Chapter 353: Counterattack
Outside, a fierce wind howled, shaking the trees. The air was heavy with the earthy scent of grass and mud.
Xiuqu murmured, "Once this rain passes, summer will be here..."
She opened the lattice window to let in some air. Inside the adjacent room, the mistress was speaking with Chen Yi. Xiuqu walked to the stove beneath the eaves of the side chamber, where a pot of calming pregnancy medicine for the mistress was still simmering. A young maid, her hair newly tied up, was tending to the fire, vigorously fanning it with a palm-leaf fan.
Xiuqu snatched the fan from her hands and scolded softly, "The medicine needs a gentle simmer—why are you fanning so hard? Where is Granny Xu, the one in charge of brewing the mistress's medicine?"
The young maid, startled, stammered, "Granny Xu went to the outer courtyard kitchen to fetch bird's nest... She asked me to watch the fire for her..."
The girl was too young to understand, so Xiuqu didn’t press further. She dismissed her and took over the task herself, carefully fanning the medicine.
Xiuqu glanced toward the adjacent room, wondering what they were discussing that had taken so long...
The wind grew louder, carrying an ominous tension, like the calm before a storm.
It didn’t bode well.
Soon, Chen Yi emerged, followed by the mistress, whose face was visibly pale.
Xiuqu abandoned the medicine and hurried over, setting down the fan.
Before she could speak, Gu Jinzhao waved her off and said, "Take some people and inform everyone in the household to stay indoors tonight and avoid moving around." After a pause, she added, "Guards will be entering the inner courtyard later—tell everyone not to panic."
Xiuqu was surprised but obeyed and went to relay the orders.
Gu Jinzhao’s palms were damp with sweat.
She turned back to Chen Yi. "How many... are out there?"
Chen Yi replied, "It’s hard to tell, but if they’ve surrounded the entire Chen Family, they must have at least a garrison’s worth of troops... On top of that, there are men from the Divine Machine Battalion—that’s what worries me most. We’re trapped inside, and the situation is dire."
A garrison’s worth of troops—that meant nearly a thousand men. Zhang Ju Lian had sent nearly a thousand soldiers to besiege them. He truly held the Chen Family in high regard!
"If they launch a full assault, can you hold them off?"
Chen Yi gave a bitter smile. "Third Master only took a dozen guards with him—the rest remain in the estate. But we only have about three hundred men, plus the household guards, making it five hundred at most. If our defenses falter, they might break through... But I’ll do my best to hold them off for at least an hour or two."
Gu Jinzhao took a deep breath. "What exactly is Chen Yanyun doing? He only took a dozen men?"
Chen Yi nodded. "I don’t know either."
He was Third Master Chen’s most trusted subordinate, yet even he had been left behind.
It seemed Third Master Chen had anticipated Zhang Ju Lian’s move—but Zhang Ju Lian had acted even more ruthlessly than expected, deploying an entire garrison. Given the limited troops he could mobilize in the capital, it was indeed a decisive move.
Gu Jinzhao hated this feeling—her chest felt tight.
"Death is nothing to fear," she said coolly. "Can any of our men still slip out unnoticed?"
"A few of the more skilled ones might manage..."
But if they tried to take anyone with them, it would be impossible.
"That’s enough," Gu Jinzhao said. "Take a team and sneak out. Ambush them under the eaves at the alley’s turn. If any of them try to send word to the capital, shoot them dead on the spot."Chen Yi was startled upon hearing this. "Madam, you're..."
"If there's no way to turn the tide, then we shouldn't drag Third Master down. For him, no news from us is the best news."
Gu Jinzhao's tone remained calm.
Yet Chen Yi suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
They all respected Gu Jinzhao. But this respect was due to her status, to Third Master Chen's position. Who could have imagined that someone as young as Gu Jinzhao would face death with such composure, prioritizing the greater good.
"This subordinate will go immediately," Chen Yi said hoarsely.
Gu Jinzhao returned to the side chamber and sat down. Caifu brought her a cup of tea.
Gazing at the distant trees swaying in the wind, she said softly, "Caifu, you're long past the age to be released from service, aren't you?"
Caifu smiled. "This servant is quite content serving Madam and has no desire to marry and bear children."
Gu Jinzhao replied, "That's a pity. After today passes, I'll find you a good match within the Chen Family."
Caifu shook her head. "This servant has no one they fancy. There's no need for Madam to trouble herself."
Caifu was in the prime of her youth. It would be such a waste for her to be buried with the Chen Family.
Gu Jinzhao closed her eyes and remained silent for a long while.
...
"It's about to rain," Chen Yanyun said, standing on the steps of the Huangji Hall, looking towards the distant Meridian Gate.
"Chen Yanyun..." Ye Xian said, "We might not survive today."
"What's wrong?"
Ye Xian pointed at the surging army like a tidal wave. "How long do you think it'll take them to breach the city?"
"About half an hour," Chen Yanyun replied. "If they're fast, a quarter of an hour would suffice."
"We only have six thousand men, while they have thirteen thousand. Not to mention the Divine Machine Battalion's superior firearms. If they use firearms to attack the city, even another six thousand men wouldn't be enough to hold them off," Ye Xian said. "When did Zhang Ju Lian manage to bribe all the capital guards? Every one of them is risking their necks to follow him in rebellion? Let me tell you, the people I despise most in this life, aside from Zhang Ju Lian, are you. If we're really going to die, don't die next to me..."
