Feng Yuan remained completely indifferent: “If he doesn’t believe it, let him investigate. The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards have plenty of manpower.”

Xiaoying’s eyes rolled slightly as she smiled mischievously: “Since you’ve already declared that I am your beloved concubine, too cherished to reject, how could I bear to part from the Grand Prince? I’m not going anywhere—I’ll stay with you!”

Seeing Xiaoying playing the rogue, Feng Yuan gave a cold laugh without responding. His gaze wandered as he lightly tapped the spine of a book with his finger.

Xiaoying nudged his arm: “I told you that you act too hastily. Even if the Crown Prince needed to die, it shouldn’t be done like this! Now that you’ve aroused Mu Hanjiang’s suspicions, how will you resolve this?”

Feng Yuan said indifferently: “That’s my business, nothing to do with you.”

Xiaoying truly disliked Feng Yuan’s half-dead manner.

“Come on, be more broad-minded as a man. Your beating wasn’t my fault—you deliberately provoked Chen Nuo, wanting to use your injuries and imprisonment to distance yourself from the unfavorable military situation. Besides, if you want to seek justice for my adoptive father, how can you do it without help? Who knows my adoptive father’s past better than I do? Please, let me stay!”

Seeing that Feng Yuan remained silent, Xiaoying administered a stronger dose: “I never realized Master Mu cared for me so much. How many times did he search through the fire scene? His hands are blistered from burns—he truly can’t bear to lose me! If I were to suddenly appear before him, back from the dead, do you think he would weep with joy?”

Feng Yuan leaned back against a cushion, his gaze obscure as he stared at Xiaoying: “You’re pleased that he’s so anxious about you?”

Xiaoying didn’t understand why he asked this. Shouldn’t the Grand Prince be more concerned that she was planning to pretend to be a ghost in front of Mu Hanjiang?

Nevertheless, she nodded honestly, adding with slight regret: “I am a bit moved, but he’s anxious about the Crown Prince, not about me, Yan Xiaoying…”

From her tone, it seemed she felt some regret that he wasn’t anxious about her true self.

Feng Yuan had often seen this young woman flirting with Mu Hanjiang. Later, when he met them in the abandoned palace, the two were always side by side.

When he was carried into the grand hall, the image of the tall young lord embracing the petite youth, standing shoulder to shoulder under the proud sun, whenever he recalled it, it felt as piercing as sunlight.

Calculating the time, she had known Mu Hanjiang longer and had even helped him investigate the Tang family’s accounts. There was much more to their relationship that he didn’t know.

The young Master Mu’s appearance had always been praised as the most handsome in the capital.

The natural bearing cultivated in an aristocratic family like the Mu household was, of course, flawless.

Young women always took a few extra glances at handsome men. Over time, developing some affection was only natural…

Although this was reasonable, Feng Yuan’s fingers gripping the book applied a bit more pressure.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Xiaoying sensed there might be room for negotiation and pressed on: “Since Mu Hanjiang has already discovered me, I should help you clean up the mess! Consider it my apology to you—isn’t that good? Let me stay!”

Feng Yuan’s gaze moved to her face: this clever young woman, if he didn’t agree, she would indeed cause all sorts of trouble…

When he realized he was making excuses for this woman, Feng Yuan’s brow furrowed tightly. This hesitation without resolution made him despise himself!

After a long silence, his lowered eyelashes concealed the fluctuations in his eyes. Finally, Feng Yuan relented: “I’ve already given you a chance to leave, but you refuse. In the future… don’t blame me.”

With her adoptive father’s life now in this man’s hands, Xiaoying was eager to flatter him rather than oppose him.

Seeing that he had pragmatically changed his mind and no longer drove her away, Xiaoying was satisfied. She rose and headed outside.

Feng Yuan coldly asked: “Beloved concubine Ying’er, where are you going?”

“Your beloved concubine is going to the courier station to handle the aftermath. Otherwise, our deceased friend will be unable to rest in peace, being so missed!”

Others might be fine, but Jin Zhong and Jian Hu had been with her all along. If the Crown Prince had truly died in the fire, the two servants would bear inescapable guilt.

