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

"Woo——"

With a long whistle, the train bound for Chongqing and Sichuan slowly departed from Jinling Station.

Inside the Empress's private carriage, Jiang Mengxuan sat quietly on the comfortable cushions, flipping through relevant intelligence.

Accompanying the Empress on this train journey to Shu Prefecture were six ministers, all of whom were core figures in the high echelons of the Great Chu Empire.

After finishing a memorial in her hand, Jiang Mengxuan looked up at the scene slowly receding outside the window and felt a sense of exhilaration.

"jingle--"

The doorbell rang at just the right moment.

Qingwen went to the door, pulled back the curtains, and glanced inside. She replied to Jiang Mengxuan, "Your Majesty, it is Prime Minister Ye."

"Invite him in."

After Ye Mo entered the carriage, he slowly bowed to the Empress and handed her a report: "Your Majesty, this is the travel arrangement for this trip to the Southwest. Please take a look."

Jiang Mengxuan took the report, glanced at it, and smiled slightly: "Prime Minister Ye is very thoughtful. It is also a lot of trouble for you to accompany me to Shu County this time."

Ye Mo nodded and replied, "This is what this old minister should do, but Your Majesty, recently there have been rampant rebellions in Shu, your safety..."

Jiang Mengxuan: "Prime Minister Ye, there's no need to worry. My security and that of the Six Ministries are complete, and I guarantee that you will not be in any danger."

"Your Majesty's arrangements are naturally reliable. I only wish to ask Your Majesty whether the plan targeting Shu Commandery requires the participation of troops from Guanzhong."

"Guanzhong? You mean..."

"Your Majesty, we must always have a backup plan. Although I believe Wu Jie is loyal to Your Majesty and the court, what if he changes his mind?"

No one can predict human nature; it's always good to be prepared so you won't be caught off guard in unforeseen circumstances.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Then let's do as Prime Minister Ye says, and send someone to inform Guo Huaizhi's troops."

He was instructed to allocate two regiments of troops to arrive at the Chongqing-Bayu railway line before the fifth day of the fourth lunar month.

"Your old minister obeys the decree. The Ministry of War will make the arrangements immediately."

After Ye Mo got up to take his leave, Qingwen asked, "Your Majesty, where will we stop next? I'd like to make the arrangements in advance."

"Just proceed with the planned stop. There's plenty of time. Let those rebels in Shu be more confident. That way, we won't have to worry too much about dealing with them later. I'd also like to take this opportunity to see my own empire."

"Yes."

After Qingwen responded, Jiang Mengxuan rested her chin on her hand and continued to gaze quietly at the scenery outside the window.

……

On March 15th, in a manor covering more than ten acres in the eastern suburbs of Qinshan County, a large number of martial arts practitioners gathered, practicing their skills or doing other things in twos and threes in the courtyard.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in fine silk entered the manor gate.

"Greetings, Master Jia!"

The moment everyone saw the middle-aged man, they immediately greeted him with smiles.

Jia Huan smiled and returned their greeting: "Gentlemen, please rest assured and stay here. My Jia family possesses an iron certificate of immunity from death bestowed by the late Emperor."

The officials won't be able to find this place, so everyone can rest assured and stay here. I, Jia Huan, am a very hospitable person and I love making friends with heroes from all over the world.

"Thank you, Master Jia."

Amidst a chorus of compliments, Jia Huan strolled into the inner courtyard.

As soon as I entered the house, I saw two Taoist priests dressed in Taoist robes sitting in the guest seats with teacups in their hands.

Upon seeing Jia Huan arrive, they were about to get up when Jia Huan waved his hand to stop them, saying, "Gentlemen, how many times have I told you? Just stay here at my estate."

"As long as I, Jia Huan, am alive, no one can touch you. After all, my Jia family possesses an imperial edict and a death-exemption token bestowed by the late emperor. Even imperial relatives cannot trespass on the manor."

After saying that, he called out to the steward behind him, "Bring out the best wine and meat. Today I want to drink with these two Taoist priests until we're completely drunk."

However, the butler behind him did not make any move.

