“Rise.” Zhan Yuheng waved his hand.

The guard captain stood and cupped his fists. “Your Highness, when we were pursuing the two fugitives from the enemy, over three hundred of our soldiers were struck by the other side’s Boneless Powder.”

“The enemy’s female general said the medicine would not prove fatal — only that the brothers would be unable to bear arms for a month.”

“For the sake of the brothers’ safety, General Qing Yun ordered me to escort the men back. Miss Ling Long took the remaining brothers and continued the pursuit.”

“This subordinate and the poisoned brothers have only just returned to camp. Having failed to complete Your Highness the Crown Prince’s orders, this subordinate awaits Your Highness’s punishment.”

With those words, the guard captain bent at the waist, cupped his fists, and bowed his head, not daring to look at Zhan Yuheng.

“You say the men were struck by Boneless Powder?” Zhan Yuheng looked at the man standing some distance away and furrowed his brow.

“Yes.” The guard captain nodded. “Miss Ling Long said… since those of us were of no further use, we had no need of the warhorses.”

“I led the brothers back on foot, which is why it took some time.”

“Thankfully, as the days passed, none of the brothers’ conditions worsened in any way. It appears the enemy’s female general was not lying.”

He glanced furtively at Feng Qingyin standing behind the Crown Prince, then lowered his head again.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince — there are some things this subordinate is not sure he should say.”

“Since you could not complete the mission, what use is there in coming back?” Feng Qingyin shot the guard captain a warning glare, and gave a cold scoff.

The guard captain dared not raise his eyes, yet still felt the hair at the back of his neck stand on end.

“This subordinate is useless!”

“Speak!” Zhan Yuheng threw out the single word in a heavy tone.

The guard captain drew in a steady breath, then cupped his fists toward Feng Qingyin.

“Miss Qingyin, this subordinate knows he was wrong. Returning was only to bring the brothers back. Whatever punishment Your Highness the Crown Prince sees fit to bestow, this subordinate will bear without complaint.”

After bowing toward Feng Qingyin, the guard captain shifted his gaze back to Zhan Yuheng.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, what this subordinate wishes to convey is merely a few words from the enemy’s general. If Your Highness finds them disagreeable, they may simply be dismissed.”

Zhan Yuheng waved his hand, making his position clear.

The guard captain glanced at him, then cupped his fists and spoke. “Your Highness, the enemy’s female general said that the Ninth Prince harbors no intent of rebellion and that she sincerely wishes for peace.”

“This subordinate believes: if she truly wished to take our lives, she could have given us a lethal poison rather than Boneless Powder. Your Highness — what do you make of this?”

Feng Qingyin stood behind the Crown Prince, her gaze alone enough to cut down the man who was speaking.

Yet the guard captain remained where he stood, head lowered, and still conveyed every word in full.

Unable to see Zhan Yuheng’s expression, Feng Qingyin, furious as she was, dared not say more.

The tent was quiet for quite some time, and Zhan Yuheng waved his hand.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will take my leave with the men.” Qing Yun said with a bow of his head.

“Good. Tonight’s matter — give me an account by daybreak.” Zhan Yuheng spoke in a heavy tone.

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Qing Yun bowed his head.

Hearing the exchange between the two, the guard captain raised his eyes to look at Zhan Yuheng, cupped his fists, and withdrew.

Watching Zhan Yuheng’s tall, imposing back, Feng Qingyin suddenly felt a surge of agitation.

Even after everything that had happened, it was still that figure in his heart.

No matter how much effort she put in, she still could not take the place of that contemptible woman, Feng Jiu’er.

She gave a soft cough, suppressed her grief and fury, turned, and went to sit down on the reclining chair.

Feng Qingyin’s movement pulled Zhan Yuheng’s attention back. He turned and looked over.

“Crown Prince Elder Brother.” Feng Qingyin, sitting obediently on the reclining chair, raised her eyes to look at the man standing not far away. “Just now it was my fault — I should not have lost my temper.”

