The Everlasting Waltz.
A dance that shocked the world, a dance that captivated the heart.
Watching the dance through the window, the young men and women of Yao City would forever remember that soul-stirring scene.
Later on, when football and waltz became popular in the Five Continents and became the most sought after sport and entertainment by the nobles, almost everyone knew how to play it. Every year, a grand waltz competition would be held to select the King and Queen of the Dance. The people of Yao City always believed that the most beautiful dance in the world, unprecedented and unsurpassed, had taken place in the first month of the 16th year of the Everlasting Emperor's reign. It was a night where flowers bloomed after the snow, and no one had ever been able to surpass it.
However, it was as if all the beauty in the world was destined to be short-lived. The world-shaking dance could not be completed.
That night, the Blue Danube River, a traditional music with strings and instruments, flowed quietly. Separated by time and space and centuries, it displayed its unchanging charm to the fullest. The garden was silent. Controlled breathing was as light as the midnight wind.
But the sound of galloping hooves broke the silence of the night.
The rider did not make a sound and reined in his horse in front of the yamen. A shadow flashed on top of the wall, revealing a black-clothed, valiant guard. The rider handed over a letter with both hands and immediately turned his horse back.
The black-clothed man stared at the special seal on the letter. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually returned to the yamen's garden.
His silhouette flitted across the eaves and finally landed on the roof of the quiet room. He knocked three times with his fingers.
Yuan Zhaoxu suddenly shuddered.
He raised his eyes. At that moment, his drifting gaze became clear and sharp.
The three knocks indicated an urgent military report.
Meng Fuyao sensed his abnormality and subconsciously paused, her footsteps disorderly.
Suddenly, the sound of a string snapping could be heard from the compartment.
The musicians, who had been watching the dance with rapt attention, were particularly engrossed in the dazzling dance. Their breathing and fingers were also disrupted by Meng Fuyao's confusion. It was as if a flowing spring had suddenly been splashed by a flying stone, interrupting its flow.
Meng Fuyao sighed and slowly let go of her hand. She took a step back and signaled for the musician to stop.
She looked up and smiled at Yuan Zhaoxu. "Our people advocate the golden mean. As the saying goes, the strong will be humiliated. Things that are too perfect can't last long. It's good that the song 'Blue Danube' ends here."
Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her quietly. After a while, he said, "Fuyao, I hope that one day I can dance it with you."
Meng Fuyao smiled but did not reply. The world was like a flowing river, ever-changing. Who would dare to make a promise to tomorrow?
Just like this peaceful and beautiful night, there was still an urgent military situation that destroyed the warmth of this moment.
Yuan Zhaoxu closed the window with a wave of his hand. When he opened the report, his expression changed slightly.
Meng Fuyao looked at him. If there was anything that could make Yuan Zhaoxu's expression change, it must be something extraordinary. She did not ask, did not speak, and did not disturb him. She gave Yuan Zhaoxu space to think.
After a while, Yuan Zhaoxu rubbed the newspaper with his fingers and turned it into dust. He stood up and said, "Fuyao, our northern neighbor, Garuda, is rebelling. They've gathered five hundred thousand troops to attack by sea. I have to hurry back to Zhongzhou."
Meng Fuyao jumped up in shock. Fighting on two fronts! That would be a disaster for any country!
Yuan Zhaoxu reached out and patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Garuda has always been loyal to our country and has always been cautious. In recent years, there has been a change in power in the imperial court, and a group of ambitious people and new generals have appeared. The Garuda merchant Tory who ran a brothel was actually one of their spies. After the Pavilion of Spring was sealed, I predicted that they would make a move sooner or later. Just as I expected, don't worry, it'll be fine.
But I have to make a trip back eventually. "Meng Fuyao seemed to have understood something." You already knew that Garuda would make a move, didn't you? You should have been guarding Zhongzhou all along, but you rushed over … "
Yuan Zhaoxu tilted his head and smiled. Under the light, his eyes were overflowing. "I do what I think is worth it. I think I'm worth it."
He stood up and took a few steps towards the door before turning back. "Fuyao, I wish I was the kind of man who would abandon his country and family to follow a beautiful woman. But I'm sorry, I can't do it."
