The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Father Chen interjected curiously, "Are they all as elusive as shadows?"

Xi Yu laughed and said, "You can say that, so you don't have to be surprised by this."

In the dimly lit room of the Sun family, Sun Haixu and his family were sitting around a shabby wooden table eating.

There was simple and rough food on the table. The family was very poor, so the food was naturally not very good.

Princess Anxi frowned as she looked at the food in front of her. She was used to eating delicacies from land and sea, so she found it hard to swallow such plain food.

But she still endured the discomfort and tried hard to put food into her mouth.

While chewing the food in his mouth, Sun's father looked up at the princess and asked, "You don't look like a Central Plains person, do you?"

The princess nodded slightly, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Father Sun then asked curiously: "Then why did you come here?"

The princess put down the bowl and chopsticks in her hands, sighed softly, and said, "It's hard to put it into words."

Upon seeing this, Sun's mother quickly tugged at Sun's father's sleeve and said, "Old man, stop asking. The girl must be hiding something." Only then did Sun's father realize his rudeness. He scratched his head embarrassedly and continued to eat.

After dinner, the princess walked lightly into the room arranged for her.

She sat on the edge of the bed, thought for a moment, and called Sun Haixu in.

When Sun Haixu heard the princess calling him from outside the door, he was overjoyed and wondered if she was willing to accept him.

He hurriedly tidied his clothes and walked into the room excitedly.

When the princess saw his flattering face, she felt disgusted and her face unconsciously revealed a look of disdain. But she still suppressed her disgust and tried to keep herself calm, saying lightly: "Sun Haixu, I want to talk to you. Tell me about the Central Plains."

Sun Haixu didn't notice the princess' disgust at all. He approached her with a flattering look and said, "What do you want to hear? I will tell you everything I know."

The princess nodded slightly and said, "Any news is fine, just tell me."

Then, Sun Haixu cleared his throat and began to tell the story with great excitement: "Girl, there are many strange stories in the Central Plains. Take the Prime Minister Xi Yu, who is admired by everyone. He is an extraordinary person."

Sun Haixu spoke and gestured at the same time, his expression full of awe and respect.

The princess listened quietly, her eyes widened and sparkled with excitement, and she was secretly happy in her heart: "What a harvest!"

After Sun Haixu finished his incessant speech, the princess had made up her mind and decided that she must get to know Xi Yu!

The princess also learned that Xi Yu was in Youzhou.

"Sun Haixu, I might accept you in the future, but now is not the right time, so don't always mention marriage." There was a seriousness on the princess' face, and her eyes were firm and unquestionable.

When Sun Haixu heard the princess' words, the expectation on his face instantly turned into disappointment, but he quickly cheered up and nodded repeatedly in response: "I will listen to you in everything, young lady." His eyes revealed helplessness and obedience, but also a hint of unwillingness.

The princess turned slightly and said coldly, "Go out."

Sun Haixu looked gloomy, responded in a lost voice, then slowly turned and left.

Sun Haixu immediately came to his parents' room, and his father asked anxiously, "Son, what did the girl say to you when she asked you to go?"

Sun Haixu recounted what had happened.

Mother Sun said happily: "In that case, let's not worry. Maybe one day the girl will agree." Mother Sun's eyes were filled with kindness and expectation.

Father Sun also nodded and agreed, "Yes, son, let's wait patiently."

The princess sat on the bed, frowning, thinking with a worried look on her face: "How can I leave here?"

Her eyes kept looking towards the door, her heart filled with anxiety.

Thinking of the shackles that her father had set up at the gate to prevent her from running away, and that he lived in a room near the gate, as well as those ferocious dogs, the princess could not help but shake her head.

It is impossible to escape like this. We must think of a foolproof plan.

She twisted the corners of her clothes with her hands, bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, and her eyes revealed determination and resoluteness.

On the other side, Zhao Qiang and several others were escorted to Fangjun.

