You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

It was noon, the sun was blazing, and the air was baked into distorted ripples.

On the ancient road, the horse-drawn carriage was rolling over the bumpy road surface, the axle making a tired creaking sound, and each bump raised a cloud of yellow dust.

The dust churned and dispersed under the light, refusing to settle for a long time, adding another layer of scorching, dim yellow light.

"Damn weather!"

Lin Yue sat on the cargo wagon loaded with goods for the escort agency, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, and muttered, "It's already late autumn, why is it still so hot?"

Lu Zuo sat in Fan Qinghui's car, looking out the window at several rotting corpses crawling with maggots in the grass, and frowned slightly.

The situation in Nantong seems even worse than I'd heard or imagined...

After breakfast this morning, everyone set off on their journey.

Along the way, Lu Zuo had already seen no fewer than thirty such rotting corpses.

This is still the scene after a rebellion, after a large number of disaster victims have died. If the disaster were to break out...

He couldn't imagine what kind of hellish scene Nantong would be.

"At one time, the Buddha was staying at the Jeta Grove in Shravasti, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks..."

Beside him, Fan Qinghui held a book in her hands and recited Buddhist scriptures to him in a clear and melodious voice.

after all……

He used the pretext of discussing Buddhism to get into her carriage.

As she recited the scriptures, she followed Lu Zuo's gaze, wanting to see what he had been staring at outside for so long.

Fan Qinghui's gaze fell on the corpses through the window, and her brows furrowed immediately!

How disgusting...

"Young master, what's so interesting about these corpses?"

Lu Zuo: "I think... they must all be disaster victims from Nantong."

Fan Qinghui was taken aback, only then recalling the great disaster that had recently struck Nantong, which had left countless people starving and even sparked a popular uprising.

"Alas, how pitiful, how lamentable."

She sighed softly and murmured, "The cause of the past life is the effect of this life."

"These people planted evil seeds in their past lives, resulting in them being burdened by karma. As a result, they cannot receive good rewards in this life. This is because the law of cause and effect is infallible."

"It's lamentable that since one is already suffering and atoning for sins in this life, why rebel against the court and add to one's own sins?"

These words were partly intended to curry favor with Emperor Lu Zuo, but they were also her true feelings.

Lu Zuo glanced at Fan Qinghui with some surprise. How come this holy maiden of the Central Plains Buddhism speaks with the same accent as Hinduism?

He was somewhat annoyed, so he slammed the curtains shut and said in a voice emanating from his inner energy, "Kneel down."

"what?"

"I order you to kneel down."

This……

Fan Qinghui was terrified. There were so many people outside the car, and Song Que was there too. What if they heard what was going on inside? How could she face anyone?

But she quickly came up with an idea. While kneeling at Lu Zuo's feet and arranging her hair, she said, "Young Master Song, would you please play a tune?"

Inside the escort agency's carriage, Song Que straightened up and sat up abruptly!

Does she want to hear me play a tune?

Song Que is skilled in both literature and martial arts. He is not only an outstanding swordsman, but also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

However, after meeting Fan Qinghui, the other party never gave him a chance to demonstrate his abilities.

Now suddenly they say they want to hear a song...

Naturally, they would put on a great performance to win the goddess's favor.

Thinking of this, Song Que took out the bamboo flute tucked behind his waist, held it to his lips, and began to play "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".

The clear, melodious sound of the flute emanated from the bamboo joints, slowly spreading outwards. The long, lingering, and gentle notes were deep and warm, seeping into people's hearts and permeating the ancient road.

Song Que's skill was indeed extraordinary; every note was mellow and smooth. It is clear and ethereal, without a trace of the smell of smoke or fire.

Hearing just the first few notes was enough to captivate Lin Yue...

This also drowned out the occasional "mmm" sounds coming from Fan Qinghui's carriage.

A short while later, the song ended.

Fan Qinghui quickly raised her head and said, "Young Master Song's skills are truly extraordinary. Would you mind playing another piece?"

For a simp, a goddess's request is a blessing, an honor!

How could Song Que possibly refuse?

They immediately began playing one song after another...

……

One hour later...

Fan Qinghui's red lips swelled slightly, her throat ached faintly, and Song Que's flute playing stopped.

"Miss Fan, would you like to hear any other pieces?"

"No need!" Fan Qinghui replied coldly.

Hearing the coldness in her tone, Song Que was slightly taken aback. Had he not played the last piece of music well enough to displease the goddess?

Hmm, I'll need to practice more in the future...

Lu Zuo glanced at Fan Qinghui, who was no longer pure and holy, and then at Song Que outside the window, and chuckled to himself.

Those simps deserve to die a horrible death!

Fan Qinghui took out a handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and said in a voice condensed with true energy, "Your Majesty, let's separate from him."

