Liu Zhen naturally asked, "What happened?"

Guo Zhi was just a young boy after all, incapable of maintaining composure even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Without pausing to catch his breath, he blurted out urgently, "When Ah Cheng and I were returning from the west gate, we saw Dong Yi leading dozens of men this way—and they’ve taken Scholar Song hostage! They’re clearly up to no good! I only managed to get here ahead of them by taking a shortcut to warn you. Hurry, come with me! There’s no time to lose!"

Dong Yi was a Qin general who had surrendered. After defecting to Liu Yuan’s side, he was appointed as the Imperial Inspector. According to Qin regulations, the Imperial Inspector, the Commandant, and the Governor held equal standing. Although the Governor was the highest-ranking administrative official in the commandery, he had no authority to dismiss the Imperial Inspector or the Deputy Governor. However, after Liu Yuan took control of Yingchuan Commandery, these old rules naturally changed. Whether it was the Imperial Inspector or the Commandant, they all became subordinates under Liu Yuan’s command.

Liu Yuan had appointed Dong Yi as Imperial Inspector to win him over and demonstrate his own magnanimity. But Dong Yi didn’t see it that way. He believed that Liu Yuan’s refusal to appoint him as Commandant—a position that would allow him to lead troops—and instead relegating him to the powerless role of Imperial Inspector was a clear sign of distrust. Resentful but unable to voice his grievances openly under Liu Yuan’s growing authority in Yangzhai, Dong Yi could only bury his dissatisfaction deep in his heart.

Now, Liu Yuan had been gone for over a month. Although Song Xie and others claimed that Liu Yuan had won a great victory, Dong Yi was no fool. As a former military man, he understood warfare better than most. Based on various signs, Dong Yi deduced that Liu Yuan might have suffered significant setbacks on the front lines, and the rumors of his injury might very well be true.

After piecing together these clues, Dong Yi made a startling discovery: Yangzhai’s defenses were far from tight.

To launch his campaign, Liu Yuan had taken the elite troops with him. Believing that Zhang Han’s main forces wouldn’t attack Yangzhai anytime soon, he had left behind only two thousand soldiers—hardly the cream of the crop—many of whom were former Qin soldiers who had surrendered to Liu Yuan, including some of Dong Yi’s old subordinates.

Having unraveled this information, Dong Yi’s heart began to race.

This was his chance. If he could seize the Governor’s residence by surprise, capture Song Xie and An Zheng, and then reestablish contact with Zhang Han, he could transform himself back into a Qin general—and a highly meritorious one at that. The feat of retaking an entire commandery would surely earn him a noble title. Compared to that, the petty position of Imperial Inspector was nothing in his eyes.

Dong Yi wasted no time. He secretly rallied a group of his old loyalists, took Song Xie hostage, and then marched confidently toward the Governor’s residence, intending to capture the women and children inside. Once he occupied the residence, he could issue orders with legitimacy. As for An Zheng, Dong Yi didn’t consider him a threat—the man was neither skilled in civil affairs nor military strategy, hardly worth worrying about.

Liu Zhen had no knowledge of Dong Yi’s thoughts or plans, but Guo Zhi’s words conveyed unmistakable danger and urgency. She had only seconds to make a decision. Quickly, she steeled herself and declared, "No, I won’t run!"

Guo Zhi stomped his foot in frustration. "You—servant girl!" he shouted at Ah Jin, Liu Zhen’s maidservant. "Go inform your mistress! I’ll take your young lady away first!"

Ah Jin was also panicking but instinctively looked to Liu Zhen for guidance.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Zhen commanded, "Listen to me—we’re not leaving! There’s no time to escape now. We’d be caught before we got far, and that would only make things worse. Staying is our best option! Ah Zhi, go find Uncle An immediately. I’ll buy us as much time as I can. Hurry!"

Fortunately, Guo Zhi wasn’t one to dither. He understood the gravity of the situation and didn’t argue further. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Fine! Hold on until then!"

With that, he turned and sprinted away.

"Young Lady! Young Lady! What do we do now?!" Ah Jin wailed helplessly as the boy’s figure vanished into the night.

"Gather all the strong servants in the residence and have them protect my mother and the others!" Liu Zhen ordered.

"But what about you, Young Lady?!" Ah Jin asked.

"Don’t worry about me. Just do as I say!" Clenching her fists, Liu Zhen steeled herself and strode toward the main gate.

Without its master, the Governor’s residence had closed its gates early, exuding an air of desolation.

The cold weather and the curfew meant the streets were empty at night, every household’s doors tightly shut. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against the stone pavement echoed loudly in the silence.

Song Xie, bound and gagged, was held atop a horse. Fortunately, Dong Yi, out of respect for their former collegial relationship, hadn’t humiliated him excessively. He was still allowed to ride, though a soldier sat behind him to keep watch. The group rode down the long street and soon arrived at the Governor’s residence.

