The two children tighten their grip on Li Amm's clothes. They stared cautiously at Ren Shou.
This tall man made the children stiffened in shock as they watched the man assaulted the beautiful lady. But since the lady did not shout for help the children stayed behave in their place.
"Who are these children?" Ren Shou asked with bewilderment.
"They are the kids that had been left in evacuation in the Lin city. We need the children to get to Ren household. And there are still two children that I need to take back."
Ren Shou was stunned. There's still more?
"Who goes there?!" A shout came from behind them.
"Master, three people coming. You and the Lady need to leave. And also.." Ping Bi went nearer to Ren Shou and whispered some words.
Ren Shou looked back at the dark alley they had been before and nodded.
"Can we go now? " Li Amm urged them to gossip faster and leave this place.
Ren Shou gently took Li Amm's hand from the two children before hugging her waist and use qigong to flew over the wall.
Li Amm was wide-eyed. Again, the unexpected flight always caught her off guard. "The chil-"
"Don't worry. Ping Bo will take care of them."
Li Amm looked back and saw the two children in the other man's arms.
The two men flown over the trees with them in tow until they reached the capital gate.
With one last jump over the wall, they were now inside the capital.
The capital was still bustling with lantern lights and some joyous chattering of some nobles who were gathering around in this night.
It was in contrast to the city they had been. Clearly, the people here don't have any idea that there will be a war coming outside these walls.
"Wangfei. " Ren Shou put down Li Amm. His eyelashes trembled. He hated to part from her. He looked at her with longing, guilt, and yearning.
He wants to spend more time with her but today was not a good time.
"I arranged a carriage for you to Ren household. There are a lot of experts in the house. They will surely protect you." Ren Should hold Li Amm's hand.
"I want to say many things and I want to spend more time with you. But right now..." Ren Shou couldn't bear to leave her again. But his presence would be needed shortly after the face-off. His soldiers need a commander.
Li Amm stared at this young man who had huge responsibilities on his back. She doesn't mind why this young man needed a rebellion. In fact, she would gladly watch in the sideline how the dynasty would change with her own yees. But she couldn't afford to waste time right now since the two children might freeze to death or be a casualty in the war.
Li Amm initially wanted to ask favor to Ren Shou and let his men sneakily get the other two children, but seeing how busy he was and how he needed to focus in this upcoming war with the Emperor, she kept it in herself. She would just ask some experts in the household to help her to cross over the two cities.
Li Amm smiled to reassure Ren Shou.
"You don't have to worry about me. Do what you have to do. After everything is over, then you can say anything you want to me." Li Amm patted Ren Shou in the shoulder.
Ren Shou hesitated. His other hand went to his robes. His fingertips touched the orchid of the ivory hairpin. But then he pulled out his hand and revealed nothing. He decided to gave it to her after the rebellion was over.
Ren Shou kissed her head and hug her one more time.
"Stay in the mansion. I promise I will come back. That time, the Ren empire would change its emperor." Ren Shou promised her.
His voice had the conviction of a ruler. This was a plan he had laid out since he was sent out to the north and face the northern kingdoms in their invasion.
The thirteen-year-old Ren Shou promised himself that he would be back to the capital and exact revenge on those evil people who killed his father, executed his mother, and free the Ren Empire from unrightful ruler.
Li Amm stayed in his embrace, wishing that he would go away sooner so she could go back to the two children who were left alone in that empty house.
"Mhm. Be careful. Make sure you come out alive. " Li Amm just bid him goodbye. With Ren Shou's ability, for sure he would escape unscathed to any ambush that the Emperor laid for him . If he already evacuated the two cities beforehand, it means her husband was prepared well in this war.
Li Amm was confident in Ren Shou's ability. So she bet her husband would win.
The carriage left and swiftly arrived at the Ren household.
*****
A pigeon flew and enter in one of the opened windows of a dim-light room in one of an ordinary inn.
Ren Shou was currently on stand by in one of the inns in the capital. His translucent hand caught the pigeon and pick the letter that was tied on its right foot.
[Another batch entered Lin City. Around one thousand men. The majority of the forces are barbarians and prisoners from the other provinces. ]
Ren Shou burned the letter that Ping Bi had sent. It was just an hour ago but there was already a new batch of forces keep coming in the two cities. It was a good thing that he, Ren Shou predicted it beforehand that the Emperor would use tactics of borrowing the strength of the barbarians and the rebel forces.
With the history of the bandits raiding the cities around the capital, the Emperor would use this story to cover up the barbarian's infiltration in the capital and attacking the Ren household and all households under Ren Shou's alliance.
After the Ren household was gone, this tragedy would be blamed on the barbarians. The citizens and the nobles of the Ren Empire would have to accept that the family of the general had bad luck that night and got annihilated in one night when the barbarians attacked.
And once he came home, it would be all too late. His household was gone and he would be subjected to catch the barbarians until he fell to an ambush prepared by the Emperor.
It was a good story. But too bad, Ren Shou and his men were prepared. They had long since investigating the Emperor's move of sending an envoy to the leaders of the barbarians. The Emperor promised the barbarians some land and money.
But of course, the Emperor would not let the barbarians leech off to his land. The remnant of General Ren Shou's would take care of the barbarian. As revenge for killing their beloved General's family and for ambushing the general.
Thus, lessening his burden of cleaning the remnant of General Ren Shou's army and shutting the barbarians whom he tactfully pulled to his side.
These were all a scheme of the Emperor, a shepherd who knows how to manage his flock of sheep. However, Ren Shou, a wolf, had all been waiting for this.