Feng Yuan seemed to have anticipated Chen Nuo’s pursuit. Watching the rising dust, he revealed a smile with an indescribable quality.

Xiaoying inadvertently caught a glimpse as she turned her head and pondered it briefly.

Feng Yuan extended his long arm, helping Xiaoying in her long dress to descend from the carriage.

“Go find your father and have a meal. I’ve had the kitchen stew a rabbit, and there’s also a basket of fresh fish just delivered from the estate.”

Xiaoying looked at the approaching horsemen and asked: “What’s your plan to deal with them?”

Feng Yuan seemed unwilling to answer, silently waiting.

Xiaoying smiled, not wanting to invite rebuff, and turned to look for her father and the others to have a meal.

Ah, Jin Zhong and Jian Hu hadn’t been brought back to Listening Heart Garden by Feng Yuan. Who knew where they had been settled… She hoped today’s rabbit would be spicy, which would go better with rice!

Meanwhile, Chen Nuo led his thirty guards, galloping rapidly to Listening Heart Garden.

General Chen was quite familiar with this place—more than twenty years ago, he had accompanied the late emperor and Swordmaster Xiao Jiumu here.

It was also here that he first saw Lady Zhanxue of the Ye family.

Words like “enchanting beauty” and “stunning grace” could only be truly understood after having seen Ye Zhanxue in person. Only then would one realize how perfectly these terms described her.

Back then, he was just a minor guard, not even qualified to enter the courtyard. Once, when he accidentally trespassed, he was reprimanded by Ye Zhong and could only stand guard humbly outside the gate.

But now, Chen Nuo considered himself equal to Ye Zhanxue’s brother, a general relied upon by His Majesty.

Revisiting this place truly evoked feelings of how times had changed while the scenery remained the same!

However, before reminiscing, he needed to thoroughly question that young whelp of a Crown Prince.

After that night’s battle at Mount Ding, he had captured one of Shang Youdao’s confidants. Upon questioning, he learned that Shang Youdao had received information from the Crown Prince’s little eunuch, which led him to cause trouble and disrupt the situation.

Now, this fake map had been traced back to the Crown Prince.

But then came the major incident of the courier station fire.

When Chen Nuo heard about it, his head nearly exploded. If the Crown Prince died in Jiangzhe territory, he, as the commander of troops stationed there, would bear unavoidable responsibility.

But just now, he had heard Mu Hanjiang say that the Crown Prince wasn’t dead and was likely in the Grand Prince’s garden retreat.

Chen Nuo couldn’t contain himself. He led his troops in pursuit, wanting to ask the Crown Prince about his intentions in delivering the fake map.

When he reached the entrance of Listening Heart Garden, Chen Nuo ignored the servants’ attempts to block him and kicked them aside as he charged in.

A general cultivated through decades of military merit, accustomed to having his way in his military camp, displayed such arrogant behavior everywhere except the inner imperial palace.

Twenty years ago, he wasn’t qualified to enter this courtyard. Now he wanted to see who would dare stop him!

Those servants were mostly elderly and couldn’t stop the menacing Chen Nuo. Thus, he quickly led his men to the entrance of a garden within the estate.

The Grand Prince was sitting in a pavilion in the garden, dressed in a dark-colored long robe, calm and composed, savoring tea in his hand.

When Chen Nuo, with his usual imposing manner, shouted for the Grand Prince to come down and speak, Feng Yuan acted as if he hadn’t heard, not even glancing at him.

Chen Nuo couldn’t be bothered to waste words with this young man and simply ordered the Grand Prince to quickly produce the Crown Prince, as he had official matters to discuss with His Highness.

But Feng Yuan remained unmoved, only giving him a cold glance like one might look at a dog.

Chen Nuo became furious and sneered: “Grand Prince, you dare defy a commander’s order!”

The young lord sitting in the pavilion slightly raised his head, his deep eyes containing ice as he looked at Chen Nuo and his guards.

Coming from the military camp, they naturally wore full armor and carried weapons.

