Without a word, Fang Jun took it and quickly wrote his name.
He Shun also took it and signed his name.
There were two copies. After finishing, He Shun handed one copy back to Fang Jun. Once everything was done, He Shun stepped aside with a smile.
"Please, everyone."
Liu Rumei led the way, taking everyone straight to He Zhen's room.
As they arrived at He Zhen's room, Fang Jun, being quite polite, raised his hand and knocked a few times. The room was silent, with no response.
Liu Rumei tried pushing the door with her hand, and it opened directly.
As the door swung open, she darted forward, heading straight for the large bed in the center of the room.
However, when Liu Rumei reached the bed, she was stunned.
Illuminated by the torchlight from the doorway, it was clear that the bed was empty. There was no Feng Xiaoyue, nor He Zhen.
This.
Liu Rumei suddenly realized she had been tricked. He Shun had kept them at the door, arguing and signing agreements, and in that long stretch of time, He Zhen had already been moved away.
Seeing Liu Rumei frozen there, He Shun beside her couldn't help but sneer, "Everyone, what else do you have to say now?"
"I'll be taking over the Sihai Wine House after dawn. You should all go back and prepare."
After speaking, he glanced at Yong Hao beside him, "Show them out."
Chen Xiaobei and the others were half-escorted, half-ushered out of the He residence by Yong Hao.
As soon as they were outside, Liu Rumei couldn't hold back her tears, which immediately streamed down her face.
"Brother Xiaobei, you have to believe me. I, I really saw you bring Miss Xiaoyue into the room."
Chen Xiaobei pulled her into his arms and gently patted her shoulder, "I believe you. The problem lies with He Shun. He stopped us at the door, clearly to stall for time."
Liu Ziming and Liu Ziliang patted the sabers at their waists, "Why don't we just rush in? With a knife to their throats, I'm afraid they wouldn't dare not tell the truth."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head, "Forcing our way in isn't a good plan. Let's go back first."
Suddenly, Fang Junxun looked around and exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, where's the little girl? Why is my sister missing?"
Seeing everyone in a panic, Chen Xiaobei spoke to comfort them, "Fang Jun, don't worry about the little girl. I arranged for her to go elsewhere. Let's go back to the inn and wait."
Only then did Fang Jun let out a long sigh and followed everyone back to the inn. Upon returning to his room, Fang Jun sat down and couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaobei was waiting anxiously. He was waiting for the little girl to return. The fact that she hadn't returned for so long suggested she might have discovered something.
He waited until dawn was breaking when a soft sound came from the window, and the little girl jumped in from outside.
"Brother Xiaobei, I found her."
Chen Xiaobei raised his eyebrows, "Quick, tell me what's going on."
"Brother Xiaobei, you asked me to check the backyard. As soon as I went over, I saw several people suspiciously driving a carriage out. I followed them all the way, and they actually took her to Centipede Ridge."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei's eyebrows shot up. Centipede Ridge was where Princess Zhaoning resided.
"You're not mistaken, she's at Centipede Ridge?"
"Yes, I saw it clearly. The carriage did enter Centipede Ridge. They seemed very familiar with the place. After saying a few words to the guards, they drove the carriage in. I was afraid of alerting them, so I came back."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei felt he had a plan. "Alright, you rest. I'll head to Centipede Ridge immediately to get her. No matter what, we have to rescue Miss Xiaoyue first."
"Also, you need to appease your brother."
Chen Xiaobei got up to call Liu Rumei. As soon as she heard movement, Fang Jun was the first to rush out.
Seeing her brother appear, the little girl stepped forward and took his hand, "Brother, we have news of Sister Xiaoyue. Let me explain slowly."
As she spoke, she pulled him into the room.
Chen Xiaobei briefly explained to Liu Rumei what the little girl had discovered.
Liu Rumei found it hard to believe, "How is this possible?"
"Yes, I find it incredible too, but the little girl saw it clearly. She did enter Centipede Ridge, so we need to go see the princess."
Liu Rumei arranged for a few people to stay behind to protect the little girl and Fang Jun, while she accompanied Chen Xiaobei as they galloped towards Centipede Ridge.
It was nearly thirty li from Xiaojia Town to Centipede Ridge, requiring more than half an hour of riding.
Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Chen Xiaobei did not rush forward. Instead, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted towards the mountain, "Hey, I am Chen Xiaobei, Chen Xiaobei from Hetou Village. I have something to request to see Princess Your Highness."
After shouting several times, a person peeked out from behind a rock. After a careful look, they couldn't help but wave a greeting, "Chen Xiaobei, Miss Liu, please wait a moment. I will go and report immediately."
With that, the person turned and ran off. Before long, the person returned, grinning as they walked forward and took the reins of their horses from the two.
"Please ascend the mountain, the Princess has invited you."
Chen Xiaobei and Liu Rumei didn't need any guidance; they were very familiar with the way to the mountain stronghold.
When Chen Xiaobei reached the entrance of the mountain stronghold, Chunhua, the princess's personal maid, was already waiting.
Seeing the two arrive, she bowed and said, "Her Highness the Princess is waiting for you two in the main hall." With that, she turned and led them into the former assembly hall.
The hall had been transformed by Princess Zhaoning into a very cozy space, with no trace of its former self.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Princess." Liu Rumei and Chen Xiaobei spoke almost in unison, then prepared to kneel. Princess Zhaoning smiled faintly, "Alright, Brother Xiaobei, no need to be so formal. You two are married, and I was hoping to attend your wedding feast one day."
Chen Xiaobei and Liu Rumei exchanged glances. Chen Xiaobei suddenly realized that he had been remiss in his manners with the princess. Before going to the capital, he had specifically come to ask for her advice on what to pay attention to, but after returning, he hadn't even paid a visit.
Thinking of this, he quickly bowed, "To Your Highness, I have always wanted to invite you to our wedding feast, but before I could prepare, an urgent matter arose."
Princess Zhaoning signaled Chunhua and Qiuyue to bring cushions, inviting them to sit down.
"Brother Xiaobei, please tell me slowly."
Xiaobei briefly recounted the events of the previous night, "Your Highness, the little girl tracked them all the way to Centipede Ridge. Please help us verify this."
Princess Zhaoning raised her eyebrows and looked at Chunhua and Qiuyue beside her, "You two go and ask. Who dares to collude with He Zhen and commit such heinous acts?"
Chunhua and Qiuyue turned and left. Before long, they returned, "Reporting to Your Highness, we have asked everyone, and no one has any dealings with this He Zhen. Furthermore, we have not found any trace of Miss Feng Xiaoyue."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei and Liu Rumei exchanged glances.
Something seemed not right. Could the little girl have seen incorrectly?