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

Xi Yu was riding on his horse, feeling extremely anxious. The worry in his heart was like a flame, burning him restlessly, and he just wanted to get to his destination as soon as possible.

The sound of horse hooves hitting the ground rapidly, raising clouds of dust.

Suddenly, there was a dull sound, and Xiyu's horse hit a stall selling mung beans.

The mung beans were instantly scattered all over the ground, like green stars scattered on the earth.

Xi Yu shouted, "I'll compensate you later, but I have something to do now!" However, no one responded.

He looked anxiously at the mung beans all over the ground, gritted his teeth, and continued running forward.

Xi Yu hurried to the Prime Minister's residence. When the soldiers at the door saw him, they saluted and shouted, "The Prime Minister is finally back!"

Xi Yu had no time to say more. He dismounted his horse swiftly, handed the reins to the soldier, and began to walk eagerly, with only one thought in his mind - to find Gan Mei.

I learned that Ganmei went to the Buddhist temple.

Without hesitation, he walked quickly towards the Buddhist temple.

After passing through the winding corridors and past the blooming flowers, Xi Yu finally arrived in front of the Buddhist temple.

The Buddhist temple was filled with the sound of Buddhist scriptures, which was peaceful and harmonious.

Xi Yu stood at the door, paused for a moment, sorted out his emotions, then gently pushed the door open and stepped into the Buddhist hall.

Gan Mei knelt quietly in front of the Buddha statue with a dignified posture and a pious expression.

Xi Yu looked at her quietly, his eyes full of tenderness and pity.

In this quiet Buddhist temple, time seems to stand still.

Xi Yu slowly walked to Gan Mei, squatted down gently, and held her hand.

Gan Mei trembled slightly, turned her head, and the moment she saw Xi Yu, surprise and emotion flashed in her eyes.

"You're here." Gan Mei's voice was soft and warm.

Xi Yu stared at Gan Mei and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

Gan Mei frowned slightly and told the story with a serious expression.

A hateful woman has kidnapped many civilians, and those innocent people are in dire straits.

Gan Mei's eyes were filled with worry and anxiety. She looked at Xi Yu and said earnestly, "You must rescue them quickly."

When Xi Yu heard this, he was immediately furious. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth and said, "This evil woman is so bold! I'll go now." After that, he turned around and was about to leave.

However, Gan Mei grabbed Xi Yu's clothes, her eyes full of concern and anxiety.

"Be careful." Her voice trembled slightly, filled with deep concern.

Xi Yu looked at Gan Mei and felt a warm feeling in his heart.

He gently held Gan Mei's hand and said gently but firmly: "Don't worry, I will be careful. Wait for me to come back."

His eyes were full of confidence and courage, as if they could penetrate all darkness.

Gan Mei looked at Xi Yu, nodded slowly, and let go of her hand.

Xi Yu turned around resolutely and walked out of the Buddhist hall with big strides.

His figure appeared particularly tall and straight in the sunlight, as if he was a fearless hero about to rush to the battlefield to save the imprisoned people.

Gan Mei stood quietly at the door of the Buddhist temple, looking at Xi Yu's receding back, praying silently in her heart for his safe return.

The atmosphere in the cave was depressing and dull.

Madam Mingyue paced back and forth anxiously, obviously getting a little impatient.

Zhuge Liang felt sorry for the people around him when he saw their lost expressions.

He slowly said, "If the Prime Minister knew, he would definitely come to rescue us, but the Prime Minister is not at home at the moment."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people's expressions became even more lost, and their eyes, which had originally held a glimmer of hope, instantly dimmed.

Madam Mingyue came to Zhuge Liang angrily and whispered viciously: "Why tell the truth? You should lie to these people that the prime minister will be here soon, so that the people will feel better."

Zhuge Liang's eyes flashed with disdain when he heard this. He retorted fearlessly: "Then why don't you just release them? You keep saying that you care about the people, but you kidnap them. How hypocritical."

Madam Mingyue was choked by Zhuge Liang's words and was speechless for a moment, her face became even gloomier.

