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

As dusk settled, Su Muya, Li Wenyuan, and Old Man Su stepped out of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. Night fell, and moonlight spilled onto the bluestone path, illuminating the three slightly weary figures. The city's clamor had subsided, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Su Muya's steps were heavy, each one feeling like it was treading on her heart. She silently followed behind Li Wenyuan and Old Man Su. The two elders also had solemn expressions and remained silent. They knew that although the negotiations had made progress temporarily, the conspiracies and traps behind them could not be ignored.

Passing through a dilapidated alley, I saw several homeless people huddled in a corner, their eyes vacant, seemingly uninterested in the world. This scene was like that of lonely souls in the darkness, with nowhere to turn.

Back at the inn, after the three of them sat down, Old Man Su finally spoke: "Muya, this matter is of utmost importance, we must proceed with caution." His voice was low and hoarse, filled with deep worry.

Li Wenyuan nodded in agreement, "That's right. Although we have temporarily gained some initiative, we need to be extra careful with every step from now on. The Prince of Zhenbei is no pushover. If he finds out that we have made any mistakes, he will not hesitate to take action."

Su Muya clenched her fists, her gaze resolute. "I understand, cousin, grandfather. I will do my utmost to ensure the accuracy of the intelligence and use all available resources to assist the Prince of Zhenbei. But... if he really tries to blackmail us, we cannot simply surrender."

She looked up at the starry sky outside the window, its brilliance seemingly bringing a glimmer of hope for the future.

“Therefore,” Li Wenyuan said seriously, “we need some other safeguards.”

Li Wenyuan pondered for a moment, his gaze gradually hardening. He slowly said, "We need to ensure the authenticity of the intelligence, and at the same time, we need a way out. Su Muya, try not to go out these next few days, so as not to arouse suspicion from the Prince of Zhenbei's people. I will arrange for people to protect you."

Su Muya nodded and replied, "Okay, cousin." She was already thinking about how to complete the task within the tight timeframe.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the window, as if the entire town had been alarmed. The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as it approached, quickly reaching the foot of the inn. A knock sounded at the door, and before anyone could answer, the door was pushed open, and a soldier in military uniform, his face covered in dust, rushed in.

A soldier, panting, reported, "Lord Li, something terrible has happened! The situation at the border has suddenly changed; the enemy has begun to assemble and may launch an attack at any moment!"

Upon hearing this, the three men's expressions immediately turned serious. Li Wenyuan quickly stood up and asked in a deep voice, "What are the specifics? Tell me in detail."

The soldier wiped the sweat from his brow and explained urgently, "The scouts report that the enemy is advancing rapidly, with a large number of troops and superior equipment. They've advanced with lightning speed and are now close to our lines. If we don't take immediate action, I'm afraid..."

Before he finished speaking, everyone understood the gravity of the situation. Old Man Su's expression was grave, his brow furrowed with worry. He took a deep breath and said, "We must act immediately; we don't have much time to waste."

Li Wenyuan made a decisive decision: "Muya, stay here and do not make any rash moves."

Su Muya bit her lower lip, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but she finally nodded: "Okay, cousin, I will follow your instructions."

Li Wenyuan walked to the door and said to the soldier, "Take me to see the Prince of Zhenbei. We must discuss our strategy immediately." The soldier responded and quickly turned to leave. Li Wenyuan and Old Man Su exchanged a glance, then stepped out of the inn and headed towards the Prince of Zhenbei's residence.

Night had fallen, and the lanterns lining the streets cast long shadows of the three men. They hurried through the quiet alleyways, each step filled with urgency. The wind rustled the treetops, a sound like the drumbeats of a battlefield, urging them to quicken their pace.

The gates of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion were already lined with fully armed soldiers, each with a solemn expression and unwavering gaze. The guards at the gate recognized Li Wenyuan and Old Man Su and immediately let them through. The two entered the courtyard without a moment's hesitation. Inside the grand courtyard, the atmosphere was unusually oppressive, as if even the air itself had become thicker.

The Prince of Zhenbei sat in the center of the hall, his face pale, yet still exuding an undeniable air of authority. Seeing Li Wenyuan and Old Man Su enter, he snorted coldly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "You two act swiftly, sir. Speak, what is your plan?"

Li Wenyuan clasped his hands in a respectful bow and replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Prince Zhenbei, the situation is urgent. We believe we should immediately mobilize all available troops and deploy them as quickly as possible to meet the enemy at the first opportunity. At the same time, I suggest using the intelligence provided by Miss Su to send elite troops to infiltrate the enemy camp, gather more specific information, and seize the opportunity to disrupt their operations."

After a moment of deep thought, the Prince of Zhenbei swept his cold gaze over Li Wenyuan. "Your suggestion is indeed reasonable, but we need to act quickly. We don't have much time to waste." He sighed softly, as if years of accumulated weariness were surging up at this moment.

Li Wenyuan nodded, "I will immediately arrange for personnel to carry out the plan."

“Wait,” the Prince of Zhenbei raised his hand to stop him, “Mobilizing troops and dispatching elites must be done with utmost care. I will command the defense; you are responsible for infiltrating the enemy camp to gather intelligence.” His tone left no room for argument, like an ironclad order.

Li Wenyuan clasped his hands in a fist salute again, "Yes, Your Majesty, Prince of Zhenbei."

At that moment, a figure appeared at the entrance of the hall. It was Su Muya, who walked in with a resolute expression. "Uncle, cousin, I am willing to personally lead this raiding team. This is not only for the family, but also for the greater good."

The Prince of Zhenbei stared at her for a long while before speaking: "Are you sure you want to take this risk yourself?"

“Yes,” Su Muya replied firmly. “Only in this way can I ensure the accuracy of the information and react quickly.”

The Prince of Zhenbei nodded slightly. "In that case, we shall comply. However, we must be careful, for the consequences would be unimaginable if we were discovered."

Just as they were discussing the specific details, hurried footsteps and soldiers' shouts suddenly rang out outside the hall. The Prince of Zhenbei frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

A guard rushed in, his face filled with terror, and knelt down. "Reporting to the Prince of Zhenbei, something terrible has happened! The east gate has fallen, and the enemy has broken through the defenses!"

This news came as a bolt from the blue, and everyone present changed their expressions.

Li Wenyuan's expression changed drastically, and he stepped forward hurriedly, saying, "Prince Zhenbei, we must take action immediately, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"

The Prince of Zhenbei frowned and said in a deep voice, "Send down the order to immediately gather all capable soldiers to guard the front of the military camp!"