The Heir of the Duke of Guardian slightly tried to draw Xie Jingchen closer, and the Marchioness Changning was truly afraid that Xie Jingchen would be swayed by the Heir of the Duke of Guardian to arrange a marriage for him.

Xie Jingchen firmly refused, saying he already had someone in his heart and would marry her once he made achievements and returned.

The Marchioness Changning was a bit disappointed but said nothing.

In truth, if she truly considered a marriage proposal, it was rather inconvenient.

Although Xie Jingchen saved the Heir of Marquis Changning three times, his official rank was incredibly low, merely a small captain.

With such a status, marrying a maid to him would be insulting.

No matter how high his martial arts skills were, he would sooner or later become a general, and having a wife as a maid would disgrace him.

But to marry someone else to him...

The Marchioness Changning was acquainted with noblewomen, each more prestigious than the other, and to seek marriages with their daughters for Xie Jingchen would invite scorn.

When Xie Jingchen mentioned he had someone in mind, the Marchioness Changning took the opportunity to drop the matter and did not mention it again.

He originally planned to stay in the Nanliang Capital for only two days before returning to the border, but now, with the Heir of the Duke of Guardian drawing him closer, Xie Jingchen changed his mind.

Perhaps staying a few more days could yield richer rewards.

Yet, within just two days, Xie Jingchen was truly shocked.

The Marchioness Changning forced the Heir of Marquis Changning to accompany her to the temple to offer incense, and the Heir brought Xie Jingchen along.

The Marchioness Changning wished to seek a match for her son and found someone in front of the temple to predict the future for the Heir of Marquis Changning.

The Heir’s fate was indeed promising, destined to be ennobled and rise to prominence.

Whether accurate or not, the words were pleasing, bringing delight to the Marchioness Changning.

The Heir of Marquis Changning scoffed and pointed at Xie Jingchen, saying, "Then give Brother Li a prediction as well."

Hmm.

Xie Jingchen didn’t have faith in these fortune-tellers.

The fortune-teller looked at Xie Jingchen’s face and said, "The appearance is ordinary, yet faintly exudes some noble aura, truly peculiar."

"Extend your hand for me to see."

Xie Jingchen extended his hand for examination.

After inspecting, the fortune-teller clicked his tongue in wonder, "This is a Prince Consort’s fate, and capable of holding a commander’s seal...."

The fortune-teller felt fraudulent with his own words.

Throughout the ages, it’s rare to find a Prince Consort wielding military power, especially one with such ordinary looks.

The more the fortune-teller looked, the more puzzled he became, while Xie Jingchen’s mouth twitched.

If this fortune-teller continued, he might expose Xie Jingchen’s matter of disguise.

Xie Jingchen withdrew his hand, and the Heir of Marquis Changning snorted with laughter and asked, "Does Brother Li know when he will marry a princess and hold the commander’s seal?"

The fortune-teller shook his head, calling it bizarre.

The Heir of Marquis Changning wanted to inquire more, but the Marchioness Changning glared at him.

She was pleased about her son rising through the ranks, yet the fortune bestowed upon Xie Jingchen was even more prestigious; could she believe that?

Marrying a princess...

If he truly became a Great General, it might be possible to marry a princess.

But for a mere small captain to ascend to a Great General’s position, that’s much easier said than done.

The Marchioness Changning turned and left, feeling certain the fortune-teller was inaccurate; the Heir of Marquis Changning didn’t pay Xie Jingchen’s fee.

The fortune-teller didn’t ask for payment, sitting there flipping through his books, pondering the discrepancy.

Xie Jingchen glanced back, this fortune-teller wasn’t a con artist, possessing some genuine aptitude.

The maid lifted the sedan curtain, and the Marchioness Changning prepared to sit inside.

Just then, a servant rode over and shouted, "Madam, something bad has happened!"

The urgency in the voice was alarming.

