Xiaoying looked back to see that Mu Hanjiang had walked away, then stood at the bow of the boat and asked Jin Zhong: “What did you tell him?”

Jin Zhong quickly replied: “Naturally, I followed Your Highness’s instructions, saying the Crown Prince was unwilling to accept that his plan had failed and only wanted to find some local troops to claim military merit so he could show his face to His Majesty. General Chen might control the Grand Prince under his command, but he can’t control the local troops and the Crown Prince! However, the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to favor Magistrate Shang, so if Magistrate Shang wants to seize the credit, he’ll need to think of a way.”

“Well said!” Xiaoying waved her hand, rewarding her loyal servant with a sweet date.

“I don’t have as much money as Magistrate Shang. When we get back, I’ll give you half a day off to spend your silver well!”

Jin Zhong heard this and beamed with joy, then withdrew.

Xiaoying gazed at the river water below the boat, then looked at the mist in the distance, and couldn’t help but softly sing a section of “Borrowing the East Wind.”

Now everything was ready, only lacking that opportune moment of east wind…

Meanwhile, Chen Nuo had obtained the military map and sent troops to try walking a section of the mountain path according to the map.

Indeed, the markings were clear, with no errors or omissions.

But as they went further up, rebels were guarding the path, so they couldn’t advance further. According to Mu Hanjiang, this was a map Feng Yuan had drawn based on his mother’s old map.

If it were drawn by Ye Zhanxue, this map couldn’t be wrong!

Chen Nuo had followed Emperor Chunde from his days as crown prince and knew very well the capabilities of the late Princess Ye.

That woman was a rare talent in the world, but sadly, the son she bore turned out to be such a stubborn and insane fellow!

If this military map were used by that madman, wouldn’t it be a waste? Chen Nuo felt as if he had obtained a treasure when he got this map.

However, the madman’s original plan to intercept the rebels at the western shoals should be scrapped.

Shang Youdao’s local troops, like flies drawn to rotting meat, had refused to leave under the pretext of capturing bandits.

These local troops didn’t understand ambush or defense, just hanging around all day, practically alerting the enemy to their presence.

Chen Nuo smirked: The rebels weren’t fools. With Shang Youdao’s troops deployed so conspicuously, even if a path appeared during the dry season, Meng Zhun certainly wouldn’t attempt to break through there.

Since Shang Youdao was stationing troops there, Chen’s army would save effort, not needing to waste forces there!

Meng Zhun had already lost quite a few soldiers, and the remaining rebel forces weren’t numerous. Now that the weather was turning cold, there was no need to drag on with these insignificant troops.

With this map of Mount Ding, the strong Chen Nuo didn’t want to wait for the bandits to come down the mountain. He only wanted to deploy troops and raid Mount Ding at night, quickly ending the conflict.

On the fourth night of Feng Yuan’s confinement, Chen Nuo dispatched elite troops up the mountain, preparing to eliminate this group of rebels.

That night’s mountain battle was said to be quite intense. Chen Nuo’s elite troops initially advanced smoothly, forcing the rebels to retreat repeatedly up the mountain.

But later, for some unknown reason, following the military map, they entered an interior location and unwittingly found themselves surrounded.

One side of that valley was blocked by fallen rocks. If fired upon by a volley of arrows, over a hundred elite troops would die with no burial ground. However, those rebels didn’t seem to be completely heartless, or perhaps they lacked sufficient arrows. After preventing them from descending the mountain, the rebels vanished without a trace.

Chen Nuo was furious when he received the intelligence report and quickly dispatched relief forces with crowbars and tools to rescue them, removing the massive boulders blocking the path to allow the trapped elite troops to descend.

And in the latter half of that night, the shallow ford near the Lian River was teeming with activity.

It seemed that someone planned to take advantage of Chen’s army’s predicament to risk breaking through, cross the ford, and escape!

Although Chen Nuo’s forces weren’t at the ford, the Salt Prefecture local troops that had been stationed there hadn’t withdrawn.

Shang Youdao, hoping to gain some merit to cover his shame, stubbornly waited there like a hunter for a rabbit.

Diligence finally paid off!

When he saw people coming down from Mount Ding, Shang Youdao was overjoyed. With a wave of his hand, his troops emerged in full force, shouting as they clashed with the newcomers in the shallows.

That chaotic scene didn’t end until Mu Hanjiang hurriedly arrived with his men.

When the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards launched illumination flares into the sky, they fully revealed the uniforms of both sides.

Those who had “escaped” from Mount Ding were all wearing Chen’s army uniforms!

