Asking Brother Ye Fan for Help

Lying on the bed, Su Hong froze for a moment. Soon, his eyes began to light up slightly.

The sudden drastic change just now had left him somewhat disoriented, causing him to miss the crucial point in all of this.

The Great General hadn't immediately killed his mother and niece, which meant that during this window of time, he could indeed maneuver!

It wasn't as if the Su Manor hadn't encountered trouble before; when had he ever failed to smooth things over?

It was just that this time it was more ferocious, critical, and turbulent—a single wave could cause the complete collapse of their Su Manor.

With this thought, he quickly jumped out of bed.

He even cast a rather appreciative glance at his third niece, Su Li, who stood before him.

They were both his eldest brother's daughters.

The eldest daughter used to be difficult, but had now reformed.

The third daughter had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, innocent and gentle. It was only that damn second daughter who, bearing the title of the Su Manor's legitimate daughter, was so arrogant and couldn't listen to a single word of reason.

Had he known it would come to this, he would have done whatever it took to have his third niece, Su Li, marry the Great General.

But right now, he still needed to solve the problem.

The Su Manor had an extraordinary foundation, boasting considerable influence in official circles and throughout the entire Northern Frontier. However, thinking about it now, it was basically useless.

No matter how powerful and prominent the high-ranking officials they associated with were, they held not a shred of deterrence against Great General Ren Tianye in this Cloud Ridge City.

Seeking out those people—setting aside whether there was enough time—would backfire simply because of Great General Ren Tianye's current status!

As a result, he couldn't come up with a good plan for a long while.

"Second Uncle, perhaps we should first go and inquire about my second sister and grandmother. We don't even know if they are dead or alive right now!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Reminded by Su Li, Su Hong's frozen brain snapped back to reality, and he immediately ordered, "Quickly send someone to investigate."

"Remember, don't be stingy with the silver."

"As long as we can find out the status of my mother and Xiu'er, it doesn't matter how much silver we spend."

The butler, having followed Su Hong for many years, had learned most of his master's shrewd ways. He immediately found a few fleet-footed servants and sent them out to gather intelligence.

He also personally left the Su Manor to seek out military officials they had befriended in the past.

However, he knew clearly in his heart that after Great General Ren Tianye's purge of Cloud Ridge City, the military officials they previously knew were basically of no use anymore.

He was merely clinging to a sliver of hope.

Thus, the people of the Su Manor left one after another.

Not long after, before the butler had returned, the servant sent to investigate rushed back like a galloping horse.

"Master, I've found news about the old madam and the second miss."

"The two of them are currently hanging at the city gates."

"Many soldiers are going door-to-door, notifying all the merchants in Cloud Ridge City to go and watch. Those who don't go will be beheaded, and they even said everyone must watch for a full two hours."

Su Hong's heart skipped a beat.

At this moment, he understood Ren Tianye's intention.

To kill the chicken to warn the monkeys!

And their Su Manor was that chicken!

This tragic situation filled Su Hong's heart with sorrow; since when had their Su Manor become the chicken to be slaughtered?

But he still managed to control his emotions and asked, "How is my mother?"

The servant quickly replied, "Master, when I first went to the city gates, although the old madam was strung up, she was still struggling constantly."

"However, by the time I came back, she had stopped moving!"

Stopped moving!

These few words clearly explained the situation.

They caused Su Hong's body to sway once more.

Gritting his teeth, he asked, "And Xiu'er?"

"The second miss is the exact opposite!" the servant replied. "When I first arrived, her head was drooping, and she was unconscious."

"By the time I left, she had started struggling."

That meant she could still be saved!

Su Hong's body trembled slightly.

After all, they were his eldest brother's biological daughter and his own birth mother. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't suppress the panic in his heart.

He immediately said, "Let's go take a look."

"Li'er, you come along too."

The two didn't even dare take a sedan chair upon leaving the house. They jogged briskly toward the gates of Cloud Ridge City. Before they even arrived, they were caught in the surging crowd, pushed to the edges as if washed away by ocean waves.

When had they ever experienced such a congested scene?

But right now, they couldn't care less.

Under the protection of a few servants, the group forced their way to the gates of Cloud Ridge City. Their ears were filled with the voices of the merchants who had rushed over.

"Hiss, isn't this the Su family's Old Madam Qin? Why is she hung up here?"

"The one moving next to her is the Su Manor's second miss, Su Xiu. Why is she hung here too? Wasn't she about to marry the Great General? Hiss, could it be she did something to the Great General?"

"Didn't you hear the soldiers? The Great General treated the Su Manor with courtesy, but the Su Manor demanded half of the Great General's troops as a betrothal gift."

"Hiss, the Su Manor is courting death, aren't they? It's over, it's over, the Su Manor is finished!"

"But what does making us come here to watch mean? Are we watching a play?"

"What do you think?!"

"Hiss!"

...

The merchants of Cloud Ridge City discussed fervently among themselves. However, after their initial expressions of shock, astonishment, and even amusement, they quickly grew panicked.

The event unfolding before them sent a clear and unmistakable signal.

If the Su Manor, the largest merchant household in Cloud Ridge City, met such an end, what fate awaited them if they disobeyed the Great General's orders?

Involuntarily, they each began mentally calculating their own properties and coin purses.

Su Hong had long since figured out the meaning behind the chaotic noise and paid it no mind, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the two figures beneath the city wall.

His mother was completely motionless; she clearly wasn't going to make it.

At such an advanced age, suffering such an ordeal and being hung up here, she had likely drawn her last breath.

But Su Xiu beside her still had life in her.

Not only was she alive, but she was struggling vigorously.

Perhaps it was the connection of blood relatives, but the moment Su Hong looked at Su Xiu, her eyes found him as well.

Instantly, as if she had found a lifesaving straw, she cried out, "Second Uncle, save me, save me! It hurts, it hurts so much..."

Suspended by hemp ropes bound to her hands beneath the city gates, even a man in his prime might not be able to withstand such force, let alone Su Xiu, who had been pampered her whole life. Even a slight bump on her finger usually required a doctor's visit.

How could she endure such torture?

Although Su Hong was furious at her for ruining the Su Manor, watching her still broke his heart.

Beside him, Su Li was even more distressed. Her large, round eyes shone with heartache, and as she opened her mouth, two dimples appeared: "Second Uncle, please save Second Sister."

"Second Sister won't be able to hold on much longer."

Su Hong glared, "With what am I supposed to save her?"

"With our Su Manor's servants?"

"Add them all up, and do you think they could defeat even a single fully armored soldier under the Great General's command?"

"She brought this upon herself, she deserves it!"

Su Li knew Su Hong was speaking out of anger and quickly said, "Second Uncle, that's not what I meant."

"I mean..."

"How about we go ask Brother Ye Fan for help?"

"Even though he only met Second Sister once, I know he has always been deeply in love with her. He definitely won't just stand by and watch her die."

"Let us go seek him out. If he is willing to step in, there might still be a chance to turn things around!"

...