Qiao Chu

(Fifteen days later)

"...The attack was an act of madness by the Second Prince. It wasn't actually targeted at Great Xia—he was merely competing with the Third Prince."

"Because the Third Prince captured Stone Slope City, he won the Great King's favor. With the First Prince gone and the Great King's health deteriorating from the strain, he has decided to pass the throne to the Third Prince."

"The Second Prince, unwilling to accept this, wanted to accomplish a major feat to win the Great King's approval."

"The Great King has beheaded the Second Prince as an apology to General Zhong and is willing to add a thousand fine horses to the treaty..."

Zhu Yong closed the booklet after reading this and looked at Zhong Changrong lying on the bed.

"The Imperial Censors have accepted the King of Xiliang's apology, so there will be no further military campaign. General Zhong, can you accept this?"

Before Zhong Changrong could respond, Zhu Yong voiced his own stance.

"If you disagree, General Zhong, I will persuade them."

He emphasized the word "persuade."

Zhong Changrong, lying on the bed, smiled faintly. He understood Zhu Yong's meaning—though court officials were handling the truce and negotiations with Western Liang, the final decision rested with Zhong Changrong.

This was the Empress's will.

"Thank you, Lord Zhu," Zhong Changrong said, glancing at the head placed on a nearby table—the severed head of the Second Prince of Western Liang. "This matter can end here."

Zhu Yong pressed further, "General Zhong, do not hold back any concerns."

Zhong Changrong shook his head. "No, it is right to halt the war here. We have achieved what we wanted. Continuing the campaign would only bring retaliation against Western Liang and disaster for Great Xia."

Satisfied with his response, Zhu Yong nodded. "I understand. I will go finalize this with the officials now."

Zhong Changrong said, "Please wait a moment," then called out for Xiao Shan.

Someone shuffled in from outside the door.

"Xiao Shan, give Lord Zhu the investigation report on Yu Shang."

Hearing the order, Xiao Shan hurriedly pulled a booklet from his robe.

Zhu Yong took it.

"We encountered a merchant in Western Liang who claimed to be from Great Xia. When we tried to capture him, he suddenly took his own life," Zhong Changrong explained. "Our investigation shows this merchant's surname was Yu, born in Yunzhong County, with his family in the capital. For over a decade, he had been traveling between the capital and Yunzhong County for trade."

Zhu Yong studied the records and portrait in the booklet, which depicted a very ordinary, common merchant. He was puzzled but remained silent, waiting for Zhong Changrong to continue.

Zhong Changrong fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of it. It's just a suspicion. While Great Xia merchants do trade with Western Liang, and some even infiltrate their territory, that usually happens during peacetime. For a Great Xia merchant to appear in Western Liang now, and to kill himself when captured by our people—I find it suspicious. Moreover, I worry—"

He looked at Zhu Yong.

"—that the root of this issue lies in the capital."

Zhu Yong pondered this, then looked again at Yu Shang's portrait.

"There's more," Zhong Changrong added. "Although the King of Xiliang claims the Second Prince's attack on me was accidental—that the prince didn't know it was me and just stumbled upon us—I still feel there's something off about the assault."

Zhu Yong looked up at him. "General Zhong, are you suggesting this was actually a conspiracy targeting you?"

Zhong Changrong smiled wryly. "I've been bedridden for half a month, so I've had too much time to think. I even started thinking about Stone Slope City."Zhu Yong frowned and said, "General, are you suggesting there's something suspicious about the fall of Stone Slope City as well?"

Zhong Changrong shook his head, then nodded. "I know even the tightest defenses can have flaws. We investigated the surprise attack on Stone Slope City and found no issues, but... the absence of problems might itself be a problem."

He gave a bitter smile at this point.

"But all I can offer are my suspicions. I have no evidence whatsoever."

Zhu Yong chuckled, tucking the notebook away. "The general need not provide evidence. It is the Garrison Guard's duty to investigate matters raised by the Empress. Leave everything else to us. Rest assured, I will immediately relay this to the capital's Garrison Guard for discreet investigation."

Zhong Changrong sighed with relief. "I've been deeply concerned about the Empress. With the general gone and no strong family backing her, I'm now reassured to see she doesn't stand alone."

Zhu Yong smiled. "The general worries too much. The Empress is the nation's consort—she has never been alone." Noting Zhong Changrong's pallid complexion, he refrained from further conversation and bowed in farewell. "General, please rest well."

Zhong Changrong nodded, watching as Zhu Yong departed.

"General, would you like some water?" Xiao Shan asked.

Zhong Changrong grunted. "Rare indeed that I get to enjoy Captain Xiao Shan's personal service."

Xiao Shan picked up the teapot and poured water. "This hardly counts as service—just fetching a bowl of water."

Carrying the water over, he sat by the bed, helped Zhong Changrong sit up, and carefully fed him the water. Seeing Zhong Changrong's pale face, he sighed softly.

So this lad has finally learned to care for him, Zhong Changrong mused inwardly.

