These are all costumes and props.
"Then we still need to open the box and inspect it," a guard said, looking at the box beside him. He opened the lid and rummaged through the clothes and props inside.
"Is everything checked?"
The guard glanced at the other men who were also checking the belongings, and seeing them nod, he looked at the opera troupe in front of him and said, "You may go in."
"Okay!"
Without a word, the leader closed the lid of the box and waved to the people behind him, "Hurry up and follow!"
Qin Jue and Cheng Peng exchanged a glance in the crowd, then began carrying their boxes and following behind the people in front of them.
"Liu Fu really has a lot of leisure and refined tastes!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Get back to your chores!"
When Cheng Peng saw that the troupe leader had heard what he said, he quickly shut his mouth and started carrying the box.
While the opera troupe members were changing clothes, Qin Jue and Cheng Peng met.
How are things on your end?
"No problem, once Liu Fu comes out, we'll assess the situation and attack together."
"That's what I think too."
After saying that, the two parted ways again.
————————
Everything is ready.
"Lord Liu will be looking at it soon."
"Don't worry, we are ready."
The messenger nodded, noticing that the surrounding area was almost fully prepared.
A short while later, surrounded by dozens of guards, Liu Fu was carried into the room by four men.
"Hmm, not bad. The temperature in this room is just right, the furnishings are nice, and the stage is a good distance away."
"reward"
Hearing Liu Fu's words, everyone was overjoyed. "Thank you for your generous gift, Lord Liu!"
"Let them begin."
Upon hearing Liu Fu's words, the guard went down to give the orders.
One by one, people went up onto the stage and began to sing.
"What should we do? He won't eat the tea and snacks we prepared at all."
"As expected, he's a coward who's afraid of death and extremely cautious."
"The opera troupe will stay at the Liu residence tonight; they'll make their move then and there."
Hearing Qin Jue's words, Cheng Peng nodded.
——————————
"Manman, how are you feeling?"
Xiao Liyan touched Xiao Shida's forehead and asked worriedly, "Why is it so hot?"
"Sister, I'm alright."
"You're so weak, and you still say you're fine?"
Xiao Liyan said angrily, while searching for the antipyretic medicine that Hongwu had prepared on Xiao Shida's body.
After finding it, he opened the bottle and poured out a pill. Then he closed the bottle and, with his other hand, grabbed a handful of snow from a clean spot.
After warming it for a while until it had almost melted into water, he fed the pill into Xiao Shida's mouth and then fed him the melted snow water he had in his hand.
"Manman, can you still walk?"
We must find a place to rest before dark.
Xiao Shida looked around and nodded. "I can, Sister."
Seeing the heartache on Xiao Shida's face, Xiao Liyan sighed, helped him to his feet, and the two continued walking forward.
————————
The two siblings successfully found a cave to rest in. Xiao Liyan felt Xiao Shida trembling against her and quickly reached out to touch his forehead.
It was fine until she touched it, but what she found startled her. Xiao Liyan grabbed Xiao Shida's shoulders and shook him. "Shida? Manman?"
No one answered Xiao Liyan's questions. Xiao Liyan began searching for the medicine on Xiao Shida, but she couldn't find it.
Xiao Liyan looked around and saw there wasn't even a tree branch, then she looked at Xiao Shida's flushed face.
Xiao Liyan walked out of the cave and began picking up some branches along the way, holding them in her arms.
Xiao Shida slowly woke up in the cave, "Sister, sister?"
Xiao Shida looked around but didn't see Xiao Liyan. He then stood up, leaning against the wall, and started walking towards the cave entrance. Even at the entrance, he didn't see Xiao Liyan.
"Sister? Sister, where are you?"
Xiao Shida shouted in a hoarse voice, but there was nothing around him except his echo.
Xiao Shida saw shallow footprints in the snow and slowly followed them.
The winter night was exceptionally cold, accompanied by falling snowflakes that quickly settled on the ground.
"Why is the snow falling so heavily?"
"The footprints, the footprints... are getting fainter and fainter."
Xiao Shida stared at the increasingly faint footprints in front of him, utterly dejected. "Sister, where are you?"
Xiao Shida wiped away the tears from his eyes, then picked up a thick stick from the ground, used it for support, and continued walking.
——————
Xiao Liyan looked at the snow falling heavier and heavier, then looked at the tree branch she was holding in her arms.
"I have to get back right away. Manman is still in the cave, and she still has a high fever. I don't know how she is."
With that, Xiao Liyan grabbed the tree branch and ran towards the cave.
——————
"My head is so dizzy, sister..."
"I'll find my older sister soon."
Xiao Shida rubbed his temples, feeling dizzy, and continued walking forward.
But Xiao Shida didn't see that there were no footprints left on the ground.
"Why...why haven't we found my sister yet?"
"I……"
Suddenly, Xiao Shida tripped over a snow-covered rock and fell to the ground. He couldn't control himself and rolled downwards.
Back in the cave, Xiao Liyan panicked when she saw it was completely empty. "Manman? Manman? Where are you?"
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