Liu Xiangnan looked at Bai Han in surprise. "When did this happen? How come I know nothing about it, and Luo Mei she also..."
Saying this, Liu Xiangnan suddenly fell silent. That's right, Liu Rumei was also in prison, so how could she report to him?
"Marquis, don't be angry. The person the Emperor has decreed to marry is Chen Xiaobei, although he is just a mountain dweller..."
Before he finished speaking, Liu Xiangnan suddenly stood up. Agitated, his handcuffs and shackles clanked loudly.
"No, this is absolutely impossible. How can I, Liu Xiangnan, a dignified Marquis of the first rank, have my daughter marry a mere villager?"
Bai Han sighed. "Marquis, you are unaware of the situation outside the prison. Let me put it this way."
As he spoke, Bai Han picked up the wine cup and gently placed it in Liu Xiangnan's hand. "Marquis, please have some wine to calm your anger, and I will tell you slowly."
Liu Xiangnan looked at Bai Han. He nodded slightly. "Thank you, Guard Bai."
Bai Han truly sighed. "Marquis, you don't need to thank me. I am of humble status and can't help much.
"As for the young lady's matter, not only can you not blame Chen Xiaobei, but you might even have to thank him!"
"Chen Xiaobei traveled all the way from Qingniu County to Wannian City and tried every means to rescue you and Miss Liu. He set up an altar in the city and created a formation called the Two Poles Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array. For this formation, Chen Xiaobei even sacrificed his wife."
"The Emperor then proposed that it wasn't impossible to release Miss Liu, but Chen Xiaobei must marry Miss Liu."
After saying this, Bai Han picked up the wine pot again and poured a cup of wine for Liu Xiangnan. Then, he picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and brought it to Liu Xiangnan's mouth.
Liu Xiangnan had no appetite for eating or drinking. He gently put down the wine cup and shook his head. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, his laughter filled with infinite sorrow and helplessness.
"Ridiculous, truly laughable, it's the greatest joke in the world. My daughter, Liu Xiangnan's daughter, has to marry a country bumpkin to save her life!"
Bai Han quickly stepped forward to persuade him again. "Old Marquis, you shouldn't say that. As the saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn."
"As long as we can get out, there will always be a way. If we can't get out, then all is lost."
After hearing Bai Han's words, Liu Xiangnan's expression became somewhat dejected. After a long while, he sighed again and cupped his fists towards Bai Han.
"Thank you, Guard Bai, for telling me this."
Bai Han shook his head. "It was the Emperor who sent me. He also told me to inform you that you can go to Xiangguo Temple, but you are only allowed to recite scriptures and worship Buddha, not to receive visitors."
Hearing this, Liu Xiangnan finally understood completely. He looked at Bai Han and let out a long sigh of relief, a hint of ease appearing on his face. "I understand, I understand completely. The Emperor intends to kill with a borrowed knife, and from now on, there will be no place for me, Liu Xiangnan, in the imperial court."
"Very good, very good. If Rumei marries Chen Xiaobei, I can rest assured. Let her stay away from the imperial court and live a free and carefree life."
Hearing these words, Bai Han secretly admired Liu Xiangnan. He truly understood human affairs, even in his current predicament. He understood the Emperor's intentions with just a few words.
At this moment, several fast horses galloped into Wannian City. It was the little maid returning with people.
The horse troop sped along and arrived directly at the Old Prime Minister's residence.
Dismounting and leading the group inside, all in one go.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, the little maid couldn't help but shout, "Grandpa, I'm back."
In the study, Fang Zheng heard the shout, immediately put down the book in his hand, stood up, and hurried out.
Fang Zheng had barely taken a few steps out of the study when the little maid arrived with an elder with white hair and beard.
The old man saw Fang Zheng and quickened his pace. He lifted his robes and knelt down. "Gao Xing pays his respects to the Old Prime Minister."
Fang Zheng hurried forward and helped Gao Xing up.
"You've arrived. You didn't come back last night, and it worried me terribly."
The little maid beside them quickly spoke, "The clan leader had urgent matters to attend to and was out. He only returned after a day, which delayed his journey and worried Grandpa!"
Fang Zheng waved his hand. "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Saying this, he turned to his grandson, Fang Jun, "Give the order to prepare a banquet to welcome Gao Xing."
Gao Xing cupped his hands. "Old Prime Minister, there's no need for such formalities. Let's take care of business first."
Fang Zheng nodded.
"No hurry, no hurry. Brother Gao Xing, as long as you can explain to the Crown Prince that you have absolutely no connection with Feng Pengju, that will suffice."
"The Crown Prince?" Gao Xing looked at Fang Zheng with a puzzled expression.
Fang Zheng nodded. "Yes, he is now the Crown Prince regent."
After hearing this, Gao Xing let out a long sigh of relief.
"That's good, it's good that the Crown Prince is regent. It's time for Lord Feng to return from the frontier."
Saying this, he cupped his fists towards Fang Zheng again. "Old Prime Minister, there's no time to delay. Let us go and see the Crown Prince immediately. The rest can be discussed later."
Fang Zheng hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright, then let us go and see the Crown Prince first."
Just as Fang Zheng was taking Gao Xing to see the Crown Prince, Xiao Jingyun, at the city gate, dozens of fast horses also sped into Wannian City. It was the Lotus Sect Leader.
The Lotus Sect Leader had just returned to her Lotus Sect and had barely sat down when she received a carrier pigeon message from Princess Zhaoning. Upon seeing that Huang Ying was in trouble.
Anger surged in the Lotus Sect Leader's heart. She immediately gathered her most skilled subordinates and rushed to Wannian City with them.
They traveled day and night and finally entered Wannian City before dark.
At this time, Chen Xiaobei had found a separate inn and booked a courtyard to live in alone, which made it convenient to store Huang Ying's coffin.
After all, Xiao Jingyun had made it clear to him that he could not leave until he received the Emperor's imperial decree for marriage.
And the fastest way to get the Emperor's decree would be tomorrow, but the altar would have to be dismantled after the ritual tonight.
Chen Xiaobei was burning incense in front of Huang Ying's memorial tablet when he heard a commotion. Immediately after, the Lotus Sect Leader, along with her subordinates, rushed in.
Upon seeing Huang Ying's memorial tablet, the Lotus Sect Leader let out a wail and began to cry.
The Lotus Sect Leader rushed to Huang Ying's memorial tablet and collapsed on Huang Ying's coffin, wailing.
Her subordinates also knelt down and kowtowed to the memorial tablet of their Shigu, Huang Ying.
Seeing this scene, Chen Xiaobei was somewhat at a loss. He didn't know if he should step forward to persuade them.
Cui Hongyu, who was beside him, seemed much calmer. She stepped forward and gently patted the Lotus Sect Leader's shoulder.
"Sect Leader Tang, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please restrain your grief."
The Lotus Sect Leader straightened up, looked at Cui Hongyu, and suddenly asked sternly, "What exactly happened? Who killed my junior sister?"
Hearing her words, Cui Hongyu let out a sigh.