Upon seeing Xie Jingchuan, Xie Jingchen’s brows furrowed tightly.

He had publicly promised the Marquis Dongxiang would release Xie Jingchuan.

This was heard by General Shi’s subordinates.

They wouldn’t bring Xie Jingchuan back, letting General Shi break his word and gain a reputation for being deceitful.

Once Xie Jingchuan was released, with his martial arts skills, even if he encountered a dozen or so Nanliang soldiers, escaping back to Daqi wouldn’t be difficult.

But now he was captured and brought to the Nanliang Military Camp, Xie Jingchen’s eyes narrowed tightly.

Xie Jingchen came to a halt.

Xie Jingchuan was being held down and brought over by the soldiers.

Their eyes met.

Killing intent flashed beneath Xie Jingchuan’s gaze.

From Xie Jingchuan’s face, Xie Jingchen saw no fear or anxiety befitting a hostage.

A suspicion arose in Xie Jingchen’s mind, his expression like icy frost.

Dong Chenglang was puzzled, "Wasn’t he released? How come he was captured again?"

"The second young master of the Prince Zhenbei Mansion couldn’t be so incompetent in martial arts, could he?"

Xie Jingchen didn’t respond.

He couldn’t possibly tell Dong Chenglang that Xie Jingchuan was captured willingly, could he?

After all, it was just his suspicion.

Duke Chong colluded with Nanliang, and Princess Nanzhang was a cousin of Duke Chong; if Duke Huguo truly colluded with Duke Chong, he certainly wouldn’t make things difficult for his nephew by marriage.

Xie Jingchen genuinely wanted to see what Xie Jingchuan intended by getting captured on purpose.

After being released and captured again, Xie Jingchuan was brought into the main tent of the camp, much to the astonishment of General Shi.

It’s often said that a tiger father has no dog son, and he had clashed with Prince Zhenbei many times; his son shouldn’t be so weak.

That Xie Jingchuan was captured by Xie Jingchen as a hostage was enough to shock General Shi; being released and then captured again made something seem amiss to him.

Before, he suspected that Xie Jingchen was hiding his true abilities, that his intellect and martial skills were far beyond what he displayed, exceeding expectations.

Now he thought it wasn’t that Xie Jingchen was too formidable, but that Xie Jingchuan was too weak.

Duke Huguo interrogated Xie Jingchuan in front of everyone, but since Xie Jingchuan had just arrived at the camp, he knew nothing about the military affairs, yielding no useful information to Duke Huguo’s questioning.

Inside the tent.

Xie Jingchen sat there drinking tea, and a soldier entered, saying, "Duke Huguo wants to hold the second young master of Prince Zhenbei Mansion as a hostage to get back the 100,000 taels of silver previously taken by Daqi."

Xie Jingchen’s eyes turned cold.

Dong Chenglang drank tea, remarking, "As expected, Duke Huguo is cunning and deeply scheming, regaining lost face so quickly."

Xie Jingchen smiled slightly, rather looking forward to it.

Could the money his father-in-law plundered possibly be reclaimed?

Daqi, camp.

Upon returning to the camp, Prince NanAn and his party went to find Su Jin.

Firstly, because the Heir of Marquis Beining had an arm injury that needed bandaging, and secondly out of curiosity about Xie Jingchen’s abduction of Su Jin.

One has to admit, Brother Jingchen really knows how to ask for trouble; the lash last time must have been quite enjoyable, otherwise, how dare he be so presumptuous?

First capturing Sister-in-law, then sneaking back to steal the antidote for Sister-in-law, and now taking Sister-in-law hostage...

When he infiltrated Nanliang as a hostage, why is it that he perpetually targets only Sister-in-law?

"Sister-in-law, next time he comes back, you must give him a painful lesson," Prince NanAn suggested.

Su Jin’s mouth twitched violently.

Xingxing looked at Prince NanAn and said, "Today, while the young master did take the young lady hostage, he also saved her life."

Prince NanAn was stunned, "What happened to Sister-in-law?"

"Someone tried to assassinate the young lady; luckily, the young master was present and knocked down the hidden weapon," Xingxing said, still frightened.

Chu Shun and Prince NanAn looked at each other.