She looked down and rubbed her small belly, letting out a light sigh.

“The Imperial Physician said I must remain calm and composed during this period. Little one, it is your mother who is in the wrong, for letting you suffer along with her.”

Zhan Yuheng’s brow furrowed slightly. He withdrew his gaze, rose, and went to take a seat at the writing table.

Feng Qingyin gripped her sleeves tightly, forcing her anger down once more.

To say nothing of negotiations — right now she wanted nothing more than to lead troops over and kill Feng Jiu’er outright.

When Feng Jiu’er had not been here, the Crown Prince had already gone soft on his own troops out of feeling for the fact that they were Feng Jiu’er’s soldiers. Now that Feng Jiu’er had returned, was he going to lose his will to fight all over again?

That must not be allowed. She absolutely could not permit such a thing to happen.

Just as Feng Qingyin was being ignored and stood with indecision over where to step, Ling Long’s voice drifted in from outside.

“Miss Qingyin, are you inside? I wish to see His Highness the Crown Prince — I have something urgent to report to His Highness.”

Hearing Ling Long’s voice, Feng Qingyin shot to her feet.

She took two steps toward the door — then seemed to remember something and turned back to look at Zhan Yuheng.

“Crown Prince Elder Brother, it is Ling Long — Ling Long has come back. I…”

“Let her in.” Zhan Yuheng waved his hand, his voice still low and heavy.

“Mm.” Feng Qingyin nodded and walked out with small, hurried steps — as though she were going to welcome a dear family member she had not seen in a very long time.

Yet without expectation, the moment Feng Qingyin reached the door, she let out a sharp cry.

Not knowing what had happened, Zhan Yuheng rose and walked out with large strides.

Whatever it might be, the child in Feng Qingyin’s belly was something he cared for very much.

“Ling Long — what happened to you? Your face…” Feng Qingyin covered her lips, trembling uncontrollably.

“I am sorry! Miss, I am sorry! I… Forgive me! Miss, please do not look.” Ling Long knelt on the ground, her head hung low.

“What is it?” In the blink of an eye, Zhan Yuheng had come to stand before the two.

“Crown Prince Elder Brother.” When Feng Qingyin raised her eyes, a glimmer of tears shone at the bottom of them. “Crown Prince Elder Brother, Ling Long, she…”

She choked on a sound, and her trembling body swayed — and she toppled toward Zhan Yuheng.

Zhan Yuheng extended a long arm and drew Feng Qingyin into his embrace.

“What exactly has happened?” He looked down at Ling Long, his voice growing even heavier.

Listening to his reproving tone, feeling the warmth of his embrace, Feng Qingyin relaxed completely into him, and her spirits lifted considerably.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Ling Long deserves death! Your Highness the Crown Prince, Ling Long deserves to die!”

Having pressed her forehead to the ground before Zhan Yuheng and Feng Qingyin several times, Ling Long finally dared to raise her head.

The face before them — half destroyed — caused even Zhan Yuheng to unconsciously frown and avert his gaze.

He gently steadied the woman in his arms, meaning to turn away — yet the woman nestled against him suddenly turned her head out from his embrace and burst into tears.

“Crown Prince Elder Brother, what has happened to Ling Long?” Feng Qingyin let out a sudden, heaving sob and looked up at Zhan Yuheng with eyes full of pitiful distress.

Zhan Yuheng cast a sidelong glance at Ling Long, then gently guided Feng Qingyin to turn away, his icy composure easing slightly.

“Come — let us go in and sit down to speak.”

Feng Qingyin pressed her lips tightly together as tears continued to slide down unbidden.

“Miss, please do not upset yourself over the child — I am fine, truly I am fine.” Ling Long knelt on the ground, her face full of concern.

“It was my fault. I should have covered myself. I should not have given Miss such a fright.”

“Miss, I am truly sorry! I have my life yet to return with — in my urgency to see you, I forgot my own disfigurement. Miss, please rest and do not agitate yourself!”