Chen Xiaobei handed the silver notes to Feng Xiaoyue. "This is all I have."
Feng Xiaoyue looked at the silver notes, her eyes wide with surprise. "You don't need this much. I meant that if I borrow a horse, I should at least give the owner some money."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. "No need to borrow, just buy one. Let them name their price, and the sooner the better."
Feng Xiaoyue's face was filled with astonishment. "Brother Xiaobei, what's going on?"
Chen Xiaobei thought for a moment, then decided against it. "Never mind, you'd better not ask. Knowing too much is not good for you."
"By the way, there's something I need you to keep an eye on. You should know that thirty thousand imperial troops have arrived."
Feng Xiaoyue nodded. "I heard. They're camped outside the county town."
"Yes. I want to sneak someone out of the military camp. Help me find a suitable candidate, and if you do, send word back to Centipede Ridge."
"Go find someone named Cui Hongyu. Just tell them you were sent by me."
After listening to Chen Xiaobei's instructions, Feng Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly, memorizing everything.
With all preparations complete, time flew by.
As night fell and it was time to part, Cui Hongyu reluctantly held Chen Xiaobei's arm. She didn't want him to go, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Liu Rumei had also tried to persuade Chen Xiaobei, telling him that without martial arts, he should give up on going to the capital. But Chen Xiaobei insisted. He had to see what kind of person this Grand Tutor Sun Yuliang was, and he wanted to kill Zhu Meng with his own hands.
As night descended, Chen Xiaobei and his eight companions, fully prepared, quietly descended Centipede Ridge and disappeared into the darkness.
Watching them depart, Cui Hongyu stood there for a long time without moving.
Chen Ziyan walked over, took her arm, and gently coaxed, "Let's go back. We'll hear good news soon."
After standing for a while longer, Cui Hongyu finally returned to her room.
Meanwhile, the Old Ancestor had gathered all the men of Hetou Village.
He tapped his staff and walked a few steps in front of the crowd. "I'm putting it bluntly today. If anyone dares to go against the clan again, don't blame me for disowning them."
"Chen Sanqiu and the like will no longer be sons of the Chen family."
He then looked up at everyone present. "From now on, you will take turns guarding the entrance. Without Hongyu's nod, no one is to leave even half a step."
The crowd responded in unison, "Please rest assured, Old Ancestor, we will not shame the Chen family's reputation."
Cui Hongyu stood at the entrance of the main stronghold, looking at the scene before him, tears welling up in his eyes. This was a great trust placed in him by the Old Ancestor, and he had to shoulder this burden for Chen Xiaobei.
In the blink of an eye, a day passed. In the evening, Ma Xiaoyi finally returned to the mountaintop.
Looking at the exhausted Ma Xiaoyi, one could imagine how he had spent the entire day and night.
Liu Kai asked with concern, "Xiaoyi, why haven't Miss and the others returned?"
Xiao Jingyun and Princess Zhaoning beside him looked even more anxious. "Quickly tell us, have they run into trouble?"
Ma Xiaoyi took a few deep breaths before cupping his fists towards Xiao Jingyun. "Your Highness, Miss and the others have rushed to the capital."
Xiao Jingyun was stunned. "To the capital? What about Qiao'er? Weren't we supposed to go down the mountain to save Qiao'er?"
Ma Xiaoyi took out the letter written by Liu Rumei from his怀 and handed it to the Crown Prince. He then briefly relayed what Chen Xiaobei had said.
Xiao Jingyun's eyes welled up with tears as he listened.
"Minister Chen is truly a pillar of my Great Cang Kingdom. He is willing to set aside his own sister to help this king quell the rebellion first."
Princess Zhaoning, standing nearby, was also deeply moved. Chen Xiaobei, not caring about his own sister, prioritized the greater cause of the nation.
As for herself, she was plotting to harm her own brother for the position of Crown Prince. In comparison, the difference was stark.
Xiao Jingyun finished reading Liu Rumei's letter and handed it to Princess Zhaoning. "A brilliant move! We'll stall Zhu Meng here and attract Sun Yuliang's attention. Liu Rumei and the others will return to the capital. Once Sun Yuliang is apprehended, and the ten lords surround Zhu Meng, the crisis can be resolved."
Liu Kai nodded repeatedly. He cupped his fists towards Xiao Jingyun and said loudly, "I never thought that a mere village head like Chen Xiaobei would possess such courage and strategy. With just eight people, he dares to undertake a thousand-mile raid. This strategy of capturing the leader first, then the followers, is something even Lord Liu in his prime would not have had the courage and boldness for."
To be compared with Liu Xiangnan was a great honor for Chen Xiaobei.
Xiao Jingyun pondered for a moment, then picked up a brush and wrote something.
Princess Zhaoning saw this and took the brush, writing something herself and handing it to Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun. "Let's send both decrees to Liu Rumei. Many hands make light work."
Hearing her words, Xiao Jingyun couldn't help but smile. He knew that his sister's attitude had shifted slightly.
As the carrier pigeons disappeared into the night, Xiao Jingyun clasped his hands together and prayed silently, hoping that nothing would go wrong.
The next day, as dawn broke, Liu Rumei and her companions arrived at Fengjia Town.
This was where Liu Ziming and his men had lost Liu Yuanwu's coffin. From here to the capital was less than a hundred li.
While having breakfast, Liu Lumei briefly explained the terrain around the capital to Chen Xiaobei and Huang Ying.
Chen Xiaobei frowned and thought for a moment. "I think the checkpoints in and out of the capital will be very strict."
"It won't be a problem for Huang Ying, the Lotus Cult Leader, and me. You members of the Liu family will have to think of a countermeasure."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Don't worry, we have special channels for entering and exiting the city. It's foolproof."
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "In that case, we'll meet in the capital. We'll arrive at the back door of your Liu Residence for dinner. If by the third watch, when the curfew begins, one side hasn't appeared, it means something has happened."
With that, Chen Xiaobei put down his chopsticks and gestured for Huang Ying and the Lotus Cult Leader to set off with him.
After they had traveled a considerable distance, Huang Ying asked with confusion, "Brother Xiaobei, we are still a hundred li from the capital, why are you in such a hurry to separate from them?"
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. "It was here last time that Liu Ziming and his men even lost Liu Yuanwu's coffin."
The Lotus Cult Leader raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried that there might still be enemies of the Liu family here?"
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "You all know martial arts, but I don't. So I have to ensure my own safety."
Upon hearing this, the Lotus Cult Leader chuckled. There was a hint of disdain in his eyes, as if he were mocking Chen Xiaobei for being a coward.
But Huang Ying, on the other hand, gave Chen Xiaobei a thumbs-up. "You're right. We really shouldn't pay any price for this. Even if Liu Rumei gets into trouble, my senior sister and I will infiltrate the imperial palace and capture that scoundrel Sun Yuliang for you."
Looking at the confident Huang Ying, the Lotus Cult Leader was speechless. He wanted to tell Huang Ying that he was still injured and his powers were far from their peak, but he held back. He would deal with it when they reached the capital.