Meng Fuyao blinked and looked at him. "A man with a sense of responsibility is a real man. This responsibility doesn't just include friends, but also family and country."
"You always make me sigh." Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her deeply. "Fuyao, you want to push away all emotions because of your difficulties, but you don't know that as long as you exist, everything you do will attract some people irresistibly."
She was silent for a while before smiling bitterly. "That's because my existence was originally a mistake."
"Stubborn little fool …" Yuan Zhaoxu smiled without being discouraged. He suddenly leaned forward and planted a feather-light kiss on her forehead. "But I still feel that meeting you has not been a waste of my life."
As he moved, he exuded a faint, exotic fragrance. Together with the cool night wind at dawn, it wafted into the quiet room that was shining with crystal light, creating a light and tranquil atmosphere. In the distance, the birds that had woken up early flapped their wings and chirped, as if they were making a beautiful sequel to this night.
"Fuyao."
"Hmm?"
"You're so beautiful tonight."
= = =
Yuan Zhaoxu hurriedly left Yao City on horseback. Before he left, he left a letter for Fuyao. She read it and pondered for a while before burning it. ‘
At the same time, the unlucky Lord Ingot was also left behind. After being rejected for the 108th time, Lord Ingot went to heal his wounds. When he finished healing his wounds and came back to find his master, he met his love rival, who was laughing so hard that only his teeth could be seen. His love rival happily told him that his master had given him to her.
Lord Ingot felt like he had been struck by lightning and was devastated. He immediately ran out of the government office, but just as he jumped onto a horse, his rival in love grabbed him and pulled him down. He said in disgust, "Don't torture my horse. Last time, you bit the neck of that horse and it still hasn't recovered."
Lord Ingot was so upset that his period came three times a month after failing to woo Fuyao and being "transferred". She didn't care about it. Anyway, the rat's healing ability was superior to a cockroach's. Although it beat its chest and stamped its feet as if mourning the death of its parents, it never skipped a meal.
Basically, Fuyao believed that any sadness that didn't affect one's appetite was fake sadness.
She stayed in the government office every day, occasionally watching football. After the unprecedented ball that night, her identity as a woman inevitably came to light. Many of the youths who attended the ball fell for her, and there was an endless stream of suitors. She couldn't stand it anymore and had to put on makeup and sneak out. After working on the construction of Yao City for a while, she suddenly realized that she would have to leave eventually. Traveling around the world was also a necessity, and she needed to earn some money for herself. She contacted the rich families in the city and agreed to raise funds to establish a club that would imitate the modern clubhouse and implement a membership system. Rare things were valued, and to whet people's appetites, they would slowly develop Yao City's entertainment industry. Meng Fuyao specially found beautiful, nimble, and perceptive women from the brothels to become dancers. She signed contracts with them to only sell their skills and not their bodies. At the same time, they would enjoy a series of benefits. For a while, the people of Yao City flocked to the club like ducks. Meng Fuyao even sensationally advertised on the club's signboard: "Dance of Love, Waltz of Nobility, You Are Worth It!"
Thus, there was an endless stream of people who felt that they were worth it, and they almost broke the door of the club.
The days passed peacefully, and Meng Daheng's international dance promotion business was in full swing. Every day, he dreamed of the wonderful days of counting money until his hands cramped, but he didn't know that a crisis was quietly approaching.
The Yuyang Xuan came, startling the Song of the Rainbow Feather Garment.
On the 28th of the first month of the 16th year of Wuji Zhengning, Yao City was peaceful as usual.
The sky was blue, and the first rays of the morning sun had just appeared. The winter wind of the southern lands was a little chilly, and Boss Liu, who was driving out of the city, shrunk his neck.
He was rushing to the neighboring county to sell cloth. Recently, Yao City was all the rage, and silk fabrics were in high demand. Boss Liu, who owned a silk shop, was very good at seizing business opportunities. He woke up early in the morning to stock up, and was the first person to leave the city that day.
He had not traveled more than ten miles when he saw a cloud of black smoke rising from afar. It covered the sky and covered the earth, as if a giant eagle had spread its wings and swooped down.
Boss Liu's eyes widened, and he carefully tried to identify it for a long time. Finally, he vaguely saw the formation that had suddenly appeared in front of him. He saw the colorful leather armor, the fluttering flag of the double-headed snake, and the scimitars that reflected the sunlight.
