"So, what should we do now?"
Everyone present looked at Zoe; with the master away, it was up to her to decide.
The Byzantine princess took a deep breath; it was her first time facing such a situation.
In the past, she had always drifted along with the decisions of others, never imagining that one day it would be her turn to decide the fate of everyone present.
God's will was truly unfathomable.
Zoe's discomfort lasted only a moment, because her goal was very clear and precise: her persistence was to preserve everything her husband had entrusted to her, as this concerned their future and their prospects.
"Since they specifically asked to see me, then let me go see them."
After Zoe finished speaking, she strode out of the Red Mansion hall, and the armed servants and personal guards quickly made way for their mistress.
The former imperial capital official was somewhat stunned; in his impression, this girl had never been so firm and decisive, which made him quite uncomfortable.
It seemed she had truly changed.
Zoe was no longer a fallen princess who needed his protection, and he, Leo, was no longer an influential official.
Now, she was the master, and he was the subordinate.
Leo followed her, and the other Greeks also hurried to catch up; if anything happened to Zoe, no one would escape punishment.
The courtyard walls of the Red Mansion were about 4 meters high, with many wooden platforms built on them for archers.
Spearmen could also use long spears to stab intruders from here.
Seeing Zoe arrive, the soldiers quickly made way for their mistress to pass.
Zoe stood on the courtyard wall, and before her was the group that had called for her.
At a glance, numerous helmeted and armored warriors stood below; their number, roughly estimated, was at least over a hundred.
In current Kiev, a hundred armored warriors was a force not to be ignored; if they wanted to attack the Red Mansion, it would absolutely not be defensible.
"Warriors, I am Zoe, Rostislav's wife.
You asked to see me, and now I am here.
What do you wish to say?"
Although there was a hint of timidity in her heart, Zoe hid it well.
She showed no panic, instead appearing full of confidence, as if the hundred people below were merely unarmed peasants.
But her response was met with silence; none of the countless Rostislavs below spoke, merely standing there in silence.
At this moment, the situation suddenly became tense.
Everyone in the Red Mansion was worried: Were these people friends or foes? What exactly did they want to do?
Many inside the Red Mansion had already drawn their weapons, ready to fight at any moment.
Finally, just as Zoe was about to lose her composure and maintain her calm, a person emerged from the group, and their appearance made everyone in the Red Mansion breathe a sigh of relief.
It was a face with golden hair and beard, exuding the aura of a seasoned veteran, and keenness shone in their eyes.
"Madam Zoe, it is I, Poleye."
The Kiev general's voice allowed everyone's tense nerves to relax; a friend had arrived, not an enemy, and a comrade-in-arms at that.
"I have gathered everyone in the city who stands with Lord Rostislav, and armed all who could be armed.
On the way, some fleeing citizens joined us.
Now, please let us in."
Poleye, Zoe knew this person.
He was a good friend of her deceased father-in-law, whom she had never met.
After coming to Kiev, this person had frequently visited her husband, and she had become familiar with him as a result.
This person was originally a Chiliarch of Kiev, commanding the Kiev Veche Militia, but after Vladimir (the protagonist's father) died, he, who had been very close to Vladimir, was quickly stripped of his position and could only serve as a small Centurion.
It was for this reason that he actively gravitated towards Rostislav, and subtly held a leadership position among the people.
And now it could be announced that he had solidified this identity, as he had gathered the entire Rostislav faction in Kiev to come to the Prince's Red Mansion to provide protection.
"It is you, Bolei Yin, thank you so much for your help.
Open the gates; the addition of friends will strengthen our shield wall."
Zoe spoke the words her husband had taught her, and as she spoke, the closed gates slowly opened, allowing this group, who had come to support and band together, to enter.
As these hundreds of people entered, Zoe noticed that many of them were actually women, elderly, and children; the faces beneath the helmets were either excessively young or excessively old.
Although more people meant more food consumed, everyone knew that the chaos in Kiev could not last too long.
Now, more sword-wielding arms were needed to defend their homes and lives against potential assaults.
What Zoe valued most was Poleye.
This Chiliarch had managed to gather so many people in such a chaotic situation; his organizational ability was not to be underestimated.
"You've worked hard, Bolei Yin."
Zoe respectfully bowed to the Kiev general, her words and demeanor full of the imperial capital's nobility.
"This journey was not actually that dangerous, Madam Zoe."
After returning the bow, Poleye's face showed a hint of remembrance, recalling his experiences, his tone was very relaxed, like hunting.
And for this general, who had experienced countless battles, it truly was just hunting, as he had already seen many more dangerous situations.
"Large groups of rioters and rampaging Nomads are besieging the mansions of Kiev's powerful.
On the streets, there are only scattered robbers causing trouble, and they immediately hide when they see my large group.
The foolish ones who don't hide are killed by us, and some people run away when they see my face, hahaha, they must be criminals I caught before."
As a former Chiliarch of Kiev, Poleye also had to perform law enforcement duties, and due to his strictness, the number of criminals he dealt with was considerable; these people feared him to their bones.
"But speaking of criminals, alas, it seems the Kiev prison has also been breached, letting these people escape.
Now the whole of Kiev is in chaos, those damned powerful; the Grand Prince clearly warned them not to go too far, but they acted as if they hadn't seen it, and less than half of the people listened to the Grand Prince's words."
As a local power in Kiev and a former law enforcement officer, Poleye was very clear on how the situation had developed this way.
That part of the powerful who controlled the city's grain market were insatiably greedy, coupled with the stimulation of the defeat news, which led to today's scene.
"In any case, let's just get through these next few days.
Once those rioters have killed and looted enough, or if the Veche Militia can still organize forces to suppress them, order in Kiev should be restored."
As Zoe spoke, she invited the general into the Red Mansion, and just as they stepped into the hall, a plume of black smoke rose into the sky from behind them in Kiev...