“When Western Liang’s army besieged Feng County, I was on the city walls helping bandage wounds for the Bai family army wounded. I… personally witnessed the Western Liang commander behead and disembowel the Bai family’s ten-year-old young general…”

Ji Langhua choked up and couldn’t continue speaking. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and continued: “I also personally heard the Swift and Brave General shout that the Bai family army would not retreat until the last man, swearing to fight to the death! From Commander Bai down to ordinary soldiers, the entire Bai family army died in battle protecting the people! A lowly person like me, whose life is like grass and weeds, also wants… to contribute some effort for all the generals and soldiers.”

Hearing the words “Feng County,” Bai Qingyan inevitably thought of Bai Qingming and Little Seventeen. Her heart ached unbearably, and her choked voice sounded like a sigh: “Feng County…”

“Yes! Feng County…” Ji Langhua’s throat was swollen with pain.

Bai Qingyan seemed able to see through Ji Langhua’s veil to the hideous knife scars on her face. Her sorrowful voice took on a hoarse quality: “If so, you must live well and not disappoint… the dead Bai family army!”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words that were identical to Bai Qingming’s, Ji Langhua tearfully agreed.

She finished bandaging Bai Qingyan’s wounds and carefully helped her put on the battle armor that still had bloodstains that hadn’t been wiped clean yet. She curtsied and saw Bai Qingyan off.

Shen Liangyu, who had already finished bandaging his wounds but hadn’t rested yet, was carrying a wine jar and was about to go to Bai Jinzhi’s tent when he saw Bai Qingyan emerge from the wounded soldiers’ treatment tent. He hurried forward a few steps: “Little Commander Bai!”

“Why haven’t you gone to rest yet?” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Shen Liangyu’s freshly bandaged wound.

“Thinking that Fourth Miss was injured today, I wanted to bring her this…” Shen Liangyu smiled and raised the wine jar in his hand.

Perhaps because he had rescued Bai Qingyun, Shen Liangyu was in good spirits and showed no signs of fatigue at all.

“Honey wine! I’ve had this before! I heard this is your family’s ancestral secret recipe! I’ll take it to Little Four. You go rest quickly!” Bai Qingyan reached out to take it.

“Yes!” Shen Liangyu nodded, then, looking at the bloodstains on Bai Qingyan’s armor, asked again: “Little Commander Bai was also injured? Is it serious?”

She shook her head: “It’s all Western Liang soldiers’ blood!”

Shen Liangyu breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, cupped his fists in farewell, and went back to rest. After fighting intensely all night, Shen Liangyu was indeed exhausted.

At this time, the Crown Prince was completely unable to sleep. He listened to Old Fang’s measured voice while pulling his cloak tighter around himself.

Regardless of what malicious intentions Western Liang harbors, this time the Tiger Eagle Battalion people infiltrated Qiushan Pass and discovered these fighters in Jin clothing, then fought a great battle. Western Liang’s Flame King must also be afraid in his heart. They will either pretend nothing happened or never mention this matter! Or they will take action, wanting to strike first!”

Qin Shangzhi looked up at Old Fang sitting under the lamp and nodded slightly in agreement.

Old Fang stroked his goatee with half-closed eyes: “As long as they take action… We’ll be able to know Western Liang’s intentions! This is why this old fool told Your Highness we should wait and see! If they don’t move, we don’t move either—we’ll all act as if this incident never happened! Otherwise, we’d have to first explain why we sent the Tiger Eagle Battalion into Qiushan Pass city, which would be detrimental to Jin’s reputation among the nations!”

Hearing Old Fang’s latter remarks, Qin Shangzhi’s eyes widened, and he nearly fell backward in anger again. Old Fang’s earlier words made sense, but what he said afterward… Qin Shangzhi absolutely could not agree with.

