Liu Rumei knew that further persuasion would be futile, so she immediately bowed and withdrew.
Stepping out of the room, she turned to look at Liu Ce and Ma Biao standing beside her.
"The two of you will lead men into the mountains immediately. Maintain a distance of about twenty li between groups. Before dawn, one group will reach the Mountain God Temple, and the other will reach the steep slope. Secure this stretch of territory first."
Liu Ce and Ma Biao bowed in agreement, then turned to make arrangements.
Liu Rumei stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky. After composing herself, just as she was about to return to her room, her gaze fell upon something that seemed amiss on the roof of a distant building.
There appeared to be a slight protrusion in the darkness.
Liu Rumei's thoughts stirred, and with a sudden flick of her wrist, a cold glint shot towards the spot.
As she had suspected, the dark shape moved.
The shadow leaped instantly, retreating with extreme speed. Liu Rumei was startled, let out a soft cry, and sprang after it.
The shadow fled swiftly, and Liu Rumei pursued just as quickly. They had covered two li, and the distance between them remained around thirty feet.
Seeing that escape from Liu Rumei was difficult, the shadow seemed to develop murderous intent. It suddenly raised its hand and flung a flurry of cold light towards Liu Rumei behind it.
Liu Rumei, unaware of the opponent's identity, naturally dared not be careless. She darted to the side, pressing herself tightly against the wall.
Liu Rumei dodged the cold light. By the time she tried to pursue again, the other party had vanished.
"So fast," Liu Rumei exclaimed with genuine admiration.
Admiration notwithstanding, her heart suddenly tensed. Such a master coming to the Liu family was by no means for a casual visit.
As she pondered, Ma Biao and Liu Ce, along with Ma Xiaoyi and others carrying torches, caught up from behind.
Liu Rumei took a torch and searched the ground carefully, quickly finding the hidden weapons the shadow had thrown.
They were fine needles with a curved design.
These needles, thin as a single strand of hair, were straight at the tip and bore several semicircular curves at the rear.
For such needles to penetrate the human body completely would require immense force.
Of course, if they were difficult to embed, they would be even more difficult to remove, and the pain endured would be unbearable for ordinary people.
Ma Biao glanced at the needle, his eyes widening in surprise. "Chu family needles."
"Indeed, the Chu family of Jiangnan," Liu Rumei responded with a slight sigh.
Her voice carried a trace of helplessness.
"No wonder I couldn't catch up. So, it was someone from the Chu family."
As they walked back, Ma Biao's worry grew.
"Miss, our conversation just now was very likely overheard by him."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Yes, we must persuade the Prince to abandon tomorrow's mountain expedition."
Liu Rumei, leading the two men, returned to the manor and immediately went to see Prince Xiao Jingyun.
"Your Highness, we just discovered someone eavesdropping on the roof. Our plan may have been leaked."
After hearing her report, Xiao Jingyun smiled slightly. "So what if it's leaked? We still have to go as planned."
Liu Rumei quickly bowed and urged, "Your Highness, if the other party knows our plan, proceeding according to the original plan would be too dangerous."
"Rumei, if you were discovered eavesdropping on our plans, do you think we would change them?" Xiao Jingyun retorted.
Upon hearing his words, Liu Rumei's eyes brightened, and her expression became even more respectful. "Your Highness speaks the truth. They might not expect us to proceed as planned, but we are already exposed in their sight. Your personal ascent is still too dangerous."
Xiao Jingyun looked at Liu Rumei, a smile on his face. "So you have a better solution."
"Your Highness, according to the original plan, we will still protect you as you ascend the mountain, but you will go with another group."
Xiao Jingyun looked at Liu Rumei with a hint of surprise. "You intend to pull a trick on them, a deception."
"Your Highness, we will still heavily guard the fake Prince as he ascends. You, however, will go up the mountain with the villagers to gather herbs."
At this point, a young man standing beside Prince Xiao Jingyun spoke up. He was Xiao Jingyun's personal guard, named Zhou Quan.
"Your Highness, this is highly inadvisable. How can a group of mountain folk guarantee your safety?"
Liu Rumei looked at him, then turned back to Xiao Jingyun. "Your Highness, I am not speaking of others, but of Chen Xiaobei, whom you invited to issue a decree not long ago."
Upon hearing Chen Xiaobei's name, Xiao Jingyun became interested. He smiled and nodded. "Excellent. I have long wanted to see what kind of villager earns such admiration from Miss Liu."
He then turned to Zhou Quan. "To make the charade more convincing, you will accompany Miss Liu."
Indeed, if even the Prince's personal guard was not present, who would believe the Prince was among the party?
Zhou Quan was anxious. He cupped his fists, intending to say more, but Xiao Jingyun raised his hand and interrupted him directly. "That is enough. Do not say another word. Do as I have instructed. I trust Rumei's judgment."
Liu Rumei withdrew and immediately made meticulous arrangements.
Ma Biao, along with Ma Xiaoyi, Liu Ziming, Liu Ziliang, and six other elite soldiers, escorted the Prince out of Qingniu County overnight.
Liu Rumei, on the other hand, remained to orchestrate a performance.
Chen Xiaobei had already planned to go to bed when he was hurriedly awakened by the village guards knocking on his door.
Slipping on his clothes, he came out to see Ma Xiaoyi standing at the entrance with a smile, cupping his fists.
"Brother Xiaobei, I apologize for the disturbance in the middle of the night. It's a matter of urgency."
Ma Xiaoyi was an old friend with a long-standing relationship. Though Chen Xiaobei was slightly displeased, he politely returned the gesture.
"Brother Xiaoyi, we don't need to be so formal. Just tell me what you need."
Ma Xiaoyi nodded. "To put it plainly, His Highness the Prince has arrived and wishes to visit Qingniu Mountain."
Chen Xiaobei clearly did not understand the meaning behind Ma Xiaoyi's words.
"Brother Xiaoyi, you can go. Although I have the land deed for Qingniu Mountain, everyone is free to come and go."
Ma Xiaoyi quickly explained, "Miss Liu's intention is for His Highness the Prince to disguise himself as a herb-gathering villager and accompany you up the mountain."
What?
Chen Xiaobei was instantly stunned, staring at Ma Xiaoyi with wide eyes.
"Brother Ma, this is no joke. His Highness the Prince is of noble birth. If anything were to happen..."
Ma Xiaoyi smiled slightly. "Military Advisor Ma and I will also be going."
"Brother Xiaobei, rest assured. You only need to lead the way. You need not concern yourself with anything else."
With Ma Xiaoyi's promise, Chen Xiaobei finally felt at ease. He looked up at the sky.
"If that's the case, when should we set off?"
Ma Xiaoyi remembered Liu Rumei's instructions. "Miss Liu told me before I came that everything is at your command."
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "Then you should go back and rest. We will leave at dawn."
Ma Xiaoyi turned and left. Chen Xiaobei returned to his room and briefly explained the matter to Cui Hongyu.
"Husband, why not go up the mountain tonight? That way, by dawn, you'll have passed the Mountain God Temple."
Chen Xiaobei smiled faintly. "Silly girl, have you ever seen anyone go up the mountain to gather herbs in the middle of the night? They always leave at dawn."
Cui Hongyu suddenly understood.
"Then husband, get some rest. I'll wake up early tomorrow to make you breakfast."
Chen Xiaobei, however, did not sleep much that night.