Song Xie let out muffled noises, as if trying to speak. Dong Yi glanced at him coldly. "Remove the gag."

The soldier obeyed.

Song Xie, an elderly man, was already exhausted from the sudden ordeal. He worked his sore jaw, took a few breaths, and finally mustered the strength to speak. "Imperial Inspector Dong, it’s not too late to turn back! Governor Liu showed you kindness, yet now you come to take his family hostage and seize his position? If word spreads, people will only say Dong Yi is an ungrateful traitor."

Dong Yi sneered. "Scholar Song, let’s not mince words. I know exactly why you’re defending Liu Yuan so fervently—it’s because your daughter is betrothed to his son, and you’re hoping to become royalty someday, aren’t you? Don’t delude yourself. You were an official of the fallen Qin. Liu Yuan only values you—and persuaded me to surrender—for the same reason: he doesn’t trust us! Once he consolidates his power and gathers more followers, you and I will be the first ones he eliminates!"

Song Xie sighed. "Governor Liu isn’t that kind of man. You’re overthinking it!"

That said, if Liu Yuan learned of Dong Yi’s actions today, things might indeed turn ugly.

Still, Song Xie hoped to buy time. If An Zheng could react in time, there might yet be a chance.

But Dong Yi saw right through him and scoffed. "Don’t waste your energy. My men have probably already dealt with An Zheng. Once I take the Governor’s residence, Yangzhai will be mine. If you repent now and join me in surrendering to General Zhang, there might still be hope for you!"

Song Xie said gravely, "Dong Yi, how can you be so blind?! The Qin ruler is tyrannical, and the world has risen against him. Do you really think Zhang Han alone can turn the tide?! The Qin court is now controlled by eunuchs, its rewards and punishments arbitrary. Why must you—mmph!"

His words were cut short as Dong Yi ordered him gagged again. Then, Dong Yi prepared to break down the gate.

But at that moment, the gates of the Governor’s residence swung open from within.

A young girl stepped into view.

"Girl" might be an overstatement—she was barely eight or nine years old, dressed in a deep red quju robe, her jet-black hair accentuating her fair, doll-like features.

Yet her adorable face showed no expression, only solemnity and gravity.

"Who goes there?" Her voice, though childish at first glance, carried a steadiness beyond her years.

Dong Yi didn’t even bother dismounting, let alone answering. He sneered, "Has the Governor’s residence been emptied out, leaving only a little girl to guard the gates?"

Liu Zhen replied, "I am Liu Yuan’s eldest daughter, Liu Zhen. Are you Imperial Inspector Dong?"

Dong Yi: "So what if I am?"

Liu Zhen: "I have something to say—it concerns your life and future. I beg you to hear me out."

"Speak," Dong Yi said, raising an eyebrow.

Having surrendered to Liu Yuan only recently, Dong Yi had heard of Liu Zhen’s influence over her father but didn’t take the little girl seriously. He knew the Governor’s residence was guarded by only a handful of soldiers. His men would sweep through like wolves among sheep, meeting no resistance. There was no need to rush.

Liu Zhen spoke slowly, "Imperial Inspector Dong, I’ve heard you are a descendant of Dong Hu, the Grand Historian of Jin. Is that correct?"

Dong Yi: "Indeed."

To his surprise, Liu Zhen said nothing more but instead bowed deeply to him.

Even if Dong Yi had prepared himself for Liu Yuan’s family to beg for mercy, he never expected her to first ask about his ancestry and then salute him.

Dong Yi scoffed. "Are you bowing to beg for your life?"

"Not at all!" Liu Zhen said solemnly. "In ancient times, Grand Historian Dong wrote history with impartial honesty, concealing neither beauty nor flaws. His name has been immortalized in the annals of history, admired for millennia. Even today, we yearn to meet him and bow in reverence. Alas, I was born centuries too late to witness the Grand Historian’s true visage. But now that I’ve met his descendant, I must pay my respects!"

Dong Yi was visibly moved.

As the descendant of a renowned figure, no one disliked praise and admiration for their ancestors. Dong Yi was no exception. His expression softened slightly. "I never expected a little girl like you to be so well-mannered."

Liu Zhen said, "There’s something I don’t understand. May the Imperial Inspector enlighten me?"

Her earlier words had bought her some patience. "Go on," Dong Yi said.

Liu Zhen continued, "Since the Imperial Inspector is a descendant of Grand Historian Dong, you must know that historians record without embellishing virtues, concealing faults, hiding mistakes, or obscuring merits. Yet you first surrendered to Qin, then rebelled against Liu. Have you considered how history will judge you a hundred years from now?"

