Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

West of the city, the elite barracks.

As night deepened, the camp fell silent except for the footsteps of the night patrol and the sound of watchtowers.

Lin Feng lay on the communal bed, breathing evenly, seemingly asleep, but in reality, his mind was clear.

After several days in the camp, no other obvious signs related to the King of Qi were found.

There has been no news of Wang Zhen and Yingzi since they parted that day. It is unknown whether they have safely evacuated as arranged by Zhou Wenyuan.

As for Zhou Wenyuan, the memorial impeaching the Prince of Qi must have already reached the capital. I wonder what the court's reaction is.

The King of Qi seems to have made no major moves recently, but this calm often foreshadows a bigger storm brewing.

Just as they were pondering, a series of hurried but light footsteps suddenly came from outside the barracks, growing closer and closer until they stopped at the entrance of their barracks.

Immediately following was a hushed voice.

"Officer Han? What brings you here?" came the surprised voice of the new recruit on night watch at the gate.

"Enough with the nonsense! Is Lin Feng here? Tell him to come out, Commandant Zhao wants to see him!" It was Officer Han's voice, which he deliberately lowered, but you could still hear the anxiety in it.

Zhao Tieying wants to see him? In the dead of night?

Lin Feng immediately sat up and quickly dressed.

The others in the same camp were also awakened and looked at him groggily.

Officer Han had already pushed open the door and entered. His gaze swept over Lin Feng, then he beckoned to him, his tone urgent: "Lin Feng, quick, come with me! Commander Zhao urgently summons you!"

Then, with a solemn expression, Han, without saying a word, led Lin Feng and hurried towards the central command tent in the darkness.

The officer in charge of patrols seemed to be deliberately avoiding the main patrol routes, choosing instead secluded paths. Lin Feng followed closely behind, his mind racing.

Why did Zhao Tieying summon him so urgently late at night?

Does Zhou Wenyuan have new instructions?

Or has something happened in the military camp that is related to me?

Or perhaps... the King of Qi has made a move?

Upon arriving near the central command tent, the guards became noticeably more heavily armed. Officer Han showed his badge, exchanged a few words with the guard in hushed tones, and only after the guard glanced at Lin Feng did he allow him to pass.

Inside the large tent, the lights were on. Zhao Tieying was not wearing armor, only a dark casual robe. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of a huge map of Qingzhou, his brows furrowed, his face more solemn than ever before.

He heard footsteps, turned around, and saw Lin Feng. A complex light flashed in his eyes, a mixture of scrutiny, concern, and a hint of... indescribable heaviness.

"You've arrived." Zhao Tieying waved his hand, signaling Han the sentry to step back. Han the sentry bowed, left the tent, and closed the tent flap behind him.

Only Zhao Tieying and Lin Feng remained inside the tent.

"Lin Feng greets Commandant." Lin Feng clasped his hands in greeting.

Zhao Tieying walked behind the desk and sat down, gesturing to the chair beside him: "Sit down. There are no outsiders here, no need to stand on ceremony."

Lin Feng sat down as instructed, straightening his back and calmly looking at Zhao Tieying, waiting for him to continue.

Zhao Tieying was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before finally speaking slowly in a low voice: "Something has happened to Prefect Zhou."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly, but his face remained calm: "May I ask, Commandant, what has happened to Prefect Zhou?"

"This afternoon, Prefect Zhou was assassinated on his way back from the prefectural office," Zhao Tieying said, observing Lin Feng's reaction.

Lin Feng's heart sank, but he controlled his emotions, only frowning slightly: "Is Prefect Zhou alright? Who is the murderer?"

"Prefect Zhou was somewhat frightened and was grazed in the shoulder by a stray arrow, but fortunately he is not seriously injured. His guards fought desperately, and the assassin, seeing that the situation was hopeless, quickly retreated, and they failed to capture him," Zhao Tieying said in a deep voice.

"But the assassins were well-trained and worked in perfect coordination. After their mission failed, they immediately committed suicide by poison, leaving no survivors. Judging from their skills and the weapons and poisons they used... they were very similar to the 'Shadow Guards'."

It really is the King of Qi!

