Chapter 180: Setting Out Tomorrow

"No, impossible?"

Cui Zheng leaned down over the basin in disbelief, touching the wound on his neck, then carefully studied his reflection in the water.

The wound had indeed already scabbed over, and beneath it, tender red new flesh had grown.

That medicinal powder — could it really be so miraculous?!

"Yo! Has the Young Marquis finished his breakfast?"

Chu Yuan walked in, picked up the empty bowl, headed out, and said a line before leaving.

"You may move about freely inside the tent, but you may not go outside, and don't even think about escaping."

"Hey!"

Cui Zheng called out to him.

"You captured me — you can't be planning to use me as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Xiyue, right?"

Hearing this, Chu Yuan turned his head and spoke to him in a teasing tone.

"Negotiate?"

"The ones who should be anxious are you people, right?"

"You've already suffered defeat after defeat — you don't actually still think Xiyue has a chance of winning, do you?"

Hearing this, Cui Zheng choked on his words, his face turning very ugly: "……"

A perfectly fine person, just had to grow a mouth.

Really want to sew his mouth shut!

……

A few days later, grievous news came from the Xiyue Imperial Palace.

The Xiyue Emperor had passed away.

The Xiyue Crown Prince was busy handling the funeral, stabilizing the Imperial Court, and the border war was not looking optimistic either — panic gripped both court and common folk, and all of it required him to resolve.

He was truly busy to the point of being at his wits' end.

Yet at precisely this moment, news arrived that the Marquis of Dingyuan's only grandson had been detained by Da Yin.

Stabilizing the Imperial Court naturally could not do without the support of these Old Ministers.

Moreover, the Marquis of Dingyuan was a minister who had served three reigns, and his prestige in court and among the people was matched by few Imperial Officials.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated the Xiyue Crown Prince became, pacing back and forth anxiously in his Study.

"Truly a season of many troubles."

At this moment, a servant reported from outside that Mister Yuan requested an audience.

The Xiyue Crown Prince's eyes flickered, and he gave an order in a low voice.

"Let him in!"

Yuan Qingchen walked in.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince."

The Xiyue Crown Prince raised his hand.

"No need for such ceremony."

"You come at just the right time — this is intelligence I just obtained."

"The young Marquis of the Marquis of Dingyuan's household has been captured by Da Yin."

Yuan Qingchen naturally already knew of this matter, but he still put on a look of surprise, took the letter, and glanced at it.

"It is indeed a bit troublesome. What does Your Highness think?"

The Crown Prince sighed softly, turned, and looked out the window.

"The Xiyue of today can no longer bear the drain of a great war."

"The person must certainly be rescued — we cannot chill the hearts of the senior ministers in court."

After a moment's deliberation, he continued.

"I intend to negotiate peace with Da Yin."

Yuan Qingchen rejoiced inwardly, but a trace of worry showed on his face.

"But the late Emperor previously refused Da Yin's marriage alliance, and combined with our defeat after defeat, showing weakness now — the Shunhe Emperor will surely seize the chance to make things difficult for us."

The Crown Prince turned around and looked at him deeply.

"Who says I intend to negotiate peace with the Shunhe Emperor?"

A bad premonition rose in Yuan Qingchen's heart, but he quickly collected himself.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

The Xiyue Crown Prince gazed at him steadily.

"News from the army says that in this great war, Da Yin's troop deployments and formations are entirely unlike Zhou Old General's usual style."

Hearing this, Yuan Qingchen's expression remained composed as he considered his reply.

"This time Da Yin brought in Muyuan reinforcements, so a different approach to deployments is only natural."

"General Zhu also mentioned a small matter in his letter, but in my view, it is a very important clue."

Carefully observing his expression, the Xiyue Crown Prince continued slowly.

"He mentioned that on the battlefield, there also appeared a young general clad in black Armor, valiant and skilled in battle."

"The Cheng Family Army seemed to hold that person in great respect."

Hearing this, the hand Yuan Qingchen had behind his back quietly clenched.

