Ji Yunshu removed the golden mask from her face.

Revealing that scarred face!

“Princess, look carefully.”

Jing Xuan was not someone who judged by appearances, but when she saw the scar on Ji Yunshu’s face, she was still startled.

That feeling of being struck by lightning—she truly felt it!

After a long pause, she asked, “Your… your face, how did it become like this?”

Her voice was clearly trembling badly!

“Injured by a silver hairpin, it left a scar.” Ji Yunshu answered calmly, putting the mask back on.

Jing Xuan still couldn’t digest this. She opened her mouth, tears rolling in her eyes, not knowing what to say.

Ji Yunshu called out “Wei Yi!”

Wei Yi had been standing in place with his back turned this whole time.

So obedient!

Hearing Ji Yunshu call him, he turned around and asked, “Shu’er, can we leave now?”

“Yes!”

She nodded, reached out to take his hand, and said to Jing Xuan, “Regardless, I must still thank the princess for helping me out of that predicament.”

Having said this, she left with Wei Yi!

Jing Xuan stood dazedly in place, her eyes unfocused and lost.

Her heart was in turmoil!

While Zhangyao Palace was filled with upheaval, on the other side—

In the Council Hall!

All the court officials were present.

Emperor Qizhen sat upon that dragon throne, wearing a dark yellow robe embroidered with nine dragons. His hands rested on his thighs as he sat upright and solemn.

In the hall, Crown Prince Jinghua, Prince Yi, and Jingrong stood at the front, with civil and military officials behind them.

Even Ji Li and Ji Huan were there.

That made sense—both were court officials. Having finished handling funeral matters back home, they naturally had to rush back to the capital.

Both were filled with fierce energy!

Among the crowd stood three rugged men wearing willow-leaf armor. This armor was a protective style unique to the Qujiang people—iron-sleeved mail with chest and back connected, sewn together with fish-scale armor plates. Below were knee guards, and their robes had round collars reaching to the ankles.

The three stood in a triangular formation, radiating cold intimidation!

The one in front was a burly, imposing man nearly forty years old with a full beard. Between his deep brows could be seen the fierce spirit characteristic of Qujiang people.

This man was none other than that exceptionally intelligent general—Yuchi Lin.

He cupped his hands. “I pay respects to the Great Lin Emperor.”

Qizhen’s face remained impassive as he said, “General Yuchi need not stand on ceremony.”

“Yes!”

His gaze cold as winter, he glanced at the young officer beside him, who then presented the generous gifts they had brought.

“Your Majesty, these are treasures specially sent by our Prince of Qujiang, presented to you.”

The old eunuch came over, accepted the gifts, and delivered them before Emperor Qizhen, opening the box.

Inside was an extremely precious yak horn!

“This item was obtained by our great king during his southern and northern campaigns and has been treasured ever since. This time he parts with it reluctantly to present to Your Majesty.” General Yuchi said.

Emperor Qizhen nodded, saying neither that he liked it nor that he didn’t. The old eunuch accepted the box.

“The Prince of Qujiang’s goodwill—I accept it.” Emperor Qizhen said in a deep voice, then continued, “Great Lin and Qujiang ceased hostilities five years ago and established a covenant at Cangshui, agreeing to no longer take up arms. General Yuchi surely knows of this written covenant, doesn’t he?”

“This general naturally knows.”

“Since you know, why have you now betrayed the covenant and acted contrary to it?” Emperor Qizhen’s tone was heavy, full of solemn authority.

Yuchi only said, “This general’s entry to the capital, bringing our great king’s generous gifts, naturally demonstrates Qujiang’s full sincerity. We absolutely will not betray the covenant, and we certainly don’t wish for war between our nations, leading to countless deaths and injuries.”

Before Emperor Qizhen could speak, Crown Prince Jinghua at the side could no longer restrain himself!

He stepped forward with disdain.

“Ridiculous! General Yuchi led thirty thousand troops, causing our border forces of one hundred thousand to fall into disarray. Throughout the court, everyone says you’re no ordinary person—skilled in military campaigns, excellent at leading troops, adept at implementing flanking maneuvers. Now you’ve entered our Great Lin capital claiming you won’t betray the covenant? That you don’t want war between our nations? Isn’t this laughably absurd? If you don’t want war, why did you lead troops to attack our border?”

Though the Crown Prince was somewhat reckless!

