Hearing Zhan Yuheng’s words, Feng Qingyin’s steps froze mid-stride.

Zhan Yuheng closed his eyes, drew a long breath, then slowly opened them again. His gaze settled on Qing Yun.

“Speak!”

Qing Yun composed himself and replied with cupped fists: “Miss Qingyin proposed an assault on Mo City. Your subordinate… did not object.”

“Outrageous!” Zhan Yuheng slammed his palm against the wooden bedframe. “Such a momentous decision — how could you allow them to issue commands of that magnitude without authorization?”

He reached a hand to his waist, then looked at Feng Qingyin, his eyes darkening further.

“Where is this prince’s command token?”

Qing Yun did not dare raise his gaze, still kneeling on the ground.

The tent fell utterly silent. All that could be heard was the rough, unsteady sound of breathing.

A soft gulp — Feng Qingyin swallowed, then turned to meet Zhan Yuheng’s gaze, blinking.

“Crown Prince Brother.” She pressed her lips together, and then her expression settled back into its usual gentleness.

Cupping her abdomen, she took small, shuffling steps toward Zhan Yuheng.

“Crown Prince Brother — I’m sorry. It was I who took your token without permission and issued the orders.”

She rubbed her rounded belly carefully and perched herself gingerly at Zhan Yuheng’s side.

“Was I not trying to ease your burdens, Crown Prince Brother? At the time, the fifteen thousand reinforcements were being obstructed by troops dispatched from Mo City.”

“Crown Prince Brother, just how many soldiers do you think Mo City could possibly have?”

“And yet they deployed reinforcements not once, but twice. So I thought — let those ten thousand soldiers join with the fifteen thousand reinforcements and attack the city directly.”

“Who could have anticipated that the moment my ten thousand troops departed, Feng Jiu’er would march out and strike us? Crown Prince Brother, I was careless. I was negligent.”

“I’m sorry, Crown Prince Brother.”

Feng Qingyin leaned in toward him — only to be repelled by the cold air emanating from Zhan Yuheng.

“Where is this prince’s command token?” Zhan Yuheng’s voice was so frigid it seemed capable of freezing every breath of air inside the tent.

Feng Qingyin, startled backward onto the bed, lay on her side staring at him as tears streamed down her face in floods.

“Crown Prince Brother, how could you — I told you, it wasn’t intentional, I — sob, sob — Crown Prince Brother.”

The token had not yet been exchanged back, and Feng Qingyin dared not take the risk. All she could do was stall for as long as possible.

She waited until Zhan Yuheng looked back at her. Clutching her abdomen, Feng Qingyin made to sit up, but sank back down without the strength.

“Crown Prince Brother, my stomach hurts… Crown Prince Brother, my stomach…”

“Noble Consort is feeling unwell. Have someone escort her for treatment.” Zhan Yuheng waved his hand and spoke in a low, firm tone.

“Yes.” Qing Yun nodded and turned, striding out of the tent with quick steps.

He went outside to give the orders, then lifted the curtain and returned inside.

“Crown Prince Brother, I… I’m in pain.” Feng Qingyin lay there with her arm outstretched, reaching for someone to help her up.

Yet Zhan Yuheng did not spare her a single glance. He rose to his feet.

“Arrange for someone to escort Noble Consort back to the palace. The command token must be in this prince’s hands within a quarter of an hour.”

With those words, Zhan Yuheng turned and walked away.

“Yes.” Qing Yun nodded and hurried after him, scooping up Zhan Yuheng’s robe and draping it over his shoulders as he ran.

“Where is this prince’s study tent?” Zhan Yuheng asked in a low voice.

“Your Highness, this way — please!” Qing Yun gestured ahead.

The two men departed, leaving the tent to Feng Qingyin alone, still lying on the bed.

She sat up and pulled the counterfeit command token from her sleeve, her mind already beginning to scatter.

