Mingzhu had never seen Old Cabbage Stalk act so humbly and submissively.
She knew that Wu Zhenhai had done many things that involved swallowing one's pride and humiliation in order to climb the social ladder.
But he still cared a lot about his image in front of her.
The fact that he's begging her so humbly today must mean he's encountered some difficulty.
Mingzhu even had some doubts, wondering if something serious had happened—that he had been falsely accused of treason.
Otherwise, she couldn't have come up with a reason for Wu Zhenhai's humility.
Wu Zhenhai tugged at her sleeve and led her towards a less crowded area.
Where are you taking me?
"Gathering of Eminence Pavilion." That's a restaurant.
What are you going there for?
"Something happened to Wu Yu."
Mingzhu stopped at the door. "Wait!"
Wu Yu is in trouble and needs her to save him?
Could it be that Wu Yu was kidnapped, and they're going to use her to exchange for Wu Yu?
Because of Wu Zhenhai's "previous record," Mingzhu felt that her guess was absolutely correct.
Besides, wasn't Wu Yu at the Prince's residence? When did he leave?
Mingzhu felt increasingly uneasy, but suddenly a sharp pain shot through the back of her head, and everything went black...
Wu Zhenhai knocked Mingzhu unconscious and carried her out in his arms.
He did it quite calmly, and when he reached the door, he even told the old woman that Mingzhu had suffered from heatstroke, so he was going out to find a doctor to take a look.
The old woman never expected that Wu Zhenhai would be so bold as to kidnap Mingzhu.
But deep down, Wu Zhenhai was nervous, so he didn't realize that there was a "little tail" following him.
Wu Yu ate too much fruit yesterday because he was craving something cool, and he has a bit of an upset stomach today, so he didn't go to Xiyou's reading room.
Feeling a little better, he went out to look for Yanran.
Although he is young, he already understands that only by studying and practicing martial arts can a boy have a bright future and be recognized by others, so he has been working very hard lately.
Naturally, he spent less time looking for Yanran.
He wasn't feeling well today, so he decided to take a day off.
Unexpectedly, I saw Wu Zhenhai and Mingzhu talking as soon as I stepped outside.
The children of the Prince's Mansion rarely brought anyone with them when they were at home.
Because Wu Yu was short, he hid in the bushes and kept quiet, so he was not discovered at all.
Therefore, Wu Yu could only watch helplessly as his own father knocked Mingzhu unconscious and took her away.
He was completely devastated!
Why did Dad do that?
He now vaguely knows some things about the adults, and knows that Mingzhu is Wu Zhenhai's unrequited love.
But you can't just take something that isn't yours.
If Father does this, how can I face anyone remaining in the Prince's mansion?
no.
When he does something wrong, Sister Yanran will scold him, saying that this is like treating an illness and saving a life.
Now, it's his turn to treat his father's illness and save him.
So Wu Yu resolutely turned around and ran off to find Yanran.
"What? Your dad stole my aunt?" Yanran thought she had misheard.
Wu Yu nodded vigorously. "I found out, I'll come tell my sister right away!"
So he and his father are different.
Yanran: "Has your father gone mad?"
She jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), put on her shoes, and ran towards Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun:???
What's wrong with Wu Zhenhai?
Could it be that his long-term unfulfilled desires have led him to become twisted in silence?
"Go find it quickly!"
To everyone's surprise, while everyone in the mansion was searching everywhere for Wu Zhenhai, Wu Zhenhai returned on his own.
He came back to pick up Wu Yu, but he didn't expect to be caught red-handed.
When Wu Zhenhai learned that it was Wu Yu had "reported" him, he was speechless.
Perhaps this is Wu Yu's fate.
Tang Zhuyun coldly asked, "Where is Mingzhu?"
Wu Zhenhai didn't hide anything, saying, "I sent him away."
Where was it sent?
"Leave the border town."
Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Tang Zhuyun's anger intensified.
"Your Highness," Wu Zhenhai said calmly, yet his words struck a heavy blow to everyone's hearts, "The Northern Yi are coming. I fear the border city cannot be defended."
Tang Zhuyun was shocked.
"You may ask the Crown Princess whether she has seen the Crown Prince these past few days."
Ren Yingying: "Qu Nian? He seems really too busy to catch anyone... Is it really the Northern Yi attacking?"
"Yes." Wu Zhenhai nodded.
The Prince of Jin went to raid the stronghold of the Northern Yi, but the Northern Yi also had capable men who turned around and attacked the border city.
The Northern Yi were different from those in the Central Plains; they were divided into many tribes, the largest of which was the Yanta Tribe. However, the Yanta Tribe was also plagued by internal strife, making the situation very complicated.
It is currently unknown which prince of the Yanta Tribe led the surprise attack, but it is vaguely known that there were 30,000 troops.
The best solution would actually be to abandon the city, but Tang Zhuyun would not agree to that.
Tang Zhuyun doesn't leave, Mingzhu won't leave either.
So Wu Zhenhai forcibly sent her away.
Tang Zhuyun frowned and asked, "Where did you take her?"
"It's a safe place, Your Majesty, you can rest assured." Wu Zhenhai knelt down and said, "I will stay and live and die with the border town. I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance to atone for my crimes and die on the battlefield."
Tang Zhuyun was shocked.
She felt that 30,000 troops, while not a large number, were sufficient for the border town to handle.
How did Wu Zhenhai's words turn it into a deadly trap?
Wu Zhenhai smiled wryly and said, "You can ask the young master how many troops are left in the border city."
"Isn't it fifty thousand?"
"It's all a bluff; it's actually a ruse. The prince has mobilized almost his entire force to achieve an unparalleled feat."
Wu Zhenhai felt that Prince of Jin's move was a truly foolish one!
But what could he do?
If he takes Mingzhu with him, Mingzhu will despise him for the rest of her life, regarding him as a cowardly ant who clings to life.
Moreover, his dignity would not allow him to surrender without a fight and become a deserter.
But he couldn't bear to see his Mingzhu go to waste, so he made this difficult decision.
He originally intended to send Wu Yu away as well, but he didn't expect...
It was all ruined by this little brat!
Tang Zhuyun looked at Wu Zhenhai and said, "Do you think Mingzhu will thank you?"
Wu Zhenhai lowered his head and remained silent.
It doesn't matter anymore. In the face of life and death, nothing else matters.
He just felt sorry for his Ruanruan, who hadn't even had a few good days before falling into hardship.
He couldn't bear to part with it.
Whether you complain about him or even hate him, it doesn't matter.
Seeing that he wouldn't say a word even if he died, Tang Zhuyun didn't waste any time. She sent people to search for Mingzhu while also inviting Qu Nian.
Qu Nian confirmed Wu Zhenhai's words.
A large army won't move without a sound, and he had already received the news.
"Then tell me honestly, I want to hear the truth: how many troops are still in the city!"
"Including veterans and wounded soldiers, the number is probably around ten thousand," Qu Nian said truthfully.
Only 10,000 men, fighting against 30,000 elite troops and generals from the Northern Yi...
Ren Yingying was anxious and couldn't help but fumble with her fingers, asking, "What are some famous battles where a smaller force defeated a larger one?"
She was so dense that she couldn't remember anything and could only stare longingly at Tang Zhuyun.
Qu Nian was speechless with anger.
What good is she anyway!
Am I, a grown man, a man who was called a war god at the age of fifteen, just a decoration?
Ren Yingying: No, you're not even a decoration, because I can't be bothered to look at you!