Although Mu Shen had long known that Feng Yuan had escaped his control, he had never seen it so clearly and directly.

Not only did Feng Yuan not follow his arranged plans, but he could also freely control his unstable emotions!

And that Crown Prince! To bring up Xiao Jiumu’s death from years ago…

From whose mouth had he learned this?

Feng Qiyuan, that weak Crown Prince who was easily overlooked—how had he become so shrewd and cunning?

As for Feng Yuan killing the great Wei Country Grandmaster Chen Xifan, it was even more beyond his expectations.

That fame-seeking fellow did have real skill, but over the years, he had made no progress. Without the support of underhanded methods, he couldn’t even defeat a young upstart!

After this battle, far from being damaged, Feng Yuan’s reputation soared with a single victory, winning the hearts of the people!

Indeed, at this moment, the jubilant commoners on and around the stage were shouting praises for Prince Ruixiang’s valor.

That tall, handsome man, drenched in fresh blood with a sharp, curved blade still embedded in his thigh, stood on the high stage like a deity, leaning on his knife, supported by the slender Crown Prince. Looking past the weeping and wailing Wei people, he stared directly at Prince Fu Huo Buxun, who had just arrived, and declared loudly: “Do not do unto others what you would not have done to yourself! You have been in our Dafeng capital for days, treated with courtesy by the entire court, yet you use the fighting stage as an excuse to kill and maim dozens of our Dafeng citizens. Today’s repayment of one life is truly insufficient! Dafeng’s peace talks are not out of fear of war, but out of compassion for the people of both countries, wanting them to recover and prosper. His Majesty’s mercy is not an excuse for your arrogance! Today, I, Feng Yuan, swear by this blade: if you have no heart for peace, I shall lead Dafeng’s golden helmets and iron armor straight to your capital!”

As he spoke, he pulled the curved blade from his thigh and, with a flick of his wrist, sent it spinning directly at Prince Fu’s face. Prince Fu kept stepping backward, but the curved blade flew past his head and embedded itself with a clang into the flagpole behind him, buzzing resonantly.

The challenge flag fell amidst a chorus of victory cheers.

In this speech before the capital’s citizens, Feng Yuan pointed out that Dafeng’s peace negotiations stemmed from compassion for the people of both countries.

After all, with years of drought and floods, plus rebel turmoil, the common people had long suffered beyond endurance.

Feng Yuan inherited his mother’s will and was also of the war faction, but he knew now was not the opportune time to attack Wei Country.

However, some people had used the Wei people’s arrival in the capital to spread rumors that Dafeng’s military feared death, deliberately inciting public anger, obstructing peace talks, and trying to provoke war.

Now, Feng Yuan publicly disproved the rumors about Dafeng being afraid of war and stated clearly that Dafeng was not afraid to fight, and if Wei Country continued to provoke, they would fight to the bitter end.

The war god who had become famous at Feng Wei Slope once again demonstrated his extraordinary bravery in Dafeng’s capital.

The citizens whispered among themselves, saying How could such a brave prince, who cared so much for the people, possibly be a madman?

Many elderly people watched the tall lord with tears in their eyes, saying that when the late Emperor led troops into the capital to quell the rebellion, he had just such a majestic and martial appearance.

This Grand Prince looked as if he were cast from the same mold as the late Emperor!

So the shouts praising Prince Ruixiang’s valor once again reached the clouds, and many people were running out of the crowd.

They were all informants and spies from various mansions inside and outside the palace.

This fighting stage contest had ended unexpectedly, so they needed to convey Feng Yuan’s words and actions, without missing a single word, to various places.

In the teahouse, Mu Shen frowned deeply: after this incident, Feng Yuan would no longer be seen by civil and military officials as the brute from Feng Wei Slope who only knew blind slaughter!

Feng Yuan would participate in Dafeng’s state affairs with a more mature posture, using the Ministry of Personnel as his base.

