Just as Ziqing, carried on Yu Xiaomeng’s back, was making her way toward Mobei Town, a long-brewing conspiracy on Da Zhou’s northern frontier was about to erupt.

Today marked the fifth day since the Dong Qin Empress and Crown Prince Minhan had made their agreement.

Early in the morning, Crown Prince Minhan personally climbed the high watchtower, gazing out toward Jun Beiyue’s military camp, several miles beyond the city walls.

“Your Highness, rest assured, the Dong Qin Empress is doomed to lose!” Jun Beiyao said with a confident smile. Though he hated Jun Beiyue to the very marrow of his bones, he had to admit the man’s ability. He was certain that no matter what tricks the Dong Qin Empress tried, she would be no match for Jun Beiyue!

Jun Beiyue’s three armies bore down on the city, yet he held back at its very gates without striking—there had to be a reason behind such restraint!

This city of Yandang was the first stronghold of Dong Qin’s Central Plains territory, a place both sides were bound to contest. The only reason Jun Beiyue hadn’t moved was that he was waiting for the Dong Qin Empress and Crown Prince Minhan to turn against each other!

“Heh, Jun Beiyue really does have remarkable patience. I’d rather like the chance to meet him myself,” said Minhan Mude’er, a smile both arrogant and dazzlingly charming curling at the corner of his mouth.

If not for the suit of armor he wore, anyone who didn’t know him would surely have taken him for some wild boy off the grasslands.

“No need to rush, Your Highness. Once Da Zhou has trampled Dong Qin flat and Jun Beiyue is worn down to exhaustion, you’ll naturally have your chance to meet him,” Jun Beiyao said, and in his moment of overconfidence, let slip a strange, effeminate tone in his voice.

Minhan Mude’er frowned at him. Though he respected Jun Beiyao, hearing that tone still grated on him—he truly disliked it when a grown man’s laughter, his very voice, sounded so much like a woman’s.

Only then did Jun Beiyao realize his slip. He coughed lightly a few times and turned his head away.

Just as Minhan Mude’er was about to speak, the Dong Qin Empress arrived. Today, she no longer wore that sour expression as though everyone owed her money—her mood seemed rather good. She ignored Jun Beiyao entirely and walked straight toward Minhan Mude’er.

“Your Highness, I have good news. Would you like to hear it?” she said with a smile.

“Good news?” Minhan Mude’er looked puzzled. “Your Majesty, given how things look right now, I doubt there’ll be any good news at all today.”

“How could there not be? And I have more than one piece of good news to share.” The Dong Qin Empress, brimming with confidence, rested both hands on the railing, surveying the scene below the city walls. After being cooped up in frustration for so long, she’d finally recovered a bit of her imperial dignity.

Minhan Mude’er said nothing. Jun Beiyao shot him a glance, equally puzzled, but chose not to speculate and simply said with a smile, “Since it’s good news, Your Majesty, please don’t keep us in suspense.”

The Dong Qin Empress paid him no mind at all, acting as though she hadn’t even heard him, and said with a smile to Minhan Mude’er, “Your Highness, this is a military secret—I’ll only tell you, and you alone. Come here.”

At these words, Jun Beiyao’s fists clenched abruptly. The Dong Qin Empress was clearly humiliating him on purpose!

Yet Minhan Mude’er suddenly felt a surge of superiority. Though he respected Jun Beiyao, when it came to matters of troop deployment, he had, without realizing it, ceded far too much control to him. Domineering as he was by nature, he’d increasingly begun to feel less like a ruler and more like an obedient servant.

He thoroughly disliked that feeling!

By doing this, the Dong Qin Empress had, without a doubt, pleased Minhan Mude’er greatly.

Delighted, Minhan Mude’er paid no mind to Jun Beiyao’s embarrassment and leaned in eagerly at once. “Enough suspense—tell me!”

