Guo Shao entered the city through the open gate, dismounted from his horse in front of the ramp inside the wall, and walked up the city. The ramp was very wide, at least three carriages could run side by side, in order to facilitate the rapid mobilization of the garrison to the city in an emergency. But Guo Shao still walked up, and his followers only followed far behind.
Climbing up to the top of the high city wall, the countless houses in the city outside are all at his feet, and everything is in sight. As his vision widens, Guo Shao's mind also broadens.
Troops of soldiers and horses were pouring into the city like a flood, spreading through the streets. The black smoke from burning kerosene was spreading in the air, like gunpowder smoke, lingering over this rich and magnificent city, pavilions, towers, iron horses and weapons. Looking into the distance, the fields and crops in the spring were green, and between the beautiful mountains and clear waters, the vast land had no end in sight.
Guo Shao faced the wind blowing in the air and looked at the white clouds slowly surging in the sky. His heart was filled with blood boiling and he couldn't help but sigh: The wind is rising and the clouds are flying!
The followers behind him looked over. Guo Shao forgot the rest of the lyrics for a moment and blurted out: The four seas are boundless.
Boom boom boom! There were heavy banging sounds at the front gate of the imperial city, one after another as if knocking on people's hearts. Every time it vibrated, Zhou Jiamin's tender body trembled.
At such a young age, she had not really witnessed the madness and brutality of the warriors, and she did not have the most direct fear of the consequences of the imperial city being breached. But she was still very scared, afraid of what Li Yu had just said, that if the chaotic soldiers came in, they would set themselves on fire.
There were firewood piled around the throne, and black oil was spilled on it. Zhou Jiamin was sitting on a chair next to the throne. Li Yu was holding a paper palace lantern with a candle inside. Zhou Jiamin stared at the lantern with her beautiful eyes wide open.
When Empress Dowager Zhong was here, she said a lot of terrible things to dissuade Li Yu from self-immolation. After the fire, the thick smoke would make people want to vomit all their internal organs, and their heads would ache; the flames would burn on the skin, causing excruciating pain, and the skin would be burnt into an ugly state, rotting away from the flesh. After being burned to death, the whole person would be covered in rotten, dirty, black flesh and blood, and would not look like a human being, and the vomited and diarrhea would be all over the body.
Ah Zhou Jiamin suddenly screamed and struggled desperately. But she couldn't break free, she was tied up.
She had been caught by eunuchs before, but Li Yu did not require eunuchs to be buried with him and burned to death. Li Yu was not a cruel person most of the time, so in order to prevent Zhou Jiamin from escaping, he tied her to a chair next to him.
Nine-year-old Zhou Jiamin's hands and feet were tied, and the chair she sat on was very heavy. No matter how hard she struggled, it was useless. The skin on her wrists was rubbed by the rope. She cried out in pain and fear, and turned to Li Yu and cried: Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, please let me go, please let me go
Li Yu had a blank expression on his face and ignored him completely. His dejected expression was frozen on his face, as if he was in a trance.
Zhou Jiamin was loved by everyone at home and in the palace. She was born in a good family and was spoiled. She thought the world was full of all kinds of rare and wonderful things. Suddenly she was in such a situation and felt that the sky had fallen. But she could only cry and make a fuss, begging Li Yu to let her go from time to time. At the same time, she also saw other things in the world for the first time, just like a person who has been walking in the sun and saw the endless darkness.
I don't want to die, I don't want to be burned to death. Zhou Jiamin burst into tears and gritted her teeth, trying desperately to get the ropes off her hands and feet.
After a lot of trouble, she realized that the sound of knocking on the door had disappeared. At this time, she heard the sound of metal rubbing against each other, and several big men in iron armor appeared at the door of the hall.
Zhou Jiamin had no idea how scary the armored man was. She only felt that the palace lantern in Li Yu's hand was scary, and she immediately shouted in a tender voice: Save me, someone come and save me, I don't want to be burned to death!
