Yan Xi would never forget that journey.

Three days after the Zheng family massacre, His Majesty dispatched Eunuch Yan to the Northern Territories.

After Eunuch Yan received his orders, he turned and immediately selected Yan Xi.

As Yan Xi packed his luggage, Eunuch Yan sat beside him, puffing on his tobacco pipe, his expression extremely grave.

At that moment, Yan Xi thought to himself: no wonder His Majesty would send Eunuch Yan to the Northern Territories—this matter was truly too thorny.

On one hand, the Northern Territories’ military campaign could not do without Old General Zheng.

Though the general was said to be assisting, all the victories were battles led by the general himself—he was truly the backbone of the entire army.

On the other hand, how could the Zheng family matter be explained to the old general?

“Eunuch.”

Yan Xi deliberately muttered: “For the sake of the overall situation, shouldn’t we at least wait until the old general wins a victory before saying anything?”

“What the hell do you know?”

Eunuch Yan tapped his pipe on the table. “Just pack your things properly and don’t discuss matters you shouldn’t be discussing.”

Yan Xi smiled ingratiatingly. “I’m just worried about Your Excellency’s health. If you keep frowning like this, you’ll get several more wrinkles.”

What Yan Ruxian valued most was his face. Hearing these words, he quickly smoothed his brow, exhaled a puff of smoke, and sighed:

“This assignment is difficult!”

But no matter how difficult, they had to set out. The further north they traveled, the greater the sandstorms and the harsher the weather.

Eunuch Yan was accustomed to enjoying comforts in the palace. Normally, on such a difficult journey, he would certainly make the party stop frequently and absolutely not let himself suffer the slightest hardship.

But this time, he seemed like a different person—not uttering a single complaint, not resting for even a moment. In just one month, they reached the Northern Territories.

The Prince of Han and Old General Zheng received the news and rode out ten li to greet them.

Yan Xi could tell that both men looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Indeed, the battles were going well—there was no need to send a supervising officer. Sending one meant the Emperor was dissatisfied with the military campaign.

During the welcoming banquet that evening, the Prince of Han asked directly: “What is the purpose of Eunuch’s trip here?”

“His Majesty is concerned about the campaign and also about Your Highness, so he sent this old servant to take a look.”

Eunuch Yan glanced lightly at Old General Zheng.

“When His Majesty was young, he guarded the Northern Territories for many years. Now burdened with state affairs, it has been many years since he returned. The Northern Territories are His Majesty’s second homeland. As the saying goes, one cannot leave one’s native soil easily—he asked this old servant to look around more on his behalf.”

Hearing these words, the Prince of Han’s expression improved somewhat.

His Majesty truly cared deeply about the Northern Territories. Whenever battles were fought there, as long as he could spare the time, he would personally lead the campaign.

While Yan Xi marveled at how well Eunuch Yan could speak, he kept glancing at the old general from the corner of his eye.

The old general’s face showed no expression whatsoever—he just drank his tea by himself.

Yan Xi secretly sighed, thinking to himself: if the old general knew about his family’s affairs, forget drinking tea—even breathing would be difficult.

One sigh wasn’t enough, so he sighed again. What in this world could be more tragic than white-haired people sending off black-haired ones?

Just then, the general raised his cup and declared loudly: “Eunuch Yan has come from afar—I toast you with tea in place of wine.”

Yan Ruxian replied in his high-pitched voice: “The general kills enemies for the country with great merit and hard work—I should toast the general.”

The welcoming banquet ended amid this exchange of polite formalities.

When leaving the main tent, Eunuch Yan did not walk shoulder to shoulder with the Prince of Han, but deliberately fell back a step to walk beside the old general.

Yan Xi didn’t dare follow too closely, but kept his ears perked from a distance to eavesdrop.

They spoke of inconsequential idle talk, mostly Eunuch Yan speaking while the old general listened.

Yan Xi secretly thought that Eunuch Yan still had his methods.

First soothe the general’s emotions, make him no longer suspicious of the supervising officer’s arrival, so he could lead the troops in battle with peace of mind.

After the great battle ended, then tell him about the Zheng family matter, demonstrating His Majesty’s care for the general.