In that vast imperial palace, human lives were cheaper than grass. She couldn’t abandon them.

Since Mu Hanjiang had grown suspicious, she needed to manage the aftermath.

According to Xiaoying’s intention, she had originally wanted to disguise herself as the Crown Prince and go directly to the courier station to pretend to be a revenant, transforming a funeral into a reunion celebration.

Feng Yuan, however, indicated this was inappropriate: the Crown Prince had caused too much trouble! If he showed his face, it would be difficult to resolve matters.

Just Chen Nuo, who had been set up so miserably, would eat the Crown Prince alive. Given the circumstances, it would be better to take the opportunity to retreat from the world.

Feng Yuan wouldn’t let Xiaoying appear in person; he would handle it.

But Xiaoying no longer trusted this Grand Scissors.

This man operated according to his own set of principles, seeming to care only about what mattered to him, without spending even a shred of energy on anything else.

With his habit of cutting through tangled messes with a swift knife, he might indiscriminately cut and hurt her precious Jin Zhong and Jian Hu!

They needed to remember that Jin Zhong had just deposited so much silver and hadn’t had a chance to enjoy spending it yet!

So the result of their dispute was that Xiaoying must be present to supervise, preventing the Grand Prince from acting recklessly.

However, Xiaoying couldn’t appear in male attire with the Crown Prince’s face.

That being the case, beloved concubine Ying’er would have to accompany the Grand Prince.

Xiaoying no longer needed to wear male clothing with padded shoulders and chest. She could fully enjoy wearing luxurious women’s garments.

With the maid’s help, she applied rouge and powder, and her hair was piled into cloud-like coils.

Her eyes were adorned with sandalwood-tinted makeup by the maid’s skillful hand, and a pearl ornament was placed on her forehead.

Thus arrayed, and wearing a thick, half-concealing veil, Xiaoying looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself.

When they arrived outside the courier station, she remained in the carriage and didn’t get out. She just listened from inside as Feng Yuan spoke with Mu Hanjiang.

Mu Hanjiang had returned to the fire scene several more times, searching for clues. He hadn’t changed his clothes, which no longer showed their original snow-white color.

Elder Teng sat nearby, his body limp.

It was said that the elder had secretly tried to jump into the Lianjiang River three times, saying that failing to protect the Crown Prince was his fault alone, and if someone had to die, it should be just him, without bringing misfortune to his family.

Fortunately, a servant had been quick to stop him; otherwise, Young Master Mu would have had one more funeral to arrange.

Now the old man was exhausted from jumping, gradually weakening. He looked like he would gather his strength again soon and use his cane to try jumping once more.

As for Jin Zhong, Jian Hu, and the other servants, they were all tightly bound to nearby hitching posts, having been interrogated several times.

Each had a tear-stained face and looked as if they hadn’t eaten for a long time.

Feng Yuan handed Mu Hanjiang a letter written by Xiaoying in the Crown Prince’s handwriting.

Mu Hanjiang recognized the Crown Prince’s writing, gave Feng Yuan a surprised look, then quickly opened it.

The letter essentially explained that Mu Hanjiang shouldn’t worry, as the Crown Prince had faked his death out of necessity.

It was because the treacherous official Shang Youdao had powerful backers, and these traitors were working together, with Wei Country forces involved, determined to kill him in Jiangzhe.

Therefore, he had improvised, consulting with the Grand Prince to stage a fake death and then slip away like a cicada shedding its shell, hoping to draw out those behind the plot.

It happened so suddenly that there was no time to consult with Mu Hanjiang. He asked Mu Hanjiang not to spread the news, to help manage the situation, and not to mistreat the servants. The Crown Prince’s eunuchs and maids should be handed over to the Grand Prince.

Additionally, he requested that Elder Teng be comforted as well.

Mu Hanjiang read it through three times, then looked up and coldly asked Feng Yuan: “The Crown Prince is being foolish, and you’re going along with him? What’s this about faking death to lure enemies? As the heir to the throne, why should he need to do this? Where is the Crown Prince now? I’ll go to receive him.”

