The battle halted only at dusk.

Su Chong and his companions returned on horseback, their armor so drenched in blood that its original appearance was unrecognizable.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion and the Heir of Marquis Beining were not together. After Nanliang retreated, he and Prince NanAn reunited and learned that the Heir of Marquis Beining was shot by an arrow.

The Heir of Marquis Beining had been sent back to the camp, and they hurried back to visit him.

In front of the tent, a soldier stood outside the door, staring at the tent but not daring to approach.

Prince NanAn stepped forward and asked, "Why aren’t you eating? What are you doing here?"

The soldier was startled, utterly anxious and fearful.

He was the one who accidentally bumped into the back of the Heir of Marquis Beining, causing him to miss avoiding the arrow shot from Nanliang.

Almost causing the Heir of Marquis Beining to die under Nanliang’s arrow, how could the soldier dare act as if nothing happened?

Although it was unintentional, he had to come to pay a visit.

But as the Heir of Marquis Beining was still unconscious, he could only wait outside.

Seeing the soldier trembling in fear, looking pitiful, Prince NanAn and the others wondered what to do with him.

No one on the battlefield wants accidents to happen, and it wasn’t intentional.

All blame should fall on Nanliang’s overambition.

Su Chong remarked, "You weren’t intentional, go and eat. As punishment, practice an extra hour every day for the next month."

The soldier thanked them repeatedly and then retreated.

The soldier limped away, and upon seeing this, Chu Shun asked, "What happened to your leg?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The soldier hurriedly replied, "Earlier at the city gate, I accidentally got hit by something on the ankle, which led to me bumping into the Heir of Marquis Beining."

Su Chong had him expose his ankle, revealing a large bruise that confirmed his story.

The soldier had no reason to lie, as Su Chong did not punish him.

Practicing an extra hour daily isn’t considered punishment, as the Flying Tiger Army already trains one more hour than regular soldiers.

Su Chong waved his hand, instructing him to apply medicine.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion looked at Su Chong and quietly said, "Is there a spy in the army? Could it be the work of a spy?"

Su Chong pondered this issue too.

The ankle bruise was severe, while the Heir of Marquis Beining suffered an arrow wound. This indicates the enemy hadn’t climbed the walls yet; even if soldiers accidentally kicked things at the gate, it wouldn’t injure the soldier’s ankle so severely.

Everything seemed like a deliberate strike rather than an accidental cause.

But if it was a spy, Su Chong believed it unlikely.

Spies are cautious. Previously, during their night raid on Nanliang, preparing to burn enemy’s grain and grass, the spy leaked the information, and they narrowly avoided the trap.

After returning safely, the spy probably guessed they suspected espionage, so no one fell into the traps set several times.

Such cautiousness wouldn’t lead to such a reckless act; removing the Heir of Marquis Beining wouldn’t significantly change the border situation. It should’ve targeted his father Marquis Dongxiang and Prince Zhenbei instead...

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion felt Su Chong’s analysis was reasonable, but the injury of the Heir of Marquis Beining had to be cleared up. If someone truly harbors malicious intent, there’s no guarantee he’ll survive another chance.

Thinking about them knocking down incoming arrows at the city gate; a gentle nudge from behind, and they would die under enemy arrows—truly unprepared.

This matter must be clarified.

While contemplating, Chu Shun and others had already dispatched people for investigation.

Who was near the Heir of Marquis Beining when he got injured?

Originally assumed the investigation would be difficult; even the Heir of Marquis Beining was caught unprepared by an arrow, so survival of nearby soldiers at the time was uncertain.

But unexpectedly, the investigation was simpler than anticipated because of the Heir of Marquis Beining’s prestigious status. After he was shot, the army was abuzz with discussions, especially since many soldiers heard the military doctor directing Prince NanAn and others to carry the Heir to find Su Jin.

Throughout the army, it was known that only when the military doctor’s treatment was insufficient, would the severely injured seek Princess Consort Zhenbei for treatment—all were worried if the Heir of Marquis Beining would survive.

Soldiers’ fervent discussions gradually unearthed the culprit behind the arrow injury of the Heir of Marquis Beining.

The soldier responsible for investigating quickly reported the findings to Prince NanAn and the others.

Inside the tent.

The Heir of Marquis Beining leaned against a large pillow, face pale, while Prince NanAn fed him medicine.

With one gulp, the Heir of Marquis Beining drank the medicine, and Prince NanAn filled another spoonful.

The Heir of Marquis Beining moved slightly, and Prince NanAn remarked, "Don’t move."

"Give me the medicine..."

"I’ll feed you," Prince NanAn insisted.

"..."

"I can drink it myself, no need to feed me," the Heir of Marquis Beining weakly retorted.

"No need for formality between brothers. Just keep your eyes sharp and avoid arrows that scare us."

"..."

"Drinking it spoon by spoon is painfully bitter," the Heir of Marquis Beining felt exasperated.

Prince NanAn, "..."

The Heir of Marquis Beining took the medicine bowl and finished it in one gulp.

One gulp and the bitterness ends.

Spoon-fed, who knows when the bitterness will end.

Xueling stood to the side, her shoulders shaking.

Truly.

She didn’t intend to laugh; the Heir of Marquis Beining was injured, laughter was inappropriate, but she couldn’t help it.

A soldier lifted the tent flap and entered, reporting, "I found out who kicked the soldier, causing the Heir to get injured."

"Who was it?" Chu Shun asked.

"It was General Ningyuan."

Chu Shun and Prince NanAn exchanged glances.

They had no real impression of any General Ningyuan.

General Ningyuan was a fifth-rank official; Prince NanAn and the others usually interacted with generals who could attend strategic meetings. A fifth-rank general didn’t leave much impression.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion glanced at the Heir of Marquis Beining and asked, "Do you have any enmity with General Ningyuan?"

"Not at all," the Heir replied.

"I don’t even remember what he looks like."

The soldier quickly described General Ningyuan’s appearance—stocky build, thick eyebrows and big eyes, a scar on the forehead.

The Heir of Marquis Beining shook his head; it didn’t ring a bell.

He had no impression; Xueling did. She remarked, "I’ve seen General Ningyuan. He once stared at the Heir for a long time. When he noticed I saw him, he turned and left."

"Stared at me?" The Heir frowned.

"It was also when the Heir kicked a pebble, accidentally hitting Prince Zhenbei, and hurriedly turned to run..."

Cough, cough!

The Heir quickly coughed to interrupt the maid.

He truly acted impulsively that time but didn’t expect to be so accurate, frightening him to run quickly.

He thought no one knew about it, but not only had the maid seen it, General Ningyuan had also witnessed it.

Xueling didn’t think much at the time, since she was also focused on watching the Heir.

Thinking back, witnessing that scene made her laugh, but General Ningyuan didn’t laugh.

Anyway, the Heir was sure he’d never provoked General Ningyuan. They usually acted together, rarely alone. When they caused trouble, it was always dramatic.

The Heir leaned against the large pillow, clutching his injured chest, and mused, "Could it be my father offended him?"

"Am I suffering from my father’s actions?"

The soldier showed a blank face.

Never witnessed someone suspecting their own father like this, but it wasn’t impossible.

Su Chong suggested, "Heal well, inquire near General Ningyuan to find out."

The best at gathering information was Prince NanAn.

The status associated with Prince NanAn Mansion’s Commandery Prince made it easy to get close to anyone.

In less than half an hour, Prince NanAn returned, announcing, "I found out why General Ningyuan wanted Brother Mu dead."