Xiao Zhan returned to the mansion first, took the Chisha Sword, and went to the ancestral hall to burn incense for his father before going out with the sword.

When he rushed to the other palace without stopping, He Cuizhang and the others were no longer there. Only a group of flustered servants remained.

He found one of them and asked: "Where is Wang Xu?"

"He, he fled," the servant said tremblingly. "Just now, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and fought with a group of soldiers, and then secretly took him away.

Xiao Zhan searched around again. If he fought He Cuizhang and the others, there would definitely be some casualties. In the end, he found some scattered corpses on the way down the mountain.

He tore the mask off a corpse. The costume and headgear were obviously from Nanjiang, and his face was already turning black, likely because he had poisoned himself.

At this time, a flare lit up in the sky. This was their signal arrow. He immediately ran in that direction and found He Cuizhang and the others outside the city gate.

"General, those people were using poisoned arrows and gas, and escaped," He Cuizhang said guiltily.

"Which way did they go?"

"They were very clever, and scattered in all directions. I have sent people to chase them separately, but there are not enough people and I fear their tricks," He Cuizhang said.

"You go back and send more people to chase after them, I'm afraid something big is going to happen." After Xiao Zhan gave orders in a heavy voice, he followed the main road to Nanjiang until dawn. Seeing neither the fleeing group nor hearing from the other teams, he returned.

Morning court had already started, so Xiao Zhan walked directly into the main hall, reported the previous night's situation, and said: "The Nanjiang people took away our prince without fear, either because of internal problems, or because the entirety of Najiang has the intention to rebel."

The officials were in an uproar. They didn't expect that the King of Nanjiang would dare to do such a rebellious thing not long after he left Beijing. They were also surprised that the useless prince still found a chance to escape. The goal was very clear – most likely, he was coming for the throne.

Wang Xuan said: "General Xiao did not return last night, so I have already sent someone to spread the order to search all the strongholds. This person must be brought to justice. There are people arranged by us in Nanjiang, and if there is any change, we will definitely be informed."

Not only that, but Wang Xuan also mentioned the cause of the old General Xiao's death. The officials were indignant, and asked Xiao Zhan for details.

Now that the murderer had been identified, Xiao Zhan explained everything in detail. In any case, he would kill Wang Xu with his own hands sooner or later, so as to save the Imperial Censor time impeaching him for the great crime of disrespecting the royal family.

After learning that the death of the old general was related to Nanjiang, some people who had attended the banquet began to recall the details.

Li Jinyu suddenly said: "Speaking of which, I remember one thing. When Nanjaing showed us Gu poison, I inadvertently saw the former prince and the Eighth Princess of Nanjiang exchanging poison in the corner. It's just that everyone was making exchanges at that time, so I didn't think much about it."

"Was the poison colorless and odorless?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"It seemed to be so."

"It appears that the matter has become clear. The former Crown Prince and the Eighth Princess knew each other in the early years, and secretly communicated with each other. They covertly gave and received poison, and poisoned General Xiao, who was serving the country and the people, committing a heinous crime. Forthwith, the fugitive Wang Xu will be hunted down across the nation."

After court was dismissed, Xiao Zhan followed Wang Xuan to the side hall, where Wang Yibo was.

As soon as he walked to the door, he saw Wang Yibo seated on a chair, dozing off with one hand on his forehead and a city defense map on his lap.

"Yibo." Xiao Zhan walked in quickly.

Hearing this voice, Wang Yibo opened his eyes, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke: "You're back? Have they been found?"

"They got away," Xiao Zhan said, removing his cloak and putting it on him. "You've been waiting a long time, let's go home first."

"En." Wang Yibo stood up, pounded his legs, and followed him to leave.

"Go back and have a good rest. I will let you know if something happens," Wang Xuan said.

After returning to the General's Mansion, Xiao Zhan brought him back to their room and asked: "You've been in the side hall since last night?"

"En, didn't you tell me not to run around?" Wang Yibo said.

"I didn't expect them to get away so smoothly, so I was delayed until now." Xiao Zhan removed his outer layers and tucked him under the blanket. "Sleep for a while, I will wake you up later."

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"I won't sleep." Xiao Zhan shook his head. He held his hand and remained quiet for a while, then, a little choked up with emotion, he said: "Yibo, I can't sleep. I can't sleep when I think that my father's murderer and enemy escaped right out from under my nose."

