The room instantly turned as cold as an ice cellar.
Zhong Changrong's first thought was to call Zhu Yong back.
His suspicions now had evidence.
"So, Young Master Liang, have you returned from your misguided path?" he said coldly.
He had many questions to unleash—since when had this started? What had been done? Was the fall of Stone Slope City your doing? Yet he swallowed all these words before they left his lips.
"Who is that person?" he asked only the most critical question.
Liang Qiang's expression remained unchanged, neither shocked by the terrifying implications of his own words nor intimidated by Zhong Changrong's dangerous aura.
He shook his head: "It's not that I won't tell you—it's that I don't know either."
Don't know? Zhong Changrong stared at him.
"Whether you believe me or not, General, I speak the truth," Liang Qiang said with a faint smile. "Moreover, I wouldn't call it returning from a misguided path. I saved you for my own sake as well."
Zhong Changrong sneered coldly: "Perhaps interrogation and imprisonment will help you remember."
Liang Qiang nodded: "And if you investigate those around me, you'll surely uncover something."
Was he actually suggesting methods? Zhong Changrong watched him.
"But the other party isn't foolish. The moment you act, they'll notice and cut off all trails," Liang Qiang said, then gave a self-mocking smile. "As for me—whether I'm imprisoned and interrogated or executed outright—what does it matter? I'm ultimately insignificant. My death would mean nothing to them, and it would bring you no benefit either."
He looked steadily at Zhong Changrong.
"If I die, you won't survive either."
"I can't guarantee someone as soft-hearted as me will appear the next time you're in danger."
The room plunged into freezing silence once more.
After a moment, Zhong Changrong said coldly: "You're not soft-hearted—you have ulterior motives."
Liang Qiang didn't deny it, nodding instead: "Yes, General. What I want is simple—I don't wish to die, nor to die meaninglessly."
Before Zhong Changrong could respond, he stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
"Eliminating me won't help you uncover the mastermind, and more hidden threats will emerge around you. So I beg you to spare me, General. Having revealed my secrets to you, I pose no further threat."
This was a scene Zhong Changrong had never imagined. He stared at the kneeling young man, unable to conceal his shock.
Liang Qiang actually—
Would actually be like this—
It was actually Liang Qiang—
Though he'd always been wary of the Liang father and son, that was the extent of it. He'd never closely observed this young Liang heir, nor probed what kind of person he might be.
This youth was around Xie Yanlai's age. Though not as strikingly handsome as Xie Yanlai, he was still quite good-looking. Neither hard labor nor two years of battlefield carnage had eroded his noble bearing.
It was a different kind of dignity from Xie Yanlai's.
Zhong Changrong sneered inwardly—a polished yet decaying dignity. No matter how brightly he smiled, an impenetrable gloom clung to him, defying even sunlight.
Whereas Xie Yanlai, no matter how shadowed his brow, always radiated an inner light that tore through the darkness.
"Young Master Liang is truly bold," he said slowly.
Liang Qiang's lips twitched, wanting to tell Zhong Changrong that Miss Azhao—the Empress—had once called him courageous.
He steadied himself and remained silent, listening as Zhong Changrong continued.
"...After committing such acts, you still dare to negotiate terms with me?"Liang Qiang shook his head. "It's not about courage. I simply don't want to die. Of course, if the General orders me to die, I'll die immediately."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhong Changrong.
"All you'll get is my dead body. I won't say another word."
Zhong Changrong said coldly, "Is this a threat?"
Liang Qiang shook his head again. "It's the truth. That person has accomplished so many incredible things. Do you really think you can trace him through me? I'm just a tool. When a tool is no longer needed, it becomes nothing."
Zhong Changrong looked at him and smiled mockingly. "If that person is so powerful, will he let you live after you've defied his orders?"
Liang Qiang bowed again. "That's why I need the General's trust. With it, I can deceive him, persuade him, and blind him."
The room fell into stillness again.
It felt like a long time had passed, yet also like just a breath.
Zhong Changrong said lightly, "Leave."
"Thank you, General." Liang Qiang said, not uttering another word, and rose to take his leave.
As Liang Qiang walked out, the room returned to silence. The commotion outside faded as the crowd dispersed with Liang Qiang. Zhong Changrong lay on the bed, his expression grave, as if still deep in thought. Then he sighed.