His hand trembled, and his horsewhip fell on the carriage. He was stunned for a long time before he shouted madly and ran with all his might.
"The Rong people are attacking!"
On the 28th of the first month, just after the New Year, the armored cavalry suddenly appeared on the horizon of Yao City without warning. The Southern and Northern Rong troops were supposed to surround the Sui River on both sides, ready for a decisive battle with King De's army. But suddenly, they changed their route and secretly crossed the Sui River, appearing in front of Yao City and surrounding it.
Meng Fuyao was watching a ball game when she received the news. She was stunned. She had been on guard and had sent scouts to investigate the military situation. Why did the Rong army not receive any news when they were only ten miles away from the city?
But now was not the time to pursue this question. She made a prompt decision and sent out two teams. One team immediately went to King De to ask for help, and the other team galloped 30 miles away to ask for help from the Yao City Defense Army stationed at the White Pavilion. She then closed the city gates and ordered all the soldiers to defend the city.
Fortunately, Yao City's armory was well-stocked with all kinds of weapons. Fearing that the Rong people would cause trouble, Meng Fuyao collected their weapons and used soccer balls to empty the pockets of the rich. She also allocated money to replace and repair the rusty and moldy weapons and armors in the warehouse. She even prepared a series of defensive tools. However, there were too few guards in the city. There were only 1,000 of them, and there were still vacancies. Boss Liu estimated that the Rong army was at least 50,000 strong. How were they going to fight 800 against 50,000?
Defend? If they could mobilize all the brave and capable Rong people to defend the city, they might be able to hold out until reinforcements arrived. But to use the Rong people to defend the city? Meng Fuyao would have to hang herself on the door latch to ensure that none of them would secretly open the city gates in the middle of the night. "Let my brother enter the city."
Tie Cheng came looking for Meng Fuyao the moment he received the news. He thumped his chest loudly. "Give me weapons, and I'll find my own men to defend the city!"
Meng Fuyao was in a bad mood, so she kicked him out of the door.
After that, she washed her face, put on makeup, and went to work in high spirits. The people of Yao City were panicking, but when they saw that the beautiful City Lord Meng was not flustered at all and even more graceful than before, they felt much more at ease.
Yao City's Han people and Rong people were evenly divided. The Han people were naturally the most unwilling to let the city fall. Although the Rong people were less apprehensive, the military was dangerous. Who could guarantee that their red-eyed 'brothers' would not cut off their heads when they entered the city? When killing someone, no one would ask if they were Han or Rong people. This was a principle that Meng Fuyao had instilled in them some time ago. It made the Rong people of Yao City, who were originally looking forward to the Rong people taking over the city, feel much more at ease.
Although the people's hearts were still relatively stable, war was inevitable.
On the first day, as soon as they set up camp, the Rong army began to attack the city.
The vanguard of the Rong army, Wuha, led 3,000 men to attack the city. He was one of the few warriors in the Rong army who had the strength of a thousand catties in his arms. He was also bold and domineering. He made a military pledge in front of the army that he would definitely succeed in the first battle and take over Rong City. If he could not bring the head of the Yao City Lord to him, he would offer up his own head!
The three thousand Rong soldiers were clad in colorful robes and armor, armed with swords and bows. They were like a vast expanse of purple and deep blue haze as they rumbled over with faint lightning. The bald general at the very front actually used a heavy weapon like a vajra pestle. With a light wave, smoke would rise from the ground and roll up a layer of earth.
The first battle was very important to the morale of both sides. The defenders on the city tower were on high alert, but Meng Fuyao did not seem to care. She only came after a good night's sleep. When she arrived, she brought a bunch of craftsmen and ordered them to set up a high platform on the city tower. No one knew what she was up to, nor had they ever seen a high platform on the city tower to defend against the enemy.
As usual, Wuha shouted for war. The Rong people loved to fight, so shouting for war before attacking the city was a necessary procedure. Meng Fuyao did not care at all. When the high platform was set up, she climbed up under the watchful eyes of the crowd and waved her arm.
Two teams of neatly dressed football players went up the field and kicked the ball.
It couldn't be … football defending the city?