This was where his calculations had failed.
He had thought that with the charge of treason looming, few would dare follow Zhang Ju Lian. Yet he had still managed to muster such a force.
Chen Yanyun chuckled. "Young Master Ye, if not with me, how would you prefer to die?"
How could he still laugh at a time like this!
Ye Xian felt the cold raindrops, large as beans, hitting his face. "When I left, my mother was wailing as if the sky had fallen. She nearly tied me up to stop me from leaving... My grandfather gave me this." He placed the cold bronze token in Chen Yanyun's hand.
Chen Yanyun froze upon seeing it. The Marquis Changxing's family actually had a military tally...
"Pity it's too late to mobilize troops now. Let's see how long the Iron Cavalry Battalion can hold out!"
The rain grew heavier, and the dull, thunderous sounds of the siege grew louder, shaking the ground as if the walls could collapse at any moment.
Ye Xian took the token back. He stepped in front of Chen Yanyun and said coldly, "Shield bearers and crossbowmen to the front! Everyone else, fall back."
Chen Yanyun took a step back, while the Embroidered Uniform Guards hidden in the shadows aimed at the city gates.
"Third Master..." Jiang Yan approached. "His Majesty has already left the city."
They were playing an empty fort strategy with Zhang Ju Lian, but even so, they could only ensure Zhu Junan's survival.
Chen Yanyun acknowledged with a hum. "Any news from the Chen Family?"Jiang Yan shook his head: "Everything is fine."
...
The encirclement by those people was steadily tightening. Even Madam Chen could sense something amiss.
She came to speak with Gu Jinzhao: "...What exactly is going on? Where is Third Master?" Her tone was stern. "Third Master's wife, you mustn't brush me off. Has something major happened?"
Gu Jinzhao had a headache. Xiuqu quickly interjected, "Tai Furen insisted on coming. This servant couldn't stop her."
Chang Laofuren, however, understood the situation. She pulled Madam Chen aside and sighed, "Come, sit down. Let me explain properly to you."
"It's not that we meant to hide it deliberately," Gu Jinzhao said. "Mother, please just sit here for now. Your daughter-in-law needs to check outside."
Madam Chen was visibly upset.
But Gu Jinzhao had no mind to explain at the moment. Stepping out the door, she saw that heavy rain had indeed begun to pour outside.
In the pitch-black night, she could almost hear the rustling sounds outside. The guards stationed around Osmanthus Hall were already on high alert.
Two figures were moving through the rainy night.
Gu Jinzhao frowned. The guard beside her immediately prepared to act.
She quickly stopped him: "Wait, it's Ninth Young Master."
Chen Xuanyue arrived with An Momo. He wore a cloak, and An Momo held an umbrella over him as they hurried forward.
Recognizing it was indeed him, Gu Jinzhao stepped forward and grabbed his arm: "What are you doing here at this time? It's dangerous outside!" Why was everyone so reckless!
Chen Xuanyue removed his cloak: "The commotion outside is too obvious. It seems an army has surrounded us. The Chen Family's guards don't seem sufficient, do they?" He glanced at the stormy weather and clicked his tongue. "Pity the heavens aren't cooperating."
Gu Jinzhao continued glaring at him.
Chen Xuanyue smiled: "Aunt, I truly came to help you. Don't worry, I'll protect you!"
With that, he strode inside, casually handing his cloak to An Momo: "Where's Chen Yi, the one who usually follows Third Master? I don't see him."
Recalling his past actions in his previous life, Gu Jinzhao suppressed her irritation and replied, "I sent him away."
Chen Xuanyue's brow furrowed slightly: "Sent him away?"
After Gu Jinzhao explained the situation, Chen Xuanyue couldn't help but sigh. "I was a step too late! Why did you send him away? Even if someone really went to deliver a message, what difference would it make? Could Third Master Chen possibly rush back?" He didn't care whether Third Master Chen worried or not—in fact, if he learned Gu Jinzhao was in trouble, he might deal with Zhang Ju Lian even more ruthlessly.
"Fine then, just find me someone who can communicate." Chen Xuanyue sat down on a Grand Preceptor's Chair in the main hall.
After some thought, Gu Jinzhao decided to follow Chen Xuanyue's suggestion and sent for the guard captain.
Chen Xuanyue pondered for a moment before asking, "I noticed there are crossbows in Crane Extension Tower. How many are there?"
The guard captain replied, "Not many. Mostly bows and long blades."
"What about oil?"
The guard captain was taken aback—what did he need oil for?
Chen Xuanyue shot him a cold look, and he quickly answered, "Ordinary households don't stock large amounts. At most, we have three barrels..."
Chen Xuanyue suppressed the words on the tip of his tongue.
"Forget it. If there's no oil, surely there's pine resin?"
The guard captain nodded. "We have that. May I ask what Ninth Young Master is planning?"
Gu Jinzhao was also puzzled. What was Chen Xuanyue up to?Chen Xuanyue had no time to explain further. "Aunt, I can help everyone hold out a while longer—at least the attackers won't break through from outside. But once our supplies run out, there's nothing more I can do. We'll just have to endure as long as possible."
He immediately began making meticulous arrangements, so thorough that even the guard captain drew a sharp breath.
Not daring to question him further, the captain promptly led his men to carry out the orders.
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