Having lived for over thirty years, Xiao Lü recently found himself plagued by bad luck, as if all the good fortune of his earlier life had been completely spent.

Originally, he had gone to great lengths to curry favor with the Second Prince, Yelü Shege—hosting elaborate banquets and buying famous paintings as gifts. His efforts seemed to be paying off, and the prince had begun to take notice of him. Yet, overnight, everything changed when Yelü Qin was injured in an assassination attempt. From then on, the Second Prince had no time for a minor figure like Xiao Lü and cast him aside.

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Flattering someone is a skill not everyone can master.

Despite his repeated attempts to please Yelü Shege, the prince shut his doors and refused to see him.

Xiao Lü grumbled, “What rotten luck! If it weren’t for Qiao Jiu’s son falling ill suddenly, preventing him from meeting the prince and causing the prince to vent his anger on me, would I be in this mess now?”

As he ate breakfast, Xiao Lü grew increasingly irritated, finally flapping his sleeves in frustration. “From now on, I, Xiao Lü, will have nothing to do with that Qiao Jiu!”

Before his words had fully landed, a servant entered and reported, “Master, that tea merchant Qiao Jiu is here again!”

Xiao Lü fumed, “He dares show up again?”

The servant hesitated and said, “Master, Qiao Jiu has been waiting outside every day. Today, he’s already been standing at the gate for an hour, and he brought many gifts. He also said…”

“What else did he say?”

“He said he won’t leave unless he sees you today.”

Xiao Lü sneered, “He’s just a merchant. If I don’t want to see him, then I won’t. Tell him to get lost!”

“Wait,” said Xiao Lü’s trusted shopkeeper suddenly. After a moment of contemplation, the shopkeeper advised, “Master, that’s not the best approach. Qiao Jiu is a businessman. His daily visits are likely because he offended you and wants to mend things to continue doing business with us. May I ask, Master, how much do you dislike Qiao Jiu? Would you consider partnering with him again, or do you never want to see him again?”

Xiao Lü snapped, “I never want to see him again. He ruined my plans—I wish he were dead!”

The shopkeeper smiled shrewdly. “Then you should meet him. If you refuse to see him, he’ll only lose the opportunity to do business with us, but he can still partner with others in Xijing Prefecture. If you truly despise him, why not pretend to reconcile, lure him into a deal, and then stab him in the back?”

“Brilliant idea!” Xiao Lü turned to the servant and ordered, “Bring Qiao Jiu in.”

Qiao Jiu entered with his servant, carrying a heap of gifts. Upon seeing Xiao Lü, he bowed deeply and said apologetically, “I am sorry, Mr. Xiao. Please don’t be angry with me.”

Feigning magnanimity, Xiao Lü smiled and said, “Oh, no need for such words. I was merely venting my frustration. Upon reflection, it was wrong of me to take it out on you. Please don’t hold it against me, Brother Qiao.”

Qiao Jiu smiled and insisted, “Mr. Xiao, please accept these gifts. Only then will I be at ease.”

The two exchanged knowing glances and smiled in unison.

“Care to join me for breakfast?” Xiao Lü offered.

“With pleasure,” Qiao Jiu replied.

At the dining table, Qiao Jiu appeared cautious, as if still worried about Xiao Lü’s temper. Xiao Lü felt disdain for his timidity but maintained a facade of generosity and pretended to be completely at ease. After the meal, Qiao Jiu left behind the gifts and departed with his servant. They agreed that at the start of the following month, Qiao Jiu would supply tea leaves, which Xiao Lü would sell through his shops.

After Qiao Jiu left, Xiao Lü ordered the gifts to be stored in the warehouse. They were fine items, and there was no need to refuse them just for the sake of plotting against Qiao Jiu.

Watching Qiao Jiu’s departing figure, Xiao Lü flashed a sinister smile, unaware that upon Qiao Jiu’s return to his residence, Su Wenyun greeted him and asked, “Did he accept everything? Did Xiao Lü suspect anything?”

Qiao Jiu replied respectfully, “Yes, daren. Xiao Lü noticed nothing unusual.”

Su Wenyun’s pale face curved into a faint, wry smile. “Another fool.”

Three days later, Xiao Lü was at home reviewing the accounts for the past six months with his shopkeeper when a servant rushed into the study, shouting, “Master, news just came in—the assassin has been captured!”

Startled, Xiao Lü stood up abruptly. “Captured?”

The servant nodded. “You instructed us to closely monitor the situation with the assassin. We’ve just learned that the Left Chancellor has apprehended the culprit and is escorting him to the prefectural office for interrogation.”

Overjoyed, Xiao Lü exclaimed, “Finally! That damned assassin—he couldn’t have come at a worse time, ruining my plans! Prepare some gifts. I’ll go visit the Second Prince and congratulate him on this happy event.”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, “Congratulations, Master. Your luck has turned—you’re bound to rise to great heights.”

Xiao Lü laughed heartily.

Since the assassination attempt, Yelü Shege had been too preoccupied to entertain visitors, and Xiao Lü had been turned away each time. Now, with a legitimate reason to visit, he could resume his efforts to ingratiate himself with the prince.

His spirits lifted, Xiao Lü had a servant help him change into formal attire while he pondered how best to flatter the prince when they met. Just then, he heard the clamor of hurried footsteps outside. Curious, he stepped out of his room, only to see an armored soldier kick open the gate to his courtyard, sword in hand.

Shocked, Xiao Lü demanded, “Who are you? How dare you trespass on private property?”

The soldier sneered at Xiao Lü’s frightened expression and asked coldly, “Are you Xiao Lü?”

Bewildered and wary, Xiao Lü replied, “Yes, I am. Since you know who I am, you should also know that I’m a relative of Left Minister Xiao Zhen. Surely, this is some kind of misunderstanding?”

The soldier paused briefly, then burst into laughter. “A misunderstanding? You’re exactly the one we’re here to arrest! Men, bind him and take him to the Second Prince!”

Panic swept over Xiao Lü like a freezing tide. As two soldiers tied him up, he began struggling violently and shouting, “I’m loyal to the Second Prince! Who are you? How dare you frame me?”

Without a word, the soldier stuffed a rag into Xiao Lü’s mouth, silencing him.

Bound hand and foot, Xiao Lü was dragged to the prefectural office.

Upon entering the hall, he frantically looked around for Xiao Zhen, but the official was nowhere to be seen. Instead, seated at the head of the hall was Yelü Shege, dressed in luxurious blue robes, gazing at him with a chilling smile—one that sent shivers down Xiao Lü’s spine.

Desperate to plead his innocence, Xiao Lü could only emit muffled sounds through the rag in his mouth.

Yelü Shege lowered his eyes and said with a calm, eerie tone, “Since you’ve come, it’s only proper to give a greeting gift. Chalu, cut off his left hand and present it to me.”

“Understood,” Chalu replied without hesitation.

Xiao Lü’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw a burly man walking toward him. With a metallic clang, the man drew the saber from his waist.

At that moment, Xiao Lü suddenly recalled the horrifying tale of how Yelü Shege once cleaved a male courtesan in two with a single stroke for displeasing him.

In the next instant, searing, excruciating pain tore through Xiao Lü’s body.

News of the captured assassin spread rapidly throughout Xijing Prefecture, soon reaching the ears of Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister. Initially, Xiao Zhen was delighted—now that the assassin was caught, he wouldn’t have to leave at dawn and return late every day, tirelessly searching the city for the culprit. However, within the hour, a government worker rushed in with shocking news: Xiao Lü had been arrested as the assassin’s accomplice by none other than Yelü Shege!

Xiao Zhen’s face turned deathly pale as he shouted, “Nonsense! How could Xiao Lü possibly be involved with the assassin?”

The government worker, looking helpless, replied, “It’s true, daren. After the Left Chancellor captured the assassin, he tortured him severely, and the assassin confessed that Xiao Lü was his accomplice. He claimed that Xiao Lü helped him hide and had already sent the secret letter out of Xijing Prefecture. Not long after confessing, he managed to poison himself and died on the spot.”

Xiao Zhen slumped into his chair, speechless. “How could it be Xiao Lü…”

Xiao Lü was equally baffled. He had no idea why the assassin had falsely implicated him as an accomplice!

Over the course of a day and a night, Xiao Lü was subjected to relentless torture, leaving his body bloodied and unrecognizable.

He lay sprawled on the ground like a lifeless piece of flesh. When Yelü Shege approached, Xiao Lü trembled uncontrollably, instinctively trying to crawl away. Yelü Shege, famed as one of the most handsome princes in the Liao royal family, now appeared more terrifying than a demon in Xiao Lü’s eyes.

Yelü Shege’s dark eyes remained fixed on Xiao Lü. After a moment, he smiled, crouched down, and asked gently, “Are you the assassin’s accomplice?”

Xiao Lü shook his head frantically, his hoarse voice rasping like stones scraping against the ground. “I-I don’t know the assassin, Your Highness! I’ve been framed!”

Yelü Shege sighed. “But the assassin pointed you out in front of everyone. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter anymore. Tell me—who is your mastermind?”

Xiao Lü, on the verge of madness, screamed, “I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it!”