The Han people who came to assist in defending the city looked up at this unconventional way of defending the city and were all shocked to the point of drooling.
Whistles sounded from the city tower as everyone fought for the ball. Below the city tower, Wuha was stunned. What kind of battle array was this? What was that round thing flying above the city tower? Witchcraft?
The ball rose and fell, and the shouts of the players shook the heavens. The 3,000 Rong soldiers were dumbfounded, and Wuha had forgotten where he was standing. At first, he was on guard against the ball being some kind of new weapon, but after watching for a long time, the ball only flew around the enemy's city tower. Wuha, who was leading the troops, was ignored, and no one seemed to care about his scolding. If he retreated, it would break the morale of the troops, so he had no choice but to stay and watch.
Suddenly, the ball was snatched by Tiecheng. With a feint, he bent his body and raised his leg to shoot, but the opponent came over and hooked him. With a thud, Tiecheng fell to the ground, and the ball flew uncontrollably out of the city wall.
Tiecheng jumped up and yelled, "Foul! Foul! "
Wu Ha had already vaguely seen through some of the tricks and benefits. When he saw this move, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "That silly boy is too careless!" Watching the ball spin down the city wall, he felt his feet itch and shouted, "Watch Grandpa kick a beautiful ball for you guys!"
He jumped up and somersaulted in mid-air, raising his leg to meet the ball. The fascinated Rong soldiers cheered.
"Good!"
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a leg flew out.
The ball exploded treacherously.
Wuha's leg was broken, and fresh blood gushed out like a fountain, drenching the yellow ground. There was a shocking pool of blood on the ground, and Wuha fainted without a sound.
The Rong army, who were watching the battle from afar, was thrown into chaos. They had never encountered such a situation where their commander had been killed before they had even attacked. They hurriedly sounded the gongs to retreat and carried Wuha away while cursing angrily.
On the city tower, the soccer team roared with laughter. Tiecheng shouted, "How was Grandpa's trick?" Behind him, Meng Fuyao stepped out in men's clothing. She was dressed in black, and her eyes were clear and bright. She stepped onto the city wall, laughing and slapping the bricks on the city wall. She made an extremely disdainful gesture at the Rong army.
The wind blew her black hair, and her eyes were as black as agate, without the slightest hint of fear.
Her gaze met the gaze of the Rong generals in the distance. Her bright and fearless eyes stared into the fierce and cold eyes of the Rong generals. She did not back down at all.
Meng Fuyao sneered and looked down from above.
She had studied the temperament of the Rong people. They were fierce and aggressive, violent and rude. They also bullied the weak and feared the strong. She had taken the initiative to gain the upper hand and humiliate them. If it were someone else's army, they would definitely be furious and order to attack. However, the Rong people might not. They would think and weigh the pros and cons, hesitating on whether or not to make a decision based on their opponent's strength.
Moreover, Meng Fuyao had inquired about the commander of the Rong army. He was the Southern Rong spy who had infiltrated the Northern Rong and helped the Northern Rong King's younger brother usurp the throne. Over the years, he had been promoted to a position of honor and glory.
Sure enough, the Rong army did not continue to attack that day.
Yao City was in a state of jubilation. When the anxious citizens saw how a football game had miraculously killed the enemy's general, withstood the first wave of attacks, and easily forced the Rong army to retreat, they couldn't help but be elated. Those who had already hidden in their homes returned to the streets, teahouses, and taverns. Spittle flew everywhere as they talked about the new story of how a ball on the city tower repelled an army of ten thousand.
"Hey! That kick of Young Master Tie's was really beautiful! But wasn't the football still being played? Why didn't it explode just now? "
"Hey, you're really stupid. Didn't you see Young Master Tie bend his body? That was when the ball was switched. Otherwise, why would the Rong army's general let down his guard and kicked? "
"This is great. As long as we can withstand the first attack today, we will be safe. The Baiting army is nearby, and King De's army is not far either. They will rush over within a day. Perhaps tomorrow, we will be able to see His Highness's flag, haha …"
The streets were filled with excited people. Lights were lit up one by one, decorating the bustling city. People were coming in and out of various places, then rushing to their respective places. Until the night was deep, those colorful lights were blown out one by one and carefully put away.
