Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 477 Ambush

Lin Yiyu moved nimbly, her soft sword weaving like a silver snake. After dodging a straight thrust from an assassin, she wrapped the blade around the opponent's wrist and twisted it sharply. With a crisp "crack," the assassin cried out in pain as the short blade slipped from his hand.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Yiyu kicked him to the ground and held his soft sword to his throat. Just as he was about to interrogate him, seven or eight more assassins rushed in from the alley entrance, obviously having heard the commotion and come over.

"go!"

Cui Zhihao let out a low shout, forced back the assassin in front of him with a sword, turned around, grabbed Lin Yiyu's arm, and ran wildly towards the government office.

Behind them, the assassins' footsteps and shouts of killing followed closely, like a persistent, lingering ailment.

Such ambushes occurred frequently along the way. While crossing West Street, they encountered soldiers hiding behind grain carts.

As they passed the City God Temple, archers shot arrows from behind the statues. One arrow grazed Cui Zhihao's shoulder, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound; blood soaked through his tight-fitting clothes.

Lin Yiyu's left leg was also stabbed, and every step he took was excruciatingly painful, but he still gritted his teeth and kept up, occasionally turning around with his soft sword to block and clear the threat behind Cui Zhihao.

After running for an unknown amount of time, the vermilion gate of the government office finally came into view.

The government office was no longer as imposing as it once was. The gate was crooked, the plaque reading "Chuzhou Government Office" on the lintel was split in two, and broken spears and blood-stained armor pieces were scattered on the ground, clearly indicating that a battle had taken place here.

"Be careful."

Cui Zhihao slowed his pace, holding his long sword protectively in front of him, and stepped into the government office.

The courtyard was in a mess. The artificial hill had been knocked down, and the pond water was murky red. Several soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the Rongyang King's rebel army lay on the ground, already lifeless—presumably spies sent by Meng Feng who couldn't hold out until they arrived.

The two tiptoed across the courtyard and arrived outside the study. The study door was ajar, and a faint candlelight shone from inside.

Cui Zhihao made a gesture, and Lin Yiyu understood. He went around to the window to be on guard, while Cui Zhihao suddenly pushed open the door and pointed his long sword straight into the room.

The room was empty except for the flickering candlelight on the desk. Cui Zhihao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked to the desk. Following Miss Shi's instructions before she left, he searched through the "Records of the Grand Historian" on the third shelf and found a hidden compartment.

He opened the hidden compartment, inside which was a sandalwood box. Upon opening it, he found the secret letter that recorded Rongyang King's secret communication with the Northern Di, as well as several pages of accounts stamped with the official seal—evidence of Rongyang King's embezzlement of military funds and hoarding of grain.

"found it!"

Cui Zhihao tucked the box into his pocket and turned to leave, but then he heard a series of orderly footsteps outside the courtyard, accompanied by a hoarse voice: "Search carefully! They must be inside!"

Lin Yiyu's expression changed: "It's the leader of the photo studio, Black Tiger! We're surrounded!"

Before he could finish speaking, the doors and windows of the study were suddenly kicked open, and dozens of rebel soldiers rushed in, their spears pointed directly at the two men.

Black Tiger stood at the back of the crowd, his burly figure with a scar running from his forehead to his chin, his eyes fierce as a wolf: "Young Master Cui, how have you been, Young Master Lin? His Highness anticipated your return to retrieve the secret letter and specifically instructed me to wait here for you."

Cui Zhihao clutched the box tightly to his chest, his long sword held horizontally in front of him: "The Prince of Rongyang has committed treason and colluded with foreign enemies. I will definitely present this evidence to His Majesty and make him pay for his crimes in blood!"

"Hahaha!"

Black Tiger laughed loudly, "You? None of you are leaving here today! Go! Capture Young Master Cui, and you'll be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold!"

The rebels swarmed forward, their spears like a forest, aiming at the two men.

Cui Zhihao and Lin Yiyu stood back to back, their longswords and soft swords forming a defensive net. The wound on Cui Zhihao's shoulder was becoming increasingly painful; each swing of his sword felt like tearing flesh from his skin, and blood dripped down his arm, staining the hilt of his sword red.

Lin Yiyu's left leg was numb, and he could only support himself with his right leg. His movements with the soft sword also slowed down. Several new wounds appeared on his body, and his white clothes were covered with bloodstains, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

The sounds of fighting, the clanging of metal, and cries of pain echoed in the study. Cui Zhihao pierced the chest of a rebel with his sword, but was struck in the waist and abdomen by another rebel's spear. He groaned, staggered back a step, and leaned against the bookshelf, where books clattered down and hit him.

Seeing this, Lin Yiyu quickly turned around, wrapped his soft sword around the rebel's spear, pulled him in front of him, and slit his throat with his sword. However, he himself was kicked in the chest by a rebel who rushed from the side, and spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered on the ground.

The two men gradually became exhausted, while the number of rebels continued to increase.

Cui Zhihao's longsword began to tremble. He felt his vision becoming increasingly blurry, and the wound on his waist and abdomen felt like it was being pierced by countless needles. Finally, he could no longer hold on and collapsed to his knees with a "thud." His longsword stuck in the ground, and he barely managed to stay upright by gripping the hilt tightly with both hands.

Lin Yiyu also leaned against the wall, his soft sword hanging at his side, his chest heaving violently, and blood constantly spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Young Master Cui, surrender now."

Black Tiger strode forward, looking down at Cui Zhihao. "The prince said that as long as you submit, he will not only save your life, but also make you prime minister."

Cui Zhihao raised his head, his face covered in blood, but his eyes remained firm: "I am from the Cui clan of Qinghe, and I will never associate with you traitors!"

Just then, a deafening battle cry suddenly came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by the clanging of armor—it was Meng Feng!

Black Tiger's expression changed, and he turned to look outside the courtyard: "What's going on? How did Meng Feng's men get in?"

Meng Feng led hundreds of soldiers into the government office, and wherever his spears pointed, the rebel soldiers fell one after another.

Meng Feng spotted Lin Yiyu in the study at a glance, his eyes reddening as he roared, "Young Master! Young Master Cui, your subordinate has come to rescue you!"

However, the number of rebels far exceeded their expectations.

Chuzhou City had already been completely occupied by Rongyang King's men. Black Tiger brought not only the studio assassins, but also thousands of rebel soldiers.

As soon as Meng Feng's men rushed in, they were surrounded by the rebel army that surged from all sides, and a fierce battle ensued.

Soldiers fell one by one, their blood staining the courtyard of the government office. Meng Feng's armor was also covered in blood, and he had been shot in the arm with an arrow, but he still brandished his spear, trying to rush into the study.

Choi Ji-ho's heart sank as he looked at the tragic scene before him.

He knew that if things continued like this, Meng Feng's men would be wiped out, and the evidence he had obtained would fall into Black Tiger's hands.

He suddenly looked up at Lin Yiyu, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Brother Lin,

Cui Zhihao's voice was hoarse as he shoved the sandalwood box in his arms into Lin Yiyu's hands. "This evidence is more important than my life. You must take it out and give it to Miss Shi so she can present it to His Majesty."

Lin Yiyu was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, Cui Zhihao suddenly raised his hand and struck him on the back of the neck.

Lin Yiyu's eyes widened, then everything went black, and he fainted.

"Meng Feng!"

Choi Ji-ho screamed hysterically, his voice hoarse from the effort, "Take him away! Take him away now! I'll cover you!"