"It's time to part ways." Lu Zuo nodded. "Tomorrow you and Song Que will leave together and wait for me in Nantong City."

Fan Qinghui asked, puzzled, "Where is Your Majesty going?"

"It's none of your business."

Lu Zuo said indifferently, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

Fan Qinghui clearly sensed a cold and distant emotion, and felt a vague displeasure in her heart.

Take it slow...

As long as I use the Heart-Crossing Mantra to influence him over a long period of time, sooner or later I will be able to make him obey my every word.

After thinking to herself, Fan Qinghui tried to stand up, but as soon as she moved, a leg pressed down on her shoulder.

"Massage your legs."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fan Qinghui's breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and a wave of immense humiliation surged through her heart!

What do you take me for, this holy woman of Buddhism?

Are they tools to be driven and used at will?

That's really true...

Lu Zuo never considered women with ulterior motives as human beings.

……

At this moment, in the back hall of the Nantong Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

tread, tread, tread...

A slightly overweight, fair-skinned middle-aged man paced back and forth in the hall, holding a letter in his hand.

"Master Du!"

"Are my husband and mother-in-law really coming back soon?"

Suddenly, a tall, slender young woman with long, shapely legs rushed in and asked anxiously.

The woman wore a long red and white dress, with snow-white skin, a beautiful and charming appearance, clear eyes, and an indescribable gentle and alluring temperament.

This woman was none other than Liu Hongyan, the eldest daughter of the Liu family of Wu County, and also Shen An's first wife.

Behind her followed two women with hurried steps: the second wife, Bu Hanxiang, and the third wife, Fang Xue, both from prominent families in Wu County.

Du Mingli stepped forward and handed the letter to Liu Hongyan: "Madam, this is a letter sent by the master."

"The letter said that he and his wife had escaped the capital with the help of the Shen family's experts."

"We will arrive in Nantong in about half a day."

Liu Hongyan snatched the letter, quickly glanced at it, and then her eyes lit up with a bright light: "Great!"

"Once the master returns, we can respond to Dongyang's call, coordinate with the Sui Dynasty from within and without, and storm the capital in one fell swoop."

"That tyrant should be torn to pieces!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps came from afar.

"They're back! They're back!"

"The master is back!"

The people in the hall had a sudden thought and quickly turned around to look.

Shen An and Lu Qingyuan walked hurriedly towards the back hall.

Behind them followed a dozen or so men dressed in black robes, wielding long swords, walking with a powerful stride and exuding composure, as well as several women.

"My lord!"

"Mother-in-law!"

The three women exclaimed in surprise and rushed out of the back room.

……

A short while later.

Shen An sat in the main seat in the back hall, with Gu Han and Shangguan Jing standing beside him, while Du Mingli stood not far away, bowing, his expression full of astonishment.

"My lord, I do not understand."

"Now that war is about to break out, why should we distribute the military rations we've painstakingly collected to these lowly people?"

Shen An glanced at Gu Han and Shangguan Jing, who were following closely behind, and said, "It is precisely because we must respond to our grandfather's uprising that Nantong cannot be thrown into chaos."

"Distributing food is also to stabilize the situation."

"Mingli, losing a little food is nothing, but if things get out of hand and the imperial army comes to attack, that would be a real problem..."

Du Mingli pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your Excellency is indeed wise."

"I will arrange it immediately."

Shen An nodded: "Also, notify all officials, generals, and heads of households in the city."

"Tell them I'm back."

"Yes."

……

At this moment, in the bedroom in the backyard.

Liu Hongyan held her mother-in-law's delicate hand, tears welling in her eyes: "Mother-in-law, you've suffered so much."

As she finished speaking, a hint of resentment flashed across her pretty face, and she said in a deep voice, "Don't worry!"

"Now that my husband has returned, Nantong has a pillar of support."

"It won't be long before we respond to Dongyang and the Sui Dynasty, storm the capital, and skin that tyrant alive to vent your anger!"

Bu Hanxiang handed over a cup of tea and echoed, "That's right."

"Then we'll rip that tyrant's head off and use it as a chamber pot!"

Lu Qingyuan took the teacup, took a small sip, then placed it on the table beside her and asked, "Were your families also involved?"

"That's natural."

Fang Xue nodded, her eyes shining: "Grandma, Grandfather has already reached an agreement with the Prince of Jin of the Great Sui Dynasty in Dongyang."

"As soon as we raise an army, the Sui cavalry will cross the Yangtze River and join us from within."

Liu Hongyan nodded and said, "The signs of the Chen Kingdom's defeat and demise have already appeared. My Liu family of Wu County has long wanted to serve the Sui Dynasty, but we have no way to do so."

"Now that we've forged a connection with the King of Jin, the day the State of Chen falls will be the day our family rises to prominence!"

