Old Fang nodded, his tone certain: “In this way, Western Liang could inform all nations that our Jin’s appetite was too great. When the two countries couldn’t reach an agreement during negotiations, we sent death warriors to kill their Western Liang negotiating envoy, Prince Yan, in retaliation. This would give Western Liang an excuse to seek aid from various countries and come to conquer our Jin again!”

“What Old Fang says is not without possibility…” Zhang Duanrui nodded.

“But since the peace treaty has now been signed, what is Western Liang’s purpose in causing this commotion? It can’t be pinned on us, Jin, the accusation that after signing the peace treaty, we felt we didn’t get enough advantage and got angry enough to assassinate that Prince Yan, right?” Zhen Zeping couldn’t understand. “Our Jin is the victorious nation. If we felt the treaty was unsuitable, we could just continue fighting. Who would believe that a victorious nation would need to resort to such convoluted schemes!”

“Then it should be that they plan to use his injury as an excuse to settle this matter!” Old Fang spoke slowly.

While several people discussed heatedly outside the Crown Prince’s main tent, Bai Qingyan and the generals of the Bai Family Army all understood what was really happening, and all pressed their lips together in silence.

As Qin Shangzhi, Old Fang, and General Zhang Duanrui continued their endless discussion, Bai Qingyan stood quietly to the side, carefully pondering Li Zhijie’s purpose in coming.

She thought… Li Zhijie must not dare tell the Crown Prince that the reason the Huying Battalion and those death warriors went to Qiushan Pass was to rescue Bai Qingyun from his grasp.

Even if Li Zhijie spoke of this matter today, it would be too late. During yesterday’s negotiations, he hadn’t explicitly stated that a member of the Bai family was in his hands, but only mentioned this matter today. With the Crown Prince’s suspicious nature, what would he think?! Naturally, he would assume that Western Liang was trying to clear itself of any connection with those Jin-dressed death warriors while simultaneously sowing discord in Jin’s ruler-minister relations.

“It’s meaningless for us to speculate here. We should accompany the Crown Prince to meet the Western Liang Prince Yan and see exactly what performance he’s putting on!” Zhang Duanrui clenched his fists at his sides.

“General Zhang is right. Guessing here serves no purpose. Since the Western Liang Prince Yan has already arrived at our camp entrance, we’ll know his intentions once we meet him. Why waste time guessing here!”

The Crown Prince, properly dressed and wearing a cloak, emerged from his main tent. Everyone hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“No need for empty courtesies. Let’s first go see what this Western Liang Prince Yan actually wants to do!”

The Crown Prince frowned and led the way toward the camp entrance. This stance showed he had no intention of inviting Western Liang Prince Yan Li Zhijie inside.

Bai Qingyan followed behind the Crown Prince, her eyes half-lowered as she walked with him toward the main camp entrance.

At this moment, the Crown Prince had completely lost any favorable impression of Li Zhijie. What defeated nation’s envoy dared to cause so much trouble during negotiations? Not letting one sleep peacefully, even for a moment.

The gates of the Jin army camp slowly opened. Li Zhijie, wearing a black cloak, raised his eyes and was supported by Lu Tianzhuo as he walked to the front of the camp. Before the Crown Prince even emerged, he was already bowing respectfully, positioning himself extremely humbly.

Li Zhijie’s attitude reduced the Crown Prince’s anger somewhat. The Crown Prince tightened his hands clasped behind his back and frowned: “Prince Yan comes to my Jin army camp covered in blood—what do you intend?”

Li Zhijie, supported by Lu Tianzhuo, straightened up but didn’t answer the Crown Prince’s question. His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan, hiding the clarity in his eyes behind the dark pupils of his peach blossom eyes, putting on an appearance of anger.

“General Bai, what deep hatred or grudge does this prince have with General Bai that requires General Bai, after the peace treaty between our two nations was signed… to bring the Huying Battalion warriors who strike fear into all nations, along with these death warrior experts, to assassinate this prince?”

Li Zhijie pointed at the corpses on the carriage, cutting straight to the point, thinking he would catch Bai Qingyan off guard.

