Chapter 43: Seeking Help

No one knows who leaked the news, but the rebel army is approaching and will breach the walls of Changning City within days. No one believes the imperial court stands a chance; the rebels have carved out a reputation built on an unbroken string of victories. That is the nature of rebellion: difficult to begin, but once it gains momentum, it spreads like a wildfire, relentless and impossible to extinguish. After all, wherever there are people, there is oppression and exploitation.

The Yue Kingdom has stood for over four hundred years, and its class conflicts have long been like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark. In the past, the intervention of transcendent powers meant that any sign of resistance was swiftly crushed before it could stir up trouble, creating a façade of prosperity. But the rebels of Guangnan have shattered this illusion, and now, many are willing to stake their lives to change their fate of being forever trampled at the bottom.

In Changning City, some have already reached out to the rebels, volunteering to serve as moles. In response, General Di has moved the entire City Guard into the city, declaring martial law and ordering heads to be severed at the vegetable market every single day. But slaughter cannot suppress the hearts of the people, and Changning City is descending into chaos without a single blow being struck by the enemy.

Prices for basic goods have skyrocketed. Ordinary citizens have emptied their savings just to fill their stomachs, yet they hold on, clinging to a glimmer of hope that once the rebels are repelled, everything will return to normal. Then, just as this tension reaches a breaking point, people witness ships departing from the long-blockaded harbor.

It turns out the city’s powerful elite and wealthy merchants, having lost faith in the outcome of the war, are fleeing north with their families. Their networks of influence are deeply intertwined; the officials and generals of Changning, having accepted bribes, have not only allowed this but have secretly smuggled their own families onto the ships as well.

With that, the people’s morale collapsed. In just a few days, before the rebels even arrived, violent crime surged. Influenced by rebel agitators, the common folk now believe they have been abandoned. Street thugs and hooligans are seizing the opportunity to cause chaos, and unscrupulous merchants are profiting wildly. The City Guard has killed wave after wave of rioters, yet they cannot restore order, and many low- to mid-level officers have secretly joined in the looting and madness.

As for the refugees outside the walls, they were told there would be famine relief, but that lasted only a few days—just enough to give them a sliver of hope—before the city fell into chaos and the local government became too preoccupied with its own survival to continue. The Prince’s estate had sponsored one million taels of silver for the relief effort, yet that only bought a few days of thin gruel for the refugees; the rest of the silver has simply vanished. Even Yu Xian, who had prepared himself for the worst, could only mutter a curse in disbelief. He had already overestimated the greed of these officials, yet he had still underestimated them.

No one truly intends to resist; they are all planning to cash out and run. As for the fate of the common people, no one cares.

Well, not entirely no one. For instance, the man standing before him.

Yu Xian rubbed his temples, looking at the middle-aged man whose temples were now flecked with white. He offered a bitter smile: "Chief Constable Zhou, you should go back. The Princess will not see you."

It turned out that Zhou Bai, the Chief Constable of the yamen, seeing the chaos and his superiors only interested in lining their pockets, had hoped to petition the Princess to step forward. He wanted her to use the influence of the Prince’s estate to rally the people, believing that unity was their only chance to resist the rebels.

Zhou Bai cupped his hands. "Brother Yu, I do not do this for myself. I only seek a chance at survival for the million souls in this city. I ask that you remember our history of fighting side by side and grant me an audience with the Princess."

Yu Xian rolled his eyes inwardly. The Princess was a soft-hearted, emotional woman. If she were moved by Zhou Bai’s sense of justice and decided to resist to the bitter end, it would only make things difficult for him. It was undeniable that he had developed improper desires for the Princess, who had captivated him the moment they met. Over the past few months, as they spent time together under the pretext of tutoring the young Prince, the lonely Princess had long since been moved by this man who lacked neither looks nor wit. After all, given her status, few men entered her circle—even the eunuch Li was considered a regular fixture. One was a woman long starved of affection, the other a man with ulterior motives; it was no surprise that feelings had blossomed. If not for societal constraints, Yu Xian felt his ambition to be the next "Cao Cao" would have already been realized.

"Brother Zhou, I know you are a good man, but the building is collapsing; one man’s strength cannot hold it up. Her Highness is but a fragile woman. She cannot make decisions on such grand matters of state, nor does she wish to. Have you considered her desires before forcing this burden upon her? In my eyes, her peace of mind is worth more than the entire city. If you speak to her of this, you will only bring her needless sorrow. It is better not to disturb her." Yu Xian spoke with a sudden, feigned air of righteousness.

As a chief constable who had investigated cases for years, Zhou Bai found Yu Xian’s words to be painfully transparent. His face turned to one of utter disbelief as he pointed at Yu Xian and said in a low, trembling voice, "You... you and the Princess?" He stopped just short of calling them immoral wretches.

Yu Xian let out a cold snort. "Her Highness is as pure as ice and jade. I hold only the deepest admiration for her. Brother Zhou, do not let your imagination run wild."

Zhou Bai’s eyes turned dim. He let out a deep sigh. "Brother Yu, but I truly have no other choice." He bowed to Yu Xian, his head bent low, his voice heavy with the sorrow of a hero watching the sun set on his era.

"I beg you!"

He was a master of the martial arts, a man of great renown in the government and among the people. Even when facing the Prefect, his direct superior, he had never been this humble. Even Chen Xiao had once acknowledged his integrity and spared his life.

Yu Xian reached out, and with a subtle exertion of force, pulled Zhou Bai back to his feet. "I cannot accept such a grand gesture, Brother Zhou. However, I still will not let you see the Princess. How about this?"

Yu Xian reached into his robe and produced a celadon vial. "When I was investigating the assassination of the Prince, my methods were a bit extreme. I had all the retainers of the estate ingest the 'Seven-Day Soul-Severing Pill.' This vial contains the antidote. One pill will extend their lives by seven days. The formula is inside as well."

Zhou Bai was still reeling from the display of Yu Xian’s power, but his gaze was quickly drawn to the vial. He understood exactly what Yu Xian meant. The retainers of the Prince's estate were the elite of the city. If he held the antidote, the power he could command would extend far beyond his few constables; he could instantly become the decisive force in the entire city.

Yu Xian continued, "I do not care for their slander behind my back, nor do I fear their schemes. But Brother Zhou, you have been a hero for half your life. If you take this bottle, your reputation will be forever tarnished. You must consider this carefully."

Zhou Bai shook his head and smiled bitterly. "I have practiced martial arts since childhood with the goal of upholding justice, yet on my own, I have been but a drop in the ocean. Martial artists abuse their power, and officials oppress the good. To change this, I joined the government, and I have never bothered to explain myself to those who branded me a lapdog of the court. Now, if the people of this city are on the brink of death, using my own reputation to save thousands is a bargain."

He took the vial from Yu Xian and bowed again, though this time he could not bring himself to go as low. He sighed once more, realizing that with Yu Xian’s strength, if he were willing to act, the city’s crisis would be greatly eased—but he could not force him.

He cupped his hands in farewell. "Brother Yu, we may never meet again. I shall take my leave. Please, take care of yourself."

"Take care," Yu Xian replied, cupping his hands in return.

For a good man who carried firewood for others in the midst of a blizzard, even if he would not offer help, he would not kick him while he was down. Besides, this Chief Constable had helped him earn his first ten thousand taels after arriving in the mortal realm; there was a bond of sorts between them.