Lardo and Yang Zhi exchanged glances upon hearing this and couldn't help but laugh.
"Brilliant, brother Xiaobei, your strategy is brilliant."
Yang Zhi even gave a thumbs up, "Yes, this move is excellent. They have the Celestial Dog Devouring the Moon, and we have the Fish Belly Hiding Books."
With the plan in place, everyone lost the mood for drinking. They quickly downed a couple of cups and prepared to write on the cloth strips.
Once everything was ready, Yang Zhi smiled and said, "Brother Xiaobei, don't worry. I still have a few live fish over there. Tomorrow morning, I'll release them back into the moat and add some medicine. I guarantee someone will catch them."
This was exactly the outcome Chen Xiaobei desired. He bid farewell to Lardo and Yang Zhi and returned to the inn.
As soon as Chen Xiaobei arrived, Huang Ying eagerly relayed the news she had overheard.
After listening, Chen Xiaobei felt a weight lift from his heart.
The fact that Fang Zheng was abducted meant someone didn't want Feng Xiaoyue's father, Feng Pengju, to be exonerated.
Now, they could only proceed step by step.
They would first wait to see the effect tomorrow. If the fish belly hiding books method worked, things would be much easier from then on.
The next morning, a shocking piece of news spread like wildfire.
In the moat outside the west gate, fish more than a foot long and two feet long were circling in groups, with no other fish to be seen elsewhere.
The common people, witnessing this strange sight, flocked to watch.
Some brave individuals took a casting net down and caught a dozen or twenty fish in one go.
What was even more astonishing was that even when cast with a net, these fish didn't flee, as if they were waiting to be slaughtered.
By late morning, these large fish were displayed at the Wannian City fish market.
Yang Zhi, hiding in the crowd, watched this scene with secret delight, confident that someone would soon discover the cloth strips within the fish.
Indeed, someone pointed at a large fish and asked the fishmonger to prepare it. The vendor, with skillful hands, opened the belly of the fish in no time.
"Alas, what is this?" The fishmonger exclaimed, pulling a roll of white cloth from the fish's belly.
Upon unfolding the white cloth, a line of text was revealed: "An eternal injustice, Xiang Nan is innocent."
The surrounding shoppers gathered around and, upon seeing these words, were stunned. What was going on? Su Dan Novel Network.
Some brave souls pointed at the words and declared loudly, "See? This is a sign from heaven! Xiang Nan is innocent, referring to Lord Liu Xiangnan, who has been imprisoned unjustly."
"Yes, yes, Lord Liu is such a good person, how could he rebel?"
"Indeed, if he wanted to rebel, he would have done so long ago. Back when he commanded the empire's troops, a rebellion would have been a simple matter."
Listening to the people's lively discussions, Yang Zhi left with peace of mind, believing that the rumors would soon spread throughout Wannian City.
Yang Zhi returned gleefully and saw Lardo pacing back and forth, seeming indecisive.
"Leader, what troubles you?"
Upon seeing him, Lardo's face lit up with relief. "You've arrived at a good time. I just received a message from Yang Chun. He has reached Hetou Village and is asking if we've seen Chen Xiaobei."
Yang Zhi heard this and was overjoyed, "He's reached Hetou Village? That's great!"
Lardo nodded. "Yes, everything is going smoothly."
Yang Zhi looked at him in surprise. "Leader, since brother Xiaobei has already arrived in Wannian City, why not have my third brother return?"
Lardo appeared somewhat hesitant. "I think it's best not to rush Yang Chun back just yet. Let him stay in Hetou Village for a few days. We're still unsure about brother Xiaobei's situation here, and at least he can send word back to Cui Hongyu at home if anything happens."
After hearing Lardo's words, Yang Zhi pondered for a moment and found it reasonable. After all, they wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.
"Leader is right. Let Yang Chun remain in Hetou Village as a messenger, delivering some news to brother Xiaobei. It's our way of helping him!"
"Yes, later we'll ask brother Xiaobei if there's anything he wants to tell his family, and we'll help him relay it back."
Chen Xiaobei would never have dreamed that Yang Zhi and Lardo would offer such thoughtful assistance, willingly helping him to convey messages.
He was deeply touched by this kindness.
After some thought, Chen Xiaobei picked up his brush and briefly wrote down the situation of the past few days, entrusting Yang Zhi with the task of passing it back. Just then, he saw Huang Ying rush in.
"Brother Xiaobei, Brother Xiaobei, there are new rumors on the street today saying that someone found a cloth strip from a fish's belly, called 'An eternal injustice, Xiang Nan is innocent'."
"Do you think heaven has shown its power, deeming the Marquis innocent, and thus sent instructions to the mortal realm?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei and Yang Zhi exchanged knowing glances and smiled. If Huang Ying believed it, then most common people likely would too.
The crucial question now was whether the Emperor would believe it.
The news soon reached the palace.
Xiao An, after listening to Bai Han's report, frowned deeply.
In truth, he understood what was happening.
If he could spread rumors using the Celestial Dog Devouring the Moon, then others could counter with methods like fish bellies hiding cloth strips.
However, rumors were intangible, like inner demons. Once believed, they took root in the heart, making them incredibly difficult to eradicate.
Even now, rumors were a fearsome thing. As the saying goes, "It takes a mouth to create a rumor, and legs to refute it."
But if he allowed these rumors to fester, what reason would he have to keep Liu Xiangnan imprisoned?
Just then, a guard entered to report that Xiao Jingyun requested an audience.
Xiao An knew that Xiao Jingyun's arrival was likely due to this wave of rumors.
He raised his hand. "Let him in."
A short while later, Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun strode in.
Upon entering, he bowed to his father and immediately spoke with urgency.
"Father, have you heard the rumors on the street?"
Xiao An nodded. "I am aware."
"Father, public opinion is surging now. Why not follow the will of the people and release him?"
Hearing this, Xiao An looked at his son sternly and then shook his head slightly. "No, the more this happens, the less I can release him."
"But if we don't release him, we cannot face..."
Xiao Jingyun stopped mid-sentence, his words unspoken. He knew that even without finishing, his father would understand his meaning.
Indeed, Xiao An slowly stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth a few times before finally making up his mind.
"Liu Xiangnan absolutely cannot be released."
"And we must also find a way to dispel these rumors."
Saying this, he turned to look at Bai Han beside him again.
"Do you still remember the locust plague from a few years ago?"
Bai Han's eyes lit up, and he cupped his fist in salute. "Your Majesty, do you mean to perform a ritual?"
Xiao An nodded. "Yes, the fish gathering like this, not dispersing even when netted, clearly indicates demonic influence."
"Tonight, procure some dead chickens and ducks and scatter them in the moat, claiming a monster is at play."