Boss Wang of the Apricot Flower Teahouse in the Oxhorn Alley of Yao City was extinguishing the lights when he suddenly saw a shadow in the dark. Startled, he raised his lantern and moved closer to take a look. Unexpectedly, it was City Lord Meng, standing in a corner and looking at the sky in a daze.
"City Lord Meng … Why are you here?" Boss Wang looked at Meng Fuyao's expression doubtfully. 'City Lord … doesn't look right …'
"Oh, nothing, just out for a stroll." Meng Fuyao looked as if she had just woken up from a dream. She turned around and smiled at him before walking away.
In her palm was a military report, the coarse paper rubbing against her delicate skin. She squeezed it very tightly.
Ever since she received the report, she had been wandering aimlessly on the streets for a long time until she was woken up by this person.
A few days ago, the Baiting army had been transferred to the Sui River by King De and incorporated into the Brave Tiger Battalion. The Brave Tiger Battalion was stationed in Zhenzhou, outside the Sui River. It was said that they were there to surround the Rong army.
This was the information sent by the person who had asked for help from the Baiting army. As for King De … Meng Fuyao had a feeling that she would not be able to wait for reinforcements.
How long would the bustling city last? How would these excited citizens, who were kept in the dark, face the disappointment that would come day by day?
On this moonless night, Meng Fuyao stood in the dark for a long time until the night dew drenched her body. Only then did she slowly loosen her grip.
Some shredded paper fluttered away from her palm like butterflies.
As expected, reinforcements did not come.
From that day onwards, Yao City fell into a bitter defense.
It had to be said that Meng Fuyao was an extremely cautious City Lord. If it had been any other City Lord, they would have been fearless and let down their guard. But not Meng Fuyao. She had always been vigilant in times of peace and never let down the city's defense. During her short tenure as City Lord, she had even reinforced the city's walls and barbican.
As a transitional city between the Rong Tribe and the mainland, it was rare for Yao City to have a barbican. This allowed Meng Fuyao to put her skills to good use. Between the city wall and the barbican, she had set up a total of six layers of defense: caltrops, antler wood, horse-trap, barricade, moat, and finally, the city wall.
During the second attack, Meng Fuyao allowed them to enter the barbican and close both sides of the gates. Above them was the parapet wall, and above them were the ballistae. Below them were the six layers of defense. Every step was dangerous. 3,000 cavalrymen entered, but when they came out, there were less than 2,000 left. After suffering such a heavy blow, the Rong Army stabilized for a few days. During the third attack, they checked the direction of the wind and prepared to attack with fire. Meng Fuyao smashed down countless simple soccer balls, scaring the Rong Army into retreating. Unexpectedly, those were fake soccer balls made of pig urine. They were filled with water, which would wet the firewood after breaking. During the fourth attack, a valiant general took the lead and brazenly led his men to scale the city wall with hooks and ladders. However, Meng Fuyao shot him with an arrow from 30 meters away and nailed him to the wall. The Rong Army was once again defeated.
Even the Rong Army regained some of their morale due to the delayed arrival of reinforcements. Tie Cheng quietly asked Meng Fuyao if the Rong Army would retreat.
At that time, Meng Fuyao raised her head and looked into the distance. After a while, she said, "No, things are far from over … Our most difficult time is finally here."
Unfortunately, the truth was as she had predicted. When the Rong Army realized that Yao City was a tough bone to chew, they wretchedly adopted a tactic that any normal army would adopt in such a situation: besiege the city.
Yao City did not have much rations. It should have been, but a few days ago, King De had sent a letter saying that Hua Province, which was responsible for transporting rations, had dried up due to the drought this winter. The ships were unable to sail and had yet to arrive. The Vanguard Battalion could not go a day without rations, so King De had transferred rations from Yao City and promised to return them to Hua Province once they arrived. Now, it seemed like they would not have the stomach to eat even if they returned them.
The rations could still last for about ten days, but the most dangerous thing now was not the rations, but the city that was inhabited by soldiers and Han. It was like a barrel of gunpowder that was constantly filled with sparks. If they were not careful, they could be blown up by the people inside. With only eight hundred guards, they had to defend against the constant harassment of powerful enemies outside. They were already exhausted, so how could they defend against the heavy Yin Fire inside?