The servant dismounted swiftly, and the Marchioness Changning asked anxiously, "What happened?"

"The Young Master committed murder," the servant blurted out.

The Marchioness Changning’s face changed drastically.

The Heir of Marquis Changning’s expression was also grave.

How could a cousin commit murder?

It’s simply impossible!

General Shi is at the border, while his son is in the Capital, serving as Vice Commander of the Capital Guard, ensuring the safety of the Capital.

Or rather, using the Vice Commander position to bind General Shi’s son, as the Emperor is indeed uneasy leaving them both at the border.

But to say that Young General Shi committed murder, the Heir of Marquis Changning could not believe it.

"It’s true, the Young Master has already been detained in the Ministry of Justice Prison," the servant said.

The Marchioness Changning felt dizzy.

The Heir of Marquis Changning instructed the maid to take care of his mother and mounted his horse, heading straight to the Ministry of Justice.

Of course, Xie Jingchen would follow him.

The efficiency of the people under the Heir of the Duke of Guardian was high, and Xie Jingchen couldn’t help but applaud their speed. In just two days, General Shi’s Red Book Iron Certificate was unstable.

A life for a life.

If the certificate isn’t presented, General Shi’s eldest son will be publicly executed.

The Heir of Marquis Changning wanted to visit, but the Ministry of Justice blocked him from entering.

However, the Changning Marquis Mansion had a good relationship with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and the Heir of Marquis Changning convinced him to intervene and entered the Ministry of Justice Prison.

Young Master Shi was held in a cell; the Heir of Marquis Changning asked him, "Cousin, did you really kill the Sixth Young Master of Wang Taifu Mansion?"

Young Master Shi held his head in his hands, "I don’t know..."

The Heir of Marquis Changning looked at the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and said, "My cousin wouldn’t kill anyone."

The Vice Minister shook his head.

Saying he wouldn’t kill anyone was useless; he also believed Young Master Shi wouldn’t commit murder.

But the Sixth Young Master of Wang Taifu’s family was indeed dead, and there was an eyewitness to the process.

The murder weapon was indeed Young Master Shi’s knife.

Except Young Master Shi couldn’t remember the murder; the case had both witness and physical evidence.

Wang Taifu had already pleaded before the Emperor to seek justice for his grandson.

This matter was difficult for the Emperor too; Young Master Shi was General Shi’s eldest son, with a younger son only five or six years old.

To make Young Master Shi pay for the murder, General Shi would never agree.

Before the Duke of Guardian heads to the border, Young Master Shi definitely couldn’t be dealt with.

With General Shi trapped, the Heir of Marquis Changning was even less likely to head to the border.

To say General Shi encountered setbacks with Xie Jingchen and Su Jin is misfortune enough; one pit follows another, keeping him overwhelmingly busy.

On this side, Young Master Shi was imprisoned for murder, his head hanging by a thread.

On that side, General Shi was resolute, determined to reclaim the lost fort.

But the fort was difficult to defend and assault; despite numerous battles, troops were lost and incapacitated, yet the fort remained unshaken.

Fortunately, Beimo delivered to the border the 30,000 dan of grain and grass and 100,000 taels of gold promised to Nanliang, preparing to hand them over. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Grain and grass were delivered to the border of the two countries, and General Shi dispatched 5,000 troops to receive them.

Yet the grain and gold weren’t brought back, with the 5,000 troops either dead or wounded; except for one messenger sent to Nanliang, all were captured.

The grain and gold urgently sought by Nanliang were seized by Marquis Dongxiang with troops.

To ensure foolproof success, he personally led the Flying Tiger Army to seize them.

The battle was won spectacularly.

As soon as the news of the grain and gold being intercepted reached Nanliang, General Shi felt dizzy, barely able to stand.

He barely managed to avoid fainting.

Yet the news of Young Master Shi’s imprisonment for murder reached the camp.

General Shi felt a tickle in his throat, spitting out blood, and fainted.