Golden Branch

"What? Brother is surrounded by rioters?"

Wang Heng's big eyes, with distinct black and white, were filled with panic.

"How could this happen? Brother! Brother, he, he——"

Wang Heng was at a loss, just like someone who was worried about a loved one in danger.

She is naturally delicate and innocent, and in the eyes of some people, she is "silly".

This panic made him seem even more brainless and disorganized.

"No! I have to save him!"

"Come, come—"

As she spoke, Wang Heng began to call for help.

Zhao Jinniang hurriedly tried to dissuade her like a loyal servant, "Nineth Lady! Don't be impulsive! Don't lose your composure!"

"My dear, your condition is unclear. If you rush over there rashly, you might be in danger!"

While Zhao Jinniang was full of calculations, she did not forget her identity.

She was the female guard given by Lou Yu to Wang Heng.

She cares about her former master because she is loyal and righteous.

But protecting her current partner is her duty.

She couldn't let the girl run over and put herself in danger when she knew there was danger ahead.

Even if it wasn't her who instigated it, as a servant, it would be a dereliction of duty if she couldn't persuade her master.

"Brother is in danger now! How can I care about anything else?"

"Zhao Jinniang, you don't need to say anything! I have my own ideas, you just need to follow my orders!"

Perhaps because she was too anxious, Wang Heng completely lost her usual good temper.

As she spoke later, she even sounded a little anxious.

Wang Heng finally revealed some of the arrogance of a noble lady from an aristocratic family.

Zhao Jinniang clenched her hands tightly, which were hanging at her sides.

She knew that although Jiu Niang was kind to others on weekdays and seemed to be very close and gentle to the servants.

In fact, in her heart, the master is the master and the servant is the servant.

The master is arrogant, and the servants have to allow themselves to be scolded and beaten.

It's funny that Ah Man is such a good-for-nothing. Others treat her as a joke, but she treats them as sisters.

Ah Man was even more convinced that Wang Jiu was a good master, and was extremely respectful and loyal to her.

Humph, this is because Ah Man did not offend Wang Jiu, otherwise, Wang Jiu would have scolded and blamed Ah Man just like he is scolding her now!

All I can say is that if you have prejudice, everything you see will be distorted.

Wang Heng did not scold her, but Zhao Jinniang still felt humiliated.

"...Jiu Niang, it's better for you to stay in the fort. There are already rioters outside. The fort is high and deep, and those rioters will definitely not dare to break in."

But if you run out, your safety cannot be guaranteed.

Zhao Jinniang suppressed her shame and anger and continued to persuade like a loyal servant, even though her advice was unpleasant to the ear.

With this round of persuasion, even if Wang Heng ran away and something happened, it would not be her fault.

As a servant, I have said everything I should say, but it is difficult to persuade the damned ghost with kind words.

Some nobles were determined to seek their own death, and Zhao Jinniang had no way to stop them.

Concubine Jiang lowered her eyelids slightly.

It's so disgusting, so unbearable.

A fool, yet he thinks he is smart.

She thought she was the chess player, but she didn't know that she was not even a chess piece.

At best, it's a joke!

"I know! But my brother is in danger! How can I hide in the fortress?"

"Zhao Jinniang, if you don't dare to follow me, then stay in the fortress with high walls and deep moats, and stay there safely."

Wang Heng was probably really anxious, and began to confuse right with wrong, even speaking sarcastically to the "loyal servant" who was trying to persuade her.

She also did not forget to pull out the "control group," "Aman, let's go!"

Ah Man was still dark and thin, looking very inconspicuous. She didn't look like a noble servant of a wealthy family, but rather like a little girl from a farming family.

She looked a little dazed, like a stubborn fool.

She didn't have to think about what her master said, and she just answered obediently: "Yes!"

A look of grievance and helplessness flashed across Zhao Jinniang's face. Her master was willful, and another colleague didn't know how to persuade him. Alas, she was the only one who understood the situation. She felt so tired and heartbroken.

"Nineth Lady has misunderstood me. I am willing to follow you!"

Zhao Jinniang suppressed her shame and anger, bowed and saluted, indicating that she was willing to obey her master's orders.

"Hmph! That's pretty much it!"

Wang Heng raised her double chin, looking spoiled.

"Come on! Gather! Let's go to the river camp!"

Wang Heng shouted, and the guards began to gather.

Well-trained and disciplined.

But the quantity is limited.

Wang Heng did not take everyone away.

The three hundred guards were divided into three groups:

One hundred men climbed up the walls of the fort to strengthen its defense.

One hundred people entered the inner courtyard to protect the three noble ladies: Concubine Jiang, Eleventh Lady, and Xiao Sanlang.

The last one hundred people followed Wang Heng all the way to Yi River to rescue Lou Yu.

Zhao Jinniang was not surprised at all when she saw this assignment.

She had long guessed that Wang Jiu would not take everyone out.

With Lou Yu away, most of the Lou family troops were transferred away, and the fort was already under-guarded.

When Lou Yu mobilized his troops to leave, he took Wang Heng's 300 guards into consideration.

Now, although Wang Heng is anxious to rescue Lou Yu, she will not really ignore the fort.

This is Lou Yu's base camp. If it is captured by mobs or looted by pirates, not only will there be serious losses, but the Lou family will also lose face.

The so-called local tyrant of Yizhou had his lair wiped out?

This is simply the biggest joke of the year!

Wang Heng valued Lou Yu, not only his life, but also his reputation and the authority of the Lou family.

