Just as the Huben Army outside was clamoring to tear Zhao Yueshui to pieces, Huzi had already hurried into the tent and approached Pang Xiao to ask quietly, “Your Highness, it’s chaotic outside and the situation might be hard to control. Do you really plan to kill Zhao Yueshui?”

Pang Xiao looked up. “Of course it’s real. He’s been throwing his weight around in Xihua City, provoking public anger. This prince killing him would also be to calm the military’s morale. Besides, his selling of information is backed by solid evidence – this prince isn’t wronging him.”

“But Zhao Yueshui is His Majesty’s spy. If Your Highness kills him, it would be openly confronting His Majesty. I’m afraid it will cause petty people to add inflammatory words behind the scenes, making His Majesty even more wary of you.”

Pang Xiao gave a cold laugh. “Do you think this eunuch’s actions were entirely his own idea? Although he usually swaggers around Xihua City with his chest puffed out, when he sees this prince, doesn’t he still have to restrain his arrogance? Even if he looks down on this prince in his heart, he’s always been outwardly compliant while inwardly defiant. Now he actually dares to reproach this prince to his face – where do you think he got such courage?”

Hearing this, Huzi’s expression changed as he gasped. “Your Highness, are you saying His Majesty instigated this?”

Pang Xiao shook his head. “His Majesty is a smart man. This prince still has uses, so he won’t shoot himself in the foot. It must be Li Guanwen who sensed something and coordinated with Zhao Yueshui.”

“That’s also very troublesome!” Huzi’s face turned pale.

His Majesty’s wariness toward the prince wasn’t new. The more bravely the prince fought and the greater his achievements, the more wary His Majesty became. Li Guanwen was an inner palace supervisor by His Majesty’s side. His ability to hold the position of head eunuch of the Bureau of Ceremonial showed he must be both clever and scheming.

How could such a person misread His Majesty’s intentions toward Pang Xiao?

Although he had long known His Majesty was this type of person, Huzi still broke out in a cold sweat.

Just then the tent flap lifted, and Zheng Pei in a dark blue robe hurried in anxiously. “Your Highness.”

“Scholar Zheng has come. Please sit.” Pang Xiao gestured with his chin toward Zheng Pei.

Huzi brought over a chair and set it down, bowing to Zheng Pei with an attitude that was polite yet distant – completely different from their former intimacy.

Zheng Pei felt bitter inside. He first bowed to Pang Xiao, then without waiting to sit properly, said anxiously, “Your Highness, please reconsider. That Zhao Yueshui is Li Guanwen’s adopted son. If you kill Zhao Yueshui, you’ll definitely offend Li Guanwen. Li Guanwen has the most influence with His Majesty. When he makes candy it’s never sweet, but when he makes vinegar it’s always sour. You cannot be rash.

“If Zhao Yueshui is killed, it will surely provoke imperial wrath. His Majesty holds all power and cannot tolerate such acts of executing first and reporting later. Zhao Yueshui was also someone His Majesty sent to your side. Even when beating a dog, you must consider the master. For your future ability to stand firm in court, please carefully consider my words.”

Having said this, Zheng Pei stood up and bowed again.

Pang Xiao smiled calmly, his features appearing very gentle in the candlelight. “Please sit down and speak, Scholar Zheng.”

He didn’t directly answer Zheng Pei’s words.

Zheng Pei’s heart was full of bitterness. He knew that his previous behavior of secretly reporting Pang Xiao’s every move to His Majesty had finally pushed this young man completely away from him – he no longer trusted him.

But he couldn’t completely ignore him, after all, he was also Pang Zhongzheng’s bloodline.

Zheng Pei slowly sat back down, looking at Pang Xiao expectantly.

“Scholar Zheng’s words also have merit.” Pang Xiao spoke leisurely, his tone as if he weren’t discussing something that could affect his future or even his life and death, but rather chatting casually.

“With Scholar Zheng’s intelligence, you should understand that even if this prince doesn’t kill Zhao Yueshui, certain things are already set. Those who dislike this prince will continue to dislike him.”

