TNIBFT -Chapter 289 Sending a Wife to Lin Erniu

“Big Sister Feng, please get up first!”

Ye Tian stepped forward a few paces and reached out, intending to help Feng Jiaojiao up from the ground.

Feng Jiaojiao’s sobs were heart-wrenching. She shook her head and pushed his hand away, her voice resolute as she said, “Let me go. I’ve lived my whole life without children, without attachments. Back on our wedding night, he was taken away by soldiers. Before he left, he told me to take good care of his parents and swore he would come back so our family could be reunited.”

“I believed him. I waited day after day, night after night!”

“All these years… does anyone know how I’ve endured them?”

The people in the hall looked at Feng Jiaojiao, her face streaked with tears, exchanging glances with one another.

No one had expected that Lin Xianzhong had such a past.

Ye Yunting frowned slightly.

At the doorway, Ye Shuangxue sat together with Sun Wuji, gnawing on a chicken leg. The little girl’s mouth was greasy, and her big eyes looked sorrowfully at Aunt Feng.

Sun Wuji shook his head. “All this love and romance—nothing but a hindrance to the speed of drawing our swords, understand?”

Ye Shuangxue nodded in confusion. “Master, then later, should we go kill Lin Erniu and avenge Aunt Feng?”

“She’s crying so sadly…”

Sun Wuji was momentarily stunned.

Looking at his disciple’s chubby little face and her innocent, wide eyes, he said mysteriously, “Ah, you don’t understand yet, do you?”

“Huh?” Ye Shuangxue asked curiously.

Sun Wuji said smugly, “As for matters between men and women, your master has already seen through them. Just castrate Lin Erniu and turn him into neither man nor woman—then your Aunt Feng won’t have any lingering hopes.”

“Huh?!” Ye Shuangxue’s eyes widened.

While the master and disciple whispered among themselves, over there Feng Jiaojiao knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Ye Tian. “City Lord, I can never repay your great kindness. I’ve lived in Sifang City for ten years. Lin Erniu has repaid kindness with betrayal—I absolutely will not accept it. If someone must go persuade him, that person must be me!”

Her gaze was firm and unwavering.

“This…” Ye Tian hesitated, lifting his head to look at everyone in the hall.

Tao Lichun stroked his beard, nodding thoughtfully. “This is truly Ye Tian’s good fortune. Who would have thought that the woman he saved on a whim would turn out to be Lin Xianzhong’s wife?”

“To resolve this without bloodshed would be the best outcome—and it’s what the people of Sifang City hope for.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Ye Tian let out a soft sigh and helped Feng Jiaojiao to her feet. “Big Sister Feng, protecting the people and the city is the responsibility of men. Letting you go alone—I cannot feel at ease.”

Feng Jiaojiao shook her head.

Ye Tian said, “How about this—I’ll send someone to escort you there.”

Feng Jiaojiao, who had been about to say more, pressed her lips together and gave a slight nod.

…

At this moment, Lin Xianzhong’s army had already advanced to within twenty li of Sifang City.

Scouts from both sides constantly relayed information.

Within Sifang City, ever since the emergence of cannons, the common people were as excited as if injected with adrenaline. They crowded at the city gates, eager to witness how the “heavens” would punish those who dared invade Sifang City.

Ye Tian personally escorted Sun Wuji and Feng Jiaojiao to the city gate.

The crowd surrounded him, cheering endlessly:

“The City Lord will display his divine might and wipe out every last one of the Great Zhou invaders!”

“That’s right—blast them to death! With the City Lord and the cannons, what do we have to fear?”

“Kill every Great Zhou soldier who comes—one by one, pair by pair!”

The people were blindly overconfident.

At this moment, they believed Ye Tian possessed supreme methods. Surrounding him, their eyes were filled with awe and reverence.

“Make way!”

“Everyone, please step aside!”