Having heard what happened, they all suspected Xie Jingchuan was behind the attempt.

Su Jin had been in the camp for so long without incident; when he came, Su Jin was almost assassinated. Could it really just be a coincidence?

Prince NanAn declared, "Once he returns, we’ll definitely help Sister-in-law teach him a lesson."

Su Jin finished bandaging the Heir of Marquis Beining’s arm.

Outside, Xueling lifted the curtain and entered, saying, "Nanliang sent someone with a message requesting Marquis and Prince to prepare 100,000 taels of silver to ransom the second young master of the Prince Zhenbei Mansion."

The eyes of Prince NanAn and the others widened in shock.

Is this for real?

Brother Jingchen has grown so emboldened during his stay in Nanliang that he dares to renege on a deal with the Marquis Dongxiang?

Is he not planning to return to Daqi?

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo declared, "Stop speculating; Brother Jingchen would never act so out of proportion."

Although the second young master of Prince Zhenbei Mansion is not a good character, Brother Jingchen wouldn’t create a rift among brothers, causing embarrassment for Prince Zhenbei.

In terms of propriety, the four of them combined aren’t equal to Brother Jingchen.

There must be something wrong with this.

If even Prince NanAn and the others sensed something amiss, what would the Prince and Marquis Dongxiang think?

With Xie Jingchen absent, there’s no one to explain their doubts, but expecting the Marquis Dongxiang to return money he’s already received, that’s impossible.

Moreover, the money has been distributed as compassion silver; it’s already been disbursed, how could it be reclaimed?

Nanliang sent people to negotiate with Daqi about ransoming Xie Jingchuan.

Marquis Dongxiang ignored the Nanliang envoy, leaving him aside, and sent someone to ask General Shi for the person.

Although it was Xie Jingchen who promised to release him, Xie Jingchen was under General Shi, who didn’t stop him from making promises, which tacitly approved them.

Once a promise is made, it must be kept.

Then—

No one can claim clarity in this matter.

Saying Xie Jingchuan was released would be correct, as he was indeed released, only for General Shi to release him, and Duke Huguo to capture him again.

To say he wasn’t released also holds ground, for Xie Jingchuan hadn’t returned to the Daqi Camp.

Both sides have their own reasoning.

Marquis Dongxiang slammed the table, glaring at the Nanliang envoy, "Do you have the guts to play such tricks on me?!"

"What? Does Duke Huguo not acknowledge what General Shi agreed to?"

The Nanliang envoy turned pale under Marquis Dongxiang’s intimidation.

Helpless.

The Marquis Dongxiang arrived with a squad of the Flying Tiger Army.

In an instant of his fury, the Flying Tiger Army synchronizedly drew their swords.

The cold gleam reflected by the blades was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

The Nanliang envoy hurriedly softened his tone, trying to reason.

Marquis Dongxiang waved it off, "Enough, have General Shi come talk to me personally!"

"If his words hold no weight, then let your Duke Huguo come himself!"

Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t about to debate with the Nanliang envoy.

The Nanliang envoy, having no choice, had to return to Nanliang.

Duke Huguo had General Shi make a trip to negotiate the hostage for 100,000 taels of silver.

Duke Huguo thought it was a sure thing.

But unfortunately—

Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t playing by the rules.

He straightforwardly detained General Shi.

Holding General Shi as a hostage to exchange for Xie Jingchuan.

Hmm.

Duke Huguo considered Xie Jingchuan worth 100,000 taels, while Marquis Dongxiang deemed General Shi worth at least 120,000 taels.

To have General Shi released, Nanliang would have to release Xie Jingchuan and offer an additional 20,000 taels of silver, not a tael less.

Duke Huguo, "..."

General Shi, "..."

This series of actions left Xie Jingchen in awe.

Indeed, his father-in-law was still his father-in-law.

He went to the Daqi camp and captured Xie Jingchuan as a hostage.

Using negotiations as a pretext, Marquis Dongxiang got General Shi to step into Daqi Camp willingly, then detained him along with his subordinates as hostages...

The discord between Duke Huguo and General Shi was well-known.

Yet no matter the animosity, he couldn’t not rescue General Shi, allowing him to be killed by Daqi.