The imperial family of a nation is the cohesion force of that nation. Ye Shouguan lowered his gaze to look at the still sobbing Sima Ruodan, after a while he turned his head and spoke to his attendant: "Go, take her away first, and keep her strictly guarded!" "Yes!" The attendant behind Ye Shouguan responded, walked over to Sima Ruodan, and said, "Cousin, please!" Sima Ruodan responded, then bowed to Ye Shouguan, chokingly and repeatedly pleading with Ye Shouguan to go quickly to rescue her parents and brother, only then did she leave the study along with the attendant. The attendant led Sima Ruodan along the winding corridor and asked about the situation of her mother. Upon hearing this, Sima Ruodan stopped in her tracks, looked at the armed soldiers following her, recalled Bai Qingyan’s words, and calculated that it should be nearing the end of the hour of Chu (1-3 a.m.). She spoke in a low voice: "May I trouble you, could I speak to you privately?" The attendant was slightly startled, glanced at the armed soldiers behind them, and said with a smile: "Cousin, if you have any needs, just speak directly. Whatever I can do for you, I certainly will, since you are the General’s niece." Sima Ruodan gritted her teeth, holding the Jade Pendant she wore at her waist, tears in her eyes she asked, "Do you... know the origin of my mother’s Jade Pendant?" The attendant’s palm tightened, and he gestured courteously to Sima Ruodan: "I’ve been at the Ye Mansion since childhood, of course I know..." Sima Ruodan continued to walk, tears streaming down her face as she whispered: "Mother told me to bring the Jade Pendant to you, saying you are the only person in this world I can trust, I beg you to save my mother! My uncle and mother have deep-seated grievances and would never be willing to save her! Now, I have only you to rely on! I should kneel down to plead, but there are too many eyes here, I fear it would cause you trouble, so I can only tell you this way!" The attendant felt his throat tighten, he never expected that the lady would tell her daughter he is the only trustworthy person in the world. Sima Ruodan knew the soldiers of the Bai family had not entered the city, she boldly said: "When I escaped with my brother, I was actually captured by the Emperor of Zhou. The Emperor of Zhou took my brother hostage and sent me here, in order for me to steal my uncle’s token and open the city gate when they attacked! Otherwise... the Emperor of Zhou will kill my parents, brother, and His Majesty!" The attendant felt his mind buzzing, he looked back at the armed soldiers behind him, and restrained his disbelief: "Cousin, do you know what you are saying?" "Other than you, I dare not tell anyone else, they have already chopped off one of my father’s hands, I fear they will harm my mother next, so I agreed and rushed here. Mother said to find you, you are the only one I can trust, I beg you... help me! I must... save my mother, father, and brother! Please!" Sima Ruodan sobbed and gasped for breath, "The Emperor of Zhou promised, once the city gate is opened the people will not be harmed, nor will my uncle! Please, for the sake of my mother who has remembered you all her life, save her!" Upon hearing this, the attendant was moved to tears, she remembered him all her life... He still remembered the lady, before marrying, harshly said heartbreaking words to him, later he inadvertently heard the lady tell her personal maid she wished he would hate her instead of remember her all his life, staying unmarried for her. Because of the lady’s words, he never married in his life. He actually hoped and waited... wishing someday he could outlast that Governor and perhaps be with the lady forever. But now the lady’s life is at stake, if he does not help the lady’s daughter, they won’t be together, and the lady’s life will be lost! The attendant’s steps were heavy and steady, he responded: "I understand! I will handle this! Cousin, rest assured!" "Thank you! Thank you! My parents and brother’s lives depend on you!" Sima Ruodan was settled in the guest room with armed guards, impossible to leave the room. Meanwhile, Ye Shouguan’s vice general was still kneeling, pleading with Ye Shouguan to let him lead troops to Suining City to rescue Li Tianfu. Listening to Vice General Zhao’s repeated pleas, Ye Shouguan silently sat by the fire brazier for a long while before speaking: "Let alone the Emperor of Zhou being in Suining City, Zhou must have heavy guards, leading troops by Bai Qingyan himself who is an expert in military strategy, praised by Bai Weiting as a talented commander, even General Yun could not match Bai Qingyan! Ye Yingnan’s daughter escaped Suining City, aren’t those chasing her... aware of Ye Yingnan’s presence in Yecheng Pass? Bai Qingyan might be waiting for us to send troops to rescue His Majesty, with troops already ambushed en route!" Ye Shouguan had studied Bai Qingyan’s warfare tactics; this person seems not skilled at formal tactics, preferring ambushes and deception. But in warfare, deception is necessary, winning is the ultimate truth. Vice General Zhao thought it through, and it seemed reasonable. The source of thɪs content is NovєlFіre.net "Moreover, that Bai family third son... Bai Qingqi, though young, has been a formidable presence in several great battles!" Ye Shouguan shook his head, "Therefore, we must act with caution!" "But are we not going to rescue His Majesty? General... that’s our Emperor of Xiliang! If not rescued, if Zhou uses His Majesty as a shield against arrows at their forefront, how will the soldiers and people of Xiliang view the soldiers of Yecheng Pass?" Vice General Zhao implored again, "I am willing to risk my life to go to Suining City and rescue His Majesty! Please grant me this!" Ye Shouguan looked up at his vice general, and said: "Rise! I know of your loyalty to Xiliang... to His Majesty! But the more urgent the situation, the calmer we must remain, cannot fall into someone else’s trap! Yecheng Pass differs from other cities; aside from Yunjing, it is the most important city, the most crucial pass. Now, Xiliang faces internal and external threats, surrounded by wolves. If Yecheng Pass is lost... Xiliang’s spirit will be lost!" More importantly, Ye Shouguan sensed something strange in this matter. If Zhou indeed has captured their Emperor of Xiliang, shouldn’t they send an envoy to negotiate terms by now? Furthermore, with heavily guarded Suining City, how could Ye Yingnan’s daughter manage to escape? Ye Shouguan still held doubts. "General!" Vice General Zhao felt his throat tighten, his eyes reddening, worrying for Emperor of Xiliang in Zhou’s hands, and for Ye Yingnan’s fate. Now, General Ye Shouguan prioritizes guarding Yecheng Pass over His Majesty, he wouldn’t care about Ye Yingnan’s life, "All the soldiers defending the city know His Majesty is captured by Zhou! Now it is likely widely spread, and if we don’t rescue, it will certainly lead to speculation among the entire army!"