Xie Jingchen repeatedly saved him and helped him time and time again. Not to mention accompanying Xie Jingchen to the town for a stroll; he would be willing to go every day. Especially after being stuck in the camp for so many days, he wanted to go out and take a few turns.

Xie Jingchen did not need to go out to greet the Prince of Nanliang, but he was curious about why the Prince of Nanliang came to the border.

Xie Jingchen was not aware of the fact that the Golden Mountain Princess was not the Jing Shan Princess.

The Prince of Nanliang wore a python robe, riding on horseback. Though he was not yet the Emperor, he already had an aura of commanding the world.

General Shi led the generals to pay respects to the Prince.

The Prince of Nanliang dismounted and helped General Shi up, saying, "General Shi, you are too courteous."

"Now that the Duke Huguo has been harmed, the border war events will still rely greatly on you, General Shi, and the other generals."

General Shi glanced at the Prince of Nanliang and said, "The Prince overestimates. Guarding the border is our duty."

"I wonder, for what reason is the Prince here at the camp?" General Shi voiced everyone’s doubts.

The Prince of Nanliang didn’t hide a thing and said, "The Duke Huguo sacrificed himself for the nation. His death caused me intense pain, so I specifically sought an imperial decree to come to the border and take over the military power from the Duke Huguo."

Dong Chenglang let out a sigh of relief.

It turns out he was here to take over the military power of the Duke Huguo. He previously thought that maybe His Majesty unjustly accused his uncle, and now with the Duke Huguo dead, he feared his uncle was left dissatisfied with the court. Thus, the Prince was dispatched to appease him or to welcome the Beimo Princess and appease the situation along the way.

No matter which it was, Dong Chenglang was slightly worried General Shi might soften his stance. Although General Shi had already promised to help Zhao Xu, that promise was made under their machinations.

If he were to find out... He might not support him anymore.

Now the Prince arriving at the camp, and so quickly at that, was likely in fear that the military power of the Duke Huguo would be consolidated by General Shi. In time, General Shi’s influence would grow, becoming a vital concern for the court.

General Shi did indeed have plans to take advantage of the Duke Huguo’s coffin being returned to the capital by rallying the Duke’s men. However, he had already promised to help Zhao Xu and remained hesitant, indecisive.

Unexpectedly, before he could make up his mind, the court had made the decision for him.

In the military camp, even when the Duke Huguo was present, he, General Shi, had no say. Let alone now that the Prince, who inherited the Duke’s military power, was present.

The statement about heavily relying on General Shi was only for appearances; in reality, he had no say in the camp.

Xie Jingchen watched the Prince of Nanliang from a distance, still puzzled about why the defense map that Aunt Xue risked herself to steal didn’t end up in the Duke Huguo’s hands.

It seems the Prince of Nanliang either did not hand over the border defense map to the Duke Huguo or from the start, he intended to personally come to the border battlefield.

The Duke Huguo’s death conveniently provided him an excuse to come to the border.

From the alliance with the Beimo Cheng King, orchestrating against Beimo, marrying Princess Jing Shan of Beimo, to stealing the defense map of Daqi, it’s enough to demonstrate his grand ambitions.

Nanliang cannot satisfy his appetite; he also desires to unify Beimo and Daqi.

Despite being Dong Chenglang’s brother-in-law, the person Dong Chenglang was most dissatisfied with was the Prince.

General Shi led the Prince of Nanliang into the camp, and Dong Chenglang patted Xie Jingchen’s shoulder, saying, "Come on, let’s go to town for a walk."

"Are you sure you want to go?" Xie Jingchen looked at him.

"What else would we stay here for?" Dong Chenglang replied.

"Even my uncle has no say anymore; what about you and me?"

The idea to go shopping was casually mentioned by Xie Jingchen. Had he known the Prince of Nanliang was there to take over the remaining military power of the Duke Huguo, he wouldn’t have brought it up.

What he said became a pitfall for himself, and he had to smile while stepping into it.

The two of them didn’t bring any guards. Each rode a horse out of the camp.

With the Prince of Nanliang in the camp, everyone either stayed by his side or tried to ingratiate themselves, yet Dong Chenglang left with Xie Jingchen, which was too conspicuous.

The Prince of Nanliang’s guards noticed and went into the main camp tent to quietly inform the Prince.

The Prince of Nanliang’s eyes flashed as he glanced at the guards.

The guards dispatched someone to secretly follow Dong Chenglang to see what he was up to by leaving the camp at that time.

The Hidden Guard they sent was skilled in martial arts; it would be easy to hide from Dong Chenglang, but hiding from Xie Jingchen would be as difficult as climbing the heavens.