Should she seek help from Yuan Zhaoxu? He should have already reached the eastern front of the coast. It would take more than half a month to travel across the entire Limitless Nation. Could he wait for a round trip? Besides, wasn't he also at war? Meng Fuyao did not want to rely on him unrealistically. Her Yao City had to be protected by herself.
She had lost weight, so much so that her cheekbones were slightly protruding. Her face was a little haggard, but her eyes were still as bright as the morning stars. She ordered the rations in Yao City to be rationed and cut her own rations. She only ate two steamed buns a day and sternly refused Tie Cheng's food. However, she would still accept all kinds of fruits and sweets. Lord Yuan Bao was already quite unlucky to have been dumped by his girlfriend, so she could not force him to lose weight.
What she did not know was that there was a group of people who had carefully debated about her plans. They were the secret guards that Yuan Zhaoxu had left behind. He had taken half of them with him and left the other half behind. His only order before he left was to protect her!
The guards' opinions were divided into two groups. One group wanted to rush to their master's aid, while the other group disagreed. They believed that there was a huge disparity in military strength between the two sides. The Rong army could break through Yao City at any time. When that happened, it would be their responsibility to protect Meng Fuyao from the 50,000 strong army. Thus, they could not afford to split their forces. The latter group eventually prevailed. The men in black who were hidden beside Meng Fuyao continued to stay hidden, waiting for the right moment.
The people of Yao City had been waiting for many days and had long lost hope of the arrival of the reinforcements. Every day, they lined up in front of the county government office, silently received their food, and then ate it numbly. On the streets and in the alleys, there were gradually people fighting for food. Some people suddenly couldn't bear the pressure and hit their own heads on the road. The gloomy atmosphere of despair and abandonment spread silently in Yao City like a sticky rain that came and went silently.
She locked herself up in the government office and refused to see anyone. Apart from her routine tasks of commanding the city guards, she barely left her house. The restlessness between her brows gradually disappeared, replaced by a resolute and calm demeanor. On the ninth day, she suddenly called for Yao Xun to send her some food. Yao Xun brought her water and steamed buns, but she waved her hand.
"Meat! I want to eat meat! “
Yao Xun stared at her with his eyes wide open. He could not understand why this ascetic had suddenly changed. She did not bother to explain. She finished the food like a tornado, wiped her mouth, and left.
Halfway through, she suddenly turned around and said, "Yao Xun, you don't look right lately. Is something bothering you?"
Yao Xun was lost in thought and was taken aback by her sudden question. He stammered, "… No, no …"
"Following me has wronged you," she said without looking at him. "You're the leader of the Godly Palm Sect, after all. Stealing is your main profession. Following me as a housekeeper is a waste of your talent. Now that Yao City is in danger, there's no need to tie you down. If you want to leave, then leave."
When she finished, she did not wait for Yao Xun's reply and strode out.
The morning sun shone brightly and directly from the horizon. Meng Fuyao raised her hand to block the sunlight, blinked, and smiled.
She stretched out her thin palm, which was illuminated by the pale white light. She slowly clenched her fist, as if she was holding the sunlight.
After today, she might not be able to see such a beautiful and pure sun again.
The things she was about to do, the place she was about to go, would devour her future like a black hole. On the way there, there might be even more difficult things waiting for her.
But, what did it matter? In life, one should do what one should do, go against the wind in one's own persistence and loneliness. Wasn't that just as satisfying and unrestrained?
Even if there were millions of people, she would still go.
"Bang!" Meng Fuyao kicked the door open and strode out.
Many Han people gathered outside, supporting the old and the young, and looked at her anxiously.
The city's provisions were running out, and the people were waiting for her to come up with a new idea. In their hearts, the city lord, who brought football, waltz, clubs, and all kinds of new entertainment, was a smart person who did things fresh and unconventional. They believed that she would come up with an ingenious and powerful plan to fight against the enemy.
Meng Fuyao looked at the eager eyes, the hungry and frightened eyes, and suddenly felt suffocated. She opened her mouth, but the words that she had prepared were suddenly stuck in her throat.
She closed her eyes, raised her head, and looked up at the sky.
