Zhao Yanjin suddenly sat up straight, his eyes bloodshot.

“Who the hell said I did it deliberately? No, no, no!”

He said “no” once and pounded the bamboo couch once. The final blow punched a hole right through the couch.

“After I defeated the Tatar forces, I rushed toward Black Mountain City without stopping. Riding on horseback, my lungs nearly bounced out, my whole body cold as ice shards.

Those two passes were so narrow. I hurried as fast as I could, cursing heaven and earth, but still got delayed…”

Speaking to this point, his eyes suddenly filled with hatred.

“I told him to bring more soldiers. Even bringing one thousand more would have been good! Why did he have to be so stubborn?

Not only did he throw away his own life, but he caused me to gain nothing at all, nothing at all…

At the time, I even knelt before Father Emperor blaming myself, saying I was the one who caused the Old General’s death, this son is guilty, begging Father Emperor’s pardon…”

Zhao Yanjin’s voice became trembling, as if he truly knelt before Emperor Yonghe.

Yet in the next instant, he picked up the wine bowl and smashed it viciously toward the corner of the wall.

“Harbored the deposed Crown Prince’s orphan? He actually dared harbor the deposed Crown Prince’s orphan… Audacious beyond measure, utterly unforgivable, a treacherous subject…

Father Emperor killed well, all should be killed… Why was I so unlucky… Why… Even Heaven didn’t help me…

Father Emperor, this son never wanted to rebel, you forced me to…

Why did you treat me so well… giving me hope… only to cruelly snuff out that hope in the end… You shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have…”

Crack—

Zhao Yanjin collapsed on the couch, his murky eyeballs lifeless and motionless.

In the seventh year of Yonghe, when he led troops north, Father Emperor came to see him off and said: Of all my sons, you’re most like me.

In the seventeenth year of Yonghe, as he knelt on the ground, Father Emperor threw memorials at him, angrily scolding: How dare you!

He questioned in his heart: Why can’t I be daring? Back when you schemed against the Crown Prince, your daring wasn’t small either. You think you fooled everyone in the realm, but everyone knows, they just don’t dare say it.

When he raised his army in rebellion, the moment his sword pointed toward heaven, he seemed to see himself sitting on that dragon throne, with rivers and mountains, power, beauties… all in his palm.

How did it fail?

Compared to Father Emperor, he wasn’t inferior anywhere!

Was it just a bit of luck missing?

Looking at Zhao Yanjin drunk as mud, Yan Sanhe suddenly felt that Father not sitting in that position was actually a good thing.

That chair—those who sit in it go mad, and those who don’t sit in it also go mad.

“Your Highness, General, we can leave now.”

Indeed, there was nothing more to ask. Zhao Yishi walked out of the study and stood quietly under the eaves for a moment before speaking.

“Miss Yan should rendezvous with Third Master first and tell him about this matter. General Bu should return to the military camp and prepare to head north. I’ll return to Duanmu Palace first and take down that dog slave who spouts nonsense and doesn’t know life from death.”

The last few words were ground out through his teeth, clearly showing he was furious to the extreme.

Yan Sanhe asked: “Should Third Master and I come to Duanmu Palace, or should Your Highness bring the person to the estate?”

Zhao Yishi: “You come. Come immediately.”

Yan Sanhe: “Yes!”

Zhao Yishi flicked his sleeve and walked out of this courtyard bathed in moonlight with hands behind his back.

…

When the carriage reached the alley entrance, Yan Sanhe jumped down. The Crown Prince’s carriage didn’t stop for a moment and galloped away wildly.

“Miss Yan, I’ll escort you to rendezvous with Third Master.”

“No need, they’re very close to me. General Bu…”

“I have something to say.”

Bu Liu dismounted and walked before Yan Sanhe. “How did the Old General die? Was he forced to go die, or did he truly die in battle?”

Yan Sanhe looked around.

“If General Bu isn’t pressed for time, wait until we meet Third Master, then I’ll answer your question.”

“I’m not in such a hurry. Come, let’s go see Third Master.”

At this moment, Xie Zhifei and the others were all waiting at the alley entrance, anxious and worried.

Did they successfully meet Prince Han?

Yan Sanhe didn’t give herself away, did she?

Did they find out anything?

“Master, someone’s coming.”