After discovering the Hidden Guard, Xie Jingchen informed Dong Chenglang.

Dong Chenglang didn’t mind the Hidden Guard. The Prince of Nanliang was naturally suspicious, more so than the Emperor of Nanliang.

Though now only a Prince, he was already so ambitious; once he ascended to the throne, who knows how many subjects and citizens would suffer.

If they want to follow, let them follow. They were merely wandering; what was there to fear?

It wasn’t just Dong Chenglang; even Xie Jingchen didn’t think much of it. They were really just there to wander around.

However, they had accounted for themselves but had overlooked Zhao Xu.

Ever since Beimo, Zhao Xu had been relentlessly pursued, hiding and evading, worn out.

He had planned to hide in the Daqi Camp for a few days before returning to the Zhao Family but unexpectedly encountered Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang while wandering.

Zhao Xu didn’t recognize Xie Jingchen, but he recognized Dong Chenglang. Upon entering the restaurant for a meal, Zhao Xu opened the door and directly pulled Dong Chenglang into a private room.

Xie Jingchen was about to take action, but seeing Zhao Xu, he quickly withdrew his fist.

Dong Chenglang looked at Zhao Xu, "What are you doing here?"

Zhao Xu had a shoulder injury. Xie Jingchen looked at him, "How did you get hurt?"

Zhao Xu looked at Xie Jingchen and then at Dong Chenglang, "Who is this?"

Dong Chenglang, "...."

Xie Jingchen, "...."

Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead.

A flicker of surprise passed through Dong Chenglang’s eyes. Young Master Zhao actually didn’t recognize Brother Li?

Could it be that the person wasn’t sent by him?

Xie Jingchen briefly introduced himself, not mentioning his connections to the Donglin Prince Mansion. Zhao Xu clutched his shoulder and said, "I got slightly injured while evading a pursuit, but it’s nothing serious."

Zhao Xu trusted Dong Chenglang but wasn’t as trusting of Xie Jingchen, since he didn’t know him.

Dong Chenglang was becoming more confused. Shouldn’t he have more trust in Brother Li?

Xie Jingchen went to the door to keep watch, while Zhao Xu spoke with Dong Chenglang, "The court knows it was I who rescued the Beimo Princess Jing Shan, and they want to annihilate me and the Zhao family."

Dong Chenglang was unaware of Zhao Xu’s involvement with the Princess Jing Shan, but hearing Zhao Xu’s words, he said, "It seems it’s time for you and the Zhao Family to rise up."

Indeed, Zhao Xu was particularly worried about the safety of everyone in the Zhao Family.

Now, with the court seeking to eliminate him and the Zhao Family, he couldn’t sit idly by.

This time returning, it would be time for the Zhao Family to revolt.

Xie Jingchen stayed alert to the happenings outside while listening to the conversation between Zhao Xu and Dong Chenglang, frowning when remembering those sent by the Prince of Nanliang to monitor them.

He stepped out intending to eliminate the Prince’s Hidden Guards.

Unfortunately, those pursuing Zhao Xu had already discovered his hiding place in the restaurant, and a fight broke out again.

The relentless pursuit of those assassins against Zhao Xu meant that with Dong Chenglang and Xie Jingchen aiding him, they had no chance of leaving alive.

Yet this fight exposed the secret alliance between Dong Chenglang and Zhao Xu.

After eliminating the assassins, Zhao Xu disguised himself and quickly hurried back to the Zhao Family.

Nanliang Military Camp.

The Prince of Nanliang had rushed to the border without rest, feeling somewhat fatigued.

General Shi arranged for a tent for the Prince.

After entering, the Prince of Nanliang called upon the confidant of the Duke Huguo to inquire about General Shi’s activities over the past few days.

Finding out that General Shi hadn’t tried to rally the Duke Huguo’s men, his brow furrowed.

Such a tempting opportunity, and General Shi wasn’t tempted?

He had come in haste for fear of being too late, yet General Shi had no intention of rallying the Duke’s people...

Was he overthinking it?

Why did something feel amiss?

The Prince of Nanliang sipped tea leisurely, as the Hidden Guard walked in, saying, "Prince, the Heir of Marquis Changning went to meet Young Master Zhao."

The Prince of Nanliang’s brows instantly knitted together.

"Young Master Zhao?"

"Which Young Master Zhao?"

"The son of Prime Minister Zhao, the one who sabotaged the Prince’s plans," the Hidden Guard replied.

The Prince of Nanliang’s hand holding the teacup tightened.

With a cracking sound.

The blue and white porcelain teacup shattered in his hand.

The Zhao Family had rebellious intentions, and Dong Chenglang was getting close to Young Master Zhao. Could it be that they also intended to rebel against the court?!