She would not go back to the palace. She was determined to stay by Crown Prince Brother’s side. She would not leave, even if it killed her.

After sitting on the bed for a moment, Feng Qingyin stood, gripped the token in her hand, and walked out.

Qing Yun lifted the curtain and Zhan Yuheng stepped into the tent that had been arranged as a study.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.” Qing Yun let the curtain fall and immediately went to support him. “Your condition is still unstable — sit down first and we can talk from there.”

He helped Zhan Yuheng into the cushion-lined chair, then knelt again.

“Your Highness, your subordinate has erred. But I beg you to hear me out first — the situation is urgent.”

He glanced up at Zhan Yuheng and, receiving a nod of permission, Qing Yun’s voice resumed.

“In this campaign, our forces suffered a loss of approximately ten thousand soldiers. An additional ten thousand or more men were struck by Softbone Powder and are incapacitated for battle.”

“The reinforcements did not proceed south as originally planned. Instead, they turned back — heading north. Word reached me today that they received a secret order to reverse course.”

“Whose order?” Zhan Yuheng had only just woken; his voice was faint and frail.

Had his constitution not been far stronger than an ordinary man’s, he likely could not have made it through that long walk just now.

“It is said that someone bearing Your Highness’s command token gave the order. General Chen, who led the troops, said he verified the token himself and confirmed it was genuine.”

The words had barely fallen when Qing Yun produced a folded note from his sleeve and held it out to Zhan Yuheng.

“Your Highness, this is a letter from General Chen. Please review it.”

Zhan Yuheng took the letter, read it carefully, and his expression grew heavier.

“Bring her here.” He drew a deep breath, his voice cold.

“Does Your Highness suspect this was Miss Qingyin’s doing?” Qing Yun furrowed his brow. “Surely that cannot be.”

“Miss Qingyin has always despised Feng Jiu’er and has been eager at every turn to send troops to apprehend her. Miss Qingyin would have no reason to order the reinforcements to withdraw.”

“Then why do you address her that way?” Zhan Yuheng looked at Qing Yun, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Qing… Miss Qingyin.” Qing Yun pressed his lips together and replied quietly, “Your subordinate will go and bring her here at once.”

“Stop!” Zhan Yuheng’s low, heavy voice rang out. “You have consistently refused to acknowledge her status before. What has prompted this change?”

Qing Yun looked up, his gaze shifting with a flicker.

“She was not wrong. Feng Jiu’er is a thorn in Your Highness’s path, while she is the one who truly loves Your Highness. If she genuinely cares for Your Highness, then she is my master as well, Qing Yun’s.”

He looked up again and cupped his fists.

“Your Highness, I will go and bring her here. Though I still do not believe Miss Qingyin would use the real—”

Something seemed to occur to him, and Qing Yun’s brow creased faintly.

“Does Your Highness mean… that Miss Qingyin left the real token somewhere outside, and the one now in her possession is a counterfeit?”

Zhan Yuheng narrowed his eyes slightly, visibly irritated.

“Either it was her, or it was you. Take your pick.” He drew a steady breath and spoke flatly.

“Your Highness.” With a heavy thud, Qing Yun dropped to his knees. “It was not your subordinate! How could your subordinate possibly steal Your Highness’s command token?”

“Your Highness, I truly did not. Please investigate! Investigate fully!”

“Bring her here. The truth will come out on its own.” Zhan Yuheng’s voice — low and carrying a thread of weakness — filled the space.

“Yes.” Qing Yun rose to his feet, looked at Zhan Yuheng, then added: “Ah — Your Highness, the bodies of the one thousand surrendered soldiers have been found. It has been confirmed that they died of poisoning.”

“However, General Cai’s body was not among them. According to the scouts’ reports, General Cai should have been with the unit.”

“Your Highness, does this matter warrant continued investigation?”

“Investigate!” Zhan Yuheng waved his hand. “If there is still a survivor, he must be found.”