Feng Jin shook her head and said, "No need, you won't understand. That feeling of identifying someone in a crowd of thousands at a single glance. Once I'm sure it's her, settling for anyone else would be a compromise, and I'm a stubborn person who hates compromising."
Since she had already decided that Zhang You'er was the heroine of the storybook, anyone else would not give her the feeling she desired.
Therefore, looking for someone else would be in vain.
"Forget it, I'm in a bad mood. Let's go back to the manor first."
Feng Jin said dejectedly, looking dispirited.
Suddenly, there was a violent commotion, and even the horses whinnied in fright, causing the carriage to nearly lose control.
Feng Jin gripped the carriage railing tightly, only releasing her hand with lingering fear after the carriage had stabilized.
"Useless thing, can't even drive a carriage properly!" Gu Beichen roared angrily.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. A crowd of people rushed past, startling the horses, which is why I momentarily lost control of the carriage."
"Let's go see what's happening." After saying that, Feng Jin quickly alighted from the carriage.
Before she could get closer, a group of soldiers ran past her.
The entire street instantly descended into chaos. The people who had rushed forward were now surrounded by the soldiers.
"These traitors dare to enter the capital and attempt evil deeds. Kill them all without mercy!"
The leading soldier drew his sword and roared angrily.
Killing the citizens... What was going on...
Feng Jin's eyes instantly narrowed, realizing the gravity of the situation. Just as she was about to step forward, Gu Beichen pulled her back.
"Why are you stopping me? There are children among those people. They're not rebels! As the heir of the Zhennan King, will you just stand by and watch the people die in a river of blood?"
Gu Beichen's grip on Feng Jin's hand tightened suddenly. "You stay in the carriage. I'll go take a look."
"Whose subordinates are you? You have a lot of nerve, daring to kill citizens under the Emperor's nose! I think you are the rebels!"
Gu Beichen stood in front of the crowd, looking coldly at the soldiers.
"Move aside immediately, or I'll kill you too!"
"I am Gu Beichen, the heir of the Zhennan King. Our Zhennan King's manor has guarded the border for generations. Today, I am here, and I will not allow you to act recklessly!"
"Kill!" The leading soldier gave the order, and the soldiers charged forward with their spears.
Gu Beichen stepped forward and engaged them in combat, holding back the soldiers single-handedly.
However, even the strongest fists cannot contend with four hands. Gu Beichen gradually lost ground, and his right arm was slashed, blood flowing continuously down his arm.
"Kill him!"
The soldier, holding his spear, was about to stab Gu Beichen in the chest when a flash of cold light struck, knocking the spear from his hand. Immediately afterward, several more flashes of cold light appeared, and all the soldiers surrounding Gu Beichen fell to the ground.
Gu Beichen looked in the direction of the flashes and saw Feng Jin standing behind him, holding a crossbow.
"What are you waiting for? Kill them quickly!" Feng Jin shouted angrily, her crossbow bolts continuously firing.
The soldiers lunged at Feng Jin with their swords. Feng Jin hastily used her crossbow to defend herself.
All the bolts were fired. Feng Jin's expression changed drastically. She quickly picked up a discarded sword from the ground to defend herself.
The expected sharp pain did not come. Feng Jin was stunned for a moment before looking up. She saw Ling Mohan sitting on his horse, who had taken her life with a single sword strike.
Before Feng Jin could react, Ling Mohan pulled her onto the horse's back.
"All soldiers, hear my command! Exterminate the rebels!"
Ling Mohan's steady voice echoed above Feng Jin's head. Feng Jin couldn't help but lift her eyelids to look at the man. At this moment, Ling Mohan's image in her heart had magnified many times over.
Ling Mohan reached out and covered Feng Jin's eyes. "Close your eyes. Don't look."
Feng Jin nodded and quickly closed her eyes. The sound of fighting filled her ears, and Feng Jin couldn't help but shiver.
"Don't be afraid... I'm here." Ling Mohan's deep voice sounded in Feng Jin's ear. His hands cupped her ears, and Feng Jin felt a lot more at ease.
"Clean everything up!"
Ling Mohan, with a dark expression and no emotion, spoke and rode away with Feng Jin.
Upon returning to Ling Manor, Feng Jin's emotions finally calmed down.
"What exactly is going on? Why were those soldiers slaughtering civilians in public?"
Feng Jin's intuition told her that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.
"There was a flood in Yingzhong. These people are refugees who fled to the capital. Those who pursued them were rebels from Yingzhong."
"The rebels pursued them to the gates of the capital. The drought in Yingzhong must be very severe..."
"His Majesty has already issued an imperial decree for me to go to Yingzhong to quell the rebels and manage the disaster relief."
"I'll go with you!" Feng Jin said directly, without any hesitation.
"No, the rebels are rampant in Yingzhong, and you cannot go. Stay in the capital and wait for my return. It will take at most half a month, and at most a month, for me to return."
Not to mention the long journey to Yingzhong, the urgent military situation required the army to travel day and night, enduring hardships and difficulties. He absolutely could not let Feng Jin risk going with him.
"I can protect myself and will absolutely not cause you any trouble. Please take me with you."
"I will agree to anything else, but not this."
Ling Mohan's attitude was firm. He absolutely would not allow Feng Jin to go with him. "Lu Shi, keep an eye on the young madam."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Mohan jumped onto his horse and rode away.
"Ling Mohan, come back!"
Feng Jin shouted angrily at the man's retreating back.
"Young Madam, the young general has given orders. Please return to the manor with me."
"Lu Shi, take me to the military camp."
"Young Madam, please do not make things difficult for me. I am also acting under orders!" Lu Shi said with a troubled expression. Military orders were like mountains, and he really dared not disobey.
"Then let me tell you, if you don't take me today, I will commit suicide immediately."
With that, Feng Jin took out a dagger and held it to her neck. "Even if you take the dagger from my hand today and lock me up, I will find a way to take my own life."
"Young Madam..." Lu Shi looked distressed. How did he end up in such a situation? He would have preferred fighting on the battlefield.
"Stop talking nonsense and go find a horse to take me to the military camp." Feng Jin berated him angrily.
Lu Shi hesitated for a moment. If something were to happen to the young madam, he wouldn't be able to live either. Taking the young madam to the military camp, and letting the young general know, would at most be a flogging. He knew which was more important.
"Young Madam, I can take you, but you must promise me that you will listen to my arrangements for everything."
"I'll listen to you."
"Very well, Young Madam. I will arrange for horses now."
After agreeing, Lu Shi brought two horses, and they rode to the military camp together.
"Young Madam, we agreed that you will stay in the tent for now and cannot go out without permission. If the young general finds out about you and me..."