I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 203 Escape
"I beg Your Majesty to give the order. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will surely retake Lin'an today." Qian Zhang didn't even have time to collect his father's body before angrily clasping his hands in a gesture of volunteering.

Seeing this, the soldiers of the Divine Might Army were filled with excitement and volunteered to attack the city.

Gu Tingchen's heart trembled at the sight, knowing that it was impossible to recall the Divine Might Army. He immediately ordered the execution of all their family members, and corpses fell from the city wall in an endless stream.

Fu Mingchi gripped his silver spear tightly, glaring at Gu Tingchen on the city wall, and coldly ordered, "Take His Majesty and Princess Jinghe to the rear."

Realizing he was preparing to attack the city immediately, Ye Wanshu quickly pulled him back: "Fu Mingchi, now is not the time. He is provoking everyone. You can't lose your composure."

"Girl, Gu Erlang has gone mad. If we don't capture Lin'an soon, who knows how many more people in the city will suffer as a result," Emperor Zhaolie said anxiously.

"Your Majesty, Gu Tingchen can coerce the Divine Might Army, and he can coerce the people in the city as well."

Looking at the corpses lying scattered at the foot of the city wall, Ye Wanshu felt extremely distressed: "The people in the city have no way to escape. If we forcefully attack the city now, it will only strengthen their determination to defend the city and survive."

After a moment of silence, she said in a deep voice, "We cannot let Father and Uncle Qian die in vain. We must let everyone's anger be vented at the same time, and we cannot let him defeat us one by one."

Calculating the time, the army from the northern border should be arriving soon. When they attack from two fronts, Gu Tingchen will already be unable to attend to both. If Ji Ningxi and that group of death row inmates reappear in the city, chaos will surely ensue.

"Fu Mingchi, wait a little longer," Ye Wanshu advised.

Looking into her determined eyes, Fu Mingchi guessed that Wan'er must have made up her mind, and then turned his gaze to Emperor Zhaolie: "Your Majesty, once the battle in the north of the city begins, we will attack the city immediately."

Emperor Zhaolie pondered for a moment and nodded, then had no choice but to retreat with the two back to the center of the army formation.

Meanwhile, on the city wall, Gu Tingchen had already ordered the patrol battalion to escort the conscripted able-bodied men to reinforce the city's defenses.

Looking down at the city below, seeing that the Divine Might Army had not taken any action, Gu Tingchen knew that Fu Mingchi was waiting for the Duke of Ning's reinforcements.

"Fu Mingchi, don't waste your energy," Gu Tingchen mocked. "See? My city has 500,000 people and enough food to last for two years. Even if your Yuezhou army comes to the city, I will not be afraid."

Having said that, he immediately ordered the able-bodied men: "Whoever dares to fight today, the corpses below the city walls will be the fate of your wives, children, and elderly parents."

Upon hearing this, many able-bodied men began to plead loudly: "Prince Yongning, please spare Lin'an, spare us, and return to Yuezhou."

"Fu Mingchi, did you hear that? Do you really want to make all the people of Lin'an hate you?" Gu Tingchen said smugly. "As long as you send the emperor and my cousin back, I can let you live out your days in Yuezhou."

"Gu Tingchen, stop dreaming!" Ye Wanshu retorted angrily, "I would rather die than return to the Duke's mansion."

As she spoke, she looked intently at the people defending the city walls and shouted, "Fellow villagers, have you all forgotten what happened in the city a few days ago? It was this man beside you who caused your wives and children to be separated. If it weren't for the Yuezhou army going to the northern border, how could you ever have a family reunion? Today, you are aiding and abetting the evildoer and driving away the Prince of Yongning. Do you want to watch the Empress Dowager and this devil lead you to continue to make humiliating peace, handing over your wives and daughters, and your accumulated gold and silver to the northern border?"

Upon hearing these words, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances and began to waver.

"Wanwan, why are you so devoted to him?" Gu Tingchen glared angrily at the city below, "All these years, I've poured my heart and soul into you, is that less valuable than your few months of knowing him?"

