Before Liu Rumei could open the door, Liu Ce was already crying, "Miss, something has happened, something big has happened, second young master has been shot!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Rumei's heart tightened. "Where is he now? How is he?"
"Ma Biao is carrying him down the mountain, he should be down by now."
Liu Rumei didn't say another word and took off running. The sounds of hurried footsteps echoed through Hetou Village, startling the village dogs into barking.
The barking naturally alerted Chen Xiaobei. He frowned, listening to the continuous canine chorus in the village.
At this moment, Cui Hongyu also woke up and asked with a hint of worry, "Husband, could something have happened?"
Chen Xiaobei gently stroked her hair. "You sleep, I'll go and see."
Cui Hongyu shook her head. "I'll go with you."
Chen Xiaobei hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright."
The two of them got up quietly and tiptoed into Chen Qiaoer's room. Seeing that Chen Qiaoer was still sound asleep, they quietly retreated.
As soon as they opened the courtyard gate, they saw a group of people rushing towards them. At the forefront was Liu Rumei.
Cui Hongyu stepped forward, about to speak. But Liu Rumei simply gestured to her and hurried past.
This was an emergency. Chen Xiaobei suddenly had a bad premonition.
The two of them quickly followed the crowd and rushed out of the village.
As they left the village and ran along the riverbank towards Qingniu Mountain, they saw a fire in the distance and people descending from the mountain.
Chen Xiaobei instantly remembered the group of people who had gone into the mountain that morning.
Ma Biao and the others, who were descending the mountain, looked up and saw a group of people approaching in the distance. They had been feeling tense, but suddenly someone exclaimed with joy, "Miss, it's Miss!"
Ma Biao looked up and saw Liu Rumei approaching. He quickened his steps and bowed to Liu Rumei. "Greetings, Miss."
Liu Rumei's gaze fell on Liu Yuanwu behind him. "How is my brother?"
Ma Biao wiped away tears and gently set Liu Yuanwu down from his back. "He took two arrows, I fear..."
Upon hearing that he had been shot, Cui Hongyu, who was at the back of the crowd, rushed forward. "Make way, make way, let me see, let me see."
Seeing that Cui Hongyu had followed, a hint of gratitude flashed in Liu Rumei's eyes.
Cui Hongyu stepped forward and knelt down, placing her hand on Liu Yuanwu's wrist.
As soon as she touched him, Cui Hongyu clearly felt that Liu Yuanwu's body temperature had dropped significantly, and there was no pulse in his wrist.
She felt again. There was still no pulse on Liu Yuanwu's neck. She then leaned down and placed her ear on Liu Yuanwu's chest, but still heard no heartbeat.
Cui Hongyu stood up, tears streaming down her face, and shook her head.
Seeing Cui Hongyu's expression, Liu Rumei naturally knew what it meant.
But she still knelt down unwillingly and shook Liu Yuanwu's body desperately. "Brother, wake up."
"Brother, open your eyes and see it's Rumei!"
Her crying intensified the already heavy atmosphere.
Liu Ce, standing nearby, waited for Liu Rumei to cry for a while before slowly stepping forward and asking Ma Biao, "Military Advisor Ma, what exactly happened?"
Ma Biao wiped away his tears and simply explained the situation.
Liu Ce stepped forward, pulled out the more than five-foot-long arrow, and examined it. "The Li family of Southern Xinjiang is actually involved in this mess."
"Yes, I wanted to go into the forest to investigate, but he used 'Nine Arrows Sealing Divinity.' I didn't dare to rush in."
At this moment, Liu Rumei also slowly stood up and wiped away her tears.
"A life for a life. Block the passage down the mountain. I want to see who did this."
Ma Biao clasped his hands again and said, "Zhang Qian was left at the Mountain God Temple, and I set up several surveillance points along the way. As long as they come down the mountain, they should be spotted."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Let's go, let's leave here first."
After Liu Rumei had made her arrangements methodically, Cui Hongyu took two steps forward and came to Liu Rumei, gently embracing her. "Sister, take care!"
The word "sister" triggered endless sorrow in Liu Rumei. She buried her face in Cui Hongyu's shoulder, tears flowing silently.
Liu Rumei felt regret now, endless regret. She shouldn't have been willful, shouldn't have refused to see her second brother. A moment's lapse in judgment had separated them by life and death.
Even if her brother had a thousand faults, he was still her brother, of the same blood.
After she had cried for a while, Cui Hongyu softly advised, "Alright, let's go home."
The two of them supported each other and slowly walked towards the village. Chen Xiaobei, following behind them, was filled with mixed emotions.
Facing the departure of a loved one, Liu Rumei, who had always projected a strong image, wept uncontrollably.
One could only imagine how heartbroken her parents would be, facing the tragedy of white hair mourning black hair.
When Chen Xiaobei arrived at Liu Rumei's courtyard, it was crowded with people inside and out.
Seeing Liu Rumei approach, everyone started shouting, "Miss, take us to avenge second young master!"
"If this revenge is not taken, we are not human!"
"Revenge!"
"Revenge!"
Liu Rumei wiped away her tears and looked at the impassioned crowd, but shook her head slightly.
"Everyone, I know you are all as sad as I am, but now is not the time for revenge. We must not only pursue the murderer but also investigate who is manipulating this matter from behind the scenes."
After speaking, she looked at Ma Biao again. "Take them to rest first. I have my own arrangements."
Although Ma Biao was unwilling, he could only cup his hands to Liu Rumei and lead the crowd away.
When Liu Rumei had moved into Hetou Village, she lived in the former home of Chen Anbang, while most of the others were scattered in dilapidated abandoned houses or had built makeshift straw huts in corners.
Seeing that Liu Rumei had brought people to live in such conditions, Ma Biao couldn't help but sigh. What kind of power could make Liu Rumei pay such a price to firmly stand with the Crown Prince?
Meanwhile, Liu Rumei had stopped crying and began to arrange her next course of action.
"Liu Ce, take your men to the outskirts of Hetou Village, as close to the main road as possible."
"Qingniu Mountain has many forks, but after descending, they will mostly have to take the main road outside the village."
"Just follow them, don't alert them. As soon as you find their lodging, come back immediately."
Liu Ce agreed and turned to leave. Beside him, Xiao Qing stepped forward and handed Liu Rumei a cup of water.
"Miss, please have some water first."
Liu Rumei shook her head. "Go and fetch a basin of water. I want to wash second brother's face."
At this time, Da Lao Hei and others had also quietly descended Qingniu Mountain.
He was cautious enough not to speak or light a fire, and the group quietly made their way down the mountain by feel.
Zhang Qian, hiding behind the Mountain God Temple, saw all this clearly. As he was about to get up and pursue the dozen figures passing by, he suddenly had a change of heart and stopped.