A slender figure was standing with her back to them. Her hair bun was in complete disarray, and she had changed into prison clothes. When she turned around, her face was bare of makeup, and her complexion was as pale as if she had endured some torture here.
If it weren't for the fact that her voice was exactly the same as the one in Shi Muyuan's memory, she would have almost thought that this woman had been replaced.
How could this be the same Concubine Rui who had once held absolute power in the harem? She simply couldn't connect the woman in front of her with the one who had once bewitched the late emperor.
Even Xiao Xiao was a bit surprised.
The official beside them sighed, "We haven't been here for a long time. And during this period, no one has tortured her. But a maid who brought her food saw that Concubine Rui seemed to have many wounds on her body."
"Those wounds on her body couldn't have just appeared out of thin air, could they?"
At this, everyone fell silent.
After hearing this, Concubine Rui showed a crazy smile on her face.
"Humph, it seems that things aren't going well for you outside. I've heard that there's a mutiny in the south of the Yangtze River. With your current strength, it's simply impossible for you to defend the southern city."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan got a bit angry.
"Things haven't reached the last stage yet. What makes you so sure that we can't do it?"
"The Empress Dowager is still as confident as ever. But being over - confident isn't a good thing."
"You!"
Just as Shi Muyuan was about to say something more, the man beside her interrupted her.
"Where on earth is Qin Feng? I'm sure Concubine Rui must know. After all, you two were lovers."
Concubine Rui seemed to recall something unpleasant. She crouched down painfully, covering her head.
"I don't know. I know nothing. You've asked the wrong person. Get out of here!"
Seeing her reaction, Cui Qizhou was surprised.
"What on earth happened here?"
But before he could get an answer, Concubine Rui had fainted on the ground.
There was nothing they could do. The official had to send someone for medical treatment.
The doctor rushed over. After the diagnosis, he heaved a sigh of relief.
"Everyone, don't worry. The patient is fine. She's just suffered from excessive internal heat due to anxiety."
Seeing that Concubine Rui was okay, they all felt relieved. But if they wanted to get the answers, they had to look elsewhere.
After they walked out of the cell, Cui Qizhou gave the order first, "Go and find out what exactly Concubine Rui discovered in there. Maybe there will be clues we're looking for."
"Understood. But, National Teacher, what should we do if Wu Lin launches another attack?"
Cui Qizhou had always been troubled by this problem. He rubbed his forehead, "I'll send someone to inquire about when the reinforcements will arrive. I think they should be coming soon. Don't worry. We just need to hold on for a few more days."
With his words, the official felt reassured and left.
But Shi Muyuan wasn't in a good mood.
"The National Teacher knows that the person leading the troops this time is Xu Qun. I've heard that he's a student of the Minister of War. He's definitely not an easy person to deal with."
"We don't have any other options now. We can only wait. Anyway, he can't openly oppose us, and he won't rashly sacrifice the common people."
For now, they could only think this way.
The two were discussing the next plan. Wu Lin's frequent attacks were obviously aimed at exhausting their manpower and resources. If there wasn't someone giving them advice, no one would believe it. They needed to prepare for the worst.
Just as they were talking, Ze Ze suddenly trotted over.
"Good news! Good news! Empress Dowager, the people sent by the Emperor to help us have arrived."
The two looked at each other. It was like a timely rain, giving them a chance to catch their breath.
Regardless of whose side Xu Qun was on, as long as he could help, the people in the southern city would have a glimmer of hope.
The two quickly led their people to the official's residence. Xu Qun was already waiting there.
His gaze casually swept over the two of them, and the contempt in his eyes was undisguised, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager and the National Teacher."
Shi Muyuan gritted her teeth. She always felt that this man's arrival was not a good thing. Her small face fell.
"Okay, General Xu, you must be tired from your long journey. By the way, did you bring the supplies the Emperor asked you to bring?"
At the moment, all she wanted was for the soldiers and the common people to get through this difficult time, so she didn't care too much.
But the fact proved that it was impossible for her not to care.
Xu Qun's tone carried a bit of guilt, but his eyes were still full of contempt.
"I'm really sorry to disappoint the Empress Dowager. I thought it was more important to lead the troops here first. The supplies are still on the way. It will probably take three or four days for them to arrive."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan could hardly maintain her composure.
"What!"
The scream rang in her ears. Xu Qun casually picked his ear.
"The Empress Dowager heard correctly. The supplies will indeed take several days to arrive. I had no other choice."
She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails were almost digging into her flesh. If it weren't for the man beside her constantly calming her down, she might have gone up to fight Xu Qun at this moment.
Such important things, but he didn't bring them along. Instead, he brought so many people here to eat for free.
The southern city couldn't afford this.
Seemingly sensing what was on her mind, Xu Qun's face showed a sneer.
"As soon as I entered the city, I felt something was wrong. It seems that some of the corpses outside are the common people of the southern city. Didn't the Empress Dowager come here to protect the people? Then why did so many people lose their lives? If the Empress Dowager fails to keep her promise, how can she face the people of the world?"
These words hit Shi Muyuan right in the heart. When she saw the people falling one by one, she already felt powerless. The guilt in her heart had been increasing every day. Now, being said like this, she felt extremely ashamed.
After experiencing so much with the Empress Dowager in the southern city, at first, he had indeed suspected this woman. But in the end, after seeing her shed countless tears for the people, all his doubts had been dispelled.
Cui Qizhou stepped forward and stood in front of the young Empress Dowager.
"The people all volunteered to defend the city. If you have any complaints, you can go and ask them."
Xu Qun didn't expect the National Teacher, who usually didn't care about such disputes, to speak up for the Empress Dowager today.
This was completely different from the rumors about him. Moreover, weren't they always at odds?
The Shi family was even a sworn enemy of this National Teacher. The two sides had had many disputes over power and profit.
He was stunned for a long time. Before he could refute, the official also took the opportunity to speak.