“General Chen, open your eyes and see clearly. This is my mother’s garden, not your military camp! I have already resigned as Defense General and am no longer your subordinate. What authority do you have to order me around?”

Chen Nuo was accustomed to seeing the Grand Prince’s meek and silent demeanor after being ridiculed by him.

Since this royal scion had come to the military camp, Chen Nuo, fearing the prince might not submit to authority, had deliberately given him a harsh welcome to establish dominance.

Feng Yuan, except for the last time when he went mad about his mother, had never resisted before.

Today’s Feng Yuan, however, spoke with contempt, addressing him as one might speak to vermin.

This infuriated Chen Nuo, who was used to absolute authority in the military camp. He berated Feng Yuan: “When I accompanied the late emperor and His Majesty on campaigns, you were still curled up in your mother’s belly! Even His Majesty has never spoken to me like this! You, a wet-eared boy, to take private revenge, actually instigated the Crown Prince to deceive with a false map, letting the bandits escape. If you don’t return to the military camp with me to explain yourself, don’t blame me for being discourteous—ah!”

Before he could finish speaking, Feng Yuan had already taken the teacup from the table and, channeling force through his palm, thrown it directly at Chen Nuo’s forehead.

The blow was so violent that Chen Nuo’s forehead was immediately broken, and blood flowed profusely.

Enraged, he waved his hand, shouting to the soldiers behind him: “He dares attack the commander-in-chief! Seize him!”

Before Chen Nuo could finish speaking, he saw the man in the pavilion lightly wave his hand, and suddenly more than a dozen men in black martial attire appeared around them, as if sprouting from the dry ground.

The soldiers of Chen’s army, following orders, didn’t take these few black-clad guards seriously and stepped forward.

These black-clad strongmen, however, moved with the agility of leopards. They suddenly sprang into action, using some unknown technique to take down the oncoming soldiers bare-handed.

The leading strongman, with his blackened hands, seized the sword from Chen Nuo’s hand. In just a few moves, he had pressed Chen Nuo to the ground.

The speed was so swift that even Chen Nuo himself couldn’t react in time.

Unexpectedly, after battling on battlefields for decades, he was so easily subdued by a few martial arts practitioners. He screamed in fury: “Feng Yuan, how dare you treat me like this! I am a general personally appointed by His Majesty! Are you staging a rebellion?”

A lieutenant who had come with Chen Nuo was also pressed to the ground and could only raise his head to quickly admonish: “Grand Prince, tell your men to stop! If this continues, even the Imperial Censors will impeach you!”

Feng Yuan didn’t look at them, the corner of his mouth slightly curling upward as he said mockingly: “You dare to impeach me? Is it that with the late emperor gone, his edicts are no longer respected?”

As he spoke, his finger pointed toward the plaque above the garden entrance. There, in powerful calligraphy, were four large characters: “Disarm Upon Entering.”

Those familiar with the late emperor would immediately recognize his calligraphy and recall the story behind this plaque.

Years ago, before Ye Zhanxue married into the Feng family, her mentor and the late emperor had stayed here for a few days.

The Ye family had many soldiers coming and going, but this courtyard had been given to Ye Zhanxue by her father. Still in her maiden chamber, she disliked how the cold aura of swords contaminated the garden’s tranquility and went to complain to her mentor.

The late emperor happened to be there and, hearing the young lady’s words, laughed heartily. He then wrote these four characters and hung them in the garden of the Ye family’s daughter, decreeing that any soldier coming to see him could not bring swords or iron armor inside.

This rule was later observed by Emperor Chunde as well. When entering Ye Aoxue’s garden of rare flowers and plants, one must disarm!

But now Chen Nuo had brought soldiers with swords, entering with a killing aura, utterly disregarding the late emperor’s edict!

Feng Yuan’s use of this to punish Chen Nuo was something no imperial censor could find fault with.

“This is my late mother’s courtyard, which cannot tolerate your disturbance! Great General? If my mother were still here, what would you, Chen Nuo, be? Not even worthy to hold her horse’s reins!”