Liu Bei was very happy to learn that the thief who stole the treasure had been caught, and Guan Yu was also very happy to learn about this.

Liu Bei originally thought that it was the soldiers in the palace who caught these thieves, and Guan Yu thought so too.

Soon, the leading secret guard appeared and told them that this was all thanks to Prime Minister Xi Yu.

Only then did Liu Bei and Guan Yu realize that everything was arranged by Xi Yu.

Liu Bei showed awe and said, "It's actually Prime Minister Xi Yu's credit. The Prime Minister is really talented!"

Guan Yu also looked admiring and said, "The Prime Minister's strategy is profound, I can't wait to catch up."

The two brothers looked at each other, both with a look of relief in their eyes.

Guan Yu heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Brother, if that's the case, we won't have to be punished by the Prime Minister anymore."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, and the worry on his face dissipated a little.

Liu Bei calmed himself down, looked at the secret guard, and asked in a gentle tone: "Sir, can you tell us the details of what happened?"

The secret guard saluted with his fists, and respectfully explained the relevant situation in detail, then pushed the thieves forward and said, "These thieves are left to you to deal with."

Liu Bei clasped his hands together and said with gratitude: "Thank you very much, warrior. You have worked hard this time."

The secret guard saluted again and turned to leave. Liu Bei looked at the secret guard's departing back, his eyes full of approval.

Guan Yu was so angry that his face turned red, his eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother, I am very angry. I must meet Zhao Qiang and the other thieves!"

Liu Bei frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Then let the eunuch take you there."

The young eunuch responded timidly and took Guan Yu to an empty room.

Zhao Qiang and several others were here. When they saw Guan Yu, they laughed wildly and almost lost their souls.

Guan Yu was furious. He pointed at them and shouted, "You are a bunch of ignorant people. You have committed such a heinous crime, yet you are so arrogant!"

When Zhao Qiang and others heard Guan Yu's scolding, they showed panic on their faces.

Guan Yu saw that they had stopped laughing, but the anger on his face had not dissipated. He stared at Zhao Qiang and others with a sharp gaze and said sternly: "Do you know what crime you have committed? How dare you steal the treasure? You are so audacious!"

Zhao Qiang and others lowered their heads, not daring to look Guan Yu in the eye. One of them said in a trembling voice, "General Guan, we...we were also confused for a moment."

Guan Yu snorted coldly: "A moment of confusion? Your foolish behavior almost caused a disaster!"

At this time, another thief raised his head, with a look of pleading in his eyes, and said, "General Guan, please spare us this time."

Guan Yu shouted angrily: "Forgive you? How can I forgive you for committing such a serious crime!"

After saying this, Guan Yu folded his hands across his chest, stood there with a dignified look, waiting for Liu Bei's further decision.

At this time, Liu Bei also hurried here led by several small eunuchs.

As soon as Liu Bei entered the door, he stared at Zhao Qiang and a few others fiercely, and his eyes seemed to be able to spit fire.

"It is you, a bunch of evildoers, who have caused many people to wrongly accuse Guan Yu. Your crimes are unforgivable and you must die!" Liu Bei gritted his teeth and said word by word.

When Zhao Qiang and his companions heard this, they were so frightened that their faces turned pale. They fell to their knees on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed for mercy.

"Mr. Liu, please spare us. We will never dare to do it again!" Zhao Qiang cried.

"Mercy? How can I forgive you when you have committed such a big mistake!" Liu Bei's eyes were wide open and he shouted loudly.

At this moment, Guan Yu slapped his forehead, frowned and asked, "Where is the treasure you stole?"

Zhao Qiang trembled and answered honestly: "General Guan, most of it was spent by us, and a small part was handed over to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also knows about this." After saying that, he lowered his head and did not dare to raise his eyes.

Liu Bei listened, his face darkened, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "It is already late today. Tomorrow we must execute them outside in front of many people and clear Guan Yu's name."

