After crossing, I surrounded the capital from the countryside

After handing the sobbing old man over to a young man who obviously knew him, Xu Qingqing quietly walked out of the crowd.

"Let's go!" She whispered to Mei Niang and the others with a serious expression, "We have to go back to Xiaoyao Sect and tell General Lu about this."

Seeing this, Xu Li quietly withdrew from the crowd, and the group mounted their horses and quickly headed out of the city.

On the way, Xu Qingqing frowned and was full of vigilance.

She murmured to herself, "Based on the time we've spent together, and the people's support for him just now, General Lu would definitely not do such a thing as treason... It seems that there must be something strange going on within the court... The court... It's really ironic."

This emperor is really useless. He doesn't know how to judge people and allows treacherous ministers to be in power.

Now even the general who defends the country is accused of treason. It seems that the Great Zhou Kingdom is doomed to a short life in the hands of such a person in power.

Xu Qingqing took a deep breath and tried to calm the emotions that were surging in her heart.

"What else does the wanted order say? Because General Lu has made great contributions to the country, the court treated him leniently, so the Lu family was exiled to the northern border instead of being executed directly." Xu Li said indignantly: "This is really a joke!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment.

"We have to get back to Xiaoyao Sect as soon as possible!"

Xu Qingqing knew that although this decision seemed to leave a glimmer of hope, it actually pushed the Lu family into a more difficult situation.

Exile to the northern border is long and dangerous. How can the Lu family, young and old, endure such torture?

They knew that since the wanted warrant had arrived here, the Lu family must have been in exile for a long time, and perhaps they would pass by here after a while.

It would be fine if the escorting officers had a conscience, but if they met a black-hearted one, then... I just don't dare to think about it.

Xu Qingqing squeezed the horse's belly and Zhuifeng immediately accelerated and galloped away. Xu Li and Xu Tong were not willing to be left behind, so they spurred their horses and whipped them, making a whining sound.

The horse and the cart sped up and galloped towards the Xiaoyao Sect.

Xu Qingqing and his group hurried back to Xiaoyao Sect in a dusty state, their faces filled with solemnity and urgency.

Without even taking a break, they immediately informed Lu Zhenting of the two pieces of news: the Lu family had been exiled to the northern border and that he was wanted for treason and treason.

When Lu Zhenting heard this, he felt like he was struck by lightning.

I just felt dizzy and had trouble standing for a while.

His wide-open eyes were quickly covered with red bloodshot, as if they were swallowed by some unspeakable grief and anger.

His body kept shaking and the teacup in his hand slipped and fell to the ground with a crisp cracking sound, like the whine of a broken guitar string.

Xiao Li, the personal soldier behind him, hurried forward to support him, his eyes full of worry, and exclaimed: "General! General, are you okay?" There was a little trembling in his voice, as if he was also frightened by this sudden change.

Xu Qingqing and the others were also frightened by Lu Zhenting's current state.

Lu Zhenting was helped to sit on a stool, his eyes were empty and confused, as if he had lost focus. He was filled with a feeling of dejection and desolation.

The sun was as scorching as fire, but it couldn't illuminate the gloom in his heart at this moment.

Xiao Li knelt on one knee, his hands clenched, his face full of worry and indignation.

After a while, Lu Zhenting slowly came back to his senses. He suddenly raised his head, stared at Xiao Li with a sharp gaze, and said in a low and hoarse voice: "Xiao Li, how long have you followed me?"

Xiao Li was stunned for a moment, then replied, "General, it has been ten years."

Lu Zhenting smiled bitterly, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes: "Ten years, ten years, is enough to see a person clearly, but also enough to change a person beyond recognition."

"General..." Xiao Li just opened his mouth when Lu Zhenting raised his hand to stop him.

Lu Zhenting took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if he wanted to expel the anger and helplessness in his chest.

He closed his sorrowful eyes, tears falling from the corners of his eyes, his voice filled with endless pain: "I, Lu, have been loyal all my life, but ended up... ended up like this. ...Hahahaha..."

“Collaboration with the enemy and treason, hahahaha… just four words, but they instantly wiped out my Lu family’s decades of dedication to the Great Zhou Kingdom, and also implicated my family and personal soldiers, all of whom suffered with me…”

He clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged. Every time he clenched his fists, he could seem to hear his bones creaking. That was the sound of his inner struggle and resistance.

"Collaborating with the enemy and treason...what a serious crime!" General Lu's voice was trembling and hoarse, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying endless pain and despair, like the grief and indignation that his loyalty was tarnished, and also like the last cry, which made people cry when they heard it.

He looked up at the sky, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light. However, that light dimmed in an instant, as if swallowed by the cruelty of reality.

"Evil ministers are in power and the emperor is confused. I, Lu, have been loyal all my life, but I have ended up like this. This world... people's hearts... are so cold and indifferent!" General Lu's voice gradually became low, as if he was whispering.

He stood up slowly and walked towards the door with unsteady steps.

His back cast a long shadow in the sunlight, which swayed on the ground, just like his mood at the moment, which could not calm down.

Then, it slowly walked away in the sunlight, leaving only a long shadow, lonely and desolate.

"General Lu, are you going to give up on yourself?" Xu Qingqing looked at Lu Zhenting's dejected figure and shouted, "The people you protected haven't given up on you yet!"

Lu Zhenting's figure paused.

Seeing that it was working, Xu Qingqing hurriedly told the people at the city gate about their support and complaints for him, and then said, "General Lu, the people have seen what you have done for them. Now the people of Northern Xinjiang firmly believe that you are wronged. They are all praying for you and shouting for you. You can't just give up like this."

"They are all waiting for you."

However, Lu Zhenting's figure remained motionless for a long time. Seeing this, his personal soldier Xiao Li also came over.

He said firmly to Lu Zhenting's back: "General, you must cheer up, for those who truly trust you and need you! And for the young masters and their wives..."

Lu Zhenting, with his back to the others, felt his heart filled with disappointment and pain, unable to break free from this heavy shackles for a while.

But deep inside, there is still an unyielding flame burning.

This flame represents his former glory and belief, and his determination and courage to fight for his country and his people.

Listening to what Xu Qingqing and the others said, he closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift back to those glorious days.

He recalled the days when he led his soldiers into battle, those exciting battles, and those moments of fighting for the country and the people.