(Half a month later)

“…The attack was the Second Prince’s reckless action. It wasn’t directed against Great Xia but was done to compete with the Third Prince.”

“The Third Prince gained the King’s favor by capturing Shipo City. The Crown Prince is already gone, and the King, suffering both physically and mentally, has decided to pass the throne to the Third Prince.”

“The Second Prince was unwilling to accept this and wanted to accomplish something significant to win the King’s favor.”

“The King has already beheaded the Second Prince as an apology to General Zhong and is willing to add one thousand fine horses to the treaty…”

Zhu Yong read to this point, closed the booklet in his hand, and looked at Zhong Changrong lying in bed.

“The Imperial Censors have accepted the Western Liang King’s apology, so they won’t initiate another expedition. General Zhong, can you accept this?”

Without waiting for Zhong Changrong to speak, he first stated his position.

“If General Zhong disagrees, I will persuade them.”

He emphasized the word “persuade.”

Lying in bed, Zhong Changrong revealed a slight smile. He understood Zhu Yong’s meaning. Although court officials were responsible for the ceasefire and peace negotiations with Western Liang, the final decision rested with Zhong Changrong.

This was the Empress’s will.

“Thank you, Lord Zhu,” Zhong Changrong said, glancing at a head displayed on a nearby table—the head of Western Liang’s Second Prince. “This matter can end here.”

Zhu Yong asked again: “General Zhong shouldn’t have any misgivings.”

Zhong Changrong shook his head: “I don’t. Stopping the war here is correct. We’ve already obtained what we wanted. If we continue fighting, it would be revenge against Western Liang and also a disaster for Great Xia.”

Zhu Yong confirmed his intention and nodded: “I understand. I’ll go finalize this with the officials right away.”

Zhong Changrong said, “Please wait.” Then he raised his voice to call Xiaoshan.

Someone kicked their way in from outside.

“Xiaoshan, give Lord Zhu the investigation on Yu Shang.”

Hearing the order, Xiaoshan quickly pulled out a booklet from his robes.

Zhu Yong accepted it.

“We encountered a merchant in Western Liang territory who claimed to be from Great Xia. When we tried to capture him, he suddenly committed suicide,” Zhong Changrong said. “After investigation, we found this merchant’s surname was Yu, born in Yunzhong Commandery with family in the capital. For over a decade, he had been conducting business between the capital and Yunzhong Commandery.”

Zhu Yong looked at the records and portrait in the booklet, which depicted a very common, ordinary small merchant. He was puzzled but didn’t speak, just looking at Zhong Changrong, waiting for him to continue.

Zhong Changrong fell silent, then, after a pause, said: “Actually, I don’t know what to say. It’s just a guess. Great Xia merchants indeed do business with Western Liang people, and some merchants infiltrate Western Liang territory, but that’s during peacetime. At this time, a Great Xia merchant appeared in Western Liang territory and committed suicide when about to be captured by Great Xia people—I think there’s something wrong, and I’m worried—”

He looked at Zhu Yong.

“This problem is in the capital.”

Zhu Yong looked thoughtful, examining Yu Shang’s portrait again.

“Also,” Zhong Changrong continued, “although the Western Liang King said the Second Prince’s attack on me was an accident, that the Second Prince didn’t know it was me and just happened to encounter me, I still feel there’s something wrong with this attack.”

Zhu Yong looked up at him: “General Zhong believes this incident was a plot targeting you?”

Zhong Changrong smiled: “I’ve been drifting in and out of consciousness for half a month and have been thinking too much. I’ve also been thinking about Shipo City.”

Zhu Yong frowned: “General mean there was also something wrong with Shipo City’s capture?”

Zhong Changrong shook his head, then nodded: “I know even the tightest defense can have loopholes. We’ve investigated Shipo City’s surprise capture and found no problems, but perhaps the absence of problems is itself a problem.”

At this point, he gave a bitter smile.

“But all I can say is what I feel. I have no evidence.”

Zhu Yong smiled, put away the booklet, and said: “General doesn’t need to provide evidence. Our Imperial Guard must address issues raised by Her Majesty the Empress. We’ll handle everything else. Rest assured, General, I’ll immediately transmit this to the Imperial Guard in the capital for secret investigation.”

Zhong Changrong sighed with relief: “I’ve always been worried about the Empress. The General is gone, and she doesn’t have a strong family behind her. Now I’m reassured she’s not alone.”

Zhu Yong smiled: “General worries too much. The Empress is the nation’s sovereign; she has never been alone.” Seeing Zhong Changrong’s weak countenance, he said no more, bowed, and took his leave. “General, please rest well.”

Zhong Changrong nodded, watching Zhu Yong leave.

“General, would you like some water?” Xiaoshan asked.

Zhong Changrong snorted: “It’s rare that I get to enjoy Battalion Commander Xiaoshan’s service.”

Xiaoshan picked up a teapot and poured water, saying: “It’s hardly service, just pouring a bowl of water.”

He brought the water over, sat on the bedside, helped Zhong Changrong sit up, and gave him the water. Looking at Zhong Changrong’s pale face, he sighed softly.

