After the New Year's Eve dinner, early the next morning, Feng Xiaoyue came to offer New Year's greetings to Chen Xiaobei and Cui Hongyu.
Seeing that it was Feng Xiaoyue, Cui Hongyu was also very happy. She stepped forward, took his hand, and went into the house to talk with them. Liu Rumei took Chen Qiao'er out, while Liu Ruren had to go and comfort Liu Tie, Liu Ce, and Xiao Qing.
In the room, Cui Hongyu hadn't said much before she felt another urge to vomit. Seeing this, Feng Xiaoyue was very pleased.
"Sister Hongyu, you're pregnant."
Cui Hongyu nodded shyly, "Yes, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you out as much in the coming days."
"Sister Hongyu, my place has enough staff, you don't need to help. Just come over and chat when you have time."
"By the way, I also made a few dishes overnight. Let's have a drink together at noon."
Cui Hongyu smiled and shook her head, "Oh, I can't drink anymore."
"Right, let Brother Xiaobei drink with you later."
Unknowingly, the morning passed. At noon, Liu Ruren decided to stay and have lunch with Liu Tie and Liu Ce. Chen Xiaobei was pulled over by Cui Hongyu to drink with Feng Xiaoyue.
Chen Xiaobei smiled, raised his wine glass, and said to Feng Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, thank you for working so hard to make so many dishes during the New Year. I'll toast you."
After finishing the first cup, Chen Xiaobei picked up the wine pot, about to pour the second cup, when he saw Liu Ce rush in with a worried look on his face.
"Brother-in-law, the young lady asks you to come over!"
Seeing the expression on Liu Ce's face, Chen Xiaobei's eyebrows shot up. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Brother Liu, what's wrong?"
"Brother-in-law, we just received a message from the Master. Something big has happened in the capital. You should go and find out for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei had a bad premonition. It was New Year's Day, and Liu Xiangnan wouldn't send such an urgent message for trivial matters.
Chen Xiaobei put down his wine glass and said apologetically to Feng Xiaoyue, "Miss Feng Xiaoyue, I'm truly sorry. Please drink first, I have to go."
With that, Chen Xiaobei cupped his fists and then hurried away with Liu Ce.
Chen Xiaobei quickly arrived at Liu Ruren's residence. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Chen Xiaobei felt that the atmosphere had become extremely oppressive.
The joyous New Year's atmosphere on everyone's faces was gone, replaced by sadness. Some people even had tear stains on their faces. Chen Xiaobei strode into the house and saw Liu Ruren sitting there, looking dejected.
Chen Xiaobei stepped forward, placed his hand on Liu Ruren's shoulder, and gently shook her. Liu Ruren seemed to snap back to reality and looked up at Chen Xiaobei.
Liu Ruren pointed to a note on the table, "Last night, on New Year's Eve, my father sent an urgent letter by carrier pigeon."
Chen Xiaobei stepped forward, picked up the note, and read the brief two sentences.
"The Emperor was assassinated and died. The Princess is severely injured. Return immediately!"
Chen Xiaobei's heart sank upon reading this.
Didn't we just capture Duobang? Where did the killer come from? What's going on? But he didn't have time to think about it now.
"Ruren, with such a major event happening, let's not wait any longer. Pack up and let's head back to the capital immediately."
Liu Ruren nodded, "Yes, the Princess is seriously injured, we have to go back quickly. Let's pack up and leave shortly."
After they agreed, Chen Xiaobei quickly turned and headed home. He met Cui Hongyu and briefly explained the situation. Upon hearing that the Princess was severely injured, Cui Hongyu also became anxious. Feng Xiaoyue was also shocked, "How could such a thing happen?"
Chen Xiaobei sighed, "Alas, the situation is unclear right now. Xiaoyue, I'll trouble you to take care of your sister-in-law at home. I'll send you updates on anything that happens!"
After making arrangements, Chen Xiaobei led out the horses, packed two sets of clothes, slung them over his shoulders, and left in a hurry to meet up with Liu Ruren.
On Liu Ruren's side, Ma Xiaogang and others were still left behind in Hetou Village to facilitate communication between both sides.
Upon reaching the village entrance, Chen Xiaobei gave brief instructions to the off-duty members of the village security team.
Although it was the New Year, vigilance could not be slackened, so there were still village security members on duty at the village entrance.
Just as Chen Xiaobei and Liu Ruren, accompanied by Liu Tie and Liu Ce, were rushing towards the capital.
At this time, in Wannian City, Princess Zhaoning's condition was not looking good.
After noon, she started to have a fever again. Chunhua and Qiuyue discussed it and hurried to seek help from Liu Xiangnan again.
Liu Xiangnan gave them two more pills. But he knew that without the antidote, these were only temporary measures. With this in mind, he hurried back to the palace to find Bai Han.
"Bai Han, has the killer's residence been searched? Have any clues been found about the antidote?"
Bai Han shook his head, "Marquis, we are already sending people to secretly investigate where this killer lives, but as you know, it's the New Year, and there are hundreds of thousands of people in Wannian City. It's really difficult to find."
Liu Xiangnan frowned, "Why don't we ask Duobang? Maybe he has a way."
Hearing Liu Xiangnan's words, Bai Han's eyes lit up. That's right, there was still a living person imprisoned in the jail.
Bai Han prepared himself and rushed to the imperial prison.
Because of the New Year, the prisoners in the imperial prison had also received some special treatment. That noon, they were given an extra pot of wine. After drinking, Duobang was leaning there, dozing off when he heard the sound of chains.
"Duobang, come here, I have something to ask you!"
Hearing Bai Han's summons, Duobang hesitated for a moment, then finally walked over.
After all, Duobang's desire to survive had become very strong.
So he also understood that only by obeying could he have a chance to live.
"Duobang, you really are insatiable. Someone has come to assassinate again, and this time they poisoned one of our high-ranking officials."
"What kind of poison causes fever and drowsiness, blackens the wound, and makes the person lucid at one moment and confused the next?"
Duobang was stunned by Bai Han's words.
It shouldn't be.
Although he was not by Qiaopusen's side, based on his understanding of Qiaopusen, he wouldn't send people consecutively in such a short period, especially without knowing whether he was alive or dead.
Moreover, it was New Year's Day. No matter how deranged Qiaopusen was, he wouldn't do such an extreme thing.
He suddenly had an ominous premonition about Shen You coming to see him a few days ago.
But then he thought, it shouldn't be. Jiangshangpiao was a well-known figure in the jianghu. Even when severely injured, his first choice would be to leave the Great Cang Kingdom, not to continue seeking revenge.
Thinking of this, he sighed, "I'm truly unable to help with this. There are too many people who use poison in the Great Earth Kingdom."
Bai Han believed this point; it was true that there were countless people who used poison in the Great Earth Kingdom.
But he didn't want to give up the last chance. He looked at Duobang and sighed, "This is your chance to atone for your sins. If you give up yourself, then I can't help you!"
Duobang heard this, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind. Forget it, survival was the most important thing at this critical juncture.