Qi Yuan stepped back two paces. Watching the fireworks burst one after another in the sky, a trace of mockery appeared in her eyes.
They had arrived.
She turned to look at Second Madam Qi and gently comforted her: “Second Aunt, there’s no need to worry. It’s nothing serious. Please go rest in your room first, nothing will happen.”
Second Madam Qi had always trusted Qi Yuan. Whatever Qi Yuan said was usually correct, with almost no misjudgment.
But this time seemed different, because just as Second Madam Qi reached the entrance of her own courtyard, she suddenly heard a thunderous boom.
She was so startled that her whole body trembled. Unable to steady herself, she suspiciously asked Chun Chan beside her: “Did you hear that? What was that sound just now?”
Chun Chan was equally stunned by the unknown loud noise. She nodded subconsciously and was just about to speak when the crashing sound rang out again.
And it wasn’t once or twice, it began to sound rapidly and continuously.
The sound was so loud that it seemed as if even the ground was shaking.
Second Madam Qi’s hands and feet went numb: “It, it’s the gate! The gate is making that sound!”
Such a massive disturbance was even more shocking than the great bell of Huangjue Temple being struck, the two copper gates were being rammed!
This, this meant someone was trying to break in?!
Had the Oirat forces reached the outskirts of the capital?!
Was the Great Zhou about to fall?!
Second Madam Qi was terrified out of her wits.
Outside the gate at this moment, County Lady Luochuan was drawing her cloak closer, her eyes shining as she watched everything before her.
To her ears, the huge sound of the gate being rammed was exceptionally pleasing.
It sounded like knocking from hell itself.
Except the door being knocked on was Qi Yuan’s.
Yes, this was how it should be!
Why should that b*stard child have everything go smoothly? Why should she gain fame?
Why should she receive Xiao Yunting’s favor and the recognition of Emperor Yongchang, even becoming the Imperial Grandson Consort?
Such a low-born yet ambitious wretch should have been crushed from the very beginning!
But it was not too late now.
She smiled slowly, clicked her tongue, and turned her head to ask the young eunuch beside her: “Haven’t they eaten? With that kind of ramming, how long will it take?”
The young eunuch understood her intention and immediately smiled: “Then according to Your County Lady’s meaning…?”
Qi Yuan gave a light laugh: “Of course they should climb the walls. How could enraged rioters not be crazy? I heard those White Lotus rebels used to climb over walls and even cut people open afterward.”
She wanted Qi Yuan to taste that suffering too.
She had long been displeased with Qi Yuan’s manner.
People were born into ranks.
Nobles like them were naturally a level above people like Qi Yuan.
Everyone else knew what rules were and what hierarchy meant. Why did Qi Yuan not follow them? Why did she not know to bow her head and show respect?
Those who refused to follow the rules should not exist in this world!
The young eunuch was slightly startled but quickly reacted: “County Lady is thoughtful, you’re absolutely right!”
As he spoke, he raised his sharp voice and ordered a gray-clad figure beside him: “Pass it down, have them climb the walls and throw in fire torches!”
Since they were staging a civilian uprising, the more chaotic it was, the better.
The gray-clothed man lowered his head in acknowledgment and swiftly slipped away. The people ramming the gate dispersed upon receiving the order. Only then did County Lady Luochuan feel the frustration in her chest ease slightly, though she still frowned: “When will my people make their move?”
The people she referred to were the veteran retainers raised at Zhou Wang’s estate.
After retiring from the battlefield, they guarded the residence and patrolled the estates or guarded the hills. Combined across several estates, there were at least one or two hundred of them.
The young eunuch had only prepared a few dozen men precisely to force County Lady Luochuan to contribute manpower. Hearing her question, he was about to respond when the situation ahead suddenly changed.
Those who had already climbed onto the wall suddenly began screaming in agony and fell to the ground one after another. By the light of the torches, they could see white steam rising from their bodies.
What the h*ll was happening?!
Of course, it wasn’t ghosts.
The young eunuch quickly realized something was wrong and said coldly: “It’s hot water! They’re pouring hot water, move away!”
But it was already too late. As his words fell, more people tumbled down from the walls.
In winter, being drenched in boiling water first caused searing pain, but soon after, the cold set in. Especially when the wind blew, their bodies began uncontrollably shivering.
No one had expected that the people inside had already prepared for this.
County Lady Luochuan suddenly turned around, but by then, Shitou and the others who had originally been standing there to relay signals had already disappeared.
For a moment, her scalp went numb, followed by a surge of vicious anger.
Could such petty tricks really be useful?
She had already made full preparations today, so what if there was hot water?
At most, it could deal with those who had climbed first.
But she had already prepared additional manpower.
With so many people, even wearing them down would be enough to kill them!
However, the young eunuch’s expression became extremely serious, because he discovered that the other side had come fully prepared. At first there was a constant stream of hot water, and afterward arrows were even being shot out!
This wouldn’t do!
Seeing County Lady Luochuan preparing to order the ambushers in the rear to charge forward as well, he hurriedly said: “County Lady! They are defending the main gate to the death, and the main gate is copper, easy to defend and hard to attack! We should change locations, switch to the side gate!”
He was extremely certain: “Their manpower is insufficient. Right now all their people are at the main gate, they definitely cannot spare anyone else! We attack the side gate!”
County Lady Luochuan immediately shouted sharply: “Quick! Attack the side gate!”
Her voice was piercing.
She had used her father’s command token to mobilize these retainers.
Once the matter succeeded, no matter how furious her father might be, he would still help cover it up.
She had to make this succeed!
At the young eunuch’s order, the other deserters also turned and rushed into the alley, scrambling to break through the side gate first.
There was plenty of gold and silver inside the estate. Once they broke in, who would still follow orders?
Naturally, they would seize whatever they could first!
Their movements became increasingly frantic. Several of them carried a thick log together and rammed it toward the gate without hesitation.
But at that very moment, movement suddenly appeared on the wall.
Someone looked up and shouted in horror: “Someone’s there!”
It was already too late.
The people who had long been waiting atop the wall suddenly poured down fire oil.
Qi Yuan stood on the inner side of the wall and coldly ordered Babao: “Throw the torches!”
Babao nodded. Together with several guards, they threw the lit torches onto the ground. Instantly, the flames surged upward with a whoosh, spreading with the wind,
Like a giant dragon, rushing straight toward the mouth of the alley.
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