The distant square was still bustling with activity. The execution of the captured Fair Party members by "Long Xian" continued, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

Having understood the other party's intentions, Zuo Xiuquan had already returned. Despite the chaos and bloodshed of recent years, which everyone had become accustomed to, as a gentleman who had spent his life studying, he had no taste for watching the beheading of over a dozen people and the successive flogging of nearly a hundred. He also led Yin Ping, Yue Yun, and others away from the square.

"Although Zhou Shang is unlikely to launch an attack at this time, if that Wei Xuwen really goes mad and sends people to storm the square, even with your martial arts skills, you may not be able to escape."

He had witnessed the methods of the "Fair King" and, under the protection of several Beiwei Army experts, returned to consider the possibility of contacting the other party. Yin Ping and Yue Yun, however, were more curious about the excitement in the city and remained in the market near the square, waiting to see if there would be further developments.

The market near the large square was extremely chaotic, with signs of fighting in many places. Some of the houses and shops, originally built of blue bricks, were severely damaged. Yue Yun and his sister, disguised as a man, walked for a while before finding a stall selling tea under a canopy and sitting down.

"Teacher Cheng came over several times earlier and already said that He Wen's parents, wife, and children all died at the hands of former Wu Dynasty officials. Later, he fled with the common people and was abandoned in the deadly lands of Jiangnan. He will no longer obey the imperial orders. This time, Old Zuo is offering a warm face to a cold backside and will surely return empty-handed."

Yue Yun, seventeen years old this year, and his sister, disguised as a man, were now the same height, but his body was muscular and well-proportioned. Having experienced military life for a long time, he exuded a strong masculine aura. He was also at the peak of his youth, with his own opinions on many things, and spoke with considerable confidence.

Of course, we may recall that even when he was younger, he was already straightforward and courageous. Back then, even when he was captured by numerous thugs who had defected to the Jurchens, he fearlessly cursed and resisted all the way. Now, he has only gained more insights into the world, becoming less cute but maturing in his own way.

Yin Ping, two years older than him, smiled slightly: "Political matters are never that simple. Although He Wen doesn't like our Southeast, he still accepted the rice and supplies that Teacher Cheng brought to aid us."

"You say it's a political matter, of course, you take advantage when you can, but after taking advantage, you don't necessarily owe us any favors."

"You're right." The waiter brought two bowls of what looked like unpalatable tea. Yin Ping moved her teacup, not arguing with her brother, "But from what I've seen since entering the city, only this 'Long Xian' has shown some spirit in what he did today. As for the other families, which one do you favor?"

"Old Zuo seems to have settled on He Wen and Gao Chang, but I don't favor either of them." Yue Yun swept his gaze across the market, looking at the restless Jianghu people coming and going, either flaunting their power or being obsequious to the Fair Party, "They say Gao Tianwang is the least troublesome of the five Fair Party factions and is good at governing the army, but I think his men are just a bunch of thugs. Let them fight our Beiwei Army, and we'll cut them down easily. As for He Wen, I bet the negotiations will fail. Although they're discussing the big picture, He Wen is still a person. His family's blood feud, how can it be easily forgiven? We're not the Huaxia Army now, able to force him to lower his head."

"You always have your own ideas." Yin Ping smiled.

"Just making a bet."

"What are you betting on?"

"I'll bet... that the negotiations with He Wen will fail. As for Gao Chang, if he's willing to cooperate with us after He Wen, I naturally have nothing to say, although I don't look up to him."

"How many people do you look up to?"

"I look up to everyone in the Huaxia Army, like Dad said, if one day we can fight a fair and square battle, even if we die on the battlefield, it would be a heroic act, dying with honor." Yue Yun said, waving his fist in high spirits, then lowered his voice, "Sister, do you think there will be people from the Huaxia Army here this time?"

"If there are, what will you do?"

"Get to know them. You don't know, I'm very familiar with Brother Wen Huai. I've asked about many things in the Southwest, and we can quickly establish a connection when we meet." Yue Yun laughed, "Maybe we can spar with them, or... maybe I can find you a good husband from among them... Ouch."

Before he could finish, Yin Ping lightly flicked her arm, and a sharp blow landed directly on her unreliable brother's forehead: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"... I'm telling the truth." Yue Yun covered his head, laughing with his head lowered, "Actually, I heard Uncle Gao and the others say that if Brother Wen Huai and them didn't already have wives, it would have been best to arrange a marriage for you, but the several sisters-in-law who came from the Southwest are also remarkable heroines, and ordinary people can't afford to offend them... Also, now there's talk of sending you to the palace to become a princess. But although His Majesty is the lord of revitalization, I don't want you to go to the palace, Sister. There's no freedom there."

He sat there, speaking of these things knowledgeably. Yin Ping's face was flushed, both amused and annoyed: "You little rascal, whose beard hasn't even grown yet, has arranged everything. Who I marry in the future is none of your business. Are you trying to drive your sister out of the house to avoid dividing your family property?"