Cheng Yuanzhi’s heart jumped to his throat, his teeth clenched as he gripped the sword at his waist.

On the contrary, Bai Qingyan herself felt her heart suddenly settle upon hearing Li Zhijie say this.

She chuckled softly: “So… Prince Yan created such a grand spectacle because you’re targeting me.”

The Crown Prince’s cold, stern eyes narrowed as his gaze swept over the bodies of the Huying Battalion warriors and those Jin-dressed death warriors, then turned to meet Bai Qingyan’s frank, smiling eyes.

She smiled lightly and nodded to the Crown Prince, seemingly signaling him not to get angry but to first listen to what Li Zhijie had to say.

The Crown Prince lightly rubbed his hands clasped behind his back, feeling he had vaguely guessed what Li Zhijie wanted to do. He withdrew his gaze: “Prince Yan means that General Bai brought the Huying Battalion elite soldiers… and these Jin-dressed death warriors to assassinate you?”

Seeing the interaction between Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince, Li Zhijie felt uncertain but could only bite the bullet: “Perhaps someone was unwilling to see the two nations sign a treaty, fearing that after both sides ceased hostilities, their military command would be revoked and they would lose military power. That’s why they brought Jin’s Huying Battalion elite soldiers and these death warriors to stage an unsuccessful assassination attempt against this prince! Otherwise, with General Bai’s Sun-Shooting Bow in hand, how could this prince have survived under General Bai’s hands? Isn’t that right… General Bai?”

Bai Qingyan only smiled without speaking. Li Zhijie implied that she feared losing military power and was unwilling to cease fighting, so she deliberately brought the Huying Battalion to stage this failed assassination.

It seemed Li Zhijie’s purpose was to sow discord between her and the Crown Prince’s ruler-minister relationship, making the Crown Prince think she disregarded Jin’s interests to maintain control of military power, even harboring disloyal intentions, wanting to harm Jin while strengthening the Bai Family Army through conquest.

But coincidentally, before she led the Huying Battalion to Qiushan Pass, to demonstrate complete submission to the Crown Prince, she had promptly returned her military command without delay. Unexpectedly, Li Zhijie specifically brought up the military command.

This could probably be considered hitting the mark by accident, actually exposing Western Liang Prince Yan Li Zhijie’s intention to deliberately provoke the Crown Prince’s suspicion of Jin’s generals who had greatly defeated Western Liang, thereby causing Jin’s court to have the ruler suspect his ministers.

“Prince Yan’s words carry the intent to sow discord between our Jin’s ruler and ministers!” Zhang Duanrui fixed his burning gaze on Prince Yan and spoke coldly.

Now, whether it was the Crown Prince, or advisors like Old Fang and Qin Shangzhi, or generals like Zhang Duanrui, they all understood what Li Zhijie’s purpose was in bringing the bodies of the Huying Battalion and these death warriors to the Jin army camp.

Previously, Li Zhijie’s repeated attempts in the negotiation tent to postpone talks were plotting a false assassination to frame Jin for wanting to kill Western Liang’s negotiating envoy after failed negotiations, seeking aid from other countries to attack Jin.

Then now… after Western Liang Prince Yan’s treacherous scheme was exposed by Bai Qingyan, who had been ordered by the Crown Prince to take the Huying Battalion to scout Qiushan Pass, Li Zhijie was going with the flow. He took the initiative to come with injuries to demand an explanation, probably wanting to use this matter to sow discord in Jin’s ruler-minister relations.

Bai Qingyan was the greatest contributor to Jin’s victory over Western Liang in this campaign. Western Liang feared that Jin possessed such talented generals and commanders, so sowing discord was natural.

But human calculations cannot match Heaven’s plans. The Crown Prince’s heart was clearest… not only had Bai Qingyan promptly handed over her military command to him after the treaty was signed, but Bai Qingyan had also petitioned him… saying her health was poor and she couldn’t lead the Bai Family Army, so she entrusted the entire Bai Family Army to him, even making careful arrangements so he would have capable troops to use in the future.

How could such a person be the kind of despicable person Li Zhijie described… one who would harm their mother Kingdom’s interests to firmly grasp military power?