Duan Qingshan cleared the path ahead. Inside the plain blue carriage sat Ye Shuangxue and Feng Jiaojiao, while Sun Wuji drove the carriage.

The city gates suddenly opened.

The blue carriage sped out, and in no time, the gates shut tightly again.

Ye Tian stood atop the city wall, watching the carriage grow smaller in the distance, lost in thought.

Beside him, Ye Yunting said, “Why do I feel like you had a premonition—as if you already knew Aunt Feng would be the key to subduing Lin Xianzhong?”

The little boy frowned, looking up at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian replied, “If your father really had such powerful foresight, I’d already be emperor by now!”

“What are you even thinking?”

“This isn’t a premonition—it’s called analysis, plus a bit of luck.”

With a faint smile, Ye Tian turned and left.

Ye Yunting looked doubtful.

If Ye Tian wasn’t certain Feng Jiaojiao could persuade Lin Xianzhong, would he have let Shuangxue go along?

Who was he trying to fool?

“Hyah!” The blue carriage raced across the snowy plains, jolting as it went. The blue curtains over the windows swayed violently with the motion.

On Lin Xianzhong’s side, the large army continued advancing.

On the vast snowfield, a tiny carriage-like speck gradually came into view. Sun Wuji stood at the front of the carriage and shouted loudly:

“Listen up!”

“Troops of Lindong City, listen well! I’ve brought a wife for Lin Erniu—hurry and have him come out!”

Channeling his inner strength, Sun Wuji’s voice boomed like thunder.

Many Great Zhou soldiers looked toward the distant carriage in alarm. The entire army came to a halt, filled with the sounds of neighing horses and the chaotic pounding of hooves.

At that moment, Lin Xianzhong was in the middle of the formation. After riding for a long time, he had switched to a carriage to rest and prepare for the upcoming siege.

When the army stopped, Lin Xianzhong frowned and lifted the curtain, his tone irritated:

“What’s happening ahead?”

“Why have we stopped?”

The deputy general on horseback looked embarrassed. “General… we… up ahead…”

“Speak!”

Seeing him hesitate, Lin Xianzhong’s expression darkened. Speed is crucial in warfare—are these idiots filled with nothing but air in their heads?

Startled, the deputy general could only stammer, “Up ahead… someone is challenging us. They say they’ve brought a wife… for Lin Erniu!”

Having followed Lin Xianzhong for years, the deputy general knew many secrets others didn’t.

The name “Lin Erniu” was one Lin Xianzhong hated hearing.

As expected, Lin Xianzhong’s face flushed with anger. “It must be Ye Tian!”

“Damn it! Don’t waste words with them—kill them all! Whoever comes, kill them! Does Ye Tian really think a honey trap will make me submit?”

After saying this, Lin Xianzhong slammed the curtain shut, unwilling to say another word.

That woman had been right—Ye Tian was cunning and insidious, having investigated his past. Did he really think that would keep him alive?

The more Lin Xianzhong thought about it, the angrier he became.

Recalling Jiang Yunxi’s words, he realized Ye Tian’s plan matched her prediction exactly.

Clenching his fist, Lin Xianzhong pondered for a moment, then lifted the curtain again. “Bring that woman to me. I have questions for her.”

“Yes, General!”

At this moment, the Great Zhou troops surrounded the carriage cautiously with weapons in hand, but the soldiers didn’t dare act rashly.

Ye Shuangxue poked her little head out and said, “Master, my father said that once Lin Erniu sees Aunt Feng, their misunderstanding will naturally be resolved.”

Sun Wuji chuckled. “I, this old man, love helping others—especially reuniting separated couples.”

“Shopkeeper Feng, you may come down now!”

Sun Wuji said cheerfully.

Only then did Feng Jiaojiao lift her skirt and carefully step down from the carriage. She wore clean, simple clothes, her hair neatly combed and glistening with osmanthus oil. Nervously, she looked at Sun Wuji and Ye Shuangxue.

“Do I… look alright like this?”