"The Shen family can rise again!"

Lu Qingyuan silently noted down the information provided by the women and nodded: "Good, well done."

"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days."

……

Soon, news spread throughout Nantong City that the Prefect had returned and was opening granaries to distribute grain to aid the disaster victims.

In a short time, disaster victims from all counties, townships and villages flocked to Nantong, making it overcrowded.

When Fan Qinghui and his group entered Nantong City, the streets were filled with ragged refugees and beggars.

"It smells awful..."

The carriage couldn't squeeze in at all, so Fan Qinghui got off at the city gate and walked with Song Que and the others.

The air on the street was thick with the smell of sweat and stench, mixed with a lingering odor of decay, which assaulted everyone's nostrils, causing Fan Qinghui and Lin Yue to frown...

"Who would have thought that Shen An would be able to escape the capital?"

Only a few people knew that he had been released from prison, so Song Que was inevitably surprised when he heard the news after entering the city.

"Um?"

Song Que had just muttered something when his brow suddenly twitched. His gaze swept over the beggars scattered throughout the streets and alleys, and he murmured, "Something's not right..."

"Young Master Song, what's wrong?" Lin Yue asked, turning to the side.

Song Que shook his head: "I can't quite put my finger on it, but something just feels off..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a shout came from behind him.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

"Didn't you see Commandant Du enter the city? Get out of my way!"

Song Que stopped and looked back. He saw a tall, handsome man riding a tall horse, wearing bright silver armor, leading a group of soldiers.

"Who is this person?"

Lin Yue's eyes gleamed as she replied, "Du Wen, the Commandant of the Military Equipment Department, is also the son of Prefect Du Mingli."

A fellow bodyguard remarked, "Ever since Young Master Du joined the Armed Forces Department, his demeanor has become increasingly heroic and extraordinary."

"That's right."

Lin Yue laughed and said, "The army tempers people, and Young Master Du is no longer the playboy from Nantong he used to be."

"Back then, he really wreaked havoc on Nantong City..."

"Oh?" Song Que asked curiously, "Miss Lin, could you tell me more about this Du Wen?"

"sure."

"Before Young Master Du joined the Military Equipment Department, he was incredibly absurd and outrageous. The entire city avoided him."

Then she launched into a long, detailed account of Du Wen's past, describing things like how fireworks burned down a row of houses, how he rode horses through the bustling city, and so on.

After finishing her story, Lin Yue smiled and looked at Du Wen's retreating figure with sparkling eyes: "After joining the Armed Forces Department, you have gone through several life-and-death battles and been tempered by iron and blood. Young Master Du has been completely transformed and reborn."

"He is now a model of reformed youth in Nantong, a source of pride for all of us!"

Fan Qinghui nodded and softly hummed in agreement: "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."

"That's exactly the kind of talented person they're talking about."

suddenly!

Shouts echoed from the rooftops on both sides of the street!

"The one surnamed Du!"

"Today is your death day!"

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen dark figures flew down from the rooftop, wielding gleaming blades, and headed straight for Du Wen!

"There's an assassin!"

"Protect the captain!"

The accompanying soldiers immediately shouted and drew their long swords with a clang, either facing the assassins or protecting Du Wen among them.

Clang clang clang…

The next instant, a series of clanging sounds echoed through the long street.

As soon as the two sides clashed, several soldiers fell into pools of blood.

"Murder! Murder!"

"Run! Run!"

The bloody scene terrified the surrounding vagrants and beggars, who screamed and scattered in all directions, making the already chaotic street even more chaotic.

Sweeping through the crowd, Lin Yue, who wanted to help, couldn't squeeze forward and could only anxiously stomp her feet.

Du Wen, seated on horseback, frowned slightly, his gaze coldly fixed on one of the women in black: "You're courting death!"

Clang!

Before the words were finished, a soft chime suddenly rang out.

A streak of icy white light shot out from Du Wen's waist, transforming into a sharp blade of energy that grazed past the woman in black.

With a hiss!

The woman in black's clothes were torn open at the chest, and blood gushed out, gushing like a fountain, staining the ground a crimson mess...

.......

Meanwhile, in a certain alley.

Lu Zuo bent down and picked up a talisman from the ground.

[A disguise talisman that can transform into anyone's appearance, physique, demeanor, voice, etc. It lasts until its spiritual power is completely exhausted. Origin: The world of cultivation.]

[Note 1: The spiritual power can last for three months.]

[Note 2: When you transform into the appearance of the other person, their appearance, build, voice, demeanor, etc., will be randomly changed.]

"nice one……"

He put away the talisman and looked at Chen Wu in front of him: "You mean, Yang Guang might be within the territory of the Great Chen?"

"Exactly."

"Where did you get this information?"

"It was Mrs. Lu who told me herself."