TNIBFT -Chapter 242 This Is Impossible

Tao Lichun’s expression was filled with sorrow.

He knew saying this was cruel, but as Ye Tian’s eldest son, Ye Yunting had to know!

Ye Yunting’s small hand froze for a moment.

He met Tao Lichun’s clouded eyes, then averted his gaze and pressed his lips together. “No, I believe in my father!”

“He always keeps his word. He would never lie to me!”

After saying this, Ye Yunting acted as if nothing had happened and went to pour tea for Tao Lichun.

Watching the small figure bustling about, Tao Lichun shook his head helplessly. This child simply didn’t understand what Zhao Boping’s presence meant in Daliang.

If Zhao Boping could die so easily, he wouldn’t have become the Imperial Uncle, nor would he dare to personally come to Sifang City.

Yunting was still young.

It was normal for a child to choose to escape when faced with something upsetting.

Looking at the warm tea Ye Yunting handed him, the steam rising made Tao Lichun’s eyes sting.

Such a young child, with a life full of hardships.

The most important thing was that Yunting was genuinely considerate toward him. Despite his own illness, the child attended to his daily medicines. Last time, if Ye Tian and Yunting hadn’t begged Dr. Qiu for help, Tao Lichun’s old life might not have been saved.

Tao Lichun’s hands trembled as he accepted the tea, his gaze full of compassion for Ye Yunting.

He placed the tea on the desk, crouched down, and grabbed Ye Yunting’s arms with both hands. “Rest assured, as long as I am here, I will protect you!”

“Even if it costs me my life, I will never let Zhao Boping harm you!”

Tao Lichun’s eyes were resolute, as if he had made a firm decision.

He was not rebelling.

He was simply protecting his student.

This sudden change in his teacher confused Ye Yunting.

The teacher should have assumed that Ye Tian would not return, that he was alone and vulnerable, and that Zhao Boping might kill him—hence his words.

“I’ll go to the government office soon and summon all the officials. From now on, we’ll close the city gates—no one in, no one out!”

Tao Lichun spoke suddenly.

Then he continued solemnly: “Increase patrols within the city. Even if Zhao Boping reaches Sifang City, he won’t be able to bring an army capable of besieging it. As long as we hold the gates, he won’t succeed anytime soon.”

Tao Lichun nodded, agreeing that under the circumstances, there was no other option.

“Teacher, not opening the gates for the Imperial Uncle… doesn’t this count as rebellion?” Ye Yunting asked seriously, deliberately watching Tao Lichun’s reaction.

At this, Tao Lichun’s gaze wavered, and he stammered, unable to answer.

Ye Yunting didn’t press further.

The study fell silent.

“Ah…”

Tao Lichun sighed helplessly. He sat at the desk, staring blankly at the corner of the room, lost in thought.

Ye Yunting bowed. “Teacher, I’ll be going back now.”

“There are still matters at home to attend to. Once my father returns, it will likely be even more difficult.”

Having said this, Ye Yunting prepared to leave.

Tao Lichun rose and took a few steps after him, instructing gently: “Yunting, good child. You still have your teacher. Even if it means rebellion and sacrificing my reputation, I will never let anyone harm you. Rest assured, once I send word to Dr. Qiu and inform him of the situation, as long as the city remains closed, when the people from the Medicine King Valley arrive, you will be safe.”

Tao Lichun’s voice was warm, soothing Ye Yunting.

The teacher’s palms were dry and a bit rough to the touch, cool in temperature, but his sincere gaze made Ye Yunting’s heart burn.

From beginning to end, the teacher had considered him, never worrying about his own situation if the city were breached. Ye Yunting sniffed and choked out, “Teacher, you focus on recovering. None of us will die.”

With that, Ye Yunting opened the study door.

Outside, the cold wind swept across, kicking up snow from the ground and stinging the eyes.

“Big brother!”

A clear voice rang out. Ye Yunting turned to see Ye Shuangxue running down a nearby path, accompanied by Tao Ling’er.

Tao Ling’er’s eyes were urgent. Seeing Ye Yunting glance hurriedly in her direction, she didn’t speak a word and dashed straight into Tao Lichun’s study.

“Did you speak the truth?”

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes widened with curiosity.

Ye Yunting nodded, and Ye Shuangxue’s smile grew even bigger. She let out a sigh of relief, clasped her small hands together, and said, “Now it’s perfect. When Ye Tian comes back and finds out we accomplished something big, he’s going to be so happy.”

“And he has to buy me ten candied hawthorns!”

The siblings chattered away as they left.

“Father, will Ye Tian die?”

“No, I’ll go find him!”

“Why? Why did this happen?”

“He’s such a good person—there’s no way he could die!”

From the study, Tao Ling’er’s suppressed sobs could be heard.

…

The next day, at the hour of Si (9–11 AM).

Qin Fengyi took the lead, galloping at the very front, with a squad of riders close behind, racing across the vast snow-covered plains.

“Giddy-up!”

“Giddy-up!”

The hooves pounded the snow, sending sprays of white flying. Seeing Sifang City not far ahead, Nanfeng accelerated to catch up to Qin Fengyi. “Leader, why are the city gates closed?”

“What are the people of Daliang doing?”

Qin Fengyi narrowed her eyes, scanning ahead. Only then did she notice that the wooden bridge over the city moat had been retracted, and Sifang City was heavily garrisoned. The soldiers on the walls, seeing riders approaching, frantically signaled the news.

Could it be that after Ye Tian left, Sifang City had been taken again by Xiao Haoyang’s forces?

The children should be safe; Zhao Mingyuan and other Dazhou spies were inside the city. If anything had happened, she should have received word by now.

“Huff!”

Qin Fengyi tightened the reins. The steed’s forelegs kicked up, steam curling from its nostrils as it circled in place.

Nanfeng called out, “Why are the gates closed?”

“We are merchants from the city with Sifang City household registrations! Please open the gate!”

On the city walls, the garrison soldiers exchanged glances.

Someone said, “Go notify Lord Tao immediately!”

“Hurry!”

“These people don’t look like attackers…”

The soldiers whispered among themselves. After a moment, Tao Lichun appeared atop the walls, his face full of worry, eyes scanning downward.

“These people clearly aren’t merchants. No matter who comes to call, the gates will not open!”

“Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed without mercy!”

Everyone was stunned.

No one expected such words to come from Tao Lichun. He was always kind-hearted, loving his people like his own children. If the situation weren’t serious, he would never speak like this.

“Open the gates!”

“You people are just…!” Nanfeng and the others shouted from below, their mouths dry from yelling, but there was nothing they could do.

The garrison on the walls acted as if they couldn’t hear. Qin Fengyi sighed in resignation, looking at the slowly approaching carriage—Ye Tian must have caught up.

Nanfeng and the others rolled up their sleeves, ready to continue cursing.

Qin Fengyi said, “Take a break.”

“The city lord has returned!”

Ye Tian’s forces surged forward, vast and imposing. At the front, Ye Tian carried the carriage; in the middle, Fang Shenghu and others escorted Daliang soldiers; at the rear, a simple carriage followed. The long column twisted and stretched across the landscape.

The garrison atop the walls, seeing this, were utterly panicked. So many people… something huge was definitely about to happen.

Someone shouted, “Go alert Lord Tao! Tell him a large force is attacking the city!”

“Go, quickly!”

“Raise the alert immediately!”

Chaos reigned on the walls. Tao Lichun once again stood at the highest point, scanning down at the carriage. The people on it were even waving at him. Tao Lichun was shocked. “This… is impossible!”