Shen Guilan fell silent, his eyes, ringed with dark circles and showing signs of exhaustion, now evading the gaze.
Huo Wei stormed in, enraged, and roared at him:
"So, you were also planning to use such despicable means to achieve your revenge, weren't you? As long as you can get your revenge, you don't care how despicable or vicious your actions are, right?"
After a long silence, Shen Guilan replied in a weak voice:
"Junior brother, we were both raised by our master. All along, we've just done as our master said, haven't we?
I used to hesitate and didn't want to do evil things, but master's urging has become more and more pressing.
I know you've fallen for Empress Dugu. So, I was going to do this evil deed alone.
It was my sole responsibility that the South Gate was breached. Empress Dugu will only seek revenge on me in the future and won't hate you.
Secondly, if you shift all the blame onto me, Empress Dugu will even thank you for exposing the real culprit and will surely get closer to you. After that, she will definitely support you in the court.
I've done what master asked and also helped you. Shouldn't you be happy?"
Huo Wei's fierce eyebrows furrowed. He raised his fist high and was about to punch Shen Guilan, but in the end, his fist landed on the wall beside Shen Guilan's ear. The wall was cracked by his powerful fist:
"Shen Guilan, you're so quick - witted and full of schemes. You've even calculated all these future things for me. You've got a good head, but what about your conscience?"
Leaning against the wall, Shen Guilan replied expressionlessly: "I can't defy master's order, but I'll do my best to make things right for you."
Huo Wei, still seething with anger, loosened his grip on Shen Guilan's lapel, leaving the light - blue robe on his chest all wrinkled.
His voice was cold and filled with disappointment:
"For the sake of revenge, are you willing to do anything without a bottom line?
What did the people in Danyang City do wrong? Just because we lost our parents, we're going to make others lose theirs and wipe out entire families? I really want to kill you, Shen Guilan."
The reason Shen Guilan stood on the city wall and didn't let things spiral out of control was that he was still hesitating.
He used a ruse to lure the empress and Huo Wei away from Danyang City and then used smoke to obscure their view of what was happening in the city.
All the troops that came into the city to gather information were detained by him.
Actually, the day before, when the public sentiment was gradually boiling over, he could have taken advantage of the chaos to let the people break through the South Gate.
But there was still a glimmer of kindness in his heart. However, master's repeated urging made him waver.
"This is the best way to throw Southern Chu into chaos. I'll do it. You can keep your hands clean and stay with your lover, the empress, right?" Shen Guilan's calm eyes looked somewhat dim in the dim light.
Huo Wei's sharp eyebrows knitted tightly as he shouted angrily: "In our lives, is there nothing else worth pursuing and cherishing apart from revenge?
We should avenge our grievances, but we've already destroyed a country for the sake of revenge.
Shen Guilan, our hands are already stained with blood. Aren't you afraid of retribution?
Is your conscience clear when you use the lives of the people in a city, even the innocent people in Southern Chu, as cannon fodder just for revenge?"
The two confronted each other. From childhood to adulthood, they had fought over food, quarreled and fought, and even overturned tables due to different opinions on military strategies.
But they had never been so completely on opposite sides of an issue as they were now.
Shen Guilan swallowed hard and said hoarsely: "If I don't do this today, do you know what Murong Min will do to you when you return to the imperial capital?"
Huo Wei replied coldly: "I know. So what? Will he kill me after the plague is eradicated?"
He naturally knew that Murong Min would surely make things difficult for him, but he couldn't find a way to convict him. It would just be a tougher road ahead.
But he didn't regret it. He had his own principles.
Shen Guilan composed his angry expression and said in a low voice:
"You've changed. You're no longer that cold - blooded god of killing."
Recently, he had also noticed the change in Huo Wei. The once blood - thirsty beast now had a heart of benevolence and righteousness.
He wondered who had influenced him so subtly. After much thought, he finally realized it was Dugu Luanyue.
Since she came to Danyang City, this Empress Dugu showed no sign of fragility. Without any makeup, she wore a simple robe.
She would arrive early at the main hall of the yamen every day to handle the city's affairs, inquiring about every detail of the plague in the city. She even went to the worst - affected areas to check on the situation.
One day, he had casually asked Dugu Luanyue why she was willing to endure such hardships when the palace was so comfortable.
Dugu Luanyue replied that the higher one's status, the heavier the responsibility on one's shoulders.
Although the king was noble, without the common people, there would be no country.
A king should have a heart of benevolence to embrace all things. Even Huo Wei, the once blood - thirsty beast, now had a heart.
Huo Wei straightened his body and looked at him seriously:
"That's not important. What's important is that Murong Min has sent people into the city. There will surely be chaos. I'm here to watch over you, afraid that you'll be killed!"
Huo Wei didn't continue the argument with him. He turned around and went down the city tower, starting to search the city.
Unexpectedly, something still went wrong at the South Gate.
Two days later, at dawn, an explosion thundered across Danyang City.
Immediately, the people in the city started shouting and running, breaking through the defense lines of the officers and soldiers again and again.
"The court has stopped using fire and is now using explosives!"
"They want to blow us up and leave us in pieces. We don't care anymore!"
"Is the prescription for treating the plague useless? Is there really no way to solve this problem, so they're trying to blow us up?"
In less than an hour, all the people in Danyang City had gathered at the South Gate.
At this moment, the South Gate had been blown to pieces by the explosives. Those who were strong and hadn't contracted the plague could be safe if they fled to Southern Chu.
But at this moment, no one dared to rush through the pass.
On the horizon, the red sun slowly rose in the east, tinging the floating clouds with a faint red.
As soon as the summer sun appeared in the sky, the wind immediately became scorching and unbearable.
The cicadas suddenly started to screech loudly in the banyan trees, an extremely harsh sound.
Huo Wei stood under the city gate, holding a silver machete. Behind him were the remains of the city gate that were still burning after the explosion.
The intense heat burned the air into wavy patterns. Drops of sweat rolled down Huo Wei's forehead, flowing down his cheeks into his black robe and then disappearing. He pursed his lips tightly and stared ahead with furrowed eyebrows.
Behind him stood a large number of black - clothed guards and officers and soldiers. Led by Huo Wei, they stood in front of the city gate, drawing out their silver - bright long knives. They were like huge boulders, not retreating an inch.
Dugu Luanyue didn't arrive until just before dusk.
She had ridden her horse all the way at full speed. Before she reached the South Gate, she could already hear the commotion coming from the south.
Lieutenant Wang Huyang, a burly man, saw Dugu Luanyue's troops on the street. His eyes turned red, and he rushed towards her like an arrow. He knelt in front of Dugu Luanyue and said:
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The prince has contracted the plague. The medicine prepared by Military Advisor Shen has no effect on him. He collapsed in just half a day and is now on the verge of death!"