After more than a dozen lashes, I could no longer laugh no matter how hard I tried.
I was knocked unconscious by hunger before, but now I am about to be knocked unconscious.
Taking a strong breath, the man who was slapped weakly said:
"What? Don't you dare to beat me to death?"
The skin and flesh on his knees were split open, no bones could be seen, but whip marks were everywhere, and the flesh and blood came out and stained the whip.
The city lord, who was aware of his thoughts, withdrew his whip.
"How do you know I'm not hanging on you?"
He said calmly.
The guard only felt that this person was provoking the city lord, and he was afraid that there would be no good results.
But the man didn't care if he got good results now. He stared straight at the city lord in front of him and sneered.
"Are you afraid that our young prince will not be able to find anyone when he comes? Why, is it too late to start to be afraid now?"
"Afraid?"
He has never been afraid of Lu Qingtian.
"No matter what happens to your young prince, he still has a chance to return to the capital. Why do you think he came here?"
"Just for himself."
Although the city lord doesn't know the inside story, it's enough to say that it can hurt people's hearts.
He put down the whip, not wanting to continue talking to this person, and looked at the girl in the cage.
"If you don't eat, he won't survive tonight. Do you want me to feed you myself?"
The person next to me brought out the porridge that the girl had not eaten yesterday. It was mixed with vegetable leaves and it no longer looked very appetizing.
With red eyes, the girl reached out and finished the bowl of porridge.
When the other girls saw this, they gritted their teeth and drank it too.
They cannot bear to see others die for them.
"now it's right."
The city lord showed a satisfied smile.
If these girls don't eat or drink, he will have a headache.
They can't go to the capital, but they can do these little things without any restrictions.
He turned and looked at the man coldly.
"Even if the gods come, they can't save you. Do you think I will let you leave here alive? It's not unusual for so many people to die here. Just wait here to die."
After patting the man's face, the city lord turned and left. He had other things to do.
The guard respectfully sent the city lord away, and then stood guard in front of the cage. The look he looked at these girls was not innocent.
It's a pity that only those adults can enjoy it, and I don't have this blessing.
He looked over to the man and saw that the man had passed out. After thinking about it, he gave him some medicine. The city lord didn't say to let him die.
border zone.
The snow here is heavier, and it melts immediately when it falls on people. Rows of men exhaling mist carry firewood back and forth within a few miles.
There was no way, they had no choice but to burn firewood without charcoal in winter.
The howling cold wind blows on people's faces, like dense knives cutting the skin. They can only hope to go back early to keep warm.
The group of them had been assigned to different places before, but now they were gathered together again because of an imperial edict. It was impossible to say that there were no complaints.
It’s just destiny that cannot be violated.
There were only five tents for a hundred people, and it was uncomfortable to be crowded together.
They have long lost the demeanor of fighting on the battlefield. What good ending can they expect if they are released as prisoners of war?
The higher the position, the more severe the suppression.
"General, are you okay? Just stay inside in such a cold weather."
Seeing his general waiting for them outside again, the leader Tian Xin stepped forward quickly, threw the firewood on the ground and went to help the people.
He looked anxious and his tone was reproachful.
I can't see anything, what if something happens?
"I have nothing to do and can't I come out for some air?"
The man covering his eyes with a rag said with a smile. He had a lot of calluses and frostbite on his hands, which were left over the past few years.
"You know that's not what I meant."
Tian Xin was a little helpless, but he had to ask someone to move the firewood in first.
In this weather, they couldn't even sleep without burning something. If it hadn't been like this, they wouldn't have gone a few miles away to pick up these dead branches.
The few people following behind also stepped forward with concerned faces.
Some of the firewood has to be sent to other places, which is equivalent to making wedding clothes for others, but there is nothing we can do about it.
They have been coming here all these years, and it will be fine just waiting for the young Marquis to take them back.
When the firewood was lit in the tent and the temperature began to gradually rise, everyone felt warm in their hearts.
Some start to think about the future.
"You said that the young Marquis is the Marquis' son. Could it be that the two of them look very similar?"
"Isn't it that Madam is very good-looking? She must be much more handsome than our Marquis."
"What are you making up? What's wrong with our Lord Marquis?"
"..."
"Then the young Marquis can really take us back?"
After the last words fell, they all looked at the man who was blind.
When it comes to things like resourcefulness, it still depends on the general.
In the situation at that time, no matter who was involved, they would be arrested, so they didn’t blame anyone, let alone anyone.
Now that they have the opportunity to go back, they are naturally very happy.
But the young Marquis is really worrying...
"Since the Marquis has let the young Marquis come over, he must be sure of it. I'll just wait and feel at ease."
The man said.
But he changed the subject.
"Didn't Zhao Ce go out in a few days? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"I don't know if he hasn't seen a girl for a long time, hahaha... It's just that it's been a long time since he went here."
Tian Xin made a joke first, and then said.
After he finished speaking, he looked at the men. In fact, it was not impossible. They were all unmarried men, and it was normal to have ideas.
"No, something might have happened."
The man thought for a while and said this.
It only takes four days to go back and forth from the city, and now seven days have passed, and no one has come back yet.
But ordinary people cannot detain Zhao Ce.
"Did someone want to deal with us, so they took Zhao Ce away?"
Tian Xin looked serious. He believed that Zhao Ce would not take the initiative to cause trouble according to his character.
"Hard to say."
Missing someone is not a small problem, but no one in the army came to ask about it. It was just that someone knew where Zhao Ce had gone.
The man thought for a moment and said:
"Go and send someone to find out where the young marquis is."
"good."
Tian Xin replied immediately.
No matter how they asked, they couldn't get a result, but with Lu Feng here, things would be different.
After all, they have no backers here.
Even the young Marquis is just relying on the Marquis.
Sighing softly, the man began to wonder if the young Marquis was not what the Marquis said.
As for the City Lord's Mansion, Lu Feng secretly climbed the wall with Xu Zhe.
There is usually no one watching around the city lord's mansion, and even if Lu Feng is there, he can find a less noticeable path.
This time he took Xu Ze with him when he came out. He had written a note before coming, saying that he would go to the border first.
It only takes a day to pass quickly, not long.
Xu Zhe said with some uncertainty:
"Should we talk to the city lord when we go out? After all, this is his territory."
At this time, Lu Feng quietly pulled out a horse, rolled his eyes and got on the horse.
"Am I a very disciplined person?"
Xu Zhe shook his head, of course not.
"That's fine then."
If he just waits for his people to come over, how can he recognize who they are? Of course, he must recognize them as early as possible.
