Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi naturally knew Ma Cheng was right, and the two nodded in understanding.

“The Commander reporting to the Emperor is proper. Mobilizing troops is inherently complex. The Commander, with wholehearted devotion to the country, rushed here upon hearing of unrest—this shows pure loyalty. The Emperor will surely understand.”

“Indeed, the Commander’s righteousness reaches the clouds. This old fool truly admires it.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi took turns flattering Ma Cheng.

Ma Cheng was a red-faced man who waved his hands upon hearing this and laughed, “This is merely this subordinate’s duty.”

Though he had been rashly summoned and risked the charge of unauthorized troop deployment, he knew Pang Xiao’s character and sense of responsibility. This matter had its reasons, and he believed that once reported to the Emperor, the misunderstanding could be cleared up.

Therefore, Ma Cheng didn’t harbor too many emotions. He simply ordered his three thousand troops to set up camp nearby, while he followed Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi into the camp to rest temporarily. He could draft a memorial first and visit His Highness later.

Magistrate Cheng had been kneeling not far away, seeing everything clearly and hearing it all distinctly. Seeing that despite His Highness’s heavy losses, he still had his strategists explain everything clearly to the troops without any intention of taking anger out on the Danfu County people, he couldn’t help but be amazed.

Who would have thought that such a person, renowned for his威名 on the battlefield, would have such a benevolent side? Such a person truly commanded respect.

In the capital, at the imperial palace.

In the imperial study, Li Qitian wore tea-gold wide-sleeved regular robes, a purple-gold crown on his head, and a gold-jade belt around his waist. He paced with hands behind his back before a desk covered with bright yellow cloth. The thick, soft red carpet on the floor muffled his steps, so even though his stride was heavier due to anxiety and anger, it made no sound whatsoever.

Ji Zeyu wore a bright red arrow-sleeved brocade outer robe. His fair, handsome face was expressionless, his back straight as a spear. He gazed down at the embroidered patterns on the bright yellow table cloth, saying nothing.

“This Pang Zhixi—wherever he goes, he never intends to let me have peace! What was his purpose in privately deploying troops! That Ma Cheng must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard—without my word, he dared to go immediately! Could it be that the surname Pang intends to rebel!”

A dark expression flashed briefly in Ji Zeyu’s bright eyes before he perfectly concealed it, speaking soothingly, “Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Perhaps the matter is not as it seems.”

“Not as it seems?” Li Qitian’s nostrils flared as he took several rough breaths before saying through gritted teeth, “If he harbors no rebellious intent, why would I be like this? I also know that previously it was merely that the timing wasn’t ripe, so he made no moves. Now that such an incident has occurred, would you still have me remain unmoved? I never fight unprepared battles, Ji Lan.”

“Your subject is here.”

“If I truly commanded you to lead the Three Thousand Battalion, Five Military Camps, and Divine Engine Battalion to quell the rebellion, how confident would you be?”

Ji Zeyu replied expressionlessly, “Your Majesty, Prince Zhongshun has at most three thousand troops…”

“I can also mobilize the Huben Army and Longxiang Army to support you. I only ask—with superior numbers against inferior ones, facing Pang Zhixi, how confident are you!”

Li Qitian’s expression was too serious. Ji Zeyu knew he was truly serious this time. To comply or not comply, to agree or not agree—these choices spun countless times in Ji Zeyu’s heart. Emotion was one thing, reason another. For long-term considerations, he ultimately could not openly clash with Li Qitian.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, if it were anyone else, this subject could say that with elite troops in hand and superior numbers, this subject would be ninety-nine percent confident. But if the opponent is Prince Zhongshun, this subject only has fifty percent confidence. The outcome between Pang Zhixi and myself would be fifty-fifty.”

“You!” Li Qitian was both anxious and angry, involuntarily raising his voice. “Giving you several times his troop numbers, you still dare not say you’re fully confident?”

