"Father, don't go. What will happen to us if you go?" Ah Jiu stepped forward and tugged at Meng Shaode's arm.
For a fleeting moment, a tender satisfaction flashed in Meng Shaode's eyes. He ruffled his daughter's hair.
"Be good, don't cry. A man not only speaks for the people but also shoulders the burden of his family. As long as you are all safe, I will be content."
"No, we have weathered storms together as husband and wife. How can you just leave?" Cai Lihua suppressed the tears in her eyes. "Have you not considered our feelings, mother and daughter? At worst, we won't enter the city. We've endured hardships for so long; we don't fear enduring a little more."
A lump formed in Ah Jiu's throat, as if a large stone had lodged itself there.
Just then, the sound of horse hooves echoed from within the city gates.
Ah Jiu instinctively looked. It was Tuoba Yan. "Xiao Yan." Ah Jiu ran towards him, nearly tripping.
Tuoba Yan skillfully dismounted and steadied Ah Jiu. "I know everything. I rushed here on horseback specifically."
Without another word, he led Ah Jiu to the registration area. "Ah Jiu, bring the document."
Ah Jiu quickly took it out and handed it to Tuoba Yan. Meanwhile, she watched the line where her father was registering slowly move closer.
"Officer, I am from the Inspector's office. I am Tuoba Yan, a subordinate of Zhang Liang'ai. This is the document from our chief, and I am the guarantor."
The man took the document and examined it carefully. "From the Inspector? Please don't make things difficult for us. This is a military order from the Prince."
"How is this making things difficult?" Tuoba Yan glanced at Ah Jiu, seeing her red-rimmed eyes, his heart ached.
"The Inspector has indeed dispatched a significant portion of the main forces to participate in this battle, but that does not allow interference with the Prince's military orders. This isn't making things difficult; what would you call it? Coercion?"
The man's words were seemingly polite, yet he casually tossed the document onto the ground. A thin sheet of paper gently fluttered down at Ah Jiu's feet.
Ah Jiu bent down to pick it up. A sudden thought sparked in her mind. "Officer, Tuoba Yan is also considered part of our Meng family. He has already enlisted. Can he not substitute for one of our family's conscripts?"
As soon as she said this, Tuoba Yan's eyes lit up. Yes, Ah Jiu sister was indeed clever.
"Oh? What is the relationship?" This finally prompted the officer to look up at Tuoba Yan.
"I am her father's adopted son," Tuoba Yan quickly added. This was good; he could still be of help.
"Adopted son? Is there proof from the relevant local officials?"
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Yan's heart sank halfway. He had said that to resolve the immediate crisis, but he hadn't thought about official registration.
Ah Jiu's heart also sank to the bottom of the sea. She lowered her head and clutched her clothes.
"Without solid evidence, relying on mere words is insufficient. If every household tried to deceive and mislead as you are, what would become of this place? Hurry along."
The officer saw that it was a hastily conceived plan to fool him.
"Next."
The line slowly moved forward.
Meng Shaode, who was queuing, desperately hoped for good news from Ah Jiu and Tuoba Yan.
He had already let the people behind him go ahead to buy time. "Shaode, let them move further back. Perhaps there's a turn of events."
Cai Lihua also saw Ah Jiu and Xiao Yan speaking with the officer, thinking it might work.
This time, Ah Jiu took Tuoba Yan aside and whispered, "Can you take me into the city first?"
"Even if you enter the city, you cannot defy the Prince's order. Why don't you wait here temporarily, and I'll go find our chief to find a solution?"
Tuoba Yan decided that, at worst, he would go find the Prince. Wasn't that Prince someone who thought he looked like his son?
At worst, he would use his sweet talk to coax him and get him to personally stamp the document. Then, these enrolling officials would have nothing to say.
Having said that, without waiting for Ah Jiu's reply, he turned to the enrolling officer and said, "Brother, please wait. I'm going to find Prince Nanming."
"What do you think you are? Going to find Prince Nanming to personally handle such a trivial matter? Besides, with the ongoing unrest in our city, Prince Nanming has already gone to the capital to file a complaint."
As soon as these words were spoken, Tuoba Yan's embarrassment was beyond words.
Looking back at Ah Jiu, he felt utterly incompetent.
However, he saw Ah Jiu was talking to his parents. Then Ah Jiu ran over, "Xiao Yan, quick, take me into the city! I've thought of a way!"