However, although Marquis Kang led a military force, when all was said and done, they were merely scattered soldiers—kept in Jingzhou to serve as household guards, unable to match those blood-and-iron warriors who fought in battles.

This was also why Emperor Qizhen had let it be all these years.

But after all, they were still a military force, not so weak as to be completely withered and useless! So if used to suppress bandits, it would still be acceptable.

But Marquis Kang had already withdrawn from the court and was on extremely bad terms with Emperor Qizhen—how could he possibly lend his military force to Jingrong?

It had always been the case that the father’s grudges were settled by the son!

So in Marquis Kang’s eyes, Jingrong was nothing more than a thorn in his side.

Jingrong gently pressed his aching chest, his brows tightly furrowed.

He analyzed, “Although Marquis Kang is stubborn with a bull’s temper, he’s an extremely treasure-loving person. Lang Bo, take this prince’s message—if he’s willing to lend troops, this prince will grant him one piece of golden threaded armor.”

Golden threaded armor?

Lang Bo was astonished!

In the world, there were only two pieces of golden threaded armor. One had been buried with the late emperor’s body in the imperial mausoleum, and the other was kept in the imperial ancestral hall.

Although Marquis Kang was of the imperial clan, he was ultimately a collateral relative. Over these decades, the collateral branches had split into several generations. Calculating it, they were relatives separated by eight poles that couldn’t reach each other.

But Marquis Kang was an utterly greedy person who coveted that piece of golden threaded armor to the point of drooling!

He thought about it day and night.

He often clamored that he was of the imperial clan—why should the golden threaded armor be placed in the ancestral hall and not given to him?

Fortunately, what he coveted were worldly treasures, not imperial power. Otherwise, Emperor Qizhen would have already found ways to deal with him.

Lang Bo confirmed again, “Your Highness, are you certain about that piece of golden threaded armor? It’s in the imperial ancestral hall with dedicated guards. His Majesty could never approve giving the golden threaded armor to Marquis Kang.”

A reminder!

“Just do as this prince says. Go quickly and return quickly.”

Lang Bo said no more, accepted the order, and immediately departed.

Turning, Jingrong then instructed Shi Zijin, “You must go immediately to the entrance of Gaoshan Stronghold. Find an opportunity—you must get in. Even if you can’t rescue them immediately, I must know Yunshu’s situation.”

“Yes.”

Shi Zijin didn’t waste words and went to carry out the order.

Jingrong’s body couldn’t support itself anymore. He pressed his fist against his lips, coughing lightly.

He nearly coughed up blood from his mouth.

Muruo said, “You’ve given all the instructions you needed to give. You should hurry and rest.”

“I can’t rest easy.”

“But you also can’t throw away your life.”

“Muruo.” Jingrong suddenly called out to him.

Muruo frowned. Seemingly knowing what he wanted to say, he spoke first, “I know what you want to say. Rest assured, I know what to do.”

“Thank you.”

Muruo spoke in a low voice and instructed again, “Hurry and rest. Don’t waste my medicinal ointment—no amount of silver could buy it.”

How awkward!

Jingrong lowered his eyes and didn’t engage with his words anymore.

After Muruo left, he found the county magistrate. “Tell me the location of Gaoshan Stronghold.”

“Ah?”

“Quickly!”

Zhang Huanping was stunned for a moment, then quickly called someone to simply draw out a map.

Muruo memorized the route on this map, then tore it up and tossed it aside.

He ordered again, “Find me a set of coarse cloth clothing—the more tattered, the better.”

“What is Master Muruo planning?”

“Hurry up and go.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Zhang Huanping didn’t dare delay and quickly had his people prepare it.

The result—

When they brought it back, it was a beggar’s clothing.

Moreover—

It reeked with a foul smell.

Wave after wave!

Muruo wrinkled his nose and picked up the clothing with raised fingers, his face full of disgust.

Zhang Huanping carefully inquired, “Master Muruo, are you satisfied with this clothing?”

I’m not satisfied at all!

But there was no helping it. The more this kind of clothing, the better for disguise.

“Satisfied, of course satisfied!”

Muruo reluctantly accepted this piece of clothing.

Turning, he thought of something else.

“Zhang Huanping, this incident occurred within your jurisdiction. By rights, you should resolve it. But in this matter, Prince Rong is personally resolving it, so you must keep it confidential to outsiders. You cannot leak a single word. If word spreads to the capital, Prince Rong will take your life. Understand?”

“This lowly official understands. Won’t say a word, won’t say a word.”

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Huanping repeatedly withdrew.

Muruo somewhat disdained this beggar’s disguise, but there was no helping it. With Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi missing, he couldn’t just do nothing, could he?

Who told that boy Jingrong to be unable to move right now?

This important task naturally fell to him.

Gradually, dawn was breaking!

Inside Gaoshan Stronghold!

Zhao Huai sat on that tiger-skin chair, thinking much and contemplating long. His heart was still conflicted, unable to make a decision.

On one hand, his sworn brothers!

On the other hand, wanting to know who had destroyed his wine, and Zhao Qing’s extraction bottle in his hand was something he had always wanted.

Da Chui and several subordinates watched eagerly from the side. Shifting their bodies, they walked over and said, “Chief, you still haven’t decided?”

“…”

“Chief, it’s not that I’m saying this, but that young scholar-looking fellow is just talking nonsense. He fundamentally can’t investigate anything. Besides, what’s in the urn is already a skeleton—how can anyone determine who it is?”

“…”

“Chief… Ah!”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Huai raised his foot and kicked viciously at Da Chui’s body.

“Shut your mouth.”

Da Chui walked away in pain, clutching his stomach.

He didn’t dare say another word.

At this moment, Zhao Qing arrived.

Zhao Huai looked at him coldly and said, “What? You’ve sat here long enough? Want to leave?”

Zhao Qing said, “I want to know—have you decided yet?”

“About what?”

“Are you going to kill that Master Ji, or do you want to investigate that skeleton?”

When Zhao Huai heard this, wasn’t this creating difficulties for him?

He had been conflicted all night and still didn’t have a result!

Zhao Qing spoke directly, “Zhao Huai, if I were you, I wouldn’t let things become even worse. Instead, I would choose to stop, let that person investigate the truth about the skeletal remains in the urn. Moreover, I would also give you my extraction bottle. In the end, the one who benefits would be you.”

Zhao Huai retorted, “The one who died was my brother, not your brother.”

“But if you continue like this, more people will definitely die. Even if you win, what then?”

“…”

Zhao Huai’s burning gaze locked tightly on Zhao Qing. He stood up and walked before him.

He asked, “What exactly are those people to you? Why do you want to save them so badly?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Could it be they gave you gold and silver treasures to have you come save them?”

Zhao Qing was displeased. “Zhao Huai, I’m not you. I won’t harm people’s lives for money. Furthermore, this entire incident was caused by your people in the first place. If you hadn’t blocked people to rob them, none of this would have happened.”