In the darkness, Bu Liu led his horse at a trot. The person on the horse was Yan Sanhe.

Xie Zhifei’s eyes lit up and he immediately went to meet them.

Drawing near, he extended his hand. Yan Sanhe didn’t hesitate, leaping down confidently as he caught her steadily.

Once everyone gathered around, Yan Sanhe frowned and said: “Prince Han spoke of two matters he knew about.”

Pei Xiao couldn’t wait: “Which two?”

Yan Sanhe: “The first matter concerns the Old General’s death. Prince Han said there was nothing suspicious—he died in battle. The five thousand troops were also what the Old General insisted on taking, and he also said he didn’t delay the rescue time.”

His gaze shifted toward Bu Liu.

“This matter is the so-called truth in Prince Han’s eyes. He only learned of the Zheng residence massacre after returning to the capital.”

Bu Liu couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning.

What did “so-called truth in Prince Han’s eyes” mean?

Yan Sanhe didn’t explain further and continued: “The second matter—Ye Dong didn’t commit suicide in martyrdom. He was killed by Tan Shu. Both Yan Ruxian and Yan Xi were present.”

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically.

Pei Xiao asked in shock: “Yan Xi lied?”

Yan Sanhe: “Prince Han saw it with his own eyes. There’s no doubt—Yan Xi lied.”

Reaching this point, she didn’t even pause, recounting word for word everything she’d heard in the study today.

Truly word for word. Bu Liu was shocked—sweat broke out on his back. How could Miss Yan’s memory be this good?

At the alley entrance, apart from a few crickets chirping, there was no other sound.

In the midst of shock, Xie Zhifei asked with an ashen face: “Why did Yan Xi lie?”

“I don’t know. The Crown Prince has already rushed back to Duanmu Palace at the first opportunity. He wants us to rendezvous and then immediately head there as well.”

“Then let’s hurry.” Pei Xiao couldn’t wait.

“Wait.”

Yan Sanhe turned around, looking at Bu Liu and patiently explaining:

“The so-called truth in Prince Han’s eyes means he didn’t know that Yan Ruxian had secretly told the Old General about the Zheng family matter, so he thought the Old General’s death was simply death in battle.”

Bu Liu said hatefully: “But it actually wasn’t.”

“Whether it was or wasn’t depends on whether Yan Xi was lying.”

Yan Sanhe smiled with difficulty.

“In fact, we don’t know how much of what Yan Xi said was true. This means the Old General’s death being truly death in battle, or being forced to die, remains confusing and unclear.”

Bu Liu gritted his teeth: “It must have been forced. That fool Prince Han just didn’t know anything.”

Yan Sanhe: “Once we see Yan Xi, the entire truth will become clear. Does General Bu want to come to Duanmu Palace?”

“I…”

“He’s not going.”

Xie Zhifei’s large palm pressed on Bu Liu’s shoulder. “Yan Sanhe, Mingting, you head to Duanmu Palace first. I’ll say a few words to Bu Liu, then follow shortly.”

Zhu Qing: “I’ll stay and wait for Master.”

Yan Sanhe said nothing superfluous: “Depart.”

Li Buyan, hearing this command, quickly jumped into the carriage, extending her hand to pull Yan Sanhe in, then pulling Young Master Pei in.

Ding Yi drove the carriage, Huang Qi mounted his horse, and in an instant they disappeared into the water-like night.

“Third Master, you just pressed me…”

“Don’t follow. Keep your distance from the Crown Prince as much as possible to avoid that person in the palace bearing grudges. This is point one. Point two…”

He took a deep breath.

“In half a month you’ll head north. Quickly gather your thoughts—don’t focus on the Zheng family matter. Winning the battle and returning alive is a hundred times more important than this.”

“Young… Third Master!” Bu Liu’s eyes welled up.

“I’ll handle the Zheng family matter.”

Xie Zhifei’s hand on his shoulder pressed slightly harder. “Rest assured.”

Just then, urgent hoofbeats approached from far to near.

Zhu Qing looked carefully: “Master, it’s Huang Qi.”

Huang Qi charged forward, then suddenly pulled hard on the reins, causing the horse’s head to rear up high.

“Master, we just received news—Yan Xi has fled!”

“Fled?”

Xie Zhifei was shocked.