Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Li Gang stood in the middle of the road with his sword, blocking the prison cart's way to the North Gate.

Ye Fan frowned, immediately drew his sword and shouted, "Li Gang! What are you doing!"

Li Gang raised his sword and pointed: "Release everyone! As long as I, Li Gang, am standing here today, not a single person will be allowed to leave the city!"

"How dare you defy the imperial decree!"

Ye Fan shouted loudly.

"Li Gang, this is the Emperor's will. If you do not move aside, I will report you to His Majesty!"

"Release the man, and I will go to His Majesty to beg for forgiveness!"

Ye Fan's eyes turned cold: "Li Gang, I am acting on the Emperor's orders, and have been granted the authority to execute first and report later. If you dare to continue to obstruct me, don't blame me for not showing any camaraderie as a colleague!"

Li Gang: "Fine, then I'd like to see if you dare to act first and report later. Li Gang's head is right here; come and take it if you dare!"

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare! This is my final warning, get out of my way right now!"

"If you've got the guts, step over my dead body!"

Ye Fan smirked: "In that case, Imperial Guards, listen to my command! Seize Li Gang! If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy!"

Upon receiving the order, the Imperial Guards immediately drew their swords and approached Li Gang.

Li Gang remained unmoved and instead took a half-step forward with his sword.

"Don't come any closer!"

Just then, an army emerged from both sides of the street in the distance, blocking Li Gang's way and confronting the Imperial Guards.

This is the garrison force guarding Bianjing, and the killing intent they exude is incomparable to that of the pampered Imperial Guards.

Ye Fan was taken aback by this turn of events and shouted sternly, "What are you doing? Are you trying to rebel? Get out of my way!"

The defending soldiers remained silent, all lowering their spears, clearly not taking Ye Fan's words seriously.

Just then, Guo Huang and Zhong Lue stepped out from among the guards, one after the other.

Ye Fan: "Guo Huang, Zhong Lue, what are you doing? Are you planning a rebellion?!"

Guo Huang: "As long as the Right Chancellor releases all these girls, I will withdraw my troops!"

"Impossible! His Majesty personally ordered these women to be sent to the Jin camp as a reward for the Jin people. If the delay leads to the resumption of fighting between the two armies, who will bear the responsibility!"

"I will explain to His Majesty myself. Now, release them all!"

Guo Huang showed no intention of compromising, adopting an aggressive stance that left Ye Fan in an awkward position.

"Please, give my wife back to me!"

“That’s my daughter. I can’t send her to the Jurchens to be abused.”

"Sister, are you okay?"

Just as tensions were running high, the relatives of these women suddenly rushed out from the crowd and surrounded Ye Fan's prison van procession.

This left the Imperial Guards bewildered, all turning their gazes to Ye Fan, hoping he would make a decision.

Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Ye Fan's eyes darted around, and he immediately softened his tone, saying to Guo Huang, "General Guo, I am also acting under imperial orders."

"The Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty are currently at a crucial moment in peace talks, and His Majesty also wants to restore peace to Bianjing as soon as possible. What will His Majesty think if he finds out what you've done?"

Guo Huang: "There is no such logic in the world as making the women of our own country sell their bodies to please the soldiers of the enemy country."

"May I ask the Right Chancellor, if it were you, would you be willing to offer up your own wife?"

Ye Fan: "But this is His Majesty's decree. If I fail to fulfill it, losing my official hat is a minor matter."

How can I explain this delay to His Majesty? I beg General Guo to understand my predicament!

Guo Huang thought for a moment and then said, "Then what do you want to do? In any case, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch these women be sent to the Jin camp."

Ye Fan said, "How about this? I suggest we keep these women detained for now, and then you and I can go to the palace to see His Majesty. If His Majesty is willing to change his mind, we can release them."

"Very well, but the guards must be under the responsibility of the capital's garrison!"

"No problem. Now, General Guo, please come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor."

Now that both sides have reached an agreement, they simultaneously withdrew their guards.

Zhong Lue immediately took over the responsibility of guarding these women.

Guo Huang then addressed the female relatives and their families, saying, "Fellow villagers, I, Guo Huang, will soon go to the capital to meet the Emperor and ask him to rescind this absurd imperial decree. Please give me some time."

The people of Bianjing greatly admired Guo Huang. If Guo Huang hadn't been the first to stand up, Bianjing would have fallen long ago.

Everyone completely believed what he said.

"Alright, we'll all listen to General Guo. I believe it won't be long before our children (wife and daughters) come back to reunite with us."

"General Guo, I don't trust anyone but you. My wife's innocence rests entirely on your shoulders."

Seeing the expectant looks in the people's eyes, Guo Huang cupped his hands and nodded vigorously. Then he mounted his horse and went to the palace with Ye Fan to meet the emperor.

……

South of Bianjing City, in the courtyard of Jinyun Manor, incense tables are scattered about, and the aroma of tea fills the air...

Lin Yunxiu closed her eyes slightly, her slender, fair fingers gently resting on the strings. Instantly, a clear, melodious, heavenly sound poured out like flowing water, leaving a lingering impression.

After she finished playing the piece, Zhou Xianwu, who was sitting opposite her, smiled and said, "Master Lin's music is indeed beautiful."

Lin Yunxiu parted her lips slightly: "We have known each other for fourteen years, and this is the first time you have heard me play the entire 'Rainbow Feather Thoughts'."

Zhou Xianwu took a sip of tea: "Only those who have experienced the baptism of war know how hard-won peace is."

Lin Yunxiu: "Are you in some kind of trouble and need my help?"

Zhou Xianwu: "I'm sure you've heard about the imperial decree issued today. I would like to ask you to escort these women out of the city."

Lin Yunxiu frowned slightly: "What do you mean by that?"

Zhou Xianwu sighed: "Perhaps you are right, the Song Dynasty is no longer the Song Dynasty in my heart."

Lin Yunxiu chuckled softly: "Actually, you already knew in your heart, but you just didn't want to admit it."

Zhou Xianwu: "So, are you willing to help me this last time? Send these girls out of the city."

Lin Yunxiu: "Where are you taking them?"

Zhou Xianwu replied, "As long as you take them thirty miles outside the South Gate, someone will come to meet them and take them to Chu for refuge."

"But have you ever thought that even if these women are really sent away, the emperor will just find other women to replace them?"

"We can't worry about that now. In this situation, we should save as many as we can. Please, Master Lin, help me this one last time."

Lin Yunxiu took a deep breath: "I've known you for so many years, and this is the first time I've seen you beg me like this. I'd really feel bad if I didn't agree."

However, with all the gates of Bianjing now sealed off and no one allowed to enter or leave at will, how am I supposed to get out of the city?

"Don't worry, I've already made all the arrangements. Once you've taken the person to the south gate, they'll let you go."

"What about you?"

"Me? Haha..."

Zhou Xianwu took a sip of tea, took a deep breath, and replied.

"Now that things have come to this, what other way out do I have? I can only do my best to preserve the last vestiges of the Song Dynasty."

Lin Yunxiu opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she couldn't say anything.

She had a strong premonition that Zhou Xianwu seemed to be giving some last words.

This parting may be forever, a separation between heaven and earth.