Ye Zhanxue’s child was indeed no ordinary being. Having now matured and transformed, he was about to soar!

Mu Shen’s gaze fell on the restaurant across the street—that poisoner Liu Cheng had already been captured by the Grand Prince’s men!

Such a useless creature, capable only of ruining plans! His brow furrowed slightly as he gave Meng Shiba a meaningful look.

Meng Shiba understood immediately. After Mu Shen went downstairs and left, he aimed his bow at Liu Cheng, who was being escorted to a carriage, and shot an arrow.

But the arrow didn’t pierce Liu Cheng’s head as intended. Shen Jing, who was beside Liu Cheng, was already alert and immediately raised his sword to block when the arrow came, then looked toward the teahouse.

Knowing his actions had been exposed, Meng Shiba didn’t dare delay and immediately leaped down from the teahouse.

Meanwhile, after Feng Yuan had suppressed the Wei people’s arrogance on the stage, he was supported by guards summoned by Xiaoying, who shielded him as they made their way through the crowd to reach Xiao Tianyang.

Xiao Tianyang was now lying in the Crown Prince’s carriage, being given water by the Crown Prince.

“Third Grandfather, how are you?” Feng Yuan looked at the black blood stains on his lips, his eyes slightly reddening.

After spitting out such a large mouthful of black blood, even if the legendary physician Hua Tuo were alive, he probably couldn’t save him!

Indeed, Xiao Tianyang was completely powerless, his lips trembling. After gathering strength for a long time, he finally said: “Give… give me water to rinse my mouth, too… too sour!”

Feng Yuan was momentarily stunned: “Sour? What’s too sour?”

Xiaoying quickly used a cloth to bandage Feng Yuan’s thigh to stop the bleeding, then pointed to the small water flask hanging at her waist: “Mulberry juice… Jian Hu put in too little sugar, it’s a bit sour!”

The palace diet was too bland, fortunately, there were many mulberry trees.

Xiaoying, having nothing to do, had led Jian Hu to pick many and squeeze them into juice.

But today’s portion hadn’t yet been drunk by Xiaoying when the commotion with Xiao Tianyang losing his true energy on the stage broke out.

Although Master Xiao had first been plotted against, having his legs weaken and being helped off the stage would inevitably be seen as cowardly desertion, and he would certainly be subjected to instigated ridicule.

So Xiaoying simply pretended to give Third Master Xiao water to drink, while having him drink a large mouthful of mulberry juice, and instructing him to spray it out during the commotion.

The black-purple color was indeed effective, coupled with Xiaoying’s fabricated narrative of two generations of heroes being poisoned and falling at the hands of Wei villains, it indeed made the scene extremely chaotic, allowing Xiao Tianyang to withdraw with dignity.

Feng Yuan ignored the pain in his leg and checked his third grandfather’s pulse, confirming that apart from scattered true energy, his third grandfather’s life was not in immediate danger, which finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiao Tianyang, however, looked at the Crown Prince with mixed emotions and finally asked shakily: “You… are not the Crown Prince, you are Miss Yan, you and Feng Yuan, you, you disguised as a young man, then you and he…”

The way the little Crown Prince had winked at him on the stage, signaling him to pretend to spit blood, was clearly that mischievous Miss Yan.

If she were the Crown Prince, wouldn’t she be Feng Yuan’s blood brother? He had seen these two being intimate on the mountain, embracing and kissing in the woods…

Xiao Tianyang’s eyes grew wider and wider, looking as if he was about to spit out another mouthful of black blood.

Xiaoying knew that if she let the old master continue with his wild thoughts, there would be a scandal of brotherly depravity.

She quickly put a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture and explained in a low voice.

In short, she was a woman and had no blood relation to Feng Yuan.

Xiao Tianyang’s heart was big enough; after clarifying these two points, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“A’Yuan has suffered enough in his life, fortunately, you’re a woman… otherwise…”

Xiaoying was also playful, blinking her eyes and asking: “Otherwise what?”

