"Humph, the Empress Dowager sure knows how to talk big. Who would believe a single word you say? People aren't fools. They naturally understand righteousness and morality."
"Didn't I already say? The common people aren't all fools. How could they listen to a traitor? Does Lord He perhaps forget that there are still court officials and the Son of Heaven in our Great Liang? If anything happens to me and the Crown Prince here, or if anything happens to the common people, no one will let you off."
As Shi Muyuan spoke, she caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye that the expressions of the common people below the city tower had changed.
That's right. She was going to give these common people hope. As long as they had hope, they wouldn't rebel easily.
No matter which dynasty it was, people's beliefs were truly terrifying. As long as she gained people's beliefs, she would surely hold out until the reinforcements arrived.
Thinking of this, it seemed as if a ray of light had been cast around her by the sun. The common people looked at the figure standing against the light and couldn't help but shout out.
"As long as the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are here, they will surely keep us safe. We will stand on the same side as the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince."
"That's right. We'll live and die with the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince!"
"We'll live and die with the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince!"
The shouts could be clearly heard even through the city wall. The people outside changed their expressions completely and lost their last bit of patience.
"You're simply incorrigible. In that case, don't blame me."
He waved his hand, and immediately some people carried thick poles to ram the city gate. However, he clearly underestimated the power of the common people.
When these people went to ram the city gate, the common people blocked the other side of the gate one by one with their bodies.
Ji Huang wasn't idle either. He had people prepare bows and arrows and, according to Shi Muyuan's instructions, coated the arrows with a medicine to attract insects.
When Lord He saw that the arrows didn't hit his own soldiers, he felt a bit proud.
"It seems your archers aren't that good. How is the Crown Prince going to stop our attack with such archers? I'm suddenly curious. If we just take this city directly, won't it be so unfulfilling?"
The young girl stood on the high city wall. Instead of losing her composure because of his words, she laughed mockingly.
"Lord He, underestimating the enemy is a big taboo in military strategy. It seems you're doomed to lose this battle."
Lord He didn't quite understand what she meant. He always felt there was an underlying meaning.
Before he could figure it out, he suddenly heard a rustling sound around him.
When he turned his head, one snake after another crawled out from somewhere and slowly approached.
His eyes widened. In an instant, he understood what was going on. By the time he wanted to call his men back, it was already too late.
He could only watch helplessly as those soldiers were entangled by the attracted snakes. Before long, they disappeared right in front of him, leaving only skeletons.
At this moment, all the soldiers outside were scared and quickly retreated.
Lord He finally realized he had been tricked. He was so angry that he started cursing.
"Shi Muyuan! You vicious woman. You actually came up with such a despicable trick. Just you wait. I'll never let you have peace."
He angrily led his men away. The common people inside the city began to cheer. Shi Muyuan and Ji Huang knew that he would surely come back with his men, but it was also a good idea to let these common people relax a bit.
The two returned to the mansion and discussed their next plan.
Shi Muyuan tried to persuade him again.
"Huang'er, we surely can't stop those people's attack by ourselves. But if we had reinforcements, we wouldn't be under so much pressure."
Ji Huang was stunned. He opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but then he thought of the hope the common people had placed on him, so he changed his words.
"Please give me some time to think."
"Of course. Just don't take too long. I'm sure Lord He won't give us much time either."
After she left, Ji Huang stayed alone in the room.
Shi Muyuan originally thought this step - son of hers would figure it out, but it turned out she had overestimated him.
The step - son thought about it all night. Before he could make a decision, he went out.
She curled her lips. She had actually guessed that things wouldn't be that easy.
Just as she was about to return to the courtyard, Mei rushed over.
"Milady, we have to leave quickly."
Mei rarely got so flustered when something happened. Seeing her like this, something serious must have happened.
Sure enough, the next words she said almost made the young girl lose her composure.
"I don't know what method Lord He used. He's about to break through the city gate and enter. We have to leave as soon as possible. We can't stay here and wait to die."
The young girl came back to her senses and pulled her hand away.
"Mei, I can't leave at this moment. The common people have placed all their hopes on me and the Crown Prince. If I leave now, aren't they just waiting to die?"
"Milady! Don't be so foolish. We should protect ourselves first. If we can't even take care of ourselves, how can we take care of those common people? Besides, those common people may not die, but if you fall into Lord He's hands, you'll surely die."
She spoke so seriously that Mei couldn't find any words to refute.
There was nothing they could do. The Thirteen Guards had to stay by her side and go with her to the city gate.
Seeing the people who had returned, she felt a bit relieved.
"Everything is taken care of, right?"
"Don't worry, milady. The general will bring reinforcements soon. You really didn't have to take this risk."
"No. I can't let Huang'er get into trouble under my nose. After all, he's my son."
The group of them went to the city gate in a grand manner. Many common people around were frightened and ran backward.
They were quite a sight. Many common people stopped in their tracks after seeing her clearly.
"Isn't that the Empress Dowager? Why wasn't the Empress Dowager by the Crown Prince's side just now?"
"Could it be that the Empress Dowager was trying to run away?"
"Are you stupid? How does the Empress Dowager look like someone who is trying to run away?"
"This direction is towards the back. Could it be that the Empress Dowager is going to court death?"
Some common people couldn't stand it and stepped forward to stop her.
"Empress Dowager, once the city gate is broken, Yijin City is finished! Hurry up and run for your life. The Crown Prince has been captured. You can't be captured too. We're still counting on you."
"No need. If you're scared, find a place to hide. I will never run away."
Her firm tone made the people around start to wonder.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager had some other tricks up her sleeve? Otherwise, how could she be so calm when facing the fall of the city tower?
It seemed there was no other explanation.
The others steadied their nerves and were thinking about whether to go with Shi Muyuan.