Shocking! In this matriarchal society, every man wants to marry me!

Shen Qingyu's gaze gently shifted to Zhong Tian behind the city lord. Zhong Tian simply lowered her eyes; she could not reveal that she knew the imperial envoy.

Shen Qingyu looked at the gleaming gold and prepared to righteously refuse, as this was blatant bribery of a court official.

The shady dealings in Daming Prefecture are too deep; they're bribing people directly, without even trying to hide it. He certainly won't collude with these people.

Shen Qingyu slammed her hand on the table, making a loud bang. "Lord City Lord, I..."

The city lord's smile froze, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

Xia Jin'an walked up to Shen Qingyu with a wine glass in hand, poured the wine into it, and said softly, "Lord Shen, the city lord is very kind in this regard, please don't let him down. If you do, the city lord will be angry!"

Shen Qingyu was just young and impetuous, not stupid. She understood as soon as she heard the faint sounds of weapons clashing around her.

She immediately stood up, smiled obsequiously at the city lord, and said, "Thank you, city lord, I really like this local specialty!"

The city lord was pleased with the weapons he had taken back and said to Xia Jin'an with a warm smile, "Jin'an, you may serve wine to Lord Shen."

"Yes!"

The banquet went smoothly without any unexpected incidents.

However, Shen Qingyu seemed to be captivated by Xia Jin'an's beauty, and she accepted all of Xia Jin'an's offers of drinks, drinking until her face was flushed and she was in a daze. When she was about to leave, she insisted on holding Xia Jin'an's arm and said that she wanted to go to sleep together.

Xia Jin'an's face turned bright red as she looked at the city lord for help, but the city lord ignored her and turned a blind eye to her pleas.

Xia Jin'an was taken away by Shen Qingyu in a rather embarrassing manner. Those who knew about the relationship between Zhong Tian and Xia Jin'an gave Zhong Tian a meaningful smile, and Zhong Tian could only lower his head in humiliation.

After all, what can a timid mute say?

Shen Qingyu and Xia Jin'an walked to a secluded spot. The drunkenness on Shen Qingyu's face vanished completely!

She straightened up, bowed solemnly to Xia Jin'an, and apologized.

She held Xia Jin'an, an old friend who had once taken her in, in the highest esteem. Her actions today were out of necessity, and she was eager to know the situation in Daming Prefecture.

Xia Jin'an tugged at her sleeve, waved her hand, and said, "It's alright."

"Manager Xia." Shen Qingyu didn't know how to address the person in front of her, so she used the same address she had when she lived at Tian Anju.

This form of address filled Xia Jin'an with mixed emotions. She moved her lips and said, "From now on, you can call me Doctor Xia."

"Fine." Shen Qingyu said with some resentment, "The money the city lord gave me today was clearly a bribe."

"If you don't accept it, the one who will come back with you won't be me, but an assassin."

Shen Qingyu patted her chest, somewhat alarmed, and said, "Luckily I accepted it."

"No." Xia Jin'an looked at Shen Qingyu with some pity: "If you accept it, it will only delay your death. Tonight, you'll sleep with your eyes open."

Shen Qingyu left somewhat apprehensively.

Zhong Tian emerged from the shadows and said to Xia Jin'an, "Why did you deliberately scare her? No matter how anxious the city lord is, he won't make a move tonight."

“I always need to put some pressure on her. She comes from a farming family and is new to officialdom. If I don’t cool down her enthusiasm, something bad is bound to happen.”

Zhong Tian held Xia Jin'an's hand: "Jin'an, I've made you suffer."

Xia Jin'an looked at Zhong Tian: "Zhong Niang, I've been longing to return to the capital with you day and night!"

Shen Qingyu, who slept with her eyes open all night, was filled with fear and anxiety. When she woke up, the city lord presented her with some sweet words and a row of handsome men.

Xia Jin'an gave Shen Qingyu advice: if she wanted to survive, she had to pretend to be addicted to wine and women. Shen Qingyu tried her best to put on this act.

However, Shen Qingyu was an upright female ruler at heart. When she returned all the handsome men that the city lord had given her, the city lord finally refused to play along with her act.

The city lord was furious and summoned Xia Jin'an.

They concocted a sleeping potion that could render someone unconscious, causing Shen Qingyu to die silently in her sleep.

The city lord looked down at Xia Jin'an from his high position, his gaze lingering on her like a snake, his tone ambiguous like a lover's whisper.

"Kon'an, if this medicine doesn't end up in the belly of the Imperial Envoy, it will end up in the belly of your wife, Nakata."

Xia Jin'an looked coldly at the city lord, his tone icy: "I can make that poison, but you cannot harm my wife!"

After leaving the city lord's gate, Xia Jin'an immediately went to find Zhong Tian and told him about it. Zhong Tian listened attentively and then picked up a pen and paper to write a letter.

Xia Jin'an is extremely efficient!

In the evening, Xia Jin'an came to report that Shen Qingyu had been poisoned and was unconscious.

The city lord and his entourage arrived at Shen Qingyu's room and saw her lying on her desk, seemingly oblivious. Her complexion was rosy, but her breathing was growing weaker and weaker.

The city lord's face lit up with joy, and he stepped forward to check, but suddenly his expression froze. Shen Qingyu had woken up at some point and sprayed all the medicinal powder onto the city lord's face.

The powder, as light as a thin mist, slowly reached the city lord's nose through the air, making him feel as if all the strength in his body had been drained away.

Shen Qingyu smiled smugly and quickly took a step back.

The city lord stared at them fiercely, seemingly quite incredulous at Xia Jin'an's betrayal.

After seeing that the city lord had lost the ability to move, Zhongtian immediately said to Xia Jin'an, "Jin'an, Qingyu, you two stay here and watch over the city lord. I'm going to check on her in her study!"

Xia Jin'an nodded.

However, as soon as Nakata opened the gate, a barrage of arrows immediately rained down on him. Outside were rows of soldiers, each wielding a bow and crossbow, looking menacing!

Zhong Tian immediately closed the door and looked back to see that the city lord had already grabbed Shen Qingyu by the neck.

"You weren't affected?" Zhong Tian looked coldly at the city lord.

The city lord sneered: "Three days ago, a letter was sent from the capital with all your information on it. That's how I found out who you are."

"We're already on guard; how can we possibly fall for their tricks again?"

"You wanted to capture me all at once, but now I am the butcher and you are the fish on the chopping block!"

"I could break Shen Qingyu's neck with just a little effort!"

A scholar is useless in every way. Shen Qingyu was a complete civil official. His neck was as fragile as firewood dried in winter, extremely crisp, and could make a cracking sound with the slightest force.

But Shen Qingyu's eyes were fixed on Zhong Tian, ​​her gaze filled with a resolute determination to rather die than surrender.

Wan Jiajia's voice came from outside: "Zhong Tian, ​​Xia Jin'an, surrender immediately! Do not resist in the slightest. Otherwise..."

At that moment, Xia Lan's pig-like voice rang out: "Zhong Tian, ​​save me! Save me!"

Looking through the crack in the window, Zhongtian saw that Xia Lan was bound hand and foot, with only her mouth able to speak.

Zhongtian touched his forehead. This Xia Lan is a good-for-nothing who only makes things worse!