This absurd case of friendly fire was quickly clarified.

It turned out that this group of “rebels” descending the mountain was the vanguard of Chen’s army, which had been trapped in the valley by the boulders.

Their retreat had been cut off, and without proper tools, they couldn’t move the huge rocks. They didn’t know when help from below would arrive.

They could only follow the map, carefully searching to see if there was another way down the mountain.

But the path that was clearly marked as leading eastward on the map somehow led them to the western shoals instead.

As a result, once they descended, they were intercepted by Shang Youdao’s forces in the mist.

Not knowing these were Shang Youdao’s local troops, they believed they had encountered rebels. Both sides fought eagerly in the darkness.

After Mu Hanjiang cleared up the situation, his heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

His expression suddenly changed as he shouted that something was wrong and ordered his men to immediately search the surroundings to see if rebels had taken advantage of the chaos to break through elsewhere.

But by the time they realized they had fallen for a diversion tactic, it was already too late.

When Chen Nuo personally led people to remove the roadblocks and climb the mountain to search the entire area, Mount Ding was empty, without a trace of rebels.

His men proceeded according to the map Mu Hanjiang had given him, but got lost at the mountaintop, circling for a long time before coming down. By the time they wanted to pursue the rebels, it was too late.

This map… was completely wrong. It was mixed with truth and falsehood, deliberately erroneous in the deep mountain areas to lure him step by step into a trap.

Chen Nuo was so angry that his face nearly deformed as he violently threw the map to the ground.

Meanwhile, Yan Xiaoying, having changed into night combat gear, was swiftly moving through the darkness with Meng’s army that had withdrawn from Mount Ding.

Tonight’s chaotic battle had benefited from her interference.

Under the pretext of visiting the imprisoned Grand Prince, she had infiltrated the military camp, stolen a uniform, and joined the mountain-climbing team. Relying on her familiarity with the terrain, she had connected with her adoptive father earlier, setting traps and ambushes to intercept the elite troops.

The map Xiaoying had originally given to Mu Hanjiang was mostly accurate, but she had deliberately added misleading forks and errors at the ambush valley and critical points at the mountaintop.

If they tried to escape according to this map, they would ultimately end up at the western shoals.

Chen Nuo had shamelessly used Princess Ye’s map for his credit, hadn’t he? Well, Yan Xiaoying would give General Chen a grand surprise!

One military map had fooled three groups of people, finally winning a glimmer of hope for the righteous army of Mount Ding.

While Mount Ding was in chaos inside and out, Yan Xiaoying, together with her adoptive father, biological father, and others, followed a winding path to another ford closer to the northwest.

The “ding” in Mount Ding referred to its three legs.

During the dry season, there were actually two additional riverbed ridges that could emerge from the water, besides the one drawn on Feng Yuan’s map.

However, one was too close to the west side and couldn’t be used. The one they were now taking had deeper water flow and wasn’t visible.

But with moderate swimming skills, one could cross the water surface with thrills but no danger.

With Mount Ding in chaos, Chen Nuo’s attention focused on the mountain, and the western shoals, which she had deliberately leaked information about, were in fierce combat.

While Shang Youdao’s local garrison and Chen’s army were fighting, she could lead her adoptive father and the others out at leisure.

Her adoptive father and the others were locals who had grown up familiar with swimming. During this dry season, with the current not too rapid, they could finally successfully cross the river and safely leave Mount Ding.

After crossing the river and traveling some distance, they finally left the vicinity of Mount Ding.

Looking back at Mount Ding now, the mountainside was still brightly lit, indicating that Chen Nuo’s men were still searching the mountain.

Meng Zhun took Xiaoying’s hand: “You’ve been through a lot. Now that you’ve left Mount Ding, you and your father shouldn’t linger here. Go quickly to reunite with Qiyuan!”

Xiaoying looked at her adoptive father and the others. Having been trapped in the mountains for so long with insufficient food and clothing, they had all lost considerable weight and barely resembled their former selves.

Especially her father, who was still coughing incessantly. It was said he had caught a cold in the mountains and, without proper medication, hadn’t recovered.

It seemed they needed to find a secure place to rest briefly before considering their next steps.

Meng Zhun had already thought it through: “Except for you and your father, everyone who followed me has no way back. They were forced to become outlaws. But you’re different. You have family and hope. How can a young woman become a bandit? I’ve burdened you for too long, and I can’t always rely on you. If you don’t leave, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Xiaoying acted as if she hadn’t heard, only counting the number of people and quickly dividing them into small teams.