Yelü Shege’s expression turned icy as he commanded coldly, “Speak. Who’s behind this?”

Xiao Lü stared at him in a daze, utterly lost.

Suddenly, Yelü Shege smiled again, this time with an unsettling gentleness. He reached out and patted Xiao Lü’s face, his hand coming away slick with blood. In a soothing tone, he said, “Your mastermind is Yelü Ding, Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding. Remember that name.”

In the dim, damp cell, the sound of dripping water echoed. Yelü Shege’s voice, soft and persuasive, continued, “Remember him, and I promise you a swift death.”

Xiao Lü’s mind went blank, as though his soul had left his body. He laid there, mouth agape, staring vacantly at Yelü Shege. The prince repeated the name “Yelü Ding” over and over again by his ear. After what seemed like an eternity, Xiao Lü let out a guttural roar, like a wild beast in despair. Then, all at once, he fell silent and said, “The one behind me is Grand Preceptor… Yelü Ding.” As he finished speaking, tears rolled down his face.

With Xiao Lü’s confession, Yelü Shege immediately ordered a raid on his residence. Sure enough, incriminating evidence was found in the storeroom.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Zhen nearly fainted and collapsed onto his bed, gravely ill.

The next day, an unexpected guest arrived at his residence. The servant led Qiao Jiu inside to see Xiao Zhen, who glanced weakly at him and said coldly, “You seem to be a friend of Xiao Lü?”

Qiao Jiu fell to his knees and began wailing, “Please, daren, spare my life! Save me!”

Xiao Zhen was taken aback. “What nonsense are you spouting, you Song merchant?”

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Through his sobs, Qiao Jiu said, “Daren, have you not heard? This morning, Xiao Lü confessed and revealed his mastermind. But not only that—he even falsely accused me and implicated you, claiming that we were both in on it, acting as his accomplices!”

Xiao Zhen shot upright from his bed like a startled fish, his plump body slamming into the headboard, causing him to cry out in pain.

“Are you telling the truth?”

“It’s absolutely true!”

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Since Yelü Qin’s assassination, five days had passed.

Yelü Qin’s arrival at Xijing Prefecture had been sudden, and the attack on the night of his arrival left Tang Shen with little time to investigate the truth. However, as time went on, he gradually pieced things together:

“Xijing Prefecture is the stronghold of Southern officials. Yelü Shege, as the second prince of Liao, wouldn’t have come all this way without reason. The assassin was likely not sent by them—if that were the case, why would Yelü Qin stab himself? He could have simply let the assassin injure him. The assassin was real, but the secret letter may not have been. Yelü Qin being an innocent victim isn’t necessarily true either. This whole thing is likely a trap set up by Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin!”

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As the saying goes, those in the game are confused, but onlookers see clearly.

Lu Shen had witnessed Yelü Qin stab himself, which allowed Tang Shen to discern part of the truth.

Tang Shen continued, “Yelü Shege came to Xijing Prefecture to lay this trap because most of the powerful officials here support him. In the Liao court, the Liao Emperor has long been indifferent to state affairs. Northern officials support the third prince, Yelü Han, while Southern officials back the second prince, Yelü Shege. This move by Yelü Shege is a classic case of ‘using the enemy’s scheme against them.’ By capturing the assassin, they could seize the opportunity to move against Yelü Han. Even the secret letter is likely a forgery. Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin have clearly gone to great lengths to deal with Yelü Han.”

Tang Shen’s analysis was logical and nearly flawless, matching Wang Zifeng’s own speculations.

In Liao, the one who most wanted to eliminate Yelü Shege was Yelü Han, and vice versa.

However, there was one point Tang Shen didn’t fully grasp, as he was still relatively new to Liao politics. Wang Zifeng added, “It wouldn’t require such an elaborate scheme to deal with just Yelü Han.”

Tang Shen looked up, puzzled. “What do you mean, Senior Brother?”

Wang Zifeng explained, “While most Southern officials support Yelü Shege, not all do. Yelü Han, on the other hand, has a powerful backer—Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding.” As if recalling something, Wang Zifeng sighed, “Yelü Ding is like a stabilizing force for the Liao court. Without him, the war between Song and Liao twenty-one years ago wouldn’t have dragged on for a full decade.”

Tang Shen quickly caught on. “So Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin’s scheme isn’t just targeting Yelü Han—they’re really after Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding.”

Wang Zifeng smiled. “Do you know why, out of the four princes, Yelü Ding supports the rather dim-witted Yelü Han instead of the more talented Yelü Shege or the other princes?”

Tang Shen paused, then reasoned, “Yelü Ding comes from a noble lineage, so he likely prefers Yelü Han, who also has a distinguished background.”

“That’s one reason.”

“There’s another?”

Wang Zifeng’s lips curved into a faint smile. “A fool is always easier to control than someone who isn’t.”

Tang Shen suddenly understood.

The Silver Pull Division had been established for two years, and Wang Zifeng’s knowledge of Liao politics far surpassed Tang Shen’s. Unlike the Song Dynasty, where Emperor Zhao Fu was a master of political maneuvering, the Liao Emperor had long withdrawn from governance due to injuries and illness sustained during his youth. In the Liao court, Yelü Ding wielded immense power, unlike the Song court where officials formed distinct factions. Zhao Fu’s skillful handling of imperial authority ensured that even though he was older than the Liao Emperor, no official dared to openly support any prince.

Whether it was Wang Zhen, Su Wenyun, or other royalists, even non-royalist ministers never voiced any opinions about appointing an heir. One Zhao Fu was worth more than countless aspiring princes.

If Tang Shen were to ask Wang Zhen whether he preferred Zhao Fu to die early and be succeeded by a prince, or for Zhao Fu to somehow succeed in cultivation and live a hundred more years, he would answer without hesitation: “All of the princes added together is not even comparable to one ten-thousandth of His Majesty.”

This was no sycophantic flattery but an honest statement.

And if Tang Shen was asked, he would only be able to sigh: “Every day Zhao Fu lives, peace between Song and Liao continues.”

That night, seeing that Tang Shen had recovered and his fever had subsided, Wang Zhen prepared to leave for the Silver Pull Division to handle official business.

Tang Shen tried to dissuade him. “It’s already late. Why not rest here at the Youzhou camp, Senior Brother?”

Wang Zhen asked, “Do you know why Yu Chaosheng came to Youzhou?”

Tang Shen, having received the imperial edict upon waking, answered, “His Majesty sent Yu daren to Youzhou to take over my duties in supervising the Silver Pull Division.”

Wang Zhen bluntly asked, “And have you been supervising it?”

Tang Shen: “…”

Wang Zhen sighed dramatically. “If I don’t return to the Division tonight to manage the backlog of affairs for you, who will cover for you tomorrow when Yu daren arrives?” With a mock sigh, Wang daren added, “I never thought I, Wang Zifeng, would one day bend the law for personal reasons.”

Wang Zhen’s earnest tone left Tang Shen momentarily speechless. Then he remembered—since when had Wang Zifeng ever been a law-abiding official? Even Li Jingde wouldn’t believe that!

Overcome with gratitude, Tang Shen felt an urge to sing “In This World, No One Is As Good As Senior Brother” for Wang Zhen. But recalling that the song was originally meant for mothers and Wang Zhen’s past comment about worrying like a mother, he shuddered and awkwardly said, “Senior Brother treats me so well that I feel grateful and… a bit awkward.”

Wang Zhen: “Awkward about what?”

Tang Shen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “Let me sing a song for Senior Brother.”

Wang Zhen looked at him, puzzled. Before he could ask, Tang Shen began to sing, “In this world, no one is as good as senior brother. Without a senior brother, I’d be like grass…”

Wang Zifeng, ever sharp, remained silent for a moment before saying, “I feel like that song isn’t supposed to go that way.”

Tang Shen: “It’s late. There are wolves outside the city. You’d better hurry back before it’s too dangerous.”

Wang Zhen suddenly chuckled involuntarily. He seemed about to say something but stopped himself, merely smiling as he boarded his carriage and left.

After Wang Zhen’s departure, Tang Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Left alone, he pondered, “What was Wang Zifeng about to say before he left?” Somehow, a phrase came to mind and he blurted out loud: “Growing bold with favoritism?!”

Half a year ago, Wang Zhen once said this word to Tang Shen, and now he recalled it again. Tang Shen was silent for a long time, muttering, “When did Wang Zifeng and I become like this?” He was acting completely different from the cautious attitude he had shown when they first met. He actually began to trust this person wholeheartedly.

Lost in thought, Tang Shen recalled their interactions over the past four years. Before he could make sense of it, a soldier entered to report that someone had come to visit him.

Surprised, Tang Shen said, “Let them in.”

Soon, a slender man in a black cloak entered the tent. Standing nearly six feet tall, he was entirely shrouded in the cloak, with only a pale, pointed chin visible beneath the hood. Once they were alone, the man removed his hood, revealing a pair of striking, alluring eyes. It was Su Wenyun. He scanned Tang Shen from head to toe and quipped with a smirk, “I heard you were gravely injured and unconscious. Even Wang daren took care of you for a whole day. I thought you were about to kick the bucket, so I came to bid you farewell. But it looks like you’re doing just fine.”