“Otherwise, I would have to go into seclusion for three years, calm my mind, and slowly come to accept it…”

Xiaoying first opened her mouth, then closed it, completely in awe of Old Master Xiao.

So he meant that no matter what unconscionable things A’Yuan did, this master would only need to seclude himself for a few years to persuade himself to accept it calmly?

Even Yan Xiaoying couldn’t match this level of acceptance!

No wonder Master Ge had anxiously instructed her before leaving, saying that while it was fine for the Grand Prince to learn martial arts from Xiao Tianyang, he must never learn how to conduct himself from Xiao San.

This Xiao San was unrestrained and did things entirely according to his preferences; following him might teach one to discern major rights and wrongs, but for minor matters, he was completely muddled.

Looking at him now, it was indeed so!

Since Master Xiao had been poisoned, he shouldn’t have returned to the mountain, so he was sent to Prince Ruixiang’s mansion for detoxification.

This incident also alarmed His Majesty. The Chief Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Academy personally led people to treat Master Xiao, and also to tend to the Grand Prince’s wounds.

Because of the powder found on Liu Cheng, they quickly identified the poison as a rare medicine from the Miao region called Bone-Breaking Powder.

Though rare, since it targeted those with internal energy cultivation, and despite having no antidote, drinking large amounts of water would allow the poisoned person to gradually expel it, though the time required for detoxification was uncertain.

That night, agonizing screams came from the Judicial Office’s interrogation room; Liu Cheng and Ning Yu were being questioned.

Ning Yu was rather honest, only saying that Liu Cheng had approached him, mentioning that their master was alone with no one to care for his meals, which prompted him to gladly accompany him.

As for where Liu Cheng had spent these years, he didn’t know.

As for Liu Cheng, initially he was stubborn and refused to confess, but when the Bone-Breaking Powder that could disperse true energy was found on him, he could no longer deny it.

This drug could disperse a master’s true energy, but had a slightly bitter taste. So he put it in fish soup, using the excuse of breaking the fish’s gallbladder to trick Xiao Tianyang into eating it.

The reason for doing this was simple: his gambling habit in recent years had led him to accumulate huge debts at gambling houses.

Originally, relying on his exceptional skills, he planned to default and flee. Who would have thought that this gambling house was operated by someone with connections, with highly skilled bouncers.

He was no match for them, and after being captured, the gambling house wanted to cut off his hands and feet. It wasn’t until later that someone stepped forward to protect him, not only exempting his debt but also promising him money if he helped with a task.

Driven by silver and money, Liu Cheng committed this treacherous act against his master.

Xiaoying asked if they could trace the gambling house’s background, and Shen Jing indicated that the gambling house had also been shut down.

Hearing this, Xiaoying suddenly said: “The timing of this gambling house’s closure coincides exactly with when the court was investigating the refined iron case. Is that a coincidence? Could the gambling house also be related to this?”

Shen Jing quickly informed the lady of the Grand Prince’s previous investigation: “Although the shadowy figure behind it has temporarily halted the private iron operations, there would still be some traces not completely cleaned up. According to their confessions, they indeed used several gambling houses as cover to transfer large sums of money through banks.”

Based on what Chen Xifan had inadvertently said today, even Xiao Jiumu’s death years ago seemed not so simple.

“Without the cooperation of someone close to Xiao Jiumu, Chen Xifan could never have administered that Bone-Breaking Powder to the Swordmaster. But what benefit would that person gain from harming Xiao Jiumu?” Xiaoying couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

The Swordmaster’s character, unlike his brother Xiao Tianyang, was extremely righteous and principled.

Therefore, aside from matters of grave importance, Xiao Jiumu didn’t have many personal enemies, and who benefited most after his death?

The image of a certain person flashed in Xiaoying’s mind again.

This wasn’t the first time she had suspected this person, but previously she had instinctively ruled them out.