And so, they settled in the Northern Territories. Although their food and provisions were the best available, conditions were still harsh and incomparable to the capital.

Yet Eunuch Yan didn’t utter a single complaint. Every day he went to the main tent to discuss military affairs with the Prince of Han and the old general.

The Northern Territories grew colder and colder, morale began to stir restlessly, and the Tatars had hidden their main forces, dragging out the Hua Kingdom’s army.

Yan Xi didn’t understand military matters—he only knew that Eunuch Yan returned later each night.

He didn’t dare sleep first, so he could only huddle by the charcoal brazier, forcing his eyes to stay open, waiting for him to return.

One day, he waited left and right but no one came. Seeing heavy snow beginning to fall outside, he grabbed a large cloak and ran to the main tent to fetch him.

Upon inquiry, he learned that Eunuch Yan had left shortly after midnight.

On such a cold night, could he have gone drinking with Tan Shu?

Yan Xi went to find Tan Shu’s camp, only to discover he wasn’t there either.

How strange—where could he be?

As if possessed by a ghost, a person’s name popped into Yan Xi’s mind: Old General Zheng.

He hurried toward the old general’s camp.

Light shone from inside the tent, but there wasn’t a single guard at the entrance. Yan Xi approached and heard someone speaking.

The speaker was his master, Yan Ruxian.

“General, everyone must die eventually—either as heavy as Mount Tai or as light as a feather, either leaving a lasting legacy or eternal infamy. If I were you, I wouldn’t hesitate.

Being wrapped in a horse hide is already a general’s destiny. For you, this destiny means earning fame both in life and death. Even if future history books record only a few brief strokes, they will all record your great achievements.

This destiny, for His Majesty…”

Yan Ruxian let out a heavy sigh.

“…Actually, His Majesty still cherishes old bonds. Otherwise, why not have this old servant bring a cup of poisoned wine to the Northern Territories? Wouldn’t that be cleaner and more decisive?”

Hearing the words “poisoned wine,” Yan Xi was so frightened he covered his mouth tightly with the cloak and turned to run.

He ran all the way back to the camp in one breath, hung the cloak back in its place, quickly took off his clothes, burrowed into the bedding, his heart pounding wildly.

What was going on? His Majesty sent Eunuch Yan to the Northern Territories—could it not be because of the Zheng family matter?

Eunuch’s words just now—they, they, they were telling the general to go die?

But why?

Why would His Majesty want the general to die?

Just as Yan Xi was filled with anxiety and fear, Yan Ruxian returned to the tent. Seeing him sleeping soundly, he grabbed his ear and cursed shrilly…

Even after all this time, Yan Xi’s face still showed an expression of extreme terror.

“After that day, fearing for my own life, I never dared wander around again or inquire about anything. I could only serve Eunuch Yan with redoubled care.

Not long after, Old General Zheng led troops to Black Mountain City. Then the battle began. And after that…”

He paused for a moment, stealing a glance at Yan Sanhe. “The old general truly died in battle.”

As the last word fell, a muffled thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky.

The rolling thunder came from far to near, pressing heavily upon everyone’s hearts.

What a brilliant scheme indeed.

With one phrase about “cherishing old bonds,” he forced Old General Zheng to become bait, forced him to go to his death, ultimately to have his soul return to Black Mountain City.

This method was exactly the same as when he forced Crown Prince Zhao Rongyu to rebel years ago.

Rain poured down in torrents, striking the ground, the trees, the windows.

Inside the room, deadly silence still prevailed.

Yan Xi’s legs buckled and he knelt down again.

“Miss Yan, Third Master, Young Master Pei—this is all I know. I’ve never dared tell anyone about this.

I’m still young and want to live. I beg you three to show mercy and speak on my behalf before His Highness.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him, her eyes unspeakably cold and hard.

But then she thought—what did it have to do with him anyway?

Imperial authority had such a domineering face, such a ferocious visage. Even Old General Zheng, who commanded thousands of troops, could not resist. What could a mere twelve-year-old palace servant do?

“I ask you—did Ye Dong truly commit suicide?”