“You…”

Chen Nuo’s humble origin had always been a sore point for him. This was why he found disciplining noble youths in the military camp more satisfying than winning battles.

Now, as a grand general, being humiliatingly subdued by this obscure prince made General Chen lose his composure.

But what broke his composure even more was yet to come.

Feng Yuan waved his hand, and several strongmen carrying person-high sticks walked forward.

…

Yan Xiaoying had always known that Feng Yuan wasn’t particularly generous.

However, when she carried her meal up to a side pavilion, planning to eat while watching the spectacle from above, the scene of wailing and howling in the garden nearly made her choke.

Chen Nuo, stripped of his upper garments and tightly bound on the ground, was being beaten with sticks until he was a bloody mess, seemingly about to pass out.

This madman had truly gone crazy, actually administering private punishment and beating a national general!

Now she understood the deeper meaning behind Feng Yuan’s smile at the garden entrance.

This scoundrel had deliberately leaked information to Mu Hanjiang, luring Chen Nuo all the way here.

After all, opportunities to catch General Chen so isolated were rare, making it a perfect chance to vent his anger.

Such a farce needed an ending.

Mu Hanjiang arrived a moment later, entering the garden. Seeing the scene, he was so shocked he could hardly believe his eyes.

He couldn’t help but intervene: “What are you doing? Grand Prince, stop this immediately!”

Perhaps out of respect for Mu Hanjiang, Feng Yuan finally raised his hand, signaling his men to stop the beating.

Chen Nuo had lived more than half his life, but never expected to be so humiliated and disgraced before a half-grown youth. Even though his back was covered in wounds from the beating, he struggled to lift his head.

“Grand Prince, as a royal prince, you can naturally beat and scold as you wish, but you must consider the consequences. I, as a guardian general of the nation, am not someone you can simply dismiss with a pat!”

Seeing Mu Hanjiang arrive, Chen Nuo felt somewhat reassured.

Now, with his face utterly disgraced and his back burning with pain, he naturally wanted to thoroughly humiliate the Grand Prince before leaving. So, as the guards helped him up, while preparing to leave the garden, he muttered loudly.

“Hmph! No wonder His Majesty has never liked you. Being a prince yet so brutal and tyrannical. I imagine only Guzhi Ding of Wei Country would appreciate someone like you!”

As these words were uttered, Xiaoying, watching from the high pavilion, silently exclaimed, “Bad move!”

Feng Yuan’s expression changed instantly!

Years ago, when his mother was captured, she fell into the hands of Wei Country’s general, Guzhi Ding.

When she was rescued, she was barely clothed, wearing only undergarments, barefoot, with disheveled and tattered hair. Amid the jeers of Wei soldiers on the city walls, she trudged through ice and mud, step by step, painfully walking toward the Dafeng soldiers, along with unknown hardships…

Though Feng Yuan never witnessed his mother’s misery and helplessness back then, he had pieced it together from the taunts of those who mocked him as a bastard.

He also knew that the mother he could only perceive through the elegant lines of books and poems had endured humiliation like a murky pond, bearing the burden of shame to give birth to him with difficulty.

Now Chen Nuo’s mention of “Guzhi Ding” was an implicit mockery of Ye Zhanxue’s past suffering at the hands of the enemy.

Chen Nuo was deliberately trying to provoke Feng Yuan in front of Mu Hanjiang.

He hoped this madman would commit more insane acts. Then, when reporting to His Majesty, he would have justification!

After all, with Mu Hanjiang’s Dragon Scale Shadow Guards present, Feng Yuan’s men shouldn’t be too fearsome.

Unfortunately, he overestimated the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards and underestimated this Grand Prince.

Just as his words fell, Feng Yuan slowly walked down from the pavilion.

Mu Hanjiang, knowing Feng Yuan’s temperament, saw the madness in his eyes and immediately signaled his men to rush forward and stop the Grand Prince, preventing him from doing anything improper.

Those guards hadn’t even touched Feng Yuan before he swung his hand, breaking their arms. In just a few exchanges, he had crippled the arms of three men.