Tang Shen: “…”

Nothing good ever comes from a dog’s mouth.

Tang Shen didn’t bother arguing with him and said calmly, “Greetings to Su daren. Thank you for sending the secret message. Had I returned a day later, it would have been too late to prevent disaster.”

Hearing this, Su Wenyun’s expression turned serious. “I’ll head to Xijing Prefecture tonight. If I ride swiftly, I’ll reach it in two days.”

Tang Shen asked, “Has there been any word from Lu Shen about capturing the assassin?”

“Not yet.” Su Wenyun paused, then asked solemnly, “Did you make any preparations before leaving Xijing Prefecture?”

Although they often clashed over policies in the past, with each belonging to opposing factions, they set their differences aside and engaged in a focused discussion. Tang Shen said, “I made some arrangements. Allow me to explain…”

Su Wenyun remained in Tang Shen’s tent for an hour.

In the middle of the night, Su Wenyun donned his cloak, ready to depart for Xijing Prefecture. As he was leaving, he turned back and said, “Xijing Prefecture is in chaos. I’ll handle the cleanup. You should focus on recovering from your injuries.”

Tang Shen thought to himself: I never intended to interfere again. I’m just waiting for you to infiltrate the enemy camp and take care of Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin for me.

Outwardly, he said respectfully, “I’ll leave it to you, Su daren.”

Su Wenyun sneered at Tang Shen’s outwardly polite demeanor before turning and leaving.

After seeing off this troublesome figure, Tang Shen put out the lamp and went to sleep. Little did he know that shortly after Su Wenyun stepped out of the tent, he was ambushed and had a sack thrown over his head.

Panicking, Su Wenyun shouted for help, but no one responded. The attacker remained silent, and even punched him squarely.

After taking the hit, Su Wenyun calmed down, his expression darkening as he barked, “Li Jingde! Stop this!”

The assailant paused mid-motion.

Unbeknownst to Tang Shen, while he was away in Liao, Su Wenyun had often come to inspect the Youzhou military camp, making life difficult for the military officials. Although Su Wenyun’s rank as a third-rank Right Vice Minister of Works was technically lower than Li Jingde’s, he had been appointed as an imperial inspector overseeing military affairs, leaving Li Jingde with no choice but to obey him. Over time, the military officials in Youzhou grew increasingly resentful of Su Wenyun. Now that he had shown up alone in the middle of the night, how could he resist ambushing him?

Li Jingde, deliberately lowering his voice, growled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not Li Jingde.”

“You coward! If you don’t stop, I’ll report you when I return to Shengjing and have you ruined!”

“Damn, why are you so vicious, you pale-faced sissy!”

Su Wenyun shot back angrily, “Dumbass! Try hitting me again!”

Li Jingde’s eye twitched, and after a moment’s hesitation, he pulled a token from his sleeve and threw it at Su Wenyun. “Fine! I’m done with you damn officials. Take this—it’s the Western Expedition Marshal’s token. I only hit you once, so we’re even. Return the token when you’re back.”

With that, Li Jingde bolted, not daring to stay any longer.

Su Wenyun yanked the sack off his head, furious, and kicked a nearby tent in frustration.

The next morning, when Tang Shen heard about the incident, he remarked, “General Li acted with the best of intentions.”

Two days later, Tang Shen returned to Youzhou City and formally handed over his duties to Yu Chaosheng.

Meanwhile, Su Wenyun, disguised as a servant, quietly infiltrated Xijing Prefecture. After altering his appearance, he met with Qiao Jiu and Lu Shen.

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Su Wenyun asked, “Have you caught the assassin?”

Lu Shen cupped his hands and replied, “We caught him this morning. He’s being held in the rear courtyard.”

Su Wenyun raised an eyebrow in surprise and smirked. “It seems I bring good fortune. I arrive, and you catch the assassin right away. Come, let’s go to the rear courtyard and choose a fitting method for him to die.”

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Inside the military tent, the physician was brewing medicine for Tang Shen. Upon seeing the three men enter, he immediately rose and saluted.

Wang Zhen approached the bed and took a steady look. Tang Shen was dressed in a white inner garment, his clothes from the shoulder down had been cut open, exposing his smooth arm. Near the elbow, a thick layer of medicine had been applied, without any bandage tied around it. There was no fresh bleeding, but upon closer inspection, traces of dried pus could be seen.

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Wang Zhen’s heart tightened as he asked, “Is the wound infected with an abscess?”

The physician replied, “There’s some infection.”

Wang Zhen followed up, “Is it serious?”

“The wound itself is small, so the abscess isn’t too severe. However, as daren knows, abscesses have always been difficult to treat, and I cannot guarantee a full recovery. For now, Tang daren’s health seems to be holding on, and if he wakes up tonight, he should be fine. He’ll need some time to recuperate afterward, but the scar on his arm cannot be removed.”

Yu Chaosheng stepped forward and asked, “Since the wound is only on his arm, why is he still unconscious?”

The physician hesitated, “This…”

Only Yu Chaosheng believed Tang Shen had been injured just this morning. The physician had already been instructed by Li Jingde not to reveal Tang Shen’s true condition. Yu Chaosheng’s sudden question left the physician momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Jingde was also caught off guard and was about to explain, “Tang Shen isn’t unconscious, just asleep,” when Wang Zhen calmly said, “Yu daren may not know that although Tang daren’s injury appears minor, the wound became infected, leading to an abscess. Abscesses cause weakness, persistent high fever, and thus unconsciousness.”

Yu Chaosheng glanced at Tang Shen, who was sweating profusely, and remarked, “Tang daren is surely blessed and will recover without issue.”

Since Yu Chaosheng was not particularly familiar with Tang Shen, he didn’t stay long and soon returned to the city.

As Tang Shen’s senior brother, it was only natural and proper for Wang Zhen to stay and take care of him. After Li Jingde left to handle military affairs, only Wang Zhen and the physician remained in the tent. The physician gently fanned the fire while brewing the medicine.

Wang Zhen said, “You may leave. I’ll take over.”

The physician was stunned. “Daren, this…”

“What precautions should I take?”

Though the physician did not recognize Wang Zhen, he had noticed how even Li Jingde seemed somewhat deferential to him earlier. Since Wang Zhen had given the order, the physician dared not object. After all, brewing medicine wasn’t particularly difficult, and the patient wouldn’t wake up anytime soon. He replied, “It requires slow simmering over a low flame for about four hours.”

After bowing, the physician prepared to leave but was stopped by Wang Zhen. “The scar on his arm—can it truly not be removed?”

The physician wasn’t sure how much Wang Zhen knew, so he hesitated before vaguely answering, “If there had been no abscess, there might have been ways to remove the scar. But with the infection being somewhat severe, even with the best scar-removal ointment, it’s unlikely to fade completely.”

“Good. Let it remain, so that I may see it every day and remember this lesson, never to forget.”

The physician didn’t quite understand Wang Zhen’s meaning and asked in confusion, “Daren?”

“It’s nothing. You may go.”

“Yes, daren.” The physician bowed and left.

In the now silent tent, only the sound of bubbling medicine could be heard. Wang Zhen checked the medicine to ensure everything was in order before walking over to the bedside and sitting down. His gaze lingered on Tang Shen’s pale face for a moment before moving to his wounded arm.

A slender, elegant hand gently touched Tang Shen’s cheek.

Wang Zhen’s hands were exceedingly beautiful—his fingers long and delicate, his knuckles well-defined. Whether playing the qin or writing, his hands always moved with a graceful fluidity, as if painting a picture. His hands were slightly pale, but compared to Tang Shen’s sickly pallor, they looked far healthier. Even Tang Shen’s lips were pale, and though his fever had subsided somewhat, his forehead was still warm. Fortunately, the small wound meant that the overall severity wasn’t too great.

Wang Zhen’s hand lingered on Tang Shen’s cheek for a long moment before sliding down slowly to rest on his chapped lips.

Too dry.

Due to the high fever and lack of water, Tang Shen’s lips had become cracked and parched.

Wang Zhen fetched a cup of water and dipped his fingers into it, carefully moistening Tang Shen’s lips. The water brought a slight flush back to them, but once it dried, the color faded again. Wang Zhen patiently continued the process several times until Tang Shen’s lips finally regained some softness and a hint of pink.

Setting the cup down, Wang Zhen sat quietly by the bed, gazing at Tang Shen without a word. No one knew how long had passed before a long sigh broke the silence in the tent.

“I gave you a chance to leave. But little junior brother, it was you who failed to take care of yourself.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

By nightfall, Tang Shen’s condition had indeed improved, and his fever had subsided, though he remained unconscious.

Wang Zhen left the tent and summoned the soldier who had escorted Tang Shen back to Youzhou. Initially, the soldier tried to feign ignorance, insisting that Tang Shen had only been injured that morning while hunting with Li Jingde. But Wang Zhen immediately asked, “How is the situation in Xijing Prefecture?”

The soldier was stunned.

“Speak.”

“…Yes, daren.”

The soldier truthfully recounted everything he knew, though his low rank meant he lacked many crucial details.

Wang Zhen listened carefully, narrowing his eyes. “Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin went to Xijing Prefecture?”

