The last sentence was the greatest temptation for him. He swallowed hard and nodded vigorously.
"Don't worry. Just let the princess wait patiently. I'll soon return to marry her."
After giving a few perfunctory words, Qin Feng quickly left.
Every word they had just said fell into the ears of another person.
There was a skeptical look on Wu Lin's face.
"Is the general really going to introduce such a good - for - nothing to the princess? You should know that this good - for - nothing is absolutely unworthy of the princess."
Qin Feng's gaze flitted across his face.
"I know that you've been unable to forget the princess since you saw her portrait. Considering all you've done, I won't forget you. Don't worry. I just want to appease him first. After everything is done, he won't have a chance to live."
With these words, Wu Lin felt relieved. He kicked the sack beside him.
"Shouldn't we start the next plan? I can hardly wait."
The greed on his face was so obvious that it was repulsive.
Qin Feng averted his gaze.
"It's time. Let's go back and make preparations."
...
When Cui Qizhou found that the young empress dowager was missing, he also received the news from the city gate.
"What did you say? She's missing? She just went out to check on the common people. How could she suddenly disappear? Have you searched carefully?"
The shadow guards were also helpless. They didn't know where the empress dowager had gone. They had almost turned the entire Jiangnan City upside down.
"The empress dowager has truly disappeared. Even the guards around her don't know where she went."
The disappearance of the empress dowager was never a good thing anywhere.
He rubbed his forehead and sent out more people to search. Just then, an official stumbled in.
"National Master! It's bad! Please go to the city gate quickly."
There was a hint of impatience in Cui Qizhou's tone.
"Wasn't everything arranged properly before? If they attack again, just follow our plan."
The official almost burst into tears.
"It's not an attack. They've done something else."
"Speak."
"They've captured the empress dowager and are showing off at the city gate. They said that if you don't go out and negotiate with them, they'll kill the empress dowager."
As soon as the words were out, the man's figure had disappeared.
The empress dowager was a symbol of the entire Daliang. The forces behind her were intricate. If something really happened to her in Jiangnan City, the whole court might be in turmoil.
Without caring about others' gazes, he used his light - body skill and quickly reached the city gate.
Glancing at the situation below, his eyes were filled with anger.
"You're really bold. I was still thinking of sparing your life before, but now it seems unnecessary."
Wu Lin was not afraid at all. He waved his hand, and immediately someone brought Shi Muyuan up.
"Humph, if the National Master really wants to attack me, take a look at the bargaining chip in my hand. I wonder if you care about the safety of this empress dowager?"
His tone was relaxed, as if he didn't take Cui Qizhou seriously at all.
And indeed, he knew that with such a big bargaining chip, even if the National Master put a sword to his neck, he would surely withdraw it.
As he expected, Cui Qizhou really told all the people behind him to put away their weapons.
The people standing on the city wall gritted their teeth, wishing they could smash that smug face to pieces.
He took a deep breath.
"Tell me. What do you want? You can't just come here to threaten me."
"The National Master really understands my thoughts. Actually, I don't have any particularly big demands. I just want to discuss a small condition with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Jiangnan City is the place that gave birth to and raised me. I'm not willing to leave so easily. I think you should understand what I mean."
The man narrowed his eyes slightly. He had never seen anyone dare to make such an excessive demand of him.
"Aren't you afraid of choking yourself? Can you swallow such a big Jiangnan City?"
"Whether I can swallow it or not doesn't concern the National Master. What do you think of my condition?"
Cui Qizhou began to hesitate. He stared intently at that bright little face.
Shi Muyuan was a bit anxious. This man wouldn't really give up Jiangnan City just for her, would he? There were so many common people in it. Not to mention what these common people would think, if others knew about it, they would surely lose hope in this court. By then, Daliang would surely face a more difficult situation.
"Cui Qizhou! Don't listen to his nonsense. I'm fine even if I die here today. Big brother and the others will never blame you. Anyway, defend Jiangnan City!"
After so much time, she had already developed feelings for this city and the common people in it. She regarded them as her family. Now that the safety of her family was threatened, she would rather die herself.
Shi Muyuan's words reached everyone's ears. The common people shed tears, and some began to waver.
"Empress dowager! You mustn't have an accident. We can leave. National Master, we can give up Jiangnan City, but the empress dowager must go back alive."
Cui Qizhou was also touched by this woman's determination. From his position, he could clearly see every move and every look in that woman's eyes. He knew that this woman was determined to die.
His lips moved, and finally he turned around.
"I need to think this over carefully. After all, this is of great importance. I still need to discuss it with the emperor."
Hearing this, Wu Lin readily agreed.
"Then I'll wait for good news."
After saying that, he led his men away.
After the common people in the city came to their senses, they all climbed onto the city wall. This huge city wall suddenly made them feel a bit insignificant.
"National Master, we've thought it over. Maybe we should just give up Jiangnan City. The empress dowager has done so much for us during this period. We're all human beings with feelings. If the empress dowager can be safe and sound, what's Jiangnan City?"
The reaction of the common people was within his expectation. Yes, after so many days of getting along, both sides had regarded each other as family.
But he held a high position. The more this was the case, the less he could be muddle - headed.
The fall of Jiangnan represented too many things. It couldn't be given away so easily.
"Everyone, please calm down. I'll think it over carefully and then discuss it with the emperor. Don't worry. I'll surely come up with a perfect solution."
After all the common people had left, he returned to his room with a dark face.
The shadow guard appeared, with a hint of worry on his face.