"I wonder how young master is doing now. When he left, his face was even paler than yours, General," Xiao Shan said sorrowfully.

Zhong Changrong barely prevented himself from spitting water in Xiao Shan's face, swallowing hard instead. "Don't worry. There are people far more capable than you at taking care of him."

But speaking these words brought Zhong Changrong no satisfaction. Instead, he froze momentarily, growing even more irritated.

That damned brat better not actually be letting A Zhao take care of him!

As both men lost themselves in thought, the window rattled abruptly—someone was climbing through.

Xiao Shan sprang to his feet, splashing water across Zhong Changrong's face. "Who's there!"

Then he saw the figure by the window—a woman.

As Zhong Changrong's trusted aide, Xiao Shan naturally recognized Mu Mianhong's identity. He lowered his defensive stance but remained wary.

Zhong Changrong closed his eyes. "Get out."

Xiao Shan immediately shouted, "Hear that? The general wants you to... uh... leave."

Though aware of Zhong Changrong's hostility toward this woman, Xiao Shan remembered she was the one who assaulted the Western Liang royal court and resolved Xie Yanlai's crisis—she was young master's savior. He had no desire to speak harshly to her.

Zhong Changrong opened his eyes to glare at Xiao Shan. "I meant you. Get out."

Xiao Shan flicked his sleeve in exasperation. "General, you're truly nothing like young master's considerate nature. Don't expect me to serve you next time." With that, he stomped out of the room.

Zhong Changrong exhaled heavily. "I can't handle your 'service' anyway."

Mu Mianhong approached with an amused smile, observing the tea droplets still clinging to Zhong Changrong's face. "Shall I help wipe your face?"

"Unnecessary," Zhong Changrong replied coldly.

Yet he made no move to wipe himself. His left arm was bound in stiff layers of bandages, immobilized by injury. His right arm—was simply gone.

During the final moments of that ambush, reinforcements had arrived and routed the Xiliang soldiers. Zhong Changrong escaped with his life, but lost his right arm in the process.Mu Mianhong looked at his right arm and said, "I came to remind you to tell A Zhao about this."

Zhong Changrong's first instinct was to refuse—he couldn't let A Zhao grieve or worry for him—

"So she can understand your condition," Mu Mianhong continued, "and decide whether to replace you, to prevent a crisis in the Border Army."

Zhong Changrong stiffened, took a deep breath, and nodded. Yes, this was the most critical matter. He was already disabled, and there might be issues within the Border Army—issues that even implicated the capital.

"Alright," he said. "Inform her immediately, including all the details of the ambush I faced."

After speaking, he glanced at Mu Mianhong.

"You actually didn't tell her in advance? I thought you would have informed her the moment I was attacked."

Mu Mianhong smiled faintly. "I didn't want to worry her. Besides, there was nothing to worry about. Even if you had died, I would still be here."

Zhong Changrong opened his mouth to say something but swallowed his words.

Mu Mianhong reminded him and then turned to leave through the window. The room returned to silence, but Zhong Changrong still couldn't sleep, for outside, clamorous noises arose—many people moving about, interspersed with shouts.

"Captain Liang—"

"Captain Liang, you're back—"

One call after another, as if many were chanting this name.

While Xie Yanlai was now a legend in the Border Army, Liang Qiang could be considered the second. Though he hadn't achieved the astonishing feat of capturing the King of Xiliang alive, he had risen from laborer to Brigadier General in just two years through remarkable military exploits. Even his demotion after a mistake only added to his legendary status.

This time, by saving Zhong Changrong, Liang Qiang's prestige in the Border Army soared even higher.

Liang Qiang entered the room and saluted Zhong Changrong, who lay on the bed. "General, I have personally verified that the King of Xiliang's court has relocated."

He wore a soldier's uniform and a cloak, appearing normal, but Zhong Changrong knew that this young officer had charged alone into the battlefield, fought fiercely, and returned severely wounded, carried back on a stretcher.

Zhong Changrong said, "I haven't yet thanked Captain Liang for saving my life."

Liang Qiang saluted again. "I dare not claim such gratitude. Slaying the enemy is my duty."

The room fell silent once more. Liang Qiang could feel the general's gaze lingering on him from the bed—a gaze devoid of gratitude, instead cold and scrutinizing.

"What a coincidence," Zhong Changrong's voice broke the silence. "How is it that you, Captain Liang, were the one to save me?"

This question had been asked before and quickly answered: Liang Qiang had persistently begged Zhong Changrong for permission to kill Deng Yi to atone for his faults, but Zhong Changrong had consistently refused. Liang Qiang's relentless pursuit of Zhong Changrong led him to coincidentally discover the ambush and alert reinforcements in time.

This explanation was common knowledge, needing no words from Liang Qiang.

Liang Qiang lifted his head, his expression calm as he met Zhong Changrong's eyes, and spoke words not everyone knew.

"Because someone wanted you dead," he said. "But I did not agree."