My lord, spare his life!

To turn...Ge Zhou against his cause?

Sun Ban lowered his eyelids, pondering the possibility of this.

After pondering for a long time, she hesitated and said, "Ge Xidan, as a surrendered general, has been highly valued by Zhang and promoted to a palace guard. How can she be easily turned against him? Zhang has promised her countless benefits, and how can she be loyal to him now..."

Sun Ban was not unmoved either.

On the contrary, she was extremely tempted.

The imperial guards are the people closest to their lord, protecting his safety at his side. Who would place someone in such an important position without the utmost trust? It's practically entrusting them with their life.

Sun Ban asked himself honestly, and realized that turning people to defect would not be easy.

Even if he had saved Ge Zhou's life, he feared he wouldn't be able to persuade him. Sun Ban sighed, "...I'm afraid that Ge Xidan will agree on the surface, but then turn around and betray us to Zhang the bandit. This isn't turning him into a defector; it's giving Ge Xidan military merit."

Upon hearing this, the Prefect of Hu County pondered, "Zhao Ruo's concerns are not without merit... Even if it was a life-saving grace, if the person is heartless, they wouldn't care. However, Ge Xidan's relatives should still be in Dou County. Zhao Ruo, perhaps you should have them write to her."

This suggestion made Sun Ban's heart skip a beat.

She hesitated: "This—"

This tactic is somewhat despicable.

Sun Ban cared about his reputation; no matter what he did in private, he always presented himself as a gentleman to the outside world. It wouldn't look good if word got out that he was using the lives of his former subordinates' families as bargaining chips to scheme against them.

It's important to understand that setbacks in battle are common, and no one can guarantee victory in every battle. Imagine yourself as one of Sun Ban's generals: if you were captured one day and forced to comply with the situation to save your life, and your family and relatives were held hostage by your former master, with no regard for past relationships... which general would feel comfortable about that?

I bet they're starting to have doubts too.

Seeing that she was still hesitant, the prefect of Hu County urged her urgently, "Zhao Ruo, why are you hesitating? Ge Xidan wronged you first, and we had no choice but to do this. Besides, this action is not against morality. Consider it only once, as Ge Xidan repaying you with your life. While there is still time and Ge Xidan and Zhang the bandit do not have a deep relationship, if we eliminate Zhang the bandit, you and she can put aside your past grievances and remain ruler and subject for life."

Sun Ban was completely "persuaded".

She said, "That's the only way."

However, this idea wasn't hers.

The seat of Hu County.

Ge Zhou spent most of her day on guard duty by Zhang Yang's side, using the rest of her time for training troops and sleeping. Whether it was due to the influence of the celestial stars or her naturally abundant energy, her need for sleep was extremely low. Ge Zhou was never quite satisfied with the elite troops Zhang Yang assigned to her. These soldiers did not meet her requirements, and she could not entrust their safety to her lord with peace of mind; therefore, she needed to train them intensively.

"Ge Xidan".

Ge Zhou heard a stranger call his name.

Her expression turned somber as she looked up, only to see a haggard young man leaning on a cane. The young man was somewhat thin, with a sorrowful air about him, but his appearance was striking. Ge Zhou looked around, then pointed to himself: "Were you calling me?"

The young man's eyes held a complex expression, and he nodded, saying, "Yes."

Ge Zhou walked over: "Do we know each other?"

Even though the young man knew that Ge Zhou had lost his memory and forgotten his past, he couldn't help but show some surprise upon hearing this. He said, "We had some dealings before, so you could say we knew each other. You really don't remember me?"

Ge Zhou carefully examined the young man's facial features and shook his head.

"I don't remember much."

They're probably just nodding acquaintances or colleagues.

If their feelings were deep, she should have felt the same flutter in her heart as when she first saw her lord upon waking, her blood seemingly boiling. She looked at the young man, her heart completely unmoved, which could only mean they hadn't known each other much before. Ge Zhou noticed his legs: "How are your injuries?"

"His broken leg has been set, and he should be fully recovered in another ten days to two weeks." Actually, if Lü Bafeng hadn't broken his leg again halfway through, he would have been able to walk on his own long ago, and he wouldn't have only just met Ge Zhou now. He asked, "I wonder if it's convenient for Xidan now?"

Ge Zhou: "Now that there's nothing to do, it's naturally convenient."

Seeing that the young man was struggling, she asked him if he needed help.

The young man's smile was forced, probably because he was thinking about some psychological trauma: "No need, I don't have much time, I have something important to tell you."

"Alright, let's go to my tent then."

Ge Zhou was a large woman, so Zhang Yang arranged a separate tent for her. A suit of armor, meticulously cared for by its owner, hung on a rack in the corner, somewhat out of place with the simple furnishings inside the tent. Ge Zhou poured tea for the young man: "It's safe here. Go ahead and talk."

The young man, however, did not know where to begin.

