The guards took out their waist tokens. To Mu Hanjiang’s surprise, they were all military tokens from Commander Luo’s troops of Linchuan.

Reportedly, the Crown Prince had been concerned about his safety along the journey and had requested troops from General Luo to protect him.

General Luo, not daring to neglect this request, had sent his guards to accompany him.

Mu Hanjiang also inquired about the Crown Prince’s maids. These weren’t the previous palace servants, but rather servants purchased from slave traders in Jiangzhe.

He was told that the previous palace servants had been negligent in their duties, causing a fire at the Crown Prince’s residence in Jiangzhe, and had all been executed by the Crown Prince.

This provided a reasonable explanation for the Crown Prince’s irritable mood after his serious illness and the change of personnel around him, making the story seem watertight.

Cheng Kun approached Mu Hanjiang and said, “Young Master, didn’t we come to Five-Li Slope to investigate those bandits? Those villains who attempted to assassinate His Majesty have fled somewhere unknown. Should we go check the nearby villages?”

Mu Hanjiang didn’t respond directly. He displayed his Dragon Scale Shadow Guards investigation token and signaled for Cheng Kun to take several of the leading officers aside for questioning about their credentials and protocols.

After all, this was the Emperor’s territory, and with the recent assassin incident, all unfamiliar faces entering the capital had to be questioned—a pretext no one could find fault with.

While the guards were being questioned, Mu Hanjiang approached the carriage unhindered to pay his respects to His Highness.

However, a maid entered the carriage and moments later came out to relay a message: the Crown Prince had caught a cold and didn’t wish to see anyone. Master Mu could pay his respects from outside the carriage.

When Mu Hanjiang paid his respects, there was no response from within the carriage.

As Mu Hanjiang was about to rise, with a swift movement, he pulled aside the carriage curtain and caught sight of Feng Qiyuan’s frightened face.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, forgive my rudeness, but I’ve been ordered to protect your safety. If I don’t see you personally, I cannot report back.”

Feng Qiyuan, seeing Mu Hanjiang, whom he feared the most, turned pale, unsure whether to respond.

Mu Hanjiang looked at the pale young man and asked, “Has Your Highness’s journey been smooth?”

Before the Crown Prince could speak, the old woman beside him said, “The Crown Prince has caught a cold. His voice is hoarse, and he shouldn’t speak. Please be considerate, Master Mu.”

Mu Hanjiang ignored her and probed further: “Your Highness, when I left Jiangzhe, you entrusted me with a matter. I’ve completed it successfully. I wonder if you’re satisfied?”

The old woman spoke again: “Master Mu, the wind is strong outside. Please lower the curtain quickly. The Crown Prince cannot withstand the wind…”

This time, Mu Hanjiang acted decisively, grabbing the old woman and pulling her down from the carriage: “You, old woman, have repeatedly spoken presumptuously in front of the Crown Prince. You truly don’t understand propriety. As a Dragon Scale Shadow Guard, I have the responsibility to uncover traitors around the imperial family, and I can certainly investigate a servant who oversteps her bounds with her master!”

With these words, he drew his sword and, without employing anyone else, escorted the old woman into the forest.

Once they were alone, Mu Hanjiang placed his sword against the old woman’s throat and coldly asked, “The Crown Prince is the heir apparent. How can the attendants around him be changed so easily? Everyone knows the Crown Prince has a gentle temperament and has never beaten or scolded his attendants, yet all were executed? Who would believe such a lie! Who sent you?”

The old woman had never expected Mu Hanjiang to spot the flaws so quickly after just a brief encounter, and to be so bold as to directly detain someone in the Crown Prince’s presence.

Seeing all the people accompanying the Crown Prince to the capital being questioned, the old woman was completely at a loss.

Her only responsibility had been to supervise the young actor’s speech and behavior to prevent him from revealing his true identity. Who would have thought their ruse would be completely exposed before even entering the capital? Momentarily flustered, she stubbornly tried to deny everything.

But the sword pressed too tightly, cutting into her neck. She could faintly smell the spreading scent of blood.

Frightened, she couldn’t help but say, “This servant knows nothing. It was that Xiao…”

Before she could finish, a sharp arrow flew in, striking directly into the old woman’s eye socket, instantly piercing through her in the forest.

Mu Hanjiang was startled and released her, quickly hiding behind a tree and looking toward the forest’s edge.

More arrows came flying in, shot mercilessly, directly aiming at his face. Fortunately, he bent down in time, barely avoiding them.

