Sima Ruodan and squinted. Until he heard the sound of a firecracker, he asked, "Your mother fears I won’t let your family into the city, but why insist on returning to Suining City? You’ve already escaped early... Even if you don’t come to Yecheng Pass, you can hide in another city. Why insist on going back?" Sima Ruodan shivered at these words, pretending to look both guilty and glanced at Ye Shouguan... Seeing Sima Ruodan’s demeanor, Ye Shouguan’s expression turned colder: "By the God above, it’s best you speak truthfully, or else... I’ll treat you as a spy and chop you up to feed the dogs!" Sima Ruodan’s face turned deathly pale. She then quickly bowed in panic, "My mother heard that our Xiliang Emperor was captured, felt that Xiliang’s days were numbered, and thought that before Zhou’s army reached Yecheng Pass, we’d return. Using her identity as Ye Shouguan’s daughter... your sister, to deceive the Zhou Emperor into thinking she could persuade you to open the city gates." Sima Ruodan glanced up stealthily at Ye Shouguan, then quickly withdrew her gaze. Hesitantly, she said, "If... Zhou wants peace, I must marry the Zhou Emperor’s brother. Only then would she be willing to persuade Uncle to surrender! Mother... originally planned for me to marry the Zhou Emperor’s brother, and even if Uncle refuses to surrender, she would have done her best. If I could bear a child with Zhou’s royal blood, our family’s riches and honor would be secure!" Upon hearing this, Ye Shouguan sneered: "This truly is Ye Yingnan’s style!" "But Uncle, no matter what, my mother is your sister! Please send troops... save my mother!" Ye Shouguan’s attendant entered to replace his tea, his gaze fell on the trembling, tearful Sima Ruodan kneeling on the ground. In a moment, he spotted the Jade Pendant Sima Ruodan wore. His pupils contracted, and he stood beside her, not daring to look further. He hadn’t expected their lady to give the Jade Pendant he presented to her to her daughter. Does this mean... their lady had never forgotten him? Who knows what she’s like now! Ye Shouguan looked at the trembling, weeping Sima Ruodan once more and asked, "Your mother’s plan was solid; why are you here?" Sima Ruodan trembled on the ground: "The Zhou Emperor said... his brother’s marriage isn’t something anyone can aspire to. Not only did he refuse, but he also imprisoned our whole family. Initially, Mother planned for my brother and me to escape, but in the end, only I managed to flee!" As she spoke, Sima Ruodan began to cry: "It’s my fault for not taking care of my brother. Please, Uncle, have mercy. When rescuing our Emperor, save my mother, father, and brother along the way! Please, Uncle!" "How are you sure that our Xiliang Emperor is in Zhou’s hands?" Ye Shouguan leaned forward and asked, "As a mere Governor’s daughter, even if you had been to Yunjing, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet the Emperor! How can you be certain our Emperor is in Zhou’s hands? Or perhaps... you’re trying to trick me into sending troops to rescue your parents?" "Uncle, your niece would never dare deceive you on this matter!" Sima Ruodan repeatedly bowed, "Years ago, when Xiliang lost the battle at the Northern Frontier, General Yun’s elite troops were all defeated at Wengshan, and while Xiliang sought peace, our Emperor was a Princess to be sent to Zhou for marriage back then. The Emperor stayed at the Governor’s residence! I was fortunate enough to see the Emperor once!" "And this time, when we went back, the Emperor was imprisoned in the neighboring courtyard, angrily shouting and smashing things, cursing to kill all those Zhou people and avenge Tianzhuo..." Sima Ruodan seemed to be recalling while speaking, "But we were strictly guarded then, and your niece didn’t dare chat with the Emperor! Yet when I escaped, I heard Zhou soldiers say the Zhou Emperor will soon attack Yecheng Pass and will emulate General Yun, hanging the Emperor and our parents at the frontlines as shields!" Vice General Zhao widened his eyes, turned to look at Ye Shouguan: "General!" Ye Shouguan suddenly clenched his hands, veins bulging on his hand, his face turning livid. Hanging their Xiliang Emperor at the frontlines as shields, this was a humiliation to Xiliang, a trampling upon Xiliang! Vice General Zhao knelt on one knee: "General, the subordinate requests permission to lead a team to Suining City to rescue the Emperor! No matter what, our Xiliang Emperor must not be insulted by the Zhou people!" Ye Shouguan understood the Xiliang Emperor must not be humiliated, but Xiliang hasn’t been humiliated enough? First, Li Tianjiao brought the Tianfeng Kingdom along, almost gifting the whole Xiliang to Tianfeng. Then, the Eight Great Families and Tianfeng Kingdom supported Li Tianfu’s ascendancy, though Ye Shouguan felt discontented, but still accepted Li Tianfu as the bloodline of the late Emperor! This update is available on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet Yet Li Tianjiao insisted on getting involved with Tianfeng Kingdom, attending the Four-Nation Alliance. He petitioned against it, but Li Tianfu persisted and went anyway! The Four-Nation Alliance ended without result, and instead, she, as Xiliang’s Emperor, fell into Zhou’s hands! First a puppet of Tianfeng, later used as a shield by Zhou, Xiliang’s Imperial Family disheartened soldiers and citizens alike. When morale disperses... Xiliang will fall!