The past drifted by like wind, brushing across the face.

The narrator immersed himself in memories, unable to extricate himself.

The listeners’ hearts surged with waves, hatred arising instantly.

A general dies after a hundred battles, dying on the battlefield—this is dying in the proper place.

The premise being there’s no conspiracy!

If there was, then Zheng Yu’s lifetime of defending the nation, achieving illustrious military glory, would be nothing but a tremendous joke.

Yan Sanhe smiled coldly while silently refilling Bu Liu’s half cup of tea, waiting for him to calm his emotions a bit.

Bu Liu calmed down very quickly. Within a few breaths his expression recovered its composure, and even that bit of moisture in his eyes completely dispersed.

“Miss Yan, is there anything else you want to ask?”

“Yes.”

Yan Sanhe: “When did Ye Dong commit suicide?”

“Halfway on the army’s triumphant return to the capital.”

“How did you confirm he committed suicide to follow his lord?”

“After the General’s death in battle, he wouldn’t speak, wouldn’t eat, did everything in a daze, as if he’d lost his soul.”

Bu Liu said dejectedly: “Actually in the entire Bu family army, the most heartbroken person was him. Besides the General, he was also close with the three Tao brothers, especially Tao Lao’er. Some people said…”

He looked hesitantly at Yan Sanhe, wondering whether these sordid matters should be…

“He and Tao Lao’er were a couple?”

Bu Liu was stunned for a moment, then nodded: “Yes.”

Then his death wasn’t merely following his lord—it also contained a layer of dying for love.

Yan Sanhe: “Did you personally see his corpse?”

Bu Liu: “I sneaked a glance.”

Yan Sanhe: “It was definitely suicide?”

Bu Liu was momentarily confused—he truly wasn’t certain. He just saw an extremely deep wound on the neck.

“Does Miss Yan suspect he was murdered?”

“Just asking out of habit.”

Yan Sanhe’s tone shifted: “On the triumphant return journey, what were Yan Ruxian’s and the Han Prince’s behaviors?”

Bu Liu sneered repeatedly: “That one surnamed Yan shut himself in his carriage every day. Food and drink were all delivered by his godson.”

Yan Sanhe: “He even brought a godson along?”

Bu Liu: “A fair and delicate little eunuch, probably not even ten years old yet, attending to his three meals and daily needs. Quite clever. I saw him as the type who flatters superiors and bullies subordinates.”

Yan Sanhe: “What was that little eunuch called?”

Bu Liu thought for a moment: “Seems like he was called Yan something… Right, Yan Xi.”

Yan Sanhe: “Where is this person now?”

Bu Liu scratched his head: “I heard later he followed the Crown Prince. I’m not clear on the specifics.”

Yan Sanhe immediately said: “General Bu, send someone to the tent next door to ask Third Master whether there’s an inner attendant called Yan Xi by the Crown Prince’s side.”

Bu Liu stood and walked out of the main tent, giving the guards at the entrance a few instructions before returning to sit down.

Yan Sanhe continued questioning: “What about the Han Prince then?”

Bu Liu: “The Han Prince also rarely appeared, and when he did, his personal guards surrounded him. Small fry like us couldn’t get near at all. Being able to see him from afar was already good enough.”

Yan Sanhe: “Did the Han Prince show even a trace of self-reproach before the army for the old General’s death?”

“Anyone can put on an act.”

Bu Liu sneered: “Whether he felt it inside, only he knows in his heart. I certainly couldn’t tell.”

As his words fell, someone spoke outside the tent.

“General, Lord Xie says Yan Xi is an inner attendant by His Highness the Crown Prince’s side. He was very favored by His Highness before—an extremely smooth operator.

Later due to Yan Ruxian’s connection, he somewhat fell from favor. These past few times entering the Crown Prince’s residence, I haven’t seen him around.”

“Understood, you may withdraw.”

“Yes!”

Bu Liu softened his voice: “Miss Yan is inquiring about Yan Xi because you want to…”

“Want to meet him.”

