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

Madam Mingyue lowered her head slightly, a trace of guilt flashing in her eyes: "I also know that it is wrong to do so. But in my opinion, that method is safer. I have no other choice. If I take the normal route, I am not sure if I can see you, Prime Minister, and... time is running out."

Xi Yu frowned, he really couldn't understand Madam Mingyue's behavior, but he could also feel that there must be something hidden behind it. "You would rather risk your life to do this, it must be something very important. Now, you can tell me, don't hide anything." Xi Yu's tone was serious and firm, his eyes were fixed on Madam Mingyue, not allowing her to hesitate any more.

Madam Mingyue's tears rolled down like beads from a broken string, and her voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Prime Minister, I have no other options but to resort to this desperate measure. I am acting this way because of my sister's injustice. My sister has been wrongly accused, and I wish I could chop that thief into pieces, but I don't want to resort to underworld means. I hope that the government can step in and thoroughly punish that evildoer and give my sister justice."

Xi Yu frowned slightly. Although he felt that Madam Mingyue was a little nagging, he couldn't bear to interrupt her seeing how sad she looked, so he just listened quietly.

In the cave, Madam Mingyue's crying voice echoed, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances and anger in her heart.

Madam Mingyue shed tears as she recounted what had happened to her sister.

Her sister was originally a kind and gentle woman, but she was framed by evil people for no reason and fell into a desperate situation.

Madam Mingyue ran around everywhere but was still unable to get justice for her sister. In desperation, she came up with the idea of ​​kidnapping the people to lure the Prime Minister out.

Xi Yu was silent, and the air seemed frozen. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Calm down first and tell me the details of what happened. I will handle it impartially and give your sister justice."

After hearing Xi Yu's words, Madam Mingyue felt a glimmer of hope in her heart. She tried hard to stop her tears and began to tell her sister's injustice.

Madam Mingyue trembled slightly as she continued to recount her sister's tragic experience.

"My sister's name is Sun Qiushui. Ten years ago, she was just a little girl. At that time, she worked in a shop, hoping to earn a stable life through her own efforts. But the shopkeeper had bad intentions and often teased my sister. Naturally, my sister refused to obey, and she adhered to her dignity and bottom line."

Madam Mingyue's eyes were filled with grief and anger.

"Later, the shopkeeper became malicious and framed my sister. He lied that a jade pendant was lost in the store and began to search my sister. Unexpectedly, the jade pendant was found in my sister's room. Everyone in the store was deceived by the shopkeeper and thought my sister was a thief. In this way, my sister was arrested and imprisoned. She spent a long ten years unjustly and was just released this year."

Xi Yu listened quietly, and a surge of anger rose in his heart. He could imagine the suffering that Sun Qiushui had endured in prison, and he also felt disgusted with the evil deeds of the shopkeeper.

"Do you have any evidence to prove that your sister was framed?" Xi Yu asked.

Madam Mingyue bit her lip.

"Although I don't have solid evidence, I believe in my sister's character. She would never steal. Moreover, the shopkeeper is a sinister and cunning person. He must have framed my sister."

Xi Yu nodded slightly.

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If your sister is really wronged, I will seek justice for her."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Madam Mingyue's eyes, and she looked at Xiyu with gratitude.

"Thank you, Prime Minister. If you can clear my sister's grievances, Mingyue is willing to work like a slave for you."

Madam Mingyue looked resentful.

"That county magistrate is a complete fool. He didn't do a good job in the trial. I think he accepted bribes from that abominable shopkeeper. My sister is now suffering humiliation in the village and can't even hold her head up. Although she was released, the villagers don't know the truth and often insult her as a thief. My sister suffers from this torture every day and even feels that life is worse than death. She has wanted to commit suicide several times."

At this point, Madam Mingyue's eyes became red again.

Xi Yu frowned, and a sharp look flashed in his eyes.

"If what you said is true, I will definitely handle it. I don't need to send anyone to handle this matter. I will go there myself to investigate thoroughly."