Yet even so, Chen Nuo continued to curse and shout.

Mu Hanjiang was also furious. He turned and slapped Chen Nuo first: “General Chen, if you want to die, don’t make my Dragon Scale Shadow Guards your scapegoats.”

This slap finally restored some sense to Chen Nuo.

But Feng Yuan was already upon them, swinging his palm to force Mu Hanjiang toward a nearby rockery.

“Step aside, this is none of your business!”

Chen Nuo finally sensed something was wrong. As Feng Yuan approached, he struggled to rise, trying to retreat.

Feng Yuan smiled with a sinister air, kicking Chen Nuo back to the ground, then placing his foot on Chen Nuo’s face, grinding down with his cowhide boot.

The tall, handsome young lord spoke with icy coldness: “Insulting my mother? A dog like you dares? Years ago, she was trapped at Fengwei Slope. You could have provided timely support, but you deliberately delayed for half a moment, staying in Linchuang. Have you enjoyed the half-lifetime of glory earned by sacrificing my mother?”

As he spoke, his foot pressed down harder, causing Chen Nuo to desperately claw at the ground until he finally managed to grasp Feng Yuan’s ankle.

“You’re talking nonsense! I… I had no choice! The bridge from Linchuang to Fengwei Slope suddenly collapsed! I could only lead my troops on a detour! His Majesty knows about this and has forgiven and understood my actions!”

On normal days, Chen Nuo wouldn’t even bother explaining these old matters.

But today, he had carelessly entered Listening Heart Garden, violating the late emperor’s prohibition, and was now forced into such a situation by this madman Feng Yuan.

This madman’s foot was exerting force; Chen Nuo could even hear the cracking sound of his skull.

Since he was dealing with a madman, one capable of anything, he finally began to fear and dared not confront the madman head-on.

Hearing his words, Feng Yuan laughed: “The bridge collapsed? Wasn’t it you who ordered people to cut the bridge cables in advance? Thirty taels of silver to hire two ignorant brutes to saw through the bridge at midnight—that money was well spent!”

Nearby, Mu Hanjiang listened with widened eyes.

These past events occurred before he was born. A’Ruo and he were of similar age, so how would he know?

When Ye Zhanxue was surrounded by enemy troops years ago, the world thought it was an accident.

If Feng Yuan’s words were true, was this a carefully orchestrated conspiracy?

Was Chen Nuo, seemingly unimportant yet essential, part of this conspiracy?

Hearing these words, Chen Nuo’s eyes widened involuntarily.

These old secrets, which even he had almost completely forgotten, and those two brutes who had long been disposed of…

How did this madman, imprisoned in the abandoned palace for ten years, know so clearly?

“If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it! Did you think my mother couldn’t see through your schemes back then?”

Chen Nuo’s eyes widened in terror: Ye Zhanxue knew? Then why did she never speak of it, never confront him? Was her mind so deep that she left some evidence for this mad son?

Just then, Feng Yuan suddenly crouched down, seized Chen Nuo’s limbs, and channeled his force.

With a cracking sound, Chen Nuo’s hands and feet were broken amid his miserable screams, and even his kneecaps shattered.

“You servile slave, so poisoned by stolen military glory that you don’t know your place? What are you to dare insult my mother!”

Chen Nuo was in so much pain that his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Mu Hanjiang, unable to stop him, called out to Feng Yuan: “You’re insane! Why are you doing this?”

Having completely crippled Chen Nuo’s limbs, Feng Yuan stood up, his eyes tinged with a faint red as he smiled: “As you said, I’m insane, and the whole court knows it. Why does a madman need a reason to kill?”

Saying this, Feng Yuan suddenly raised his foot, aiming a vicious kick at Chen Nuo’s head.

This kick would certainly kill Chen Nuo, and even as a prince, Feng Yuan couldn’t escape punishment for such a crime!

Mu Hanjiang wanted to rush forward, but was blocked by Feng Yuan’s men. Unable to get close, he watched helplessly as Feng Yuan’s foot was about to crush Chen Nuo’s skull.