“Military forces are everywhere in Jiangzhe recently. If you enter the city as a group, you’ll certainly be questioned. I’ll disperse you. Some will take the boat I’ve arranged to go downstream to villages and towns, while others will scatter to familiar villages nearby to rest.”

After giving these instructions, the people dispersed.

This way, even if Chen Nuo pursued, the tracks would be scattered, making it impossible to find them.

As for her, her adoptive father, her biological father, and three or four other brothers, they planned to retreat to the relatively safe Youma Town. It had good public security and Xiaoying’s shop, making it a suitable place to stay.

But her adoptive father stubbornly refused, insisting on separating from Xiaoying, causing a brief argument.

Just as Xiaoying was trying to persuade her adoptive father, applause sounded from not far away: “None of you will escape…”

Everyone was startled and drew their knives in defense.

In the suddenly lit torches, Shang Youdao’s face, covered with horizontal flesh folds, appeared before them.

He had originally led people to intercept rebels at the western shoals, but who would have thought he’d end up attacking Chen Nuo’s troops?

Shang Youdao knew Chen Nuo’s character too well. After this blunder of intercepting Chen Nuo’s soldiers, given Chen Nuo’s vicious nature, he might not report to the court but execute him on the spot.

Sensing the danger, Shang Youdao quickly led a few thuggish confidants, planning to escape back to Salt Prefecture first.

Unexpectedly, while fleeing, he discovered a group of people marching in the night. Hiding in the shadows, by moonlight, he recognized a familiar face—the Crown Prince was with a group of people of unknown identity.

Though he couldn’t hear what was said, he saw the Crown Prince directing these people to scatter and flee.

The Crown Prince was actually in league with bandits! If his aunt, the Noble Consort, knew this news, wouldn’t she be overjoyed?

Thinking of this, Shang Youdao, who had thought himself doomed, was ecstatic. He planned to personally capture this Crown Prince and wash away his crime of mistakenly attacking Chen’s army!

So after revealing himself, before the effeminate youth could react, he raised his sword intending to seize the Crown Prince.

When he grabbed Yan Xiaoying and pressed his sword against her neck, he shouted: “Nobody move, or I’ll kill him with one stroke!”

Those rebels were indeed in league with the Crown Prince; they all froze in place.

The Crown Prince, appearing frightened, forced a smile and said: “Magistrate Shang, we meet again. If I had hot tea, I’d offer you another cup!”

The horizontal flesh on Shang Youdao’s face twitched as he gritted his teeth at Xiaoying: “That Jin Zhong was arranged by you, wasn’t he? Using lies to trick me! You, the dignified Crown Prince, actually consorting with bandits—how impressive!”

Xiaoying pretended to be somewhat scared but still probed: “I’ve heard Magistrate Shang instigated people to impersonate the Little King of Hell as bandits. If so, we’re in the same line of work—why not show some flexibility?”

“Same line of work? Know your place! What? Has the Crown Prince also been inspired by this lowly official, hiring people to pretend to be bandits and take advantage of the chaos? Let me tell you, Chen Nuo is already furious, searching within a hundred-mile radius. You’re all doomed! Little King of Hell? I think he’ll be reporting to King Yama’s Hall soon!”

Shang Youdao seemed to believe he had the female Crown Prince in his grasp and was already assured of victory. This group of rebels, probably fearing being tracked, had split into several routes after descending the mountain.

Now, only a few people remained with the bandit leader.

In terms of numbers, Shang Youdao, with his thugs, believed he had the upper hand and threatened the Crown Prince without restraint. There was no choice; having offended Chen Nuo, he desperately needed a lifesaving talisman!

As long as he seized this heir apparent who colluded with bandits, he would rush back to Salt Prefecture, just waiting to report to his aunt, begging her to protect him from the General…

Before Shang Youdao could finish his calculations, a short blade suddenly appeared in the hands of the supposedly defenseless Crown Prince, severing the tendons in his sword-wielding hand with one strike.

Caught off guard, Shang Youdao screamed in agony.

The next moment, he was kicked to the ground, with a blade pressed against his throat.

The situation reversed so suddenly that the thugs behind Shang Youdao didn’t even have time to react!

After all, none of them had expected that this scrawny little Crown Prince would possess such skills.

Yan Xiaoying smiled cheerfully: “I was just feeling that leaving was a bit dull. How thoughtful of Magistrate Shang to come and add some color…”

Saying this, she took a terrifying mask from her waist pouch, put it on, and asked: “Magistrate Shang, is this the kind of mask you had people wear?”

