Liu Kai walked all the way to the dungeon entrance.
Two household servants were already guarding the entrance. Upon seeing him, they opened the cave mouth. A foul stench spread, and Liu Kai couldn't help but fan his nose with his hand.
Chen Ermao finally realized something was wrong. However, he still cautiously put on a smile and approached Liu Kai, "Head steward, what do you mean by bringing me here?"
Liu Kai's expression changed, his face turning cold, "The court ordered you to return home to observe mourning for three years, yet you privately came to the capital. Do you know your crime?"
At this point, Chen Ermao realized the situation was not right.
The young man turned and ran without a word.
But he hadn't run more than a few steps before he was stopped. Two people had been closely following him.
Although Chen Ermao was a big fellow, he knew no martial arts. He was quickly subdued and thrown to the ground.
He lay on the ground, unable to stop his wails, "I gave you so much important information, and this is how you treat me. The heavens are blind, truly blind."
Liu Kai let out a cold snort, "Chen Ermao, you have the audacity to speak! Do you even know who you gave the information to?" Su Dan Novel Network
His words stunned Chen Ermao.
He looked at Liu Kai in surprise, "We… we met that person on the way. He said he was from your Duke of Protector's mansion."
Liu Kai gave Chen Ermao another contemptuous glance, "Think carefully here. Think about who that person really was."
With that, he waved his hand. The two men beside him stepped forward, grabbed Chen Ermao, and dragged him into the dungeon.
Chen Ermao was truly in a situation where he could not call out to anyone, nor appeal to anyone.
After imprisoning Chen Ermao, Liu Kai turned back to see Liu Xiangnan.
After Liu Kai briefly recounted the situation, Liu Xiangnan laughed directly, "These bandits are too dishonorable, playing tricks on one person."
"Marquis, I believe we still need to find this Hou Liu. Cheating money is a small matter, but if this gets out, it will harm your reputation."
Liu Xiangnan nodded, his expression turning serious, "Yes, these bandits are too detestable. We must find this scoundrel, even if it means searching the ends of the earth. How was the money taken? How will it be returned to me?"
Liu Kai nodded, "Marquis, I think this matter should be handed over to Liu Tie. His injuries have healed, and he has always wanted to return to Qingniu County."
Liu Xiangnan nodded, "Good, let Liu Tie go. He can also lend a hand to Rumei."
Time flew by until dark. Chen Xiaobei couldn't stay in the new house; there was nothing there. Especially since Chen Qiao'er kept crying.
Chen Xiaobei decided to take a risk and go back to the village entrance. He lit a torch and went to the back of the village. The scene before him made him incredulous.
In the morning, the water at the foot of the mountain was only knee-deep, but now it was completely gone, with the flow stopped.
This shouldn't be. Such a large mountain. After so much rain, there shouldn't be so little water.
That evening, while eating dinner, Chen Xiaobei pondered this problem.
Where should he go? Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. Oh, how could he have forgotten?
Didn't the cave where he found the place where Sun Jian and the others were held have water? Could all this water have gone into the underground river?
Chen Xiaobei's interest was immediately piqued.
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Chen Xiaobei got up.
He walked through the woods west of the village and arrived at the mountain cave. The cave was still dark. Chen Xiaobei picked up a stone and threw it into the cave.
Gurgling sounds echoed from within, the sound of stones hitting stones.
Only then did Chen Xiaobei light a torch and enter the cave.
The smell inside was somewhat unpleasant. It was understandable, with over twenty people confined there for so long; the smell wouldn't be pleasant.
After walking about four or five zhang further in, the ground was already very damp.
Looking further in, water now reflected the torchlight.
So that's how it was. All the floodwaters had entered the underground river.
The rapid rise in the water level of this cave indicated that yesterday's rain was very heavy.
But where did so much water enter the underground river?
Chen Xiaobei returned home with some doubts.
Seeing his expression, Cui Hongyu couldn't help but ask, "Husband, what's wrong? You've seemed worried and silent since last night."
Chen Xiaobei explained his doubts.
Cui Hongyu smiled instead, "If husband wants to figure it out, why not go up the mountain yourself?"
Chen Xiaobei sighed, "The water is gone, what is there for me to see?"
"Husband, it's not entirely so. Even if the water is gone, it will leave traces."
Upon hearing Cui Hongyu's words, Chen Xiaobei's eyes lit up.
Yes, that's right. It would leave marks.
In his previous life, when he helped his parents water their crops, there were many traces left where the water flowed.
Some drifting branches and leaves would be left at the highest waterline on the bank.
Perhaps he could find the answer by following these traces.
After breakfast, Chen Xiaobei headed into the mountains.
To be safe, Chen Xiaobei also brought Chen Daqiang, a village guard.
After entering the mountains, the two followed the valley, soon reaching the place where they had picked fish mint. Looking at the fish mint now, it was covered with branches and fallen leaves.
This indicated that there had been water here. The water at the foot of the mountain had previously reached their knees; that water should have flowed down from here.
They continued forward, unknowingly walking for an entire morning.
Calculating the distance, they had walked over ten li. However, the water level marks remained at about knee-high, neither rising nor falling.
Chen Xiaobei found it somewhat incredible. Calculating their position, they should have already passed the location of the cave he had seen in the morning, yet he still hadn't found the entrance to the underground river.
As he was pondering, a rustling sound suddenly came from the woods ahead, and the sound grew louder.
Chen Daqiang suddenly whispered, "Xiaobei, village chief, it sounds like someone is coming."
Chen Xiaobei looked around. The place they were in, apart from the fish mint, offered no place to hide. He had a sudden idea and gestured for Chen Daqiang to crouch down. The two of them began picking fish mint.
While picking, they kept glancing at the woods out of the corner of their eyes. Indeed, as the sounds grew louder, a group of over a dozen people emerged.
Upon seeing these people, Chen Daqiang immediately whispered, "That's them. The ones who went up the mountain that day."
Zhang Yu led the group out of the woods. Seeing two villagers picking fish mint ahead, he calmly approached and greeted them from a distance.
"Are you two picking herbs?" Seeing that he initiated the conversation, Chen Xiaobei also stood up, "Yes, what are you doing here?"
Zhang Yu chuckled, "We are from Xiaojia Town and have also come into the mountains to gather some herbs."
As he spoke, he proudly patted the bag on his shoulder, "There are truly many treasures on Qingniu Mountain. If you go further up, there are reishi mushrooms and ginseng."