Warm medicine emits fragrance

This man is Yan Qi's eldest son, Yan Ling, who is twenty-two years old this year. He also has a half-brother, Yan Qiu, who has just turned twenty.

Yan Qi's first wife died early and did not bear him a legitimate son; both of his sons were born to his concubines.

Even before Yan Qi has truly conquered the country and secured his position, the two have already begun to fight over who will become the crown prince.

Li Chenbi sat on the ground covered with straw. He, who was usually very clean, was now covered in filth, and his plain-colored outer robe was stained with blood. He looked utterly disheveled.

"Young Master, I have long said that I only work for the General and will not participate in any other struggles. Why do you waste your time on me?"

Yan Ling snorted coldly upon hearing this, "So you only work for my father? Do you think I don't know that Yan Qiu's meritorious service this time was orchestrated by you behind the scenes!"

"Li Chenbi, you're usually so clever, how come you keep making the same mistakes in these matters? Last time you were assassinated, it was Ni Hai, Yanqiu's uncle, who did it. Why are you still helping him!"

Li Chenbi looked at him, his eyes conveying a clear meaning.

How could you say such a thing?

Although he didn't say it explicitly, both of them knew perfectly well that Yanling had caused Li Chenbi a lot of trouble in order to force him to take sides.

Yan Ling showed no embarrassment and was quite self-righteous. "I just regret that a talent like you shouldn't be associating with a hothead like Yan Qiu. Only by standing by my side can you fully realize your ambitions."

Li Chenbi, who had no baggage whatsoever and only wanted to go home and hug his wife, looked at him coldly without saying a word.

Yanling added, "Don't worry, as long as you're willing to make a choice, I will do my best to plead with your father on your behalf."

Li Chenbi lowered his eyes. "I'll think about it."

Yan Ling stared at him for a couple of seconds, then finally said in a low voice, "Fine, I'll give you two more days to think it over."

"I hope you can think this through this time. You need to know that if your collusion with foreign tribes is confirmed, not only will you lose your life, but your entire family will also be implicated."

Yanling left after saying those words.

After he left, Li Chenbi raised his head, his eyes cold. He got up, walked to the door, and kicked it.

The prison clerk immediately came over with a fawning smile, "Lord Li."

"How are things going with what I told you?"

The clerk looked troubled. "Sir, I sent someone to guard the post station yesterday, but they haven't returned yet, so we haven't received your letter."

Li Chenbi narrowed his eyes. "No?"

The clerk immediately replied, "It's possible the messenger was delayed on the way. Why don't you wait a little longer?"

Li Chenbi thought for a moment and asked, "Has the letter I gave you been sent?"

The clerk patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, it's been sent. I personally went to the post station and handed it to the messenger."

Li Chenbi nodded and waved to him, "Okay, go ahead and get busy."

The clerk left with a smile.

Li Chenbi leaned against the door, his expression somber.

It would take three days to send a message from here to Xingzhou by fast horse. This section of the road is now the territory of the rebel army, and there are many rebel strongholds along this road. People from the post station will not have any accidents on the way.

The weather has been sunny these past few days, so there's no reason for the trip to be delayed due to the weather.

His letter was sent out at noon eight days ago. Logically, Fan Liuer should have received the letter on the morning or noon of the fourth day. She would usually reply the day after receiving the letter, so he should have received a reply this morning or noon.

It's already evening, and I still haven't received the letter.

Was Fan Liuer's reply late? Or was it the messenger who delayed it?

Let's wait and see.

At this moment, Fan Liuer was sitting in the carriage on her way to the military camp. It was already dark outside, and the coachman had been traveling all night without rest. The group ate their meals in the carriage.

Fan Liuer hadn't eaten all day; she had no appetite and didn't feel hungry at all.

As darkness fell, Fan Liuer, who hadn't slept for a day and a night, finally drifted off to sleep amidst the swaying.

She doesn't sleep soundly; she wakes up shortly after closing her eyes, then falls asleep again because she can't stay awake any longer.

After repeating this several times, it gradually got light outside. Feng Ji knocked on the carriage door from the outside, "Madam, there's a town ahead. We need to go in and change horses."

They brought an extra coachman on this trip because they didn't intend to stop. Feng Ji and the coachman took turns traveling, traveling non-stop through the night to reach the military camp as quickly as possible.

They can take turns resting, but the horses can't. They've been running for a day and a night, and if they're not changed soon, the horses won't be able to run anymore.

Fan Liuer sat up straight. After being jostled around for a whole day and night, her bones felt like they were about to fall apart.

"Okay." His voice was hoarse from lack of rest.

The group rested briefly in the town, ate breakfast, changed horses, and set off again.

Li Chenbi spent another day in prison. He urged the clerk to go to the post station to keep watch from the moment he woke up in the morning, but the messenger still did not return by evening.

He couldn't sit still any longer and roared at the clerk, "Go and find out what happened!"

The clerk trembled with fear. He had long heard of Li Chenbi's violent temper, and he was even more frightening than General Yan.

Those who know him understand that he is a strategist, but those who don't might think he's a tyrant who would drag people out and kill them at the drop of a hat.

"Sir, is it possible that they haven't replied?" he asked cautiously.

Li Chenbi glared at him. "So, I'm sending you to investigate for me!"

"Go and check whether my letter was sent or not, and send someone to Xingzhou to see if anything has happened at my home."

The clerk nodded quickly, "I'll go right away."

"Stop." Li Chenbi called out to him again.

The clerk quickly turned around, "Does my lord have any other plans?"

"I don't trust you to do things properly. Find a way to get Li Qiuping out of the way and let him go."

The clerk looked troubled. "Sir, you're making things difficult for me. Everyone knows Guard Li's face. How am I supposed to change him?"

Li Chenbi gave him a single glance, and the clerk immediately nodded, "I'll go and find a solution right away, I'll go right away!"

Not long after the clerk left, another person came to the prison. He looked similar to Yanling, but was much thinner.

He carried a food box in his hand and walked to Li Chenbi's cell. Before he could speak, Li Chenbi's face darkened.

What are you doing here?

Yan Qiu paused for a moment, then said softly, "Brother Chenbi, I was worried you weren't eating well in here, so I had the kitchen make you some Xingzhou-style food. Try it."

As he spoke, he squatted down, opened the food box, and took out plates of food.

Li Chenbi let out a breath, squatted down, and said in a slightly better tone, "Your uncle and the others didn't notice you coming over, did they?"

Yanqiu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I came quietly. They all thought I was asleep."