When Madam Mingyue heard this, she immediately knelt down, her eyes full of gratitude.

"Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for your kindness. I will never forget it."

She knocked her forehead heavily on the ground, her heart full of respect and hope for Xi Yu.

She knew very well that as long as the prime minister stepped in, her sister's grievances would have a chance of being redressed, and the family would have hope of reviving.

Xi Yu hurried forward and helped Madam Mingyue up.

"Stand up now. As the prime minister, I should uphold justice for the people. You don't need to perform such a grand ceremony."

Madam Mingyue stood up, still sobbing. She knew that her sister's fate might be about to take a turn for the better.

Xi Yu looked at Madam Mingyue firmly and asked, "Where is that place?"

Madam Mingyue quickly replied, "It's very far away, in a place called Qingfeng County."

Xi Yu thought for a moment and said, "If that's the case, then we'll set off tomorrow. Can I go back home now?"

Madam Mingyue looked apologetic and bowed slightly, saying, "I apologize for the offense before. Now the Prime Minister can return home."

Xi Yu nodded and continued, "I'll come here again tomorrow, and then we'll set off together."

Madam Mingyue quickly agreed: "Okay, Prime Minister, Mingyue will wait here."

Xi Yu turned around and walked out of the cave, jumping onto his horse.

The sound of horse hooves rang out in the silent night, and he galloped towards the Prime Minister's Mansion, thinking about tomorrow's itinerary.

Madam Mingyue looked at Xi Yu's receding back with mixed feelings.

She felt a glimmer of hope that her sister would be vindicated, but she also felt guilty for her previous reckless behavior.

She secretly vowed to help the prime minister find out the truth and clear her sister's name.

After returning to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xi Yu went straight to the study. He found the location of Qingfeng County on the map and began to plan tomorrow's itinerary and investigation direction.

He knew very well that this journey might not be easy, but for the sake of justice and to redress the grievances of the people, he would not hesitate.

At this time, Madam Mingyue was also packing her luggage in the cave, preparing for tomorrow's long journey.

Xi Yu saw Gan Mei's slender figure standing at the door of his room from afar.

In the night, her figure seemed a little thin.

Xi Yu knew in his heart that Gan Mei must be waiting here because she was worried about his safety.

As soon as Gan Mei saw Xi Yu, a light of surprise flashed in her eyes and she hurried to meet him.

"You're finally back. I've been worried about you. What happened? Are you okay?" Her voice was filled with anxiety and concern. She stared at Xi Yu without blinking, carefully checking whether he was injured.

Xi Yu smiled and held Gan Mei's hand, comforting her: "I'm fine, don't worry."

As he spoke, he told Gan Mei everything that had happened in the cave, including why Madam Mingyue kidnapped the people and the injustice done to her sister.

Gan Mei listened very carefully, sometimes frowning, sometimes showing an indignant expression.

After Xi Yu finished speaking, he couldn't help but sigh: "Madam Mingyue is really an extraordinary woman. She took risks to save her sister. Although her methods were reckless, her family love was truly touching."

Gan Mei nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in her eyes: "She was also forced into a desperate situation, and she hopes we can help her sister clear her grievances."

Xi Yu put his arm around Gan Mei's shoulders and looked at her gentle face.

"Don't worry, I have promised to go to Qingfeng County with Madam Mingyue tomorrow to thoroughly investigate this matter and give her sister justice."

Gan Mei leaned in Xi Yu's arms and said softly, "I believe you, but you must be careful on this trip."

Xiyu nodded, and Ganmei returned to her room.

Xi Yu sat at the desk, spread out the letter paper, picked up the pen and started writing.

The letter was addressed to Hesheli, the king of the Parthian Empire. Xi Yu wrote in the letter: "Your Majesty, I have found the princess. However, the princess is unwilling to leave. The Khanate does not lack food for one person, so I am willing to keep the princess. I hope Your Majesty will not look for the princess anymore."

Xi Yu knew very well that some things did not need to be said very directly, and as Hesheli was the king of a country, he would definitely understand the meaning.

