Yu Mingyue clutched the dagger, her resolve hardening as she looked at the young women huddled together, tears silently streaming down their faces, their efforts to stifle their sobs palpable.
In truth, they had already done remarkably well. It was just unfortunate luck that they had been found so quickly.
Yu Mingyue lowered her voice, "Even if they find the entrance, don't be afraid. We still have guards, and there's a final line of defense at the secret passage. Reinforcements are on their way."
Yu Mingyue intended to join the guards. Even if the enemy found the passage, it wasn't wide. They couldn't all rush in at once. By holding the entrance firmly, they could buy time.
Yu Miaoyan sensed Yu Mingyue's intention and grabbed her tightly, her eyes wide. "What are you doing? I won't allow it."
Yu Mingyue's arm ached from her grip, but she didn't chide her. "Have you forgotten? I know martial arts. I can protect myself."
"But..." But those people were so fierce. Wouldn't her going be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?
Even though they used to bicker, they were still sisters. This wasn't a game, and she couldn't just watch her sister go to her death.
Yu Miaoling and the others nodded in agreement. Although Yu Miaoyan, as the eldest sister, didn't always act like one, she was right this time.
Chi Dan and Chi Hua also disagreed. If anyone were to guard the secret passage, it should be them. With them there, the young ladies would be safe.
Yu Mingyue smiled, "Don't worry, I'm very capable. I'll be fine."
Yu Mingyue looked at Zhu Yu, who instantly understood. Although she also disapproved of the young lady taking such a risk, if she couldn't be stopped, it was better to follow and protect her.
"Mingyue, I'll go with you," Gu Tingyun said, quickly moving to Yu Mingyue's side.
As a man, how could he let a young lady protect him?
Han Dingxin also stepped forward. "I'll go too."
She was the daughter of a military family; how could she shrink back?
"I'll go too!" Mo Yuxi also stood beside Yu Mingyue.
"And me!" Gu Youyou also stepped forward.
The other young women looked at each other. Although still frightened, with others emboldening them, they felt a bit braver.
Even with tears in their eyes, they were eager to act. They pulled out their hairpins, "We'll go too. At worst, we'll fight to the death."
Yu Miaoyan also pulled out her hairpin and held it in her hand, her arms trembling even as she gripped it.
This hairpin was specially made for her by her mother when she came of age. She had deliberately worn it today.
The Yu family's young ladies did the same, holding small hairpins in their hands, their expressions resolute.
The door to the secret passage slowly opened, and the firelight from outside seeped in. However, this light brought no joy.
"General, it's here. The people should be inside," the one who found the secret passage exclaimed with delight.
The guards inside didn't rush out immediately. They had a final line of defense and intended to catch them off guard.
He Jing, having suffered a setback earlier, knew these young women were not easy to deal with and was not foolish enough to let them charge in directly this time.
"General, why don't we use fire? An eye for an eye. Let's burn all these young ladies to death," one of them suggested.
"Wouldn't that be too easy for them? General, you promised us that these young ladies would be ours to deal with. We can even take a few back to appease the Prince," the man said with a lewd smile, stroking his chin as he spoke of dealing with them, already impatient to enter.
He Jing thought about it and agreed. The identities of these young women were indeed barely sufficient to serve the Prince.
Seeing He Jing nod, the man stepped inside. The secret passage could only accommodate one person at a time. The person in front had barely entered when a scream was heard.
He Jing roared in shame and anger, "You people inside, listen! If you don't come out, we'll set fire to you!"