When Zhao Qiang and the others heard this, they were so frightened that they collapsed, tears streaming down their cheeks, and they kept kowtowing and begging for mercy: "My lord, please spare us, please spare us!"

Liu Bei snorted coldly, remained unmoved, shook his sleeves and said: "It's no use begging for mercy now. You have committed such a heinous crime, you should have expected this end!" The next day, when the eastern sky had just turned pale, Liu Bei ordered the eunuch to take Zhao Qiang and several others to the gate of the palace.

And in the early morning, the news had already been released that these thieves were to be executed.

As a result, before the 9th hour, the palace gate was crowded with people. They all heard the news and rushed over, wanting to witness this scene with their own eyes.

When they saw Zhao Qiang and others being tied up and pushed in front of everyone, the crowd immediately exploded, and many people began to whisper and talk.

Liu Bei, dressed in gorgeous clothes, walked steadily onto the platform and presided over the public trial in person.

With a serious look, he said loudly: "Let these villains tell the people what happened!"

Zhao Qiang and others looked pale and their legs were weak. Under the pushing and shoving of the soldiers, they began to tremble and tell what had happened.

As a result, many people started talking about it.

"It turns out that we really wronged Guan Yu. These thieves are so despicable!" An old man was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

"Yes, we have wrongly blamed General Guan." A young man shook his head regretfully.

Liu Bei stood on the high platform and promised the people at the same time: "Everyone, these thieves did steal the treasure and have squandered it. It is not just someone I randomly found to excuse Guan Yu. Moreover, it was the Prime Minister who caught them."

At this moment, cheers broke out from the crowd.

"The Prime Minister is wise!"

"The Prime Minister is truly a hero!"

Hearing so many people praising Xi Yu, Liu Bei's face darkened slightly, and he felt a little unhappy. He gritted his teeth secretly, but on the surface he still looked very happy, and said with a smile: "The Prime Minister has worked hard for us, which is a blessing for the country."

At this time, Guan Yu strode forward, crossed his arms, and said seriously, "Brother, can we start now?"

Liu Bei nodded slightly and said solemnly: "Let's get started."

Following Liu Bei's order, the executioners held their swords, and with a flash of cold light, the lives of Zhao Qiang and several others ended, and they paid the due price for their crimes.

There was an exclamation from the crowd, followed by a brief silence, as if they were lamenting the tragic ending.

Liu Bei looked at the bloodstains on the ground and said thoughtfully: "Although the thief has been executed and your innocence has been restored, this incident should also serve as a warning. We must strengthen management in the future and never let such disasters happen again."

Guan Yu bowed and said, "Brother, what you said is very true. I will definitely keep it in mind."

The two men left the palace gate with their entourage. The sunlight shone on them, but it could not dispel the haze brought about by the bloody scene just now.

After returning to the palace, Liu Bei smiled and said to Guan Yu: "Yun Chang, how about playing a game of chess with me?"

Guan Yu responded cheerfully: "Okay, big brother, I haven't been able to eat or drink these days, but now that this matter is over, I feel better."

The two men sat opposite each other and set up the chessboard.

As Liu Bei made his move, he said worriedly, "Yun Chang, even though the thief has been caught, I am still worried. Even so, you may still be punished by Xi Yu, but I think the punishment will be less severe."

Guan Yu looked determined and said without hesitation: "Brother, no matter what punishment I receive, I will accept it!"

Having said that, he put down the chess piece, with no fear in his eyes.

Soon night came and candlelight flickered in the room of the Parthian Princess.

The princess paced back and forth in the room, her brows furrowed, and she kept wondering how she could escape.
She racked her brains and thought of several solutions, but none of them seemed appropriate.

The princess stopped and clenched her fists. Her pretty face was now filled with anxiety. She said to herself anxiously, "What should I do? Time is running out. If I can't think of a solution, it will be too late!"

The princess searched the room for something that might be useful, hoping to find inspiration for her escape.

She sat dejectedly on the bed, staring blankly at the moon outside the window, her anxiety growing stronger. "Am I really going to be trapped here forever?"