After writing the letter, Xi Yu put down the pen and gently blew dry the ink on the paper.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking about tomorrow's arrangements. In addition to sending someone to deliver the letter, Xi Yu also planned to have the soldiers take down the portrait of Princess Anxi.

He didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble because of the princess's affairs. Since the princess had decided to stay, the matter should be settled as soon as possible.

Xi Yu stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the quiet night outside.

The next day, the portraits of the Parthian princess posted and hung in various places in the city were taken down one by one. When the people saw this, they all knew that the princess had been found.

At this time, Xi Yu was handling affairs in the Prime Minister's Mansion when he suddenly received a letter from the border crossing.

He opened it and found that it was written by Liu Bei.

In the letter, Liu Bei spoke sincerely, hoping to find a job for Guan Yu and claiming that Guan Yu had now reformed.

Xi Yu pondered for a moment, then picked up a pen and wrote a letter to the county where Liu Bei was.

In the letter, he instructed local officials to oversee the arrangements and give Guan Yu an appropriate assignment based on his talents and performance.

Xi Yu knew very well that talented people were hard to come by, and it would be a good thing if Guan Yu could really reform himself and serve the country.

After dealing with this matter, Xi Yu began to prepare to go to Qingfeng County.

In the cave where Madam Mingyue was, several subordinates surrounded Madam Mingyue with worried faces.

One of the subordinates couldn't help but say, "Madam, we really shouldn't have let Xiyu go last night. Now that the people have all left, we don't have any hostages. If Xiyu doesn't agree to our request, what should we do?"

The other subordinates also nodded, their eyes full of anxiety.

Madam Mingyue looked calm. She waved her hand gently and said, "I believe in my judgment. The Prime Minister is not the kind of person who does not keep his word. From his eyes and words and deeds, I can feel his integrity. Since he has promised, he will definitely come."

One of the subordinates was still a little unwilling: "Madam, people's hearts are hidden. What if he just pretended to agree to it in order to get out of this situation? We have taken such a big risk. If we fail in the end, my sister's injustice will never be redressed."

Madam Mingyue frowned slightly, with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.

"When I talked with the prime minister, I could see that he really wanted to uphold justice for the people. Moreover, he is the prime minister. If he doesn't even have this little credibility, how can he convince the people? What we have to do now is to wait patiently."

Seeing that Madam Mingyue was so persistent, the subordinates didn't know what to say, but their worries were not completely dissipated.

They prepared silently in the cave, looking forward to Xi Yu's arrival on time. At the same time, they prayed silently in their hearts, hoping that this action would successfully resolve their sister's grievances.

Outside the cave, sunlight shines on the entrance and a breeze blows by, but it cannot blow away the solemn atmosphere inside the cave.

Madam Mingyue stood quietly at the entrance of the cave.

Just as everyone was talking and worried, the sound of horse hooves came from far away.

When everyone looked, they saw Xi Yu riding a horse in a heroic manner appearing in their sight.

Madam Mingyue's originally tense face instantly broke into a joyful smile, and her eyes sparkled with tears of excitement.

Xi Yu dismounted, walked up to Madam Mingyue, and said, "We can set off now."

Madam Mingyue looked at Xiyu, her lips trembling slightly, and suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes.

She choked up and said, "I was just trying it out, and I never thought that you, Prime Minister, would really be willing to help me."

Xi Yu smiled gently and comforted her softly, "Don't cry. As the prime minister, it is my duty to help the people. When we really help your sister clear her grievances, it won't be too late for you to thank me."

Madam Mingyue wiped her tears and nodded vigorously.

"The Prime Minister is so righteous that I will never forget him. Let's set off without further delay."

After saying that, she asked her subordinates to pack their bags and set off for Qingfeng County with Xi Yu.

Along the way, Madam Mingyue's heart was filled with gratitude towards Xi Yu, and she was also full of hope for the upcoming journey of redress.

