Zhang Duanrui tightened his grip on the reins, spurred his horse, and led the troops in a grand procession into Feng County.

Just as they reached the tavern entrance, the person sent to monitor the tavern hurried over, cupping his fists in salute: “This subordinate was unable to reserve both adjacent private rooms. There are already people in the room west of General Bai’s private room. The servant in that room said their master doesn’t lack silver, so they refuse to take money and leave. This subordinate feared making too much commotion would alert General Bai, so they could only reserve one room.”

“Did anyone go to meet with General Bai?” Zhang Duanrui asked.

The man nodded: “Several people just went in.”

The Crown Prince’s face was gloomy, his teeth clenched, his hands behind his back balled into fists. He lifted his foot and stepped into the not-very-large tavern.

The waiter was about to come forward to greet them when he was pushed back by the murderous guards, nearly stumbling and falling. He could only timidly watch as the Crown Prince, surrounded by a group of guards, went upstairs.

The tavern workers and patrons all speculated about which noble this could be with such grand airs—probably even a first-rank court official couldn’t match this pomp.

“Young Master, this way please!” Zhang Duanrui made a gesture of invitation to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, however, stood at the doorway of the private room, glancing toward Bai Qingyan’s room, then raised his eyebrows at the person who had been following Bai Qingyan, as if asking whether Bai Qingyan was currently next door.

Seeing the man nod, the Crown Prince stepped into the private room and sat on the couch with his back to the adjacent room, his fists clenched tight.

Several people entered, closed the door, and in coordinated movements picked up the wide-mouthed teacups from the table, pressing them against the wall to listen to the movements next door.

This tavern’s soundproofing wasn’t very good. As long as this room was quiet enough, if the voices next door were slightly louder, they could be faintly heard even without eavesdropping in this manner.

The Crown Prince closed his eyes, holding his breath to listen to the conversation and movements across the way.

“How about setting the location at Yuqing Mountain? Although it’s a mountain road here, the terrain is open… Releasing it here would be easily discovered and easily captured. Even if the Crown Prince can’t manage it, the Jin army certainly won’t let it escape so easily, especially with our Eldest Miss’s archery skills that never miss their mark—it would just be a matter of one arrow!”

Faintly hearing the words “Crown Prince,” the Crown Prince couldn’t contain himself. He stood up, pushed aside a subordinate who was using a cup to listen against the wall, and personally leaned in to carefully hear what was being said across the way.

“Our purpose is to make it go find the Crown Prince in full view of everyone, submit to the Crown Prince, and let the Crown Prince personally capture it to present to His Majesty—not to kill it! If it dies… all our great efforts would be meaningless.”

The Crown Prince recognized that this seemed to be the voice of Bai Qingyan’s foster brother.

“Eldest Miss, are you not planning to tell the Crown Prince?”

“No need to tell the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince fears His Majesty deeply. Telling the Crown Prince… would instead ruin things.” Bai Qingyan’s voice paused, then added, “These few days, I trouble foster brother to take good care of it and make sure it knows who to find when the time comes.”

The Crown Prince frowned deeply. From these words, it seemed there was no intention to harm him, only to have him capture someone at Yuqing Mountain.

The Crown Prince was full of doubts. What person was she holding in her hands… that she would set up a scheme for him to capture?

Thinking of Bai Qingyan’s words, “the Crown Prince fears His Majesty deeply,” anger flared in the Crown Prince’s heart. What did she mean that telling him would ruin things? In Bai Qingyan’s mind, was he only fit to be a chess piece she could manipulate at will?

“Your Highness, should we go arrest them?” Zhang Duanrui asked in a low voice.

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on the cup, casually tossed it on the table, his temples throbbing. He suppressed his anger, thought for a moment, then spoke: “Don’t arrest them for now! I want to see exactly what she wants me to capture at Yuqing Mountain.”

Currently, among Great Jin’s generals capable of deterring enemy nations, only Bai Qingyan remained. Unless absolutely necessary, the Crown Prince indeed didn’t want to kill Bai Qingyan, especially since they had just signed a peace treaty with Xi Liang, and Jin hadn’t yet fully received the cities and lands Xi Liang had ceded… along with the compensation silver.

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and looked at Zhang Duanrui: “General Zhang, this matter must be kept secret by your men! Not a single word must be leaked to Bai Qingyan, otherwise… if Bai Qingyan truly harbors resentment against Great Jin because of the deaths of the Bai family men and is doing something to harm Great Jin, you, Zhang Duanrui… would be a sinner against Great Jin!”

Suddenly having such a large hat placed on his head, Zhang Duanrui quickly cupped his fists: “Yes!”

Just after speaking, there was suddenly a commotion outside the street-facing window.

Since the Crown Prince already knew Bai Qingyan’s purpose, he had no interest in staying here. He left the private room and went downstairs…

Before mounting his carriage, the Crown Prince glanced toward the source of the commotion.

“In battles between two armies, have you ever seen anyone execute surrendered prisoners? I think this Young Commander of the Bai family army is a demon reborn! Still protecting the people? After she kills all the Xi Liang people, she’ll come back to kill you!”

“Exactly! One hundred thousand Xi Liang soldiers! Although they were from an enemy nation, they had already surrendered! They also had wives, children, and parents. With one fire, Weng Mountain canyon burned for half a month without stopping, destroying how many families! This shows the Young Commander has no benevolent heart!”

“This… burning surrendered prisoners is indeed excessive!” Some civilians nodded along.

“You’re talking nonsense!”

The Crown Prince watched with his own eyes as the veiled female physician who had been following Bai Qingyan emerged from the crowd, stood on the steps, and shouted: “Fellow villagers, please don’t be incited by these few people! Every time those Xi Liang soldiers broke through our city gates, didn’t they slaughter our relatives and assault your wives and daughters? It was the Bai family army that repeatedly risked their lives to save us, allowing us to survive! Yet today, a few outsiders from who knows where say the Young Commander was cruel to burn surrendered soldiers, and you nod along, saying the Young Commander is bloodthirsty. Isn’t this ingratitude? Which of us Feng County people wasn’t saved by the Bai family army soldiers risking their lives? Others may criticize the Bai family army’s Young Commander, but we Feng County people absolutely cannot!”

The Crown Prince took a deep look at the female physician, gritted his teeth, and boarded his carriage.

Bai family army, Young Commander…

This great battle was led by him, yet the people only remembered the Bai family army’s Young Commander!

Did the Jin army not fight to the death?! The Bai family army died… did the Jin army not die?!

“The Young Commander led fifty thousand Jin troops against over one hundred thousand fierce Xi Liang soldiers. Not killing the surrendered soldiers… should we have waited for those prisoners to kill our Jin army elites, then come slaughter us defenseless Jin citizens?!” Ji Langhua’s eyes were red, her teeth clenched tight. “The Young Commander once lost all her martial arts protecting the people, yet when the Bai family men all died in battle, she still came to the frontier to protect the people! When I treated the Young Commander’s injuries, I never saw any general with more wounds than her! New ones, old ones… those are all marks of the Young Commander protecting the nation and people! If even the people she desperately protected were to criticize her, how heartbroken would she be?!”