Wang Liang was anxious, and hurried to the theater with a few officials, wanting to ask for Xi Yu's opinion.

"Can the prime minister be in the house?" Wang Liang asked eagerly.

The subordinate at the door replied respectfully: "Lord Prefectural Order, Lord Prime Minister is not at home. ”

"When will you be back, is there any news?" Wang Liang asked.

The subordinate shook his head and said helplessly: "The little one can't tell when the adults will come back." ”

Wang Liang's brows furrowed tightly, and the anxiety in his heart became more and more intense.

"How's that okay?" He muttered to himself.

A trace of anxiety welled up in Wang Liang's heart, but he decided that he couldn't stop there.

They rushed to Jia Xu's mansion, hoping to find some clues there.

However, the people in the palace told them that Jia Xu had been out for a day and had not returned, and no one knew where he had gone.

Wang Liang's brows furrowed, and the worry in his heart became heavier.

He was thinking about his next move, and at the same time curious about the secret behind it.

Wang Liang thought about it for a while and decided to let the officials wait near Jia Xu's house.

"You are waiting here, and as soon as there is news of Jia Xu, come and report it immediately." Wang Liang commanded solemnly.

The officials responded in unison: "Obey!" ”

After arranging everything, Wang Liang thought to himself: "I also need to rest for a while to recuperate." So he went back first.

It was late at night, and the front of Jia Xu's house was still silent. The officials' eyes widened, not daring to relax in the slightest.

In Wang Liang's home, he was lying on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Jia Xu's disappearance made him uneasy, and all kinds of speculations came to his mind.

"Where did Jia Xu go?" Wang Liang sighed softly.

I don't know how long it took, Wang Liang finally fell asleep. And at this moment, Jia Xu's fate is still unknown.

In the morning, Jia Xu stepped into the door of a temple in a panic, and his eyes revealed a trace of uneasiness and fear.

After the killing, he was at a loss for what to do, as if he was lost in the fog of morality.

He told the old monk lies about the accident at home, trying to gain sympathy and a chance to stay in the temple temporarily.

"Old monk, I want to hide here quietly, I don't know if it's okay?"

"Amitabha, you stay."

The old monk's eyes were deep, and he seemed to be able to gain insight into Jia Xu's inner secrets.

He quietly listened to Jia Xu's narration and frowned slightly.

Despite his suspicions, the old monk decided to take him in.

Jia Xu found temporary refuge in the temple, however, his heart could not be calm.

At night, he prayed silently in front of the Buddha statue, trying to find a trace of inner solace.

But guilt lingered in his soul.

And the old monk was secretly observing Jia Xu's every move. With years of practice and wisdom, he gradually noticed Jia Xu's abnormality.

He began to wonder if the stranger was really as innocent as he said he was.

At night, the old monk found Jia Xu.

The old monk asked softly, "Donor, there seems to be a deep pain hidden in your heart. I don't know exactly what you're going through, but I can feel your heart tormenting. Perhaps, talking about it will make you feel a little more relaxed. ”

Jia Xu's lips trembled, tears rolling in his eyes. He finally confessed his crime to the old monk and poured out his inner remorse and fear.

The old monk listened silently, without the slightest hint of surprise or anger on his face, only pity and tolerance.

He said slowly: "The sin has been committed, but the way of repentance and redemption is always open. You need to go to the government and confess the crime. ”

But Jia Xu didn't have the courage.

He was perfunctory with the old monk.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to turn myself in."

"In that case, let the donor have a good rest."

The next day, the sun shone on the road, and Zhao Qiang continued to embark on the journey to meet Liu Bei.

Exhausted, he stopped in an inn and decided to take a break.

Upon entering the inn, he noticed an unusual atmosphere.

Sweeping his gaze, he noticed that several people were a little different.

It turned out that Wu Guotai, Zhuge Jin and others were also in the inn.

Zhao Qiang thought to himself in his heart, these people have extraordinary temperament, and they are by no means ordinary people.

Wu Guotai asked Zhuge Jin in a low voice.

"When will we get to Youzhou?"