Even if she was in a hurry to save people, she would leave some people behind first.

There were also Concubine Jiang and others. As the female guards around Wang Heng, they heard Wang Heng call them "Mother" every day. Even if Zhao Jinniang was not told the truth, she could guess it.

Isn’t Wang Jiu’s mother the infamous and disastrous concubine Jiang, the Prince of Qi?

Noble man!

A truly noble person.

Whether for the sake of mother-daughter affection or the hierarchy between the emperor and his subjects, Wang Heng must protect Concubine Jiang.

Therefore, she would also leave behind people to protect the nobles.

At this moment, Wang Heng's action was just as Zhao Jinniang had guessed before: divide the troops!

There were only three hundred people, divided into three parts, so there were only one hundred people left around Wang Heng.

There are hundreds of "rioters" and "river bandits" outside.

And there is also Zhao Jinniang, the "insider".

Zhao Jinniang could already imagine that as long as Wang Heng left the fort, she would be captured or even killed!

……

"Open the city gate! Jiu Niang wants to get out!"

A group of people arrived at the gate of the fortress with the clatter of horses.

Ah Man raised his head and shouted to the guards on the city gate tower.

There is only one Ninth Lady in the Lou Clan Fortress, and that is Ninth Lady Wang, the future mistress of their Lou Clan.

Lou Yu had already instructed that in the Lou family's fortress, Jiu Niang was as honorable as he was.

When the guards heard the sound, they raised their torches, leaned half of their bodies out from the battlements, and watched carefully.

At the foot of the city, Wang Heng's guards, such as A Man, were also holding torches.

The flames crackled and burned, and the bright light illuminated Wang Heng's face.

"It's really Jiu Niang!"

"Quick! Open the city gate!"

After the guards confirmed the identity, they all got busy.

Several tall and strong men worked together to lift the heavy door bolt.

Squeak!

The heavy city gate was pushed open, and there was a dull sound on the hinges.

The city gates opened wide, and Wang Heng pounded her stirrups: "Let's go!"

"Yes!"

The guards behind him responded in unison.

Soon, a team of more than a hundred people, with cavalry leading the way and infantry trotting, quickly walked out of the city gate.

Cross the moat and enter the road paved by the Lou family.

Wang Heng identified the direction and pointed the whip towards the Yi River in the west.

The clatter of horse hooves is particularly loud in the silent night.

From the surrounding fields and the distant woods, sporadic sounds of frogs, cicadas and birds can be heard from time to time.

These sounds made the night even quieter, making people feel inexplicably uneasy.

Wang Heng seemed unaware of this. She was extremely anxious and wished she could have wings just to get to Lou Yu as soon as possible.

Zhao Jinniang noticed it keenly.

At first, you could still hear the calls of wild animals.

But soon, the surroundings became increasingly quiet.

The chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects disappeared, leaving only the sound of horses' hooves and footsteps.

Depressed!

asphyxia!

The uneasiness that came from intuition became more and more intense.

"Jiu Niang! Something's wrong!"

Zhao Jinniang grabbed the reins and drove the horse to Wang Heng's side.

She seemed to have something important to report and was particularly close to Wang Heng.

The two men's horses were almost touching.

Zhao Jinniang raised her hand and could touch the corner of Wang Heng's clothes.

"What's wrong?"

Wang Heng seemed unaware, her round little face still showing anxiety and worry.

She was so focused on getting on her way as quickly as possible that she didn't notice anything unusual around her (especially the people around her).

Zhao Jinniang had already placed her hand on the hilt of the knife at her waist. She moved closer to Wang Heng and whispered, "It's too quiet around here."

"It's normal that there are no pedestrians on the road late at night."

"But now, even the insects and birds are silent. This—"

Zhao Jinniang showed the vigilance and loyalty that a female guard should have.

Ah Man, who seemed to be a little slow to react, also realized what was happening and blurted out, "This might be an ambush!"

People in ambush can use disguise to deceive the people around them, but they cannot deceive the small creatures in the wild.

The insects and birds realized the danger and naturally dared not make any sound.

If the dangerous atmosphere becomes stronger, they will run away directly.

really!

Wow!

Suddenly, a flock of birds flew up from the woods not far away.

At the same time, countless black shadows rushed out from the woods.

"There is indeed an ambush!"

"It's rioters! They're entering the city!"

"Protect Jiu Niang! Quick! Protect Jiu Niang!"

With the appearance of the ambushers, Wang Heng's team immediately stopped.

They were either preparing to attack or rushing to Wang Heng's side to protect her. Although they were a little panicked at first, they still responded in time.

Hurala!

Hundreds of men in black surrounded Wang Heng and others.

"Haha! This is Lou Yu's fiancée? Wang Jia Jiuniang?"

"Tsk, she's still a fat girl!"

"Fatty, if you're smart, just surrender. We just want to borrow some money and food from Lou Yu, not kill anyone!"

The men in black surrounded Wang Heng and began to clamor.

They are gangsters and look like pirates.

However, Wang Heng keenly noticed that they were wearing black leather boots.

These are official boots, worn either by officers and soldiers, or by the followers or private soldiers of powerful families.

They wanted to capture not only her, Wang Heng, but also Amu, the concubine of the King of Qi!

"Jiu Niang, what the bandit leader said makes some sense!"

Just as Wang Heng was thinking to herself, she felt a chill on the side of her neck.

She lowered her head, and a sharp sword was placed on her neck...