The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Seeing that everything had been arranged, Xi Yu waved to everyone and said loudly: "Everyone, go away."

After hearing this, everyone dispersed in all directions.

At this time, a commoner came over hesitantly. He was one of the people who originally worked at the checkpoint.

He was ashamed, lowered his head and dared not look directly at Xiyu, and said in a low voice: "Prime Minister, during that period of time, I was blinded by greed and followed them to do evil things. I even had complaints against you. But now I understand that everything you did was for the good of our people. I am really guilty and hope that you can forgive me."

After saying that, he kowtowed heavily to Xi Yu several times with a "thump" sound, and his forehead hit the ground with a "bang bang" sound, as if only this could slightly alleviate the regret in his heart.

Xi Yu said gently: "It is human nature to want to make money, but a gentleman loves money and earns it in a proper way. Now that you know you made a mistake, don't make the same mistake again."

As he said this, he stretched out his hand to help the commoner up and asked him to get up quickly.

Afterwards, Xi Yu raised his voice and shouted to the people who had not yet dispersed: "Today's matter is over, everyone should go back quickly and live a good life."

After saying that, he turned around and walked back with Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong.

On the other side, Linglong stood in the courtyard of the Huang Mansion. The morning light shone through the branches and leaves, casting tiny shadows on her still frail body that had just recovered from a serious illness.

The mansion with carved beams and painted rafters in the past is now deserted by servants, like an old dream after the prosperity has faded. Only the old gatekeeper still stays here, becoming the last lingering attachment to this mansion.

She walked all the way to the gatehouse, where the old gatekeeper was sitting on the doorstep, staring blankly into the distance.

Linglong said softly: "Uncle, I'm leaving."

She believed that the people from Hesheli would come back sooner or later, and they could not just sit here and wait for death.

The old doorman turned his head slowly, his eyes full of reluctance: "Madam, where can you go alone? Life out here is not easy."

Linglong smiled sadly.

"It's better than being scared here. Uncle, don't keep watching. Come with me."

The old doorman shook his head firmly and patted the doorpost beside him: "Madam, this Huang Mansion is where I have guarded my whole life. Even if it is like this now, I will still guard it."

Linglong's eyes were red, she knew what the old doorman meant.

The old gatekeeper looked at Linglong, seemed to want to say something but stopped himself, and finally let out a sigh.

Linglong looked around the cold and lonely Huang Mansion with mixed feelings.

The servants took advantage of the chaos to sweep away all the valuables they could, leaving the house empty.

But there was a gleam of certainty in Linglong's eyes, she knew that there were still secrets in this mansion that had not been discovered.

The moonlight was like water, covering the courtyard with a layer of silver gauze. She came to an abandoned greenhouse alone.

In the corner, under the pot of orchid that had long since withered, there was a loose brick.

Linglong moved it away with great effort, revealing a dark hole, in which lay quietly a few strings of pearls, some exquisite gold hairpins and a few quaint seals.

These were the treasures of the Huang family in the past. They were hidden here and then forgotten, and even the greedy servants did not notice them.

In the next few days, Linglong carefully wrapped the treasures in a cloth towel, found an opportunity, disguised herself as an ordinary peasant woman, and went out.

She carefully avoided the attention of others and came to a hidden pawnshop in the city.

The shopkeeper's gaze swept over these items, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. Although he knew that their origins might be extraordinary, driven by interests, he still completed the transaction with Linglong and exchanged them for full-value silver notes and some loose silver. Linglong carefully sewed the money on the inside corner of her clothes.

After returning to the Huang Mansion, Linglong stood under the patio in the courtyard and looked up at the sky. She knew it was time to leave.

The old doorman walked over slowly, his eyes full of worry and reluctance.

"Ma'am, are you really going to leave? The world out there is tough."

Linglong smiled slightly, but her eyes were firm.

"Uncle, staying here is always dangerous. I can't just sit there and wait for death."

She took out a thick cotton coat from her bag and handed it to the old doorman.

"Uncle, this cold winter is coming, please keep it to keep warm. Thank you for your care."