A light breeze swept past, carrying with it a slight sweet scent. Spring was coming …
No matter how late spring came, the flowers that bloomed in the fields would always grow …
Meng Fuyao lowered her head and opened her eyes, which were clear and resolute.
"My fellow villagers, Yao City is in danger and can't hold on any longer. The city will fall in an instant. As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. If we resist stubbornly to the end, the city will be plunged into misery and suffering. I do not wish to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of people to the Rong army. This city … will not be defended!"
Her words were earth-shattering and earth-shattering, like a thunderclap exploding in the crowd, causing them to lose their voices.
Yao Xun and Tie Cheng, who had rushed over, looked at Meng Fuyao in shock. They could not believe that such words came out of her mouth. Meng Fuyao did not look at anyone. She tightly pursed her lips and remained silent.
After a while, a sharp howl suddenly rang out, like a sharp knife stabbing into the stunned crowd.
"You selfish, shameless, despicable, and vicious woman! You're selling out Yao City! "
Someone cursed.
"Crazy! You're crazy! You're using the lives of Yao City's Hans to save your own life! "
Someone picked up a stone and smashed it. "Smash you to death, you slut!"
Even more people began to cry and rush forward to beg for mercy.
"We can fight! Let's defend the city together! We'll tear down the houses and go up to the tower! Castellan, don't surrender the city … His Highness King De will come! "
The children, who had yet to grow up, crawled over in tears and grabbed onto the corners of Meng Fuyao's clothes. They hugged her legs and cried, their tears dripping onto her boots.
"Castellan … Castellan … you can't … you can't … if you surrender, they'll kill us … I beg you, I beg you …"
The old men stretched out their skinny, bloodless hands and trembled as they climbed up and down in the crowd. Tears streamed down their faces as they gazed at her. "Castellan … Castellan …"
The crowd surged forward in a panic, like a whirlpool formed by a violent gale. It was tumbling, clamoring, squeezing, and entangling. Meng Fuyao was in the center of the whirlpool. All the onlookers rushed forward, all the heart-wrenching pleas and tears sprinkled on her body. Her thin figure was wrapped in it, like a small boat in a raging sea that was about to be drowned at any time.
Meng Fuyao stood ramrod straight, her pale face devoid of any trace of tears. Even her eyes were expressionless. She kept her head slightly raised, looking into the distance. After a while, she slowly extended her right hand that had always been behind her back.
She held a bundle in her hand, which she slowly opened.
The crazed cries came to an abrupt stop, and the crowd fell into a dead silence.
Inside the bundle was the official seal of the Yao City Castellan, the Yao City Household Register, the files of the Yao City's Judicial Department … These were all proof of authority in the Yao City Magistrate's office.
Meng Fuyao carried the bundle and slowly circled the crowd expressionlessly.
She had made up her mind, and there was no changing it.
Looking at the bundle, the last shred of hope of the Hans vanished. They stared blankly at the bundle, as though they were staring at their own decapitated heads.
Meng Fuyao ignored them and said to the big-headed people of Yao City, "Did everyone hear what I said? I'm going to surrender the city today. Everyone, please follow me. "
The big-headed people looked into her eyes and felt their hearts tremble. They subconsciously nodded their heads. Meng Fuyao smiled without the slightest hint of a smile and slowly walked down the stairs with the bundle.
She had already released all the true Qi in her body, which was as cold and threatening as a blade. Some of the Hans who wanted to rush up were knocked away. With every step she took, the people had no choice but to take a step back. The path slowly opened up for her.
More Hans rushed over, forming two long lines of people on both sides of the long street. Everyone watched in dead silence as she walked under the protection of the Rong people. They clenched their fists tightly, their eyes filled with malevolence. Their hatred shot out like arrows, each one piercing through her heart, dripping with blood and flesh as she passed through the cold wind.
It was a long road, a road of shame.
With every step Meng Fuyao took, the Hans behind her would explode with insults and hurl something at her back. It could be a rotten vegetable, half a hard bun, or even a rock in a muddy ditch …
Meng Fuyao straightened her back and did not turn her head. Her hair was messy and crooked from being smashed by countless stones, hanging there comically. Her robe was soon covered in filth and was stained with the saliva and snot of the children who had run over. She did not even bother to look at the yellow and white stuff that hung on her robe.
