After I died, the scumbag prince cried down the city wall

Xie Xiuzhu nodded rapidly, her eyes full of trust: "I'll go with you."

The two went deep into the forest. Thanks to Cui Rongrong's careful preparation in advance, the scent emitted by a special sachet drove away the insects and ants around them, clearing many obstacles for their escape.

They hid in a secluded valley, and the dense bushes became a temporary shelter.

Not far away, the sounds of the bandits' conversations could be heard from time to time, which made people terrified, but also stimulated the instinct for survival.

"The carriage is here! Those two little girls must not have gotten far!"

"We must find them and avenge our brothers!"

"The mountain is so big and it's dark at night, so it's not easy to search."

"We have to search them even if it's not easy! As long as they're alive, we have no chance of survival! The whole city is under martial law now. If they escape from this mountain, we'll be finished!"

The bandits did not dare to delay, lit torches and launched a carpet search.

At the same time, there was chaos in Xie's mansion.

The night of lantern viewing, which should have been a joyous occasion, was overshadowed by the disappearance of the eldest daughter. The servants knelt together, the usually dignified lady lost her usual dignity, and angry scolds echoed throughout the courtyard.

"If we can't find Xiuzhu, you will all die!"

The Second Madam tried to appease everyone: "Hasn't Young Master Xian already mobilized the Imperial Guards? Be patient and wait for news."

Then he turned to the page boy and said anxiously, "Any response from the Imperial Guards?"

"The city gates have been closed and the entire city has been searched, but there is still no news of them..."

As time passed, the eldest lady became weaker and weaker due to anxiety. She fainted on the ground due to the anger and blood rushing to her heart.

"lady!"

The servants gathered around in panic and the scene fell into chaos.

All of this, in the eyes of the coldly watching Third Madam, was indescribably satisfying, as if this sudden change, for her, concealed some kind of indescribable satisfaction...

The eldest lady came from a prominent family. Since the day she married into the Xie family, a family with a long history and illustrious reputation, she has been like a phoenix ascending to a branch, with an extraordinary status.

The eldest son she gave birth to was extremely gifted and talented, which made the Xie family even more glorious. The family's honor seemed to be coated with an immortal halo, which was enviable.

However, the wheel of fate never stops because of a person's power or beauty, and the carefully woven picture of life by the eldest lady is about to be torn apart by a sudden gust of wind.

The apple of her eye, the daughter who had been regarded as a treasure since childhood, was facing an unprecedented crisis. This disaster was enough to bring shame to the family. The sense of superiority that the eldest lady had carefully cultivated over the years seemed to be about to fall along with the fate of her daughter who was swaying in the wind.

In this large mansion, some people were finally able to break free from long-term oppression and restraint, with an irrepressible sense of relief and revenge in their hearts.

The Third Madam, a woman who was usually gentle as water but had a strong heart, gently patted the delicate back of Xie Xiuyun's hand, her eyes flashing with complex emotions, including sympathy and a kind of imperceptible satisfaction.

Her words were gentle but firm, like a ray of warm spring sunshine, penetrating the haze that had been in the Xie Mansion for many years: "From today on, you will become the one and only legitimate daughter of this mansion, shining brightly."

At the same time, outside the Xie Mansion, the young and handsome Song Yanyi did not return to the mansion with carved beams and painted rafters, but chose to gallop on horseback through the streets and alleys of the capital. His face was unusually calm, like a sculpture of ice, his eyes were deep, and beneath his restrained emotions, there was a surging determination.

Qing'an, the guard who had followed him for many years, knew very well that the calmer his master appeared on the outside, the more turbulent the turmoil in his heart became, foreshadowing the coming storm.

"If those daring people were to do this, they would never choose a brightly lit road. Search! Search every dark alley and hidden path carefully!"

Song Yanyi's voice was cold and resolute, and every word was like an ice cone piercing the heart.

As the order was given, a team of well-trained imperial guards acted quickly, spreading out like cheetahs, pouring into the most secretive corners of the capital and conducting a carpet search.

Song Yanyi followed closely behind, riding his horse through the dark and narrow alleys. His sharp eyes were like an eagle, examining every possible clue around him.

At this moment, a barely perceptible silver luster flickered in the dimness and caught his sight.

He suddenly pulled the reins, jumped off the horse, and gently picked up the exquisite silver hairpin lying in the mud, his brows furrowed.

This silver hairpin clearly belongs to his gentle and lovely sister Cui Rong.

"Somebody come!"

He shouted loudly, echoing in the silent alley, "Search in this direction with all your strength!"

Then, Song Yanyi personally led a part of the imperial guards and advanced into the unknown depths along the winding path marked by scattered hairpins and rings.

Every step is a test of reason and courage. Every critical crossroads leaves a mark of Cui Rong or Xiu Zhu, like a glimmer of light guiding hope.

Jiuchuan Mountain, located on the edge of the capital, is a desolate place with few people. The mountains are undulating and the forests are dense, making it an ideal place for criminals to hide.

Song Yanyi had already sketched out the general direction in his mind, and he galloped on his horse, heading straight for Jiuchuan Mountain.

At this time in Jiuchuan Mountain, night fell like a thick black curtain. In the mountains and forests, there were only a few swaying flames, like the eyes of wild beasts. They were torches in the hands of the villains, illuminating their greed and cruelty.

"Damn it, where can that girl hide? I really underestimated that yellow-haired girl!"

One of the horse bandits cursed, his eyes full of anger and anxiety.

"This mountain is so small, we have to find them tonight even if we have to turn the whole place upside down!"

Another voice roared, its tone full of unquestionable determination.

"Keep searching the valley. Don't give them a chance to escape!"

Cui Rongrong and Xie Xiuzhu had been hiding in the deep forest for several hours. The shouting of the horse bandits was getting closer and closer, which was terrifying.

Xie Xiuzhu was trembling all over, her eyes were full of fear, and she held Cui Rongrong's hand tightly, as if it was her only support.

"What should I do? It seems like they are about to find this place."

Xiuzhu's voice trembled slightly.

Cui Rongrong's eyes flashed with determination: "We can't stay here and wait to die. We must go deeper into the valley."

Her words were calm and firm, but they couldn't hide her deep concern for her sister.

Although Xiuzhu's legs were trembling, she gritted her teeth and nodded. The two of them clasped their hands tightly, as if this could pass on strength to each other.

They moved silently under the cover of night and trees, while the cries of the bandits searching behind them were as urgent as a death warrant.

Suddenly, Xiuzhu accidentally slipped, felt a sharp pain in her ankle, and fell to the ground. The noise instantly alerted the horse bandits.

"He's running over there! Chase him!"