“Your Highness, my people have kidnapped Princess Qianqian of Xi Jing. She’s already near Mobei, about to reach Xiliang!” the Dong Qin Empress said, actually lowering her voice this time.

Hearing this, Minhan Mude’er was overjoyed at once. Jun Beiyao had explained to him no fewer than ten times just how important Yelu Qianqian was.

“Now that truly is good news. Heh, and the second?” Minhan Mude’er asked, unable to hide his eagerness. But to his surprise, the Dong Qin Empress let out a helpless sigh, as if deliberately making sure Jun Beiyao could hear, and said loudly, “Your Highness, this next piece of news is without doubt wonderful for my Dong Qin. As for you, however… it may not be so wonderful after all.”

“Jun Beiyue is actually making a move? How is that possible?” Minhan Mude’er’s tone turned sharp at once, his earlier delight vanishing in an instant.

“Why wouldn’t it be possible? I have a spy within Jun Beiyue’s own army. Just a few days ago, he had a falling out with General Baihu, and his troops’ morale is in disarray. I’ve just received intelligence that at high noon today, General Baihu will move his troops out alone, without orders!”

The moment the Dong Qin Empress finished speaking, before Minhan Mude’er could even process it, Jun Beiyao snapped sharply, “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

“Heh, possible or not, we’ll know by high noon. I’ve already ordered all three armies to prepare for battle—while Da Zhou’s forces are in disarray, with commander and general at odds, we’ll catch them completely off guard!” The Dong Qin Empress was brimming with confidence.

“I said, impossible!” Jun Beiyao ground out each word through gritted teeth. He knew Jun Beiyue far too well—there was no way the man would ever fall out with General Baihu.

“Why not? You don’t even know who my spy is!” the Dong Qin Empress retorted at once.

“I don’t care who it is, or what’s happened—even if the entire army turned against Jun Beiyue, General Baihu never would! Let alone move his troops out on his own authority!” Jun Beiyao insisted again, emphatically. He knew the loyalty of the Tiger Army all too well.

But the Dong Qin Empress only scoffed. “That’s not for you to decide. We’ll just have to wait and see!”

With that, she paid Jun Beiyao no more attention. Minhan Mude’er’s eyes flickered with something complicated. After a moment’s thought, watching the troop movements within the city growing more intense, he spoke up coldly, “Empress of Dong Qin, are you certain this information is accurate?”

“Absolutely certain!” The Dong Qin Empress was full of confidence. Bai Mengmeng wasn’t an orphan at all—she had deliberately arranged for the girl to “happen” to cross paths with General Baihu years ago. Bai Mengmeng’s family’s lives were entirely in her hands!

She didn’t believe Bai Mengmeng would dare betray her!

“Heh, very well. I’ll wait and see,” Minhan Mude’er said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.

“Your Highness!” Jun Beiyao said furiously.

But Minhan Mude’er waved a hand for him to be silent. Minhan Mude’er had always advocated joining forces with Dong Qin to take the initiative and strike Da Zhou directly, while Jun Beiyao had repeatedly urged him instead to let Dong Qin exhaust itself in defeat after defeat, waiting until Da Zhou and Dong Qin had both worn each other down before the Xiongnu swept in to seize the spoils.

If Da Zhou’s western frontier at Xi Jing was in peril, why shouldn’t he join forces with the Dong Qin Empress and attack now?

This was a rare opportunity indeed—to strike at Da Zhou’s west and east simultaneously! He had to admit, Minhan Mude’er himself lacked the confidence to bring down Da Zhou alone.

He much preferred working with the Dong Qin Empress—after all, someone of her caliber would be child’s play to kick aside once the deed was done.

“Your Highness, you’ll regret this,” Jun Beiyao said earnestly, with deep feeling.

This immediately angered Minhan Mude’er. “Shut your mouth and get out of here.”

Jun Beiyao had no choice. He shot the Dong Qin Empress one last resentful glare, then turned and went down the stairs.