Watching General Guide being dragged away, the Prince felt truly uncomfortable in his heart.

It was all because he had raised a useless son, bringing disaster to the whole family.

Several Great Generals glanced at Su Chong, who had taken quite a beating, thinking that when raising sons, it’s crucial not to be soft when it’s time to discipline them.

The punishment parents are reluctant to deliver will eventually be repaid in kind by others.

After General Guide was taken away, Su Jin received the antidote from Xingxing and placed it on the table before Marquis Dongxiang.

General Guide confessed that the design plans for the Crossbow Car had already been sent to Nanliang.

Duke Nanliang might have lost the city due to the Crossbow Car, and upon receiving the plans, he would certainly review them.

As soon as he touches the plans, he would be poisoned.

When he realizes, he will certainly do whatever it takes to obtain the antidote.

Keeping the antidote by her side is unsafe, so handing it over to Marquis Dongxiang is a more prudent choice.

Even if Su Jin didn’t offer the antidote, Marquis Dongxiang would demand it, enhancing the guard around Su Jin.

Although the antidote wasn’t physically on Su Jin, it shouldn’t be forgotten that she knew how to prepare it.

Meanwhile, Duke Nanliang just started feeling itchy.

After General Guide had the plans stolen, they were kept to the next afternoon before being sent to the Duke.

Touched the plans late, naturally poison took effect later as well.

By evening, the Duke was in unbearable pain.

The news of General Guide being transported back to the Capital City in a prison cart by the Prince also reached Nanliang.

More importantly, all soldiers who handled the plans suffered unbearable itching; if Duke couldn’t deduce he was played, he wouldn’t be fit to be Duke, nor to lead into battle.

On the training ground.

Dong Chenglang was shocked upon learning there was a problem with the plans.

He looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Fortunately, I heeded your advice and didn’t touch the plans, otherwise I would have been poisoned like them."

A few days earlier, Dong Chenglang volunteered to steal the Crossbow Car’s plans from Daqi after overseeing the soldiers building defensive walls.

Only then did Duke tell them he already had the plans.

The plans were circulated among Great Generals, and when Dong Chenglang was about to take them, Xie Jingchen pulled him aside, saying, "The plans for the Crossbow Car were obtained too easily, probably a trap."

Dong Chenglang thought Xie Jingchen implied the plans might be fake.

In retrospect, it was indeed suspicious that something so important could be stolen so easily.

If the plans were fake, there would be nothing worth reviewing.

Thinking back now, Dong Chenglang patted Xie Jingchen’s shoulder and said, "Your instincts are extraordinarily sharp."

Young Master Shi glanced at Xie Jingchen, sensing something amiss.

Why did it feel like he knew there was an issue with the plans beforehand and thus cautioned them against it?

Nevertheless, Duke being poisoned wasn’t a disadvantage for them.

The army physician’s skills being mediocre was unable to cure the Duke’s poison, and the Duke was in agony, clamping his jaws shut, helplessly.

From afar, a soldier ran over, saying, "Heir of Marquis Changning, Duke wants you to go to the tent."

Dong Chenglang rolled his eyes at him.

At this point, asking for them could only mean one thing.

Dong Chenglang and Xie Jingchen went to Duke’s tent, where Duke’s face was exceedingly red with visible scratches.

Duke ordered them to go to the Daqi camp to steal the antidote.

General Shi intervened, saying, "That’s too dangerous."

Duke said nothing, and another Great General said, "It’s always dangerous when armies clash, and Heir of Marquis Changning volunteered to steal the Crossbow Car plans a few days ago."

Stealing the Crossbow Car plans was equally dangerous as taking the antidote.

Dong Chenglang couldn’t refuse.

General Shi couldn’t help them with words.

After receiving orders, Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang exited the tent, hearing voices inside, "What if they don’t bring back the antidote?"

Just starting to be poisoned and itching so intensely already, who knows how it could escalate.

They couldn’t place all hope on their shoulders.

Duke said coldly, "Capture more Daqi officers and soldiers; I don’t believe Marquis Dongxiang and Prince Zhenbei would ignore their lives!"

It was to use Daqi officers and soldiers’ lives to exchange for the antidote.

Something expected, Xie Jingchen wasn’t surprised.

However, the main aim this time was to expose spies from Daqi, just he never expected it to be General Guide.

His father would be utterly disappointed.

Back in the tent, Dong Chenglang angrily pounded the table, "Duke is intending to use Daqi to eliminate us!"

Young Master Shi knew, but military orders were unchallengeable.

If they didn’t carry out, someone else would be sent by Duke.

"Once inside the Daqi camp, be vigilant and cautious," Young Master Shi advised.

Xie Jingchen pondered, saying, "It’s not suitable for many people to go; I’ll sneak in alone, you guys support from outside."

Dong Chenglang felt Xie Jingchen’s plan was well-thought-out.

He stated, "Then cousin will support from outside and I’ll go with Brother Li."

He patted Xie Jingchen’s shoulder, "Don’t refuse, you’ve saved me so many times, how could I let you risk alone?"

Xie Jingchen felt overwhelmed.

The longer they interacted, the more Dong Chenglang’s personality seemed like his mischievous friends.

Who knew when they might cause trouble?

Aware of the high chance of being tricked, yet having no reason to refuse.

Thus—

The trio swiftly navigated a narrow path to the vicinity of the Daqi camp.

After half a day, they subdued two Daqi soldiers, donned their garments, and infiltrated the camp.

Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang covered their faces in ash, blending seamlessly such that no one noticed.

But when misfortune strikes, it’s unavoidable.

Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang discreetly moved ahead, unexpectedly encountering Prince NanAn and others approaching with laughter.

Feeling nervous, Dong Chenglang turned his back on them, Xie Jingchen followed suit.

Prince NanAn surveyed them and commanded, "Stop!"

Dong Chenglang halted his steps.

"Turn around," Prince NanAn demanded.

Turning away upon seeing them, what was the meaning behind it?

They were amicable, blending in with the soldiers, yet they still feared them?

Were they trying to draw uniquely their attention?

Admittedly, they succeeded.

Dong Chenglang instantly didn’t know what to do, Xie Jingchen knowing Prince NanAn’s disposition whispered, "Run quickly."

Dong Chenglang felt fleeing was startling, perhaps they could gamble a bit, thus he turned around.

He turned, anyway, lowering his head, and Prince NanAn stepped forward commanding, "Raise your head."

Once raised, Prince NanAn’s group nearly had their eyes pop out.

What was Brother Jingchen planning exactly?

Having been stationed in the Nanliang camp, sending no messages back, even shooting signals cautiously under the battle flag, he now came to Daqi, donned in soldiers’ battle robes?

And accompanied by the Heir of Marquis Changning of Nanliang, could he have been dispatched by Nanliang to Daqi as an undercover?

Prince NanAn: "...."

Prince NanAn narrowed his eyes, contemplating whether to feign ignorance and pretend not seeing them.

However, his look was understood by Xie Jingchen, not by Dong Chenglang.

Feeling guilty, Dong Chenglang lunged at Prince NanAn.

Inside the Daqi camp, escaping wouldn’t be easy, but capturing Prince NanAn made leaving feasible.

Xie Jingchen felt like dying.

This was essentially delivering themselves to capture.

They couldn’t match Prince NanAn’s skills, let alone with Chu Shun present.

Just thinking so, Dong Chenglang was captured alive.

Xie Jingchen: "...."

Dong Chenglang was captured, and Xie Jingchen didn’t resist.

The two were hoisted up, Prince NanAn wielding a long whip remarked, "You really have guts, daring to breach my Daqi camp with just two people."