The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

"I'll go open the door."

Zhou Yu took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Bo Fu, you continue to take care of your uncle here, and it's best to keep him well hidden."

Now, this is where things come in.

Sun Ce knew the gravity of the matter and nodded emphatically.

Immediately.

They then parted ways.

"Come. Come."

Zhou Yu shouted, then deliberately slowed his pace, dawdling as he approached the courtyard gate, before finally opening it with a creak.

Outside the gate, countless armored soldiers stretched as far as the eye could see.

Zhou Yu's heart sank, and he felt a chill run through him.

But then, he looked at the person in the lead.

A bright smile returned to his face.

Uncle Cheng?

What are you doing here?

"So it's you who's here to investigate tonight's assassin?"

The smile on Zhou Yu's face was just right, carrying a hint of timid surprise, perfectly matching the appearance a young man should have.

The Uncle Cheng he mentioned was naturally Cheng Pu.

This person joined Liu Hong's forces early on when he was in Guangyang County, Youzhou. He wasn't the only one; the Cheng clan behind him had also been incorporated into the Liu family of Youzhou long ago.

"So it was Gongjin."

Cheng Pu forced a smile, his tone softening slightly, "When did you arrive in Luoyang without even informing your uncle?"

This was just a casual question.

After Cheng Pu finished speaking, he led the armored soldiers behind him straight into the courtyard, and then waved his hand to the surroundings: "Search."

The soldiers behind him then began to search the room thoroughly, following the established procedure.

However, compared to other households, due to the connection between Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, these soldiers not only conducted a slightly lighter search, but also put all the disordered items back in their original places after the search was completed.

Just then, a loud argument came from the direction of the back courtyard.

"How can they search the back of the house?"

Also, this is my mother's bedroom. When can you come in?

My mother has just gone to sleep.

It was the loud shouting of Sun Ce and Sun Quan, two teenagers.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Pu frowned and rushed over immediately.

After arriving at this place and explaining the situation, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and Lady Sun slowly emerged from the inner room.

"Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry."

Cheng Pu cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Madam Sun, his tone tinged with apology.

The armored soldiers behind them continued forward and searched carefully, but ultimately found no assassins or suspicious traces.

The group then slowly left.

Cheng Pu, who was lagging behind, stopped, sighed, looked at Zhou Yu, and then at the whole family. Like an elder, he advised, "Be safe here in Luoyang."

Luoyang is not a peaceful place.

After Cheng Pu finished speaking, he turned and left.

The figures of the armored soldiers gradually disappeared into the distance as he walked away.

"We're safe now."

Sun Ce let out a soft sigh of relief, his tense body softening slightly.

Thinking this way, he and Madam Sun, who was standing next to him, slowly calmed down and hurriedly stepped forward to close the courtyard gate that had been tightly shut, as if this would keep out all the wind and rain.

But at that very moment, the young Zhou Yu suddenly uttered a startling statement, a single sentence that shattered the composure that everyone had just managed to regain: "Uncle Cheng... he's discovered it."

Although Zhou Yu's words were short and spoken very slowly, at this moment, they made everyone in the courtyard feel a sudden chill in their hearts and a coldness spread through their bodies.

"Unlikely."

Sun Ce subconsciously denied it, his voice trembling slightly, "If Uncle Cheng really found out, given that the Cheng family is attached to the Liu family and has received the Liu family's care over the years, how could he have remained indifferent just now?"

You should know that although my family, the Sun family, and the Cheng family, as well as my father and Uncle Cheng, were acquainted, it was only because we were old friends who traveled together as knights.

Although Uncle Cheng was still open to all comers afterward, once Liu Gong rose to power, the entire Cheng family became firmly rooted in Youzhou and had no further contact with him.

At this moment, Sun Ce kept shaking his head and talking, as if he could deceive himself and convince himself.

Zhou Yu sighed softly, his eyes filled with regret: "Uncle Cheng is giving us a chance to turn ourselves in."

After all, if the assassin surrenders, the Sun family might still be able to survive; but if they are truly exposed, the Sun family will be doomed.

Today, we all owe Uncle Cheng a huge favor.

Zhou Yu spoke these words slowly, each one striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

At this moment, even Sun Ce, who had been denying it all the time, finally shut his mouth, his face as pale as paper.

After all, Cheng Pu's condition just now was really quite abnormal.

That deliberate gentleness, that hasty search, that meaningful instruction.

Moreover, Cheng Pu's abilities.

These younger generation members knew better; with his experience, how could he possibly be completely unaware?

Silent all night.

Inside the courtyard, the lights flickered, yet it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone carries a heavy weight on their heart, making it hard to breathe.

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, dispelling some of the darkness, a familiar figure once again appeared outside the gate of the Sun family's courtyard.

"Still haven't decided?"

Cheng Pu stood at the door, his voice calm and composed, which clearly confirmed Zhou Yu's guess from the previous night.

After Cheng Pu arrived, the atmosphere in the Sun family courtyard suddenly tightened again, becoming tense and on the verge of conflict.

Sun Ce suddenly stood up, holding a blade, his eyes fixed on Cheng Pu; Sun Quan, though young, gripped the short dagger at his waist; even the Sun family lady had a long sword in the corner, and suddenly, she had the will to fight to the death.

"Sister-in-law, with two or three more children, she's no match for me."

Looking at their posture, Cheng Pu shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness, "Why continue to put up a stubborn resistance?"

I have given you the choices you were entitled to.

Uncle Cheng.

Sun Quan, however, stubbornly spoke loudly, his eyes red-rimmed, "If you truly care about your past relationship with my father, you should send us away. At least let us go."

"You can't escape."

Cheng Pu didn't take these childish words to heart. He just shook his head expressionlessly and shattered their last illusions, word by word: "Now, the entire city of Luoyang is looking for you."

People from the General's Mansion, people from the Cai family, and those who were attached to the Liu family of Youzhou.

Even after today's court assembly, when His Majesty learns of this matter, I fear the entire city of Luoyang, and even the entire Han Dynasty, will not let you off the hook.

"The former Yellow Turban rebels who rose from humble beginnings, and the Taiping Temples that still exist in various places—can you really escape?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and his last words were like a thunderclap: "Even the person behind Sun Jian is probably thinking of killing him right now."

"After all, Lord Liu is alright."