That short sentence made Xie Zhifei immediately understand where Xu Nian’an’s hatred toward Bu Liu came from.

Most likely it was influenced by his relatives.

“How old was Xu An’s son when he died?”

“Not yet three.”

“So the General watched him grow up from childhood?”

“Yes.”

“The saying goes: ‘at three you can see the man.’ Does the General think he has hard bones or soft bones?”

Bu Liu didn’t make a sound for a long while.

Xie Zhifei didn’t press him either, but helped himself to a bite of food.

His words today weren’t spoken casually.

That day drinking with Cai Si, he asked about Xu Nian’an’s situation. Cai Si’s face was full of disdain.

He said how could the mighty Bu Liu raise such a useless waste? The knife hadn’t even cut him yet and he was already howling away.

Really a coward!

Then Cai Si seemed to mention casually:

Though he’s a coward, he’s still General Bu’s adopted son. These past few days, quite a few people have been sending him food. Most likely out of respect for his adoptive father’s position.

Xie Zhifei broke out in a cold sweat hearing this.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters was a place with deep waters. Behind every Embroidered Uniform Guard lurked people.

Commander Feng Changxiu’s backing was the Emperor.

Southern Pacification Office’s Yang Yijie’s backing was the Prince of Han.

Northern Office’s Cai Si’s backing was the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince’s heir, and also him.

Then what about the others?

Among these people, were there any who hated Bu Liu? Any who coveted the Bu family army?

If so, then this Xu Nian’an was the key.

At this critical juncture, using his mouth to frame Bu Liu would be absolutely effortless.

“He has soft bones.”

Not only soft, but also lazy, a spendthrift, disrespectful to elders, speaking wildly…

Bu Liu thought about how his life was given by his sworn brother, so he’d gritted his teeth and endured until now.

Xie Zhifei filled his wine bowl for him.

“General, a few days ago someone told me that recently quite a few people have been visiting him in prison.”

One sentence made every bone in Bu Liu’s body go taut.

“His Majesty brings the General on every expedition. I imagine the General has gotten in some people’s way.”

Xie Zhifei raised his bowl and clinked it with his: “I’ll say this much. What follows is drinking.”

Bu Liu had climbed from an ordinary soldier to his current position step by step over more than ten years. He must be a clever man.

Clever people speak in hints—enough said.

“Drink!”

Bu Liu picked up his bowl, forcing a smile: “We agreed not to go home until drunk.”

In terms of alcohol tolerance, Xie Zhifei was far from Bu Liu’s match.

But after those opening words, Bu Liu had something weighing on his mind, so the drinking became somewhat half-hearted.

Two jars emptied, both men were slightly tipsy.

…

Prince of Han’s Residence.

Study.

“Father, that’s how things happened.”

Zhao Yixian slapped the table, saying hatefully: “Never expected Xie Zhifei to suddenly appear halfway and ruin my plans.”

The Prince of Han’s gaze met Dong Xiao’s, then he said: “Xian’er, you may go.”

Seeing his father’s expression, Zhao Yixian asked: “Father, did I do something wrong? I just wanted Father to be Commander-in-Chief, so I blocked…”

“You did nothing wrong.”

The Prince of Han interrupted him: “Go for now. Father needs to discuss some matters with Boren.”

“Yes!”

The study door opened, then closed again.

The Prince of Han’s gaze darkened: “Boren, what’s your take on this?”

“Your Highness, this matter confirms my previous speculation. The issue between the Marquis of Wu’an’s household and the Du family—it was this fellow causing trouble in between.”

Dong Xiao picked up his teacup, slowly bringing it to his lips, concealing a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

Putting down the teacup, when he raised his head again, his expression was calm.

“This fellow speaks and acts in a harmonious manner on the surface, but is actually both seasoned and ruthless. Never mind one Young Master—even ten might not be his match.”

Hearing these words, the Prince of Han felt uncomfortable inside and out.