“Yes. It was because an assassin suddenly attacked Yelü Qin that the city was locked down, preventing Tang daren from returning.”

“An assassin targeted Yelü Qin…” Wang Zhen repeated, mulling over the information. A faint smile curled his lips, carrying a trace of inscrutability. He returned to the tent, used Li Jingde’s stationery to write a letter, and handed it to the soldier. “Return to Xijing Prefecture immediately and deliver this letter to Qiao Jiu. He’ll know what to do.”

Hearing Qiao Jiu’s name, the soldier’s confidence in Wang Zhen increased. “Understood!”

After attending to the matter of Xijing, Wang Zhen returned to the tent. As he looked up, his eyes met Tang Shen’s.

Tang Shen was propping himself up with his arm, about to get out of bed. Seeing Wang Zhen, he froze, his voice hoarse and filled with shock. “Senior Brother?”

Wang Zhen, ever perceptive, quickly approached and poured a cup of water. “Thirsty?”

“Yes.”

Tang Shen took the cup and drank two large gulps, finally feeling a bit better. Just as he was about to ask why Wang Zhen was there, he noticed the way Wang Zhen lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and tinged with displeasure. Tang Shen’s heart sank. He didn’t know what he had done to anger Wang Zifeng, but it was clear from his expression that Wang Zhen wasn’t pleased.

“Senior Brother… are you angry?”

“Yes.”

“At what?”

“Why did you get hurt?”

Wang Zhen had already heard the soldier’s account of Tang Shen’s injury, but he asked nonetheless. Tang Shen felt aggrieved—it wasn’t like he had expected Yelü Qin to be attacked, Zhao Fu to suddenly send him to Youzhou, or the lockdown of Xijing Prefecture to prevent his return!

Feeling wronged, Tang Shen recounted the entire incident in detail.

Wang Zhen poured him another cup of water and asked, “After saying so much, are you thirsty?”

Tang Shen: “…” Weren’t you the one asking all the questions?

Wang Zhen: “Oh you… don’t make me worry like this again.”

Tang Shen was holding the cup with both hands, sipping the water in small gulps. Hearing this, he instinctively looked up at Wang Zhen. Their eyes met—Tang Shen sitting on the bed, gazing straight into Wang Zhen’s deep eyes. Within them, he saw a mix of worry and affection. He had never seen Wang Zhen express his emotions so openly before. His senior brother had always been a serene figure, unbothered by worldly matters, always composed and elegant, as though nothing could ever stir him.

But with just that glance, it was as if Wang Zifeng came alive.

More vivid, more… captivating, making it difficult for others to look away.

Tang Shen felt something deep within his chest tremble violently. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized he didn’t know what to say at this moment.

Quickly averting his gaze, Tang Shen muttered, “I didn’t want to get injured either, but there was nothing I could do. No one in this world wants to get hurt…”

“There won’t be a next time.”

Tang Shen didn’t catch it clearly. “What?”

Wang Zifeng smiled. “Nothing.”

Tang Shen stared at him, perplexed. After a moment, he said, “I feel like today’s senior brother is different from usual.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Usually, you seem like an immortal, and I often wonder what you’re thinking. Most of the time, I can’t figure it out. But today, though I still can’t tell what’s on your mind, it feels like you’ve made some sort of decision. You seem very resolute.”

Initially, Wang Zifeng had wanted to tease Tang Shen, but hearing this, he froze for a moment.

“You think… I’ve made a decision?”

“Haven’t you?”

Wang Zifeng showed a strange expression. He paced two steps inside the tent, then suddenly turned back and, with a light-hearted smile, said, “Yes, you’re right. I’ve made a decision—a very important one.”

Tang Shen asked curiously, “What decision?”

Wang Zifeng replied, “Not long ago, I received a painting from our teacher. The painting is breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that it stirs the soul. I love it deeply. However, this painting may not feel the same about me, and we don’t walk the same path. I was greatly conflicted, pondering night after night whether I should claim the painting as my own, whether I should disregard its will and decide its fate for the rest of its life.”

Tang Shen chuckled softly, exposing him, “A painting isn’t a person. How could it have preferences? If you’re going to use a metaphor, Senior Brother, you should find a better one.”

Wang Zifeng raised an eyebrow. “Taking the chance to poke fun at me?”

Tang Shen finally caught on. “You deliberately gave me an opening so I could tease you! So, what did you decide about the painting? Are you going to keep it?”

“He’s mine now.”

Tang Shen didn’t quite understand. “What?”

Wang Zifeng gazed at him steadily, a leisurely smile playing at his lips. “I said, he’s already mine.”

Tang Shen: “?”

What on earth is Wang Zifeng talking about?

Wang Zifeng was still as cryptic as ever. When Tang Shen pressed for clarification, he refused to elaborate further, only saying, “The time hasn’t come for everything to be revealed.” Tang Shen could only grumble inwardly, knowing he couldn’t not accept his senior brother’s eccentric ways.

Once Tang Shen’s condition improved, they began discussing matters concerning Xijing.

Tang Shen knew far more than the soldier had. After he shared his information, many of Wang Zifeng’s speculations were confirmed, aligning perfectly with his deductions.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen said, “The assassination attempt on Yelü Qin is likely staged, a ploy between him and Yelü Shege. The assassin didn’t even harm him, yet he stabbed himself. Over the past few days, I’ve thought a lot about it, and I suspect that Yelü Qin’s self-inflicted wound was a performance to put pressure on Xijing Prefecture and capture the so-called assassin. As for the assassin’s identity… it might be connected to other royal princes. Who do you think it could be, Senior Brother?”

Wang Zifeng responded with a question, “Who do you think it is?”

Tang Shen thought for a moment and answered, “The third prince of Liao, Yelü Han!”

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The night Yelü Qin was ambushed, a masked assassin seized a secret letter and fled westward. Lu Shen witnessed everything. Strangely, it wasn’t Yelü Qin who recalled the assassin’s appearance but Lu Shen.

Lu Shen had his own methods of tracking people. Following the route west from Yelücomm’s residence, he ruled out inns, as the Liao soldiers had already searched all of them without finding the assassin. He also excluded ordinary residences—this was Xijin Prefecture, under the control of southern officials and especially Yelü Qin. The assassin would never dare meet with others, as doing so would expose his whereabouts.

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Soon, Lu Shen identified dozens of abandoned houses needing inspection. Meanwhile, Qiao Jiu, bearing gifts, personally visited Xiao Lü to apologize, claiming that his son had fallen ill again from a lingering cold and could not meet the Second Prince.

Xiao Lü, growing impatient, restrained his temper and said, “Qiao Jiu, it was you who insisted on leaving Xijin quickly. I went through so much trouble to arrange this meeting with the prince, and now you put me in this position!”

A shrewd man, Qiao Jiu sensed something unusual in Xiao Lü’s words. Why did Xiao Lü seem particularly eager for Tang Shen to meet the prince? Could he have already discovered Tang Shen’s identity?

Probably not. If Xiao Lü truly knew, he wouldn’t wait for Tang Shen to meet Yelü Shege; he would capture Tang Shen immediately and offer him to curry favor.

Feigning distress, Qiao Jiu wailed, “Mr. Xiao, I’m truly suffering! My household is filled with the sick, both old and young. My son genuinely cannot get out of bed. If he meets the Second Prince in this condition, he might spread the illness. How about I go with you to explain in person?”

Having no other options, Xiao Lü brought Qiao Jiu to see Yelü Shege. Upon hearing of the illness, Yelü Shege was a little surprised at first but then sneered coldly, “How convenient. His illness has saved his life. If he can’t even leave his bed, then he can’t leave the city. Naturally there’s no need for Xiao Lü to bring him.”

Dismissed and offended, Xiao Lü stormed out without another glance at Qiao Jiu, who chased after him with repeated apologies. Xiao Lü ignored him entirely. 

Once Xiao Lü departed, Qiao Jiu’s fawning expression vanished. He thought grimly, “Now it’s clear—I can’t let Xiao Lü live. Offending him like this will make it impossible for me to succeed in Xijin if he remains.”

Meanwhile, Tang Shen pretended to be bedridden, planning to wait for Lu Shen to locate the assassin before leaving. Unexpectedly, a secret letter from Su Wenyun arrived in the city. Although Xijin was under strict lockdown, the letter had managed to enter, while Tang Shen remained trapped inside. The letter contained a coded poem, which, after deciphering, caused Tang Shen’s heart to tighten: An envoy from Shengjing has arrived!

Someone from Shengjing had come!

Tang Shen couldn’t gauge the severity of the situation but dared not take it lightly. The mission to gather intelligence in Liao was a closely guarded secret, known to few. Even Wang Zhen had deduced it without being explicitly informed. There was no telling whether the envoy from Shengjing might jeopardize the mission.

Gripping the letter tightly, Tang Shen spent the afternoon in deep contemplation. As night fell, he burned the letter and summoned Qiao Jiu. “By tomorrow at the latest, I must leave the city. Do you have a plan?”

Qiao Jiu asked cautiously, “Daren must leave?”

“Yes, I have to.”

After a moment’s thought, Qiao Jiu nodded. “I do. Please leave it to me.”