"Dad doesn't have any money. Don't think he's giving away gifts fiercely, but in reality, he doesn't let me touch a penny. He's even stingy about buying a pot of wine. Our family is dirt poor." Yue Yun chuckled, licking his face and leaning over, "Besides, I actually already have a beard. Look, I shave it off when it grows out. Uncle Gao and the others said that if I shave it several times now, it will grow thick and black in the future, making me look majestic."

"Get away from me." Yin Ping pressed his face and turned it to the side.

Yue Yun turned back, smiling and drinking tea. The two sat like this for a while, and Yin Ping said: "The matter of entering the palace was mentioned to me once. It wasn't to be a princess, but to protect His Majesty's safety. Of course, if I really go in... I might have to consider my status." She paused slightly, then looked at her brother with a smile, "I also considered you, sending us both into the palace, one to be a princess, and you to be a little eunuch serving the princess."

"Uh..." Yue Yun's mouth twitched, as if someone had stuffed a pile of poop into his mouth.

"... There aren't many people His Majesty can trust, especially in the past year. He's been advocating honoring the king and resisting foreign invaders, taking back power, and then opening up maritime trade. After fighting with several big merchants, many problems are accumulating in secret. You're in the military camp all day, fighting bravely and fiercely, and you don't know..."

Yue Yun was silent for a moment: "... Speaking like this, if they really let you enter the palace, Sister, would you really be willing to become a princess?"

"His Majesty refused." Yin Ping smiled, "He said he couldn't ruin a girl's reputation and told them not to mention it again. You only hear the gossip. What do you know about the ups and downs?"

"..." Yue Yun lowered his head for a moment, nodded, picked up the teacup, and raised it towards the southeast with both hands, "With this one thing, His Majesty is worthy of Yue Yun spending his whole life working for him."

"His Majesty's current reforms are a narrow path. If he can get through it, there will be a future, but if he's not careful, he'll be doomed. So, without harming the foundation, it's always good to have more friends. Not to mention He Wen and Gao Tianwang, even the other few... even the most wretched Zhou Shang, as long as they're willing to talk, Duke Zuo will go and talk to them..."

Yin Ping's words were gentle, and she pointed out the central point at this time. Yue Yun was silent for a while, but he didn't argue about this topic anymore.

The siblings had experienced several years of war, and they had naturally seen all kinds of inhuman things, but as for their own side, their father, Yue Fei, had always been extremely upright, and the original crown prince, now the Emperor Jun Wu, had nothing to be ashamed of on a moral level. Nineteen-year-old Yin Ping had begun to accept the complexity of the world, but seventeen-year-old Yue Yun still had some degree of idealism. After entering the city this time, he especially looked down on the so-called "King Yama" Zhou Shang and "King of Reincarnation" Xu Zhaonan... Of course, when it came to the big picture, he had his own ideas, but in the overall direction, he was still willing to be a soldier who obeyed orders.

The two drank a few sips of tea, and there were no major disturbances from the distant square. It was estimated that Zhou Shang's side really didn't plan to turn against them, and at this moment, Yue Yun tugged at his sister's sleeve, pointing to one end of the street: "Look."

What they saw was a hidden fight taking place in the crowd. The one who started it was a girl carrying a package and another Jianghu person who seemed to be stopping her. The girl was hiding in the crowd and was not easy to spot, but as long as you noticed her, you could understand that she seemed to be evading capture. A tall, thin Jianghu person blocked her on the side of the street. After the two met, the Jianghu person reached out to stop her, and the girl also reached out to push him away. The two of them grabbed and dismantled moves in the crowd for two rounds.

This quick exchange did not attract much attention. After the hidden dismantling, the girl shifted her body, jumped up suddenly, and slapped the tall, thin Jianghu person on the back of the head with her backhand. This strike was extremely accurate in identifying the acupoint. The tall, thin man didn't even have time to shout. His body swayed and fell softly to the side.

"This is... the Tan Gong Sword technique?" Yin Ping's eyes narrowed.

Yue Yun's gaze swept across the long street. At this moment, he saw several specific gazes and said in a low voice: "She's been discovered."

The previous exchange between the two had not attracted much attention, but the Jianghu person was quite tall. At this time, he trembled and suddenly fell softly. His companions on the long street noticed this abnormality.

"Dad once said that the Tan Gong Sword technique is fierce. When the Jurchens invaded for the first time, one of the predecessors was inspired by Master and assassinated Nianhan and died. I just don't know what the descendants of this sword technique are like..."

Yue Yun said in a low voice. He picked up the teacup and looked at his sister. Then, he drank the tea inside in one gulp.

Yin Ping also lowered her head, picked up the teacup, and looked at him with a playful gaze: "Judging from that move just now, her skill and technique are average."

"After all, she's still young..."

Yue Yun stood up, and Yin Ping had no choice but to get up and follow. The figures of the siblings headed forward, merging into the crowd...