"How much of what happened before does Xidan still remember?"

Ge Zhou readily replied, "I don't remember anything at all."

"So you don't even know who your lord is?"

Ge Zhou angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I not know who my lord is? It is none other than Lord Boyuan."

The young man was almost speechless: "But you're a surrendered general."

Ge Zhou's anger was abruptly interrupted: "What surrendered general?"

The young man then recounted their origins, leaving Ge Zhou stunned. His words completely contradicted her understanding accumulated over time, and she instinctively touched the mark on her neck: "...You're saying I was killed by the lord?"

The young man's expression was strange: "Still calling me 'Master'?"

He never expected Zhang Yang to be as shameless as Lü Yuan, actually deceiving and fooling Ge Zhou. Didn't she have any conscience? She killed Ge Zhou, killed Ge Zhou's best friend, and then tricked Ge Zhou into believing he was her lord, completely manipulating him: "She's taking advantage of your amnesia!"

Shameless! Inhuman!

Ge Zhou did not erupt in anger as he had expected; instead, his eyes revealed confusion: "If what you say is true, why did the lord order me to serve as her guard? Isn't she afraid that I will regain my memories and seek revenge?"

The young man said, "Perhaps it's because she's overconfident and arrogant."

Ge Zhou's head throbbed with pain as she thought about it. She slapped her forehead twice and frowned, saying, "I won't believe you just because of a few words. I can tell whether it's true or false. I'll find out for myself."

The young man was not afraid of Ge Zhou asking questions.

Zhang Yang did not give any order to conceal Ge Zhou's identity.

"If what I'm saying is true, what are you going to do?"

Ge Zhou: "What else can we do? Of course, we'll wait until I regain my memories. I have no memories now, so I can't feel any hatred for anything you've said. My lord is a good person; there must be some misunderstanding. Besides, at that time, the two sides were enemies, so it was a matter of life and death. Being beheaded by my lord was because I was less skilled; I have nothing to resent."

youth:"……"

He had known all along that despite Ge Zhou's rugged appearance, she was actually a stable and honest person. If it weren't for her personality, Ge Zhou wouldn't have remained without advancement under Sun Ban for so many years, despite her abilities. She was simply an honest person, only knowing how to do her job, unlike others who were adept at social maneuvering and flattery, thus missing many opportunities. Even after losing her memory, her nature hadn't changed much.

Ge Zhou: "So, you're also a surrendered general."

The young man gave a wry smile: "Actually... I don't want to submit."

Ge Zhou had no memory, not recalling the hatred of his close friend's murder, but he could vividly recall the scene of his mentor being beheaded by Zhang Yang the moment he closed his eyes. The thought of him serving Zhang Yang as his master without any reservations made him uneasy.

Ge Zhou's words made him turn pale.

"They submitted even though they didn't want to."

youth:"……"

Ge Zhou sighed, "Things have come to this, we'll just have to take it one step at a time. Preserving our lives is the most important thing. I won't tell anyone about what happened today, not even to my lord. I'll take you back."

She guessed that the young man's situation might not be very good.

Why does a broken leg take so long to heal?

When Ge Zhou escorted the young man back, he saw an unexpected person in the tent—his lord's adopted daughter, Lü Bafeng. His lord had two adopted daughters, Lü Yuan and Zhe Meng. Zhe Meng was leading troops in the field, so Ge ​​Zhou saw Lü Yuan more often.

"What's Lawyer Vanguard doing here?"

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "I'm waiting for someone here."

The young man's face turned deathly pale, and Ge Zhou felt a pang of pity for him, asking, "Is this old acquaintance of Lü Xianfeng?"

Lu Yuan readily agreed, then asked Ge Zhou why she had returned with the young man. Ge Zhou was honest, but that didn't mean she was stupid. She was naturally alert to Lu Yuan's simplistic probing: "When he went out for a walk, his cane broke, so I had him sit in my tent nearby for a while. I brought it back after it was repaired."

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

His scrutinizing gaze swept back and forth over the young man.

"Thank you, Xidan."

"No need for thanks between colleagues. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. I have to go to the lord's place for duty later. Farewell." Ge Zhou gave a simple bow and withdrew, with Lü Yuan watching him leave.

After the person disappeared without a trace, Lu Yuan slapped the young man across the face without warning, knocking him to the ground. When the young man regained his senses, a gun was already pressed against his neck: "You want to die?"

The young man definitely said something he shouldn't have.

He spat out a mouthful of blood: "Since you say I'm courting death, then kill me. The knot that Bo Yuan Jun tied herself up—isn't the knot itself the problem? She appointed a surrendered general who died at her hands as her bodyguard, without any intention of concealing it. Ge Xidan will find out the truth sooner or later; what difference does it make whether she finds out sooner or later? Or is it that my revealing the truth has spoiled someone's mood? Lü Bafeng, although you and your mother are not related by blood, your vile temperaments are truly cut from the same mold, disgusting and nauseating!"

