Since this was something Prince Jing’s Heir wanted done, Cheng Maoming had nothing to hesitate about. After all, Prince Jing’s Heir had only ever brought him benefits and had never deceived him.

After saying goodbye to Lin Hao, Cheng Maoming went directly to where Master Hu was being held.

Unlike those suspects who entered the Jinlin Guard’s prison and suffered fates worse than death, the place where Master Hu stayed was similar to an ordinary guest room—just without any sharp objects that could be used for self-harm, and escape was impossible.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Master Hu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, looked over.

Cheng Maoming strode in with a smile on his face: “How has Master Hu been lately?”

“I won’t die.” Though he said this, Master Hu felt several measures of anticipation in his heart.

When a person has been confined for a long time, even the most detestable person appearing before them can seem somewhat pleasant to the eye.

“If Master Hu’s health is good, then I’m relieved.” Cheng Maoming laughed heartily.

Master Hu’s expression was indifferent: “Has the Grand Commander come to release this humble person?”

“Hehe, Master Hu jests. Releasing you isn’t something Cheng can decide.” Cheng Maoming didn’t beat around the bush and unfolded the portrait before Master Hu. “Master Hu, take a look—can you create a mask based on this portrait?”

Master Hu casually glanced at it and raised his eyebrows with a half-smile: “So the Grand Commander only visits the temple when there’s business.”

Cheng Maoming gave a dry laugh: “This is because Master Hu has great talent.”

When it came to thick skin, he hadn’t gotten to this position by being inferior to anyone.

“With only a portrait, this humble person doesn’t have that capability.”

Of course Cheng Maoming wouldn’t give up because of a single refusal—this was clearly angling for benefits.

“Ahem, I notice Master Hu’s complexion isn’t very good. It’s probably because you’ve been cooped up in this room too long. In the future, go out more often to walk and get some sun—perhaps you’ll feel more spirited.”

Though Master Hu wanted to put on airs, he also understood his status as a prisoner, so he immediately knew when to stop: “This humble person looked more carefully—this portrait is indeed different from ordinary portraits. I can give it a try.”

“Then I entrust this to Master Hu.” Cheng Maoming bowed with clasped hands, giving Master Hu full face.

Five days later, Cheng Maoming came to Master Hu’s place again and obtained the mask along with a small porcelain bottle.

“Drop three drops of the medicinal liquid into hot water, soak the mask until soft, press it closely against the face and put it on properly. Don’t touch it before it dries. In the future, if you want to remove the mask, drop three drops of the medicinal liquid in hot water, immerse the face and apply it…” Master Hu explained the usage method.

Cheng Maoming’s expression was somewhat strange: “When we removed Master Hu’s mask back then, it didn’t seem this troublesome.”

After a moment of silence, Master Hu’s expression twisted as he asked angrily: “Do you know how much it hurt!”

He had been unconscious and felt nothing, but after waking, his face had hurt for a very long time!

Cheng Maoming gave an awkward smile and quickly left.

Lin Hao waited anxiously for a reply, finally waiting for Cheng Maoming’s invitation to meet.

The two met at the same teahouse as before.

The teahouse was right near the Jinlin Guard office and could be said to be controlled by the Jinlin Guard, so they didn’t fear anything leaking out.

“This is the mask the Heir wanted.” Cheng Maoming passed over the box containing the mask.

Lin Hao opened it to inspect, only then feeling relieved. She sighed: “Master Hu’s skills truly are miraculous.”

“If the Heir needs it urgently, it would be best to send it by urgent courier through the postal relay system.”

The postal relay system had different levels of urgency for transmitting information. Transmitting especially urgent messages could achieve traveling several hundred li per day. There was a poem that said: One relay station after another, the relay riders like shooting stars.

The official postal relay handled official business transmission. The letter Lin Hao had received had been brought back along with military reports from the north.

“The Grand Commander is right.”