This kid cares about me, Zhong Changrong thought with amazement.

“I wonder how the young master is doing now. When he left, his face was even paler than yours, General,” Xiaoshan said sadly.

Zhong Changrong resisted the urge to spit water in Xiaoshan’s face, swallowed, and said: “Don’t worry, there’s someone who can take better care of him than you.”

As he said this, Zhong Changrong didn’t feel satisfied; instead, he froze and became angrier.

That brat wouldn’t let Zhao take care of him, would he!

As they were both lost in thought, the window creaked, and someone climbed in—

Xiaoshan jumped up, splashing water on Zhong Changrong’s face: “Who goes there!”

Then he saw a woman by the window.

As Zhong Changrong’s confidant, Xiaoshan naturally knew Mu Mian Hong’s identity. He withdrew his attack but remained vigilant.

Zhong Changrong closed his eyes briefly: “Get out.”

Xiaoshan shouted: “Did you hear that? The General wants you to, um, leave.”

Although he knew Zhong Changrong’s attitude toward this woman was poor, considering that she had raided the Western Liang court and resolved Xie Yanlai’s crisis—she was the young master’s lifesaver—Xiaoshan didn’t want to speak harshly to her.

Zhong Changrong opened his eyes to look at Xiaoshan: “I’m telling you to get out.”

Xiaoshan flicked his sleeve: “General, you’re not as considerate as the young master. Don’t ask me to serve you next time.” With that, he stomped out.

Zhong Changrong sighed: “I can’t bear your service either.”

Mu Mian Hong walked over with a smile, looking at the tea water remaining on Zhong Changrong’s face, and asked with concern: “Do you need me to wipe your face?”

Zhong Changrong said coldly: “No.”

But he didn’t wipe it himself. His left arm was bound with bandages, layer upon layer, stiff and immovable. His right arm… was empty.

In the final moments of that ambush, reinforcements had arrived to defeat the Western Liang soldiers. Zhong Changrong had escaped death but lost his right arm.

Mu Mian Hong looked at his right arm and said: “I came to remind you to tell Zhao about this.”

Zhong Changrong’s first instinct was to refuse, not wanting to make Zhao sad or worried—

“So she knows your condition,” Mu Mian Hong continued, “and can decide whether to replace you, to prevent a crisis in the border army.”

Zhong Changrong stiffened, taking a deep breath. Yes, that was the most important thing. He was now crippled, and there might be problems in the border army, problems that extended to the capital.

“Very well,” he said. “Tell her immediately, including all the details of the ambush.”

He looked at Mu Mian Hong.

“You haven’t told her already? I thought you would have informed her the moment I was injured.”

Mu Mian Hong smiled: “I didn’t want to worry her. Besides, there’s nothing to worry about. Even if you had died, I’m still here.”

Zhong Changrong opened his mouth to say something but swallowed it back.

Mu Mian Hong, having delivered her reminder, turned and left through the window. The room returned to silence, but Zhong Changrong still couldn’t sleep because noisy sounds came from outside—many people moving about, mixed with shouts.

“Battalion Commander Liang—”

“Battalion Commander Liang, you’re back—”

One voice after another, as if many people were calling this name.

In the current border army, Xie Yanlai was a legend, and Liang Qian could be considered the second. Although he hadn’t achieved the astounding feat of capturing the Western Liang King alive, in just two short years, he had risen from forced labor to becoming a guerrilla general with brilliant military achievements. There had been a mistake leading to punishment and demotion, but this only added to his legendary status.

After saving Zhong Changrong this time, Liang Qian’s reputation in the border army had grown even stronger.

Liang Qian entered the room and bowed to Zhong Changrong in bed: “General, I’ve personally verified that the Western Liang court has relocated.”

He wore military robes wrapped in a cloak, looking normal, but Zhong Changrong knew that when this young officer had charged into the battlefield alone on horseback, after the fierce fighting, he had been covered in wounds and carried back.

Zhong Changrong said: “I haven’t yet thanked Battalion Commander Liang for saving my life.”

Liang Qian bowed again: “I don’t deserve such thanks. Killing enemies is my duty.”

The room fell silent again. Liang Qian could feel the gaze of the general lying in bed lingering on him. That gaze held no gratitude but rather cold scrutiny.

“How coincidental,” Zhong Changrong’s voice sounded again. “How is it that Battalion Commander Liang saved me?”

People had asked this question before, but immediately received an explanation: Liang Qian had been constantly begging Zhong Changrong to let him kill Deng Yi to atone for his crimes with meritorious service. Zhong Changrong had always refused, but Liang Qian had persisted, following Zhong Changrong at all times. That’s why he had so coincidentally discovered Zhong Changrong being ambushed and promptly raised the alarm to summon reinforcements.

This explanation didn’t need to come from Liang Qian; everyone knew it.

Liang Qian raised his head, his face calm as he looked at Zhong Changrong, and said something not everyone knew.

“Because someone wanted you dead,” he said. “But I didn’t agree.”