Wang Yibo touched his cheek: "You will definitely catch him with your own hands."

Nodding, Xiao Zhan turned around and went to the study. He took out a detailed map of the Xuan Dynasty and a border map, comparing the routes repeatedly and trying to block all possible escape routes

He Cuizhang and the others also came and awaited his orders.

After the group of people discussed the tracking route, they heard footsteps outside, and Wang Yibo appeared in the doorway: "You said they fled without a trace?"

"Why are you up?" Xiao Zhan walked to the door and replied: "We chased them all night without finding any trace."

"Perhaps Wang Xu didn't escape from the capital at all?" Wang Yibo said.

"I also thought of this possibility. I arranged for people to investigate in Beijing, but I haven't heard anything yet," Xiao Zhan said.

Wang Yibo nodded: "Don't miss a single corner. He is probably hiding in the capital and waiting for an opportunity."

"En, a meticulous search has been launched." Xiao Zhan coaxed him to sleep again.

After three days and three nights of searching, no sign of Wang Xu was found in the capital, and there was no news from other routes. Wang Xu seemed to have evaporated from the world, and the trail became a mystery.

The palace finally received some news involving a secret report from Nanjiang that a coup had taken place within the Nanjiang royal family.

After the King of Nanjiang returned this year, he was put under house arrest jointly by the Eighth Princess and her elder brother, the Second Prince. Simultaneously, the eldest prince was executed. Just five days ago, the Second Prince ascended the throne as King of Nanjiang, and the reason was to emulate Wang Xuan in seizing the throne. He also spoke wildly about expanding the territory and no longer bowing their heads to the Xuan Dynasty, and was actively persuading the subjects in Nanjiang to attack the Xuan Dynasty.

"Absurd!" Wang Xuan was so angry that he threw the note in the hall. "The new King of Nanjiang is raising such a clamor. What do you think?"

The officials were furious, and the voices of the pro-war faction were the loudest. Today was different from the past. The soldiers had been back in Beijing for a year and had recharged their energy. They had sufficient combat power and enough strength to deal with the new King of Nanjiang.

 Xiao Zhan even took the initiative to volunteer to lead the army out in person.

Wang Yibo only learned about this when he returned from the Imperial Academy in the evening, and didn't say a word during dinner. Xiao Zhan picked dishes for him several times, bathed and washed his back in the evening, and told several jokes, but received no response.

Lying down, Xiao Zhan hugged him and became extremely quiet.

The two of them kept silent with their eyes open for a long time before Wang Yibo asked: "When do you set off?"

"Tomorrow."

"The food, fodder, army, and horses are ready?"

"En."

Wang Yibo knew that he couldn't be stopped. Whether publicly or privately, Xiao Zhan should go. He sighed deeply, then got up, lit a candle, and walked out the door.

"Where are you going?" Xiao Zhan immediately chased after him.

The two came to the kitchen one after the other. Wang Yibo rummaged around for a long time, then packed up a lot of steamed buns and handed the bundles over to him.

Xiao Zhan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "We have prepared dried food."

Wang Yibo ignored his words completely and kicked open Xiao Gao's door, causing him to be so frightened that he knelt up directly from the bed. He rubbed his eyes and asked sleepily: "What does My Lord need from me?"

"Where are you hiding all your tanghulu?" Wang Yibo asked.

Xiao Gao pointed to the drawer under the table.

After opening it, Wang Yibo confiscated the dozen or so tanghulu inside and stuffed them all into Xiao Zhan's luggage. It could be described as aboveboard robbery.

Xiao Gao was dumbfounded, and Xiao Zhan was even more dumbfounded. Then he laughed.

The two of them returned to the room. Wang Yibo took out his two short knives and small crossbow and arrows, asking: "Do you think these can be used?"

Xiao Zhan said with a smile: "You can use these for self-defense."

Wang Yibo was a little discouraged. It was unknown what occurred to him, but he went to the cabinet in the corner, fiddled with it furtively for a long time, and then took out a box and set it in front of him: "Take this."

"What is this?" Xiao Zhan opened the box and found that it was full of bank notes. They were also exchanged into notes from various banks, so that one would not be afraid to travel all over the territory of the Xuan Dynasty.

Looking at the thick stack of banknotes, he suddenly felt like his hands were burning a little: "What are you giving me these for?"

"In the event that you run out of food and fodder, use this in an emergency," Wang Yibo said.

"......So many banknotes, are you willing?"

