After being tortured for half a day, Liu An was left without a piece of intact flesh and was dying.
After asking again and again, the same sentence remains.
Only Zhou Sui knew the entrance to the secret passage.
Murong Shen had been holding back his anger for a whole night and a half, and when he couldn't bear it anymore, he chopped off Liu An's head with a knife. A cloud of blood spattered, staining Murong Shen's clothes red.
Murong Shen coldly ordered: "Continue searching and we must find the entrance to the secret passage."
This search lasted two days.
Many of the bandits who escaped were captured and chopped off one by one. The innocent women and children in the village were sent down the mountain crying.
Everywhere in the village was searched, and no one could find Wangtong of the Zhou and Sui Dynasties. Of course, they could not find the secret passage.
However, some soldiers came to report that a group of people who shouldn't be there were found in the southeast of Qinglong Mountain.
"The personal soldiers of Prince Beihai?"
Murong Shen frowned and thought of something quickly. His pupils trembled and he immediately said: "Call the leader of the soldiers over. I have something to ask."
Half a day later, Xu San, who was tall and silent, appeared in front of Murong Shen.
"What did Xu Jing send you to do?" Murong Shen stared at Xu San with an imposing look.
Xu San responded briefly: "The crown prince sent a young man to help Captain Murong."
How could Murong Shen believe such nonsense? He sneered: "Did Xu Jing know that there was a secret escape route in Qinglong Village and specifically asked you to wait near the secret passage?"
Xu San raised his head: "The Murong family is powerful, and our Beihai Palace is not easy to bully. What qualifications does a fifth-grade captain have to call our heir by name?"
Murong Shen: "..."
All the soldiers around Murong Shen pulled out their long swords with a clanging sound and pointed them at Xu San: "How reckless!"
"How dare you be disrespectful to our captain! I will chop you with my knife!"
Xu San, who was usually silent and rarely spoke, now straightened his back and faced dozens of long knives alone without any fear: "It's okay for Captain Murong to humiliate me. However, if I continue to slight the prince like this, I will risk my life."
I have to ask Commander Murong for advice on this life."
What a Xu Jing! He has such a loyal, brave and fearless soldier.
It seems that he underestimated Xu Jing.
Murong Shen was not angry but smiled: "This captain is indeed rash and rude. You all should put down your weapons!"
The soldiers around him put away their weapons angrily.
Murong Shen was quite polite when he spoke to Xu San: "What's your name?"
"Little Xu San."
"Xu San, I would like to ask you, the Crown Prince, if you know where the secret passage is?"
"The captain has misunderstood. The prince asked me to come to help the captain. I don't know what the secret is."
After asking around, Xu San didn't know a word.
There was no choice but to give in, and he couldn't use torture like he did to Liu An. Murong Shen had no choice but to let Xu San go, and then sent someone to keep an eye on Xu San and his party.
As long as Zhou Sui shows his head, there is no chance of escaping from Qinglong Mountain.
…
One day later, a fast horse rushed outside the Beihai Palace.
"To inform the crown prince, Xu Sanling has come back to deliver a message." The horse galloped day and night, and the soldier's eyes were red: "Colonel Murong won a great victory, and all the bandits in Qinglong Village were killed. Those who escaped
Four to five hundred people at most."
"Wang Tong of the Zhou and Sui Dynasties has been missing."
"We were found, and Colonel Murong called Xu San to question us. He opened his mouth to ask the prince if he knew where the secret passage was, but Xu San pushed him back."
"Xu San asked the younger one to come back and deliver the letter, asking the prince to take precautions in advance."
Xu San looked like he didn't talk much, but in fact he had a hot temper. He was usually quiet, but this time he showed his prowess to Murong Shen.
Xu Jing felt relieved when he thought about that scene, and said casually: "I understand. You can rest for half a day before going back, and tell Xu San to continue to guard there. When the imperial army withdraws, he will withdraw again."
The soldier grinned: "Young man, you're not tired at all. Let's go back now."
…
An hour later, Xu Jing entered Zhaojiafang.
My third great-uncle, with sparse hair and a sparse beard, was sitting by the door basking in the sun, being supported by his great-granddaughter.
Xu Jing immediately dismounted, stepped forward and bowed his hands in a salute: "Third great-uncle."
The third great-uncle had all his teeth knocked out, and he smiled like a naughty boy, with a hole exposed: "The prince is looking for Yue Ya'er again?"
Xu Jing has been in and out of Zhaojiafang since he was a child. His third great uncle watched Xu Jing grow up and had no respect for him. He spoke in a very casual tone.
Xu Jing grinned: "Yes."
The third great-uncle chuckled: "Go! Go! Yue Ya'er is a good girl, and the prince must treat her well. Otherwise, old man, I will be the first to spare you."
Xu Jing raised the corner of his mouth: "Third great-uncle, don't worry, I will never retaliate when I scold Sister Yue Ya'er."
The third great uncle was very amused.
When Xu Jing entered the Zhao family's house, his third great-uncle turned to the seven or eight-year-old girl and said, "Girl, do you see me? From now on, I want to imitate your Aunt Yue Yaer, and if I want to marry, I will marry such a handsome, lovely, affectionate and righteous young man."
The girl blinked and smiled, showing two gaping teeth.
At this time, Zhao Xiyan was sitting in the piano pavilion on the second floor.
The wooden building is simple and elegant. The girl's sleeves are lightly rolled up, and her plain hands are playing. The sound of the piano is like a stream, gentle and sweet.
Xu Jing came striding forward, but stopped when he reached the wooden floor. He did not go upstairs, but leaned against the wooden pillar, folded his hands in front of him, and tapped his toes in time with the rhythm of the piano music.
The mood that was a little anxious and impatient quickly calmed down.
After playing the song, Zhao Xiyan stretched out her hand to lift the gauze and smiled: "You are here, why don't you come up?"
Xu Jing raised his head and smiled, put his right hand on the pillar, jumped hard with both feet, and jumped to the second floor like an agile ape.
His movements were so skillful and dexterous that he had obviously done this more than once or twice.
Zhao Xiyan pursed her lips and smiled: "Be careful, don't sprain your foot."
Xu Jing sat down opposite Zhao Xiyan: "This is how I came to this piano pavilion since I was eight years old. How could I have sprained my feet? What kind of music was played just now? It was so nice."
Zhao Xiyan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him: "You can't remember even if I told you. Are you thirsty? Haitang made a pot of chrysanthemum tea today."
Xu Jing sighed, picked up the teapot very smoothly, and poured two cups. He gave one to Zhao Xiyan first.
If Princess Beihai saw this, I don't know how angry she would be.
I have worked so hard to raise a precious son who is afraid of melting in my hands, but I have never brought a cup of tea to my own mother! She is very smooth in serving her sweetheart.
Zhao Xiyan sipped slowly and drank half a cup of tea.
Haitang's tea-making skills are first-class. The tea is fragrant, slightly sweet in the mouth, and has a long aftertaste.
Xu Jing drank two glasses of wine, and then whispered: "Xu San and his party were discovered by Murong Shen."
Zhao Xiyan frowned, put down the tea cup, and said softly: "Are Xu San and the others back?"
"That's not true." Xu Jing looked at Zhao Xiyan: "Will Murong Shen be suspicious of you?"