Seeing Lin Hao say this, Cheng Maoming offered proactively: “If Second Miss Lin is willing, leave it to me to handle.”

The postal relay was managed by the Bureau of Operations under the Ministry of War. With Cheng Maoming’s status, it was just a matter of giving word.

“Then thank you, Grand Commander.”

If the General’s Mansion or Prince Jing’s Mansion came forward, they could naturally also send the letter, but urgent handling couldn’t be done for private matters.

“Does Second Miss Lin have a letter to send along with it?”

“I do.” Lin Hao wasn’t polite either, withdrawing a thick letter from her sleeve.

The letter had been written long ago and was only thicker, not thinner, than Qi Shuo’s incoming letter.

Cheng Maoming took the letter, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

He was truly fed up with these two people!

The courier soldier departed from the capital carrying the box containing the mask and the letter. One leg after another, in several days the items were delivered into Qi Shuo’s hands.

By this time it was already February. In the capital, vegetation was already showing green, but the northern territories were still wrapped in silver, with heavy snow falling.

Qi Shuo rubbed his somewhat stiff fingertips and carefully opened the letter, reading it over and over.

Prince Jing, carrying a body full of cold air, walked in from outside. Seeing the upturned corners of his son’s mouth, he couldn’t help but smile: “The Lin family girl sent you a letter?”

“Yes.” Before Prince Jing could walk over, Qi Shuo had already put the letter away and tucked it into his chest.

Prince Jing silently rolled his eyes, then thought of something: “Wasn’t this letter sent with the last batch?”

“It was marked for urgent mounted courier.”

Hearing this, Prince Jing’s face darkened: “Nonsense!”

At such a critical time, how could a family letter use urgent delivery? If taken seriously, it was a matter of losing one’s head.

“It’s official business.”

Prince Jing sat down heavily and gulped a mouthful of hot tea to dispel the cold: “What official business?”

Qi Shuo placed one hand on the box containing the mask, then revealed the plan he had been calculating for many days.

Prince Jing’s bottom had barely warmed the seat when he sprang up again, pointing at Qi Shuo with a darkened face: “Are you throwing away your life? You actually want to infiltrate the enemy camp as Wuye’s nephew!”

Wuye was the general leading troops against the Zhou army, also the younger brother of the King of Qi. This man was in his prime and extremely capable. His nephew was named Eli. Though only in his twenties, he was quite fierce and cruel in combat, and had already gained a fearsome reputation on the Great Zhou side.

Facing Prince Jing’s alarm, Qi Shuo remained very calm: “These past days, your son has made inquiries and observations from many sources. Eli is someone who doesn’t talk much. Impersonating him won’t be easily exposed, and with his status, approaching Wuye is very convenient. He’s the most suitable candidate.”

Prince Jing was not persuaded: “Not easily exposed? Shuo’er, it’s not like you don’t know—though these Qi people share a common language with us, their nobility has their own language. Even if that Eli speaks little, he’s not mute. Won’t you be exposed as soon as you open your mouth!”

“That Qi language… your son can speak it.”

“I was just saying—” Prince Jing suddenly reacted, his voice changing pitch. “You can speak it?”

“Yes, I learned it in the past when I was idle and bored.”

Though Prince Jing was surprised, knowing his eldest son had been intelligent since childhood, he accepted it: “Even if you can speak it, the accent is different.”

“After hearing Eli’s voice, your son has been continuously practicing imitation. Now I can achieve eighty percent similarity. Using the excuse of catching a chill, I should be able to cover it.”

“You’ve certainly considered things thoroughly, but that Eli is perfectly well in the Qi army—how do you impersonate him?”

“Your son has a plan…”

Prince Jing silently listened, his expression constantly changing.

“Father, with Great Zhou facing three enemies at once and having deployed heavy troops to the north, even so, we can only barely resist. Once this war drags on and provisions can’t keep up, we’ll have no hope…”

Prince Jing gritted his teeth and finally nodded.