"You, you!" Du Jianghong’s eyes were red with anger, "Have you thought about it, if His Highness the Crown Prince returns and changes his mind, surrendering, it would mean another war full of suffering!"

It’s really impossible to reason with Yuan Kai.

"I don’t care!" Yuan Kai’s tone was resolute, "His Highness is sovereign, and I am a subject. Whatever decision His Highness makes, as a subject, I must unconditionally obey! Anyway, as long as His Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t returned today, I won’t let Emperor Daxuan leave! Even if I am wrong, I alone will bear the consequences!" Yuan Kai insisted.

Du Jianghong gritted his teeth.

He knew he couldn’t reason with Yuan Kai.

Yuan Kai was already discontent with him, and Yu Ke, whom he trusted, was also full of hostility towards him, leaving him no way to persuade Yuan Kai.

There was some stalemate.

Xiao Jinxing suddenly spoke, "Alright, I agree with General Yuan, to exchange myself for the Crown Prince."

Du Jianghong looked at Xiao Jinxing.

Yuan Kai also looked at him.

"Given the circumstances, since General Yuan doesn’t trust me nor Military Advisor Du, then let the Crown Prince and me exchange as General Yuan wishes," Xiao Jinxing looked at Du Jianghong, "Sir, when doing this, you had already put life and death aside, and now everyone knows your scheme, aiming for your conspiracy is of no use either."

Du Jianghong nodded, his concern was not the exposure of the scheme, but, "I worry only that His Highness the Crown Prince might be unable to accept this deal between me and His Majesty, and choose to abandon peace talks, rekindling the war."

"The current situation, neither you nor I can change," Xiao Jinxing spoke bluntly.

Meaning that all worries are in vain.

Du Jianghong nodded.

He nodded helplessly.

At that moment, he glanced at Yuan Kai again, saying fiercely, "Yuan Kai, if you incite war again, you’ll be a sinner in history, and surely will be infamous for eternity in Cang Kingdom’s history!"

Yuan Kai was made green with anger from Du Jianghong’s words.

Du Jianghong dared to insult him so brazenly.

"Come!" Du Jianghong commanded.

"Military Advisor." The trusted aide greeted respectfully.

"The Daxuan messenger is still in the camp, have him leave quickly to report to General Daxuan that today at Shi hour, the hostage exchange will happen at the border, without mistake!"

"Understood!"

The trusted aide swiftly departed.

Xiao Jinxing glanced at Du Jianghong.

Du Jianghong returned the gaze to Xiao Jinxing.

The messenger he referred to was naturally An Ning.

He had no choice but to use this method, first to let the Daxuan Empress leave, to fulfill his promise to Emperor Daxuan.

In a moment.

An Ning was on horseback, arriving at the entrance of the Cang Kingdom camp.

Since the two teams faced off, the entrance was completely blocked.

Yet An Ning saw Xiao Jinxing from afar.

No matter how ordinary the clothing, he stood out among the crowd.

An Ning appeared.

Du Jianghong glanced and looked indifferent, he said to Yuan Kai, "Let the messenger return to Daxuan to deliver the news!"

Yuan Kai turned to look at the messenger.

Still remembering the one who came.

With his delicate and memorable features.

Yuan Kai saw nothing wrong.

He nodded and ordered his guards to step aside.

An Ning pressed her lips tightly.

Upon receiving the message from Du Jianghong’s trusted aide, she knew something was up, otherwise, she wouldn’t be sent away first.

Seeing Yuan Kai at this moment, everything was clear.

Yuan Kai obviously knew Xiao Jinxing’s identity.

An Ning bit her lip.

Leaving now, could Xiao Jinxing be in danger?!

But thinking of Gao Ziyue still in the Daxuan Army camp, Yuan Kai wouldn’t dare lay hands on Xiao Jinxing.

She hesitated no longer.

She pulled the reins and rode past Xiao Jinxing, heading out of the Cang Kingdom camp!

"Wait!" Yuan Kai suddenly stopped An Ning.

As soon as Yuan Kai spoke.

The guards immediately blocked An Ning again.

An Ning frowned.

Xiao Jinxing’s hand gripping the reins also tightened.

"Why haven’t you left after so long?!" Yuan Kai suddenly questioned.

Before An Ning could speak.

Du Jianghong replied straightforwardly, "The messenger arrived at the Cang Kingdom camp, naturally needing a bit of hospitality. Moments ago, I invited the messenger to dine, and even prepared some gifts. Hence, the delay."

Yuan Kai seemed unsure.

An Ning directly took out some jewelry brought from the Cang Kingdom, showing Yuan Kai.

Yuan Kai furrowed his brows.

"General, you who have long fought outside may not understand people’s affairs, but General Yuan should not hinder others from performing this decorum." Du Jianghong spoke with sarcasm.

Yuan Kai felt somewhat embarrassed from Du Jianghong’s sarcasm.

He waved angrily, calling for the guards to let them pass.

At that moment, Yu Ke suddenly said, "General, don’t rush."

Yuan Kai sharply ordered someone to block An Ning again.

Du Jianghong was furious, "What on earth do you want, Yuan Kai!"

"Given what concerns the life and safety of His Highness the Crown Prince, I must be wary and cautious with everything!" Yuan Kai said fiercely.

Du Jianghong was fuming with rage.

"Speak." Yuan Kai disregarded Du Jianghong’s anger and addressed Yu Ke.

"I suddenly thought, even if Military Advisor and Emperor Daxuan had private dealings, bringing Emperor Daxuan to our Cang Kingdom camp seemed extraordinarily peculiar. Previously, I forbade the General from interrogating Military Advisor and Emperor Daxuan was fearing mishaps but now that everything’s revealed, it’s high time for clarity; otherwise, risking another Military Advisor’s trap."

Yuan Kai felt what Yu Ke said made sense.

He loudly interrogated, "Du Jianghong, despite any private arrangements with Emperor Daxuan to stop the war, it didn’t warrant bringing Emperor Daxuan to our Cang Kingdom camp?! Could you have such influence?! Whatever you’re both plotting, if it’s not disclosed today, no one leaves!"

Du Jianghong glared at Yuan Kai, his patience seemingly exhausted, "The reason Cang Kingdom repeatedly suffers defeat is because of having a physically strong yet simple-minded General like you!"

"Du Jianghong!" Yuan Kai incited by Du Jianghong’s words flared up.

"Why do you bother now! Emperor Daxuan is in our territory, do you still worry about the Crown Prince’s safety?! Your aim now is merely to ensure the Crown Prince’s safety. Now that you can do that, don’t ask about things you shouldn’t know! Do you realize sometimes people die from knowing too much!" Du Jianghong fumed in anger.

He too feared provoking Emperor Daxuan.

Don’t mention the Crown Prince refusing to capitulate, should they offend Emperor Daxuan today, he might not accept surrender but wage war, annihilating Cang Kingdom entirely.

In the conflict between Daxuan and Cang Kingdom, Cang Kingdom never held negotiation power!

Yuan Kai still dared to act so dominantly!

How utterly foolish!

"Du Jianghong, stop threatening me; are you secretly plotting something?! I won’t let you succeed!"

"Yuan Kai, if you’re as foolish as a log, that’s your business, but don’t bury Cang Kingdom with you!" Du Jianghong grit his teeth and said, "At this moment today, if you don’t let the messenger leave and relay the message, I dare affirm, Cang Kingdom will face a catastrophe of destruction!"

Yuan Kai was black-faced from Du Jianghong’s threat.

"Let them pass!" Du Jianghong commanded word for word.

Fearlessly, full of daunting presence!