“Your Highness! This minister agrees with Old Fang’s earlier words, but regarding the Tiger Eagle Battalion’s mission to investigate Qiushan Pass city… it was mainly because the timing of these peace negotiations was arranged by Western Liang, yet Western Liang’s Flame King made all sorts of excuses and delays in the negotiation tent, wanting to postpone the negotiations to another day. How could our Jin not be on guard?! What if Western Liang had some scheme? Instead, what are they trying to do by hiding a group of fighters dressed in Jin clothing in Qiushan Pass? Our Jin is the victorious nation… Western Liang must give us an explanation!” Qin Shangzhi said angrily.

“Master Qin is young and impetuous! In the last battle at Weng Mountain, General Bai burned and killed 100,000 Western Liang prisoners of war. The nations already view our Jin as a brutal, wolf-like Kingdom! Now that the peace alliance treaty between our two nations is about to be signed, yet our Jin, while Western Liang has not yet transferred the cities to our Kingdom, relies on being the victorious nation to send troops to investigate Qiushan Pass at night. Does Jin still want its reputation?! What will the other nations think of our Jin?” Old Fang didn’t even look at Qin Shangzhi as he cupped his fists to the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, please think thrice!”

Seeing the Crown Prince nod, Qin Shangzhi felt a surge of anger stuck in his throat that nearly made him spit blood. He simply pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.

The Crown Prince extended his hand from his black cloak to warm it by the fire and said: “For now, let’s follow Old Fang’s advice and respond to movement with stillness! Master Qin and Master Ren should go rest first. I still have matters to discuss with Old Fang.”

Qin Shangzhi felt stifled in his heart. He stood up, cupped his hands perfunctorily, and turned to leave. Ren Shijie, however, respectfully saluted the Crown Prince and Old Fang before withdrawing from the tent.

Old Fang watched Qin Shangzhi’s angry departing figure with a cold snort, then turned to look at the Crown Prince with a gentle and respectful attitude: “Is Your Highness facing some difficulty?”

The Crown Prince shook his head and spread open the military talisman in his hand for Old Fang to see.

Old Fang looked slightly surprised: “The military talisman?!”

“When I returned earlier, I was truly too exhausted, so I didn’t summon Old Fang! This military talisman was voluntarily handed over to me by Bai Qingyan after the peace negotiations ended! She said the reason she hadn’t surrendered the military talisman before was because the peace alliance treaty hadn’t been signed yet, and she was worried about Western Liang’s fickleness! Now that the peace alliance treaty has been signed, she returns the military talisman! Not only that…” The Crown Prince looked at the flickering charcoal fire in the brazier, his tone carrying emotion. “Bai Qingyan also petitioned me to have the Bai family army garrison Tonggu Mountain, and to send the generals of the Bai family army—one to Zhongshan City and one to Bailong City—to guard the cities while training troops for me!”

Old Fang was slightly stunned. He thought about the locations of Tonggu Mountain, Bailong City, and Zhongshan City, his brows furrowing tightly: “Have the Bai family army generals guard cities while training troops for Your Highness? Meaning… she wants the Bai family army generals to lead Jin soldiers? Your Highness must be on guard!”

“Old Fang… you’re being overly cautious!” The Crown Prince smiled and said, “Bai Qingyan also said she wants me to assign my trusted generals to jointly garrison Bailong City and Zhongshan City with two Bai family army generals. The Bai family army generals would be responsible for training troops, while my trusted generals would command them! This way… in the future, Jin’s elite warriors will all be at my disposal! Wherever the sword points… they’ll charge forward one after another! After all, her health is poor, so she can only entrust the Bai family army to my hands.”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s expression, Old Fang knew the Crown Prince already trusted Bai Qingyan completely: “Your Highness, what about the Tiger Eagle Battalion? How did Bai Qingyan arrange the Tiger Eagle Battalion?”

The Crown Prince was startled and narrowed his eyes: “Bai Qingyan… didn’t mention that! But presumably, as long as I make arrangements, Bai Qingyan will not disobey!”

Thinking of Bai Qingyan’s respectful attitude toward him in the tent earlier, Old Fang stroked his goatee and nodded: “Your Highness is benevolent and virtuous. Even a brave general like Bai Qingyan submits to Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness… from now on, you control the Bai family army!”