In the evening, the entire Qingfeng Stronghold was decorated with lanterns and banners, hung with red silk, and set up as a wedding hall. They were preparing to bring Zhen Jiang to perform the wedding ceremony as soon as the auspicious hour arrived.
At this time, Zhen Jiang and Jinxiu were locked in a woodshed, their hands and feet tightly bound.
Jinxiu was young and had never seen such a scene before. She was already terrified, her face pale and tears streaming down.
"Miss, will... will we die? ...Sob, sob..."
Zhen Jiang was also extremely frightened at this moment, but as a noble daughter of a prominent family, she had been taught since childhood never to lose the demeanor of a well-bred lady, no matter the circumstances.
Zhen Jiang suppressed her fear and said resolutely, "Death is a minor matter, but losing one's integrity is of utmost importance. As a daughter of the Zhen, I absolutely cannot be disgraced by bandits. If the situation becomes irreversible, I will bite my tongue and commit suicide to preserve my purity!"
Jinxiu's eyes were full of tears, and her fear deepened. "Miss... sob, sob, sob..."
"Jinxiu, I'm sorry. If I hadn't lost the jade pendant, you wouldn't have been dragged into this."
"Miss, don't say that. It's all... it's all that scoundrel's fault. The jade pendant must have fallen when I was struggling with him!"
"Jinxiu, don't talk nonsense. What does this have to do with Zhang Gongzi..."
"Miss, look at the situation, and you're still defending him!"
As the two were talking, they heard a "bang" as the woodshed door was heavily pushed open.
An old woman, accompanied by a few rough maids, entered carrying wedding clothes.
As soon as the old woman saw Zhen Jiang, she said with a fawning smile, "Oh my, this young lady is truly beautiful, like someone from a painting. No wonder the Boss couldn't help himself when he saw her. Young lady, quickly change into the wedding clothes. The auspicious hour is almost here, don't keep the Boss waiting impatiently!"
After speaking, the old woman winked at the two maids beside her.
The two maids quickly stepped forward and clumsily untied the ropes binding Zhen Jiang, then immediately took the wedding clothes and started putting them on her.
"You... what are you doing! I won't wear it!" Zhen Jiang, her hands and feet freed, immediately began to struggle.
"You villains! Let go of my Miss!" Jinxiu on the side was frantic, but her hands and feet were bound, so she couldn't help even if she wanted to.
Seeing this, the old woman's face immediately changed. She walked over to Jinxiu and gave her two sharp slaps across the face.
"Jinxiu!"
The old woman stood with her hands on her hips and said imperiously, "Young lady. I advise you to be sensible, and this maid will suffer less. Otherwise, I'll take her to my 'Drunk Red Chamber', and I, this old woman, have many ways to deal with her!"
Hearing this, Jinxiu was startled.
Although she was young, she knew what kind of place the "Drunk Red Chamber" was.
Zhen Jiang had no choice but to say, "Don't make things difficult for her. I... I'll go with you."
"Miss..."
"That's right, young lady, please change your clothes." Hearing this, the old woman put on a smile again.
And so, Zhen Jiang, holding back tears, reluctantly changed into the wedding clothes.
There weren't many formalities in the stronghold, nor any elaborate dressing up. The old woman took a piece of red silk handkerchief from her sleeve, treated it as a veil, and placed it over Zhen Jiang's head, then told the maids to take her out.
In the front hall, Luo Sai Nan had already put on a large red robe with a red flower pinned to his chest. The rest of the bandits stood on either side, quietly waiting for the arrival of the bride.
Before long, the old woman and the two maids helped Zhen Jiang walk in. The bandits around them immediately burst into laughter and jeers.
Under the red veil, Zhen Jiang's body trembled slightly, and tears couldn't help but stream down her cheeks.
Is it really over?
I never expected that I, a dignified daughter of the Zhen, would have to die here today!
Father, please forgive your unfilial daughter!
Zhen Jiang was feeling heartbroken when the old woman loudly announced that the auspicious hour had arrived and told the two to perform the wedding ceremony.
