Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 497 All Members Wounded

"Bang!"

The temple door was kicked open, and the door panel slammed against the wall with a piercing sound.

Several rebels carrying knives walked in, their boots rustling as they ground through the black ash. "We clearly saw smoke just now, where are they?"

"Search! This dilapidated temple is only so big; it can't hide anyone!"

Shi Wanxia's heart was in her throat; she could feel Cui Zhihao trembling beside her.

It wasn't fear, it was pain. He was clutching his chest tightly with his hand, his lips were bitten until they turned white, and even the veins on his forehead were bulging.

Lin Yiyu clenched his fists tightly. The wound on his leg had probably been rubbed by the dry grass. His body was taut, and cold sweat streamed down his face.

The rebels' footsteps echoed through the temple; they overturned the stove, kicked over the water vat, and finally stopped in front of the haystack.

"This haystack is so big, could it be hiding something inside?"

A rebel's voice rang out, and then Shi Wanxia heard a "thud"—a long knife was stuck into a haystack, only inches away from her arm, and bits of hay splattered all over her face.

Ya Ya froze in fright and almost burst into tears. Wang Ying quickly covered her mouth, but her own tears fell and dripped onto the child's hair.

Shi Wanxia held her breath, not daring to move an inch. She could feel Cui Zhihao's hand quietly reaching out and gently pressing her arm, as if to comfort her and tell her not to be afraid.

"No one."

The rebels pulled out their knives and thrust them in another direction, this time closer to Lin Yiyu. Lin Yiyu trembled, but still remained silent.

"I must have been mistaken. This dilapidated temple is nothing but ashes and grass; there's no one here."

The rebel leader cursed, then scanned the temple again. Seeing that there was nothing unusual, he waved his hand.

"Let's go! Search the next place. The higher-ups said that if we miss even one person, we'll all be punished!"

The sound of the rebels' footsteps gradually faded into the distance until they could no longer be heard, and only then did the few people in the haystack dare to breathe heavily.

Wang Ying let go, and Ya Ya immediately threw herself into Shi Wanxia's arms, crying softly, "Sister, that was scary..."

Shi Wanxia patted her head, and just as she was about to speak, she saw Cui Zhihao leaning against the hay, his face even paler than before, and more and more bloodstains at the corner of his mouth.

She quickly helped him up: "Brother Cui! How are you?"

Choi Jiho opened his mouth but no sound came out. He just waved his hand and closed his eyes, clearly too weak from the pain.

Lin Yiyu looked at him and sighed, "He's just putting on a brave face... If you had opened the door and gone out just now, none of us would have survived."

Shi Wanxia felt a pang of sadness when she saw the bloodstains on Cui Zhihao's chest.

They were all patients with no physical strength, yet in this chaotic world, they did their best to protect each other. But this protection seemed so fragile and so heartbreaking.

Outside Chuzhou City, as night deepened, Shen Yanchu led his light cavalry stealthily along the tunnel.

The tunnel was dark and damp, and the mud underfoot was sticky. The cavalrymen could only move forward by the faint light of their torches, and everyone's heart was in their throat.

They must enter the city as soon as possible, find Cui Zhihao and his group, and rendezvous with the main force outside the city before the rebels discover them.

"General, we're almost at the exit!"

A soldier whispered.

Shen Yanchu nodded and gripped his sword tightly: "Be careful, everyone. Once you get out, hide and don't alert the rebels."

Just as they were about to step out of the tunnel, a sudden "whoosh" of arrows came from outside!

"No! There's an ambush!"

Shen Yanchu shouted and quickly swung his sword to deflect the incoming arrows, but several soldiers still didn't react in time and were hit by arrows, falling to the ground with screams echoing in the tunnel.

The rebels outside had been waiting at the exit. As soon as they came out, they surrounded them, and swords flashed and clashed instantly. Shen Yanchu led his men in a fierce resistance, but the rebels were too numerous and had already set traps. The light cavalry were trapped at the narrow exit and had no way to maneuver.

"General, this can't go on! Our men can't hold on much longer!" a lieutenant shouted, his arm already stabbed, blood streaming down his arm.

Looking at his fallen brothers, Shen Yanchu felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if it were being cut by a knife.

He remembered what Cui Zhihao had said in his letter: Shi Wanxia was still waiting for rescue in the city. He thought of the people who had been massacred by the rebels. How could he retreat?

But he also knew that if he continued to hold on, it would only lead to more deaths.

"withdraw!"

Shen Yanchu gritted her teeth and uttered the word, her heart filled with resentment and self-blame.

"Protect the brothers, get out of here first!"

The light cavalry fought and retreated, finally managing to get back into the tunnel and close the secret door.

Shen Yanchu leaned against the hidden door, listening to the rebels' laughter and curses outside. He slammed his fist against the wall, his knuckles instantly turning red and swollen: "Damn it! How could I not have thought they would ambush me in the tunnel!"

The lieutenant came over and handed him a cloth to wipe the blood from his face: "General, it's not your fault. The rebels have gone mad and are capable of anything."

"Let's go back first and discuss countermeasures with His Highness the Crown Prince and the Duke of Lin. The people in the city are waiting for us."

Shen Yanchu nodded, but his eyes were heavy.

I wonder if Shi Wanxia in the city can wait any longer...

Inside the camp outside the city, the candles burned all night.

When Shen Yanzhou received the news of Shen Yanchu's ambush, he was holding the intelligence sent by Cui Zhihao, his fingers tightly gripping the corner of the paper, which was so tightly squeezed that it became deformed.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Xiang has already led his men back, but... he has lost many brothers."

The messenger lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion.

Shen Yanzhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them. His eyes were full of exhaustion, but he still had the composure of a crown prince: "Let Prince Xiang go and heal his wounds first. Tell the brothers that they have worked hard."

After the messenger left, Shen Yanzhou looked at Lin Yongnan, who was sitting to the side.

Lin Yongnan was staring at the map, tapping lightly with his finger, his brows furrowed deeply—the west gate was heavily guarded, the south gate had hidden sentries, and the tunnels to the north gate were ambushed; entering the city now would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Duke Lin, what is your plan?"

Shen Yanzhou walked over, his voice low.

Lin Yongnan raised his head and pointed to the West Gate and the South Alley granary on the map: "The rebels are currently most concerned about the granary. As long as the granary is safe, they will have the confidence to massacre the city."

"Why don't we feint an attack on the west gate and lure most of the guards there? Then we can send an elite force to sneak around to the south alley and burn their granaries."

"Burn the granary?"

Shen Yanzhou was taken aback. "But if we do that, won't the rebels retaliate even more fiercely against the people?"

"Your Highness, now is not the time to hesitate."

Lin Yongnan sighed, his eyes heavy. "Once the granary is burned, the rebels will run out of food and won't last long. They will definitely send people to rescue the granary, which will reduce the number of guards at the north gate. We can then take the opportunity to break in through the north gate, rescue the people, find Cui Zhihao and his men, and get a more detailed defense map."

Shen Yanzhou fell silent—he knew Lin Yongnan was right, but he couldn't help but worry when he thought of Shi Wanxia in the city.

If the granary is burned, will the rebels take their anger out on the people and harm Shi Wanxia?