Both worlds are like dreams

Xue Huang looked at the soldiers who were discussing on the top of the city wall and asked the young man softly, "If we can't reach an agreement this time, can you lend me your strength?"

The young man said unhappily, "You're asking me now, do I have any reason to say no?"

Xue Huang smiled guiltily, "I knew you wouldn't refuse to help me. But you also know that I don't know how to negotiate. If Zhou Tianyu refuses to give me the herbs, I can only put a knife to his neck."

"You should take a break first. If a fight really breaks out, you'll be their only hope."

Xue Huang nodded, sat cross-legged on the stone tablet in front of the moat, and began to regulate her breathing with her eyes closed.

An hour later, Xue Huang opened her eyes, and there was no movement at the city gate.

Hua Yu came over to bring her some water and asked worriedly, "What should we do if Zhou Tianyu avoids us?"

Xue Huang looked at the tightly closed city gate and sighed, "It's obviously impossible to break in. We should listen to General Lu's advice and persuade him with reason."

"I don't think reason can persuade him." Hua Yu looked up at the tower, "Princess Changle has been waiting here for an hour. May I ask, Commander, when will General Zhou be here?"

"Your Highness," the captain at the city gate said respectfully, "General Zhou has gone to inspect the north gate. Please wait a little longer."

Hua Yu frowned, "Sure enough, he avoided me."

"I knew before I came here that this trip would not go smoothly." Xue Huang said. "Zhou Tianyu is Shen Congfeng's man. Without his order, I'm afraid Zhou Tianyu will not easily help."

"These people disregard the lives of ordinary people in order to seize power. They are truly shameless bastards." Hua Yu said gritting his teeth.

"Of course, there are not so many good men like your General Lu who serve the country and the people." Xue Huang said with a smile.

"At this time, you still have the mood to tease me?"

"I'm telling the truth," Xue Huang sighed, "I've been traveling abroad for three years and have been to many places. No country is peaceful and prosperous, and people are suffering everywhere. In some countries, the royal family only knows how to enjoy themselves. In some countries, powerful officials are in power and the people are living in misery. There are very few people who truly serve the country and the people. It is not easy for General Lu to stick here for so many years."

"He always said that it was his duty to protect the safety of the people." Hua Yu sighed.

Xue Huang looked towards the distant north, where the sky was still as blue as ever. She wondered how they were doing in that city.

After waiting for almost an hour, there was no movement from the city wall.

Lu Wenxuan's captain was named Zhan Hui, and he and another swordsman named Zi Xiu who volunteered to help came over.

"Princess, how long do we have to wait?" Zhan Hui asked. "Even if Jiuxiao City agrees to lend us the medicine, the speed of transporting the herbs back to the city will slow down. I'm afraid we won't be able to get back when Muhua City runs out of herbs. If they delay any further, I'm afraid we'll have to wait even longer."

"It's impossible to get in with our strength," Xue Huang frowned, "We must outsmart them."

"Princess, what good ideas do you have?" Zixiu asked.

"Trick him out." Xue Huang jumped off the stone tablet, looked up at the tower, and said, "Please tell General Zhou that I came here to save the people of Muhua, but I also came for Jiuxiao City."

"May I ask what you mean by this, Princess?"

"There are countless deaths in Muhua City due to the plague. If there are no medicinal materials, the plague in Muhua City cannot be controlled, and the first to suffer are the people and soldiers of Jiuxiao City." Xue Huang's eyes were sharp, staring at the top of the city wall. The number of deaths in Muhua City was not as exaggerated as she said, and it would not be uncontrollable, but if she didn't say that, she might not be able to scare Zhou Tianyu.

"But if the herbs are given to Muhua City, what will happen to Jiuxiao City?"

"I will exchange my prescriptions and prevention methods for half of the medicinal materials in the city." Xue Huang said.

"Is there really a cure for the plague in Muhua City?" the captain asked again.

"The fact that we are not infected with the disease proves that the medicine I have is indeed effective."

There was silence on the tower for a while, and the captain said again: "Princess, you have traveled all the way and worked hard. I will open the city gate now and invite the princess in. I will discuss the matter of medicinal materials with General Zhou later."

Xue Huang looked at the tower with a half-smile and said, "Can you be the master of General Zhou?"

The captain on the tower was a little embarrassed, and his eyes unconsciously glanced to the side, but he was not looking at the soldiers standing guard next to him, but it seemed that there was someone hiding beside him that Xue Huang could not see. If Xue Huang guessed correctly, the hidden person should be Zhou Tianyu.

Zhan Hui spoke in a stern tone, "The princess was personally conferred the title of Princess Changle by His Majesty, and she is honored with state ceremony. However, General Zhou is so negligent. Where do you regard the imperial edict of our dynasty as yours?"

After a moment of silence, the captain said, "Princess, please forgive me. General Zhou is on his way to the city gate. It will take about an incense stick of time. How about you enter the city first?"

As he spoke, the city gate slowly opened.

Xue Huang looked at the open door but did not move.

Hua Yu whispered, "They are trying to trick you into coming into the city."

Xue Huang remained calm and patiently stood there. She gestured behind her and continued, "For the sake of the people of Jiuxiao City, I will not enter the city for now."

After waiting for about an incense stick of time, Zhou Tianyu came out of the city with an anxious look on his face, followed by a group of soldiers holding weapons. Each of them covered their faces tightly with scarves and hurried to the city gate to greet her.

"Jiuxiao City's defender Zhou Tianyu, meeting Princess Changle."

"It's not easy to meet General Zhou." Xue Huang said with a smile.

Zhou Tianyu is nearly 40 years old, with a fat head and big ears. He looks a little silly, but his eyes are bright. Hearing Xue Huang's words, he just smiled and said, "Princess, please forgive me. The city has been in turmoil recently, so I have been patrolling everywhere. I received the news that the princess is coming, so I came to greet you without stopping."

"I thought the general didn't want people from Muhua City to come here. After all, General Lu's letters have been delivered one after another."

Zhou Tianyu's expression changed, and a trace of panic flashed across his eyes, but he still said calmly: "How can this be said? I haven't received any letters. If I had received any, I would definitely help General Lu."

"Really?" Xue Huang looked at him with a smile.

"Princess, you may not know that there are often bandits causing trouble between the two cities. Perhaps the messenger sent by General Lu met with an accident on the way. But since the princess is here, I will do my best to help General Lu."

"That's great. It's not too late to help now."

Zhou Tianyu's face froze, and he smiled: "Yes, yes, yes."

Xue Huang didn't believe a word of what he said. Her expression was slightly cold. She said, "General, you are thoughtful. Please stand up quickly."

Zhou Tianyu stood up and looked at the people who were resting a mile away, then said to Xue Huang, "Princess and everyone else have worked hard, so you should go to the general's mansion to rest. I will have someone prepare the herbs that the princess needs."

The young man's voice sounded, "There is an ambush behind the city gate. You can't go in."