Feng Yuan remained unmoved: “He is the Crown Prince, and I am his subject. How could I change what he has decided? He has already gone incognito to investigate the case. The Shadow Guards under your command are too numerous and mostly mediocre. If they learn of this, the strategy will be wasted. I ask Master Mu to follow the Crown Prince’s instructions, keep this matter quiet for now, and not report to His Majesty, to avoid worrying the imperial mind.”

The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards were dismissed as numerous and mediocre? This was a great insult to the young master of the Mu family!

Mu Hanjiang looked down at the letter again: “No, I must see the Crown Prince in person.”

Without meeting, how could he confirm whether the Prince was alive or dead?

At the very least, he needed to see with his own eyes that Feng Qiyuan was safe and had not been coerced by this Grand Prince into doing something unwillingly.

Feng Yuan had anticipated this reaction: “When Master Mu has time, the Crown Prince will meet with you… As for General Chen, may I trouble you with that matter?”

Mu Hanjiang frowned. How could the Grand Prince have the nerve to ask?

That night at Mount Ding, Chen Nuo had lost his composure. Upon returning to camp, he redirected his anger toward Feng Yuan, personally questioning him about the authenticity of the map.

But Feng Yuan calmly stated that he hadn’t drawn the map nor had he presented it. Whoever gave it to General Chen, that’s who the general should hold accountable.

These words immediately left Chen Nuo speechless.

Just then, people sent by Xiao Tianyang arrived at the military camp, holding the gleaming imperial gold token given by the late emperor, demanding to take Feng Yuan away, saying they were concerned for the Grand Prince and wanted to bring him back to Listening Heart Garden to recuperate.

Chen Nuo refused to release him, so Feng Yuan simply resigned from his position as Defense General, stating he was resigning and no longer following Chen Nuo.

For anyone else, such a resignation would be considered desertion.

But Feng Yuan was a prince after all. If Chen Nuo beheaded him, his entire family would face execution.

Chen Nuo was already dealing with numerous problems, and given Feng Yuan’s severe back injuries, he couldn’t let a prince die in his camp. He also didn’t want to bother with a down-and-out figure like Xiao Tianyang, so he simply released Feng Yuan.

Then General Chen directed his spearhead at Mu Hanjiang, demanding he explain what was going on with the map.

How could Mu Hanjiang explain? Naturally, he had to find the Crown Prince who had given him the military map.

Who would have thought that when he returned, he would arrive just as the courier station caught fire?

What followed was his rush into the burning building, only to be driven out by thick smoke.

Mu Hanjiang extinguished the fire, excavated the charred corpse, interrogated all the servants, and occasionally had to pull a suicidal old official out of the river.

After such chaos for two days, Feng Yuan leisurely arrived by carriage to inform him that this fake death was all part of the “clever” arrangement between the Grand Prince and the Crown Prince.

The usually refined Mu Hanjiang suddenly felt like swearing!

He seemed to understand what the fake map was about—apparently, the two princes had used him as a scapegoat to set a trap for Chen Nuo!

Was this the Crown Prince’s idea, or was it coerced by this madman Feng Yuan?

Thinking of this, Mu Hanjiang’s gaze turned icy as he said through gritted teeth: “I… want to see the Crown Prince immediately! If not allowed, I will follow the Grand Prince everywhere!”

Just then, someone reported that General Chen Nuo had also crossed the river to see what had happened at the courier station.

Feng Yuan thought for a moment, then said to Mu Hanjiang, “If General Chen asks, Master Mu should inform the general about the Crown Prince’s situation. This will prevent him from shifting the blame onto your shoulders.”

After saying this, he seemed unwilling to linger and turned to board the carriage.

As Feng Yuan lifted the curtain, Mu Hanjiang caught a glimpse of a heavily made-up woman with a half-covered face sitting in the carriage.

Apart from her, there was no one else in the carriage.

Feng Yuan entered the carriage and, in front of Mu Hanjiang, embraced the woman as if no one was watching, looking every bit the doting lover.

Mu Hanjiang watched coldly as the carriage departed.

As the carriage swayed away from the courier station, Xiaoying breathed a sigh of relief and sat up straight from Feng Yuan’s embrace: “Now, can you tell me about the arrangements for my adoptive father?”