Zheng Pei’s breath caught, and for a long moment he couldn’t think of an appropriate response.

He knew Pang Xiao was a smart person who absolutely couldn’t be fooled with a few pleasant words.

Pang Xiao was speaking the truth – His Majesty’s wariness toward him wouldn’t decrease by half because of this, and those former Northern Ji officials who had surrendered wouldn’t change their opinion of Pang Xiao because of it.

“This prince knows Scholar Zheng is thinking of this prince, but now Scholar Zheng should have figured out some of the key points. Since some things cannot be changed, why should this prince endure in silence and be a soft persimmon? Could it be that as a man, he doesn’t even have the courage to speak loudly? That would only invite more bullying, and sooner or later he’d be bullied into never being able to raise his head.”

Zheng Pei was convinced by this reasoning and couldn’t find words to object, only nodding.

Pang Xiao then glanced at Huzi.

Unlike Zheng Pei with his many concerns, seeing that Pang Xiao had made his decision, Huzi eagerly rubbed his hands together. Getting his approval, he immediately ran out enthusiastically to deal with Zhao Yueshui.

Only Pang Xiao and Zheng Pei remained in the tent.

Zheng Pei looked at Pang Xiao’s sharp features in the lamplight and for a moment felt unable to meet his gaze, feeling extremely awkward.

He had once thought he was the most trustworthy person by Pang Xiao’s side.

He had also once felt that it was his betrayal that had pushed away this person who had trusted him most.

But now it seemed that Pang Xiao had never truly trusted him at all!

He kept every instance of Zheng Pei’s exploitation in his heart, always playing dumb while staying alert. Like a patient wolf, he had been closely watching his prey, pursuing relentlessly, waiting until the time was ripe to bare his fangs.

Now he could no longer move against Pang Xiao at all – unable to restrain him, much less control him. His hope of becoming a trusted aide by Pang Xiao’s side was already impossible.

Perhaps this “trusted aide” status had always been self-proclaimed.

Zheng Pei sighed and took his leave.

Pang Xiao watched Zheng Pei’s retreating figure, then after a moment withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest.

Huzi indeed extracted real information from Zhao Yueshui’s mouth. Zhao Yueshui was a soft package with outward fierceness masking inner cowardice. After interrogation, he wished only for a quick death. Huzi granted his wish and returned to report to Pang Xiao.

“Your Highness, that eunuch confessed everything.”

“Mm.”

“Your Highness guessed correctly. It was indeed Li Guanwen who privately mentioned to Zhao Yueshui that when His Majesty invited your mother, maternal grandfather and grandmother to stay in the palace, he had commanded the Empress to pay attention to drawing them out during conversations, wanting to know some of your thoughts.”

“An expected matter. My mother isn’t someone whose words can be easily drawn out. His Majesty will have further actions.” Pang Xiao toyed with the horse whip in his hand. “If that’s the case, the battle here must end quickly. I’m worried something might happen to my mother and the others.”

Hearing this, Huzi nodded heavily in agreement.

Pang Xiao then concentrated on thinking about tactics for two days.

It wasn’t that he lacked the ability to win, but sieges were inherently disadvantageous. The rear supply lines were long, Great Zhou’s mountains were high and roads distant, and after taking over Northern Ji’s mess, the national treasury was already quite empty. His Majesty’s control over him was extremely strict, not providing silver or rice, supplies were untimely, and Duke Dingguo of Great Yan avoided battle, keeping the city gates tightly shut.

If he couldn’t feed his soldiers properly, could he still prevent them from looting for food?

Even the Yan Dynasty troops stationed outside Great Yan City were the same.

When they couldn’t eat their fill, they could only loot.

If this continued, it would be the common people who suffered.

Pang Xiao now only wanted a quick battle and quick resolution to end the fighting swiftly.

And just at this time, a shocking major event occurred in Great Yan Dynasty, and the news finally reached Pang Xiao’s ears.