In the chilly spring air, a woman in thin clothing was tied to a tree in the back courtyard, her pretty face pale blue from the cold, her head hanging weakly.

When Xie Queshan passed by, his footsteps paused almost imperceptibly, then he walked indifferently toward the main hall.

The tea Wanyan Jun had brewed had grown somewhat cold, with half a wisp of steam circling the cup’s rim. He was lost in thought about something, and only looked up when he heard footsteps, gesturing for Xie Queshan to take a seat.

Someone who usually kept his emotions hidden now appeared troubled.

“It seems Master Wanyan’s information is quite fast too.” Xie Queshan got straight to the point, tilting his chin toward the courtyard.

Wanyan Jun was startled: “You know about it too?”

Xie Queshan hissed, feigning surprise: “I learned of it from Boss Zhang…”

Seeing Wanyan Jun’s brows gradually furrow, Xie Queshan speculated: “Could it be that Boss Zhang sold this piece of information to quite a few people?”

This light touch of guidance struck right at Wanyan Jun’s most sensitive spot.

Xu Kouyue was someone close to him, someone he had insisted on bringing despite opposition. If she had hidden something so important and brought it to Li Du Mansion, he would also bear responsibility. Now with Gusha eyeing him hungrily from behind, he naturally wanted to find and destroy the succession edict before everyone knew about it, which would keep things peaceful.

But he hadn’t expected Zhang Yuehui to sell the same information to several people! Once the matter escalated, Wanyan Jun would become very troubled.

Whether it existed or not would be easy to handle, but this was something that supposedly existed in rumors yet couldn’t actually be found – this made things delicate.

“That profiteer!” Wanyan Jun was angry.

Xie Queshan hypocritically agreed: “He dares earn any kind of money, not afraid he won’t live to spend it.”

If Zhang Yuehui had been present, he probably would have been furious enough to jump up and splash a cup of hot tea directly onto Xie Queshan’s hypocritical face.

But when talking behind someone’s back, how could the person in question be allowed to hear?

Far away in Huachao Pavilion, Zhang Yuehui sneezed, not yet realizing that Xie Queshan had effortlessly stepped on him.

“Since Zhang Yuehui has already sold you this information, what’s your view on this matter?”

Xie Queshan declared his position: “Master Wanyan, I naturally stand with you, putting the court’s interests first in all matters. I came here today to ask if there’s anything I can help with.”

Because of Han Xianwang, Wanyan Jun didn’t harbor the same hostility toward Xie Queshan as he did toward Gusha. They could be considered part of the same faction. Though he hadn’t trusted him before, after several confrontations, he couldn’t find fault with Xie Queshan, who had even helped him considerably. Since Xie Queshan had come to pledge loyalty immediately upon receiving the news, it could be considered genuine for now. Wanyan Jun urgently needed an ally at this moment.

“Do you think Zhang Yuehui might have also told Gusha about this?”

The conflict between Wanyan Jun and Gusha had become increasingly sharp since the Yucheng Army incident. They belonged to different factions within the Great Qi Royal Court. While the Great Qi King employed new nobles who had achieved military merit to campaign north and south, he also relied on old nobles to stabilize the inner court and economy. As territories expanded, the struggle between these two factions intensified.

After pondering for a moment, Xie Queshan said: “With General Gusha’s explosive temper, if he had heard about it, wouldn’t he immediately come knocking to search… I’m afraid he doesn’t know yet.”

Wanyan Jun thought this made sense, but felt something was wrong.

“If Zhang Yuehui could sell this information to you, he couldn’t possibly not take Gusha’s money…”

But why hadn’t Gusha come to provoke him? He was riding high lately – this was clearly an excellent opportunity.

“Speaking of General Gusha, I’ve discovered something else I wanted to discuss with Master Wanyan.”

“Please speak.”

Xie Queshan pulled a torn piece of silk cloth from his robes and handed it to Wanyan Jun.

Looking closely, Wanyan Jun saw the cloth was embroidered with black crow patterns. His expression changed: “Black Crow Camp?”

He finally understood why Gusha had been able to make such big moves lately. The court had actually bypassed him and secretly transferred Black Crow Camp directly to Gusha!

This small piece of silk cloth made Wanyan Jun break out in a cold sweat. With this sharp sword, Gusha would surely seek to replace him and send him rolling back to Great Qi.

“General Gusha has also been investigating the Yucheng Army matter lately… After all, it was your explosives that caused his subordinates’ deaths. He probably won’t let it go and insists on using this to find fault with you…”

Wanyan Jun forced a smile: “Gusha is really interesting. We’re all colleagues, yet instead of going after Prince Ling’an, he targets me. He really doesn’t understand the bigger picture.”

“My lord, you and I both see the situation clearly. I just fear General Gusha can’t think straight and points his blade at our own people…”

Each of Xie Queshan’s sentences subtly directed suspicion toward Gusha.

With Wanyan Jun’s suspicious nature, he now had a terrible conjecture in his mind.

