After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Bai Chenming's expression froze, unable to believe Bai Wanqing's words.

Bai Chengdong turned his head in surprise. When did Wanqing find out about him? Did Wuhuan tell her?

Bai Chengdong bit his lip tightly, like a child who had done something wrong, and buried his head very low.

Bai Chenming was anxious. He had finally found his son, but now he was facing certain death!

"Qing'er, what exactly happened? Tell me quickly!"

Bai Wanqing glanced at Cheng Dong beside her, her eyes slightly reddening, but she didn't say anything.

Bai Chenming became even more anxious. He quickly turned to Bai Chengdong and asked, "Dong'er, tell me, why did Qing'er say that you would die in three years?"

Bai Chengdong felt a pang of pity as he listened to his father's trembling, choked voice, but the secret in his heart was something he found even more difficult to utter.

"Young Master Lin, what about this antidote?" Bai Chengdong and Wu Huan asked, holding the porcelain bottle in their hands, puzzled.

Lin Yunche took one last look at Xueqiao Palace, "This is the antidote we found on Xueqiao, it should be useful to you!"

"Why not give it a try!"

Wu Huan's face lit up with joy, and he urged Bai Chengdong to take out the antidote to take a look.

Bai Chengdong opened the bottle cap, lowered his head and sniffed the mouth of the porcelain bottle briefly, "That's right, it's the antidote!"

Lin Yunche and Wuhuan were relieved and left Xueqiao Palace without looking back.

Back at his residence, Bai Chengdong immediately took out the medicine bottle and poured out an antidote for Wuhuan.

Wu Huan was still immersed in the excitement of escaping Xueqiao Palace, and without thinking, he took the pill and swallowed it.

The refreshing aroma of the medicine gradually spread from his mouth throughout his body, and his whole body quickly felt much more relaxed.

"Wushuang, this really is the antidote. You should take it too. It will make you feel much better right away," Wuhuan said excitedly.

Bai Chengdong nodded, pretending to pour out another pill from the porcelain bottle and swallow it.

"Great! Our poison has been cured!" Bai Chengdong's eyebrows relaxed, and he smiled happily.

It wasn't until they left Young Master Lin and embarked on their journey to the Shang Kingdom, when Bai Chengdong's poison flared up again, that Wu Huan realized Bai Chengdong hadn't taken the antidote.

"Wushuang, why...why?"

Wu Huan believed that Wu Shuang couldn't let go of her insulted pride and was determined to die.

But when he snatched the antidote bottle from Wushuang's bundle, he was deeply shocked.

Wu Huan shook the porcelain bottle vigorously, but there wasn't a sound inside.

"Wushuang, there's only one antidote, right?" Wuhuan's eyebrows, eyes, and ears were all red. He regretted that he hadn't noticed anything at the time.

Bai Chengdong looked at the extremely excited Wu Huan and said with a faint smile, "There wasn't just one, there were two. I just didn't eat them."

Wu Huan wasn't stupid; he simply didn't believe it!

"Let's go! We're going back to Xueqiao Palace now!"

"I don't believe there's only one left in the Snow Fairy Palace. We're sure we can find a second one."

"Even if we can't find a second one, we can go to Xiao City. The things in Xueqiao Palace must also be available to the ruler of the Northern Dynasty!"

"At worst, I'll steal it!"

"We can't just stand by and watch you get poisoned to death."

After Wu Huan finished speaking, she tried to pull Cheng Dong back, but Cheng Dong didn't move and showed no intention of going.

"Wushuang!" Wuhuan exclaimed angrily.

"Wuhuan, I'm fine, I want to go to the Shang Kingdom!"

“Go to the Shang Kingdom, you will die!” Wu Huan was on the verge of collapse.

"There is a miraculous doctor in the Shang Kingdom who can save me!"

Wu Huan didn't believe it. There were few people in the world whose medical skills could surpass Bai Chengdong's. If Bai Chengdong himself couldn't cure the poison, who could?

"Wushuang! You can fool others, but you can't fool me!"

"Let's go! We'll go back right now! I'm sure I can think of a way to save you."