What, one son couldn’t compare, and ten wouldn’t either?

Is this prince’s seed really that poor?

Dong Xiao acted as if he didn’t see the Prince of Han’s expression and continued his analysis.

“Your Highness, with that kneeling, he killed three birds with one stone. Making the Young Master look bad was first, making He Yun devoted to him was second, and third, showing that Xie Daozhi disciplines his sons well.”

Making the Young Master look bad meant making the Prince of Han look bad.

He Yun becoming devoted meant the Marquis of Wu’an becoming devoted.

As for that old fox Xie Daozhi?

He appeared uninvolved in everything, but had actually chosen sides long ago in secret.

“Your Highness.”

Dong Xiao sighed softly: “Speaking frankly, even I might not have handled this small matter as skillfully as him. This person… has great talent!”

Hearing him say this, a cold, murderous air appeared between the Prince of Han’s brows.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation.

A personal guard pushed the door open: “Your Highness, news just came that Third Master Xie is currently at Haohanlou drinking with Bu Liu.”

Bu Liu?

The Prince of Han’s eyelids started twitching.

He understood Bu Liu too well—just a fellow who fought battles without caring for his life, and moreover had both courage and strategy.

Because of these two points, Father had taken him along on these recent personal campaigns.

“Your Highness has tried repeatedly to invite General Bu to drink, but General Bu never accepted. Yet Third Master Xie can drink and chat happily with General Bu.”

Dong Xiao stepped forward, using an extremely serious voice to say word by word:

“Third Master is even more formidable than we imagined. The Crown Prince is using him as a thread, weaving together the Marquis of Wu’an’s household, the Zhu family, and Bu Liu, laying the foundation for his future ascension to the throne. Your Highness, this person cannot be left alive!”

He cannot be left alive anymore.

The Prince of Han’s face showed some ferocity.

The Crown Prince favored literature—most civil officials supported him.

He had followed Father in campaigns north and south for years, mingling among various military officers. Most military officers obeyed his commands.

This was his final trump card.

Even if Father ultimately passed the throne to the Crown Prince, with this trump card he could overturn the heavens.

Now the Crown Prince’s hand was reaching into his territory and stirring up trouble…

“Someone.”

“Your Highness.”

“Make arrangements immediately.”

Immediately?

Dong Xiao quickly stopped him: “Your Highness, isn’t this too risky? Shouldn’t we plan more carefully?”

The Prince of Han looked at him with a cold smile: “Has Boren forgotten that what this prince has plotted for his entire life are precisely risky matters?”

“Fortune lies in danger.”

Dong Xiao looked at the Prince of Han, deliberately showing a trace of humble deference in his expression.

“It’s Boren who was too cautious.”

…

In the private room, empty wine jars lay toppled everywhere, and people too were sprawled about.

Xie Zhifei’s tongue was thick, his dark eyes full of watery light, making this rough man Bu Liu smack his lips watching.

“Brother Xie, your face is really… a disaster!”

Can you even talk properly?

“Given by my parents. You can’t envy it.”

Bu Liu was also drinking heavily: “Envy my ass. On the battlefield, that face of yours will suffer.”

“How so?”

Xie Zhifei was completely confused: “Do they specifically target good-looking people to hit?”

“Good-looking means weak hands. Those damn Tartars are clever about it.”

Bu Liu pointed to his own face.

“Used to be handsome too—fair and clean. Young ladies and wives loved it. On the battlefield, got the shit beat out of me. The old general punished me by making me strip and bake in the sun for three whole months. My skin peeled eighteen layers.”

“Who was the old general?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Bu Liu waved away his hand and gulped down several mouthfuls of wine.

“After three months, I looked in the mirror and almost fainted. Who was this black demon in the mirror?

But on the battlefield it was really useful. Sitting on a horse, like a black whirlwind Li Kui—everyone who saw me took a detour.”

Xie Zhifei burst out laughing.

“So, so you soldiers can also use faces to intimidate people?”