Without waiting for his reply, she pressed on, "Surely the records will say: Dong Yi, descendant of Jin’s Grand Historian Dong Hu, followed Zhang Han eastward in the campaign, was ordered south to take Yingchuan, but was defeated outside Yangzhai and surrendered to Liu. Later, when Governor Liu Yuan marched south, Dong Yi rebelled again, leading traitorous troops to seize Song Xie and occupy the Governor’s residence. Alas, while Dong Hu’s impartial brush earned him eternal fame, his unworthy descendants failed to uphold his legacy, sinking into mediocrity!"

Despite being surrounded by dozens of armed men who could kill her in an instant, Liu Zhen remained composed, enunciating each word calmly.

Song Xie, still gagged, could only sigh inwardly. He could guess what Liu Zhen was trying to do—buy time—but doubted it would work. It was a pity such a brilliant child wasn’t born a boy; Liu Yuan would have no worries about his successor. And if An Zheng didn’t arrive in time, they would all perish here today.

Dong Yi broke into a cold sweat at first. Liu Zhen’s words struck like daggers, as if the annals of history were laid bare before him, each syllable piercing his heart. But he quickly snapped back to reality, furious. "You dare play mind games with me at such a young age? Today, I’ll send you to the underworld—let’s see where you’ll wag that clever tongue then!"

Liu Zhen raised her voice. "Imperial Inspector, you’re gravely mistaken! You know everything I’ve said could come true. I’m not insulting you—I’m trying to save you! The tyrannical Qin’s fate is sealed. Persisting will only drag you down with it. Why cling to delusions? Your defection from Qin to Liu was already a great merit. When Qin falls and a new dynasty rises, no matter who becomes emperor, your deeds will be recorded in history. Why choose to be a villain aiding a tyrant when you could be a hero?!"

The little girl’s voice, sharpened by urgency, echoed through the empty streets.

In times of chaos, victors wrote history, and moral absolutes blurred. Though Liu Zhen spoke righteously—almost moved by her own words—she knew full well that if Dong Yi were truly ruthless, he wouldn’t waste time debating her. A single slash of his blade would end her life.

Fortunately, Dong Yi wasn’t that kind of man.

The moment he surrendered to Liu Yuan instead of fighting to the death had already proven he wasn’t the type to commit fully to drastic actions. Such men hesitated at critical junctures, lacking resolve. Thus, Liu Zhen’s words had an effect.

Dong Yi stared at her, his expression shifting between emotions before he finally spat out, "What’s done is done. What now?"

Hearing this, Liu Zhen knew he was beginning to regret his actions but couldn’t back down. She seized the opportunity. "With my father away, the Governor’s residence is left with only women, children, and the elderly. Imperial Inspector Dong, out of loyalty, has dispatched men to protect us. Thus, my mother sent me to express our gratitude."

With that, she bowed again.

An Imperial Inspector’s duty was to oversee officials, not maintain public order. The excuse was flimsy, but Dong Yi desperately needed a way to save face.

The rumble of carriage wheels sounded in the distance, approaching rapidly.

At the forefront was An Zheng, with Guo Zhi trailing behind, blending into the crowd.

An Zheng had always been a civil official at heart. Even after joining Liu Yuan’s rebellion and returning to Yingchuan from Chen Commandery—making him one of Liu Yuan’s earliest followers—he preferred administrative work over military affairs. Thus, after Liu Yuan’s departure, though the two thousand soldiers were nominally under his command, he had neglected their management. This oversight had nearly allowed Dong Yi to exploit the weakness—a consequence of his own making.

Now, An Zheng arrived breathless and disheveled, likely having just quelled a potential mutiny before rushing over upon Guo Zhi’s warning.

"Dong Yi, you’ve got some nerve!" An Zheng roared.

Dong Yi’s face darkened—he hadn’t expected An Zheng to arrive so quickly.

Before he could react, Liu Zhen intervened.

"Uncle, my mother and I were frightened staying alone in the residence, so we asked Imperial Inspector Dong to protect us!" Liu Zhen said quickly.

An Zheng was taken aback at first. Then, his expression hardened as his gaze flickered between her and Dong Yi. After a long pause, he finally gritted his teeth. "Then I must thank Imperial Inspector Dong. But now that I’m here, I’ll handle everything. Please return and rest!"

With a wave of his hand, soldiers surrounded Dong Yi’s group, escorting them away under the guise of protection.

An Zheng personally untied Song Xie. "My apologies for your suffering, sir!"

Song Xie exhaled in relief. "I’m unharmed. Thanks to Ah Zhen’s quick thinking!"

Liu Zhen smiled slightly. "If Uncle hadn’t arrived in time, I couldn’t have stalled much longer. Dong Yi is fickle—who knows when he might have changed his mind again?"

Guo Zhi, standing behind An Zheng, watched her smile, a strange feeling rising in his chest.