CHAPTER 1113: CHAPTER 608: SCHEMING AGAINST ZHAO DOUAN (PART 2)

"Sir, the people have been brought back safely." The leader of the "rebel army" saluted.

"Very good."

Song Jinxi nodded, stepped out from the darkness, and his face gradually became illuminated by the torches.

He walked over to the prison cart, raised his hand gently, and with a "boom," the wooden cage shattered into pieces!

Then, under the stunned gaze of Feng Ju and others, Song Jinxi smiled and grasped Feng Ju’s hand, "Are you Doctor Feng? The governor has specifically tasked us with rescuing you, all of you have suffered greatly, my lords."

Feng Ju was dazed and couldn’t react, "Governor? What governor?"

Song Jinxi paused, then immediately realized, his eyes filled with emotion, and he smiled, "Of course, it is Zhao Douan, Mr. Zhao. He is now the Chaos Suppression Grand Commander and arrived at Hu Ting not long ago."

Zhao Douan... Mr. Zhao... the lord has come to save us...

The officials in the cart were nearly overwhelmed by this heavenly news, and when Song Jinxi took out the Inner Court Tributor waist card from his pocket to prove his identity, Feng Ju and the others couldn’t help but tear up with joy!

"Wuuu..."

Many officials started to cry, and Feng Ju was also in tears, watching as a group of tribunors came forward, released them from their shackles, helped them off the cart, and choked with emotion, "Where is the lord... still remembers us..."

Song Jinxi smiled, "The governor is waiting for you all, and has prepared food and warm stoves. If Doctor Feng can move, please come with us immediately."

"I can move! I can move!" Feng Ju replied quickly.

Song Jinxi nodded, suddenly seeming to remember something, and said, "Almost forgot. The lord also instructed me to ask Doctor Feng if anyone had betrayed or sold out Your Majesty during the months the government office was overrun."

Feng Ju was stunned for a moment, and the surrounding core Imperial Faction officials were also taken aback.

Immediately, they almost simultaneously turned around and looked at Hu Xuezhai, who was pale and trembling like a leaf on the prison cart, with cold eyes.

"No betrayal, but..." Feng Ju looked at Lin Susu, who was sitting on the cart like a duck, and suddenly spoke, "Lady Lin, you..."

Lin Susu sat like Guanyin, seeming to come back to her senses, turned her head, and looked at her husband beside her.

Hu Xuezhai panicked, put on a smile, and tugged at her sleeve, "My lady, I was just out of my mind from hunger, I don’t remember what I said, you..."

Lin Susu silently pried his hand open, stepped down from the cart, and walked forward expressionlessly.

"My lady, don’t leave me, I am sincerely devoted to you!" Hu Xuezhai clung tightly to her sleeve.

Song Jinxi’s smile faded, and he waved his hand.

Immediately a "rebel" stepped forward, suddenly drew his sword, and with one slash, Hu Xuezhai screamed miserably, his wrist was cut off, and the severed hand clinging to Lin Susu’s clothing fell onto the snow.

Lin Susu paused for a moment, but ultimately continued towards Feng Ju and the others.

Then, as they staggered toward the firelight, only Hu Xuezhai in the alley was swallowed by darkness. After a miserable scream, there was silence.

...

Temporary Governor Mansion.

Zhao Douan sat behind a desk, reading military documents while listening to Song Jinxi’s report.

Hearing about Hu Xuezhai’s death, Zhao Douan paused and raised his head, his expression odd, "Lin Susu’s husband?"

"Yes." Song Jinxi explained, "Doctor Feng said this person cursed and slandered you, and even wanted to kill and eat them. Fortunately, we arrived in time."

Eat people... Zhao Douan "hmphed" and said, "He brought it upon himself. Have people give Feng Ju and the others a hearty welcome. As for Lin Susu, tell her that I will not punish her because of Hu Xuezhai, and the court will not treat them badly. Afterward, bring Feng Ju to see me."

"Yes."

"Has the intelligence provided by Jiang Wangsun been verified?"

"Yes, our people used the fake identity he provided to successfully rescue the people. We found our own route back, and the rebel patrol routes are exactly as he provided." Song Jinxi whispered, "Sir, now that we have this intel, can we preemptively strike and seize control of Hu Ting?"

"We could..." Zhao Douan nearly nodded, but due to unease, he still shook his head, "Wait a bit longer."

Song Jinxi said, "We won’t be able to hide the news of Feng Ju’s rescue for long. Once the rebel high command finds out, they’ll likely realize there’s a mole and change their defenses."

Zhao Douan coldly laughed, "With Jiang Wangsun’s status, if such a small matter exposes him, then he truly is useless. Continue to wait. Jiang Wangsun should be sending new information soon."

...

...

When the sky in the east turned pale.

Ye Xin had finished washing up, donned his armor neatly, and stood in front of the full-length mirror in the room, his sharp eyes staring at his reflection.

On the wall of this bedroom, above the mirror, were maps pinned to the wall with nails.

"Another day of being alive..."

Ye Xin murmured self-mockingly at himself in the mirror, then turned, raised his hand, and grabbed the longsword resting on the weapon rack.

As the Deputy General of the former Jiancheng Road military mansion, Ye Xin contributed significantly in the early rebellion of Prince Jing, and because of this, he rose rapidly within the Prince Jing group.

If Jiang Wangsun can barely squeeze into the top ten among civil officials.

Then Ye Xin, among the military generals under Prince Jing, ranks in the top five.

Ye Xin’s strength doesn’t lie in personal cultivation but in leading troops in battle, particularly skilled in small-scale engagements, focusing on speed and flexibility.

This is also why he can still face Xue Shence and the Divine Machine Camp and hold the front lines.

He stepped forward, pushed open the door, and walked out of the bedroom. A faint white appeared on the eastern sky, remnants of snow lingered at the corners, and the courtyard was swept quite clean.

This is his temporary residence and also the command center of the rebel army.

At this moment, cooking smoke rose, and the cooks had already prepared breakfast.