No matter how long the road was, it would eventually come to an end …
"No!"
Suddenly, a shout came from behind her.
It was Tie Cheng.
He could no longer endure the oppression and suffocation. He could no longer bear to watch Meng Fuyao walk down the road that was pointed at by thousands of people. He looked at her filthy body and watched her thin and frail back as she walked away. He felt as if the world had turned upside down. Those dirty stones and rotten vegetables that whizzed past seemed to be smashing into his heart, breaking it into pieces.
He roared.
"No! She won't! She won't! She won't! "
He roared incoherently and rushed forward to stop the angry crowd. "She's not that kind of person, she's not, she's not, she's not!"
"You've been blinded by her beauty!" Someone sneered. "Are you blind? Did you not see the official seal?"
Someone laughed coldly. "Didn't you say you wanted to marry her? You've been together for a long time, haven't you? Then, you detestable Rong person, you can be together with that slut! "
With a wave of his hand, a rock whizzed over and accurately smashed into his forehead. Blood splattered everywhere. Tie Cheng wiped away the blood and stared blankly at the young man who had smashed the rock. They had played football together just a few days ago and were close teammates.
He lowered his head to look at his blood-stained hands and suddenly understood Meng Fuyao's feelings.
At that moment, he suddenly recalled the Meng Fuyao he had seen recently. She was bright, bright, daring, and as firm as a rock. Her clear eyes often looked in the direction of the Sui River with worry, or when the lights were not extinguished in the middle of the night. He recalled her muttering to herself, "Put yourself in a dead end and you will be reborn …" In a flash, he suddenly understood her.
She was faking her surrender! The anger and attacks of the Yao City citizens were her way of expressing her sincerity to the enemy camp! What was she going to do after faking her surrender? What could she do when she was alone against 50,000 soldiers?
Tie Cheng stood there in a daze. Suddenly, he shivered and turned to chase after Meng Fuyao. However, the people's anger had already been provoked. The person who was defending Meng Fuyao was also their enemy. They were destined to be tied to the pillar of shame and engulfed in anger!
They pounced forward, tearing, biting, and headbutting. Meng Fuyao and the rest could not get close, but Tie Cheng and the rest could! Soon, Tie Cheng was drowned by the crowd. He struggled, ignoring the punches and kicks that were aimed at him. Amidst the flying stones and mud, he struggled with all his might towards Meng Fuyao. "She's not! She's not! She's not! She's really not! Meng Fuyao, no, no, no! Don't! "
His last cry was dragged out. It was so long that it echoed through the crowd. His voice was full of despair and helplessness. It was the despair and helplessness of watching the person he respected and worshiped walk into a dead end. It was the despair and helplessness of watching the person who voluntarily walked up to the altar be bitten and hated by the people who did not know the truth. It was the mournful cry of a wolf that had been abandoned by its clansmen and stood alone on a high cliff, howling at the moon.
Meng Fuyao heard it clearly through the noisy crowd. She did not turn her head and walked in the direction she had set. Finally, she stopped in front of the city gate and waved her hand, gesturing for the soldiers to open the gate.
The gate, which had been closed for many days, suddenly opened. Suddenly, arrows were shot from the top of the gate tower. The angry Han soldiers had finally aimed their arrows at their commander.
Meng Fuyao raised her hand and caught all the arrows. She casually broke them and threw them on the ground. The long arrow sank a foot into the ground, leaving a deep mark.
She raised her head. Sunlight shone through the wide and deep hole in the door. Half of it was bright white, while the other half was dark. Meng Fuyao stood at the border of the black and white.
She raised her head, lifted her foot, and took a step forward. This step could never be taken back. This step might mean that she would never be able to return to Yao City. In fact, she might not even be able to return to all the places she had been before. And those who had promised to wait for her were destined to never see her again.
She pursed her lips tightly and used a force that was almost self-torturing. The force caused her lips to burn with pain, but compared to the feeling in her heart, it was insignificant.
Then, she lifted her foot and took a step forward without hesitation.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from behind.
"Fuyao!"
The roar was so powerful that it could penetrate through seven layers. It was like a blood-stained collision car decorated with iron leaves. It whistled through the air and ruthlessly crashed into the already shaky endurance she had been enduring all this time.
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