Desperate, they dared to assassinate an imperial official in broad daylight within the prefectural capital!

This is no longer just a power struggle within the imperial court; it is a blatant act of military provocation and an attempt to silence witnesses!

"King Qi is going to completely break off relations," Lin Feng said coldly.

"Indeed." Zhao Tieying nodded, his eyes flashing with cold light. "Assassinating a court official is tantamount to treason! Prefect Zhou has already submitted another memorial overnight, impeaching Prince Qi for 'his wolfish heart is known to all, daring to send assassins to kill a court official, his treasonous intentions are obvious'! At the same time, Prefect Zhou has ordered the closure of the four gates of the prefecture, the imposition of martial law throughout the city, the search and arrest of suspicious persons, and... strengthened the defenses of all the prefecture's military camps, especially the surveillance of the troops under Prince Qi's command."

"What orders does Prefect Zhou have for me?" Lin Feng asked directly. Zhao Tieying's late-night call for him was definitely not just to tell him this news.

Zhao Tieying took a thin bamboo tube sealed with sealing wax from the desk drawer and handed it to Lin Feng: "This is a secret letter from Prefect Zhou. He said you'll understand once you've read it. Also, Prefect Zhou asked me to tell you that the plan has changed. You no longer need to wait for the opportunity to become a 'literate personal guard.' Tomorrow, I will transfer you to my personal guard unit under the pretext of 'outstanding performance in the new recruit assessment, temporarily transferred to the central army.' It's relatively central there, and the information is more readily available. You need to use this identity to secretly keep an eye on any unusual movements in the camp, especially... any possible connections with the Qi Prince's Mansion or the 'Yinshan Ghost Fiends.'"

Transferred to the Central Army's personal guard?

This went surprisingly smoothly. Although the risks were greater, the opportunities were also more numerous.

Lin Feng took the bamboo tube, crushed the sealing wax, and pulled out the thin paper rolled inside. He quickly scanned it by the lamplight. The letter was in Zhou Wenyuan's own handwriting, the handwriting slightly messy, clearly written hastily or under emotional pressure. Besides briefly recounting the assassination attempt, the letter mainly explained two things:

First, the failed assassination attempt by the Prince of Qi will inevitably lead to more drastic actions. Zhou Wenyuan judged that the Prince of Qi might take a desperate gamble before the imperial decree is issued, mobilizing the troops he secretly controls to create the illusion of a "mutiny" or "invasion by the Di and Rong tribes," confusing the public and even directly seizing control of the prefecture by force. Therefore, vigilance is necessary.

Secondly, Chen tide, while at the Zhou residence, seemed to be secretly investigating something as well. Zhou Wenyuan was worried about her safety and also afraid that her rash actions might alert the enemy. He hoped that Lin Feng, if possible, could try to contact the Zhou residence (not directly) and provide guidance. In his letter, Zhou Wenyuan mentioned a name and address—Manager Qin of "Moyunzhai" in the East Market. That was a contact point he had used before; perhaps he could try to pass messages to the Zhou residence through there.

Lin Feng lit the letter in the lamplight and watched it turn to ashes.

He raised his head and looked at Zhao Tieying: "Lin Feng understands. He will report to the central army tomorrow."

Zhao Tieying nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Prefect Zhou has high hopes for you. Although the military camp is not a paradise, it is currently one of the safest and most effective places in the prefecture. No matter how far the Prince of Qi's influence extends, he won't dare to openly infiltrate the elite troops camp for the time being. But you must be careful; the camp may not be entirely safe. Tomorrow I will arrange a separate tent for you to facilitate your actions. Remember, your primary task is to protect yourself and observe secretly. Do not expose yourself unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes."

"Go. Go back and rest. After roll call tomorrow, come directly to the central command to find me."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

Lin Feng left the main tent, and the night breeze brushed his face, bringing the chill of late autumn.

He looked up towards the direction of the prefectural city, where the lights were dim but danger lurked.

Zhou Wenyuan is assassinated, Chen tide is in danger, and the Prince of Qi reveals his true intentions... The storm is no longer confined to court documents and covert searches, but begins to evolve into a direct confrontation with swords drawn.