The old doorman took it with trembling hands, tears glistening in his eyes.

Linglong took a deep breath, turned around and stepped over the high threshold.

Linglong stood outside the Huang Mansion, looking back at the mottled vermilion lacquer gate, feeling mixed emotions.

After thinking it over again and again, Linglong remembered that she had heard that Youzhou was prosperous and bustling, and that Xiyu had also looked for her. Perhaps if she went there, she would have a glimmer of hope and could find Xiyu's protection.

Having made up her mind, she found a carriage shop and hired a simple carriage.

The driver was a simple and honest middle-aged man. He waved his whip and asked, "Miss, this journey is not short. What are you going to Youzhou for?"

Linglong lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "Go find an old friend."

The driver didn't ask any questions, just shouted and the carriage started slowly.

Linglong sat in the car. During the bumpy ride, she held on to the bag beside her, which contained clothes and dry food.

The scenery outside the car window kept changing, gradually moving from familiar streets to unfamiliar suburbs.

She was filled with anxiety about the unknown, but also with a little hope for the future.

The drizzle was like silk, falling quietly. Before anyone knew it, the carriage Linglong was riding in slowly drove into a quiet village - Wang Haipeng's village.

The coachman pulled the reins and turned back to Linglong in the carriage and said, "Girl, I'm afraid the rain won't stop any time soon. We have to find a place to take shelter."

Linglong lifted a corner of the car curtain, looked at the village shrouded in rain, nodded slightly and said: "Then let's find a family to borrow a roof."

The coachman jumped off the carriage and led the horse around the village, and soon stopped in front of a small courtyard.

The coachman stepped forward and rang the door knocker.

After a while, the gate opened and Wang Haipeng stuck his head out.

He looked at the uninvited guest outside the door with a puzzled look on his face.

The coachman hurriedly explained his purpose with a smile. Wang Haipeng looked at the carriage behind and Linglong inside the carriage, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped aside to let them enter the yard.

Linglong got out of the car and walked into the yard, rain dripping down her hair.

She bowed slightly to Wang Haipeng to express her gratitude. Wang Haipeng scratched his head and said uncomfortably, "Miss, you don't have to be polite. It's raining heavily. Let's go inside first."

The two were about to step in, but suddenly stopped. They saw many soldiers in armor in the yard, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The coachman showed a vigilant look on his face and whispered to Linglong, "Miss, what's going on?"

Linglong was also full of doubts, her eyes wandering over the soldiers.

Wang Haipeng noticed something strange about the two people and looked at the soldiers hurriedly with a questioning look in his eyes, as if silently asking whether he should tell the girl their identities.

At this time, a soldier stepped forward and said calmly: "We are soldiers from the Youzhou border crossing, and we are here on some official business."

Linglong was slightly startled, then she showed a gentle smile and greeted softly: "Hello, military officers. I am sorry to bother you in this rainy day."

The soldiers nodded in return, but their eyes were still somewhat scrutinizing. Linglong's eyes inadvertently swept to Wang Hu who was standing beside her. Wang Hu seemed to know what she was thinking, and quickly waved his hand and said, "You don't have to look at me. I'm not a soldier, just an ordinary farmer."

Raindrops dripped down the eaves, breaking the brief silence. Linglong wondered in her heart, why did these soldiers appear in this ordinary farmer's house? What was their so-called official business?
But she remained calm, standing there quietly, waiting for what might happen next. The unexpected rain seemed to have dragged this peaceful village into an unknown storm...

Wang Haipeng pretended to be sick in bed for several days. In the early morning, he finally stopped pretending and slowly sat up.

Just now, a soldier frowned and asked, "The robbers came that day and kept saying that there was a treasure hidden in your house. What's going on? You have to give me a clear answer today!"

Wang Haipeng's heart tightened and his mind was working rapidly. He was considering how to answer in order to get away with it, when suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

The coachman's shouts and Linglong's gentle inquiries were heard from outside the door.

