Previously, Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang sneaked into the Daqi Camp to steal the antidote, while Young Master Shi was waiting in a hidden spot outside the camp.

After waiting for several hours, his patience was completely worn out.

Worried about the two of them, he intended to enter the camp to investigate and heard that Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang had been captured alive.

At that moment, his face turned pale; being caught while sneaking into the enemy camp would surely not end well.

But as one person, he couldn’t save them and could only return to the Nanliang Military Camp to find someone for rescue. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

General Shi wanted to save his nephew, while Duke Huguo needed the antidote, forming a rare unified front.

General Shi hastily assembled troops to set out, only to see Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang riding back as they reached the camp front.

Both were severely injured, barely holding on.

Upon seeing General Shi, Dong Chenglang’s heart eased, and he directly rolled down from the horse.

Xie Jingchen was slightly better; he dared not relax.

His face was disguised, and he must not be discovered.

This time, returning to the Daqi Camp, Xie Jingchen had taken some ointment from Su Jin.

Previously, he could take off the disguise mask for some air, but now sharing a tent with Dong Chenglang, going in and out together, it’s been several days since he last removed the mask.

He hadn’t forgotten the incident where the Hidden Guard disguised as the Beimo Cheng King stayed in Duke Chong’s Mansion for over a month, nearly ruining his face.

Young Master Shi hurried over to help Dong Chenglang, saying, "How did you escape?"

Dong Chenglang truly had no strength left and said, "Held, held Prince NanAn of Daqi hostage and escaped back..."

General Shi breathed a sigh of relief, "Quickly, help them inside to administer medicine."

Two soldiers supported Xie Jingchen.

After dismounting, Xie Jingchen walked a few steps and stopped.

He took out a medicine bottle from his pocket, saying, "Here is the antidote."

General Shi took the medicine bottle as Xie Jingchen was helped away.

The camp treated Dong Chenglang and Xie Jingchen’s injuries.

Xie Jingchen had external injuries, scary to look at.

Dong Chenglang seemed lighter injured but had internal injuries.

The medicine bottle was sent by General Shi to Duke Huguo, who wanted to take the antidote immediately.

However, upon pouring the antidote from the bottle, he hesitated.

"Why is there only one pill?" he asked.

There were more than four generals who had touched the Crossbow Car design, not to mention the soldiers from the General Workshop.

How could one antidote save so many people?

Plus, with the Crossbow Car design sabotaged, Duke Huguo was a bit afraid.

Being caught alive and escaping so easily, how could there be no deception involved?

Especially since the antidote was brought back by the Heir of Marquis Changning, General Shi’s nephew; what if he used the Daqi people’s hand to eliminate him...

The more he thought, the less he dared to consume it, even though he was itching all over, he dared not be careless.

Duke Huguo didn’t dare take the antidote, and the other generals also urged him not to take it.

This antidote, only one pill, whether real or fake, was of no benefit to them.

If the antidote was fake, Duke Huguo would suffer, and they, being his confidants, would surely lose their position.

If the antidote was real and Duke Huguo was cured, would he be so urgent to get more antidotes from Daqi?

Without antidote, they would suffer more, and might even die.

Duke Huguo was already indecisive, and with a bunch of hindrances, he dared not take it.

"The Great General is critical to Nanliang’s safety and must not be careless. For caution’s sake, let’s find someone to test the medicine," proposed a general.

"Either way, one antidote won’t cure the several generals’ poison; we still need a way to get more antidotes from Daqi."

Duke Huguo agreed, finding it sensible, and brought a soldier from the General Workshop to test the medicine.

The soldier, painfully uncomfortable all over, upon learning that Xie Jingchen had brought back the antidote, wondered if he would get a share.

Unknowing that there was only one pill, Duke Huguo gave the antidote to him, and without thinking, he took it.

Initially itching miserably, soon after taking the antidote, he felt no itch.

The military doctor checked his pulse, saying, "The poison is cured."

The soldier knelt, thanking Duke Huguo for giving him the antidote.

Duke Huguo’s heart ached like being stabbed, regret smoking out from his guts.

Inside the tent.

Xie Jingchen lay on his back, feeling pain, sitting up hurt his chest, leaving him only the option to sit cross-legged.

Young Master Shi lifted the tent flap and entered.

Dong Chenglang asked him, "Cousin, is Duke Huguo’s poison cured?"

"No," replied Young Master Shi.

Xie Jingchen’s brow imperceptibly furrowed.

Dong Chenglang hit the bedding, angrily exclaiming, "Daqi is indeed treacherous, using fake medicine to fool us!"

"Cousin, you misunderstood," said Young Master Shi.

Dong Chenglang stared at him, and Young Master Shi said, "The antidote was real, but Duke Huguo feared issues with the antidote, so he gave it to a soldier from the General Workshop."

Dong Chenglang, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Xie Jingchen remained silent.

Dong Chenglang was furious beyond control.

Duke Huguo is crazy, right?

Sent them to Daqi to steal antidote, nearly perishing there, and finally brought the antidote back, yet he doubts its integrity.

Why didn’t he doubt earlier, avoiding sending them on that mission?

Thankfully they returned alive, dying in the Daqi Camp would have left them unavenged.

Dong Chenglang never felt as resolute in wanting to overturn the court as he did at this moment.

Too many pests in the court!

Their lives are precious, can’t risk any danger, but are other lives just grass?

Dong Chenglang, furious, seeing Xie Jingchen silent, asked, "Brother Li, aren’t you angry?"

What does he have to be angry about?

Duke Huguo could have avoided disaster, instead bumping into his wife’s hands.

He’s too happy to worry, why get angry?

"Our task was to bring the antidote back, doesn’t matter who takes it," said Xie Jingchen.

Thinking this way, Dong Chenglang felt a bit relieved.

They were furious, yet Duke Huguo blamed them for incompetence, only bringing back one antidote, now gone after testing.

Just a snake that startled the grass, can’t send anyone to steal the antidote again.

The next day, Duke Huguo ordered an attack on the fortress.

This time, the goal wasn’t to retake the fortress, but to capture Daqi soldiers and force Daqi to exchange antidotes for them.

This matter was discussed by Xie Jingchen, known to Marquis Dongxiang and the Prince.

But they couldn’t stop Nanliang from capturing Daqi soldiers on the battlefield.

Assuming that exchanging Daqi soldiers for antidote was overly simplistic.

Duke Huguo, waiting in the tent for antidote, was nearly driven mad.

An officer came running, "Great General, Daqi refuses to exchange antidote for captives; they want us to release the Daqi soldiers and offer an additional 100,000 taels of silver."

Duke Huguo’s face was as stiff as frozen by ice.

No matter how angry he was, it was useless.

No negotiation possible.

If he didn’t comply, he and the other generals would bury themselves with the captured Daqi soldiers.

They were Daqi’s heroes, dying for their country, dying with honor.

Helpless and frustrated, Duke Huguo ground his teeth till they almost loosened.

But what could he do?

His life is his own; though Daqi doesn’t care, can he not care either?

"Give them 100,000 taels!"