Zhuge Jin replied softly.

"Three days to get there".

Wu Guotai had a happy smile on her face, and she was looking forward to her reunion with her daughter Sun Shangxiang.

"It's great to meet my daughter Sun Shangxiang."

Although their voices were low, Zhao Qiang's ears keenly caught the words.

His heart moved.

Sun Shangxiang, isn't that Xiyu's wife?

He realized that this was an important message.

Perhaps, he can use this opportunity to obtain more information about Wu Guotai and his party.

Zhao Qiang sat in the corner, silently observing their every move.

He noticed the longing for his daughter in Wu Guotai's eyes, as well as Zhuge Jin's calm and wise expression.

He began to think about how to approach them.

After a while, Zhao Qiang got up and left the inn.

His steps seemed a little hurried.

Last night's encounter made Zhao Qiang secretly happy in his heart.

He happened to meet a group of bandits on the way, and after some negotiations, he learned of a secret cave that seemed to be where they made their deals.

Zhao Qiang walked into the cave, and there was a damp smell inside, and a faint light flickered on the stone wall.

The bandits sat around him, their eyes wary.

"I'll make a deal with you." Zhao Qiang smiled.

"What are you going to do?" The bandit leader asked, his voice a hint hoarse.

"I want you to help me kidnap an old woman in the inn." Zhao Qiang said.

"Why kidnap her? What kind of person? The bandit leader asked.

Zhao Qiang hesitated for a moment, and then said, "This is my business, and it has nothing to do with you." As long as you do what I say, I'll pay you enough. ”

The bandit leader was silent for a moment, then nodded at the end. "Well, we'll help you."

Zhao Qiang paid the bandits, and then quietly left the cave.

Back at the inn, Zhao Qiang secretly observed Wu Guotai's whereabouts. She was still talking to Zhuge Jin and the others, not aware of the impending danger.

As night fell, the inn fell into silence. Zhao Qiang motioned for the bandits to make a move, and they quietly sneaked into Wu Guotai's room.

Prepare to kidnap her quickly.

"Who is it?" Wu Guotai shouted in surprise.

Originally, there were people outside to protect him, but he was put down by the bandits.

"Old thing, come with us."

Wu Guotai struggled, but the bandits tightly covered her mouth to prevent her from making a sound.

They took Wu Guotai out of the inn and disappeared into the dark night.

Zhuge Jin lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

His breathing was steady, as if he had entered a sweet dream.

In the dream, Zhuge Jin came to an elegant courtyard. He saw Zhuge Liang, his younger brother, smiling towards him.

"Brother!" Zhuge Liang shouted excitedly.

Zhuge Jin held his hand, and his smile was as warm as a spring breeze. "Brother, long time no see."

The two sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard and began to catch up. They talk about the past and reminisce about the times they spent together.

"Brother, how are you doing over there?" Zhuge Jin asked with concern.

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Everything is fine." ”

They chatted about each other, and the topics kept changing, from the situation in the world to personal aspirations, from the art of war and strategy to life insights.

The breeze in the courtyard gently blows through the fragrance, bringing a fresh floral scent.

Wu Guotai was quietly kidnapped by Zhao Qiang and the bandits and left the inn, and Zhuge Jin knew nothing about it.

That night, Xi Yu was lying in bed, although his eyes were too sleepy to open, but there were so many thoughts in his mind that he couldn't fall asleep.

He tossed and turned, trying all sorts of ways to relax himself, but to no avail.

Xi Yu's eyelids suddenly jumped, and a strange feeling surged in his heart, as if something was about to happen.

He tossed and turned in bed and couldn't sleep, so he decided to get up and walk around the yard, hoping to calm his mind.

At night, the courtyard is exceptionally quiet, and the moonlight is sprinkled on the ground like water, illuminating the figure of Xi Yu.

He strolled along the bluestone path, his thoughts tangled like a mess.

At this time, a patrolling soldier approached him.

When the soldier saw Xi Yu, he immediately stopped and saluted him respectfully.

"Prime Minister, why haven't you rested so late?" The soldier asked with concern.

