FID – Chapter 723

Chapter 723: I am the Best Example

Elder Yang’s words were cryptic, and Liu Zhixia couldn’t understand them.

After speaking that, Elder Yang fell silent, and the prison cell once again became quiet.

Fortunately, although they had been imprisoned for so many days, no orders had been given to torture them. This was the only thing they could be thankful for.

They were spared a beating.

Meanwhile, in Cangwu Town, a thousand miles away, Qian Wanjin had been secretly hiding with the Liu family for several days.

During this time, Wei Lan had gone out to gather information. Only once the situation was confirmed to be safe could they approach the Li family’s door.

If they had appeared too soon, they would have been caught by the local guards.

The most important thing was to eliminate the possibility of the Li family tipping off the authorities.

That night, Li Junyao was reading late by candlelight in the family’s back courtyard. Several times, the matriarch sent people to check on him, but they were all sent away.

The matriarch assumed her grandson had begun to study hard, so she didn’t pay it much attention.

Unexpectedly, not long after she had relaxed, she heard a servant report that the Young Master had knocked over the candle while reading late at night, and a large fire had broken out in the back courtyard.

Matriarch Li quickly got dressed. “Hurry, send people to put out the fire, and make sure he is unharmed!”

“Yes, Madam, this servant will go immediately!”

Now, the third branch’s young master was the matriarch’s treasure. If he were even slightly injured, none of the servants or maids around would escape unscathed!

Due to the chaos, almost all the servants in the household rushed over, some to put out the fire, others to calm people down.

Even the younger generation from other branches of the family hurried over to make an appearance, trying to ingratiate themselves and build connections.

As Matriarch Li was about to leave her room and head to the back courtyard, she saw a shadow flash before her.

“How dare you—” Before she could finish her sentence, the person raised their head, and it was none other than Liu Muqiu!

Matriarch Li was first surprised, then enraged, lowering her voice, “You dare to come here? Are you looking for death? They’re searching for the Liu family members outside as if they’ve gone mad, so don’t come here and drag my Li family down with you!”

As she spoke, she cautiously glanced at the door outside and then quickly closed it.

Liu Muqiu turned around and looked at her. “Matriarch Li, the reason I took the risk to come here tonight is to ask you for a favor.”

“Preposterous! I cannot help Miss Liu, nor can I help the Liu family. Considering the past favor, I’ll pretend I didn’t see you today. Leave quickly!”

Without thinking, she refused outright.

What was the situation of the Liu family now? They had committed a major crime!

The soldiers had been searching for days but hadn’t found anyone and were still unwilling to leave.

They wouldn’t stop until they captured someone from the Liu family!

If the Li family still got involved with the Liu family in such a situation, it would be akin to courting death.

The Li family didn’t have powerful figures behind them. With a single word from a local official, the Li family could be annihilated!

“Elder Madam, please let me finish what I have to say.”

“There’s no use in saying more. I’ve already told you that I can’t help, and I truly can’t. Since there aren’t many people around outside, you should leave quickly. I need to go check on Yao’er.”

“Yao’er is fine.”

Matriarch Li suddenly turned around and glared coldly at Liu Muqiu. “I knew it. Yao’er has always had a strict routine, so why did he suddenly act out of character today? It turns out it’s your doing!”

Apart from showing respect to her as his grandmother, Yao’er listens most closely to Liu Muqiu. Who else could make him play such tricks?

Setting a fire to create chaos in the mansion, allowing someone to sneak in under the cover of confusion.

How could someone be so treacherous, eating inside and then sabotaging from the outside?!

“Old Madam, I know that the Li family has a special passage for transporting goods. As long as you help me this one time, I will repay this favor in the future!”

“So this is your plan,” Matriarch Li sneered, approaching Liu Muqiu with sharp eyes. “You came here today, and I was already very courteous not to report you to the authorities. But if you try to take advantage of my kindness and expect the Li family to be your stepping stone, don’t blame me for being heartless!”

The hunt for the Liu family outside has already led to a bounty being posted!

“Elder Madam, if you turn me in, you will certainly receive a reward, but that’s all you’ll get. I’m just an insignificant person in the Liu family. You hand me over, and they won’t be satisfied with just one of us—they’ll likely force you to do more. If you can’t comply, you’ll have made an enemy of a powerful noble.” Liu Muqiu looked her directly in the eyes.

“But if you are willing to help me and let me use the Li family’s passage, the Liu family, with its grateful nature, will always remember your kindness. I am the best example of this. Look at me today—haven’t I turned into a golden sparrow perched on the branch? With the Liu family and its influence supporting you, do you still fear that the Li family won’t rise again? The current situation is merely a temporary setback for the Liu family, caused by petty people taking advantage of the absence of the King.

Once he returns, these petty people will be brought to justice, and the Liu family will not suffer at all! It’s easy to add flowers to a brocade, but hard to send charcoal in the snow. This is the Li family’s true opportunity. It all depends on whether you dare to take the gamble, Elder Madam!”

She stared intently at the person before her, her back straight, her eyes clear, her words firm and organized.

Matriarch Li fell silent. How had she underestimated this granddaughter back then? If nurtured properly, this kind of character would likely surpass many men!

But alas, she was still a woman!

Turning back to sit on the bed, she appeared deep in thought.

Seeing her like this, Liu Muqiu did not continue persuading her. She knew that she had already been swayed.

Having ruled over the Li family for many years, her only goal had been the prosperity of the family. As long as that desire was not extinguished, she would be moved.

This was a smart, ruthless, and decisive old woman.

After a pause, Matriarch Li raised her eyes. “It’s not impossible for me to agree to the gamble, but you must agree to one condition of mine.”

Liu Muqiu’s gaze flickered slightly, her expression unchanged. “Please speak, Elder Madam.”

“I will help the Liu family this time, but whether your grand plans come to fruition is still uncertain. I can’t go into this with no leverage,” she said. “I’ve heard from Yao’er that your relationship with the Second Young Master of the Liu family has deepened, and you’ve reached the point of discussing marriage. I want you to marry as a daughter of the Li family.”

What she meant was that she would help, but Liu Muqiu had to return to the Li family!

Back to the very cage she had risked her life to escape from!

Liu Muqiu fell silent for a long while before closing her eyes. “Alright!”

Hearing her response, Matriarch Li slowly smiled, stood up, and headed outside. “I will check on Yao’er, so no one will find it odd. How could I not even show my face when my precious grandson is in trouble? Could it be that the Yao’er has lost favor again?”

“I will await the good news from Elder Madam and will inform Yao’er of the arrangements when the time comes.”

“It will take a few days to prepare, so come back in three days.”

“Thank you, Elder Madam.”

……

Three days passed.

The number of soldiers in the town showed no sign of decreasing.

The town’s garrison commander sat in his office, staring at the orders that had been sent down from above. The tension in his temples pulsed, and the pain made his head feel like it might explode.

He was caught in the middle of a divine conflict, where the mortals suffered.

The upper echelons were fighting fiercely, and in the end, he was left in an impossible position, forced to act according to the orders. However, he didn’t want to!

At present, a bounty has suddenly been issued for the capture of the Liu family. As the commander in charge of Xinghua Village, he has received orders from above that he must follow, but he didn’t want to!