Two days later.

Su Liluo and his group officially left the Northern Desert. The Emperor of the Northern Desert gave them many gifts and personally wrote a letter to them, expressing his willingness to establish diplomatic relations with the Great Liang for a hundred years.

This time, Xiao Ye not only seized several small cities in the Northern Desert, but also obtained a letter of diplomatic relations from the Emperor of the Northern Desert. He will surely attract more attention when he returns to Daliang.

However, they did not expect that before they even returned to the capital of Daliang, shortly after leaving the Northern Desert and entering Youyun Continent in the south of Daliang, they would encounter problems.

"Your Highness, the guards at the Youyun Prefecture checkpoint refuse to let us pass, saying they need to report to their superiors."

Ye Han reported to Xiao Ye on horseback with a serious expression.

"What's going on? Is the governor of Youyun Prefecture really this bold these days? Go and give them this token."

Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes, took off the token from his waist and handed it to Ye Han.

Ye Han then quickly made another trip.

A short while later, he returned with a sullen face.

"Your Highness, they don't agree. They say that Youyun Prefecture is now under the command of the King of Chu, and they must obtain the King of Chu's consent before they can pass."

"King of Chu? What exactly happened in between?"

Xiao Ye looked into the distance with a puzzled expression.

If he remembered correctly, Youyun Prefecture was only a hundred miles away from the Liu family. When he left Daliang, it was during the time when the King of Chu was exiled and the Liu family's property was confiscated.

Now that Youyun Prefecture is under the jurisdiction of the King of Chu, could it be that the Emperor has changed his mind, or that the Liu family has rebelled?

"Husband, what happened?"

At this moment, Su Liluo lifted the carriage curtain, jumped down, and walked to the front of Xiao Ye's horse to ask.

Xiao Ye then told Su Liluo about Youyun Prefecture's refusal to let them pass. After listening, Su Liluo lowered her eyes and pondered deeply.

"I imagine a lot of things have happened in Daliang these past few months that we didn't expect. Why don't we set up camp here for now, send someone to investigate, and then make a decision?"

"Yes, that's what I think too."

Xiao Ye nodded in agreement.

Soon, the information they had gathered came out.

It turned out that shortly after Xiao Ye left Daliang, the King of Chu was rescued during his exile, and the Liu family also rebelled when they were about to be confiscated, joining forces with the local governor and others to rebel.

Since Xiao Ye went to the Northern Desert and the capital of the Great Liang Dynasty was too far from the Liu family, they couldn't get there in a short time. The Liu family had secretly raised a very strong army, and they quickly conquered three or four surrounding cities. Now, Youyun Prefecture is their central city.

"I never expected the Liu family to have such strength. Didn't the Great Liang send anyone to subdue them later?"

Su Liluo sighed and asked.

In her previous life, she had little contact with the Liu family. She only knew that the Liu family provided a lot of financial support to the King of Chu, but she did not know that they also had a private army.

"It is said that Prince Xiao is now very powerful in the capital. The Emperor's health is deteriorating, and many matters have been entrusted to Prince Xiao. However, for some reason, Prince Xiao has not taken any action."

"It seems that since I left, they've all started making quite a few underhanded moves!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes dangerously.

His departure from Daliang this time did indeed give them an opportunity. It's likely that King Xiao's reluctance to send troops to attack King Chu is precisely because he wants to trap him here, preventing him from returning to the capital of Daliang, and wanting him and King Chu to fight to the death first.

Youyun Continent is a very important city in Daliang. If they want to return to the Daliang capital smoothly from the Northern Desert, no matter which detour they take, Youyun Continent is a necessary stop.

"Your Highness, the King of Chu has sent a message!"

Shortly after Xiao Ye finished speaking, a soldier hurriedly walked over with a letter in his hand.

Xiao Ye opened the envelope and read the letter carefully with Su Liluo.

"This is a trap!"

Before Xiao Ye could speak, Su Liluo's face darkened.

The letter Xiao Churen sent was an invitation, inviting Xiao Ye and the others to the city for a gathering. It was ostensibly a welcome dinner for them, but everyone knew it was definitely not a simple matter.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, the defenses of Youyun Prefecture are very tight. It would be difficult for so many of us to launch a strong attack."

At this moment, Gao Yuanbin and Chu Yan also walked over from the other side.

After learning that Youyun Prefecture had been occupied by Xiao Churen and that they were not allowed to pass through, he went to investigate the area to see if there was any way to force his way in.

However, upon inspection, it was discovered that the defenses of Youyun Prefecture were far more complex than those of ordinary cities. Without a proper city defense map and layout map, a direct assault would result in heavy losses for both sides, and more importantly, it would harm and implicate innocent civilians.

"I understand. We shall proceed to the banquet."

"My husband!"

Upon hearing this, Su Liluo nervously grabbed Xiao Ye's hand and looked at him with concern.

"Xiao Churen has ill intentions. If we go there, we might fall into their trap."

"Luo'er, don't worry, I will take precautions. As you can see, to return to Daliang, we must first pass through Youyun Prefecture. And to break through Youyun Prefecture without harming the people and to minimize the damage, we need to obtain the city's defense layout map."

Xiao Churen's invitation to me is both dangerous and an opportunity. Fortune favors the bold, and we have no choice but to take the plunge. Otherwise, we can only wait for my father's death and for Prince Xiao to take control of Liang.

"Well... then I'll go with you."

After listening to Xiao Ye's analysis, Su Liluo knew he was right. After hesitating for a moment, she looked at him firmly and said...

"good."

Meeting Su Liluo's worried gaze, he knew that if he didn't agree, she definitely wouldn't give up, so he had no choice but to nod.

At this moment, Gao Yuanbin and Chu Yan immediately echoed, "We want to go too!"

"No, you all wait outside."

Xiao Ye and Su Liluo looked at them in unison and refused.

"Why? Luo'er, I'm worried about you two being in danger."

Chu Yan asked with concern and confusion.

“The two of us will go into the city, and the two of you will meet us outside. There are still so many soldiers here, we can’t bring them all in, and the King of Chu wouldn’t allow it.”

You and my brother stay here. If we have any problems, we'll try to contact you. We're going to steal the city defense map this time, so the fewer people the better, otherwise it'll be more troublesome if we're exposed.”

Su Lilu patiently explained.

After hearing this, Gao Yuanbin gradually understood and stopped asking to go with them.

He pulled Chu Yan back, "What the Crown Princess said makes some sense. Let's stay outside and provide support for them. Once they successfully obtain the city defense map, we will be their best support."

*

The next day.

Su Liluo and Xiao Ye then entered Youyun Prefecture City with only a few hundred men.

Xiao Churen, along with his maternal grandfather Liu family and others, had prepared a small banquet in the mansion early on. When he saw Xiao Ye and Su Liluo walk into the mansion hand in hand, a flash of hatred and smugness quickly crossed his eyes.