Hmm.

After causing trouble for Zhao Xu and his own father, it now extended to Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen had Zhao Xu rescue Princess Jing Mountain.

In his view, rescuing her was a sure thing.

But with the news of Princess Jing Mountain entering the palace to visit Princess Consort Mo spreading, Xie Jingchen fell into suspicion.

At that time, it wasn’t far away, even if the assassin’s carriage speed was fast, it couldn’t be faster than a horse.

Since Zhao Xu rushed to save her, he shouldn’t have missed her.

But now, Princess Jing Mountain still entered the Capital City to see Princess Consort Mo, and Xie Jingchen couldn’t help but worry.

If it was just a miss, that would be fine.

But if it wasn’t a miss, and he failed...

Xie Jingchen dared not imagine.

He was stuck in the camp, not knowing whom to ask for information.

Xie Jingchen saved Dong Chenglang a few times and was promoted to Captain. This time, he accompanied Dong Chenglang back to the Capital to deliver a message. Although the task wasn’t completed, and Dong Chenglang was reprimanded and received twenty military cane strokes, he was promoted from Captain to Thousand Commander.

The promotion was unexpected for Xie Jingchen, but it made sense.

He helped Dong Chenglang come up with ideas to solve the problem of the destroyed Red Book Iron Certificate, which prevented the rescue of Young Master Shi, creating a significant favor with General Shi.

Plus, the Heir of the Duke of Guardian wanted to win over Xie Jingchen. Before they left the Capital, the Marchioness Changning specifically instructed Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi to persuade General Shi to be kind to Xie Jingchen, saying it was acceptable to wrong her son but not Xie Jingchen.

In fact, there was no need for the Marchioness Changning’s instruction; Xie Jingchen reported the rescue process of Young Master Shi to General Shi.

General Shi viewed Xie Jingchen in a new light.

Originally, he thought Xie was just a brawny warrior, but he didn’t expect such quick wits, even better than what he could come up with.

Ever since the Red Book Iron Certificate was destroyed, it had been a sore spot for General Shi, like a thorn in the throat, unable to be removed or swallowed, painful to think about.

The Red Book Iron Certificate was the glory of the Shi family but also a sharp blade hanging over it.

Unable to figure out a solution, General Shi thought about taking the Red Book Iron Certificate to the palace to confess to the Emperor but was stopped by General Shi’s wife.

Confession brings leniency, resistance brings severity.

Destroying the Red Book Iron Certificate was a great disrespect to the late Emperor.

Even putting aside that the Emperor might not forgive, civil and military officials who envied General Shi’s military power wouldn’t miss such a chance to kick him when he’s down.

Now that Xie Jingchen helped General Shi remove the boulder from his chest, solve his troubles, and saved his son, if not due to the separation of public and private affairs, General Shi would have promoted him three ranks.

Even so, promoting one rank required worrying about the Duke of Guardian’s agreement, but fortunately, the Duke said nothing.

Drunkenly, Xie Jingchen gave excellent advice to the Heir of the Duke of Guardian, successfully retrieving the Shi family’s Red Book Iron Certificate. Although he was ultimately tricked, no one other than the Emperor of Nanliang knew, greatly diminishing General Shi’s prestige.

Now in the military, General Shi’s prestige has waned. Plus, with the Duke’s suppression, none of General Shi’s battle strategies were adopted by the Duke.

This Great General usually commanded from the walls rather than fighting on the battlefield.

Because if a Great General gets injured, it greatly affects morale.

The feeling of being unable to scheme or slay the enemy was truly unbearable.

The Duke had been at the border for only half a month, and General Shi’s hair turned many shades whiter.

Young Master Shi was worried but helpless.

Dong Chenglang took five or six days to recover from the twenty military cane strokes. Every time he saw Young Master Shi’s worried face, he would say, "Stop frowning, it’s just the beginning. You don’t know yet how they intend to ostracize you later."

For fear Dong Chenglang might persuade him to betray the court, Young Master Shi would walk away upon hearing this.

Dong Chenglang wasn’t angry.

He knew his cousin all too well.

The more he avoided, the more afraid he was.

He feared he would waver.

One day, returning from the battlefield, Dong Chenglang walked ahead, Young Master Shi behind, his face ashen.

There was no need for words.

Xie Jingchen had saved his life again.

The Duke abused public office for personal revenge, letting him flank the Daqi from the right during an attack.

He had five thousand soldiers against Daqi’s eight thousand, and under difficult conditions to defend and attack.

Wasn’t it destined for him to lose, bringing soldiers to their deaths?!

General Shi’s military prestige was damaged; Young Master Shi wanted to earn more merit to restore his father’s honor.

His intentions were seen through by the Duke. The Duke didn’t stop him from leading the charge, but he wanted Young Master Shi to suffer a great defeat!

Young Master Shi’s situation was compounded as those supporting General Shi were swayed by the Duke.

This decline in balance worsened General Shi’s situation.

But Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi were together.

Xie Jingchen couldn’t avoid the battlefield, nor could he turn his spear against his brothers, so he stayed by Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi to protect them.

But constant protection wasn’t a solution, so he abandoned his spear for a bow.

Every arrow he shot hit Daqi soldiers, but avoided vital areas: arms, shoulders, thighs...

He needed military merits to keep his identity safeguarded.

Even so, it still raised suspicion.

Inside the main tent of the army.

The Duke failed to capture the city but wasn’t too angry since the city was inherently strong.

Back in the camp, he inquired about Young Master Shi’s situation. A general reported, "A crushing defeat, with eight hundred soldiers dead and many more wounded."

The Duke’s lips curled slightly.

This was exactly as he expected.

The general paused, then said, "The Thousand Commander with the Heir of Marquis Changning is skilled in archery, with every shot hitting its mark, but none hitting vital areas."

Clearly capable of easily killing Daqi soldiers, yet only targeting non-vitals, it seemed suspicious to the General.

The Duke was also puzzled.

Wounding the enemy doesn’t count as military merit; taking lives does.

"Bring him to me."

Meanwhile, because Xie Jingchen saved Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi, upon returning, he shared the same tent with them.

Back at the tent, Dong Chenglang threw the helmet he had been carrying all the way onto the table, poured and drank several cups of tea in a gulp.

Young Master Shi’s face was still full of anger, his fists clenched, making cracking sounds.

Just as he was about to explode, footsteps approached outside, and a voice said, "Li Qianzong, General Wei Yuan wants you in the main tent."

The Duke held multiple titles, and before the expedition, the Emperor of Nanliang awarded him the title of General Wei Yuan.

A general so high calling upon a minor Thousand Commander—Xie Jingchen, even if barely alive, had to comply.

He glanced at the Heir of Marquis Changning and Young Master Shi, then stepped out.

Before knowing Xie Jingchen’s "real" identity, Dong Chenglang would have worried about him being swayed by the Duke, but now there was no fear.