“Your Majesty, this subject cannot deceive the throne. On the battlefield, fighting many with few has always relied on strategy and tactics. Pang Zhixi commands troops like a god and excels at unconventional warfare—Your Majesty has long known this. This subject can guarantee victory against anyone else, but against Pang Zhixi, this subject truly lacks confidence.”

So Pang Xiao was indeed a troublesome opponent.

Hearing Ji Zeyu’s objective analysis, Li Qitian nearly shed tears of frustration.

As the Son of Heaven, he had given much for this realm and truly worried himself sick over it. But how many of his court officials could truly understand and empathize with him?

Pang Zhixi now had a good reputation, and among the people there were many unworthy rumors suggesting he, the Emperor, was like one who destroys the bow after the birds are shot, as if Pang Zhixi had suffered great injustice! With such high public opinion, how could he not worry?

Worse still, Pang Zhixi himself didn’t know to be more discreet. He had disappeared for several days at Wanfo Temple—who knew what he had done privately? Now he even privately mobilized Five Military Camp cavalry, and without even having the tiger tally, he could deploy troops with just a word!

For Li Qitian, this was truly more unbearable than being slapped in the face.

As a subject, Pang Xiao didn’t know to avoid suspicion—could he be blamed for worrying excessively?

Worse yet, that fellow was so skilled at commanding troops!

Ji Zeyu was also talented as a general, yet even he dared not guarantee victory against Pang Zhixi. Unable to win in direct confrontation, if he wanted to protect himself, he could only seek other methods.

Li Qitian clenched his teeth and said after a long while, “Perhaps this battle cannot be avoided. When the time comes to defend the dynasty, A-lan, I fear I must rely entirely on you.”

Ji Zeyu lowered his eyes, his handsome face showing no emotion.

Li Qitian was accustomed to Ji Zeyu’s quiet demeanor and said meaningfully, “Of us three brothers, who would have thought we’d come to this? But I’m now caught between a rock and a hard place. A-lan, you should understand me, shouldn’t you?”

Ji Zeyu bowed his head and cupped his hands, “This subject understands.”

Li Qitian nodded with slight relief and was about to speak when a high-pitched voice with a slight shrillness came from outside the hall: “Your Majesty, urgent report from Danfu County!”

“Present it.” Li Qitian straightened his expression and walked around the desk to sit on the dragon throne.

Grand Eunuch Xiong Jinshui entered quickly, holding a letter with both hands. He bowed low and approached hurriedly, presenting it respectfully.

Li Qitian opened the letter with some urgency. After reading it carefully, he unexpectedly raised his eyebrows.

Xiong Jinshui had already retreated to stand in a corner, seeming to blend in with the study’s furnishings.

Ji Zeyu was somewhat surprised by Li Qitian’s expression.

Li Qitian tossed the letter toward Ji Zeyu. “You read it too.”

“This subject obeys the decree.” Ji Zeyu cupped his hands in acknowledgment, bent down to pick up the letter that had fallen to the ground, unfolded it as instructed, and read it carefully. Then he said calmly, “Not rebellion? This is good news.”

Li Qitian raised an eyebrow. “You believe it just like that?”

Ji Zeyu replied, “Ma Cheng is honest and straightforward. This news should be reliable.”

This statement was quite artful—though it exonerated Pang Xiao, it didn’t directly speak of Pang Xiao’s character but instead mentioned the straightforward Ma Cheng.

Li Qitian, being the founding emperor who had experienced many battles large and small, had some understanding of the military generals in his court.

Hearing this and thinking of that blunt fellow Ma Cheng, he quietly felt relieved.

However, his earlier panic had clearly shown he was frightened by the possibility of Pang Xiao’s rebellion. Having displayed such an unseemly state before Ji Zeyu made Li Qitian feel rather embarrassed.

“I would rather he had rebelled—then I would have had the opportunity to quell the rebellion and eliminate that menace.” Li Qitian pursed his lips.