Zhuge Liang straightened his back and looked at Madam Mingyue with a firm gaze, as if waiting for her response.

During this tense confrontation, the air in the cave seemed to freeze, and everyone's heart was filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Madam Mingyue snorted coldly and left, bringing a few subordinates out of the cave.

At this moment, the sky began to darken, and the night slowly enveloped the earth like a huge black curtain.

Madam Mingyue was filled with anxiety. She paced back and forth, her eyes revealing uneasiness and confusion.

She turned to ask several subordinates: "What should we do?"

One of his men said in a cold tone: "Since you said that Xi Yu won't come when it gets dark, then kill the people. What else is there to discuss?"

After hearing this, Madam Mingyue became even more anxious.

Her face turned pale and she wrung her hands together.

But his purpose was not to kill the people. Even if any one of them died, he would be in great pain.

Madam Mingyue kept repeating these words in her heart.

She was in deep conflict. Things had come to this point and she didn't know what to do.

She looked towards the direction of the cave and seemed to be able to see the frightened eyes of those innocent people.

She was struggling painfully in her heart. On the one hand, she had already said those cruel words, and on the other hand, she felt deep down in her heart that she couldn't bear to see the people.

The night wind blew, bringing a slight chill, but Madam Mingyue felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

She knew that she had to make a decision as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

But this decision was like a heavy burden, which made her almost breathless.

When Madam Mingyue was in a dilemma outside the cave, another subordinate said, "In this case, Madam, why don't you just find another excuse?"

Madam Mingyue nodded slightly, her heart calmed down a little. She took a deep breath, calmed down her emotions, and then turned and walked into the cave.

Inside the cave, the people's faces were filled with fear and anxiety. When they saw Madam Mingyue come in, their eyes were filled with expectation and worry.

Madam Mingyue cleared her throat and tried to make her voice sound calm.

"I have already investigated clearly. The Prime Minister is indeed not in Youzhou. I cannot force anyone to do anything. Therefore, I will change the deadline to three days. If Xi Yu does not show up after three days, I will be rude to everyone."

When the people heard this, they felt a little relieved, but also had new worries.

Fortunately, I escaped the disaster for the time being, but I am worried about what fate I will face in three days.

After saying this, Madam Mingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least for now, she had temporarily alleviated the crisis.

But she also knew that this was only a temporary solution. Three days would pass in a flash, and she had to come up with a better way to solve this difficult problem as soon as possible.

Zhuge Liang stood aside, looking at Madam Mingyue quietly, his heart full of doubts about her actions.

He didn't know what Madam Mingyue was planning, but he knew that he had to stay alert at all times and look for opportunities to rescue the people. The cave was filled with a tense atmosphere, and everyone was waiting for the turning point of fate. Madam Mingyue's decision was like a stone thrown into the lake, stirring up ripples and making the situation even more confusing.

Zhuge Liang stood in a corner of the cave, frowned slightly, and thought secretly in his heart.

"It seems that Madam Mingyue will not do anything to the people at all? Then why did she come to see the Prime Minister?" Zhuge Liang's thoughts were spinning rapidly.

He recalled that Lady Mingyue had kidnapped the people and although she spoke harshly, she had never really hurt anyone. This was very different from the behavior of those extremely vicious criminals.

Perhaps, Madam Mingyue had her own reasons.

She threatened the people, so what she wanted must be very important. But what could make her do such a bold move?
Zhuge Liang racked his brains, trying to find clues from Madam Mingyue's words and actions.

He thought of Prime Minister Xi Yu again. If the prime minister knew about this, he would definitely do his best to rescue the people.

But if Madam Mingyue's purpose is not to harm, then what kind of entanglement does she have with the Prime Minister? Is it an old grudge? Or does she want to ask for help?

Zhuge Liang's mind was full of questions. He decided to closely observe Madam Mingyue's every move during these three days, looking for opportunities to solve the mystery and find a way out for the safety of the people and the resolution of this crisis.