Haha Li Yu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly laughed out loud, and fell forward and backward with laughter. Zhou Jiamin looked at him in horror, not knowing what was so funny in such a situation. He shook his head and said: "My child, I usually treat you with great love, but you still ask for help from the enemy."
One of the big men shouted: "Everyone, be careful of the firewood piled up inside!"
They stood at the door of the hall and did not come over. Soon more soldiers came to the door and looked inside. Someone said: The firewood is inside, and it can be brought out through the door even if it burns.
Zhou Jiamin shouted: I can't get out, I'm tied up here, please
At this time, someone finally paid attention to her. Someone asked: Who is this little girl? The person sitting above is the Southern Tang King Zhou Jiamin. She quickly replied: He is the emperor, my brother-in-law. Who of you can save me? I am going to be burned to death by him.
Zhou Ermei, a tall and strong man, appeared at the door.
All the soldiers immediately clasped their fists and bowed: Marshal Guo.
The man immediately walked in from the door, and a voice hurriedly said: Marshal Guo, the room is full of firewood, and the King of Southern Tang wants to burn himself, so don't go in.
It's okay, firewood is not explosives. The man said, he wants to burn himself, why did he wait until now? I will meet him.
Zhou Jiamin's eyes widened, and she looked at the man and the two soldiers behind him walking towards her with expectation and nervousness. She couldn't even speak for a moment, for fear that the man who wanted to save her would be scared away. Seeing him approaching step by step with no intention of retreating, Zhou Jiamin kept an eye on the palace lantern while waiting for the person to come. Her nose was sore and she almost cried again.
He was tall and strong, and looked different from the people I had seen in the palace. When I got closer, I could see his appearance clearly. He was a young man with a slightly tanned face.
The man ignored Li Yu, and as he walked, he drew his sword from his waist and approached cautiously. Li Yu stared at him, saying nothing and making no move.
The man walked up to Zhou Jiamin with a shining sword in his hand. Zhou Jiamin stared at the sharp blade in horror. He just stepped forward and quickly cut the ropes everywhere, while asking: Is Zhou Ehuang your sister
Zhou Jiamin nodded hurriedly. The man said with a relieved look: Finally
Zhou Jiamin felt relieved and stood up quickly. Her feet hurt. Her delicate hands and feet were injured when she struggled just now. But she was more surprised than hurt. She was relieved all of a sudden, as if something broke out of her body. She cried out, her feet went weak, and she held on to the tall and strong man. She was only as tall as the soldier's waist, and she felt that this man was as tall as a mountain, and very solid, as if she couldn't shake him. But she was not afraid. She felt that he smelled like he was exposed to the sun, very stable, so Zhou Jiamin cried more and more sadly.
The soldier sighed, and Zhou Jiamin felt a rough and warm hand on her face. His thumb wiped the tears from her eyes, and she immediately forgot to cry. Although she was only nine years old, no man could touch her like this.
The man seemed very relaxed and said gently: "It's okay, don't be afraid. A beautiful little princess like you will usually be rescued by a knight."
Zhou Jiamin felt as if she understood the meaning, but also seemed not to understand it very well.
The man didn't say much, turned around and said: Qin Shitou, take her out first.
Here, said a man at the back.
The soldier named Marshal Guo said again: Zhou Ermei, you and this uncle should leave here first. He won't hurt you. Don't be afraid and don't run around.
Zhou Jiamin followed the armored older man obediently. When she reached the palace gate, she couldn't help but look back, mainly at Xiaoshan who had just saved her. Others might think she was still a child, but she had known things for a long time. At this time, she guessed who that person was. It was the Zhou team's coach Guo Tiejiang who was often mentioned in the palace. Although he was said to be terrible, Zhou Jiamin didn't feel it at this time.
But she was still young, and there were some things she couldn't figure out. For example, Zhou Jiamin didn't realize what the brother-in-law sitting on the throne meant to her. At this moment, she hated Li Yu a little, and when she turned around, she didn't even look at Li Yu.
Walking out of this hall that looked gloomy to her, Zhou Jiamin felt the whole world become warmer as the sunlight outside shone on her body.