The sudden knock on the door made the atmosphere in the room freeze instantly. A hint of relief flashed in Wang Haipeng's eyes, and he quickly made a gesture to the soldiers to keep quiet, indicating them not to make any sound for the time being.

The soldiers looked at each other, and although they were somewhat reluctant, they temporarily suppressed the urge to continue asking questions.

The rain was heavy and there was no sign of stopping. The big raindrops hit the ground, splashing layers of water.

Soon, the heart-pounding knock on the door rang out again in the wind and rain.

Wang Haipeng hurriedly held up a shaky oil-paper umbrella and waded through the water towards the gate.

The door opened, and a carriage rushed into view in the wind and rain.

Liu Xiaoyu and another soldier, dressed in armor, jumped off the carriage nimbly.

Wang Haipeng looked at Liu Xiaoyu who appeared at the door, his heart was filled with shock and his eyes were full of surprise.

He clearly remembered that Liu Xiaoyu should be in the underground secret passage, so how could she appear here at this time?
Seeing Wang Haipeng's astonishment, Liu Xiaoyu simply said, "Let's talk about this inside."

That unquestionable tone brought Wang Haipeng back to his senses instantly.

Wang Haipeng didn't dare to ask any more questions. He quickly stepped aside and led Liu Xiaoyu and the soldiers into the house.

The rain was heavy, like a boundless net, covering the entire world.

Liu Xiaoyu strode into the house with a handsome posture. The rain slid down his armor and splashed tiny water on the ground.

Seeing this, the soldiers in the room hurriedly stood up and saluted him in unison.

At this time, a young soldier looked suspicious and couldn't help asking, "Sir, weren't you in the secret passage? Why are you here?"

The rain was still pouring outside the house. Liu Xiaoyu was about to answer the soldier's question when her eyes suddenly swept to Linglong and the coachman in the corner. Her brows slightly frowned, and her eyes were full of vigilance and confusion.

Linglong was very perceptive and immediately noticed Liu Xiaoyu's doubts. She whispered to Wang Haipeng, "It seems like you have something important to discuss. I'm afraid it would be inconvenient for the coachman and I to stay here. Can we take shelter in another room for a while?"

Wang Haipeng looked at Liu Xiaoyu, then at Linglong, and quickly nodded and said, "Of course, of course, Miss, please come this way."

As he spoke, Wang Haipeng led Linglong and the coachman to a small house next door. The room was a little dim, and there were some old farm tools and sundries placed inside.

"Girl, please stay here for a while. Just call me if you need anything." After saying this, Wang Haipeng hurried away and closed the door.

Linglong sat on a shaky stool, her ears unconsciously pressed against the wall. She knew that the following conversation might involve some unknown secrets.

And all of this, in these stormy days, is developing in a more mysterious direction...

Liu Xiaoyu looked solemn as he told everyone about the secret passage.

They encountered numerous mechanisms and traps in the secret passage, but fortunately they escaped without any danger in the end.

He also left two capable soldiers to guard the treasure in the secret passage to prevent any accidents.

The soldiers then realized that the secret passage actually led to Youzhou, and they were all surprised.

Liu Xiaoyu went on to say that the matter had been reported to the Prime Minister's Office. Although the Prime Minister was not there at the time, the situation was explained in detail to the Prime Minister's wife, and they were just waiting for the Prime Minister to come back to decide on the next course of action.

Liu Xiaoyu stood tall in the room, her eyes determined as she continued, "This time we are going back to sort out everything and take out the treasures in the secret passage. The best way to deal with these treasures is to present them to the Prime Minister and let him decide how to deal with them."

As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier turned to Wang Haipeng and asked sharply, "The robbers who came to ask for the treasure a few days ago, are the treasures they mentioned the ones in the secret passage?"

Wang Haipeng trembled slightly, and hurriedly nodded and replied: "Sir, it is true, I dare not say a word of falsehood."

A soldier suddenly stepped forward, pointed at Wang Haipeng and said loudly: "Chief, he is lying! When he heard that there was a treasure in the basement, his surprised expression was not fake. It was definitely not as if he had known about it for a long time. He must be hiding something from us."

