Dong Chenglang’s voice was undeniably authoritative.

Having come all the way here to see his true face, and speaking in front of Zhao Xu, how could Xie Jingchen evade it?

Zhao Xu also looked at Xie Jingchen.

The face before them was plain and unremarkable, really not pleasing to the eye.

Xie Jingchen stepped forward, Dong Chenglang poured tea for himself and then for Xie Jingchen.

As he poured the tea, he turned to look back.

Xie Jingchen raised his hand and tore off the mask, revealing that enchanting countenance.

Such an extraordinarily handsome face, one that everyone would envy, even someone with a poor memory would find it unforgettable.

Dong Chenglang, "...!!!"

The teapot in his hand was still tilted, and in his stunned state, the teacup overflowed.

"The tea," Zhao Xu reminded. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Dong Chenglang snapped back to reality and quickly put down the teapot.

Zhao Xu had already risen, calling, "Cousin."

Seeing Xie Jingchen’s face, Dong Chenglang still had a moment of uncertainty, but Zhao Xu’s call confirmed Xie Jingchen’s identity.

The Princely Heir of Prince Zhenbei of Daqi.

Although the rumor that Princess Zhenbei was the Princess Hengyang from Donglin Prince Mansion had already spread all over.

But after all, a rumor is a rumor and cannot be taken as truth.

This rumor was no good for either Xie Jingchen or the Princess Consort.

And Zhao Xu’s call of "cousin" undoubtedly confirmed this rumor.

Xie Jingchen had been in the Zhao Family for a long time, and Zhao Xu had never spoken to him alone.

Admitting in front of Dong Chenglang indicated his trust in Dong Chenglang.

Dong Chenglang looked at Xie Jingchen.

Still unable to believe that the son-in-law of the Emperor of Daqi, the Prince Consort of Princess Jin Ning, the Princely Heir of Prince Zhenbei of Daqi, had acted as his follower for several months.

"Weren’t you caught in an avalanche?!" Dong Chenglang’s voice was shaky.

Xie Jingchen sat next to Zhao Xu and said, "Yes, there was an avalanche, fortune kept me alive."

"Thanks to cousin’s secret aid," Zhao Xu said gratefully.

If it weren’t for Xie Jingchen, Dong Chenglang would have long been dead under the arrows of Daqi.

How could he possibly stand with him, let alone draw General Shi over to help?

Xie Jingchen patted Zhao Xu’s shoulder and said, "After all, Donglin Prince Mansion is my maternal family, and although we cannot openly recognize each other, this remains an unchangeable fact."

"You helped to redress Donglin Prince Mansion’s grievances, how could I not do anything?"

"It’s just that my ability to help is limited; from now on it’s all up to you."

Returning to Daqi, even if Xie Jingchen wanted to help, he would be beyond reach.

Zhao Xu poured wine for Xie Jingchen, "Cousin, you’re too modest, this kingdom of Nanliang, you’ve already helped me conquer half of it."

Apart from drawing General Shi over, he also helped to eliminate Duke Huguo, discovered that Beimo Cheng King was still alive and in Nanliang, and sent a message to save Princess Jing Mountain...

Even though he bungled the tasks he was given.

But he is determined to marry Princess Jing Mountain.

With Nanliang colluding with Beimo Cheng King, once this case gets unraveled, Beimo will certainly not sit idly by.

Zhao Xu toasted Xie Jingchen with three cups of wine, while Dong Chenglang was still in a daze.

As Zhao Xu poured wine for Xie Jingchen again, Dong Chenglang raised his hand to stop him, "Let me sort this out first."

His mind was in shambles now.

Xie Jingchen and Zhao Xu both looked at him.

Dong Chenglang was thinking about how Xie Jingchen approached him, that saving him was real and not a deception.

However!

Dong Chenglang hadn’t forgotten the incident during the mission to snatch supplies.

