It was the first time Yuan Kai had seen Du Jianghong so forceful and imposing.

Usually he always looked like a frail scholar half-dead with boredom, yet today he was suddenly domineering and awe-inspiring.

Even he was shaken by Du Jianghong’s aura.

Yu Ke clearly saw Yuan Kai’s reaction too, and hurriedly whispered in his ear, "General, you absolutely mustn’t let the Think Tank muddle things through like this..."

Yuan Kai lifted his hand.

And stopped Yu Ke from speaking.

Yu Ke clenched his teeth.

Yuan Kai might hate Du Jianghong, and deep down he held the ingrained belief that scholars were useless in a hundred ways.

Yet he had also heard a bit of Du Jianghong’s reputation in court: though favored by the Emperor, he had never grown arrogant from that favor, he was strict with himself, harbored great ambitions, and stood from the vantage point of the realm and its mountains and rivers—several times he had risked death to remonstrate, all for the sake of the country and the people!

A man like this could not possibly truly do something that would shake the foundations of the state and harm the common folk!

His blocking of Du Jianghong today was, on one hand, indeed out of jealousy—jealous that he enjoyed such trust from His Majesty and the Crown Prince, so he deliberately made things difficult. On the other hand, of course, he also wanted to get to the bottom of Du Jianghong’s schemes and calculations; he could not stomach being kept in the dark by Du Jianghong, or even being toyed with by him!

But now, seeing Du Jianghong getting serious, he began to doubt whether he was actually disrupting Du Jianghong’s plans, whether he really might end up bringing harm to Cang Kingdom.

Du Jianghong was right: their private grudges were nothing in the face of the greater good of the nation.

He decided to trust Du Jianghong this once.

After all, Emperor Daxuan was in his hands; he didn’t believe Daxuan dared make any rash moves, and the Crown Prince would therefore be in no danger.

Yuan Kai stared fiercely at Du Jianghong, at the righteous fury blazing on his face.

Du Jianghong was also looking at Yuan Kai at that moment.

If he still refused to compromise, then he would force his way through!

He knew all too well how Emperor Daxuan felt about the Daxuan Empress.

If anything happened to the Daxuan Empress.

Cang Kingdom could only await total annihilation at Emperor Daxuan’s hands.

Yuan Kai took a deep breath.

He suddenly ordered, "Let them pass!"

Seeing the General so resolute,

Yu Ke dared not say more.

But he remained unwilling at heart, wishing he could seize this chance to crush Du Jianghong completely.

General Yuan was still too merciful to Du Jianghong, after all!

When Du Jianghong heard Yuan Kai’s order, he jolted, clearly surprised.

He had thought that since they’d already torn each other’s faces to this extent, there would inevitably be a clash of blades.

He had not expected Yuan Kai to suddenly yield.

Yuan Kai naturally felt Du Jianghong’s gaze and snarled, "Du Jianghong, when all this is over and done, I’ll settle accounts with you slowly!"

Still the same, all bluster and momentum.

Du Jianghong actually understood very well that Yuan Kai was merely reckless and hot-tempered, but when it came to matters of principle, he wouldn’t be so stupid as to blindly charge ahead regardless of the consequences.

This was clearly not the time to talk about feelings either; Du Jianghong quickly turned to An Ning and said, "The words I entrusted to the messenger—I must ask the messenger to transmit them back to Daxuan at once."

"Yes." An Ning answered.

She turned back to look at Xiao Jinxing.

Xiao Jinxing was also looking at her like that.

An Ning’s heart stirred slightly.

Between them, it really was always partings.

If she wasn’t the one leaving, then he was.

An Ning bit down silently, tugged on the reins, then turned and swiftly galloped out of the Cang Kingdom camp.

Everyone watched An Ning’s back as she was escorted away by several Cang Kingdom guards.

They watched her spur her horse on with the Whip, and soon she vanished from sight.

This matter could be considered temporarily settled.

Now they just had to wait for the hour of Shen today, for the exchange of Emperor Daxuan and the Crown Prince of Cang Kingdom; if the Crown Prince could calmly accept this negotiated peace and surrender, the war between the two states would officially end.

Both sides could then withdraw their troops and return to court.

"Go back!" Yuan Kai shouted at Du Jianghong.

Du Jianghong did not refuse.

He walked over to Xiao Jinxing and said respectfully, "I must trouble Your Majesty to endure a few more hours."

"It’s nothing." Xiao Jinxing replied mildly with two words.

Very imposing.

For him.

If An Ning could go back first, that was naturally best.

Everyone was just about to withdraw.

When suddenly urgent hoofbeats sounded outside the camp.

"Think Tank..." A desperate voice carried from afar.

Everyone hurriedly turned to look.

They saw a guard covered in blood, riding a fine steed and charging toward them like mad.

Xiao Jinxing’s heart gave a violent lurch.

This was the guard who had just escorted An Ning away.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed the reins, mounted up, and rushed straight toward him.

Seeing Xiao Jinxing’s reaction, Du Jianghong quickly gave chase.

Yuan Kai also reacted at once and followed right behind them.