Shang Youdao stared at the mask with its bright red patterns, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“How… how is this possible? You… how could you possibly be the Little King of Hell…”

How could a useless Crown Prince from the deep palace be the fierce bandit who had been causing chaos throughout Jiangzhe?

But before he could speak, the King of Yama had already fiercely slashed his face several times with the short blade.

“This is payment for the debt of the common people who were massacred when you ordered villages butchered! A dog official like you who preys on the people doesn’t deserve to live in this world!”

Accompanying Shang Youdao’s screams, Xiaoying’s blade showed no mercy, while Meng Zhun and the others leaped forward to attack Shang Youdao’s henchmen.

These henchmen had participated in impersonating bandits in the past. While they might have been fierce when swinging their knives at ordinary people, facing martial commanders like Meng Zhun, who had survived countless battles, they weren’t even worth a dull blade. They were quickly dispatched.

Xiaoying ground her knife against Shang Youdao’s neck: “How about it? Do I look like the Little King of Hell now?”

Shang Youdao’s intestines were green with regret. If he had known earlier that this Crown Prince had such a deadly identity, he would have remained crouched in the bushes rather than emerging!

In terror, he stuttered: “Your… Your Highness misunderstands. Those bandits causing trouble weren’t my men. They all… they all came from Feng Tail Slope. I was merely deceived by them…”

Hearing “Feng Tail Slope,” Xiaoying frowned, about to question further when suddenly the sound of hoofbeats came from not far away, with someone shouting: “Young Master Mu, there are people here!”

This was bad—it must be Mu Hanjiang tracking Shang Youdao all the way here.

Xiaoying knew she had wasted too much time with this dog official. If she were to confront Mu Hanjiang and his Shadow Guards now, it would be too disadvantageous!

So she didn’t bother toying with the rat anymore; her hand rose and fell, ending the dog official’s life.

As blood splattered, Mu Hanjiang had already galloped to a spot not far away and saw the masked “Little King of Hell”!

Like a hound that had spotted a rabbit, Mu Hanjiang’s eyes flashed red as he spurred his horse toward the Little King of Hell.

Xiaoying knew the situation was dire and urgently ordered her adoptive father and the others to leave quickly, then leaped toward the nearby mountain slope to draw Mu Hanjiang away.

Although Mu Hanjiang had a horse, he was unfamiliar with the terrain.

The path Xiaoying took was full of tree branches and bushes, unsuitable for horseback riding.

Soon enough, Mu Hanjiang abandoned his horse and pursued on foot.

“Little King of Hell, stop right there!”

Mu Hanjiang, his eyes red with pursuit, simply abandoned his horse and flew toward the masked Little King of Hell.

Unfortunately, he dismounted a step too late. Watching as the agile figure ahead quickly merged into the night, Mu Hanjiang and his men found themselves trapped in the foothills of a cliff, unable to see any trace of her…

Just a little more, and he could have caught this bandit. Mu Hanjiang swung his whip in frustration!

Today, he had witnessed the Little King of Hell killing a court official right before his eyes. How could Mu Hanjiang bear it?

It wasn’t that he lamented Shang Youdao’s dog’s life—the crimes Shang had committed warranted death by a thousand cuts!

But thinking of the scene just now, that Little King of Hell wearing an eerie mask and wielding a short blade, looking at him—it was a provocation!

If he didn’t personally capture this bandit, he would not consider himself a man!

As for Yan Xiaoying, taking advantage of her familiarity with the terrain, she quickly shook off Mu Hanjiang’s pursuit.

She had already arranged to meet her adoptive father and the others at the salt shop in Youma Town after they dispersed.

Now that Chen Nuo’s army was spread everywhere, if they were to regroup and head back to the mountains, they would inevitably be surrounded again.

Thanks to these corrupt officials, Meng’s army had gained too much notoriety in the court.

So Xiaoying also hoped her adoptive father could avoid this storm and not be the first to show himself. She only planned to stay overnight before taking a private cargo ship to another region.

By the time she reached the salt shop, it was almost the hour of Zi (midnight).

Having run all night, she was extremely tired, just waiting to settle her father and the others, then eat a bowl of hot rice porridge before resting.

Xiaoying looked at the lantern with cut-out patterns hanging at the door, indicating safety inside the courtyard. Not wanting to knock and disturb the neighbors, she followed her habit of returning at night—nimbly climbing a tall tree nearby, then leaping over the wall into the courtyard.

By now, her adoptive father and the others should have arrived, but the courtyard was quiet, with no lights in the house, nor any sign of a fire at the stove.

Even the dog named Chain Wealth that was usually kept there made no sound…