That day, when he was about to shoot Princess Consort Zhenbei, Xie Jingchen knocked him to the ground. Looking at Xie Jingchen, he said, "Did you intentionally frisk Princess Consort Zhenbei, give me the silver note, and use my hand to send a signal flare to inform Marquis Dongxiang?"

"Yes," Xie Jingchen candidly admitted.

"Was it you who informed the Flying Tiger Army’s Lieutenant General to attack the camp at night and withdraw in time from burning the supplies?" Dong Chenglang’s voice raised.

"Yes."

"And was it you who burned the supplies later for no reason?" Dong Chenglang asked again.

"It was me too."

"...!!!"

Dong Chenglang stood up abruptly.

Even though he’d mentally prepared himself, hearing Xie Jingchen’s confession, he still couldn’t handle such a result.

Ever since Xie Jingchen saved him once, he had been by his side.

One could say that wherever he went, Xie Jingchen followed, yet he never expected all these undercover actions!

Xie Jingchen poured a drink for Dong Chenglang and apologized for having used him.

Dong Chenglang didn’t take the cup, but asked, "Be honest with me, was it you who set my pants on fire?!"

Xie Jingchen, "...."

The topic shifted from critical matters at the border to personal matters so suddenly that Xie Jingchen found it hard to switch gears.

To make matters worse, the first few confessions were so candid, but this one genuinely left him speechless.

Xie Jingchen didn’t speak, and Dong Chenglang got even angrier, "So it was you!"

"How could you burn my pants?!"

"...."

Xie Jingchen thought that burning his pants was better than stealing or swapping them.

Dong Chenglang plopped down and said, "How did you burn my pants, and how did you burn the supplies?"

Xie Jingchen covered his forehead and said, "With a telescope."

Dong Chenglang frowned.

He almost forgot.

That day, Prince NanAn of Daqi dropped a telescope, but when it was handed to his uncle, it was already broken and unusable.

So it was him causing trouble again!

Recalling the matter made Dong Chenglang feel pained.

Picking up the telescope in front of him, who would have thought that within the second of transferring hands, something was tampered right under his nose?

If it weren’t for Xie Jingchen mentioning it, he still wouldn’t have known.

Thinking that he might have been sold off multiple times, gleefully counting money for others, Dong Chenglang felt intensely grudged. Even more problematic, Xie Jingchen was Zhao Xu’s cousin, and now, having joined his uncle and stood by Zhao Xu’s side, about to become the brother-in-law, there’s no opportunity to tear faces.

How could a telescope burn the supplies?

Dong Chenglang was determined to find out.

Xie Jingchen didn’t hide it from him and explained truthfully.

Dong Chenglang hadn’t expected that so much supply could be burned by a small lens.

Then—

Dong Chenglang slapped the table and said, "Give me a telescope, and I’ll write off your deception!"

Xie Jingchen looked troubled.

Dong Chenglang glared at him, unwilling to compromise.

Xie Jingchen said, "Giving you one isn’t a problem, but...."

"But what?"

"You must promise that the telescope won’t be used against Daqi," Xie Jingchen said.

Otherwise, if the Emperor and Marquis Dongxiang hold him accountable later, he would be in trouble.

Dong Chenglang agreed readily.

Dong Chenglang was not a hesitant person, after all, upon returning to the camp from the Capital of Nanliang, he already knew Xie Jingchen was Zhao Xu’s man.

Although Xie Jingchen hid his Daqi origin.

But he did save Dong Chenglang several times from Daqi arrows, seemingly balancing the merits and demerits.

Once things were laid out openly, his inner resentment dissipated, Dong Chenglang looked at Xie Jingchen’s face and said, "Your face didn’t match your talent before."

"Now I think your talent doesn’t match your face."

Xie Jingchen, "...."

"Besides, going undercover in Nanliang, there’s no need for Daqi to be so harsh on you, with hanging and flogging, right?" Dong Chenglang said.

"...."

"I don’t have a high status in Daqi," Xie Jingchen said wearily.

"...."