Yan Sanhe lowered her eyelids and slowly spoke.

“If the court truly dispatches General Bu to campaign, I believe General Bu would very much want to see Prince Han before the expedition.”

Zhao Yishi’s dark eyes brightened: “Prince Han has led troops in the north and won victories at Black Mountain City.”

Xie Zhifei’s dark eyes also brightened: “Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle.”

Though Pei Xiao’s reaction was half a beat slower, he also understood the reasoning here.

“For this expedition, the horses will definitely be a hindrance. To ensure victory, General Bu should very humbly seek guidance and learn from Prince Han.

No one would be suspicious, and no one would dare oppose it. Before the nation’s fate, nothing else matters. The new Emperor will certainly agree.”

Li Buyan excitedly clapped: “Brilliant!”

Zhu Qing looked at Yan Sanhe with admiration: “Miss, how did you think of this?”

Ding Yi wanted to kneel before Yan Sanhe: “Too clever.”

Huang Qi presented tea like offering treasure. “Miss, have some tea.”

Yan Sanhe took a sip of tea, her voice calm without a ripple.

“This step only allows smooth entry into Prince Han’s residence. Making Prince Han speak will be very difficult.”

What made it difficult?

Prince Han himself.

Food, drink, and women to warm his bed—he had everything in his lower half of life, just not freedom. Since things were already like this, why would he still meddle in court affairs or Zheng family matters?

Even if the sky collapsed, it had nothing to do with him.

“Leave this to me. I have a way to make him speak.”

Everyone’s gazes shifted in unison to Zhao Yishi.

Zhao Yishi immediately said: “What, don’t you believe me?”

“We believe you!”

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao shouted simultaneously.

After years of brotherhood, the two understood what kind of temperament Huairen had, what words he would say, what things he could do—crystal clear in their hearts.

If he said he had a method, he definitely had a method.

Yan Sanhe stepped forward: “I must go with you.”

Zhao Yishi thought for a moment: “That’s easy to arrange. You can disguise yourself as my junior eunuch.”

Pei Xiao quickly used his eyes to signal Xie Zhifei: Ask quickly—can we also go together?

Xie Zhifei paid no attention: “Just have Yan Sanhe alone accompany you. If there are too many people, it might arouse the Imperial Guards’ suspicion and ruin things instead.”

Zhao Yishi nodded, pondering: “As for General Bu’s end…”

Xie Zhifei: “Leave his end to me. If I speak, he won’t refuse.”

“Then everything’s settled.”

Pei Xiao’s expression relaxed considerably. “We just wait for news that the Emperor has dispatched General Bu to campaign.”

Yan Sanhe still felt uneasy, staring directly at Zhao Yishi: “Can Your Highness be certain the Emperor will dispatch General Bu to campaign?”

Zhao Yishi looked back at her, his pupils unfathomably deep.

“I’m certain.”

…

Zhao Yishi’s judgment wasn’t wrong. Three days later, the Emperor appointed Bu Liu as Grand General to lead one hundred thousand troops to campaign in the north.

It was called one hundred thousand, but actually only seventy thousand, because the warhorses that could go to battle numbered only that many, scraped together from various sources.

To ensure victory, Bu Liu made a bold request to the new Emperor privately the moment he received the military command—to see Prince Han.

Only then did the new Emperor understand why the late Emperor liked to have Bu Liu accompany him on campaigns.

This man looked like a military brute, but inside he was bold and meticulous, a down-to-earth doer.

He immediately ordered the Crown Prince to accompany General Bu together.

…

Nightfall.

A carriage and horse stopped before Prince Han’s residence gate.

The mounted rider was Bu Liu.

After dismounting, General Bu in full armor respectfully waited before the carriage.

The carriage curtain lifted, and a fair-skinned junior eunuch jumped down.

The eunuch took a footstool from the driver Shen Chong, placed it before the carriage, lowered his head, and said in a high, thin voice: “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Prince Han’s residence.”

Zhao Yishi wore apricot-yellow robes with four-dragon embroidery. Stepping on the footstool to descend, he stood still and raised his gaze—noble bearing overwhelming.

The Imperial Guard attendants all knelt in salute. “Your Highness.”

Disguised as a junior eunuch, Yan Sanhe took the opportunity to lift her eyelids. She saw a mass of black kneeling on the ground.

No wonder not even a fly could escape. This wasn’t the force to surround one residence—this could surround a small city.

“All rise.”

“Yes!”

After the Imperial Guards rose, their leader accepted a lantern passed from behind and quickly descended the steps.

“Your Highness, General Bu, please follow me.”

Zhao Yishi gestured “please” to Bu Liu and walked up with his hands behind his back.

Bu Liu didn’t follow up, but deliberately slowed half a step.

Yan Sanhe kept her head lowered, quickly following behind Zhao Yishi. The moment she stepped over the threshold, she felt several gazes fixed on her.

Bu Liu followed close behind her, his imposing armor blocking those gazes.

…

Prince Han’s residence—lanterns still bright.

Not the imagined ancient trees and crumbling walls. Quite the opposite—every blade of grass, every tree, every hill and stream exuded luxury and extravagance.

If there were maids passing through, servants bustling about, people talking and joking, this would be another scene of worldly prosperity.

Yan Sanhe walked all the way in without seeing a single person.

Deathly silence was this residence’s theme.

When the group reached the second gate, Zhao Yishi stopped and looked at the leader: “You may stop here.”

The leader was slightly stunned, quickly thrusting the lantern into the junior eunuch’s hands: “Your Highness, General, the Prince should be in the study at this hour.”

Zhao Yishi made an affirming sound and walked directly inward.

Bu Liu gently pushed Yan Sanhe, signaling her to follow, then himself stepped sideways.

This step precisely blocked the leader’s line of sight.

Bu Liu clasped his fists: “My thanks.”

The leader, completely unaware, smiled broadly and raised his hand: “General, you’ve worked hard.”

General Bu wasn’t working hard—he was on edge.

Before coming, Third Master had repeatedly instructed him to protect Miss Yan’s safety. So from the moment he dismounted, he’d been observing in all directions, listening in all eight, constantly alert to movements around them, terrified of any mishap.

Bu Liu wiped the hot sweat from his forehead, thinking to himself that going to battle wasn’t this exhausting.

…

The study was brightly lit, with faint sounds of a man and woman’s panting drifting from within.

Seeing the visitors, the prince’s residence steward hurried over to knock on the door.

A low male curse came from inside, then silence.

After a moment, a disheveled woman ran out, face flushed.

The steward waited until the woman’s figure disappeared before approaching Zhao Yishi with an ingratiating smile. “Your Highness has arrived. Please enter.”

Zhao Yishi looked at the steward expressionlessly. “Go outside the courtyard. Without my order, you’re not permitted to step into the courtyard.”

The steward was stunned.

“General Bu has received an imperial decree to question your master about military matters. Not a single word can be overheard. What?”

Zhao Yishi sneered: “Do you wish to defy the decree?”

“This old servant wouldn’t dare.”

The steward shrank in fright and quickly ran outside the courtyard.

Shen Chong also went out, closing the courtyard gate behind him before standing with his sword at the entrance.

Only then did Zhao Yishi lower his voice, saying to Yan Sanhe: “Miss Yan, watch for my signals in a moment.”

“Understood!”