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

The battle for the Jia family manor lasted only a few quarters of an hour before it came to an end.

After the shelling, a large group of soldiers rushed into the manor and fired a shot at the remaining resistance fighters, showing no intention of leaving any survivors.

The one-sided operation only came to a successful end after the last suspect was apprehended and Jia Huan and his group were brought before Sun Yuwang.

"You actually dare to lay a hand on my Jia family? Don't you know that my Jia family has an imperial edict bestowed by the late emperor?"

No matter how serious the crimes my Jia family has committed, as long as I have this ironclad guarantee, they can't do anything to me!

Jia Huan even tried to use the excuse of his immunity from death to force them to submit.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Pei Lun patted his cheek with a smile, and then pinched it hard.

"A pardon from death? An iron certificate? I'm so scared, but where is it? Let me see it."

Jia Huan's face was twisted from being pinched, his eyes fixed on Pei Lun, his pupils filled with defiance.

"You harbor a serious criminal and a traitor with the intention of plotting a rebellion. Even ten imperial edicts cannot save you, Jia Huan. You are incredibly foolish."

"The late Emperor bestowed upon you a certificate of merit and iron token as a reward for your Jia family's ability to share the Emperor's burdens."

The purpose is to provide a safety guarantee for law-abiding families. As long as you don't do anything too outrageous, we won't make things difficult for your Jia family.

“But now that you’ve colluded with the rebels to harm His Majesty, it means you’ve already stood on the opposite side of the Great Chu royal family. This imperial edict and certificate has naturally become nothing more than a decoration.”

"You don't even understand such a simple truth, you deserve to end up like this."

After Pei Lun finished speaking, he released his hand and waved it away: "Take the person away, seal up all of the Jia family's assets, and send them to the national treasury after inventory."

"Yes."

The Jingwei officers immediately escorted Jia Huan and the rest of the Jia family away from the estate.

"Let me go! You can't touch me! I have an imperial edict, an imperial edict!"

Even then, Jia Huan continued to shout that he had a protective talisman, but the Jingwei Division wouldn't give him a chance to continue making noise. They gagged him and forcibly took him away.

After doing all this, Pei Lun smiled and said to Sun Yuwang, whose face was ashen, "Governor Sun, thank you for your cooperation this time. If it weren't for you..."

The purge won't happen so quickly. Once I return to the capital and see His Majesty, I will report the truthfully. I believe Governor Sun's future is bright, and his career will be smooth sailing.

At this moment, Sun Yuwang felt like strangling Pei Lun.

After this incident, people in the martial arts world will likely have a much deeper misunderstanding of him than before.

But he had no way out. For the sake of the people and to assassinate the Empress, necessary sacrifices were inevitable.

"Of course, it's all for the court. I am favored by His Majesty, so how could I not serve him wholeheartedly?"

“In this day and age, people like Governor Sun are extremely rare. I admire him greatly.”

Pei Lun left with a smile, leaving behind an ambiguous statement.

Looking at Jiazhuang, now a ruin, Sun Yuwang felt deeply saddened.

One corpse after another was carried out and laid out in a row on the threshing ground outside the manor. All the bodies were covered with white cloth, totaling 322 people.

"Righteous warriors, you will not die in vain. I, Sun Yuwang, swear to you here that your sacrifice today will soon be repaid with the blood of the Empress."

Sun Yuwang silently vowed in his heart that he would make the Empress's life a sacrifice for the righteous men.

On the way back to the governor's office, Sun Yuwang suddenly asked Pei Lun, "May I ask, Commander Pei, are there still any rebels in Shu County? I would like to go there immediately to carry out my orders."

Pei Lun shook his head: "Governor Sun, that's not right of you. Even though you are the governor of Shu County, you can't take all the credit for yourself, can you?"

Those below should also be given a chance to make a contribution. According to the Jingwei Division's investigation, Jia Village is the largest stronghold of the rebels in Shu.

Removing it today will surely deter those with ulterior motives.

This time, His Majesty's inspection of Shu should be safe.

"His Majesty intends to inspect Shu Commandery?"

Sun Yuwang suddenly asked.

Although he had already learned of this news from Fa Xiaozhi, its veracity still needed further verification.

He analyzed that this purge must also be related to the Empress's inspection tour of Shu County.

Now that Pei Lun has said this, it is certain that the Empress will come to Shu County.

"This……"

Pei Lun realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly whispered to Sun Yuwang, "Governor Sun, you know what I mean, but that's enough."

"His Majesty is inspecting Shu Commandery, and the Emperor is not by his side to accompany him. The pressure from all sides is immense. The purge of the remnants of the rebellious faction is also to prevent any unforeseen events from occurring during His Majesty's inspection tour of Shu Commandery, isn't it?"

"Don't worry, I understand. I won't reveal this information."

"Then return it, that's good."

Pei Lun breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and cupped his hands to Sun Yuwang, and then remained silent for the rest of the time.

After returning to the governor's office from Qinshan County, and returning all the men, horses, and weapons that had been transferred from Wu Jie, Sun Yuwang returned to his room looking exhausted.

At this time, it was past Hai hour (9-11 PM).

Recalling everything that had happened today, Sun Yuwang felt physically and mentally exhausted, but he just couldn't fall asleep.

blow--

Suddenly, a dart flew in through the window and embedded itself in the edge of the bed.

Sun Yu recognized it as a dart from the sect at a glance. He immediately pulled it out and found a piece of paper stuck in the dart.

Upon opening it, I saw: "Tonight at midnight, the Mysterious Heaven Cave will be open."

After quickly shredding the paper, Sun Yuwang immediately and quietly left the room...

Meanwhile, inside the General's Office, Wu Jie sighed and said to Fang Lin, whose face was gloomy, "This isn't my fault."

After all, no one could have predicted that Jinling would react so swiftly. If I didn't follow orders and allocate troops to Sun Yuwang, the court would certainly become suspicious.

Fang Lin: "Old Wu, you don't need to say anything more. I know you had no choice in the matter."

I just didn't expect the Empress to be so vicious, finding Jia Huan so quickly.

Wu Jie frowned: "Do you think someone might have secretly informed on us, which is why Jia Village is implicated?"

"Informant?" Fang Lin was taken aback, then shook his head in denial. "Impossible. How could there be such a scoundrel among our righteous men?"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart, Brother Fang. You're underestimating people's true nature."

Wu Jie immediately adopted the air of someone who had been through it all and said.

"People rarely control their emotions when faced with power and interests. Today they may be righteous men, but tomorrow they may become the court's lackeys. It's all just a matter of a single thought."

"You mean Elder Sun has already sided with the Empress? That's absolutely impossible!"

Fang Lin understood Wu Jie's implied meaning, but he simply couldn't believe it.

"Brother, he's a governor now, do you know what a governor represents?"

That's the power to manage the administration and taxation of a state, and to mobilize local troops when necessary. How many people could maintain their original aspirations after sitting in that position?

Upon hearing this, Fang Lin hesitated for a moment: "But Elder Sun's character..."

"Would he wear his heart on his sleeve? In my opinion, he has already sided with the imperial court."

Perhaps this plan to wipe out Jia Village was personally orchestrated by him.

"No, that's impossible, that's too terrible."

Upon hearing this, Fang Lin still firmly refused to believe it, but his attitude was not as certain as before.