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Wang Haipeng. Wang Haipeng's face turned red all the way to his ears. He looked evasive and stammered, not knowing how to start.

Liu Xiaoyu's face darkened, and she looked at Wang Haipeng with a sharp gaze. She asked in a low and dignified voice, "What's going on?"

At this time, another soldier came forward to report: "Chief, a few bandits attacked us that day, and they were very fierce. If it weren't for brother Wang Hu's help, my two brothers would have met with an accident."

Everyone stared at Wang Haipeng, as if trying to find out all the hidden secrets from him, while the rain outside was still falling, knocking on the windows, as if adding a bit of uneasy rhythm to the tense situation.

Liu Xiaoyu's eyes were as cold as an eagle, shooting straight at Wang Hu. It seemed that the faces of those soldiers were full of admiration and worship for Wang Hu.

Retracting his gaze, Liu Xiaoyu stared at Wang Haipeng again, his voice low but unquestionable: "Wang Haipeng, now that things have come to this, you'd better tell the truth and don't hide anything. Otherwise, you will be punished by military law!"

Beads of sweat rolled down Wang Haipeng's forehead. His hands were nervously tugging at the corners of his clothes. His eyes wandered panickily between Liu Xiaoyu and Wang Hu. His lips were trembling, as if he was struggling to decide whether to tell the truth.

The room was dead silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Wang Haipeng like nails.

After a while, Wang Haipeng seemed to have made up his mind and finally said, "Commander Liu, I have never heard of the treasure hidden in the secret room."

Wang Hu sneered at the side: "Humph, of course, if they knew there was such a good thing, they would have thought of a way to steal all the treasures long ago!"

Wang Haipeng lowered his head even more, bit his lips tightly, and did not refute, obviously agreeing with Wang Hu's words.

Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Wang Haipeng quickly told the truth: "Commander Liu, to be honest, the treasure the robbers wanted that day was actually something else. Sirs, please wait a moment, let me get it." After saying that, he hurriedly turned around and walked quickly towards another room.

Not long after, Wang Haipeng came out of the room, holding a bundle carefully in his hands.

Everyone's attention was instantly attracted to the bundle. The house was extremely quiet for a moment, and the only sound was the sound of raindrops falling outside. Everyone was curious about what treasure was in the bundle that attracted the robbers to come and ask for it.

Wang Haipeng took a deep breath and slowly opened the bundle. He saw some gold leaves lying quietly inside, sparkling with an alluring luster under the dim light in the room.

He gently picked up a piece and said with a bit of helplessness, "This is what my grandfather left behind. Back then, my grandfather did something with some people. After the success, the spoils were not divided equally and there was a lot of unhappiness. I guess those robbers are the descendants of the people who had an enemy with my grandfather back then. After so many years, they still miss these things."

Liu Xiaoyu raised her hand slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then said loudly to the soldiers: "No matter what, since these are Wang Haipeng's family heirlooms, they are all his own things."

After that, Liu Xiaoyu laughed softly and continued, "We are all following orders, so how could we do something corrupt? Wang Haipeng, quickly collect these gold leaves. We won't take them."

When Wang Haipeng heard this, his eyes were filled with gratitude. He hurriedly and carefully put the gold leaves back into the bag one by one, hugged it tightly in his arms, and kept saying "Thank you, Commander Liu, and thank you all the soldiers."

In the slightly dim room next door, Linglong pressed her ear against the wall, listening attentively to every word coming from next door, her heart full of surprise. She really didn't expect that there were so many complicated things hidden behind this.

The coachman watched Linglong's actions and frowned slightly. He felt that eavesdropping on other people's conversations was inappropriate and very indecent.

But he opened his mouth, hesitated for a few moments, and finally said nothing. He just shook his head helplessly, and sat quietly aside, listening to the sound of raindrops outside, waiting for Linglong to finish listening to this story that they should not be involved in.

After a while, Linglong found that the coachman was looking at her, and he probably realized that what he did was a little indecent.

She then smiled.

"I'm just particularly curious." (End of this chapter)