The place that Zhang Chong had fled to was an upland covered with thorny bush. For some reason, the whole area was full of thick thorns and thistles ridden with barbs extremely prone to hurt people, making it almost impossible to get through. Driven by an overwhelming desire to survive, Zhang Chong steeled himself and ordered his men to cut …

Nobody wanted a fugitive life. The original reason why they had chosen to follow Zhang Chong had been that Zhang Chong had promised them good career prospects, but now the bubble had burst, and they had ended up being reduced to rebels before they could achieve anything. As a result, many people wavered in their allegiance. Seeing this, Ling Zhang …

Ling Zhang didn’t say anything in the knowledge that Tao Feng would undoubtedly take great offence if he laid this bare at this, given the circumstances. No matter what, Tao Feng buckled at the knees but still decided to stay, which definitely made him deserve some credit. “Enemies approach!” A soldier on guard yelled in a nervous voice, which brought …

“Supervisor Zhao, do you think anything has happened in Tanyang? There were some unusual barks a moment ago.” When Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong went to the southern city gate, someone knocked at the door of room A of an inn in eastern Tanyang, and asked this question the moment he was allowed in. Another man sat up in bed …

“It’s me,” responded Ling Zhaowen. The Yamen runner recognized Ling Zhaowen’s voice and Ling family’s carriage. Startled, he asked, “Lord Ling?” Ling Zhaowen and Ling Zhang got off the carriage and walked up. “Lord Ling, Childe Ling, may I ask what it is that you came here for at such a late hour of the night?” “We are here to …

‘If this was the real reason, it would be kind of hurtful,’ thought Yuwen Tong in embarrassment. A flush in his cheeks, Ling Zhang had also come to realize what he had just done, appearing somewhat awkward. “I–“ The unmistakable discomfort on his face brought Yuwen Tong into deeper misunderstanding. A somewhat vexed look in his eyes, Yuwen Tong asked, …

On that very night, the prison guard went back to relieve the afternoon shift. At the sight of him, Jia Yin couldn’t help becoming excited and tried to find an opportunity to talk to him. But the prison guard ignored all his signals. Gradually, Jia Yin came to realize that something was wrong. He stopped gesticulating and started yelling to …

Why were they unafraid? Because Marshal Yuwen was in Ling family. Yuwen Tong’s presence in Ling family emboldened all servants. As if there was a protective talisman on each of them, they looked courageous and seemed likely to yell “Come at me, burglar!” at any moment. When Ling Zhang saw a handmaid walking almost like a soldier marching forward in …

In the dark prison of the Prefecture Yamen, apart from flaming torches positioned at intervals along the corridor, a peephole about the size of a bowl was the only source of light. The whole place was damp and foul-smelling. Anybody who was locked up in here would feel very miserable. Jia Yin, his wife and some of his relatives were …

‘Yuwen Tong is really engaged to Ling Zhang, and they’ll get married soon.’ ‘Does Yuwen Tong know about the conflict between Ling family and the Prefecture Guards?’ Staring speechless at one another, all four deputy commanders felt that the matter of Ling family had become tricky. It would take only a minor mistake for them to make an enemy of …