Wang Yibo glanced at it with an aching heart, then looked away and comforted himself: "After spending money, I can make money back."

With a smile on his lips, Xiao Zhan put the banknotes back, closed the lid, and handed it to him: "This is your baby, I can't take it."

"But......"

"I only need you to stay at home and rest assured that I will come back. You don't need to worry about things like military rations. If the Imperial court can't satisfy us with even this little thing, then we don't need to fight this battle."

Of course he understood this reasoning, but Wang Yibo was worried and couldn't follow in person. The battlefield changed rapidly. Xiao Zhan had fought for so many years, and his strength could not be underestimated. His own frail body could not be taken along as a burden to him. Furthermore, he wanted to ensure the smooth progress of the front lines from within the capital, so as to avoid things like what happened to the old general. He must urge the people in the capital to support the front lines honestly. There must be no mistakes.

"Don't worry, the Second Prince and the Eighth Princess are just two jesters, I will be able to clean them up soon. I only hope that Wang Xu has already arrived in Nanjiang so that I can kill him straightaway," Xiao Zhan said.

Wang Yibo nodded. Thinking of something, he felt on his body and found a safety talisman, the one that Li-niang had beseeched him to take. He tied it around Xiao Zhan's neck: "It's too late to find a new one. Use what you have first, and I will ask for another one for you later."

Xiao Zhan looked down and said with a smile: "I remember you don't believe in gods or Buddha. During the drought, you said yourself that you don't believe in gods, and only believe that man can conquer nature."

Wang Yibo raised his eyes and glanced at him. Without saying a word, he just fastened the string hard

After keeping so busy preparing things the whole night, Xiao Zhan had more big packs, which he carried on his shoulders at dawn, and the feeling of parting became stronger.

The two embraced silently for a moment, and then Xiao Zhan led him outside. He Cuizhang was already waiting outside the door, and said: "The soldiers have arrived at the city gates."

"Let's go." Xiao Zhan mounted his horse neatly and turned to look at Wang Yibo.

Wang Yibo raised his head and said: "Give me a ride. Just one ride."

"All right." Xiao Zhan stretched out his hand and pulled him onto the horse, and the two rode toward the city gates.

The common people had already heard the news that the General was about to leave again. They all came out one after another to see him off, and the road was soon full of people. The soldiers' relatives came to see them off, and Yin Pinglu was among the crowd, saying goodbye to Zuo Ran.

Wang Yibo dismounted when they reached the city wall, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Zhan was enthusiastically surrounded by the common people.

At this time, someone grabbed Wang Yibo, who was almost hit by someone. He turned his head and saw that it was Gu Niaoniao, so he walked to the corner and looked ahead, saying in a low voice: "Is there still no news of Wang Xu in Beijing?"

Gu Niaoniao shook her head: "None. How long will the General's trip be?

"I don't know." Wang Yibo looked at the man on the horse. "He should be back soon, he's Xiao Zhan, ah."

Xiao Zhan accepted the blessings of the people and raised his head to seek out Wang Yibo's figure, but saw him turn around and go up the city wall.

The corners of his mouth curved. Riding the horse out the city gate, he went to the front of the team, and with the wave of a flag, led the mighty army to set off.

After walking hundreds of meters, Xiao Zhan could still see the vague figure on the city wall when he turned his head. At this moment, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Zuo Ran holding onto the safety amulet on her chest and asked: "Where did you get the safety talisman?"

"Pinglu got it for me years ago," Zuo Ran said.

"Oh." Xiao Zhan pointed to the two big bundles on his shoulders. "Yibo prepared these for me in a hurry last night. If he started preparing years ago, it is likely that there would be two carriages full. Can you believe it?"

"Oh......"

He Cuizhang: "That's enough from you two! Can you have a care for this single man?"

Until the team completely vanished from sight, Wang Yibo continued to stand on the city wall, staring in the direction of their journey dazedly. Xiao Gao called him several times, but he didn't answer. It wasn't until a carrier pigeon flew onto his shoulder that he finally regained his composure.

"There's a letter." Xiao Gao caught the pigeon curiously, removed the bamboo tube, and took out the letter inside, handing it to Wang Yibo.

The range within which pigeons could deliver letters was relatively small. Wang Yibo guessed who had sent it immediately. He opened the letter promptly and saw that it read —

Go back quickly to eat on time and rest early. Check back in with me.

No matter the distance, I only hope you will be safe.