Once the ceremony was performed, they would be husband and wife, impossible to change. How could Zhen Jiang be willing? At that moment, Zhen Jiang hardened her heart and thought to herself, "Father, second brother, third brother, sisters, Ah Jiang is leaving..."
As Zhen Jiang thought this, she pressed the tip of her tongue against her teeth, intending to bite it off.
Just at this critical moment, a sound of something cutting through the air was suddenly heard. Immediately after, a bandit minion rushed in.
"Boss, this is bad, this is bad!"
"Go to hell!" Luo Sai Nan stepped forward and kicked the minion to the ground. "It's my big day, what are you doing here wailing like it's a funeral!"
The minion scrambled back to his feet, staggering. He said, "Boss, the soldiers... the soldiers are attacking!"
"What!" Everyone was startled. At this moment, they heard a burst of shouting and cursing from outside.
Zhang Chen led two thousand elite cavalry on a rapid march and finally arrived at Qingfeng Stronghold as night fell.
At this moment, Zhang Chen held his spear, stood at the front of the formation, and pointed at the stronghold gate, roaring angrily, "Listen, you bandits inside! You plunder homes, cause harm to the region, and now you've forcibly abducted a civilian woman. Your crimes are heinous! I am Prefect Zhang Chen, Prefect of Wei Commandery. I have led a large army here today. If you know what's good for you, quickly open the gates and surrender, and you may be spared the death penalty! If you hesitate even slightly, once I kill my way in, not even a chicken or a dog will be left!"
Zhang Chen shouted and cursed outside the gate several times. His voice was terrifying, and the minions on the stronghold tower couldn't help but tremble with fear.
In the front hall, Zhen Jiang was about to commit suicide but suddenly heard this shouting and cursing. Her heart couldn't help but tremble.
She heard the name "Zhang Chen".
Is it him? Or just someone with the same name?
He's actually... the Prefect of Wei Commandery?
Isn't the Prefect of Wei Commandery Lord Li Wen?
All sorts of doubts surfaced in Zhen Jiang's mind. She really wanted to rush outside the gate and see if the person who had come to save her was the one she was thinking of.
At this moment, Luo Sai Nan had an angry expression and shouted, "Damn it! It's my big day, and this dog official dares to come here to bring me bad luck! Brothers, grab your weapons and follow me to wipe out these dog soldiers!"
After speaking, Luo Sai Nan hooked Zhen Jiang's chin with a large hand and said playfully, "Little beauty, don't be impatient. After I wipe out those soldiers, I'll come back and have our wedding night with you, hahahaha!"
Saying that, Luo Sai Nan grabbed a steel saber, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and immediately led his men out of the front hall and straight towards the stronghold gate.
In the large front hall, only Zhen Jiang, the old woman, and the two rough maids were left.
Before long, Luo Sai Nan led over a dozen mountain bandits up to the stronghold tower. Looking down, they saw that the soldiers had already formed ranks in front of the stronghold. It looked like there were at least two thousand men.
Luo Sai Nan immediately felt relieved.
Qingfeng Stronghold was located along a major road, backed by mountains, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. The stronghold itself had two thousand men. To launch a direct assault on the stronghold would require several times that number of soldiers. Now the soldiers only had two thousand men. Did they still think they could capture the stronghold? It was simply a pipe dream!
Looking at the young General leading them, he seemed to be only in his teens, still wet behind the ears, yet he dared to come to the front of the formation and act wild!
Luo Sai Nan immediately burst into laughter and said to Zhang Chen, "Where did this little brat come from, who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, and dares to come and shout in front of your grandpa! Today is your grandpa's big day. I don't want to see bloodshed. If you know what's good for you, scram quickly!"
Hearing this, Zhang Chen couldn't help but sneer.
The last person who said something like that was Duan Hei Hu from Black Tiger Fort. Now, the grass on his grave is probably a foot high!
Zhang Chen pointed his spear and shouted sternly, "What a brazen bandit! You dare to boast shamelessly in front of this official! Let alone you, even Zhang Niujiao of the Black Mountain Bandits died by my hand! What skills do you possess that you dare to be so arrogant!"
As soon as Zhang Chen said this, the bandits on the stronghold tower immediately changed their expressions.