Bu Liu knew about Third Master’s relationship with the Crown Prince. He thought to himself this was just a matter of Third Master saying a word—not difficult.

Yan Sanhe stood: “Let’s go see what Third Master and the others have discovered.”

Bu Liu looked carefully at Yan Sanhe: “Miss Yan, was the old General truly murdered?”

“Currently… it’s hard to say.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was as low as a whisper.

…

Xie Zhifei was somewhat surprised to see Yan Sanhe arrive. Finished questioning so quickly?

Yan Sanhe gestured for him to continue, while she sat down in a corner.

After listening to five or six people consecutively, Yan Sanhe had a clear understanding in her heart. She gave Xie Zhifei a look before going to Pei Xiao’s side.

Walking out from Pei Xiao’s large tent, Yan Sanhe said to Bu Liu following behind her: “Take me to see those weakened horses.”

“Miss Yan, follow me.”

After circling the stables once, it was already noon.

“Miss Yan, shall we return to the tent for a meal?”

“Good.”

Yan Sanhe had been exposed to the scorching sun for quite a while and felt uncomfortable all over. Returning to the tent, she drank several cups of cold tea before recovering a bit of energy.

Xie Zhifei and the others hadn’t finished yet, so she simply ate a little by herself.

After eating, she inexplicably felt drowsy. She fell onto the bamboo couch, her head tilted to one side, and immediately fell asleep.

When she woke and opened her eyes, she discovered the tent filled with dusky yellow light.

Someone sat beside her.

That person reached out to touch her forehead: “Awake?”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was hoarse: “You’re all done questioning?”

Xie Zhifei smiled: “What time do you think it is? If we didn’t finish, you’d scold us for working like tortoises.”

“What time is it?”

“The first quarter of the Hour of the Rooster.”

Yan Sanhe was startled and sat up: “I actually slept the entire afternoon?”

“Mm.”

Xie Zhifei thought about how the few of them ate beside her while she slept sweetly, and added: “Even thunder couldn’t wake you.”

“I’ve been tired these past few days.”

Yan Sanhe brushed aside the stray hair by her ear: “Where are Young Master Pei and the others?”

“Standing outside. Their legs have thinned by three inches, their waists by one inch.” Pei Xiao’s voice.

“Xie Sanye said one person guarding was enough. I said let me do it, he said I’m clumsy and to stay far away.” Li Buyan’s voice.

“Third Master clearly doesn’t know how to attend to people either!” Ding Yi’s voice.

“My lord said with a lone man and woman in the big tent, we need to watch from the side to prevent someone from ruining Miss Yan’s reputation.” Huang Qi’s voice.

“General Bu said the five of us look like door gods.” Zhu Qing’s voice.

“Add me—that makes six door gods total.” This was Bu Liu’s voice.

Yan Sanhe’s gaze turned toward a certain someone.

That certain someone coughed very calmly and said: “Mainly I wanted to keep you company a bit longer. Didn’t expect to attract so much resentment.”

Yan Sanhe smiled silently: “Light the lamps and invite them in.”

…

Actually it was already dinnertime, but no one had the mind to eat dinner—all had a bellyful of words to say.

Yan Sanhe wouldn’t let them speak, only instructing: “Let’s write down all the suspicious points on paper, one by one. This saves time.”

Xie Zhifei, Pei Xiao, and Li Buyan obediently listened, asking Bu Liu for paper and brush. Taking turns, they quickly wrote everything down and handed it to Yan Sanhe.

After reading, under everyone’s watching gazes, Yan Sanhe slowly spoke.

“I’ve summarized the suspicious points—they concentrate on three areas: First, why did the court suddenly dispatch a military supervisor to the northern territories?

Second, why did the old General only lead five thousand troops? Whose idea was this?

The final point…”

She exhaled heavily.

“Around the ninth month of Yonghe’s eighth year, the old General suddenly became aged. What exactly was the reason?”