But once she thought about it again, the train of thought became like a runaway carriage, racing uncontrollably…

However, she didn’t say anything. There were more urgent matters now than finding the true culprit.

Though Feng Yuan had sacrificed an injured leg to kill Chen Xifan, his injury was also extremely serious.

After holding on until reaching Prince Ruixiang’s mansion, he fell into unconsciousness.

Although the imperial physicians promptly treated him, stopped the bleeding, and used the best medicine for wounds, whether the leg would have lasting problems was still uncertain.

Xiaoying had seen the ghastly wound with her own eyes.

Feng Yuan had always been ruthless, especially toward himself. He had once deliberately provoked Chen Nuo in the Jiangzhe military camp, enduring the military punishment, and now had sacrificed his leg to kill Chen Xifan in one strike.

Chen Xifan’s death wasn’t unjust—how could anyone predict what a madman who disregarded life and death would do during an exchange of moves?

Against such a ruthless man, the only option was to fight to the death; there was no other retreat.

Xiaoying suddenly wondered what she would do if Feng Yuan had died on the stage that day.

Just the thought of it made her heart begin to tighten.

Feng Yuan’s injuries were severe, and after holding on to investigate Xiao Tianyang’s poisoning, he unusually developed a high fever.

As his brother, the Crown Prince, could return to the palace after visiting to check on his condition and going through the formalities.

But with Feng Yuan’s injuries so severe, how could Xiaoying leave?

At that moment, all schemes, calculations, and concealed identities were unimportant.

Xiaoying only wanted to stay by Feng Yuan’s side until he was completely out of danger.

Feng Yuan’s high fever continued throughout the night. In his delirious state, he spoke many feverish words, half-dreaming and half-awake.

There was his hatred for Emperor Chunde, and memories of his childhood, when he was surrounded, mocked, and ridiculed by other children, causing him to angrily throw punches into the void of darkness.

He might have also dreamed of returning to the desolate palace, with the fear of loneliness and abandonment making him let out desperate howls.

These treasonous words could not be allowed to leak out, not even a single character.

Xiaoying knew there were His Majesty’s informants in the prince’s mansion, so she had Shen Jing clear out the guards and servants around Feng Yuan, leaving only herself to watch over him.

To help Feng Yuan’s fever subside quickly, Xiaoying wet a cloth and wiped him down to cool him.

“Always so careless with yourself, thinking you’re all alone, that no one would weep at your grave if you died? Is there no other way to kill someone besides sacrificing a leg?”

With no one else around, Xiaoying no longer restrained herself, cursing under her breath while vigorously wiping his chest and arms.

Normally, Feng Yuan would lower his gaze and close his eyes, swallowing with his thin lips in endurance, then halfway through, he would extend his arms to pull her into his embrace and lower his head to kiss her lips.

But this time, with candle shadows dancing in the room and everything quiet, Feng Yuan lay there with only his faintly rising and falling breath, showing no other reaction.

Xiaoying lowered her head to kiss his forehead. Perhaps due to the approach of her fragrant breath, Feng Yuan’s eyelids trembled slightly, as if entering a nightmare. His throat moved, and he choked out Xiaoying’s name.

Those low whispers seemed to be wrapped in a feverish scalding heat, as if begging for some kind of redemption.

Xiaoying lay beside him, reaching out to touch his face, softly comforting him: “I’m right here, not going anywhere.”

Feng Yuan’s forehead pressed against Xiaoying’s slightly cool cheek, his eyes opening in a daze, the blood-red that hadn’t faded since his injury still in his eyes. His consciousness was still not clear, looking at Xiaoying but seemingly looking past her into the distance. Finally, with fever-induced hot breath, he mumbled: “Even if you hate me, I will never set you free…”

A man in illness should be humored like a child.