The princess' eyes were slightly red and she bit her lips tightly with her pearly teeth.

At this time, a breeze blew and blew the curtains. The princess suddenly had an idea and seemed to have thought of a new idea, but she quickly shook her head, thinking that it was still not thorough enough.

As the night grew deeper, the princess' heart became more and more confused. Fine beads of sweat oozed out of her forehead. She had never longed for freedom so eagerly.

After a while, the princess stopped and a hint of ruthlessness suddenly flashed in her eyes.

Only if I kill all three members of the family will I have a chance to escape.

But her face showed an expression of pain and confusion, and she covered her face with her hands. She knew that this was too cruel and she had never hurt anyone before!

The princess took a deep breath and slowly lowered her hands, her eyes showing determination yet a hint of fear.

But in order to escape, this was the only way. But how should I kill all three of them? This required further consideration.

She bit her lip, frowned, and fell into deep thought again.

The princess paced back and forth in the room anxiously, twisting the corners of her clothes with her hands.

Use poison? No, if they are discovered, all the efforts will be wasted. Do it while they are sleeping? But what if the noise makes them wake up?
She stopped, closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself down, but beads of sweat the size of beans continued to roll down her forehead.

When she opened her eyes again, her eyes were full of determination.

"No matter what, I must think of a foolproof method. I must escape!"

She recalled the voice she had heard from Sun Haixu, and all the descriptions of Xi Yu came to her mind. The princess' eyes were full of anticipation: "I really hope to meet this Xi Yu soon. I hope he can help me escape from this cage."

On the other side, Xi Yu, who was sleeping in the inn, suddenly sneezed.

He rubbed his nose and thought to himself, is Ouyang Linlin thinking about him? Besides, the trip was almost over, and he would see Ouyang Linlin soon.

As he thought about it, Xi Yu's mouth corners slightly raised and he fell asleep with a hint of sweetness.

The next morning, the sunlight shone through the window onto Xiyu's face.

He woke up slowly, stretched himself, and thought of his conjecture from last night, feeling a surge of anticipation in his heart.

After washing up, Xi Yu walked out of the room and prepared to continue on his journey. Along the way, he was imagining the scene of meeting Ouyang Linlin, and his mood was particularly happy.

As for the princess, she had been racking her brains to think of a way to escape at night, so she got up very late during the day.

When she sat up from the bed with difficulty, her face was pale, her eyes were dark, and she looked listless.

Grandmother Sun walked into the room and saw the princess's appearance. She asked with concern, "Girl, what's wrong with you? You look so bad."

The princess tried to cheer herself up and said weakly, "Auntie, I just feel a little uncomfortable, it's nothing serious."

Sun Haixu also came over, his face full of worry, and said anxiously: "How about I ask a doctor to take a look at you?"

The princess shook her head slightly and replied weakly, "No, I just need to take a good rest."

Just then, Sun's father carried a bow and arrow and prepared to go out hunting.

He walked to Sun Haixu, winked at him calmly, and said in a low voice: "You must keep an eye on this woman."

Sun Haixu nodded in understanding.

After Sun's father left, Sun Haixu stood in front of the princess somewhat awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

The princess noticed his strangeness, looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Sun Haixu scratched his head and covered up, "No, nothing. You have a good rest, I'm outside, call me if you need anything." After saying that, he hurried out of the room.

The princess looked at his departing back, sighed secretly in her heart, then lay back on the bed, looking at the ceiling, her mind full of thoughts.

After a while, Sun's mother came in with a bowl of hot porridge and said lovingly, "Girl, eat something so that you can get better quickly."

The princess forced a smile, took the porridge and drank a few sips.

Grandma Sun watched from the side and couldn't help nagging: "Ah, you child, it makes me feel distressed just looking at you, you have to get better soon."

The princess nodded silently, but in her heart she was thinking about her own escape plan. (End of this chapter)