"Do you... don't you want to see your mother? Surrender, and you can." Lin Shishu felt a pang of sympathy.
Xu Yangshuo shook his head. "I never surrender."
Prefect Lin waved his hand, and a barrage of arrows flew towards Xu Yangshuo.
Lin Shishu saw Xu Yangshuo smiling at her. He then spoke, "Shu'er, in the next life, I will be... I will be a good uncle..."
Lin Shishu was stunned, tears streaming down her face. She gritted her teeth and whispered each word, "Uncle..."
Xu Yangshuo trembled all over, then closed his eyes in contentment.
Xue Zining leaped down. Seeing that Xu Yangshuo was dead, she looked up at Prefect Lin and asked coldly, "Why kill such an important person?"
A soldier beside Prefect Lin glared at her and said sternly, "How dare you speak to the Prefect like that? Who do you think you are?"
"Father, she... she is the young lady who saved me..." Lin Shishu saw Xue Zining looking at her. She knew the Empress would not want her identity revealed, so she changed her words mid-sentence.
Prefect Lin's expression softened slightly. "Anyone who saves Shu'er is her benefactor. I will repay you handsomely. However, this matter has nothing to do with you, so please do not interfere."
"My lord, what about this man?" A soldier brought someone forward.
Prefect Lin looked at Murong Bo, who was being brought forward, and said, "Send someone to escort him back to his residence."
Murong Bo tried to say something more, but Prefect Lin waved his hand, signaling for him to be taken away.
The Windchime Stronghold, which had been entrenched in Windchime Town for over twenty years, was finally taken down in one fell swoop.
The chieftain, Xu Yangshuo, died on the spot. The second-in-command was General Gu Shao'an's man, placed within the stronghold by Gu Shao'an himself. Gu Shao'an sent people to escort him back. The third-in-command, Shugen, was Yan Jin's man. With Lin Shishu's testimony, the key figures of the Windchime Stronghold were all apprehended.
Gu Shao'an also regained control of the Gu Family Army, and Deputy General Li was imprisoned.
From Deputy General Li's confession, it was revealed that Xu Yangshuo's backer was an official in the capital, holding the rank of Assistant Minister.
Xue Zining was shocked to hear this.
Although the rank of Assistant Minister was not particularly high in the capital, it was extremely important.
Which Assistant Minister was it?
Xue Zining did not know. This would likely require an investigation back in the capital.
"Young Master Yan, thank you for coming to Windchime Town to save me." Lin Shishu looked at the clear and refined Yan Jin'an with a slight blush.
"Miss Lin, you are too kind. Saving you was merely incidental," Yan Jin'an said plainly.
However, Lin Shishu assumed Yan Jin'an was simply not eloquent and said that to make her feel less indebted.
"Young Master Yan..."
"I still have matters to attend to, Miss Lin. Please excuse me." With that, Yan Jin'an left.
Lin Shishu gently bit her lower lip, watching Yan Jin'an's retreating figure with a sense of helplessness.
"He is brave and resourceful, calm and composed. He is a promising young man."
Lin Shishu turned to see Prefect Lin. Her face grew even redder. "Father, how could you eavesdrop on someone's conversation?"
Prefect Lin smiled. "If I don't listen, how will I know Shu'er's thoughts?"
"Father..." Lin Shishu stomped her foot in exasperation.
Prefect Lin walked forward, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said wistfully, "Father arrived late. Does Shu'er blame your father?"
"How could your daughter blame you, Father? I am already grateful that you came to save me." How could she ask for more?
Prefect Lin's gaze held a trace of sadness. "Did Father frighten you back then?"
Lin Shishu froze slightly and said nothing.
Prefect Lin sighed. "As your father expected. Shu'er, your father does not beg for your forgiveness, only hopes you will not resent him. In that situation, your father could only abandon you, otherwise, Xu Yangshuo would have used you as a hostage to threaten your father. Your father could not let this battle be lost before it even began.
Therefore, your father chose to sacrifice you. It is only natural for you to resent your father, but if given the choice again, your father would still do the same."
Lin Shishu knew that the truth was often unbearable, but she had not expected it to be so cruel.
She knew that if she were in her father's position, she might have done the same.
Yet, her life had been saved by Xu Yangshuo, whom her father called a bloodthirsty demon.
Her uncle, who had insulted her and ultimately protected her life even at the cost of being riddled with arrows.
"Father, you have your responsibilities and your choices. Your daughter does not blame you."
Perhaps everyone has their own path to walk, one that cannot and need not be stopped.
"Shu'er..." Prefect Lin knew that even though Shu'er said this, a distance had grown between them.
"Father, I am tired and wish to rest." Lin Shishu bowed to her father and turned to leave.
Prefect Lin sighed, shook his head, and also departed.
"Miss Shu, something has happened."
Xue Zining was about to eat when Gu Shao'an's subordinate walked in. She asked, "What is it?"
"Miss Shu, Young Master Yan's guard and our general have started fighting."
Xue Zining was taken aback. Xue Song and Gu Shao'an were fighting?
"What is it about?" Xue Zining asked.
Gu Shao'an's subordinate shook his head. "This subordinate does not know. However, I heard Yan Gongzi's guard saying that Xue Yan is his."
Xue Zining frowned, unable to understand what conflict there could be between Gu Shao'an and Xue Song. "Where are they? Take me there."
Xue Zining followed Gu Shao'an's subordinate to the location and saw Xue Song and Gu Shao'an fighting fiercely. Xue Yan stood by, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Xue Zining stepped forward. Upon seeing her, Xue Yan respectfully whispered, "Your Majesty, you are here."
"What exactly is going on?"
Xue Yan smiled. "Your Majesty, you may not know, but it's all because of my name."
Xue Zining was somewhat confused. "What is going on? I don't understand."
Xue Yan whispered, "Have you forgotten that you were impersonating my identity when you met General Gu?"
Xue Zining frowned. Xue Yan continued, "I don't know what possessed Xue Song, but he suddenly started fighting with General Gu. When I tried to intervene, he told me it was a battle between men and that I shouldn't take sides."
"But you can't just let them fight like this?" Xue Zining said.
Xue Yan nodded, then added, "Your Majesty, I... I dare not intervene."
Xue Zining raised her eyebrows slightly, then leaped forward, holding her silver whip. She cracked it towards Xue Song and Gu Shao'an, forcing them both to retreat.
The speed and force made both of them recoil.
Xue Song was still eager for more. "Why did you stop us?"
Gu Shao'an saw her and his eyes softened. "Xue Yan, you're here."
Xue Song was startled. He looked at Gu Shao'an, then at Xue Zining, and asked, "You... what did you call her?"
Gu Shao'an replied, "Xue Yan."
Xue Song frowned, then burst into laughter. "You... you mean her name is Xue Yan?"