Isolated town in northern border region

In a short while, only Mo Shu remained standing in the forest, surrounded by the Panlong Guards who were lying on the ground and bound.

This battle strategy was something Xiao Lie had devised while recuperating in Bingzhou. He even specifically asked Xu De what the best way to deal with someone whose mind had been controlled was.

Xu De fully demonstrated his professionalism as a doctor.

Hit him with a club!

The pressure is just right, enough to leave you dazed but not brain-damaged!

Mo Shu's face went from calm to pale, and from pale to ashen.

He looked at the soldiers lying on the ground, and his lips trembled.

"How could you...?"

Xiao Lie ignored him completely, walked straight to the door of the wooden house, and kicked open the crooked door.

Inside the room, Yan Feng was untying Xu De, while Qi Sheng lay on the ground, not looking very peaceful. There was a clean wound on his throat, and he was no longer breathing.

Yan Feng stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, this humble general is acting on His Majesty's orders. Please forgive any offense I may have caused."

Xiao Lie gestured with his chin toward him.

"Take me to see Jiang Jun."

Yan Feng bowed.

"His Majesty awaits Your Highness's triumphant return in Your Highness's courtyard."

Xu De got up from the ground and rushed out, looking completely bewildered.

"What exactly is going on?"

Xiao Lie rolled his eyes at him.

"From now on, you will stay in the northern border region and not go anywhere else."

"You got kidnapped the moment you stepped out the door. You may be shameless, but I still have my pride."

Xu De opened his mouth to refute, but Xiao Lie had already turned and walked down the mountain.

He took two steps, then stopped, looked back at Mo Shu, and put his arm around Xu De's shoulder.

"Old Xu, do you have any way to keep someone who's barely clinging to life?"

Xu De thought for a moment and nodded.

"It's possible, but it will definitely require many precious medicinal herbs. Who was injured?"

Xiao Lie looked at Luo Daniu.

"Cut off all four limbs of that guy surnamed Mo, put him in a jar, and send him back to Qingzhou."

"Place it right at the entrance of the Qingzhou government office, and tell the people of Qingzhou that this is my explanation to them!"

After saying that, Xiao Lie patted Xu De on the shoulder again.

"As long as your martial uncle has a breath left, you must keep him alive. No matter the cost of the medicine, I will provide it!"

Upon hearing Xiao Lie's instructions, Mo Shu's body went limp, and she knelt down on the ground.

"Your Highness! I was wrong!"

"Your Highness! For the sake of my past loyalty, please grant me a quick death!"

"Please, Your Highness!"

Mo Shu knelt on the ground, wailing like a shrew.

Xu De looked troubled and whispered in Xiao Lie's ear.

"Your Highness, there are still doubts about the late Emperor's poisoning. Why don't you investigate it?"

Xiao Lie sneered.

"Don't you know what kind of person your martial uncle is?"

"He would seize any opportunity, however slight, to make a scene."

"As for the truth, I will ask the Chu Emperor directly. As for him... let him atone for his sins first!"

"Luo Daniu! First, rip his tongue out for me!"

"Here you go!"

Xiao Lie turned and left, while Xu De turned away, unable to bear watching any longer.

Amidst screams of agony, Mo Shu was hacked into a human stump!

When Xiao Lie returned to the small courtyard in Yinzhou City, it was already close to dusk.

When he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw that there was an extra round table and two chairs in the courtyard.

On the table were several small dishes, a pot of wine, and two wine glasses.

Jiang Jun sat alone at the table, pouring himself a drink.

Seeing Xiao Lie walk in, he put down the wine pot and patted the chair next to him.

"King of the Northern Frontier, I have been waiting for you for quite some time."

Xiao Lie sat down opposite him, poured himself a glass of wine, and smelled it.

"The wine from your Jing Kingdom isn't strong enough."

Jiang Jun smiled.

"Strong liquor is harmful to your health..."

"There's plenty of time in the future, why rush?"

Xiao Lie didn't reply. He picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, then slammed the glass down on the table.

"Qi Sheng is your man."

"I only told you the location of this courtyard."

Jiang Jun nodded.

"Yes."

Xiao Lie poured another cup.

"Mo Shu was your ally from the very beginning?"

"You cooperate with him to get rid of Jiang Tai on the charge of poisoning Emperor Jing, and then you can rightfully ascend the throne."

Jiang Jun neither denied nor admitted it, but simply smiled rather smugly.

Xiao Lie looked at him.

"Or did Mo Shu contact you after Jiang Taiyuan went to the northern frontier?"

Jiang Jun put down his wine glass and remained silent for a moment.

"He approached me from the very beginning."

"But I didn't agree to anything he asked."

Xiao Lie's gaze sharpened slightly.

Jiang Jun's voice was calm, with a hint of smugness, as if he were showing off to his friends while drunk.

"I did not agree to any of his conditions, nor did I give him any hints."

"I only did one thing..."

Xiao Lie's eyes widened suddenly, and then he spoke.

"You... bribed Xianji, the late emperor's personal eunuch!"

Jiang Jun laughed loudly and personally filled Xiao Lie's cup.

"That's right! The late emperor originally intended to summon Jiang Tai to the palace that night, but Xianji interfered and it was I who entered the palace instead."

He looked at the wine in the glass.

"It was indeed Jiang Tai who poisoned the emperor, but it was I who ascended the throne."

"Mo Shu did indeed approach me again after Jiang Taiyuan left for the northern frontier. He brought the remnants of the Panlong Guard to Jing Kingdom, hoping to use these troops as a pledge of allegiance to gain a foothold."

"But I feel..."

He looked up at Xiao Lie.

"His Highness needs this head more!"

Xiao Lie fell silent.

At this moment, he felt a chill in Jiang Jun's smile.

"You knew from the beginning that although you didn't participate in the poisoning, you didn't stop it either..."

"You can watch your father be poisoned, yet you don't want to be all alone?"

"Are you fucking crazy?"

Jiang Jun smiled without saying a word, then raised his wine glass towards him.

"I was merely going with the flow."

"Even if I remind Father, what difference will it make?"

"It's nothing more than Jiang Tai's scheme being exposed, leading to father and son turning against each other. The outcome will be the same, just a few years later."

"It would be better if I went with the flow, which would at least preserve the royal family's reputation."

Xiao Lie didn't say anything more, but simply picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. Then, he changed the subject.

"Why don't you just kill me?"

"You control Mo Shu, lure me to the Jing Kingdom, and then use Mo Shu to get rid of me... wouldn't that be easier?"

Jiang Jun put down his wine glass.

"Because Your Highness is endowed with divine wisdom, you should naturally bring blessings to all the people of the world."

He smiled.

"I want to wait until you've finished making all those things before I reap the benefits. I certainly won't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, will I?"

Xiao Lie was so angry he laughed.

"Are you that confident? Aren't you afraid that the first thing I'll do after returning to the northern frontier is to mobilize troops and attack?"

Jiang Jun did not answer; he stood up and walked to the courtyard wall.

"King of the Northern Frontier, your ingenious ideas are enough to benefit all the people, yet you believe that delegating power to the people will solve everything..."

"How utterly foolish! Commoners, noble families, and the emperor—all are human beings!"

"Everyone has selfish desires."

"Therefore, I am not afraid at all. You want the people to make their own decisions, but I know that in the end, they will only want to be the masters of others!"

"In the end, those you trust will eventually become another powerful family."

He turned to look at Xiao Lie.

"And in controlling the powerful clans and manipulating people's hearts, I boast that no one in the world can surpass me!"