"Princess of Zhen, I... I would not have sent people to capture these children if I were not worried about the innocent people dying in vain! I, too, am a father! How could I bear it?" The County Magistrate’s eyes reddened, filled with helpless despair.
"Father... don’t cry! Father, don’t cry!" The seven-year-old child in the magistrate’s arms reached out to wipe his tears.
"My child!" The magistrate clutched the child’s hand tightly, then lowered his head to kiss the child’s brow, tears and snot streaming down, "I... I’m sorry! Father is sorry!"
Liu Hong’s eyes were hot as he turned his head away, not daring to look further.
Bai Qingyan bit her lips, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. She reached out and helped the trembling magistrate to his feet, then turned to the kneeling crowd, "From today onwards, where Bai Qingyan is, no child will be sent to Dadu City!"
"Yang Wuce!" Bai Qingyan called loudly.
Yang Wuce responded, entering from outside, kneeling on one knee, "At your service!"
"Take people immediately and arrest the envoy here to take the children. No need to bring him before me, lock him directly in the dungeon!" Bai Qingyan glanced at the magistrate. "Send someone to guide them!"
"Yes!" Yang Wuce commanded Yang Wei to take twenty men and leave with the government officers.
"Where is General Li who guards the city?!" Bai Qingyan asked the magistrate.
The county magistrate turned pale at the words and lowered his eyes, not daring to speak.
At this time, General Li, with a dozen loyal subordinates, was ambushing on the official road outside the city, ready to risk his life to save the children being taken to Dadu City.
"Speak truthfully!" Bai Qingyan walked to the county magistrate.
"Reporting... reporting, Princess of Zhen, General Li is currently ambushing on the official road outside the city, preparing... to rescue the children of Chunmu City!" After saying this, the magistrate kneeled towards Bai Qingyan, "Please don’t blame General Li. Among the children conscripted, nearly half are orphans whose fathers died on the battlefield. General Li... couldn’t bear it!"
"Good!" Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but praise, "This is a role model for us! A soldier with blood and backbone! Send someone to invite General Li back, tell him... Bai Qingyan entrusts him to guard Chunmu City. Not one child should be taken away!"
Hearing this, the county magistrate was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, then turned and ordered, "Quick! Quickly, call General Li back!"
Soon, Yang Wuce brought back the envoy who came to Chunmu City to take the children, "Princess of Zhen, this envoy insists on seeing you. He is outside the door. If you refuse to see him, I will have him locked directly in the dungeon."
The envoy craned his neck to peer inside, and seeing Bai Qingyan in full armor brimming with murderous aura, he trembled but still shouted defiantly, "Princess of Zhen, I am the envoy sent by His Majesty, representing His Majesty! If you arbitrarily have me detained, do you still have His Majesty in your eyes? Aren’t you afraid of being accused of grave disrespect?"
"No need to see him... lock him up!" Bai Qingyan ordered.
"Princess of Zhen!" Liu Hong’s forehead throbbed, "That is someone sent by His Majesty. You ought to call him in and ask clearly, why treat His Majesty’s envoy this way! Do you..." Liu Hong’s words cut off abruptly. In the eyes of the Princess of Zhen, the Emperor no longer existed.
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