Jia Huan's eyes snapped shut: "Didn't you hear me? Hurry up and prepare the wine and dishes!"

As a result, the butler suddenly knelt down on the ground, trembling.

"you……"

"Stop calling me Master Jia."

Just as Jia Huan was feeling surprised, a steady voice sounded behind the steward.

Pei Lun appeared from the end of the corridor, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, with a half-smile on his face.

"You, who are you?"

"Who I am is not important. What is important is that you, Jia Huan, are suspected of harboring traitors. What should your punishment be?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan showed no fear whatsoever: "This is Jia Family Village. My Jia family possesses an imperial edict bestowed by the Celestial Emperor, which can pardon all crimes."

Pei Lun, however, remained completely unfazed: "Is that so? You're already an accomplice of the rebels, so what use is the imperial edict to you?"

"Insolence! What evidence do you have to accuse my Jia family of treason?"

"No? Then please, Master Jia, cooperate with the governor to take down all the rebels in the manor!"

Upon hearing this, the two Taoist priests inside the hall immediately drew their swords and rushed outside to stand guard on either side of Jia Huan.

“This matter has nothing to do with Master Jia. If you have any complaints, come at me.”

Upon seeing the two Taoist priests, Pei Lun immediately took out a pack of cigarettes, spat out the toothpick from his mouth, pulled out a cigarette from the pack, and tapped it a few times.

"It seems you guys are quite loyal to the code of brotherhood. It makes me quite nostalgic for the days when I was a wanderer in the martial world. But what a pity..."

Pei Lun flicked the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear with perfect precision.

"Now I'm on the government's payroll, no longer that aimless wandering knight."

The two Taoist priests exchanged a glance and simultaneously assumed defensive stances.

Jia Huan took two steps back and watched coldly from the side.

"The Eight Trigrams Sword is raised in a gesture. As expected, you are remnants of the Eight Trigrams Sect. I didn't expect you to have fled to Shu for refuge. Do you think you can escape?"

Pei Lun sneered, but did not make a move. Instead, he looked at Jia Huan and asked, "Master Jia, I'll ask you one last time, will you protect these people or abandon them?"

Jia Huan: "These are my guests. Now that they are on my estate, it is my responsibility to protect their safety. I advise you not to act recklessly."

"Very well, since that's the case, then I'll take my leave now. I hope the Master will not regret what he did today."

After Pei Lun finished speaking, he chuckled and turned to walk towards the door.

The two Bagua sect Taoist priests breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Pei Lun gratefully.

"Manor Lord Jia, thank you for your righteous help."

"There's no need for such formalities, you two Taoist priests. As I said, as long as you stay in my Jia Family Village, you are absolutely safe. They wouldn't dare to lay a hand on you."

"Master, the Empress is ruthless. We don't want to be a burden to you, so let's leave."

Jia Huan hurriedly advised, "Two Taoist priests, since they have come here, there must be soldiers chasing you everywhere outside."

If you and the heroes of the village leave, you will surely be killed by the government troops. Why not stay here and wait for things to calm down before making a decision?

"Isn't this a good idea?"

"Don't you trust me, Jia Huan?"

"That's why I've been nagging a lot."

Jia Huan paid no heed to Pei Lun's words before leaving, believing that he had the imperial edict and was not afraid of anything. He thought the officials and soldiers would not make things difficult for him, and insisted on leaving Pei Lun at the manor.

Little did they know that on the hillside several miles outside the manor, five thousand heavily armed government troops, along with a small artillery company, were already prepared, waiting for Sun Yuwang's order to wipe out the manor.

Sun Yuwang tried to remain calm, his palms were sweaty.

He never imagined that he would be forced to this point.

Before he could recover from the failed assassination attempt on the Empress in Jinling, he was now faced with the prospect of personally executing another group of righteous men.

He found it utterly absurd and laughable.

"Governor Sun."

Suddenly, Pei Lun's voice rang out from behind.

"It has been confirmed that Jia Village is a gathering place for rebels. I have tried my best to persuade them, but they have chosen to resist to the end. Now it is up to you."

Sun Yuwang let out a long breath: "I understand. Give the order to slaughter the entire village, leave no one alive."