And rather simple-minded!

These words were truly satisfying to hear!

But in the end, an incompetent was still an incompetent. Though skilled at flattery, presumptuously stepping forward without regard for the occasion was simply courting death!

Emperor Qizhen coughed once, his expression darkening rapidly.

Jinghua seemed to realize something and retreated to the side, while Jing Yi secretly laughed.

As for Jingrong, he sighed softly and shook his head!

Regarding Crown Prince Jinghua’s questioning, Yuchi Lin was in no hurry to respond. Though he looked like a rough man, his manner of conducting affairs was quite meticulous.

He raised his head and addressed Emperor Qizhen directly. “Your Majesty, there’s been a great misunderstanding!”

“A misunderstanding? General Yuchi, please explain. I’m listening carefully.”

“In truth, I was ordered to lead troops here with no intention of attacking any city or territory of Great Lin!”

“Oh?”

Yuchi Lin continued, “Five years ago, Great Lin and Qujiang battled at Cangshui for half a year. Our country was defeated, and thereafter established a covenant. Qujiang has paid tribute every year in exchange for permanent peace between our nations. Our great king cares for the people’s livelihood and doesn’t wish for lives to be destroyed, so naturally he wouldn’t violate the covenant. This general, under our great king’s orders, came to Great Lin. Though I deliberately implemented flanking maneuvers at the border, I did not harm a single soldier of Great Lin’s forces.”

The crowd was puzzled!

What exactly was he getting at?

Jing Yi glanced at Emperor Qizhen. Seeing his confused expression, Jing Yi stepped forward at the appropriate moment.

Cupping his hands, he said amicably to Yuchi Lin, “When General Yuchi was at the border, why didn’t you send an envoy to explain the situation? Now that you’re already within our Great Lin imperial city, why not speak frankly? What exactly is your purpose?”

Yuchi turned his head to look at Jing Yi, then turned back to face Emperor Qizhen and said.

“Our great king commanded that this general must personally explain our intentions to Your Majesty, so I didn’t bring an envoy. However, when our thirty thousand troops arrived at the border city gates, General Liang Wen, who guards the border city, refused to hear our reasons. He immediately raised the military banner and ordered all one hundred thousand troops to press toward our thirty thousand soldiers. This general, fearing damage to the alliance between our nations, could only employ flanking tactics. This is how I awaited Your Majesty’s summons, which resolved the predicament.”

So that’s how it was!

Emperor Qizhen’s expression grew increasingly somber.

His powerful hands resting on his thighs clenched into fists and struck down heavily as he said angrily, “When did this Liang Wen become so absurd? I sent him to guard the border, gave him one hundred thousand troops, and this is how he handles things! If anything went wrong at the border, could he bear the responsibility?”

Having said this, he issued an order. “Someone come! By my decree, immediately strip Liang Wen of his military command and give him eighty heavy strokes. If he doesn’t die, bind him and bring him back to the capital, display him in the city for three days. As for border affairs, temporarily place them under the control of Left Vanguard General Xi Li.”

“Yes!” The guard acknowledged the order and withdrew.

That Liang Wen was at least an upstanding general—charging into battle, brave and skilled in combat. Yet Emperor Qizhen, having heard only Yuchi Lin’s one-sided account, publicly ordered Liang Wen stripped of his generalship.

Others thought it rash!

But clever people understood!

On one hand, it demonstrated Emperor Qizhen’s strict standards in employing people and handling matters! Thereby giving Yuchi Lin a warning!

Warning him to clearly understand the hierarchy of ruler and subject—if he dared to act rashly, he would become another Liang Wen.

On the other hand, it eliminated a potential flashpoint between the two nations, preventing Qujiang from seizing upon this point in the future to make a big issue of it and launch an attack.

Qizhen collected himself before saying, “The misunderstanding—I have dealt with it severely. General Yuchi may now state your true purpose!”

Yuchi nodded. “This general, under our great king’s orders, has come to propose marriage.”

“Propose marriage?”

Propose marriage?

At these two words, the entire court erupted in commotion!

Jingrong’s hands inside his sleeves clenched together!

From beginning to end, he had been observing Yuchi Lin. Though this man was tall and imposing, truly a great general, yet…

The words this man spoke had a rigid, methodical quality, as if—

He was reciting someone else’s words! Not speaking from his own mouth!