Ye Wanshu ignored her and continued to persuade the people: "Fellow villagers, the man beside you has long lost his humanity. He killed his brother and mother for his own selfish reasons. If you protect him to the end today, he will surely make your families ruined in the future."

Gu Tingchen gritted his teeth in anger, snatched a crossbow, and immediately aimed it at Ye Wanshu. However, with the arrow on the string, he couldn't bring himself to draw it. Across the distance, the two glared at each other, Ye Wanshu regretting that she had been his wife in her past life.

Ye Wanshu glanced at the northwest corner, but there was still no movement. She had no choice but to look back at Gu Tingchen.

"Gu Tingchen, are you getting angry so easily? Is this what you call being open and honest?"

Ye Wanshu smiled defiantly: "You've already driven my father to his death, killed your brother and mother, so what difference does one more person make? What are you hesitating for?"

“They brought this upon themselves,” Gu Tingchen said, his arm gripping the crossbow tightly, his eyes filled with malice. “Wanwan, don’t force me.”

Looking up at Gu Tingchen on the city wall, his eyes filled with murderous intent, Fu Mingchi was somewhat frightened. He quickly shielded Ye Wanshu behind him and said, "Wan'er, swords have no eyes. You don't need to provoke him anymore. Listen to me, go back to the camp with Zhu Wencai first. I will definitely avenge your father today."

Ye Wanshu shook her head: "Fu Mingchi, I don't want to see you fighting alone anymore."

She glanced angrily at the city wall, her anger rising: "This time, I want to see him lose everything with my own eyes."

Knowing that Wan'er hated Gu Tingchen, Fu Mingchi had no choice but to comply, holding her hand tightly and nodding, "Okay, I'll stay with you."

Looking down at the two of them being so intimate right under his nose, Gu Tingchen was furious and suddenly aimed his arrow at Fu Mingchi: "You bastard, you're not allowed to touch her."

Fu Mingchi sneered: "Gu Tingchen, in my eyes, you are nothing but a clown."

Gu Tingchen gritted his teeth in hatred and suddenly shot an arrow straight at Fu Mingchi, but Fu Mingchi pierced the arrow in two with a spear.

Just as Gu Tingchen was about to draw his bow again, he suddenly saw a dazzling firework bloom in the night sky to the northwest.

Immediately afterward, soldiers climbed onto the city wall one after another, urgently reporting: "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Yuezhou army is fiercely attacking the north gate, and the drainage ditch on the northwest side has collapsed, suddenly allowing a large number of assassins to pour in. The people in the city are rushing towards that area and fleeing out. The city is now in complete chaos."

"Why would the drainage system suddenly collapse?" Gu Tingchen angrily threw down his crossbow and shouted, "These unruly people dare to escape from the city without permission! Immediately take men to stop them from fleeing!"

Liu Zhang sensed something was wrong, secretly glanced down at the city walls, and hurriedly pulled Gu Tingchen aside to whisper, "Your Highness, it's too late. We're surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the city is in chaos. We can't control it."

Gu Tingchen looked down at the city walls with resentment: "Do you want me to hand over Lin'an to Fu Mingchi?"

"Your Highness, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn."

Liu Zhang said, "Since Prince Yongning has mobilized all his forces to head straight for Lin'an, why don't we strike at the heart of the matter and seize Yuezhou? With Consort Zhang and her daughter, as well as the Third Miss and the Fourth Young Master, Prince Yongning can't hold his position in Lin'an."

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingchen found it quite reasonable and sternly ordered the city's garrison commander, "Hold this line for me! Do not let Prince Yongning set foot on the city wall!"

Having said that, he led Liu Zhang away in a hurry.

Ye Wanshu gazed at the dazzling fireworks in the northwest corner, then looked at Gu Tingchen who was fleeing in panic, and hurriedly said to Fu Mingchi, "Your Highness, you can now lead everyone to attack the city."