Although the Red Book Iron Certificate has been retrieved from General Shi’s Mansion, it was still an Imperial Gift from the late Emperor, and to be cut in half by his sword like this...

The Duke of Guardian cannot but fear the Emperor’s blame.

However, the Duke of Guardian is a confidant of the Emperor of Nanliang, and they are also cousins.

When the Emperor of Nanliang ascended the throne, the Duke of Guardian and the Duke Guardian Mansion played a crucial role, and splitting the iron box was also the Emperor of Nanliang’s order, only the Emperor wanted the iron box to be split, but the Duke of Guardian also cut the Red Book Iron Certificate.

Now that General Shi has been failing consecutively at the border, the Emperor of Nanliang still relies on the Duke of Guardian to reclaim the lost cities at the border, how could he blame him?

"Rise," said the Emperor of Nanliang.

Only then did the Duke of Guardian get up.

He looked at the Red Book Iron Certificate lying on the ground and noticed it was not only split by him but also missing a corner, as if something had also cut it.

The Duke of Guardian presented the Red Book Iron Certificate to the Emperor of Nanliang for inspection.

He found it strange why the intact Red Book Iron Certificate had to be hidden in the iron box; it turns out it was already damaged long ago, afraid that someone would see it and blame the Shi Family for failing to protect the Imperial Gift, forcing them to hide it!

The Emperor of Nanliang also noticed the damage to the Red Book Iron Certificate, but the fracture was clean and tidy, like a new one.

If it hadn’t been split by the Duke of Guardian, they could charge the Shi Family with a crime of disrespect.

Now the Shi Family had only slightly damaged the Red Book Iron Certificate, but the Duke of Guardian split it into two parts with one sword, if the Shi Family is to be punished, the Duke of Guardian must be penalized even more severely.

Even if the Duke of Guardian claims it was unintentional, would the Shi Family have done it deliberately?

Especially since the fracture is new, if the Shi Family retaliates, it would appear the Duke of Guardian is framing them.

Even knowing he has been calculated against, taking the blame for the Shi Family, the Duke of Guardian can only swallow his anger.

The Duke of Guardian left the palace fuming.

Meanwhile, things in the palace were secretly reported to the Shi Family by a eunuch, finally easing the hearts of General Shi’s wife and the Marchioness Changning.

Xie Jingchen helped Dong Chenglang once again, becoming not only a guest of honor at the Changning Marquis Mansion but also a distinguished guest at General Shi’s Mansion.

After disguising, Xie Jingchen’s appearance was unremarkable; at least from his face, it couldn’t be seen he was such a wise person.

The Marchioness Changning recalled the fortune-teller’s words, with such quick wit, being granted a title and vanquishing generals in the future would be no problem. If she had a daughter, she would truly consider him for a son-in-law.

Recalling her daughter who married the Crown Prince, only to die within a year, the Marchioness Changning felt heart-wrenching pain.

Now General Shi has lost cities, grain and grass were burned and robbed, his prestige has greatly diminished, though physically still at the border, he has long lost the heart of the current Emperor, and even his legitimate son was ruthlessly eliminated...

The Marchioness Changning worries about General Shi’s future and the prospects for the Changning Marquis Mansion.

Without military power and the Red Book Iron Certificate, General Shi was like a fish on the Duke of Guardian’s cutting board, at his mercy.

Dong Chenglang felt his cousin, Young Master Shi, must have been calculated against by the Duke of Guardian; staying in the Capital City, the Shi Family has no second Red Book Iron Certificate to save him.

Going to the border this time, he may persuade his uncle, though he hopes his uncle won’t beat him to death.

Xie Jingchen also thought it was time to leave. As long as General Shi knows his son was set up by the Heir of the Duke of Guardian, he would surely lose faith in the Nanliang Court.

General Shi’s military strategy was not lacking, just unfortunate to meet them; who could have thought such a small thing could burn so much of Nanliang’s grain and grass?

