The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

The next morning, Li Wenyuan took Old Man Su back to the county town in a horse-drawn carriage.

The carriage swayed along, silence filling the cramped space. The scenery rushed past, and both men, burdened with their own thoughts, had nothing to say. Li Wenyuan gripped the reins, his expression somber, occasionally glancing sideways at Old Man Su beside him, his brows slightly furrowed.

Old Su lowered his eyelids, seemingly focused on the worn-out old cloth bag at his feet, but in reality, he was lost in thought. He knew that this trip to the city was not for casual conversation, but for important negotiations concerning the overall situation.

Upon arriving in the county town, they headed straight for the Prince of Zhenbei's residence. The moment they stepped inside, a suffocating atmosphere enveloped them. The guards were heavily armed, their gazes piercing, as if they could see right through one's soul. Li Wenyuan gritted his teeth and led Old Man Su step by step into the main hall.

"Your Highness, please forgive us." Li Wenyuan clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his tone respectful, but his eyes flashed with a cold light. "We have come as agreed, hoping only for a pleasant cooperation."

The Prince of Zhenbei, seated in the main seat, sneered. His face was gaunt, but still handsome. He waved his hand, signaling a servant to bring tea. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse but still authoritative: "Brother Li, long time no see. Please sit down and tell me your terms."

Li Wenyuan gestured for Old Man Su to sit down, while he remained standing. He knew that the other party would not compromise easily, and he had to demonstrate sufficient sincerity and strength.

Su Muya was led outside the hall. She suddenly stopped, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to go inside. Seeing the three facing each other, she scanned each person with a complicated expression, finally fixing her gaze on the Prince of Zhenbei.

“Uncle,” she called out, taking a few steps forward and bowing respectfully, “I am willing to take some responsibility for this discussion, and I hope you can…”

"Listen to me." She straightened up, her eyes resolute. The atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense.

The Prince of Zhenbei narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the woman who had suddenly intruded. Su Muya's appearance bore a resemblance to the Prince of Zhenbei's wife in her youth, which softened his expression somewhat, though a hint of wariness remained. "Oh? What responsibility are you willing to take?" he asked coldly, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Su Muya said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Uncle, I know you value the interests of the family very much. I admit that some of my previous actions were wrong, but I am willing to pay the price for it and I promise to wholeheartedly assist you in the future to seek greater benefits for the family."

Li Wenyuan looked at Su Muya with a complicated expression. He hadn't expected his cousin to step forward at such a crucial moment. The Prince of Zhenbei didn't respond immediately, but instead tapped his fingers lightly on the table, producing a crisp sound, as if assessing the truthfulness of his words. He suddenly laughed, a chilling laugh, like winter frost. "Tell me your plan. If it satisfies me, perhaps I can consider letting them go."

“My plan is simple,” Su Muya said calmly. “The border situation is tense right now, and the court urgently needs stability. I have some important intelligence about the enemy’s movements. If this information can be used effectively, it can not only protect the country, but also greatly enhance our family’s prestige.”

The Prince of Zhenbei frowned slightly. Despite his leg disability, his mind remained sharp. "How can you guarantee the authenticity of the intelligence?"

Su Muya continued to explain: "This intelligence comes from a reliable informant who used to work in the enemy's high command but has now defected to our side."

The Prince of Zhenbei raised his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Su Muya, his expression unreadable. "Where is this informant you mentioned now?"

Li Wenyuan smiled slightly, took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over, "This is a letter written by that person himself, the words are clear and there is no room for doubt."

The Prince of Zhenbei took the letter and read it carefully. The hall was silent except for the rustling sound of him turning the pages. After a moment, he looked up, snorted coldly, and slammed the letter heavily on the table.

"What a fine surrender." His voice, like an ice blade, pierced the hearts of everyone present. "If this intelligence is true, it can indeed help me stabilize the borders. But," he suddenly turned his gaze to Li Wenyuan and Old Man Su, a murderous glint appearing between his brows, "if there is the slightest mishap, you know the consequences!"

Li Wenyuan met his gaze without fear, saying, "Rest assured, Prince Zhenbei, we would never joke about the fate of our family. As long as we work together to overcome this difficulty, we will surely be able to turn the tide."

The tension in the air eased somewhat. The Prince of Zhenbei pondered for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement. "In that case, proceed as planned. However..."

He paused here, his cunning gaze sweeping over the crowd, "To demonstrate my loyalty, I need you to provide more guarantees."

Su Muya knew this was part of the negotiation, and she said calmly, "Uncle, please explain."

The Prince of Zhenbei revealed a sinister smile, "I want the main assets of the Su and Li families as collateral. If any problems arise, these assets will be confiscated in full."

Old Su was pale and sweating, but he still nodded with difficulty. "Okay. We agree to your terms."

The Prince of Zhenbei picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and set it down. His gaze was piercing as he looked at Su Muya. The hall was brightly lit, illuminating everyone's expressions clearly. The air was filled with the rich aroma of tea, yet it couldn't mask the tense atmosphere.

The Prince of Zhenbei sighed softly, "The matter is urgent. I need you to hand over the intelligence to me as soon as possible. At the same time, you must ensure that this intelligence will not be detected by the enemy during the transmission process."

Li Wenyuan nodded. "Of course, we will assign our most trusted personnel to this mission and take multiple protective measures to ensure that the intelligence is foolproof."

Old Man Su sat there, his expression complex, his fingers constantly rubbing against his knees. He glanced at Su Muya, signaling her to continue.

Su Muya took a deep breath. "Uncle, rest assured, we will not only ensure the security of intelligence, but also send elite troops to assist you in stabilizing the border situation. These soldiers are specially trained, highly loyal, and strong in combat, capable of handling any emergency."

The Prince of Zhenbei raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in the suggestion, but he did not respond immediately, instead falling into deep thought. His fingers tapped the table lightly, making a rhythmic sound, as if he were assessing the credibility of the words and the intention behind them.

The Prince of Zhenbei sneered, "Fine, since that's the case, we'll cooperate for now. But I must warn you, if I discover any concealment or betrayal on your part, you will bear the consequences!"

Su Muya and Li Wenyuan nodded in agreement. The negotiation temporarily ended, and the three stood up, bowed, and took their leave. Old Man Su remained silent, simply following behind the two, his expression growing increasingly aged.