Lu Yuan, who had just been filled with murderous intent, restrained his killing intent.

She sheathed her spear: "You do have good taste."

Youth: "You—"

"Speaking of disgusting things, don't just focus on cursing my adoptive mother. Why don't you curse your former master, the now-desperate Sun Zhaoruo? Hasn't she done enough disgusting things? If we're talking about wickedness, she's the originator; I'm nothing compared to her. You don't care about what Sun Zhaoruo did, so why are you so resentful of your adoptive mother's unruliness? She's young; isn't it normal for her to be mischievous?"

Lu Yuan broke the young man's legs once again.

Seeing the veins bulging on the other person's forehead as they endured the pain, she laughed and said, "You're loyal to a hypocrite like Sun Zhaoruo, which shows your loyalty is quite cheap. You'd better pray for yourself."

The young man took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and turned his face away.

Lu Yuan did not cover up or show favoritism, and reported the matter truthfully.

Zhang Yang indicated that he understood.

Lu Yuan: "Is the foster mother not prepared to punish the two of them?"

Zhang Yang said, "There's no need."

Lu Yuan: "Okay—"

"I want their bodies, not their hearts. As long as their bodies are loyal to me, their hearts are beyond human control." Zhang Yang gradually savored the essence of coercion, and it was indeed very satisfying. "Xidan, don't worry, the other one is up to you."

Lu Yuan sighed, "Thank you, godmother."

When they met Ge Zhou again, the latter seemed to be acting strangely.

Zhang Yang: "Don't you want to ask anything?"

Ge Zhou, who was kneeling on one knee, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"This humble general does not know what to ask."

She blinked, looking at Zhang Yang innocently, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. The truth she had learned was completely different from what Zhang Yang had instilled in her; she should be loyal to Sun Ban. But, at this moment, she simply couldn't bring herself to lay a hand on Zhang Yang.

Just as she was feeling lost, a hand covered her head.

"Then let's wait until she regains her memory. For now, just do as you please..." Zhang Yang helped her up, holding her arm. "Xidan, come with me. I have a gift for you."

Ge Zhou subconsciously followed the force.

Later, they met several people at a private residence.

Zhang Yang gently patted the back of her hand: "Knowing you're worried about your family, I sent someone to bring them all over so you can reunite with them."

Ge Zhou felt a shiver run through the depths of his soul.

She blinked slowly, and after a long while, she bowed and expressed her gratitude.

Despite being called family, Ge Zhou had no recollection of them. Faced with a room full of people laughing and crying, she felt lost and helpless. She couldn't tell whether these people were true relatives or not.

Do you remember how my relationship with Sun Zhaoruo began?

The group exchanged bewildered glances: "You don't remember?"

This matter is quite simple.

Years ago, Ge Zhou's family was poor. Although he was strong, he couldn't afford the cost of his parents' long-term medication, and the family was desperate for survival. One day, a wealthy-looking man came and generously paid a large sum for Ge Zhou's medicine, for which Ge Zhou was deeply grateful. Afterward, the man said he had a way to make money: if Ge Zhou took the blame for someone, he could serve two or three years in prison and be released. After the job was done, he would receive a generous reward, enough not only to pay for his parents' medicine for more than ten years, but also to allow his siblings to learn a good trade.

Ge Zhou agreed.

But she was illiterate at the time and did not know that this was a capital offense.

"...It was Lord Zhaoruo who exonerated you and saved your life. After that, you vowed to repay Lord Zhaoruo. However, you were not given important positions for many years. Now that you have gained the favor of Lord Boyuan, your future is guaranteed." Ge Zhou's mother said, tears streaming down her face.

Ge Zhou: "...Is this how you repay a debt of gratitude?"

"You've already given away a life, what more do you want? You still have your whole family here, if you do that now... how are you going to feed them all?" Ge Zhou's father slapped his thigh and asked his daughter, "You don't remember the past now, wait until you remember before you start thinking about it."

Ge Zhou: "...That's true."

Shouting for violence without any memory of the event is a disaster for the whole family.

Ge Zhou also knew that his lord Zhang Yang was not someone to be trifled with.

Consider the young former colleague who tipped her off.

The lord just wanted to see the other party work for him with a cold face. The thought of him being unwilling but creating benefits for his enemy made him feel happy: "We'll talk about everything after he regains his memory. Making a decision now would be unwise."

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Sun Ban received bad news a couple of days later.

The Ge Zhou family home was deserted. Judging from the dust piled on the table, they had been gone for seven or eight days. Neighbors also said they hadn't seen the family in a long time. Sun Ban clenched his fists, suppressing his anger: "It seems Ge Xidan was given an important position by that scoundrel Zhang, and then immediately sent people to take his family away… as if he was afraid something might go wrong…"

? ?|??w?`)

How can this not be considered a tyrannical act of forced love? (～￣▽￣)～