Liu and the others returned to the center of the woods, where they met Tao and Old Lady Zhu, who emerged from the bushes.

"Mother, let's go back!" Remembering her daughter's reminder, Madam Liu urged her mother-in-law anxiously.

Old Mrs. Zhu looked at Zhu Haotian, who was following behind Liu Shi, with a puzzled expression. Seeing her son panting heavily, she seemed to guess what was going on.

"Okay, let's go back!"

After everyone returned to the camp, Old Lady Zhu gestured for Zhu Haotian to place the bamboo basket behind the big tree opposite the fire pit, and then followed closely behind.

Seeing this, the others hurriedly followed Old Lady Zhu and surrounded the bamboo basket.

No one spoke as they squatted in front of the bamboo basket, quietly staring at Liu.

Everyone in the camp was asleep, and to avoid being discovered by others, Grandma Zhu told her son and daughter-in-law to talk as little as possible.

Liu forced an awkward smile, opened the bamboo basket, and with Sun's help, took Pei Sining out.

Upon seeing that it was a child, Tao sighed in disappointment, "Sister-in-law, why did you bring a child back?"

"Shut up, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda."

Old Mrs. Zhu glared at Tao Shi with annoyance, then went to Pei Sining's side to check his injuries.

"Mother, he's alright, he just fainted,"

Sun took out a handkerchief, poured some water on it, picked Pei Sining up from the ground, and gently wiped his face.

"Mother, look at his jade pendant. It has the character 'Pei' on it."

[Look, this is Pei Sining, the son of Prince Ningyang of Liang.]

The most intelligent crown prince of Liang.

Zhu Xixi realized that Liu Shi had not noticed Pei Sining's identity, and immediately became anxious, squirming in Liu Shi's arms.

Liu looked down at her daughter, took her out of the swaddling clothes, and handed her to her mother-in-law.

"Mom, can you hold Xixi for me? I need to wash the baby."

"Okay." Grandma Zhu nodded and reached out to take her granddaughter.

Tao couldn't stand her sister-in-law's actions, so she sighed and turned to look at Xixi in her mother-in-law's arms.

"Mother, you said Xixi is a lucky star. Will she be able to help us get through this difficult time as well?"

"you guess."

Grandma Zhu ignored what Tao said and reached out to tease her granddaughter.

Seeing her mother-in-law laughing carefree, Tao couldn't bear it any longer and got up to find a piece of cloth for Liu, which she then listlessly handed over after wetting it a little.

As Liu looked up, she saw Tao's dejected face. Suppressing her laughter, she took the handkerchief and focused on helping Pei Sining.

When she intervened, she deliberately touched the jade pendant hanging from Pei Sining's waist, and then pretended to be surprised as she looked at Old Madam Zhu.

"Mother, look at this jade pendant."

Grandma Zhu was playing with Zhu Xixi when she heard her daughter-in-law calling her. She quickly picked up her granddaughter and went over.

"What's wrong?"

The others gathered around again, holding torches that shone on Pei Sining.

“Mother, this jade pendant is engraved with the character Pei. As far as I know, the surname Pei only exists in the Liang Kingdom, and it is the imperial surname.”

Liu took the jade pendant off Pei Sining and handed it to Old Madam Zhu in a flustered manner.

Upon seeing this, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly took the jade pendant handed over by Madam Liu, examined it carefully, and after a moment of contemplation, nodded repeatedly.

"That's right, this is a royal item of the Liang Kingdom. How... how come people from the Liang Kingdom are here?"

Grandma Zhu stared blankly at the jade pendant in her hand, a rare look of panic on her face, her expression instantly turning serious.

"Mother, do you think he might be related to Jiangyang City? I've heard that the Crown Prince of Liang is exceptionally talented. He followed his father on campaigns at a young age and is known as the strategist of Liang."

Seeing that her mother-in-law had come to believe Pei Sining's identity, Liu Shi looked uneasy and whispered a hint.

Grandma Zhu held the jade pendant in her hand, her expression solemn, and she lowered her head in deep thought.

Everyone waited anxiously for their mother's instructions; even the air seemed to grow eerie.

After a moment, Grandma Zhu slowly raised her head and sighed, "He's still a child. Let's ask him when he wakes up."

"Mother, the Liang Kingdom also has the idea of ​​invading our territory. Since he is a member of the royal family, we might as well tie him up and interrogate him properly."

Upon learning that the child was the heir apparent of Liang, Zhu Haotian clenched his fists in anger and glared fiercely at Pei Sining.

No, you mustn't interrogate him; he is a noble person.

We must use love to influence them; they will help us obtain information about the Turks.

He's a good person; he won't hurt us.

When Zhu Xixi saw her uncle's fierce face, her eyes immediately filled with tears, and she burst into loud sobs.

"Second son, why are you being so fierce? You're scaring Xixi." When Grandma Zhu heard her granddaughter crying, she quickly and gently shook her arm.

Perhaps it was Zhu Xixi's crying that was too jarring, for Pei Sining awoke from her unconsciousness, rubbing her forehead as she stared blankly at the unfamiliar face before her.

Upon seeing unfamiliar faces, he instantly became alert, jumped out of Liu's arms, and pulled out a dagger from behind him, pointing it at them.

Who are you?

Seeing this, Liu quickly raised her hand and gently comforted him, "Don't be afraid. We found you in the woods and brought you back to take care of you."

Pei Sining looked around at the surroundings with some doubt, and after seeing the escort lying not far away, she roughly understood what had happened.

"Are you exiled prisoners?"

"Yes." Grandma Zhu replied to Pei Sining's question while coaxing Zhu Xixi.

"Is this the Yuan Kingdom?" Pei Sining did not dismiss her doubts, still holding the dagger in her hand, watching the crowd warily.

Grandma Zhu shook her arm, looked down at her granddaughter's aggrieved face, and nodded casually, "Yes, if you don't want to stay here, you can leave."

When Liu heard her mother-in-law tell Pei Sining to leave, she became nervous and wrung her hands helplessly.

Pei Sining seemed to confirm their identities from Old Lady Zhu's tone, and gradually lowered her guard, hiding the dagger behind her back.

"Where is this place?"

"The woods where we rested lead to Jiangyang City. Tomorrow you can follow that path and you'll reach it."

Grandma Zhu showed no intention of keeping Pei Sining. With her back to him, she pointed to the path ahead and said coldly.

Upon hearing about the people from Jiangyang City, Pei Sining frowned, her face instantly showing unease, and she hesitated, pursing her lips.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly raised his head, looking at everyone with sincere eyes, "May I go with you?"

"Do you know where we're going?" Old Mrs. Zhu chuckled upon hearing Pei Sining's words.

Pei Sining lowered her head and thought for a long time before nodding. "I know, you're going to the border."

"Since you know why you should follow us, we are prisoners, living a precarious life. Why suffer with us?"

After coaxing Zhu Xixi to sleep, Old Lady Zhu turned around, her expression serious, and stared at Pei Sining, speaking to him in an adult tone.

"Because... I need to go to the border to meet up with my parents." Pei Sining knew that if she didn't answer honestly, she probably wouldn't survive the night.