The Xiyue Crown Prince walked slowly back to his chair and sat down, rested his elbow on the table, and raised a hand to tap his temple.

"I recall that in the Cheng Family Army, there was once also a person who wore black Armor."

His thin lips parted slightly, and he spoke a name.

"Cheng Chengxuan!"

Hearing those three words, Yuan Qingchen's lowered brows and eyes stirred, his lashes fluttering.

Noticing this subtle reaction, the Xiyue Crown Prince leaned forward slightly, scrutinizing him, and pressed on.

"Mister Yuan, after leaving Xiyue, there was one occasion when you dismissed the guards of the Crown Prince's Residence and acted alone."

"Where did you go? Whom did you meet?"

Yuan Qingchen raised his head, calmly meeting his gaze, his eyes utterly unruffled.

"Since Your Highness the Crown Prince has already guessed, why bother asking?"

"Heh!"

The Xiyue Crown Prince gave a light laugh, looking down to smooth his sleeves.

"You are rather candid."

"Do you know what fate awaits one whose identity is exposed?"

With things said to this point, Yuan Qingchen was too lazy to keep up the act — putting on that aloof, otherworldly sage's air every day was exhausting.

"At this point, I'll speak plainly. I came to Xiyue, came to this Crown Prince's Residence, indeed intending to borrow Your Highness's power to avenge the Cheng Family."

"But Your Highness the Crown Prince, I don't say this to excuse myself — as of now, I truly have done nothing to harm Xiyue."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the Xiyue Crown Prince set down his tea as well — *clack* — the teacup placed heavily on the table.

"From the sound of your words, should I thank you?"

Yuan Qingchen smiled.

"Please calm yourself, Your Highness. We were simply each taking what we needed."

"Ha!"

The Xiyue Crown Prince laughed despite his anger.

"You're the first person to speak of using me so brazenly and self-righteously!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, forgive my bluntness — among those around you, how many are truly sincere toward you, with no selfish motives?"

Yuan Qingchen spread his hands.

"At the very least, I am candid enough, and I have never done anything to harm you."

*Thud! *

The Xiyue Crown Prince's gaze turned cold. He slammed the table heavily, his tone dangerous.

"You don't imagine that, just because of your connection to the Cheng Family, I wouldn't dare touch you?"

"No, no, no."

Yuan Qingchen shook his head.

"Of course you dare. You are the Crown Prince of Xiyue, and before long, you will be King of Xiyue. The life and death of every person in all of Xiyue rests in your hands."

"Killing me would be but a word from you. But Your Highness, that would not change the current predicament."

The Xiyue Crown Prince lowered his eyes to the tea leaves unfurling at the bottom of the cup, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Though he did not know what agreement the Cheng Family had reached with Shang Gu, Muyuan Kingdom was certainly on the Cheng Family's side, and Da Yin now faced troubles both within and without.

The Shen Imperial Dynasty's mandate had run its course.

After a long pause, he spoke slowly.

"Help me deliver a letter to Cheng Chengxuan."

Yuan Qingchen rose with a smile and bowed.

"It would be my honor."

……

As the Xiyue Crown Prince's letter reached Cheng Chengxuan's hands, the Cheng Family, far outside Beihuang City, also received letters from Cheng Chengxuan and Cheng Sitao, the two brothers.

"Nanjiang!"

Cheng Qiuluo ground her teeth and slammed the table hard.

"Grandmother, the Nan Jing forces are insufficient now. Big Brother and the others can't hold out much longer."

Cheng Qiuruo, too, wore a face full of worry.

"And Big Brother's martial skill has greatly diminished now…"

After all, it was not his original body. Even though those techniques were etched in his mind, strength and reaction — especially Lightness Skill — were trained from childhood.

Meng Shi and Tian Qin exchanged a glance; their hands clasped tightly, silently comforting each other.

Cheng Old Madam, her eyes half-closed, tightened her grip slightly on her cane.

After a while, she raised her eyes to look at the others.

"Let us trust those two brothers."

Then she stood, looked outside, and said in a low voice.

"Prepare yourselves. We set out tomorrow!"