Xi Yu frowned.

"I can't sleep, I always feel like something is going to happen."

The soldier smiled, trying to comfort him.

"Prime Minister, you may be thinking too much. It's safe here, nothing will happen. You better go back and rest early, there are still many things waiting for you tomorrow. ”

Xi Yu shook his head slightly.

"No, I can't be wrong. This uneasy feeling has always haunted me, and I can't be at peace. ”

The soldier was silent for a moment, then said, "My lord, if you are really not at ease, I can step up patrols to ensure the safety of the surroundings." ”

"I'm not worried about my own safety, I always think something big is going to happen."

Xi Yu waved his hand lightly and said to the soldier: "You go and get busy with yours, I'll just walk by myself." Don't follow me. ”

The soldier hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but eventually nodded.

"Yes, Prime Minister. Then I'll go patrol somewhere else first. If you need anything, feel free to call me. ”

The soldier turned away, his steps light and vanished into the darkness.

Xi Yu was left alone in the courtyard, and his figure looked a little lonely in the moonlight.

Under the moonlight, the flowers and trees are dyed with a layer of silver glow, like a dreamlike scene.

"Maybe I'm really too sensitive." Xi Yu muttered to himself.

Still, the uneasy feeling haunted him, and he couldn't fully relax.

After a while, he decided to go back to his room and try to fall asleep again.

Wu Guotai was brutally thrown into the cave, her body was packed in a sack with a cloth stuffed in her mouth, so that she could not make a sound.

After a while, the bandits poured her out of the sack and removed the cloth from her mouth.

Wu Guotai looked around in horror, his eyes full of fear and doubt.

Her voice trembled and she asked, "Who are you?" Why are you arresting me? I don't have much coils on me, so please let me go. ”

The bandits looked at Wu Guotai coldly.

Wu Guotai secretly prayed in her heart, hoping that the Buddha would bless her with safety.

She said in a trembling voice, "I will definitely send my family a ransom, please don't hurt me." ”

"Take people's money and people to eliminate disasters, we take money to do things, old lady, don't blame us."

"Who are you doing this for?"

But no one answered her.

Wu Guotai continued to pray to God and worship Buddha in his heart.

At this moment, a figure hurriedly walked in.

Zhao Qiang looked at the bandits, and a trace of gratitude flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Qiang said: "Thank you guys!" ”

The bandit leader waved his hand and motioned for him to hurry up and take Wu Guotai away.

Wu Guotai looked at Zhao Qiang and always felt a little familiar.

She suddenly remembered that she seemed to have met this person in the inn.

Wu Guotai: "Why are you arresting me?" Who are you? ”

Zhao Qiang said: "Don't ask anything, otherwise don't blame me for being unkind!" ”

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of cloth and stuffed it into Wu Guotai's mouth, and then quickly put her into a sack.

Zhao Qiang picked up the sack and left the place in a hurry, and his figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Early the next morning, Zhuge Jin stretched his waist, got up and prepared to finish breakfast and continue on his way.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see many soldiers lying in the corridor.

He was shocked and hurriedly rushed to Wu Guotai's room, only to find that the room was empty.

Zhuge Jin's face turned pale, and he immediately realized that something was wrong. He anxiously came to the counter and asked the shopkeeper, "Did any gangsters come in last night?" ”

The shopkeeper shook his head, looking dazed.

"I don't know about the little ones. No one came. ”

Zhuge Jin stomped his feet, anxious.

"What a good thing that is! Where is Wu Guotai? He pondered.

The shopkeeper suddenly remembered the scene last night, and several thieves entered the inn.

One of the thieves put a knife around his neck and threatened him not to keep his voice and keep his eyes shut.

The shopkeeper had no choice but to agree.

Zhuge Jin's eyes were like torches, staring at the shopkeeper.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

The shopkeeper panicked and confessed everything.

Zhuge Jin listened to the words of the shopkeeper, and was so angry that he raised his hand and slapped him.