Xiaoying didn’t mind at all and replied gently: “All right, you can keep me locked up, and I’ll be perfectly obedient, never trying to escape…”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but kiss the man’s cheek, but the next moment, her lips were precisely covered by his, like a desert traveler who had finally found an oasis, persistently exploring, seeking life-saving sweet nectar.

Xiaoying, pinned down by the burning man, had no strength to push away his domineering hands.

If not for the man’s severely injured leg, who knows what excessive things he might have done in this confused state?

Thus, after pacifying the restless Feng Yuan, Xiaoying also dozed off groggily.

But with worry for the sick person in her heart, she couldn’t sleep soundly.

In the middle of the night, the candles had burnt out. She reached out in the darkness to feel for the person beside her, but her hand found emptiness.

Xiaoying quickly got up and out of bed. When she reached the adjacent small study, she discovered that the man who had just recovered from his fever was already working by lamplight, focused on reviewing official documents.

Xiaoying knew he had the habit of getting up in the early morning to read. But now, having suffered serious injuries, he still insisted on getting up—a level of determination more fearsome than charging headlong into a blade.

“Why are you up? Did I wake you?” Feng Yuan looked up and asked when he saw Xiaoying.

Xiaoying went over, felt his forehead, and only after confirming his fever had subsided did she say: “That’s what I should be asking you. What matter is so urgent that you need to attend to it while seriously wounded?”

“The Ministry of Personnel is full of seasoned officials accustomed to examining and employing people, and their scrutiny of me as a prince is even more rigorous. Some matters are urgent, and if not completed, could easily become fodder for criticism. You risked offending His Majesty to get me into the Ministry of Personnel; I can’t let your efforts go to waste by allowing them to look down on me.”

Xiaoying sat down beside him, reached out to trim the flickering candle wick, then turned to look at Feng Yuan and said: “You seem to have changed a lot.”

The previous Feng Yuan had been like a sharp blade, constantly calculating how to hurt those who had wronged him, and the power he sought was used for revenge and harm.

But now, perhaps due to dealing more with Tang Mingjiang, Song Wen, and other slick officials, Feng Yuan had become somewhat more adept in human affairs, and his handling of duties and matters had become increasingly composed and systematic, more like a prince who cared for the realm and state rather than a radical, resentful person whose heart contained only personal grudges.

Xiaoying was pleased to see this transformation.

Such a Feng Yuan was more easily accepted by people, and in his interactions with others, he wouldn’t have to struggle so much.

However, Feng Yuan didn’t feel this way. When he heard Xiaoying say he had become concerned for the country and its people, the corner of his mouth curled in mockery.

The lady had slept in an awkward position, her hair bun already loosened. Now she simply let her long hair cascade down, her fair, delicate face like a sprite dancing in the candlelight, nestling beside her lord.

Feng Yuan was extremely focused, whether reading books or annotating official documents.

He knew well that if this lady continued leaning against him, not only would he be unable to complete the documents, but the wound on his leg might also tear open due to his wandering mind.

So after kissing Xiaoying’s lips, he hoarsely told her to go back and continue sleeping.

Xiaoying also didn’t want to disturb him and got up to prepare some warm medicinal soup for him to drink.

When she reached the adjacent side room, Xiaoying discovered many boxes placed there. Opening one, she saw it contained items used in marriage ceremonies.

It seemed Jin Zhong hadn’t been lying; Feng Yuan had indeed requested marriage ceremonial items from the Ministry of Rites.

Next to the ceremonial items was a set of embroidered bridal clothes and large red wedding shoes inlaid with bright pearls.

Xiaoying frowned as she looked at them, then suddenly reached out to take them, kicked off her shoes, and slipped her feet into the wedding shoes.

The shoes were as large as boats, with Xiaoying’s small feet sliding around inside.

Xiaoying, unwilling to believe it, pulled out the wedding clothes to try on, and after putting on the bridal attire, Xiaoying confirmed that these wedding clothes and shoes were indeed not prepared for her.