Gu Qianying's appearance drew the attention of the surrounding crowd.
"Who is that? She's so incredibly beautiful!"
"This person is so lovely."
The common folk marveled at Gu Qianying with admiration.
Among them, a small number recognized her.
"That's... that's the divine physician invited by the Song family, Miss Gu, the same Miss Gu who was just adopted as an adopted daughter by Madam Song."
"Adopted as an adopted daughter? Then her appearance now means she represents the Song family?"
"Or perhaps Madam Song intentionally adopted her at this critical juncture to make her a sword in her hand."
"It looks that way. After all, the Song family isn't what it used to be. I also heard that the eldest son of the Song family has captured members of the Han family, intending to provoke them. It's a pity that this newly appointed City Lord, the eldest son of the Song family, is afflicted with a potent poison and is near death."
"Currently... the Song family is left only with Madam Song and her adopted daughter, Song Yu'er, to support it. Miss Song is not yet married and shouldn't show her face. Madam Song is unwell and also shouldn't appear to deal with the Han family. In this situation..."
"Madam Song can only hastily choose someone to represent the Song family."
"If they can't afford to offend the Han family, why act this way? Han Yujun is not to be trifled with. Why is Madam Song courting death like this?"
"You don't know the whole story. I heard that the reason the eldest son of the Song family is poisoned is the work of the Han family, and imprisoning the Han family members is to force Master Han to hand over the antidote."
"Ah? Is there such a thing? But... don't the Song family know that Master Han is not someone who compromises easily? How could he bow to the Song family for the sake of his family members and offer the antidote?"
"If it were someone of no importance, Master Han naturally wouldn't act this way. But... I also heard that the people imprisoned by the eldest son of the Song family are the second young lady Han Ting, the third young lady Han Yue, and the second young master Han Yi. These three are all Master Han's biological children."
"How could Master Han not be angry if the Song family captured them!"
"Ah? So that's how it is. It seems the grand show has begun today!"
The crowd of common folk whispered amongst themselves, but no one dared to raise their voices.
Simultaneously, a small portion of the crowd even began to side with the Han family.
Having received charity from the Han family, they now began to point fingers at the Song family.
Some became increasingly agitated, even suggesting that the Han family should take over the position of City Lord.
As more people discussed it, the discontent grew louder.
Han Chenglin, the head of the Han family, looked at the woman in red with exquisite features before him.
A hint of lust appeared in his eyes: "Who is this young lady..."
He appraised Gu Qianying from head to toe, his lecherous gaze interrupted by her clear eyes. "The adopted daughter of the Song family, Gu Qianying."
"Hahaha, the adopted daughter of the Song family? Hahaha..."
Han Chenglin laughed heartily, stepped forward, and approached Gu Qianying, looking at her with a covetous gaze. "Young lady, has the Song family run out of people, to send a little beauty like you to her death? Little beauty... stop being a running dog for the Song family. Come, how about becoming my concubine?"
"As long as you agree to be my concubine, I will give you the best things in this entire world! What do you say?"
Looking at the tender-skinned beauty before him.
Han Chenglin's heart burned with desire.
Let the Song family be turtles hiding in their shells; he didn't care. His Han Yujun would flatten the Song family soon enough.
But this exceptionally beautiful young lady had become a running dog for the Song family, which was truly a pity.
"Hand over the antidote."
Gu Qianying's clear eyes were devoid of warmth.
"What?"
Han Chenglin, engrossed in appraising the young lady before him, was stunned by Gu Qianying's sudden utterance of these four words.
He paused, then burst into laughter. "Little lady, as I said, as long as you obey me, let alone the antidote, I'll even pluck the stars from the sky for you."
As he spoke, Han Chenglin reached out his large "claws" towards Gu Qianying.
Her eyes turned sharp, and her voice became as cold as ice: "Lu Zhu!"
"Swoosh!"
Amidst the glint of swords and flashes of blades.
Lu Zhu drew her sword and casually dealt with several Han Yujun soldiers.
Gao Tianshou, standing behind Gu Qianying, raised his hand and struck fiercely as Han Chenglin reached out.
A powerful surge of internal energy slammed into Han Chenglin.
Han Chenglin's eyes widened in shock.
Unable to evade in time, he suffered internal injuries. Before he could react, Gao Tianshou drew his sword again.
"Ah!"
A scream erupted from Han Chenglin.
A bloody arm was flung far away with a single sword strike.
Crimson blood spurted three feet from his severed limb.
Han Chenglin's arm was cut off by Gao Tianshou.
At this, General Ma, following behind Han Chenglin, immediately ordered his subordinates to protect Han Chenglin.
He also tore off the sleeve of his robe and, with the utmost speed, began to bandage Han Chenglin.
Han Chenglin's face contorted with pain.
He glared at Gu Qianying furiously: "You ungrateful wretch! Guards, kill everyone here!"
Anger surged through him, and Han Chenglin momentarily forgot that his three children were still imprisoned in the Song family.
He shouldn't have acted impulsively, but at this moment, he couldn't afford to care about that.
Those who offended him would die!
The surrounding Han Yujun soldiers, each wielding a long sword, advanced towards Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying remained unfazed, coolly calling out, "Gao Tianshou."
"Whoosh..."
Gao Tianshou held three sacks.
As he threw the three sacks in front of Gu Qianying, the ties of the sacks were loosened, revealing three heads.
"Father, save me, Daddy, save me, sob..."
"Daddy, save me first, save me first, sob..."
Han Yue and Han Ting cried out when they saw their father, Han Chenglin, both vying to be rescued first.
Han Yi, who had just climbed out of the sack, was bruised and battered, his body in disarray.
As he tried to get up, a sword was pressed against his neck.
Han Ting and Han Yue were also incapacitated by Lu Zhu, with swords held against them.
Seeing his three children in the opponent's hands.
Han Chenglin, enduring the pain of his severed arm, regained his usual composure: "Release them, and I will give you the antidote!"
At the same time, he raised his other hand.
General Ma and the Han Yujun soldiers behind him all sheathed their swords...