Marquis Dongxiang had just reached out to take it, pulling out the stopper of the water pouch, ready to take a sip.

Suddenly, a figure was thrown down from the mountain, and water droplets splashed onto Marquis Dongxiang’s face.

The person thrown was soaked all over, falling heavily to the ground.

Rolling around, his brocade robe was covered in mud.

The sudden scene staggered everyone, especially those soldiers drinking water. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Xie Jingchuan struggled but couldn’t get up.

But when he moved a little, Marquis Dongxiang saw his face, bruised and swollen from being beaten.

Why would Xie Jingchuan be here?

And he was thrown directly from the mountain.

Su Chong looked up and saw Prince NanAn and Chu Shun leaping down from the mountain.

Chu Shun was still carrying a dripping bundle, with water dripping straight down.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion saw soldiers drinking water, hurriedly said, "Stop drinking, the water is poisoned."

The soldiers’ faces turned pale, and they quickly stood up.

Marquis Dongxiang’s face was cold as frost.

Su Chong looked at Prince NanAn and them, asking, "What happened?"

Chu Shun thrust forward the dripping bundle, saying, "Prince NanAn noticed Xie Jingchuan running towards the path and found it suspicious, so we followed."

"We personally saw Xie Jingchuan and the guards throw the bundle into the water. It contained large pills."

Although it was their first time here, Marquis Dongxiang had outlined the battle route, and they all knew this place had a water source.

Seeing Xie Jingchuan throwing a bundle into the water at this time, even with the back of their heads, they knew there was a problem.

Afraid that the Flying Tiger Army would drink the poisoned water, the four of them beat Xie Jingchuan and the guards to near death.

Prince NanAn kicked Xie Jingchuan into the pond again and dragged him up, following the water source all the way down.

The road was tough, full of thorns, but for the sake of saving their lives, they didn’t care about appearances, kicking Xie Jingchuan to clear the way.

Just now, seeing Marquis Dongxiang about to drink water, in desperation, Prince NanAn had kicked Xie Jingchuan down with one direct kick.

That kick, along with the heavy toss, breaking two ribs would be considered light.

Before Prince NanAn and his companions finished speaking, the Flying Tiger Army was already furious, their anger almost burning Xie Jingchuan alive.

Was this how the Flying Tiger Army was annihilated back then?!

On the battlefield, poisoning was the vilest strategy; even poisoned arrows were regarded with disdain, let alone poisoning the water source?!

Back then, Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t drunk the water; among the few who survived either drank wine with him or drank the water at the last moment.

Uncle Lin had also drunk the water back then; he hadn’t realized there was a problem, so many brothers were killed, and he felt weak all over, thinking it was due to grief, without thinking much more.

Now it seems this was why the brothers were killed.

Uncle Lin grabbed Xie Jingchuan, his fist clenched tight, almost wanting to kill him on the spot.

Marquis Dongxiang held Uncle Lin’s fist.

"Marquis," Uncle Lin’s eyes were bloodshot.

Marquis Dongxiang was not much better off, he suppressed his anger strongly, saying, "Brothers who drank the water take him back; the rest follow me to attack the city!"

Seven or eight hundred soldiers had drunk the water, but the bundle was taken out shortly after being put down; the water flow was rapid, so by the time the soldiers started drinking, the poison might have been washed away.

Marquis Dongxiang didn’t want them to take risks, ordering them to escort Xie Jingchuan back to the camp.

He continued leading the Flying Tiger Army to attack Nanliang.

That battle was a crushing defeat back then, today he would wash away the shame!

Military orders must not be disobeyed; when Marquis Dongxiang ordered them back, no one in the Flying Tiger Army dared to disobey.

Prince NanAn and his companions wanted to follow, but Marquis Dongxiang didn’t agree, "You go escort him back to the camp."

Su Chong also patted their shoulders, saying, "Don’t let him escape."

Escape?

He can’t even crawl; if Xie Jingchuan escaped, their heads could also be twisted off.

Prince NanAn and his companions nodded, "Be careful."

The army rode forward, while Prince NanAn and his companions escorted Xie Jingchuan back to the camp.

In the camp.

Su Jin was grinding medicine, keeping herself busy to avoid overthinking.

Xueling lifted the tent flap and entered, saying, "Crown Princess Consort, Heir’s wife, Prince NanAn and his companions are escorting Second Young Master Xie back."

Su Jin frowned.

Weren’t Prince NanAn and his companions chasing the Flying Tiger Army?

Afraid something had happened, Su Jin stopped her work and left the tent with Qin Hanhan.

After walking a hundred steps, an officer came to invite Su Jin to the main tent.

Just reaching the front of the main tent, she was startled.

Xie Jingchuan was kicked out from inside the main tent by the Prince, landing heavily on the ground.

Covered in dirt and looking utterly disheveled, Su Jin almost didn’t recognize Xie Jingchuan.

Prince NanAn came out, saying, "You arrived at the right time, sister-in-law; come check what poison is in this bundle."

Su Jin entered the main tent, Chu Shun had already opened the bundle.

Su Jin glanced at the Prince.

It’s true.

She had never seen the Prince’s face so grim before.

Picking up the pill with a handkerchief and sniffing it, Su Jin furrowed her brows tightly: "It’s Soft Muscle Powder; after ingestion, within an hour, limbs will weaken, and after four hours, the poison will dissipate on its own."

Limbs weaken...

On the battlefield, amidst the fierce fighting of two armies.

The Flying Tiger Army’s limbs weakening meant they were at the enemy’s mercy.

Four hours to dissipate, and it would be too late.

The Prince, holding a sword, went out, and Xie Jingchuan lay on the ground unable to get up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The Prince felt heartbroken and angry.

Xie Jingchuan stayed in the camp to contribute; he thought Xie Jingchuan truly intended to make his mark as Marquis; never expected he harbored such thoughts, helping Nanliang extinguish the Flying Tiger Army!

The Duke Zhen Country Mansion has always been loyal and upright, yet he birthed such a traitor to betray the country, the Prince had the urge to cut him down.

Several generals stopped the Prince, one general said regretfully, "Second Young Master Xie is so muddled!"

Xie Jingchuan laughed bitterly.

Is he muddled?

If the Flying Tiger Army survived, even if he inherited Prince Zhenbei Mansion as he wished, the military power held by the Prince would be divided clean!

What use is inheriting a princeship without military power?!

With the Flying Tiger Army gone, Nanliang would be unstoppable, Daqi unable to cope, Duke Chong and Prince Qi could thus rise, directly seizing the Capital!

Prince Qi on the throne, Second Prince as Crown Prince!

His sister Xie Jinyu would be Crown Princess Consort!

Such a promising future, was it not worth striving for?!

However, Xie Jingchuan never expected his plan to fail because of Prince NanAn and his companions.

They saw Prince NanAn and his companions watching from afar, trying to avoid them, yet were discovered.

Knowing there would be no good outcome, Xie Jingchuan didn’t regret.

His actions were forced!

His mother is a noble Commandery Princess, and he’s the legitimate son, but who valued him besides his mother since childhood?!

Xie Jingchen, a sickly person, was the one cherished by everyone!

The Prince wanted to kill Xie Jingchuan but was stopped by Uncle Lin.

The mystery of how the Flying Tiger Army was annihilated back then was clear now, but Xie Jingchuan wasn’t the one who poisoned the Flying Tiger Army back then.

Once the case is closed, Daqi Law would handle Xie Jingchuan.

The Prince’s eyes were bloodshot; with Uncle Lin’s intervention, he tossed the sword on the ground and turned back to the tent.