The dust raised by the horses' hooves filled the road. The team marched under the sunshine, and everyone's expression was filled with anticipation and solemnity for the journey.

According to the itinerary, it would take them about three days to reach Qingfeng County.

At the beginning, Madam Mingyue's subordinates were prejudiced against Xi Yu because of previous events.

In their opinion, Xi Yu, as the prime minister, might just be pretending and would not sincerely seek justice for a commoner woman. Moreover, the siege of the cave by the people from the prime minister's mansion had created a hostile atmosphere between them and Xi Yu.

However, during the three days of travel, the situation changed quietly.

Xi Yu had no airs of a prime minister. When he encountered a river blocking the road, he would be the first to dismount and look for a suitable crossing point with the soldiers.
Whenever he arrived at a resting place, he always cared about the condition of the horses and everyone.

During breaks on the way, he would also share some interesting stories from the past with everyone, showing his extraordinary wisdom and affinity.

Once, a subordinate accidentally sprained his foot. Xi Yu personally checked his injury and took out the medicine he carried with him.

These actions were seen by the subordinates, and gradually, their views on Xi Yu began to change.

They found that the Prime Minister was a kind-hearted man who truly cared about the people and had outstanding abilities. Their previous prejudices disappeared unknowingly, and they began to deeply recognize Xi Yu.

Madam Mingyue was very pleased to see the change in attitude of her subordinates.

That night, after a long journey, they finally arrived at Qingfeng County.

At this time, the night had completely enveloped the small town. The lights in the city were sparse and the place was quiet.

Madam Mingyue pulled the reins of the horse and said to Xiyu, "Prime Minister, it's getting late. We might as well go to my sister's place tomorrow." Xiyu nodded and agreed.

Then, Madam Mingyue turned to look at her subordinates and said softly, "You have all worked hard these past few days. Go home and rest. You don't have to come to my house tomorrow."

The subordinates responded in unison: "Yes, ma'am."

After that, they each rode away on horseback.

Xiyu and Madam Mingyue found an inn to stay in.

In the inn, Madam Mingyue briefly introduced the situation in Qingfeng County and her sister's current living conditions to Xiyu.

Xi Yu listened carefully and made some preliminary plans for tomorrow's investigation.

The next morning, the fog was thick and the whole world seemed covered with a veil.

Madam Mingyue and Xiyu set out early and headed towards the village that carried Madam Mingyue's hopes and pain.

The two men rode slowly on horseback, the sound of horse hooves being particularly clear in the quiet morning mist.

About an hour later, the outline of a village gradually emerged in the fog.

Madam Mingyue pulled the reins, turned to Xiyu and said, "Prime Minister, this is my hometown."

Her eyes showed both longing for her hometown and complex emotions about what she was about to face.

Xi Yu looked around the village. It looked peaceful and harmonious, but the fog seemed to shroud it in a depressing atmosphere.

The houses in the village are arranged in an orderly manner, and occasionally you can see smoke rising from the chimneys.

"Let's go." Xi Yu said. He could feel Madam Mingyue's emotions fluctuating and knew that she must be feeling mixed emotions at the moment.

Madam Mingyue nodded, lightly squeezed the horse's belly, and continued forward. As they went deeper, they could hear the sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking, and the villagers also began their day's work.

When some villagers saw Madam Mingyue, they showed surprise and complicated expressions in their eyes, but no one came forward to say hello, they just watched from a distance.

Madam Mingyue's expression became more and more solemn. She knew that the attitude of the people in this village towards her and her sister had changed because of the unjust case. And today might be the beginning of changing all this.

Soon, they followed the winding path and soon arrived at a farmer's home.

This is Sun Qiu Shui's residence.

The farmhouse stands quietly beside a field, surrounded by lush trees, like a secluded paradise.

The thatched roof swayed gently in the breeze, as if telling the story of the years.

Madam Mingyue's parents had passed away long ago, and now Sun Qiu Shui was the only one living alone in this world.

Sun Qiushui was sitting on a small bench in the yard, staring into the distance quietly. (End of this chapter)