At that moment, a petite figure darted forward, embracing Feng Yuan from behind: “Grand Brother, calm down! For someone like him, it’s not worth it!”

It was the long-absent Crown Prince who suddenly ran out, embracing Feng Yuan and pulling him backward, finally preventing his foot from crushing Chen Nuo’s skull.

It wasn’t that Yan Xiaoying was meddling, but her adoptive father and the others were still in this madman’s hands.

If he recklessly vented his anger and kicked a court official to death, wouldn’t her adoptive father’s hope for justice be lost?

“Enough, Chen Nuo’s arms and legs are beyond saving. He’s completely ruined, and his military career is over. You can settle the score with him for your mother gradually. There’s no rush!”

Xiaoying desperately clung to Feng Yuan’s waist, then glared at Mu Hanjiang: “What are you staring at? Help carry him away!”

Mu Hanjiang had deliberately leaked the Crown Prince’s whereabouts to Chen Nuo.

He had also purposely arrived late, hoping to use Chen Nuo’s intervention to force the Crown Prince to appear.

But for all his calculations, he never anticipated that Feng Yuan would go mad and cripple Chen Nuo, nearly killing him in Listening Heart Garden.

This turn of events happened right before Mu Hanjiang’s eyes. He certainly couldn’t escape responsibility and would need to report the matter to His Majesty.

Thinking of this, Mu Hanjiang’s head, already deprived of sleep for two days, buzzed loudly.

Feng Yuan didn’t need Mu Hanjiang to carry anyone. After being embraced by Yan Xiaoying, he naturally stopped and waved his hand, ordering his men to take Chen Nuo and his guards away first.

Mu Hanjiang had been played up and down for several days by these two rascal princes, and the messes they created were piling higher and higher.

The Crown Prince’s fake death wasn’t enough; now Feng Yuan had severely beaten and crippled Chen Nuo, leaving Chen’s army without a commander.

It was only because Chen Nuo was isolated that he could be abused by Feng Yuan like this.

When Chen Nuo was carried back to the military camp and seen by his officers, wouldn’t they lead troops to level Listening Heart Garden?

If the Grand Prince were accidentally injured in the chaos, then Elder Teng would have to make room, allowing him, tasked with protecting the princes, to jump into the Lianjiang River first.

“Crown Prince, I don’t have your ability to turn the tide. Please ask the Grand Prince, if he has energy to spare, to break my legs as well.”

Mu Hanjiang was also exhausted. The wheeled chair he had used to feign lameness was still there—perhaps it would be better if Feng Yuan simply crippled his legs.

He needed to sit in a wheeled chair and avoid the world for a while.

Hearing this, the Crown Prince smiled and assured Master Mu that he would find someone to diligently treat Chen Nuo.

Meanwhile, Feng Yuan quickly calmed his anger, merely glaring once at the suddenly appeared Crown Prince, then saying to Mu Hanjiang: “General Chen cannot return to camp for now.”

Mu Hanjiang shouted angrily: “Feng Yuan, do you still intend to detain the commander? Even as a prince, you cannot act so willfully!”

Feng Yuan quickly calmed his emotions and nonchalantly wiped his hands with a wet towel, then calmly ordered: “Have your men withdraw from Listening Heart Garden. Not just any filth can enter here.”

Mu Hanjiang looked at the late emperor’s plaque, waved for the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards to withdraw.

He also removed his sword and threw it out of the garden, then said to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, you must give me an explanation today. What exactly are you and the Grand Prince planning?”

Xiaoying replied with a pleasant expression: “Master Mu, calm down. Hasn’t my Grand Brother always been like this? Have you eaten? Today we have spicy rabbit meat and braised fresh fish, which go very well with rice!”

Mu Hanjiang’s heart had been roasting in the fire for days. No one knew how he felt when he first saw that charred corpse in the fire—his mind went blank, his limbs slightly numb.

In today’s menu, if there were a dish of “charcoal-roasted prince,” he might have had some appetite.