The Nanliang Court lost a great general, Zhao Xu gained a competent helper, with gains and losses, the pressure on Daqi would be much less.

But before leaving, he still needs to visit the separate courtyard of the Prince of Nanliang.

Xie Jingchen had been residing in the Changning Marquis Mansion, never leaving at night.

On this day, after nightfall, he climbed over the wall of the Changning Marquis Mansion.

As Xie Jingchen left, Dong Chenglang came to find him, seeing him leave, he frowned.

Brother Li is going out in the middle of the night to do what?

Dong Chenglang quietly followed.

Xie Jingchen moved swiftly across the rooftops towards the southern part of the city to the separate courtyard of the Prince.

Dong Chenglang dared not follow too closely, always knowing Xie Jingchen’s martial arts was strong, but he hadn’t expected it to be so high; he almost lost track of him despite using all his strength.

Why did he come to the Prince’s separate courtyard?

Although Xie Jingchen had saved him thrice, suspicions were unavoidable.

Xie Jingchen climbed over the wall into the courtyard, with Dong Chenglang quietly following behind.

Inside the courtyard, Xie Jingchen only realized the guards were strict; he thought he could easily find Aunt Xue, but now he must be careful not to be discovered.

It’s only a separate courtyard of the Prince of Nanliang, why are the guards so strict?

If it’s to protect Aunt Xue, back on the street that day, Aunt Xue didn’t bring many people during her travels.

Xie Jingchen felt something was amiss; could the Prince of Nanliang be in the courtyard?

Not to mention it’s already late, the Prince should reside in the Eastern Palace; even if present, the guards wouldn’t strictly control every corner, it clearly wasn’t a temporary reinforcement.

The night serves as the best camouflage, being extra cautious, he won’t be discovered.

Seeing Xie Jingchen being careful, Dong Chenglang set aside his suspicions; if he were an insider, he wouldn’t need to be so cautious.

But why does a small captain need to investigate the Prince’s separate courtyard at night?

What’s in this small courtyard worth investigating?

Moreover, why is the guard so strict at a separate courtyard?

Curiosity plagued Dong Chenglang, prompting him to decide to investigate further.

Xie Jingchen intended to enter the inner courtyard; just as he was preparing to go, a sudden crash in the night came.

The sound of something being smashed came from the pavilion.

"Calm down, Prince," someone advised.

Xie Jingchen halted his steps.

This is the Prince’s separate courtyard; it’s normal to call for the Prince to calm down, so why call for the Prince?

Xie Jingchen swiftly concealed himself in the fake mountain beside the pavilion using the night’s cover.

Lights were on in the pavilion, but the night was too dark to see clearly; however, a faint shadow, somewhat familiar, could be seen.

Yet the conversation within the pavilion shocked Xie Jingchen.

Beimo Cheng King!

He is still alive?!

The Beimo Cheng King sat in the pavilion; the teacup was crushed by his hand.

"Incompetent fool!"

"I’ve endured several months in Nanliang, and the gold and grain and grass I barely got were stolen by Daqi?!"

All his plans were disrupted, and Daqi gained the fruits of his work; how could he not be furious?

Xie Jingchen was genuinely shocked by the news that the Beimo Cheng King was still alive; he thought Nanliang would heartlessly kill him to instigate conflict between Beimo and Daqi.

To think they’d keep the Beimo Cheng King alive, Xie Jingchen could not fathom Nanliang’s intent.

In his view, the Beimo Cheng King is a threat to Nanliang, and not a small one.

If the King of Beimo learns of Beimo Cheng King’s collusion with Nanliang, there might be war against Nanliang.

Yet now...

Nanliang dares to take this risk; their ambition is truly audacious, not only to defeat Daqi but also to devour Beimo entirely.

This battle would be more interesting than he imagined.

As Xie Jingchen contemplated this, suddenly, a cold shout was heard, "Who is there?!"