Xi Yu galloped all the way and finally arrived in front of the cave. He dismounted neatly, patted the horse's back gently, and said with care: "I'm sorry for making you work so hard. You came here without eating."

At this moment, Xi Yu looked solemn and anxious. He stared at the entrance of the cave, and was concerned about the kidnapped people.

The wind blew across the corners of his clothes, bringing a slight coolness, but it could not cool the anxiety in his heart.

Xi Yu took a deep breath, took a slow step, and walked towards the cave.

He seems like a solid barrier, guarding the people's hope and future.

The horse he had comforted stood quietly by his side, seemingly cheering him on.

Xi Yu's voice echoed in front of the cave.

"I'm Xi Yu. I'm here. Who's looking for me?" The loud voice was like a huge bell, breaking the silence and instantly causing a commotion in the cave.

When Madam Mingyue heard the shout, she raised her eyebrows, a complicated look flashed in her eyes, and then she quickly walked out of the cave.

She took light steps and soon appeared in front of Xi Yu.

She looked Xi Yu up and down with scrutiny in her eyes and asked, "Are you Xi Yu?"

Xi Yu frowned slightly, looked at the strange woman in front of him, and asked, "Who are you?"

Madam Mingyue had a faint smile on her lips, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you are finally here, Your Excellency Prime Minister." There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone, and it seemed to hide many unknown stories.

Xiyu snorted coldly.

"No matter who you are, why did you kidnap those innocent people? Do you know that this is a serious crime!" He took a step forward, exuding a majestic aura, and looked at Madam Mingyue with his eyes as sharp as torches, without any retreat.

Madam Mingyue still looked at Xiyu with suspicion and asked again: "Are you really Xiyu?"

Xi Yu sneered, with a hint of arrogance in his expression.

"Humph, I am the real Xi Yu."

Upon seeing this, Madam Mingyue turned around and ordered someone to bring Zhuge Liang out.

As soon as Zhuge Liang came out and saw Xi Yu, a light of excitement flashed in his eyes. He was secretly happy and glad that the prime minister had finally come.

Xi Yu hurriedly took out the token symbolizing the prime minister's status from his arms and handed it to Madam Mingyue.

Madam Mingyue took the token and examined it carefully. The token was finely crafted, with unique patterns and marks, and was the only proof of the prime minister's identity.

After repeated confirmation, she finally believed that the person in front of her was Xi Yu. Her expression relaxed slightly, but there were still complex emotions in the depths of her eyes.

"Prime Minister, now that you are here, we should have a good talk." Madam Mingyue looked at Xiyu. Although her tone was a little softer, it still carried a hint of toughness.

Xi Yu nodded slightly.

"Okay, I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation as to why you would commit such an evil act as kidnapping civilians."

The two men looked at each other in a tense atmosphere, and a conversation concerning the fate of the people and the secrets behind it was about to begin.

Madam Mingyue lowered her head slightly, her tone full of helplessness and guilt.

"I am indeed guilty of heinous crimes. It doesn't matter to me how I am punished. But I have no choice but to do this. Now I am going to release the people."

At this time, one of the subordinates hurriedly said, "Madam, you can't release the people first! The Prime Minister should pardon Madam's crime first before releasing the people."

Madam Mingyue's eyes froze when she heard this, and she said firmly, "It has come to this. I can't use the people as a threat anymore. Let them go immediately!"

Her words were powerful and unquestionable.

Although the subordinates were unwilling, they did not dare to disobey orders and had to act quickly to bring the imprisoned people out of the cave one by one.

The people regained their freedom, their faces filled with surprise and gratitude.

They looked at Madam Mingyue, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xi Yu watched this scene quietly and was quite surprised by Madam Mingyue's behavior.

He originally thought there would be a difficult confrontation, but he did not expect that Madam Mingyue would choose to release the people so decisively.

At this moment, he was more curious about Madam Mingyue's purpose and was also thinking about how to deal with this complicated situation.

At the same time, Madam Mingyue looked at Zhuge Liang and said softly, "You can go back too."

