Chapter 283 - Yan Ziyan (1/2)
“What are you thinking about?” the state preceptor asked as he hugged the empress dowager’s waist.
The empress dowager pushed him away and said unhappily, “We could have had a baby. It’s all your fault that you didn’t take good care of him. Now it is unknown whether the child is alive or dead.”
The state preceptor was also a little annoyed when he thought of this, “Yeah, it’s all my fault. I wish I hadn’t sent the child so far away, but I searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find it.”
“Hum, it’s okay for you. Anyway, you also have your own family and children even if without that child. I only have an adopted child.”
“But your foster son became the Emperor,” the state preceptor said, “Isn’t it better than anything? You have become the most honorable woman in the world, and the entire harem follows your orders.”
“After all, he’s not my flesh and blood. He won’t be close to me.”
“Shh, it’s just fine to say such words in front of me. Don’t let outsiders hear it. People will gossip.”
The empress dowager was still unhappy.
State preceptor hold her in his arms again. “See what I brought you.”
“What?”
“It comes from a tribe in Baoning city, made by ram’s horns and used for combing hair. It’s said that it can help the hair grow longer and better.”
Empress dowager took the comb and seemed to feel better.
She lay in state preceptor’s arms and said, “Alas, if the child is still alive, I must bring her to the palace and let her enjoy the glory and wealth.”
……
To the north of Great Qi Dynasty.
Heihe city had become a living h.e.l.l ever since seized by the Northern Qing Kingdom.
People from Northern Qing Kingdom beat, smashed, plundered, burned, raped and pillaged here, killing innocent lives.
Some refugees who survived fled towards the Linglong County.
They thought that the Linglong County was also a part of the Great Qi Dynasty. However, after they fled here, they found that the city gate was actually closed for not allowing refugees to enter.
The refugees were trying to rush in by force, but overnight this place was suddenly heavy-guarded. The defense against refugees was stronger than against the soldiers of Northern Qing kingdom.
This was the state preceptor order.
The capital city was located in the south of the Linglong County. If the Linglong County fell into the enemy’s hands, the Great Qi Dynasty would be at risk and the burden would be very heavy.
Granaries would be opened to relieve the refugees once they flooded in the Linglong County. But these granaries would not last for many days. Then those refugees would plunder in the city and chaos would ensue.
Once the Linglong County was in a chaotic situation, more refugees would enter the capital city, and the situation would become more unstable.
State preceptor thought Northern Qing Kingdom should slaughter the city since the Heihe city had been lost and Great Qi Empire also should give up these refugees.
For a time, the people who escaped from the Heihe city were gathering in front of the city gate, screaming in pain.
One of refugees was a man called Yan Ziyan.
He was not a native of the Heihe city. He just went to Heihe city to deliver a letter as entrusted by a friend. Unfortunately, Heihe city was attacked by Northern Qing Country soon after he arrived there. He escorted his friend’s parents to escape, and now they just arrived at the Linglong County.
These refugees had been starving for several days. They thought that as long as they escaped from Heihe city, they would be safe in the Linglong County. Who knew the Linglong County was so well guarded that even a fly couldn’t enter the city.
The refugees dared not to complain, only wailing about their plight.
But Yan Ziyan was furious.
He shouted under the gate, “Is there any justice in this world? We have been living in the Great Qi empire for generations. But the imperial court didn’t protect its people, and even though we had fled here, you still refuse to let us in. Are you going to watch us die from starvation outside the city?”
The refugees also began to chime in with him, “Ah, can you show us a way to live?”
“I can’t imagine we would die in the hands of our own, instead of those people from Northern Qing Country. You are all demons and the Emperor of the City is a fatuous ruler!”
“…”
At first, the soldiers were completely indifferent when they heard the wailing of the refugees, b.u.t.they got furious once they heard those refugees scolding the Emperor.
One of the leading guards picked up a bow and shot an arrow towards the refugee who had just scolded the Emperor.
Shot through the heart, the refugee immediately fell, spouted a mouthful of blood and died before saying a word.
An innocent life was finished in a second.
The people below immediately became quiet and stared blankly at the dead refugee.
They had seen many dead for so long, but he was the first to be killed by their own.
They were suddenly resigned to their fate.
They would die no matter what they do, escaping or resisting. They could only look up to the heaven, hoping that G.o.d would be able to give them a slim chance of survival.
Yan Ziyan clenched his fists tightly while looking at the dead refugee.
After a while, he suddenly shouted, “Since the Linglong City does not take us in, let’s go. Guys, follow me, I do not believe that G.o.d will not give us a way to live.”
The refugees stared at Yan Ziyan.
Behind them was the Heihe city, with the soldiers of Northern Qing Kingdom. The Linglong County in front of them was not allowed to enter, so where could they go?
Yan Ziyan said, “We’d die anyway sooner or later. Follow me if you trust me, otherwise just wait here!”