Nanny Li stood in front of the madam, Ding Ying surrounded the madam in the middle with tens of people, compared to other places, this could be considered the safest place.
However Ding Ying knew, this was just to stall for time, Gao Zhen had brought two three hundred people with him, most of them lived for today, desperate criminals who regarded the sect rules like the imperial edict, even risking their life they rushed over to grab people, and compared to the house guards scanty strength it was similar to striking a stone with an egg.
Just as Ding Ying was thinking whether or not he was going to die here he suddenly saw Zhao Jin Yu appear.
Ding Ying saw Zhao Jin Yu stand in front of the crowd, her sleeves dirtied, some ash also covered her face, getting out of the bas.e.m.e.nt, clearly took some effort, thinking about it her appearance seriously lacked the proper manner of the Zhao family"s eldest young lady, but her gaze was imposing, her back straight, like a pine tree unmoved by the wind and rain, making him feel like crying unexpectedly…
The madam saw Zhao Jin Yu, an urgent fury rushed to her heart, she almost fainted from anger, she couldn"t help say, “Why has she come out at this moment? Isn"t this wanting my old life?”
Ding Ying kneeled, saying, “Madam, if you trust me, I will risk my life to get the eldest young lady out.”
When has the madam never seen sense, she quickly nodded, saying, “Yes!”
“But here…” Ding Ying said seriously glancing at the wild eyed, insane Tiangui sect disciples all around.
At once the madam understood, if Ding Ying took people with him to escort Zhao Jin Yu, where would there be people to protect her? Her heart sunk, she was silent for a while, nevertheless her face showed a rather haughty smile, she slowly took off the jade bracelet from her wrist giving it to Ding Ying, saying, “This is an heirloom of the Zhao family, help me give it to Zhao Jin Yu, tell her…”
The madam"s voice was obscure, the more she spoke the lower it got, “Say to her being able to see her once in my lifetime, I"m already satisfied….”
Nanny Li had served the madam for her entire life, she had only seen the firm and aggressive madam, when has she ever seen her grieve like she had lost her soul, immediately her heart struggled, kneeling on the ground she also started to cry.
Over here as An Wen Yao was now involved in the situation it immediately became better, who was An Wen Yao? He was the one in a million commander of the secret guards, the best person selected out of over ten thousands of people, even though his martial arts did not rank in the Jianghu, he was still a top five martial artist.
Now An Wen Yao using his full force, he displayed his outstanding skills, an killing aura radiated all around, no one dared to approach him, in just a short time, ten secret guards also came to join this chaotic fight, each of these were also martial art experts, therefore it was almost like one against ten, in the blink of an eye they beheaded over tens of people, suddenly the wind seemed to change direction, the disciples of the Tiangui sect were intimidated by An Wen Yao and the other"s murderous aura, actually looking defeated.
Gao Zhen"s face was unsightly, those accompanying him said, “Master Gao, we can"t carry on like this, even if we win relying on our numbers, the loss will also be disastrous, how about…, let us forget about the previous issue, we"ll leave it if they hand Zhao Jin Yu over.”
Gao Zhen held a horsewhip in his hand, he brandished it ruthlessly, cracking in the air, he said, “That would be too lenient for the old fool, she dared to actually deceive me!”
“I also understand Master Gao"s anger, but a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him, is there need for you to cause a dispute due to personal feelings?”
Gao Zhen was really unwilling in his heart, just as he was hesitating losing his wits, he suddenly saw, from afar a disciple of the Tiangui ran over, that disciple said in great delight, “Master Gao, Zhuang
Zuo Shi has just attacked Hangzhou, he didn"t see you come so late, so he sent Xu Xiang Zhu over.”
From the pitch black a group of horseback riders came over, around more than two three hundred people, the fact was each of their expressions were ferocious, traces of blood covered their clothes, a murderous intent, especially the leader Xu Xiang Zhu, he was around eight chi tall, a st.u.r.dy man with bulging muscles.
Gao Zhen was very happy, he laughed heartily, saying, “The heaven really is on my side, brothers…, we have back up, attack! Whoever catches Zhao Jin Yu, they will be distinguished!”
Those disciples who were cowering somewhat hearing these words their morale were raised, immediately they rushed over like they had taken a strength pill, surrounding Zhao Jin Yu and the others.
An Wen Yao"s gaze stayed on the person who had come, he knitted his eyebrows, saying, “Lady Zhao, the situation is far from good, that person who has come is extremely troublesome, even I have to give him a point or two…, you ought to give up right? I take Lady Zhao out first, then think of a way to save the others.” Afterwards his gaze lingered on the stone around Zhao Jin Yu"s neck.
Zhao Jin Yu seeing those young and old maids die tragically, also those nuns, how could she be indifferent, she had thought of dying in such a way earlier, she said, “Take me to grandmother"s side.” Following which she gritted her teeth pulling off the stone she handed it to An Wen Yao, saying, “I"ll give the stone to you.”
An Wen Yao was stunned, he knew this was Zhao Jin Yu"s way to show she had made up her mind.