"General," he murmured, "being this Great General is truly difficult."
He instinctively tried to raise his hand to rub his forehead, only to remember he had lost his right hand, and his left was temporarily immobile.
He sighed again, then took a deep breath and called for Xiao Shan.
After several calls, Xiao Shan finally poked his head through the window. "What does the General need? There are people outside to take orders. I'm a Captain with many duties—"
Zhong Changrong glared at him, cutting off his chatter.
"Invite Minister Zhu here," he said, then added, "and take away the Xiliang man's head."
Xiao Shan glanced at the table and muttered, "Why didn't you have him take it earlier? General, you really must have hit your head." Without waiting for Zhong Changrong to scold him, he dropped the window and ran off.
Zhong Changrong exhaled on the bed. Not only is my head unharmed, it's become even sharper.
Zhu Yong, who hadn't gone far, arrived quickly. Entering the room, he didn't even glance at the head on the table and asked quietly, "What does the General need?"
It's so much easier to talk to clever people, Zhong Changrong thought, knowing that coming back for the head was merely an excuse and cover.
"About what I mentioned earlier," he looked at Zhu Yong, "it's been confirmed."
......
......
Despite the major incident of the commander being ambushed, the atmosphere in the military camp wasn't subdued. The attackers had been promptly eliminated, and the troops had pressed on to attack the Xiliang royal city, forcing the King of Xiliang into a carriage and driving the entire city's Xiliang people to migrate further west.
With just one order from General Zhong, they could march even further west.
When Liang Qiang arrived on horseback, the camp erupted with excitement.
"Captain Liang!"
"Captain Liang, when are we going to attack the King of Xiliang?"
"Chop off one of the King of Xiliang's arms!"
Hearing these shouts, Liang Qiang smiled. "I've just seen General Zhong. He said he'll personally lead everyone to do this."
The soldiers cheered.
Liang Qiang dismounted and walked into the wounded soldiers' camp amid the cheers. Seeing him enter, the soldiers in the camp greeted him warmly.
"Captain Liang is here."
"Your companion is much better now."Liang Qiang was demoted from Brigadier General to Captain, losing command over thirty thousand soldiers, but his personal guards still followed him. Many had died or been injured in the previous battle to aid General Zhong.
Liang Qiang thanked them and, under everyone’s gaze, entered a room.
Inside the room were only two beds, with two soldiers lying on them as if in a daze.
"I believe what I did was right," Liang Qiang said directly, looking at them.
One of the soldiers opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "What? Does Young Master Liang want a reward?"
Ignoring the sarcasm, Liang Qiang replied, "Just as I said before—keeping my arm doesn’t affect our deal. Similarly, sparing Zhong Changrong’s life doesn’t hinder our plans. If Zhong Changrong dies, inheriting everything he has won’t be easy. It would only invite more competition. It’s better to let him live, gain his trust, and be valued by him. That way, things become simpler."
The soldier’s expression turned cold. "Young Master Liang, your job is to act. How things are done is not your concern."
"Young Master Liang," the other soldier also opened his eyes and said calmly, "Go and make arrangements for what comes next. Don’t waste time here."
They had intended to kill Liang Qiang in the chaos of the earlier battle, but once caught in the fray, they lost control. The frenzied Xiliang soldiers ended up forming a protective wall around Liang Qiang.
But it didn’t matter—there were plenty of ways to ensure someone’s death.
Liang Qiang, traitor, you are doomed.
Liang Qiang said, "My death won’t benefit you either. With the Border Army’s campaign over, finding another like me won’t be easy."
The soldier chuckled coldly. "So Young Master Liang now has the confidence to threaten us?"
Liang Qiang shook his head. "I’m not threatening." He looked directly at the soldier. "I just want to live like a human being. Please treat me as one."
As the soldier was about to retort, the other stopped him and said indifferently to Liang Qiang, "Enough talk. Whether you can live like a human depends on your fate."
Unfazed by the threat, Liang Qiang replied, "You were right earlier—I am here for a reward. Please relay this: arrange for me to kill Deng Yi and Xiao Xun. Now that I have Zhong Changrong’s trust, gaining the honor of executing rebels will make my position unshakable."
…
…
Slender fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"Bravery," Xie Yanfang said, lifting his head to look at Cai Bo across from him. "It’s not really a virtue—it’s merely an obsession."
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