"No... don't!"
She whispered, trembling all over, but a tearing sound pulled her outward.
"Mumu? Mumu!"
Song Qingchao instantly became clear.
The moment she was pushed towards the bonfire again, Song Qingchao quickly took a dagger from her spatial storage, intending to cut the ropes binding her wrists.
But accidents always happened faster than changes.
The instant she was about to fall into the bonfire, someone stopped her mid-waist.
She was a little surprised but still cut the ropes around her wrists without hesitation.
The bracelet on her wrist was still red, and the pain in her heart had not eased.
The person who saved her was not Bai You'an.
"This life is me repaying you, and now we are even!"
His voice was steady, and the hand around her waist was broad and strong.
Before Song Qingchao could react, she was lifted up and then thrown next to Song Qingmu.
After rolling a few times on the ground, she truly felt like she was going to die.
"Long jie, are you alright!"
But fortunately, when she opened her eyes, she saw the tearful Song Qingmu.
Mumu was still alive!
Song Qingchao smiled and reached out to wipe his eyes, saying coyly, "Aren't I fine? Did you say you would tell me everything just now?"
Song Qingmu turned his face away unnaturally, "Who is that man?"
"Uh." Song Qingchao pushed herself up and glanced at the people being thrown into a pile, saying softly, "The youngest son of the richest family in Chang'an, Su Nanyi."
"Why is he here?"
Song Qingchao shook her head, indicating she didn't know the specific reason.
He said he had saved her life, which she truly didn't know.
With Su Nanyi's help, Shouhou quickly brought the riot under control.
He had removed his shackles because he was concerned about the sick refugees. Seeing him now with so much energy, his worry had been in vain.
Song Qingchao watched as the constables re-attached the shackles to them, and this time, their wrists were bound as well.
She shook her head helplessly, then steadily took Song Qingmu's hand and walked towards the city gate. These people dared not come near here.
They were convinced it was a dead city,
and that entering meant death.
"Zhao Zhao jie!"
A bell-like cry made Song Qingchao turn her head.
"Zhe'er!"
Her pupils suddenly widened, and she looked in disbelief at Liu Zhe'er's small figure being squeezed in the crowd, looking as if she would be crushed at any moment.
She waved her hand, signaling her not to follow, not to acknowledge her.
She was not clear about the situation within the city.
Perhaps staying outside, protected by Ying Zhong and Bai You'an, would be safer.
But Liu Zhe'er stubbornly called out "Zhao Zhao jie" and "Mumu ge."
This caused the people who had just calmed down to become agitated again.
They vented all their anger onto Liu Zhe'er.
Liu Zhe'er was too small and was immediately squeezed to the ground.
Song Qingchao's heart ached, wanting to rush over and hug her, but Song Qingmu tightly grabbed her hand.
"Don't go."
He whispered, "I'll have Ying Zhong bring her over. Everyone knows Zhe'er has always been with us. If we leave, Zhe'er might not be safe either."
Song Qingchao looked at him and finally agreed.
"Zhe'er, don't be afraid!" Song Qingchao shouted to her.
Liu Zhe'er also responded loudly, "Zhe'er is not afraid!"
But she was, after all, too small and too weak.
Her bright, almond-shaped eyes were now filled with tears.
The previously kind women no longer helped her; instead, they pressed closer.
Liu Zhe'er felt for the first time that she was about to be drowned in spit.
Just as she felt breathless and suffocated, a tall figure suddenly appeared before her.
To say tall, it wasn't particularly imposing.
On the contrary, her back was a little hunched, and her hair was messy.
Hugging a quilt crazily, she stood in front of her.
"Who are you bullying, my girl! Huh? Our girl has a mother too! Get lost! Be careful, I'll deal with you!"
No one was willing to argue with a madwoman.
A madwoman could do anything.
They still wanted to live.
Liu Zhe'er hadn't expected that the person who stepped forward for her would be her abandoned mother.
Her tears inexplicably began to flow.
Liu Mu turned around, her dirty face seeing Liu Zhe'er crying. She quickly knelt down and wiped her face with her hands, "Zhe'er, why are you crying? Did that bad person bully you? Mom will deal with her!"
Liu Zhe'er placed her hand on her mother's, choking and unable to speak.
This mother, she didn't know how to express it.
"Oh, Fu Bao, why are you crying? Did your sister bully you? Mom will deal with her!"
Liu Mu suddenly acted erratically again.
The hand she placed on Liu Zhe'er's face lifted and then fell with a "slap."
Then came the curses of "bitch" and "good-for-nothing."
Liu Zhe'er cried.
It turned out that the mother from just now was when she was mad...
"Let's go, little ancestor."
Liu Zhe'er's armpits were suddenly supported, and she quickly turned to look. It was Shouhou.
Shouhou shouted loudly, his free hand cracking the whip, "pa pa."
Song Qingchao's hanging heart finally relaxed as she watched Shouhou carry her out.
She quickly stepped forward to take Liu Zhe'er.
Shouhou, at this moment, lowered his voice, "Master, I'm fine outside. You must survive. You must do what your subordinate promised. If you survive this, your subordinate is willing to go through fire and water!"
Song Qingchao nodded heavily, "You must survive too."
Then the two turned and walked in opposite directions.
This parting was like a separation for a century.
A promise made at the cost of life, she absolutely had to survive.
She looked up at the words "Feng County" on the city wall, then turned to look at the chaotic crowd.
Given the current situation, these rioters would not rest until they saw her enter the city.
No matter for whom, this city must be entered!
This was just a temporary camp.
Who knew if the next city would be like Feng County.
"Zhe'er, don't cry." Song Qingchao comforted her, but didn't know what else to say.
Anything she said now was futile.
Liu Zhe'er quickly shook her head with a smile, wiping away her tears. Her voice was a little hoarse, "I'm fine, Zhao Zhao jie."
Song Qingchao affectionately rubbed her head.
She also knew that no words could comfort Liu Zhe'er now.
Some things needed to be faced alone.
And she also had her own things to do.
One more soldier appeared at the gate.
Looking at the armor, it should be a young general guarding the city.
Song Qingchao covered half of her face with her hand and coughed lightly, "Please, officer, grant us passage into the city?"
The general merely glanced at her, then looked at the messy scene behind her, "All I can tell you is that it's as empty as a dead city inside. Entering means only waiting to die. Do you truly want to go in?"
Song Qingchao pondered for a moment, "Yes."
She raised her head and met the general's eyes, "This humble girl has no other way back."
The general stepped aside and said sternly,
"Open the gate."