The subsequent arrows came like raindrops, directly targeting his vital points. Mu Hanjiang remained hidden behind the tree, shouting for Cheng Kun, but heard Cheng Kun yell back that they were under attack and that the young master should not leave the forest.

Just then, many masked men wielding curved sabers suddenly leaped out from both sides of the road, attacking the carriage!

Those curved sabers were the signature weapons of Chen Xifan’s disciples, gleaming with an infinite coldness.

Seeing this, Mu Hanjiang immediately realized something was wrong—they had encountered assassins from Wei Country!

With negotiations imminent, why would they try to assassinate Dafeng’s heir apparent?

Although knowing the Crown Prince was an impostor, thinking of him as Xiaoying’s brother, Mu Hanjiang still rushed out to rescue the young man from the carriage.

But at that moment, he felt a sudden pain in his back. Turning to look, he saw Cheng Kun’s sword piercing his back.

“You…” Mu Hanjiang stared in disbelief, never imagining that the fatal blow would come from behind.

Feng Qiyuan in the carriage also witnessed this and was so frightened that he couldn’t help but scream.

By now, the soldiers who had just been questioned had their throats cut by Cheng Kun’s men. Bodies lay everywhere, and the ground around the carriage was stained red with spreading blood.

At that moment, Mu Hanjiang’s mind seemed to explode. He suddenly recalled the broken bridge by the postal station.

That time, if Feng Yuan hadn’t pulled him back in time, he would have fallen to his death, shattered into pieces.

At that time, Feng Yuan had hinted, directing suspicion toward the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards, but Mu Hanjiang had instinctively protected his own, refusing to admit it.

But now, with the facts before his eyes, this Cheng Kun was the traitor… and he had always been his mother’s confidant!

Cheng Kun’s sword thrust hadn’t been precise. Mu Hanjiang had shifted slightly, barely avoiding a fatal wound, so Cheng Kun gritted his teeth, withdrawing his sword to deliver another blow: “Young Master, I apologize. You shouldn’t have come here today. In future festivals, I’ll be sure to burn extra spirit money for you…”

Just as Cheng Kun raised his sword, preparing to strike again, an arrow whistling through the air flew toward Cheng Kun’s wrist.

It was a sleeve arrow, yet powerful enough to pierce through his wrist in one strike. He couldn’t hold the sword, which fell to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, Mu Hanjiang saw a group of people wearing King of Hell masks rushing in, engaging in combat with the curved saber wielders.

The leader of the group appeared to be a woman, but her moves were as fierce as a man’s. Her leaps and movements strongly resembled a certain acquaintance from Jiangzhe!

The masked leader charged directly at Cheng Kun.

Cheng Kun knew that today’s events couldn’t end well. Despite his injured wrist, he didn’t hesitate to jump onto the carriage, preparing to snap the frail young man’s neck.

Today, someone was destined to die at Five-Li Slope, though the original plan hadn’t included Mu Hanjiang and this Crown Prince.

But with Mu Hanjiang’s sudden arrival, and his suspicious questioning after somehow learning the Crown Prince was an impostor, if not stopped, endless troubles would follow!

So Cheng Kun boldly made a quick decision to change the plan—let both Mu Hanjiang and the Crown Prince perish here!

But he had never expected another group of King of Hell masked warriors to appear, each with formidable martial skills, quickly overwhelming his subordinates.

The small-framed masked figure before him showed extremely tricky moves. Cheng Kun drew a flexible sword from his waist, wielding it with his left hand and attacking the newcomer directly.

The sharp blade swept across, spinning in a flourish that slashed the attacker’s thigh. Cheng Kun seized the opportunity to kick the person off the carriage, then thrust his sword at the continuously screaming young man.

But in the next moment, his left wrist was seized, and with a crack, the joints and tendons were broken.

Cheng Kun screamed in agony. Looking back, he discovered it was the Grand Prince who had jumped onto the carriage and broken his left wrist.

Feng Yuan hadn’t come alone—he had brought many personal guards.

Quickly, along with the masked people, they gained control of the situation.

Feng Yuan helped Feng Qiyuan down from the carriage, then kicked Cheng Kun: “I never expected to catch you. What an unexpected harvest. Tell me, who is instructing you from behind?”

Cheng Kun hadn’t anticipated such a series of unexpected events today, but he laughed bitterly, looking at Mu Hanjiang with extreme malice, laughing loudly: “How could the Princess give birth to such a useless son! Incompetent at success but excellent at failure! You even colluded with the Grand Prince, you bastard! You don’t deserve to inherit the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards!”

As he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood, evidently having bitten into poison concealed in his mouth, dying instantly.

The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards he had brought also did the same, each dying from poison.