At dawn the next day, a scrawny servant pushed a slop cart toward the western gate. Upon reaching the gate, he was stopped by guards. The servant, putting on a pitiful expression, pleaded, “Daren, have mercy. Our tavern hasn’t been able to dispose of waste for days. If this continues, the stench will drive everyone out.”

Before the guards could respond, the foul smell assaulted their noses, causing them to gag. One guard waved his hand in disgust, “What is this stench? Don’t you know the city is under lockdown?”

“I’m just a servant from the West Sparrow Tavern, here to dispose of kitchen waste,” the servant explained, almost tearfully.

The guards hesitated. Completely sealing the city was impractical—without allowing waste disposal, the city would become unlivable in days. Holding his breath, one guard approached the cart and lifted two lids. The putrid smell intensified, making him retch. He ordered his companion to check the other two barrels, and the servant also cooperated by hurriedly lifting one lid himself.

“Enough, enough,” the other guard muttered, pinching his nose. “Go ahead.”

The young servant was overjoyed and quickly knelt to bow to the two guards, helping lift the cart and preparing to leave.

At that moment, one of the guards said, “Those two barrels still haven’t been checked.”

“What could be in them? They stink so badly, could they be hiding someone?”

Just as the guard was about to say something else, his companion, irritated, drew his sword and casually stabbed it into the remaining two large barrels. “Is this better? Ugh, it stinks even more now. The slop’s leaking out, and my sword’s covered in it! Damn it, hurry up and go, don’t delay us.”

In the past, the city guards often casually used their swords to poke through the goods they were inspecting. This time, the guard, dazed by the smell, unconsciously drew his sword and stabbed, completely forgetting this was a cart of slop. After doing so, he immediately regretted his action.

The young servant stared in shock, his eyes wide open. The guard’s swift movement had been so quick he didn’t even have time to react. However, this time, he couldn’t not leave even if he didn’t want to. The two guards directly kicked him out of the city gate to prevent the contents of the barrels from spilling onto the ground.

Once out of sight, he quickly moved to a deserted area and opened a hidden compartment in one of the barrels. Tang Shen, soaked in foul liquid, emerged, gasping for air.

“Are you all right, daren?” the servant asked anxiously.

Tang Shen, drenched and reeking, could only manage to stagger away and retch violently by the roadside.

The mechanism within the barrel had been hastily constructed and leaked badly. Tang Shen’s body and hair were covered in the foul-smelling, dirty water. The fact that he had managed to endure this far was a testament to his incredible willpower.

The servant accompanying him out of the city was a trusted subordinate of Lu Shen. He handed Tang Shen a water pouch, but Tang Shen couldn’t drink it. He vomited for a long time, only stopping when his stomach was completely empty.

The servant asked, “Daren, earlier the guard stabbed the barrel twice. Are you injured?”

Tang Shen wiped the acidic water from his mouth and raised his arm. “I’ve only been scraped a little, but the wounds aren’t deep. It’s nothing serious. The barrel I was in was half filled with foul water. When stabbing it, he probably didn’t notice anything unusual. Don’t waste time. We must hurry back to Youzhou City.”

The servant carefully examined the wound on Tang Shen’s arm, which was indeed shallow, and the blood had dried up during their time leaving the city.

They were in a hurry, so they didn’t pay much attention to their surroundings. Soon, they found a small town, changed clothes, bought a horse, and set off for Youzhou City.

Though it had taken Tang Shen six days to reach Xijin, the return journey, driven by urgency, took only two.

By the time they neared Youzhou, Tang Shen was pale and feverish. He clutched his arm and coughed weakly. “I was careless. The wound must have become infected.”

Alarmed, the soldier quickly dismounted to check Tang Shen’s wound. He saw that although the wound wasn’t deep, it had turned pale and was oozing pus. When he touched Tang Shen’s skin, it was scalding hot. The soldier exclaimed, “This is bad, the wound needs to be treated immediately. Daren, please bear with the pain.” With that, the soldier drew a dagger, lit a fire with a fire striker, and placed the dagger in the flames to heat it.

Once the dagger was glowing red, he said again to Tang Shen, “Daren, please bear with it.”

Tang Shen gasped for breath and gently nodded. The next moment, the red-hot dagger was pressed against his arm. Tang Shen’s face twisted in agony, the excruciating pain radiating from the wound and spreading throughout his body. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably around the injury, as if his whole body was reacting to the pain.

He eventually succumbed to unconsciousness.

When he woke up again, they were almost at the gates of Youzhou City. The soldier didn’t think much of it and was about to directly enter the city. “Your wound must be treated quickly, we need to get you to a doctor. I only did a simple treatment, it’s not enough.”

At this moment, Tang Shen was burning with fever, his body scalding hot. He grabbed the soldier’s arm and shakily pulled out a token from his sleeve. “We cannot enter the city like this. Go to the Youzhou military camp and find General Li. Tell him about this, and deliver a message for me… The favor owed in Shengjing, the general can repay it.”

The vast grasslands were bathed in the glow of a low-hanging moon, the stars scattered like scattered children.

A small soldier holding the Western Expedition General’s token from Li Jingde galloped under the night sky toward the Youzhou military camp. The sky was about to brighten when the soldier still had not returned. But by dawn, two horse-drawn carriages slowly made their way into Youzhou City.

After the two carriages entered the city, one went to the Youzhou government office, and the other went to the Silver Pull Division.

The carriage that went to the government office only stayed for an hour before heading to the Silver Pull Division.

By the time the sky brightened, Yu Chaosheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, got out of the carriage. He looked up and saw the three-character plaque of “Silver Pull Division” hanging above the gate. Inside the building, a crowd of officials had already gathered and started working.

An official came out to greet Yu Chaosheng and led him through two courtyards to the back of the Silver Pull Division.

Outside the door, Yu Chaosheng said, “Lower official, Yu Chaosheng, here to pay respects to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.”

The door creaked open, and Wang Zhen, dressed in a crispy pressed dark red official robe, smiled and said, “Yu daren just went to the Youzhou government office, and now you’re here at the Silver Pull Division?”

Yu Chaosheng replied, “I was ordered to oversee the Silver Pull Division’s affairs, so I must not delay.”

Wang Zhen smiled leisurely and said, “Then come in.”

After a brief exchange, Yu Chaosheng asked, “The officials of the Silver Pull Division are all diligent. Before I entered, they had already started working. However, I did not see Tang daren. He came to Youzhou a month ago to oversee the Silver Pull Division affairs. I need to discuss things with him, but why is he not here? Do you know where he is?”

Wang Zhen did not immediately respond. He smiled lightly and began preparing tea.

Although Yu Chaosheng wasn’t from an aristocratic family, his family was still well-known and affluent in the local area. Seeing Wang Zhen start making tea, Yu Chaosheng had no choice but to stay silent and observe Wang Zhen’s method, appreciating his skill. He was puzzled and wondered if Wang Zhen had sent Tang Shen on an errand, which was why he was unwilling to tell him his whereabouts.

However, Wang Zhen’s demeanor was calm and elegant, like the moonlight reflected on water.

Even though Yu Chaosheng was puzzled, he couldn’t help but admit that watching Wang Zhen’s tea-making technique was truly pleasing.

By now, the two had idled a good part of an hour in the room. Yu Chaosheng had finished his tea and was about to ask again when an official came into the room and saluted, saying, “This morning, General Li and Tang daren went hunting outside the city. They have not returned yet. I have already gone to inform them.”

Wang Zhen’s gaze shifted. He thought to himself, my junior brother is quite clever, he’s returned just in time and even thought to find Li Jingde for help.

Wang Zhen nodded and said, “No hurry. Yu daren, would you like another cup of tea?”

Yu Chaosheng had already drunk a belly full of tea, and though he wanted to leave, he dared not without Wang Zhen’s signal. Officially, he had been sent by the emperor to oversee the Silver Pull Division’s affairs, but everyone knew the Silver Pull Division was Wang Zifeng’s domain. In Youzhou, it was better to be humble and not offend Wang Zifeng.

Another hour passed, and then the soldier sent by Li Jingde arrived, as if he had timed it perfectly.

Yu Chaosheng asked, “Have Tang daren and General Li returned?”

The soldier replied, “During the hunt, Tang daren was accidentally struck by a stray arrow and is now receiving treatment at the Youzhou military camp.”

Wang Zhen furrowed his brows, but then he thought this was a delaying tactic by Tang Shen. He pretended to be surprised and asked, “Struck by a stray arrow? How serious is the injury? Is it life-threatening?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Chaosheng glanced at Wang Zhen. He thought, Wang Zifeng doesn’t seem to be in much of a panic. Could it be that these two senior and junior brothers don’t get along and their feelings are not as good as they appear?

The soldier, following Li Jingde’s instructions, answered honestly, “Tang daren lost consciousness and hasn’t woken up. General Li has already called for two military doctors. When I left, the doctors had already applied the best hemostatic powder.”

Wang Zhen’s eyes flickered, as if he had sensed something. He subtly tightened his grip on his teacup, then asked, “He’s at the Youzhou military camp?”

The soldier and Yu Chaosheng were both surprised and looked at Wang Zhen strangely. The soldier had already said that Tang Shen was being treated at the military camp—had Wang Zhen not heard?