Feng Yuan pulled out a yellowed dossier from a drawer in the carriage and handed it to Xiaoying: “This is the file from seven years ago that I asked someone to find. Your adoptive father said that at that time, he was investigating a case of embezzlement of military funds, but met with heavy resistance halfway through. Then the family massacre occurred. So, I believe the source still lies in this military funds case.”

While Xiaoying was reviewing the file, Feng Yuan directed the carriage to pass by the shipyard.

When they arrived, he slightly lifted the carriage curtain, just in time to see Chen Nuo leading more than thirty personal guards hurrying down from a ship.

Judging by his expression, General Chen’s thunderous anger had been accumulating for some time and was about to erupt…

By now, Xiaoying had finished reading the file and felt somewhat reassured.

Feng Yuan’s assistance to her adoptive father was definitely not out of full stomach kindness or ancient loyalty, but rather to achieve his own goals.

As long as Feng Yuan and she were heading toward the same destination by different paths, each getting what they needed, her adoptive father’s safety would be guaranteed.

She saw Feng Yuan looking outside and also peeked out, seeing General Chen and his men mounting horses after disembarking, heading toward the courier station.

This general was quite unfortunate. Initially, the court had wanted to reinforce the defenses at Linchuang, adjacent to Fengwei Slope, to guard against potential changes in Wei Country.

But Chen Nuo had avoided the task of defending Linchuang, choosing instead the easier assignment at Mount Ding.

As a result, the person sent to Linchuang in place of his favored general was an obscure commander of a thousand men named Luo Zhen.

This general wasn’t part of Chen Nuo’s faction. Although he had served in the military for a long time with considerable achievements, he had offended Chen Nuo and couldn’t advance. Now he was sent forward as a vanguard.

Around Fengwei Slope, there had been occasional friction over the past few years.

But neither side’s troops carried royal army designations. Instead, they called each other’s invaders “bandits,” testing each other under the guise of civilian conflicts.

Wei Country had recruited many elite soldiers and generals in recent years, and their new emperor, Huo Buchen, was diligently governing, seemingly wanting to expand territories and establish a legacy in history.

In contrast, on the Dafeng side, there was a desire to recapture Fengwei Slope, but domestic affairs were complicated, making it difficult to spare resources.

In recent years, the national treasury has been tight. How could they wrestle with Wei Country?

Chen Nuo’s military achievements were all built on judging situations and timing, so seeing Linchuang in a precarious position, he avoided such dangerous battles.

Using the Mount Ding disturbance as an excuse, it was perfect to dump the mess on the unfavored Luo Zhen. If there was friction and the defense failed, Chen Nuo would have excuses to avoid blame.

Linchuang was too close to Fengwei Slope, and the terrain offered no advantages for defense.

Chen Nuo led the main force, using the pretext of suppressing bandits to retreat to Jiangzhe, intending to use the natural barrier of the Lianjiang River to protect his base camp, also avoiding the blame for losing Linchuang.

Chen Nuo had originally planned to capture the rebels, dragging it out until spring next year. But seeing Ye Zhong return to the capital to receive rewards, he became eager to achieve some merit of his own.

Yet he never expected that the task of capturing the small bandits of Mount Ding, which should have been a sure thing, would slip through his fingers in one night, leaving him unable to find someone to blame!

General Chen’s inner fury was easy to imagine.

Feng Yuan watched the figures of Chen Nuo and his men riding away, then ordered the carriage to continue toward Listening Heart Garden.

In the swaying carriage, Xiaoying asked Feng Yuan, “Can you get me the list of the Courage character series Shadow Guards from seven years ago?”

Feng Yuan asked: “Why do you want that?”

Xiaoying told him about the courageous character tattoo she had seen during the Meng family massacre seven years ago.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yuan frowned and asked: “You… were also at the Meng household? Were you injured?”

Xiaoying pointed to her calf indifferently: “I took a sword wound here…”

Feng Yuan’s frown deepened as he stared at Xiaoying’s leg. His gaze seemed to want to penetrate through her skirt to personally examine the scar.