Zhuge Liang stood there, motionless, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

Seeing this, Xi Yu nodded and said to him, "Let's go quickly."

Zhuge Liang sighed deeply. He looked at Xi Yu with concern in his eyes: "Prime Minister, be careful."

After saying this, he slowly turned around and left.

With Zhuge Liang's departure, only Xi Yu, Madam Mingyue and their men were left at the entrance of the cave.

The wind blew gently, bringing with it a silence. Both sides were silent, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.

Xi Yu's face was as gloomy as water. He looked straight at Madam Mingyue, waiting for her next words, while Madam Mingyue frowned slightly, as if considering where to start.

Madam Mingyue bowed slightly and said, "The Prime Minister is affectionate."

Then, she made a gesture of invitation and invited Xi Yu into the cave.

Soon, the servants brought in fine wine and delicious food, filling the table.

Madam Mingyue looked at Xiyu and said softly, "I can see that the Prime Minister looks exhausted. He must have just come back from outside and hasn't eaten yet."

Xi Yu frowned slightly. He was in no mood to eat. He just looked at Madam Mingyue coldly and said, "What do you mean?"

Madam Mingyue sighed softly and said frankly, "Prime Minister, I have no intention of harming the people. Just now, although my subordinates advised me to take the people as hostages, I did not listen. You can rest assured about this. There is no conspiracy to poison these meals. They are just for entertaining the Prime Minister. I know that I acted rashly this time and caused the Prime Minister to misunderstand me."

Xi Yu's expression relaxed a little, but he was still wary.

"Even so, you kidnapped the people for no reason and brought me here. What is your purpose? You need to tell me the truth."

Madam Mingyue looked hesitant, as if she didn't know where to start, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

Madam Mingyue smiled and invited again: "Prime Minister, please have dinner first. When you finish your meal, I will tell you everything."

Xi Yu touched his rumbling stomach. Indeed, after rushing all the way here, he was a little hungry.

However, he was cautious and put forward a condition before picking up his chopsticks: "You can let me eat it, but you must let your men test the food to see if it is poisonous first."

Madam Mingyue smiled helplessly: "Don't worry, Prime Minister. I have no such intention." After that, she motioned several subordinates to come forward.

Although the subordinates were somewhat reluctant, they did not dare to disobey the lady's order and tasted the food on the table one by one.

Seeing that they were fine, Xi Yu picked up his bowl and chopsticks and started eating.

For a while, the only sound in the cave was the clatter of dishes and chopsticks. Madam Mingyue looked at Xi Yu quietly, as if waiting for the right moment to tell her story.

Xi Yu ate while paying attention to the movements around him. He knew that this seemingly calm situation might still be hiding something mysterious.

After eating and drinking, Xi Yu looked at Madam Mingyue and made an unexpected request to her - asking her to help feed the horses.

Madam Mingyue was stunned at first, then immediately did as she was told.

She took the hay and walked towards the horse. There was a hint of complicated emotions in her eyes, but she fed the horse very gently.

After the horse had eaten its fill, Xi Yu wiped his hands, looked at Madam Ming Yue, and said calmly, "Now, can you tell me what you want to talk to me about?"

Madam Mingyue nodded slightly, turned around and said to her subordinates, "You all leave first and wait outside."

Several men looked at each other, somewhat hesitant. They had no idea what their lady was up to, and they were not comfortable with just leaving like that.

Madam Mingyue saw this and said seriously, "I know the Prime Minister is upright and honest. He won't harm me. You can just leave."

After hearing what the lady said, the subordinates were still worried, but they did not dare to disobey and had to retreat out of the cave one after another.

For a moment, only Xiyu and Madam Mingyue were left in the cave, and the atmosphere became extremely solemn. Xiyu looked at Madam Mingyue quietly, waiting for her to uncover the secret behind the storm.

After everyone left, the atmosphere in the cave became a little depressing.

Xi Yu looked at Madam Mingyue with a questioning look in his eyes: "If you need to find me for something, why don't you use normal means? Why do you have to kidnap those innocent people and make them live in fear?" (End of this chapter)