The soldier obediently confirmed, “Yes, Tang daren is at the military camp.”

Wang Zhen’s hand trembled slightly, and the teacup slipped from his grip, spilling tea across the table. The room fell silent. Yu Chaosheng silently observed Wang Zhen. Wang Zifeng’s calm, elegant face showed no emotion, but he remained silent, as though he had forgotten how to speak.

After a long while, Wang Zhen exhaled, then said quietly, “Yu daren, would you like to visit the military camp and see how Tang daren’s injury is?”

Since Wang Zhen wanted to visit his junior brother, Yu Chaosheng naturally agreed to go along. “Of course.”

The next moment, Wang Zhen stood up, then paused, as if realizing his movement had been too abrupt. He nodded to Yu Chaosheng, then turned to the soldier, saying, “You go ahead and tell General Li. We will be there shortly.”

Soon, Wang Zhen and Yu Chaosheng got into a carriage and headed toward the Youzhou military camp.

Yu Chaosheng secretly observed Wang Zhen, who appeared composed and had his eyes closed, resting without speaking. After a while, Yu Chaosheng withdrew his gaze, unsure whether Wang Zhen was concerned about Tang Jingze’s injury or not. If he was worried, why did he not seem particularly concerned when he first learned of the injury? But if he wasn’t worried, it didn’t seem that way either.

“Wang daren?”

Wang Zhen opened his eyes and looked at Yu Chaosheng.

Yu Chaosheng met his gaze and was suddenly shocked. He quickly lowered his gaze and said lowly, “Nothing, it seems we are almost there.”

The carriage stopped outside the Youzhou military camp. The two of them got out and walked inside. Soon, Li Jingde emerged from a tent.

Yu Chaosheng saluted and said, “This lower official greets General Li.”

Li Jingde looked at Wang Zhen, who seemed calm, and asked, “Strange, Wang Zifeng, you don’t seem worried at all about your junior brother. Why aren’t you concerned?”

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Wang Zhen asked, “How is his injury?”

Li Jingde had originally intended to say, “It’s extremely serious, he’s near death,” but he stopped after the first three words. Wang Zhen’s gaze was extremely frightening. Li Jingde quickly changed his words, “It’s not good, but it’s not that bad either.”

Wang Zhen closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, he said, “Let’s go in.”

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Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the chill of the night seeped through the air.

As the commander of the Liao State’s palace garrison, Yelü Qin held the rank of a third-rank official. His assassination attempt in his own manor caused immediate alarm throughout Xijin Prefecture. Left Minister Xiao Zhen personally led troops to Yelü Qin’s residence to hunt down the assassin and ensure the safety of the Second Prince, Yelü Shege.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

In an instant, chaos engulfed Xijin Prefecture. The once tranquil night was shattered, with lights blazing everywhere as soldiers scoured the city.

Amid the confusion, Lu Shen seized the opportunity to slip away. Not daring to linger for fear of being discovered, he skillfully evaded the patrolling guards and returned to the small courtyard on the eastern side of the city, where Tang Shen had been waiting for him anxiously all night.

As soon as they met, Tang Shen asked, “What’s happening in the city? Does it have anything to do with Yelü Shege?”

Lu Shen, still shaken, replied, “It’s not related to Yelü Shege, but it concerns Yelü Qin. Daren, Yelü Qin was attacked—right under my nose! A masked assassin broke into his study and stole a letter. But… there’s something odd about it…”

Seeing Lu Shen’s hesitation, Tang Shen pressed, “What’s odd?”

With a confused expression, Lu Shen explained, “The moment Yelü Qin took out the letter, the assassin barged in, clearly having waited long enough to know exactly what he was after. Yelü Qin shouted for help, and the assassin couldn’t kill him in time, so he grabbed the letter and fled. But after the assassin escaped, Yelü Qin did something strange—he pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed himself!”

Tang Shen was stunned. 

Yelü Qin… stabbed himself?

The incident seemed utterly surreal.

Even Lu Shen found it hard to believe. For someone like Yelü Qin, who was a cultured civil official, to cold-bloodedly stab himself and even break his own shoulder bone—it was beyond comprehension.

Tang Shen pondered the situation carefully, quickly running through several possibilities in his mind. But no matter how much he analyzed it, the reasoning seemed incomplete. He asked, “Tell me everything Yelü Qin and Yelü Shege did and said after the banquet at Xiao Manor.”

Lu Shen recounted every detail.

After listening intently, Tang Shen mulled it over before suddenly lifting his head. “You mentioned that Yelü Shege told Yelü Qin to rest early, as they would be inspecting the military camp together tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, I remember it clearly. I wouldn’t mistake something like that,” Lu Shen confirmed.

Tang Shen took a sharp breath. “This matter likely involves Yelü Shege as well!”

Lu Shen was shocked. “Do you mean the assassin was sent by Yelü Shege?”

“I didn’t say that,” Tang Shen clarified. “We still don’t know whose side Yelü Qin is really on, nor what role Yelü Shege is playing in this. But one thing is certain—he is definitely involved.” After a pause, Tang Shen’s expression darkened. “This doesn’t bode well. We might not be able to leave the city tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, at Yelü Qin’s residence, Left Chancellor Yelü Han had arrived. By then, Yelü Qin had regained consciousness. Though not gravely injured, his age and significant blood loss had caused him to faint earlier. By his bedside stood Yelü Shege, now dressed in full attire, his face solemn.

Yelü Qin attempted to rise and pay his respects, but Yelü Shege stopped him with a gentle push. “There’s no need for formalities. You’re injured—rest.”

Yelü Han addressed both men, “Your Highness, Commander, this matter is grave. I’ve already ordered the city to be sealed off to prevent the assassin from escaping. This brazen villain dared to infiltrate the Palace Commander’s residence and commit such a crime. Rest assured, Your Highness, I will apprehend the culprit. Commander, did you catch a glimpse of the assassin’s face?”

Yelü Qin, still weak, replied, “He was masked. I couldn’t see his face clearly. However, he appeared to be young, strong, and skilled in martial arts.”

This information was vague and unhelpful.

Yelü Han turned to Yelü Shege, “Your Highness, please rest assured, this official will capture the assassin.” 

Yelü Shege radiated a chilling anger. With a furrowed brow, he said, “To dare break into the Commander’s residence and commit such audacity! Today, they attacked one of our highest officials—tomorrow, it could be me! Seal off the city, hunt down the assassin, and ensure he is captured with evidence in hand.”

Yelü Han’s expression changed subtly upon hearing the phrase “evidence in hand.”

Did this mean the assassin had stolen something?

He cast a thoughtful glance at Yelü Shege, saluted with a fist over his chest, and declared, “I shall not fail!”

Xijin was now a cauldron of turmoil, with tensions reaching a boiling point.

Meanwhile, in a deserted courtyard on the city’s western edge, the masked assassin stumbled inside, panting heavily. He hastily pulled out the stolen letter from his sleeve and unfolded it. Upon reading its contents, his eyes widened in shock. “Such a major matter—I must report this to daren immediately!”

However, he soon realized that the entire city was under lockdown. Not even a fly could leave unnoticed. Panic set in as he pondered how to deliver the message without getting caught.

Back at Yelü Qin’s residence, after drinking his medicine, Yelü Qin dismissed the servants.

Once the door creaked shut and they were alone, Yelü Qin made a move to rise, but Yelü Shege unfolded his fan with a snap, looking every bit the elegant nobleman. He smiled gently, though there was an eerie chill behind his expression. Using the fan, he pressed Yelü Qin back onto the bed, preventing him from getting up.

“Is the wound serious?” Yelü Shege asked, his voice calm.

Yelü Qin replied honestly, “It’s not too bad. I stabbed myself, so I avoided any critical areas.”

Yelü Shege’s eyes flashed with surprise. “The assassin didn’t manage to injure you?”

Anyone else might have found Yelü Shege’s words chilling.

He had known about the assassination attempt but still sent Yelü Qin as bait. Now, he was even complaining that the assassin hadn’t done his job properly. Yet Yelü Qin, far from being angered, admired Yelü Shege’s cold calculation and unyielding cunning.

“The fake intelligence report has been ‘delivered’ to the assassin,” Yelü Qin said. “If he manages to escape the city, it’ll serve as bait to mislead them. If he’s captured, the report becomes useless.”

Yelü Shege, who had personally crafted the fake report, smirked coldly. His handwriting was well-known throughout the Liao State, ensuring the false document’s authenticity would not be questioned.

“Then I truly hope,” Yelü Shege said, “that the assassin both delivers the letter and gets caught—it’ll serve as perfect evidence.”

The assassin likely never imagined that the letter he had worked so hard to steal was actually a fake!

Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin were setting a trap for him. They were so cunning that they had even written a false confidential letter to mislead their enemies, all while keeping a backup plan for themselves. However, they never expected that this letter would even leave Xijing Prefecture. What they truly wanted was to capture the assassin and point their swords at the person behind him. As for the fake letter, they would leave it to fate.

The next morning, Tang Shen changed into his clothes and, filled with hope, took a carriage intending to leave the city. Before reaching the city gates, however, the carriage was stopped by the guards.