Wu Huan tried to pull Bai Chengdong again, but couldn't budge him. Wu Huan was really angry this time, but when he looked back at Bai Chengdong's deep and lonely gaze, he seemed to understand everything.

"Are you seeking death?" Wu Huan's eyes were bloodshot.

Bai Chengdong pursed his lips and didn't answer! But this behavior said it all.

"Spend the rest of your time with me in the Shang Kingdom, okay?"

Wu Huan stared in astonishment at the person he had spent six years with, Bai Chengdong’s compromises and stubbornness were clearer to him than anyone else.

Wu Huan compromised. From that day on, he pretended not to know anything and accompanied Bai Chengdong in doing whatever he wanted.

After a long silence, Bai Chengdong finally spoke, "Father, I'm alright!"

Bai Chenming suddenly realized something and reached out to take Bai Chengdong's pulse. Bai Chengdong, like a frightened deer, tried to shrink back.

Bai Chenming was not about to give in. He grabbed Bai Chengdong with one hand and touched Bai Chengdong's wrist with the other.

In just a second, Bai Chenming's face turned deathly pale. "Dong'er, you... you've been poisoned?"

Bai Chenming refused to believe it, and carefully felt Bai Chengdong's pulse again. It was weak and intermittent, which was indeed a fatal sign.

Bai Chenming withdrew his hand and released Bai Chengdong as well.

He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before asking, "Qing'er, if he goes on this trip, can he really save lives?"

"Perhaps!"

"If we can win this battle..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Chenming's brows relaxed. "Alright! Let's go then! Anyway, if we lose, both the Bai family and the Lin family will die!"

"Let's just take a gamble."

"Qing'er, what are we waiting for now? Let's send Dong'er off to war immediately!"

Bai Chenming, who had just been unwilling, was now more anxious than anyone else. He first slapped the mask onto Bai Chengdong's face, and then pushed Bai Chengdong toward the door.

Bai Chengdong was startled by his father's sudden action and looked to Bai Wanqing for help, looking bewildered.

Looking at her anxious father, Bai Wanqing smiled helplessly, "Father, preparations for the expedition are already underway, there's no need to rush!" Bai Chenming disagreed, "Qing'er! Don't try to fool me!"

“The Prince of Huai has already reached Youzhou, how can he not be anxious? It’s like a fire is burning his eyebrows.”

"If your brother doesn't go now, can you stop him?"

Just as Bai Chenming was rambling on, Madam Du arrived in a hurry with Steward Du.

"Wanqing, what you requested is ready. Would you like to take a look at the design?"

As he spoke, Steward Du dumped a bag full of official seals onto the table, leaving Bai Chenming stunned. When did official seals become so worthless?
Is it really that easy to be an official in chaotic times?

If that's the case, could he also try his luck at getting one?

Bai Chenming followed Bai Wanqing to the table and found dozens of official seals on it, but only three official titles.
"Jiangnan, Xianzhou, Langzhou!"

Bai Chenming murmured to himself, then seemed to realize something, his eyes widening considerably.

"Qing'er, you're not buying an official position, you're creating one."

Before she could even utter the word "fake," Bai Wanqing had already picked out three official seals from different places and held them in her hands. "Aunt Du, these are good. I'll keep them. Destroy the rest as soon as possible."

Madam Du understood, and gave Steward Du a look, after which Steward Du put all the seals on the table away again.

Bai Chenming opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't ask anything more!
However, unlike before, his gaze had become even more resolute.

Not long after seeing Madam Du off, Wu Huan also came looking for her.

As soon as he entered, he gave Bai Chenming a deep look. Bai Wanqing introduced Bai Chenming's identity, and Wu Huan then bowed to Bai Chenming.

"Young Master Wuhuan, you are too kind. I have heard that you have been taking care of Dong'er all these years."

"It is I who should offer a thank-you gift."

Wu Huan glanced at Bai Chengdong and said with a smile, "Uncle is too kind. Chengdong and I have always supported each other. There is no question of one taking care of the other."

"How could I possibly accept such a courtesy?"

