The beautiful woman in the quick transmigration novel has been targeted by the male lead again.

Within a month, bandits were rampant in the south, and outlaws were causing chaos, murder, robbery, and ravaging the region. The people were filled with resentment and suffered greatly.

Upon hearing that the imperial court had stopped supplying provisions to the troops led by the Marquis, citing the reason that "a mere civil unrest is not worth such a long time," the uproar was even greater.

If it weren't for the Marquis leading his men to suppress bandits and maintain order, some villages would probably have already become hell on earth.

They starved to death, were beaten to death, ate Guanyin clay to death, and even exchanged their own children to eat each other—the number was countless.

Shen Yanzheng's soldiers were stationed outside the city, while he and his entourage and staff resided in the county government office. At this moment, they were discussing matters.

"My lord, the time has come!"

While the civil unrest in the south was caused by natural disasters, it was also due to human error, and many people fueled the unrest.

The common people couldn't see clearly, but everyone present was shrewd. Ever since they worried that the old Duke Zhenguo's achievements would overshadow the emperor, they plotted to kill him on the battlefield. This court had been rotten to the core ever since then.

When the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong, and treacherous officials hold power, lacking independent judgment and easily swayed by biased opinions, it is no wonder that some people harbor rebellious thoughts.

Shen Yanzheng was awarded the title of General Who Pacifies the South, but he did not wear armor. He was dressed in casual clothes, and because of the hot weather in the south, his hair was tied up high, making him look like a spirited young man.

He asked, "Is the west still safe?"

"Rest assured, my lord, the border is completely under our control!"

With civil officials in power, military officers had a hard time, not to mention the soldiers guarding the border, who already faced harsh conditions, and the imperial court's provisions and pay were often delayed.

If it weren't for the formidable military might of the generals, the army's morale would have long since collapsed, and the border would not have been able to remain peaceful.

These generals were mostly subordinates of the old lord in the past, or had indirectly received favors from him, so they naturally responded to his call.

"it is good!"

Shen Yanzheng stood up and said, "Gentlemen, we have been planning for a long time, determined to change the world. From now on, we will either succeed or die trying!"

Everyone knelt down: "We swear to follow you to the death!"

After everyone had dispersed, Chang Ning called Wu Feng over: "Go back to the capital personally, take a team of men, and bring the young mistress here."

As his personal bodyguard, Wu Feng naturally knew who he was referring to. After receiving the order, he asked, "Where is the old lady?"

Shen Yanzheng said, "There's no need to alarm them. The Marquis's residence can't be left empty right now."

It's been almost two months since I last saw her. I wonder how she is doing now, whether she's doing well at home, and if she misses him.

He missed her terribly. After leaving the capital, he initially wrote to her but never received a reply. Later, he suddenly remembered that she was illiterate and felt that she was inflexible, so he thought it wouldn't hurt to have her maid do it for him.

She's probably throwing a tantrum again; she has a terrible temper.

We agreed that I would go back in two months, and now that the two months are almost up, it's the same as bringing her here.

Her future is uncertain, but I will always protect her!

Knowing she was coming, Shen Yanzheng even disguised himself and went out to find a lot of local specialties. There are many sweet and delicious fruits in the south, and she has a sweet tooth, so she should like them.

After waiting expectantly for several days, Wu Feng finally returned, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Why only you?" He frowned. "Is it because she doesn't want to?"

It's normal that she didn't want to come here, having left her hometown. If that's the case, then he has to find an opportunity to go back in person. In any case, she has to follow him!

Upon hearing this, Wu Feng immediately knelt down, remaining silent.

Shen Yanzheng's face immediately darkened: "What happened? Speak!"

"Master, the young mistress..." Wu Feng's voice was hoarse, "...is gone."

"What did you say?"

My mind went blank for a moment, then there was a loud "boom," as if the valley was howling.

Shen Yanzheng was shocked. "Say that again!"

Wu Feng then reported everything that had happened at the Marquis's residence. He said that the old lady had discovered that a man was having an affair with the young mistress. The day after the master left the capital, he wanted to beat her to death. The young mistress escaped and hid in her room, where she eventually set it on fire and died!

"The fire was not extinguished until dawn."

Shen Yanzheng remained silent for a long time. Wu Feng knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head. After a long while, his voice was finally heard: "You... have you verified it? Are you sure it's her?"

Wu Feng said, "There is indeed a skeleton at the scene."

It had already been burned to a skeleton, and even then, the old lady ordered it to be smashed to pieces and scattered into the stinking ditch.

So he had no way to verify it, but he had heard that so many people were guarding the place and that the young mistress had not come out since she went in, so he figured it must be true.

Shen Yanzheng took two steps back, his fists clenched, feeling as if a sharp arrow had pierced his heart, leaving it empty and cold. The last time he felt this way was when his father passed away.

He closed his eyes and asked, "The same spring and summer?"

"Your subordinate has brought both of them back; they are outside the gate!"

"Let them in!"

Tongchun and Tongxia immediately knelt down upon entering, crying, "This servant is guilty!"

Shen Yanzheng sat down in the main seat, his face as if covered by a mask of swords: "Where were you two when this happened?"

"This servant accompanied my master out of the capital the day before and returned on the third day!"

Shen Yanzheng was surrounded by servants and guards, with only two maids. The two maids put their master first in everything. Even when they were later assigned to serve the new lady, they only considered it as fulfilling their master's orders, and their master still came first.

The two were extremely worried about such an important matter as going to war, and accompanied the guard to see them off for a long distance before being persuaded to turn back. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen in just two days of their absence!

Shen Yanzheng sneered after hearing this: "He really is loyal."

The two knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Shen Yanzheng then asked, "So much time has passed, why haven't we received any reports from you?"

He thought the woman was deliberately ignoring his messages, but it turns out...

His chest felt like it was stuffed with a lump of wet, heavy mud, making him feel more uncomfortable than ever before.

"My lord is out quelling the rebellion, and this servant dares not disturb your peace of mind!"

The person is already gone, and no matter how much the master values ​​it, it will be in vain. If the master suffers an accident because of this, then he will be held responsible!

It would be better to wait until the master returns to the capital before reporting.

Ultimately, it's nothing more than a lack of attention, or even a disregard for it.

A woman from the countryside was bought by the old lady under the pretense of bringing good luck to the family, and was later taken in and slept with by the master several times. She didn't even have a proper title, and the master might get tired of her and forget about her one day.

Shen Yanzheng gritted his teeth and smashed the desk in front of him with his fist: "Get out!"

The two kowtowed and begged for forgiveness: "This servant is willing to die!"

Wu Feng quickly gestured with his eyes to take the two away. What was the use of saying this now? His master never took lives easily. They could be spared the death penalty, but they would still be punished.

The room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop. Shen Yanzheng leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on his eyes. Wu Feng spoke, "Master?"

Shen Yanzheng waved his hand: "You go out too."

He thought to himself, in the end, he had broken his promise.

The delicate young girl knelt for two hours and burst into tears. How could she dare to set fire to the house? Wasn't she afraid when she was alone inside?

How helpless and desperate she must have felt at that time.