Zhuge Jin shouted angrily: "How can you be so greedy for life and afraid of death!" ”

The shopkeeper covered his face and apologized again and again: "The villain is really afraid of death, so he didn't dare to disobey at that time." ”

Zhuge Jin tried to calm himself down, and he suddenly thought that those soldiers might still be saved.

He hurried back down the hallway, leaned down to check their snorts, and sure enough, as he expected, the soldiers were simply unconscious.

Zhuge Jin breathed a sigh of relief, and he shouted to the shopkeeper: "Go and invite Lang Zhong to come!" ”

Then, he turned around and hurriedly walked towards the county office, ready to report the case.

On the way to the county office, Zhuge Jin's heart was full of pain and anxiety.

As he walked briskly, he secretly blamed himself in his heart.

"Sun Ce trusted me so much that he entrusted his mother to me, but I lost her. How do I explain this to him? Zhuge Jin frowned, his heart seemed to be pressed by a heavy stone, and he was very anxious.

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, and his pace unconsciously quickened. Suddenly, he tripped over a stone on the road, fell forward, and fell heavily to the ground.

"Ahh Zhuge Jin couldn't help but let out an exclamation, and sharp pain came from his palms and knees.

He struggled to his feet, bothering to examine his injuries, with only one thought in his mind.

Wu Guotai must be found as soon as possible, and she must not be allowed to be in any danger.

Zhuge Jin endured the pain and continued to speed up his pace and walked towards the county office.

On the other side, the early morning sun shines through the window in the room, and Xi Yu is still asleep.

Xiao Cui and a few maids had already prepared the meal and waited quietly.

A maid whispered to Xiaocui: "You eat first, it's not certain when the prime minister will wake up." ”

Xiaocui decided to wait for a while, but Xi Yu never came, so she had to eat first.

An hour passed, and Xi Yu finally woke up leisurely. He rubbed his eyes and walked out of the room to see Cui waiting for him in the hall.

"Prime Minister, I was waiting for you to eat together, but I couldn't wait, so I ate first."

Xi Yu said with some guilt: "I couldn't sleep last night, so I got up late and made you wait so long." ”

Xiao Cui smiled and replied, "It's okay, the prime minister should have dinner quickly." ”

Xi Yu sat down, looked at the food on the table, suddenly remembered last night's uneasiness, and laughed at himself: "I always felt that something was going to happen, but it seems that I was thinking nonsense." ”

So he told Xiaocui about his psychological situation last night.

Xiaocui felt very happy, Xi Yu was able to tell herself, which proved that she was favored by Xi Yu.

"Prime Minister, you must be thinking too much."

Xi Yu nodded and went to eat.

He also remembered a case from his previous life.

There are some people who often think crankily because they care about their relatives very much.

I always think that something might happen to my loved ones or something.

But in fact, it's all groundless.

Xi Yu quickly finished eating, and a few maids came over to clean up the dishes.

Xiaocui asked, "Prime Minister, are we going to Youzhou now?" ”

Xi Yu nodded, and at the same time looked at Xiao Cui.

"I'm going back to Youzhou, but are you sure you want to go back with me? If it's too late to regret it now! ”

Xiao Cui was stunned for a moment, and suddenly tears flowed down.

"Prime Minister, what do you mean by that? Don't you hate Xiaocui and don't let Xiaocui follow?"

Xi Yu knew that Xiao Cui had misunderstood what he meant.

"That's not what I meant, don't overthink it. I'm afraid that after a long time, you will feel constrained. ”

Xiao Cui shook her head suddenly.

"No, I definitely don't feel constrained. As long as I can be with the Prime Minister, I will only feel very happy. ”

Xi Yu can see that it is estimated that the other party will be very loyal to him.

"Alright then, in that case, we'll leave in a moment."

Next, Xi Yu asked a few maids to go to Sun Ce and asked Sun Ce to come over, and he wanted to say goodbye to Sun Ce.

When Sun Ce heard the news, he immediately walked over.

"Prime Minister, won't you stay here for a little longer?"

"No need. I'm going to get back as soon as possible. ”

Xi Yu didn't hesitate, so he took Xiaocui and rode away again. (End of chapter)