Chapter 106: The Traitor Left a Mark

Fortunately, the Zheng family was not large, so a few of them disguised themselves as maids and manservants, and there was also a carriage heading to Baima Si.

This carriage was not large, but it held three adults and three children inside.

It was also their first time sitting so tightly packed.

Fortunately, they left the city quickly and met up with Wei Wu, who was there to receive them.

Wei Wu first took ten people to Wangyou Zhen.

Then Yan Ning went directly to the Zhou family.

Yan Ning did not meet with Zhou Jingchu, so naturally, she had no token.

She could only ask the gatekeeper to go in and announce her, saying that Zhou Jingchu had asked her to bring a message.

The gatekeeper looked at Yan Ning suspiciously, but finally decided to go in and report.

Yan Ning entered with Zhuo Heng; she wiped her face clean with a handkerchief, and it was at this moment that the old Madam of the Zhou family came out, looking very shocked when she saw her face.

"You, you..."

Yan Ning interrupted: "Stop with the 'you, you, you,' I have come today because I have important matters to discuss with you all."

The old Madam took a deep breath and said: "Fine, speak."

Yan Ning recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

But considering she had no token and had not even met Zhou Jingchu, Yan Ning added a few more sentences.

"Of course, I am not sure what General Zhou is thinking right now, but General Zheng said there is a high probability he will return to the Capital with my father."

"Regardless of whether General Zhou returns or not, I suggest you find a way to flee to a nearby town first."

"After all, there are only two outcomes: one is that General Zhou stands on my father's side, and Yan Yu will wipe out your entire family to threaten General Zhou. The other is that General Zhou is defeated, and Yan Yu will take his anger out on you."

Yan Ning did not even call Yan Yu 'Second Uncle,' calling him by his name directly.

Hearing her analysis, the Zhou family was in a panic for a moment, as the one above had imprisoned many officials as soon as he ascended the throne.

The old Madam of the Zhou family was suddenly a bit flustered, "Then, then what should we do?"

Yan Ning said: "Come with me, go to a nearby town; I have brought many guards, and my father should be able to return with the main army in about two or three days."

Madam Zhou was just about to have people pack up their gold, silver, and valuables to take with them when Zhou Jingchu's older brother said: "What if my younger brother wins with his troops?"

"Jingchu received no small amount of praise from the late Emperor, who called him a genius at using troops."

Yan Ning said firmly: "My father cannot lose."

"How is it impossible, and besides..."

Yan Ning frowned and interrupted him: "If you don't believe me, you can stay here, and I will take the old Madam and the others with me."

Zhou Jingwen: "..."

Yan Ning said: "Those who want to go, go; those who don't, stay."

The old Madam hurriedly said: "Go, go, go, we will all go together; Miss Yan, wait for us, let us pack our things a little."

Yan Ning then went to the back door to wait.

Zhuo Heng whispered: "Miss, I and the others have checked, there is really no one watching nearby."

Yan Ning gave a sound of acknowledgement.

Yan Yu ascended the throne, but this imperial position was obtained in an illegitimate and unrighteous manner, so it would not be easy to silence the officials.

After all, one could not throw everyone into prison.

Furthermore, the national treasury had long been emptied by Yan Ning, and at this moment, even the officials' monthly salaries could not be paid; the proceeds from confiscating homes were merely a drop in the bucket.

At this moment, Yan Yu was probably in a chaotic state of mind and had not thought to keep an eye on the Zhou and Zheng families.

After waiting for about an hour or so, they were finally ready.

The Zhou family had a slightly larger number of people, so some squeezed into carriages and some dressed as manservants, leaving the city gate at different times.

The guards at the city gate did not think there was any problem.

As soon as they came out, they saw Wei Wu and the others.

Wei Wu walked up and said: "Miss, we have already settled the Zheng family in the inn at Wangyou Zhen."

Yan Ning gave a sound of acknowledgement, "These are the Zhou family members, take them along as well."

When everyone was taking them away, no one noticed that the Zhou family's eldest brother was scattering a red substance along the way; he was walking at the very back, and one wouldn't know if they didn't look carefully.

It was about the next morning when they successfully entered Wangyou Zhen.

The old Madam of the Zhou family asked: "Can we really escape a disaster like this?"

Yan Ning smiled and said: "That is certain."

It was also at this time that Zhuo Heng came to Yan Ning's side and whispered: "Miss, there is a traitor in the Zhou family who has left a mark."

Yan Ning's brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze swept over the crowd.

In the end, she didn't say anything to them, but let them go to rest first.

The old Madam saw that Yan Ning's expression was not right, "Is there a problem?"

Yan Ning made up a story on the spot: "Something unexpected happened on my father's side, and he might be a day late."

The few of them let out a long sigh of relief and entered the inn.

Zhuo Heng was a bit anxious: "Miss, what should we do now?"

Yan Ning thought for a moment: "First, call Wei Wu and the others over."

When everyone had arrived, Yan Ning took them directly to the County Government Office.

Zhuo Heng held a blade against the County Magistrate's neck: "Order the city gates to be closed."

Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the Wangyou Zhen County Magistrate, and he hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, whatever you want is fine, just let me go first."

Yan Ning thought for a moment and sent two people to guard the County Magistrate; each had a blade at their waist and an Explosive Package in their hands.

County Magistrate Zhu trembled: "The two of you, rest assured, I, I will not do anything reckless."

The two of them did not point their blades at the County Magistrate, but simply had one person guarding the door and one person guarding inside.

County Magistrate Zhu asked with a trembling voice, "W-what exactly do you want to do?"

"Nothing much, we will let you go in two or three days."

County Magistrate Zhu did not dare to act rashly either.

Yan Ning had five more people go to keep an eye on the Zhou family.

Thus, more than forty people stood on the city wall, each holding an Explosive Package, ready to act the moment Yan Ning gave the order to detonate.

Yan Ning's guess was correct; an hour after closing the city gates, the five-thousand-strong army from the Capital finally arrived.

Seeing the city gates closed, those soldiers shouted, "Open the city gates!"

Yan Ning gave the order: "Guard the city gates!"

She then said to the approaching General Qi, "Retreat, or else we will throw the Explosive Packages."

General Qi had also heard of the power of the explosives; he looked up at the city wall and saw over forty people, each holding an Explosive Package, looking as if they were ready to detonate them at any moment.

General Qi recognized it was Yan Ning and said, "Princess, this subordinate is also acting under orders; could you please release the Zhou family?"

Yan Ning raised an eyebrow, "What, you don't want the Zheng family?"

General Qi was surprised: "The Zheng family is also in your hands?"

Yan Ning:...

Very well, as expected, a single probe revealed the truth; this time, being sold out had nothing to do with the Zheng family.

Yan Ning said loudly, "Retreat, or I will throw one Explosive Package, and at least a thousand people will die."

General Qi hurriedly led his men away.

But he was still unwilling to give up and asked, "What exactly will it take for you to release the people, even if it's just one or two of them?"

Yan Ning kept a cold face, "Then we shall just wait it out."

In any case, in three days at most, her father would arrive with one hundred thousand troops.

If they did not leave, they would be waiting for one hundred thousand troops in a few days.