Bai Chenming squinted at the spirited young man before him and couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

If it weren't for the fact that both of his daughters were already married, with his demeanor and appearance, Young Master Wuhuan could easily have become the son-in-law of the Bai family.
pity! pity!
Unaware of Bai Chenming's intentions, Young Master Wuhuan handed the forged notice to Bai Wanqing.

Bai Wanqing picked up the notices and stamped them one by one with the official seal that Madam Du had just given her.

"Cheng Dong, pack your things and prepare to set off tonight!"

Without saying a word, Bai Chengdong nodded firmly.

Bai Wanqing had Steward Du find several trustworthy people and send them off in the directions of Jiangnan, Xianzhou, and Langzhou, each carrying a forged notice.

In the evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in Huaizhou City.

Lin Feiyun and Cui Yao each led a group, and Lord Liu and Lord Cheng each led a group.

Wu Huan led one group, five squads, standing neatly behind Bai Chengdong.

Bai Wanqing walked up to Bai Chengdong, hugged him tightly, and whispered in his ear, "Chengdong, these people can only go with you to a place ten miles outside the city."

"Only those behind Wu Huan can accompany you to Youzhou."

“I know! Big sister, you already told me that.”

Bai Wanqing was still worried. The Prince of Huai had tens of thousands of troops, while Bai Chengdong only had five thousand. If they really clashed head-on, Chengdong would probably be reduced to ashes.

"Once you arrive, you must..."

"We're assessing the situation and waiting for your news, right?"

Bai Chengdong gently patted Bai Wanqing's back, "Big sister, don't worry, I remember everything!"

"I know what to do!"

Bai Wanqing smiled and released Bai Chengdong, watching him and the others leave.

When Bai Wanqing turned around, she happened to see several figures flickering in the mountain hollow not far away.

Feng Niang whispered a few words in Bai Wanqing's ear. Bai Wanqing nodded slightly, turned around, and went up to the city tower to see Madam Du.

"Aunt Du, the person has arrived!"

"Presumably, news of General Lin's expedition will soon reach the Prince of Huai."

Madam Du understood. "In that case, I'll send a message to the Du family's cloth shop right away!"

"Have them spread all the news immediately?"

Bai Wanqing nodded emphatically. She looked at the departing team and murmured, "I hope everything goes smoothly and that Cheng Dong can complete his mission safely."

The next morning, the Prince of Huai, who had received the news at the Youzhou government office, was getting restless!
He looked at the letter in his hand and asked the sender incredulously, "Are you sure?"

"Did Lin Yunche take tens of thousands of soldiers with him when he left Huaizhou City?"

The man dared not lie, “Your Highness, it is absolutely true. Several of us saw it with our own eyes.”

“It’s absolutely correct!”

Prince Huai frowned slightly. He hadn't believed Zhuang Er's earlier claim that the Lin family army had 10,000 elite soldiers in the Huaizhou area!

He knew Huaizhou's situation better than anyone over the years.

With tens of thousands of soldiers hidden in this place, how could it not be a secret?

Moreover, he has controlled the finances of Huaizhou for many years. Where did the Lin family get the money to support their army?
Seeing that the Prince of Huai was wavering slightly, Mr. Zhuang sensed something was wrong and immediately stepped forward, saying, "Your Highness, even if the Lin family army now has more than ten thousand men!"

"Even that can't withstand our current favorable situation!"

"After three more days of rest, we can use Youzhou as our base to march straight to the capital!"

"Do not get distracted at this time!"

Prince Huai glanced at Master Zhuang and nodded in agreement, but just then, several more people came to report.
"Report! We have received a message from Jiangnan that 50,000 troops have been dispatched to support Youzhou."

"Report! We have received a notification from Xianzhou that 30,000 troops have been dispatched to support Youzhou."

"Report! We have received a notification from Langzhou that 20,000 troops have been dispatched to support Youzhou!"

"Report! A secret message from the intermediary: General Zhuang Er has surrendered to the Lin family army and abandoned Beifeng City!"

The Prince of Huai was furious! (End of Chapter)