Mu Hanjiang was shocked and furious. Due to excessive blood loss, his ears were now ringing, hearing only a buzzing noise, unable to hear what people around him were saying.

Feng Qiyuan was still curled up in a ball, sobbing, while the masked person whose ankle had been slashed by Cheng Kun sat on the ground. Feng Yuan knelt to examine the masked person’s wound. Under the pulled-up trouser leg was a section of fair calf, and on the side of the calf was a small crescent-shaped scar…

Mu Hanjiang could no longer keep his eyes open and finally lost consciousness.

That day, while still playing chess with Mu Shen in the palace, His Majesty received news that the Crown Prince’s convoy had been attacked at Five-Li Slope by a group of mysterious curved-saber wielders.

Young Master Mu, who happened to be investigating there, was seriously injured while protecting the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince himself suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, the Grand Prince arrived in time to save the heir apparent.

They had now entered the city gates under local guard.

Everything else was manageable, but upon hearing of Young Master Mu’s injury, His Majesty stood up in shock: “What? He’s injured? How badly?”

Upon hearing the eunuch’s report that although he had lost a lot of blood, the Grand Prince had sent people to treat him promptly, though still unconscious, his life was not in immediate danger; he breathed a sigh of relief.

Emperor Chunde turned to look at Mu Shen, finding his old friend also shocked, his lips trembling. But his weak body couldn’t withstand extreme emotions, and he could barely stand, only managing to support himself against the chessboard, breathing heavily.

His Majesty quickly comforted him gently and sent imperial physicians to check on Duke Ding’s condition.

“Old Mu, don’t worry. Hanjiang is blessed by heaven and won’t come to harm.”

Saying this, Emperor Chunde remembered his own two children: “How are the Crown Prince and the Grand Prince?”

Eunuch Li Quan respectfully replied, “By now, the Grand Prince should have escorted the Crown Prince into the palace, but since the Crown Prince is injured, he may not be able to come to the study to see Your Majesty.”

Emperor Chunde waved his hand: “No need for those formalities. I’ll go see the child.”

At this moment, Mu Shen also stood up: “This involves an assassination attempt on the heir apparent, a responsibility the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards cannot shirk. Since the child Hanjiang is still unconscious, may I accompany Your Majesty to understand the situation at that time?”

Emperor Chunde knew his old friend always prioritized state affairs and patted his shoulder, nodding in approval.

When the sovereign and minister arrived at the Crown Prince’s residence, Chuwenzian, they saw the Crown Prince’s small eunuch Jin Zhong running over, paying respects to His Majesty, then quickly entering to announce the Emperor’s arrival.

Then Emperor Chunde saw his long-absent fourth son limping up, eyes moist and bright, saying, “Father Emperor, your unfilial son has caused you worry!”

As he spoke, with the Grand Prince’s support, he prepared to kneel in ceremony.

Emperor Chunde took two quick steps forward to help his fourth son up: “You’re injured. No need for such formalities. Someone, bring a seat for the Crown Prince!”

The Crown Prince thanked his father and, after sitting down, curiously looked at Mu Shen. After seemingly struggling to recognize him, he exclaimed in surprise: “Is this… Duke Ding, my Uncle Mu?”

Emperor Chunde smiled: “You have a good memory. After more than ten years, you still recognize your Uncle Mu. Old Mu, can you recognize these two?”

Mu Shen carefully examined the Crown Prince up and down, then looked at Feng Yuan beside him, smiling: “The Crown Prince has grown so much, looking quite different from when he was young, but his eyes remain unchanged, still so spirited. The Grand Prince’s appearance has changed considerably, but he resembles Your Majesty, making me feel as if I’m seeing the young Emperor who once studied with me!”

After some pleasantries, Emperor Chunde inquired about the incident at Five-Li Slope.

Since the Crown Prince had been inside the carriage the whole time, only hearing sudden fighting outside, he didn’t know many details. So Feng Yuan answered on his behalf, saying he had been on his way to his uncle’s military camp when, passing by Five-Li Slope, he encountered people attacking the Crown Prince’s convoy. When he arrived, Young Master Mu was already lying in a pool of blood, with his sword having pierced his subordinate Cheng Kun.

Their posture had been strange and puzzling, and Cheng Kun and his subordinates had also died from poison.

As for what had happened, they would need to wait for Young Master Mu to wake up to ascertain the details.

Hearing this, Mu Shen anxiously asked, “Where is Hanjiang now? Has he been sent back to the Duke’s residence?”

