The good times did not last long. The imperial court eventually discovered what happened to Chen Shimei and dispatched a small force to retaliate. Li Xiu took matters into his own hands, leading several hundred men to engage the imperial contingent outside Xiaoshan County City. He crushed them, forcing them to retreat in defeat, which bought some temporary relief.
The morning sun spilled across the courtyard. The sounds of roosters crowing, dogs barking, and wisps of cooking smoke created a scene of profound peace—a jarring contrast to the battle he had fought just the night before. Standing in the yard, he gazed at the home he had built with his own hands, his expression calm.
"Ruiling, go notify the Elder, Li Mingda, Wang Jie, and Li Fengwu. Tell them to come to my house immediately to discuss urgent business."
Chapter 115