“I shouldn"t implicate so many people as well as you, you and I basically have no connection, it"s only because of this stone, that"s why you have to protect me.” Zhao Jin Yu finished speaking placing the stone into An Wen Yao"s hand.
The emperor finally couldn"t hold back anymore he yelled, “Zhao Jin Yu, have you gone mad?”
Zhao Jin Yu however smiled stroking the stone, she said, “I haven"t gone mad, it"s just that even now I still want to be independent…, I really feel apologetic.”
“It"s those disciples of the Tiangui sect who wants to kill everyone for their purpose, what does it have to do with you? If a dog bites you, could it be you still want to argue with the dog? Even if as you did, that dog would understand you?”
“I understand your intention, but my grandmother is there, I truly have no way…” Of course Zhao Jin Yu knew she could escape by herself, but if she could really do such a thing she wouldn"t have climbed out from the bas.e.m.e.nt.
“Hehe, none of you will escape.” Xu Xiang Zhu held a mace in his hand as big as a watermelon, with heavy footsteps he walked over, following Gao Zhen who was strutting around, Xu Xiang Zhu smiled at An Wen Yao with an unclear implication, he said, “Unexpectedly it"s you, an old acquaintance indeed, no wonder our old master Zhuang had to send me here, weren"t you living comfortably in the palace why have you come here? Could it be you found it too lonely, knowing our Hangzhou"s girls are very pretty?”
An Wen Yao tensed, with a calm and collected expression he said, “Xu Zhi, shut your dog mouth!
The first rule as a secret guard is abstain from s.e.x and alcohol, do you think everyone is a follower of wine and women like you? You betrayed the emperor…, and you have the audacity to show up in front of me?”
Xu Zhi"s eyes were filled with murderous intent, he however still laughed heartily, saying, “I"m different from you, I follow the rightful master.”
An Wen Yao glanced at Zhao Jin Yu, seeing her eyes filled with some bewilderment, afraid that Xu Zhi would reveal his ident.i.ty, to one of the secret guards he said, “Protect Lady Zhao, it"s not good right now…” He signalled with his eyes, following which he raised his blade and charged over.
An Wen Yao wasn"t weak, but Xu Zhi also wasn"t bad, the two of them one relying on quick movements of the blade, the other used the heavy mace, the brute force could crush…, but at this moment the fight was indistinguishable, sparks flew up everywhere, no one dared to be within ten paces of them.
Along with Xu Zhi and An Wen Yao"s fight, Xu Zhi had brought along several hundred people who swarmed around, suddenly Zhao Jin Yu was in a very dangerous situation, the secret guard who was entrusted with the task already had no choice, he lifted Zhao Jin Yu with one hand saying, “Lady Zhao, excuse me, I can only protect you first.”
“No! My grandmother is over there!” Zhao Jin Yu shouted, pointing no more than twenty steps away from her, sometimes she was this hopeless, the distance seemed to be so close yet it also seemed very far.
Now Ding Ying who was protecting the madam was clearly feeling strained, he had thought of rushing out to protect Zhao Jin Yu, helplessly the number of Tiangui sect disciples suddenly increased, for a short while he truly was unable to move a single step.
Gao Zhen seeing Zhao Jin Yu was being taken away by someone, how was he resigned, he yelled, “Catch that woman, she is the dirty woman who previously ruined our sacrificial ceremony!”
Everyone hearing this gnashed their teeth, ferociousness appearing on their faces, swarming around, all advancing towards Zhao Jin Yu.
That secret guard was hindered left and right, but at that time he heard the stone around Zhao Jin Yu"s neck say, “Knock her out and carry her away.”
The secret guard was startled, not sure how to react, he accepted the order to take her away, however it did not include using this kind of brute force, he could tell this Lady Zhao was very different, therefore he did not know what he should do.
He lifted his head to look at An Wen Yao thinking of following his command, in the end An Wen Yao and Xu Zhi"s was awfully busy with their fight that he simply could not spare any time.
On the other side Ding Ying was surrounded by three or four people at the same time, gradually he was pushed away from the madam"s line of sight…, suddenly a gap opened in that protective circle, tens of people excitedly rushed over yelling, “This is the eldest lady of the Zhao family, there are a lot of expensive things on her!”
Zhao Jin Yu saw a disciple of the Tiangui sect single-handedly rip off the chrysoberyl eardrops from the madam"s ears, immediately causing a long streak of blood, her gaze exploded, unexpectedly she pushed away from the secret guard and rushed over.
The madam smothered a groan without crying out loud, she resisted the pain, she took off the hairpin from her hair placing it against her stomach, in a blink she saw Zhao Jin Yu tearfully rush over, she smiled with grat.i.tude, thinking, this child still thought of her…, even if she died like this she did not regret anything, just that, she did not spend enough time with her.
“Qing Luan, don"t come over, how can grandmother peacefully return home to face others having suffered such humiliation?”
“Grandmother, what are you doing?” Zhao Jin Yu bit her lip in fear, she asked shuddering.
“Good child, live well!” The madam pursed her lips into a smile, her back was straight, looking like a towering mountain, “Don"t make die with a remaining grievance!”
“Grandmother!”
“Madam!”