“Who is in the carriage?”

Lu Shen, disguised as the coachman, jumped down and said, “Daren, we are merchants here to do business in Xijing Prefecture. Something happened at home, and we are in a hurry to return.” As he spoke, he slipped money into the guard’s hand.

The guard heard Lu Shen speaking in the language of the Liao State and immediately replied, “A Song person?”

Tang Shen’s heart sank inside the carriage.

Lu Shen quickly smiled and said, “Yes, yes, I’m from the Song Dynasty.”

The guard casually accepted the money but then kicked Lu Shen back and disdainfully said, “Go, go, go, don’t you know the city is sealed? Liao people can’t leave, and you, a Song person, think you can? You’d better go back now, and I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

Lu Shen: “You…!”

Tang Shen lifted the curtain of the carriage and said, “What the officer says is correct, old Lu, let’s go.”

They had no choice but to turn back.

Back at the small courtyard, Tang Shen called for Qiao Jiu and said gravely, “I must return to Youzhou. Ten days ago, Su Wenyun sent a letter from Youzhou saying that someone had noticed my movements, and he can no longer cover for me. The city of Youzhou may not be united, and there may be spies from Liao State among them. I can’t stay any longer; I must return to Youzhou.”

Qiao Jiu thought carefully for a moment and said, “I have a good relationship with Xiao Lü. Daren, should I go ask him for help?”

Tang Shen replied, “That’s not a bad idea.”

Immediately, Qiao Jiu went to find Xiao Lü, claiming that his mother was gravely ill and that he wanted to send his son back to the Song Dynasty to care for her.

Xiao Lü’ had been so busy flattering Yelü Shege recently that he had completely forgotten about Qiao Jiu and his son, Qiao Jing. Upon hearing the request, he suddenly remembered Tang Shen, with his refined and scholarly demeanor.

Xiao Zhen had told Xiao Lü to stop thinking about sending “gifts” to Yelü Shege, but Xiao Lü had failed to win Yelü Shege’s favor in the past days. Now, feeling desperate, when Qiao Jiu came to him, he remembered this idea.

It was no secret among the high-ranking officials of the Liao State that Yelü Shege favored men, especially handsome, cultured Song scholars. Xiao Lü had heard this from Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister. Ordinary beautiful boys couldn’t please Yelü Shege; only men with grace and elegance could catch his eye.

Xiao Lü recalled Tang Shen’s appearance and demeanor, thinking that he would definitely attract Yelü Shege’s favor.

Xiao Lü’s eyes lit up, and he said, “Brother Qiao, don’t worry, I won’t forget about your matter. However, Xijing Prefecture is currently sealed, so it’s difficult. Here’s the plan: you go back and wait while I think of something.”

Qiao Jiu was unaware of Yelü Shege’s preference for male lovers, and he also didn’t know that Xiao Lü had set his sights on Tang Shen. He gave Xiao Lü a gift and returned to the small courtyard with hopes for a solution. Once he left, Xiao Lü went to Yelü Qin’s residence and visited Yelü Shege.

Yelü Shege didn’t immediately remember who Xiao Lü was, but it was his servant who reminded him. Then, Yelü Shege recognized him.

A smile of interest appeared on Yelü Shege’s face. “Why has this Xiao Lü come to see me?”

He called Xiao Lü in, who first showered him with flattering words, then explained the reason for his visit: “I have a friend, a Song merchant from Jiangnan, whose mother suddenly fell seriously ill. He wants to send his son back to the Song Dynasty to care for her. Your Highness, I have no choice but to come and ask for your help. I can guarantee, with my name, that this merchant and his son are trustworthy. I’ve met his son before—he is a cultured and refined scholar. Now that he wants to leave the city, I came to see you…”

Upon hearing this, Yelü Shege narrowed his dark eyes and fixed them coldly on Xiao Lü. After a long while, Yelü Shege smiled and opened his folding fan. “A scholar from the Song Dynasty? Mr. Xiao, has other motives it seems. But it doesn’t matter; this is a small matter for me. Bring him before me. It’s just leaving the city; a hand-written order will do.”

Xiao Lü was overjoyed and quickly agreed, not sensing the murderous intent in Yelü Shege’s words.

That very night, Xiao Lü sent someone to the small courtyard to inform Qiao Jiu that the next day, he would take Tang Shen to meet the Second Prince. He had asked the Second Prince to help Tang Shen leave the city.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiu immediately realized something was wrong.

When Tang Shen found out, his face darkened. He didn’t think of the possibility of being presented as a gift. Instead, he thought, “Yelü Shege lives at Yelü Qin’s residence and stays with Yelü Qin. I cannot go tomorrow.” After thinking for a long time, Tang Shen coldly smiled and called for Lu Shen. “There are two ways to leave the city. First, we sneak out; second, Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin want to catch the assassin, right? Then we’ll help them capture him.”

Lu Shen replied, “I personally saw the assassin head west, and even Yelü Qin doesn’t know about it.”

Tang Shen nodded. “I’ll leave this matter to you.” Then, he turned to Qiao Jiu and said, “We’ve put in so much effort to establish a foothold in Xijin Prefecture and gain an advantage, so we can’t abandon it now. This time, it was my oversight; I was seen by Xiao Lü. He is the only one in the entire Xijin Prefecture who knows what I look like. Once Lu Shen captures the assassin, Qiao Jiu, this is your chance. What you need to do is find a way to tie this incident to you and make sure you catch Yelü Qin’s attention. Apart from that…”

His voice trailed off as Tang Shen lifted his gaze to the moon in the sky.

Suddenly, he felt a pang of longing for Wang Zhen.

If Wang Zhen were here, how would he feel hearing what Tang Shen was about to say? What would he think of him?

The next moment, Tang Shen spoke calmly, “Kill Xiao Lü.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

AN: To be honest, Xiao Tang Lang is now truly an official.

By the way, the reason why the Liao State’s storyline has been progressing slowly—has anyone noticed?—is that the pace is slow because this time, Xiao Tang Lang is the mastermind and the planner. In the previous schemes, he was always a bystander; even when he participated, he wasn’t the one making the moves. This time, he’s the one making the plans, so there are a lot of details that didn’t need to be written before (after all, those making the moves weren’t our protagonist), but now we have to include them.

But don’t worry, this chapter is almost over, and soon Su Wenyun will take over.

What will Su daren do? Guess! Of course, old Su isn’t the protagonist, so we won’t be writing so much in detail about him.

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Xiao Lü’s manor was located in the southern part of Xijin Prefecture. By the time Qiao Jiu’s carriage arrived, the entrance of the Xiao Manor was bustling with traffic, and the place was already packed with guests. Nearly all of Xijin Prefecture’s high-ranking officials and nobles were in attendance. Compared to them, Qiao Jiu, an unknown tea merchant from Song, was insignificant. Even Xiao Lü had to bow and scrape before these powerful officials, offering constant smiles and pleasantries.

Xiao Lü stood at the main entrance, personally welcoming each guest.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Qiao Jiu walked up, carrying a gift. Seeing that he had come alone, Xiao Lü instinctively glanced behind him, noticing only a servant following Qiao Jiu.

Xiao Lü’s eyes flickered briefly, but he maintained his composure. He asked, “Brother Qiao, why didn’t you bring your son along? The last time you visited my residence, I noticed you were still recovering, so I made sure to send you an extra invitation this time.”

Qiao Jiu replied, “Mr. Xiao, you may not know this, but my son isn’t feeling well. Otherwise, how could I not bring him to witness such a grand occasion?”

Xiao Lü said no more and instructed his servants to escort Qiao Jiu inside.

Qiao Jiu behaved like a country bumpkin overwhelmed by the grandeur of the event. He didn’t dare offend any of the high-ranking Liao officials present and quietly retreated to a corner. Although he wanted to engage in conversation with some officials, he lacked the courage, appearing uneasy and out of place.

By the time the moon was high in the sky, most of the seats in the banquet hall were occupied, except for the two main seats at the head of the hall, which remained empty.

Xiao Lü’s powerful backer, Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister of State Affairs in Xijin Prefecture, had also arrived but remained at the entrance with Xiao Lü, anxiously waiting. The guests continued to chat and flatter each other, frequently casting expectant glances toward the entrance, as if anticipating someone’s arrival.

After another hour, a carriage approached from the street corner. Upon seeing the carriage, both Xiao Zhen and Xiao Lü lit up with joy. They didn’t wait for the carriage to reach the gate but eagerly rushed forward to greet it.

In Liao, there was a crude custom of serving as a human stepping stool.

Xiao Zhen respectfully lifted the curtain of the carriage himself, while Xiao Lü immediately knelt on the ground without a word, placing his arms on the ground and raising his hips high, presenting himself as a human stepping stool.

Xiao Zhen loudly announced, “Welcome, Your Highness, the Second Prince!”

Hearing the title “Second Prince,” all the previously indifferent officials inside the Xiao Manor instantly left their seats and gathered at the entrance. Qiao Jiu, shocked by what he had heard, followed the crowd outside. He watched as the curtain was lifted, revealing a stern-faced middle-aged man who stepped out first. However, he did not step on Xiao Lü; instead, he used a wooden step to alight from the carriage.