Could it be that the succession edict matter was completely fabricated – a trap set by Gusha and Zhang Yuehui working together to frame him? Last time he had pressured Zhang Yuehui, he had already secretly offended that profiteer. Gusha was already at odds with him, so these two had joined forces – using Black Crow Camp to investigate that night’s Yucheng Army incident on one hand, while using Xu Kouyue and the succession edict to create turmoil in his backyard and divert his attention on the other.

The more Wanyan Jun thought about it, the more possible it seemed. He absent-mindedly saw off Xie Queshan and strode to stand before Xu Kouyue.

He was being driven mad by this elusive possibility. He had to hear the truth from this woman’s mouth to make a judgment.

Xu Kouyue had been tied up for a day and was already barely alive.

After Wanyan Jun brought her back from the laundry quarters where female captives were held, though he monitored and restrained her, he hadn’t really laid hands on her.

This time he was truly enraged.

He grabbed her neck and forced her to raise her head. Her head hit the tree trunk, and the cold air tinged with floral fragrance rushed into her nose, instantly clearing her mind.

“The succession edict – does it exist or not?!”

Tears streamed down her pale face. Her will was nearly broken, and only one word squeezed from her throat: “Hurts…”

Wanyan Jun’s grip unconsciously loosened.

“Please… don’t torture me with such absurd reasons… please… kill me…”

This was the first time she had so earnestly begged him.

In the past she had been submissive, and though imprisoned, she maintained some dignity – her knees knelt but her heart never did.

But this time she actually spoke to beg him. Wanyan Jun felt his heart torn open.

Extreme anger and fear burned in his heart, but now it was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head – the flames suddenly extinguished. He hadn’t recovered yet and didn’t even know what he was doing. When he came to his senses, he had already untied Xu Kouyue’s ropes.

He knew he was taking a risk, but she had begged him! Wasn’t this the darkest desire he had always hidden in his heart all these years?

Even Xu Kouyue had forgotten this.

His heart had softened. Perhaps Xu Kouyue hadn’t lied to him – there was no succession edict. Though she was a captive, he had treated her well, and she only knew to cry when trouble came. This type of woman would submit after just a little suffering.

But these were only speculations – how could he dare trust Xu Kouyue! This woman had never felt anything for him. All her obedience was fake.

His heart struggled repeatedly. Though the ropes were loose, he still gripped Xu Kouyue’s shoulders tightly: “Don’t lie to me.”

He was clearly the absolute master of this power game, yet his tone faintly sounded like pleading.

The human heart was the most complex game in this world.

If you wanted to tower above everyone, you couldn’t feel emotion. If you felt emotion, don’t expect to remain invincible.

“I dare not lie to you.” Xu Kouyue was still sobbing.

“If you lie to me, I’ll have people torture your mother and your sister. Even if you die, I’ll have soldiers defile your corpse and throw you to the wilderness to feed dogs. You won’t find peace even as a ghost!”

“Fine,” Xu Kouyue looked at him hollowly and answered, “If I lie to you, we’ll go to hell together.”

Wanyan Jun released his grip and staggered back several steps.

He waved his hand, having the female servants attend to Xu Kouyue and return her to her room.

He temporarily spared her. He very much hoped Xu Kouyue hadn’t lied to him, but this matter was of great importance – he didn’t dare take risks. His surveillance and confinement of Xu Kouyue became even stricter. If there really was a succession edict, someone would definitely come to make contact. Wanyan Jun couldn’t completely abandon this possibility.

The plan to rescue Xu Kouyue was still being plotted when Nanyi suddenly received a temporary assignment.

There was a secret letter to be delivered to Bingzhu Division’s most mysterious spy, “Wild Goose.”

Because of Black Crow Camp’s overwhelming momentum, most of Bingzhu Division’s spies were in hiding, and Nanyi was a new face who wouldn’t arouse suspicion, so the message delivery fell to her.

This codename struck a chord in Nanyi’s heart. She had once assumed the identity of “Wild Goose” in front of Xie Xiaoliu, giving herself a safe situation, and because of taking that step, she had accidentally truly entered Bingzhu Division. She felt somewhat grateful to this person, yet also anxious, fearing exposure. She was even more curious about who “Wild Goose” actually was – someone who had seamlessly planned Prince Ling’an’s entry into the city and now lurked quietly in the shadows.

This string had been silent for so long it was nearly forgotten, when someone suddenly plucked it, causing quite an upheaval in her heart.

The Earth God shrine.

The Earth God statue that Gusha had once split in two had already been glued back together by nearby residents with clay. To hide the crack, they had wrapped vines around the statue, giving it a strange sense of vitality.

The incense burner had also been replaced with a new one, with scattered incense sticks inserted. It was strange to think that in chaotic times, the gods couldn’t even protect their own statues, let alone protect mortals. Yet every stick of incense burned represented the genuine helplessness and hope of those seeking divine aid.

Nanyi hid the secret letter’s bamboo tube in the incense ash. By rights she should leave immediately, but she couldn’t help pacing around a nearby street corner, wanting to see who would come for the rendezvous.

Nanyi nervously watched the people coming and going on the street – all unfamiliar faces.

As for who Wild Goose was, she had a vague suspicion deep in her heart… but that suspicion was too bold and absurd, and she denied it herself every time it surfaced.

Who would come?