Feng Yuan replied, “Before losing consciousness, Young Master Mu told me that there were traitors in the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards and not to send him back to the Duke’s residence. Then he fainted. Although I don’t understand his meaning, I followed his words and sent him to my manor to recuperate. If the Duke wishes to see his son, he can come to my manor.”

His words changed the expressions of both Emperor Chunde and Mu Shen.

After a moment of shock, Mu Shen immediately understood something and knelt solemnly before Emperor Chunde: “For years, due to my physical weakness, I have neglected my duties, delegating affairs to others. Now that there are flaws in the Shadow Guards, allowing Wei people to nearly succeed, endangering the heir apparent—it’s all my fault alone!”

At this point, Feng Yuan calmly spoke up: “Why is Duke Ding so certain that those who attacked were from Wei?”

The Crown Prince also chimed in: “That’s right, what Grand Brother says makes sense. This son has heard that Wei Country’s envoys have already entered the capital. For them to move against me now doesn’t make sense, either emotionally or logically!”

Emperor Chunde looked at his two sons. The dragon has nine children, and these two sons of his were like yin and yang, their appearances complementing and contrasting each other.

This fourth son—had he perhaps eaten too much rice and water in Jiangzhe? How did he seem even more feminine than before?

Emperor Chunde instinctively disliked this and deliberately bypassed that frail bean sprout, asking the Grand Prince: “Then who do you think the assassins were?”

But the bean sprout interjected, speaking eloquently: “Father Emperor, regardless of who was behind it, they simply couldn’t have been from Wei Country.”

Emperor Chunde shifted his gaze to his fourth son, frowning: “What insights do you have?”

The Crown Prince seemed not to hear the sarcasm in Emperor Chunde’s voice and languidly replied: “Living in Jiangzhe these past days, this son has gained more understanding about Wei Country than when in the capital. The new Wei King’s foundation is unstable, and since his ascension, he has been in a power struggle with the old king’s former ministers. After the Battle of Fengwei Slope, General Gu Zhi, who had originally supported the new king, was killed by my Grand Brother, putting Huo Buxin in an increasingly difficult position. He is desperate to end external conflicts to stabilize his court. In such circumstances, what purpose would there be in assassinating me, a mediocre Crown Prince? Doesn’t he know that every son of our Feng family is outstanding, and all my royal brothers are more capable than I?”

Saying this, the Crown Prince smiled at Emperor Chunde: “Therefore, this son believes that concluding this case as a rebellion by Dragon Scale Shadow Guards’ Commander Cheng of the Jing rank would be better for the overall situation than spreading news of Wei people attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince!”

Hearing this, Mu Shen suddenly smiled and said: “Hanjiang hasn’t woken up yet, and whether Cheng Kun was truly a traitor hasn’t been established. Isn’t Your Highness the Crown Prince being a bit hasty in concluding?”

The young prince sighed, fidgeting with two honey dates in his hand: “I am indeed hasty. If Father Emperor doesn’t make a conclusive judgment soon, tomorrow the remonstrance officials’ memorials will pile up on his desk. Currently, opinions about war or peace with Wei divide the court officials, with no consensus. In my view, I would like nothing more than to flatten Wei Country immediately, but waging war requires money! As the overseer of the Imperial Treasury, I’ve also checked Jiangzhe’s accounts with Elder Teng. The Great Wei’s national treasury still needs to accumulate more funds! Since that’s the case, why not seal the ministers’ mouths early? Otherwise, listening to their endless chatter truly gives me such a headache that I would eat fewer bowls of rice!”

Hearing this, Emperor Chunde’s face darkened: “Your initial words sounded reasonable, but are your latter statements befitting an heir apparent? You say ministers chatter? Aren’t you afraid of being reported by remonstrance officials for improper speech?”

Admonished, the Crown Prince showed no sign of annoyance, simply responding respectfully: “Father Emperor’s reprimand is just. This son has stayed in Jiangzhe too long and learned vulgarity from the servants. In a few days, I will study diligently with Master Ge.”

Emperor Chunde took a breath: “You may not know, but Master Ge has already left the capital. You’re already grown, and there’s little more to learn in the study. Since you’ve gained some knowledge during your time in Jiangzhe, once your leg injury improves, accompany the officials from the Ministry of Rites to receive the envoys from Wei!”

Hearing this, Feng Qiyuan immediately expressed fearful gratitude for the immense favor and respectfully saw His Majesty and Duke Ding off.

As soon as the two saints left, the young Crown Prince seemed to transform into a different person. Blinking with feigned pitiful eyes, he looked at the silent Feng Yuan and whined: “Grand Brother, my leg hurts so much. I need a hug!”