Seeing his curiosity, Xiaoying lifted her skirt, pulled down her white sock, and exposed her right calf, pointing: “Look, this is the scar!”

This time, Feng Yuan’s expression changed, and he frowned as he reached out to pull down her skirt: “How can a young woman casually show her leg to people?”

Xiaoying was speechless—clearly, he had been very eager to see it!

Besides, it was just a calf. Village women exposed their calves when working in the paddy fields. What was so special about it? Why was he making such a fuss?

Feng Yuan asked her who else she had shown her calf to, and Xiaoying replied sullenly: “Who else is as boring as you? Who else wants to look at scars?”

Hearing this, the Grand Prince’s expression improved slightly. He reminded Xiaoying again that she was now dressed as a young lady and shouldn’t be as careless as before.

Xiaoying looked at him sideways: “Grand Prince, you sound just like my father. I already have two fathers; please don’t add a third…”

This time, Feng Yuan didn’t speak. He suddenly reached out and pinched Xiaoying’s tender cheek. Since she had called him father, wouldn’t he lose face if he didn’t discipline a back-talking girl?

Feng Yuan’s hand had never been gentle. The pain made her yelp, and by reflex, she lunged at him, also wanting to pinch him.

Feng Yuan caught her arms and held her in his embrace, preventing her from mischief.

Xiaoying struggled vigorously. At first, Feng Yuan was laughing, his chest shaking, but as the fragrant young woman in his arms continued to struggle, Feng Yuan’s expression gradually became nuanced, and the arm around her waist grew tighter.

Xiaoying moved a few times, then gradually sensed that something was wrong with what she was sitting on. She froze, slowly widening her eyes to look at Feng Yuan.

Having grown up among all sorts of people, she understood more than other young women her age.

But seeing a pig walk was completely different from actually eating pork.

The teasing words that naturally rose to her lips rolled around on her tongue, but she swallowed them back down. She could only carefully say: “You… are not behaving properly!”

Feng Yuan’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at the rare blush on her cheeks, somewhat absentmindedly saying: “I’m not dead, so why should I behave properly?”

Only dead men or those who couldn’t perform would remain unmoved with warm jade and fragrance in their arms, right?

He happened to be neither.

Xiaoying was ultimately burned too hot to sit still. She forcefully broke free from his arms and moved to the other side of the carriage.

Yet curiosity got the better of her. She tilted her neck, narrowing her large eyes beneath curved lashes, transparently glancing toward Feng Yuan’s lower body.

Feng Yuan remained open and straightforward. Despite his embarrassment, he maintained his posture, sitting with his legs bent at the knees, leaning against the carriage, showing no intention of hiding.

The young lord was too tall, and with his robust physique and long legs, he occupied most of the space inside the carriage.

The cold, snow-soaked fragrance mixed with Feng Yuan’s unique scent filled the carriage, constricting one’s throat and leaving Xiaoying feeling like she had nowhere to retreat.

For a moment, the carriage was silent except for the sounds of wheels and hooves.

Feng Yuan steadied his breathing, trying to calm his disturbance, but noticed the young woman’s flickering gaze refusing to move away. He thoughtfully asked: “Do you want me to lift my clothes so you can see more clearly?”

Xiaoying quickly turned to look out the window, saying softly: “Shameless…”

Feng Yuan saw her ears finally turning red and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile.

At this moment, the carriage swayed, and the fragrant beauty half-sitting by the window was within arm’s reach.

The young woman’s jeweled hairpin pressed against her half-coiled black hair, accentuating her beautiful eyes. With a touch of rouge, if she remained silent, she truly looked like a beauty from a painting of court ladies.

But what made her most attractive was her wild, spirited other side, like an unquenchable flame. Even knowing that grasping it would burn one’s hand, perhaps even burning one to ashes, one couldn’t bear to let go…

The carriage swayed, a moment of peace. He wished the journey could be longer…

Unfortunately, the journey to Listening Heart Garden wasn’t far, and before long, they arrived.

As soon as they descended from the carriage, they heard the distant drumming of hooves and saw dust rising in the air.

Xiaoying looked into the distance and immediately guessed: “General Chen is coming personally to give you trouble!”