Behind him, a young man in luxurious robes emerged. With a delicate and handsome face, his narrow eyes gleamed coldly, and there was a hint of ruthless determination in his gaze. Holding a folding fan commonly used by scholars from Song, he struck an elegant and refined pose. Yet Qiao Jiu, seasoned by years of experience in jianghu, immediately recognized that this youth’s outward grace was merely a façade.

The young man stepped directly onto Xiao Lü’s back and descended from the carriage.

Outside the Xiao Manor, the officials of Xijin Prefecture collectively bowed to Yelü Shege.

Yelü Shege smiled faintly and said, “I encountered some matters on the way, hence my delay. I hope the esteemed officials will not take offense.”

For a brief moment, Qiao Jiu felt as though he were looking at a Song Dynasty scholar. However, he quickly snapped back to reality. Yelü Shege might wear a veneer of scholarly refinement, but it was merely a disguise to fool the Liao people; he was nothing like a true Song official.

Yelü Shege led the way into the manor, and the rest of the officials followed closely behind him.

Once everyone had entered, Xiao Lü, who had been lying on the ground, finally got up and hurried after them.

Although Xiao Lü was ostensibly the host of the banquet, held at his own residence, he was more like a servant serving dishes. Throughout the event, the only voices heard were those praising Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin. Even Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister of State Affairs, occasionally chimed in with compliments.

Yelü Shege proved to be a prince of unusual demeanor, showing no airs despite his royal status.

Qiao Jiu didn’t know if other princes of Liao behaved similarly, but during this banquet, Yelü Shege listened attentively to anyone who spoke, even Xiao Lü, a mere merchant. By the end, the Liao officials were all looking at Yelü Shege with admiration and respect. Even Qiao Jiu had to admit that Yelü Shege was the most affable and approachable Liao noble he had ever encountered.

Whether his behavior was genuine or an act, Yelü Shege was undoubtedly an oddball in the Liao court.

As the banquet concluded, Qiao Jiu had intended to chat with Xiao Lü and perhaps secure an introduction to Yelü Shege. Failing that, an introduction to Yelü Qin, who had accompanied Yelü Shege, would have sufficed. However, Xiao Lü was too preoccupied to entertain him, leaving Qiao Jiu with no choice but to depart in disappointment.

Upon returning to the residence, he immediately reported the matter to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen was taken aback. “Yelü Shege, the second prince of Liao? Why would he come to Xijin Prefecture?”

Tang Shen initially thought the important figure mentioned by Xiao Lü was Yelü Qin. He never imagined it would actually be Yelü Shege!

Among the four sons of the Liao Emperor, the eldest prince, Yelü Zhan, held the title of firstborn. The third prince, Yelü Han, had noble lineage, and the youngest prince, Yelü Longzhen, was deeply cherished as the Liao Emperor’s late-born son. However, the emperor placed his greatest trust in the second prince, Yelü Shege.

The two most likely candidates for the throne were Yelü Han and Yelü Shege. Yet why would Yelü Shege, accompanied by Yelü Qin, travel such a great distance from Shangjing to Xijin Prefecture?

Tang Shen frowned in deep thought and called for Lu Shen without delay. He got straight to the point: “If I task you with monitoring Yelü Qin and Yelü Shege’s movements without being discovered, can you manage it?”

Having been investigating the Liao royal court’s affairs recently, Lu Shen immediately understood who the two figures were. He pondered for a moment before replying, “Although I wasn’t aware Yelü Shege had also arrived in Xijin Prefecture, I’ve been keeping track of Yelü Qin. He hasn’t brought many guards and is traveling light. His security detail isn’t formidable, or I wouldn’t have been able to track him so easily. While the prince may have hidden bodyguards, Yelü Qin himself doesn’t. If I focus on following him with caution, there should be no issue.”

Tang Shen instructed, “Since both Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin are currently at Xiao Lü’s manor, wait until they leave and then follow Yelü Qin.”

“Yes, daren!”

The unexpected appearance of Yelü Qin forced Tang Shen to increase his vigilance. He had already packed his belongings, planning to leave for Youzhou the following morning.

Meanwhile, at Xiao Lü’s manor, after the other officials departed, Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin remained.

Knowing that Yelü Shege admired Han culture and was well-versed in calligraphy and painting, Xiao Lü had specially acquired a collection of renowned artworks for the prince’s enjoyment. Seeing so many masterpieces, Yelü Shege appeared slightly surprised. He glanced at Xiao Lü with a faint smile and said, “Mr. Xiao, you seem to have quite the collection.”

Xiao Lü dared not accept such praise and quickly responded, “I heard that Your Highness appreciates calligraphy and paintings, so I gathered these works especially for you. Please feel free to take any you like.”

“A gentleman doesn’t covet another’s treasure. How could I take what you cherish?”

“These pieces are beyond my appreciation. They can only find their true worth in Your Highness’s possession.”

Yelü Shege didn’t argue further and quietly began to admire the artworks, tacitly allowing Xiao Lü to accompany him. Overjoyed but restrained, Xiao Lü followed closely, not daring to disturb him.

In the adjacent room, Yelü Qin wore a cold expression while speaking with Xiao Zhen, one of Xijin Prefecture’s highest-ranking officials. Despite his usual authority, Xiao Zhen acted meekly, fearful of offending Yelü Qin with a single wrong word.

After discussing recent events in Xijin Prefecture, Yelü Qin glanced at the time and rose to leave. Just then, Xiao Zhen hesitated, as if recalling something. He finally gathered his courage and said, “Daren, did you notice the Song merchant at tonight’s banquet?”

Yelü Qin thought for a moment before responding, “The one seated at the far end?”

“Yes, that’s him.” Xiao Zhen gave Yelü Qin a knowing look and continued, “That Song merchant deals in tea and conducts significant business. He’s seeking collaboration with this lower official. Besides that… he has a son, handsome and refined, with the delicate scholarly demeanor typical of Song intellectuals. This lower official was thinking…”

“Crash!”

A teacup shattered on the floor, barely missing Xiao Zhen’s head. Startled, he stood frozen, too frightened to breathe.

Yelü Qin sneered, “Do you think you have the right to involve yourself in matters concerning His Highness? The prince despises sycophants and those who offer flattery and gifts. Haven’t you heard what happened to the last Song man someone tried to present to him? He was cut in half by the prince’s sword on the spot, and blood flowed everywhere!”

Trembling, Xiao Zhen stammered, “I-I wouldn’t dare… I wouldn’t dare…”

“You’d better not. Don’t bring it up again!” Yelü Qin warned sternly before striding away.

“Yes.”

Xiao Zhen and Xiao Lü escorted Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin to the gates. Before leaving, Yelü Shege selected a few paintings and complimented Xiao Lü, “Tonight’s banquet was splendid. Thank you for your effort.” His tone was gentle and his attitude amiable.

Xiao Lü, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowed deeply. “I am honored to serve Your Highness in any way.”

Yelü Shege smiled faintly, said nothing further, and departed in his carriage.

Once they were out of sight, Xiao Zhen furiously slapped Xiao Lü across the face. “You fool! How dare you suggest giving ‘gifts’ to the prince! Do you think someone of His Highness’s status lacks anything? One more misstep like that, and I won’t spare you!”

Though seething with resentment after being struck, Xiao Lü was primarily filled with exhilaration. Tonight’s events marked the beginning of his rise to prominence.

In the darkness, a shadowy figure flitted after Yelü Shege’s carriage, unnoticed by all.

Inside the carriage, Yelü Shege rested with his eyes closed, while Yelü Qin remained silent. He hadn’t mentioned Xiao Zhen’s inappropriate suggestion to avoid provoking Yelü Shege’s ire.

Upon arriving at Yelü Qin’s residence, the two disembarked. Yelü Qin personally escorted Yelü Shege to his room. As he was leaving, Yelü Shege called after him with a smile. “Yelü Qin, be sure to rest early tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to inspect the Xijin Prefecture military camp.”

Yelü Qin gave him a long look before bowing deeply. “Understood, Your Highness.”

Meanwhile, Lu Shen followed Yelü Qin to his study.

Instead of retiring for the night, Yelü Qin opened a secret compartment and carefully stashed away a letter. Just as he was about to extinguish the lamp, a figure smashed through the window, blade gleaming, and charged at him with a furious shout.

“Assassin! There’s an assassin!”

Caught off guard, Yelü Qin narrowly dodged the attack. Guards rushed toward the commotion as the assassin smashed open the secret compartment, grabbed the letter, and fled. The study descended into chaos as Lu Shen watched in stunned silence from outside. He was just wondering whether to leave as well, lest he be captured and ruin Tang Shen’s plans.

But moments later, Yelü Qin clenched his jaw and, to Lu Shen’s astonishment, stabbed himself in the shoulder with a dagger. Blood gushed from the wound.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Guards burst into the room, followed shortly by Yelü Shege, who arrived in only an inner robe with a cloak thrown over it.

“Yelü Qin!” Yelü Shege exclaimed in shock.

Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Yelü Qin gasped, “Your Highness… an… assassin…” Before he could finish, he collapsed, unconscious.

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