Qian Jiyun did not waste his breath on Prince Lei Ting. There was plenty of time to talk during the journey. They should hurry on their way.

The Emperor had set a one-month deadline for him to arrive in the capital. He could not wait any longer.

“I won’t actually reveal your face.” He looked at Yan Nuo and asked, “Yan Nuo, where’s that thing?”

Yan Nuo immediately gestured at the two soldiers behind him. They came forward with a large black cloth, shook it open, and covered the prisoner’s cart. They also secured all four corners of the cloth tightly.

The deputy generals were speechless. It was impressive of the General to think of toying with him like this!

…

In the capital…

Prince De, who was supposed to be on his way to the southern border on the Emperor’s orders, was still playing with several maids in his residence a month later.

His advisors were anxious, but they could not persuade Prince De.

The Emperor was also not anxious at all. He doted on his son and tolerated his misbehavior, acting as if he did not know how important it was to control the military forces at the border.

A middle-aged man in a green robe looked at Prince De, still playing happily, and asked the others, “What should we do? Who’s going to persuade him?”

A white-robed man rolled his eyes and retorted, “Who’s going to persuade him? Are you going?”

Knowing Prince De’s personality, he would send his guards to execute anyone who displeased him.

They were only here as advisors to earn a living. They did not want to die in Prince De’s residence.

A blue-robed man added helplessly, “If the Emperor doesn’t care, why should we care?”

The Emperor had long spoiled him. There was nothing the prince was afraid of doing.

Perhaps he did not want to go to the border at all. They had heard him describe it as a godforsaken, dirty, and smelly place.

“Forget it. Let him play. Let’s wait until the Emperor rushes him.”

The advisors looked at Prince De with gloomy expressions. He was blindfolded with a white cloth as he hugged and kissed a maid passionately.

“Why didn’t he trip and die on the uneven path?” they wondered.

These advisors were talented individuals in the capital and used to be famous in the past.

However, no matter how famous they were, they had to do whatever the Emperor ordered them to do.

They hated idle good-for-nothings like Prince De, but they had no choice but to be his advisors!

…

It was nighttime, and the sky was as dark as ink.

The two bonfires were surrounded by people. Everyone ate their rations and chatted softly while drinking plain water.

Prince Lei Ting held a dry flatbread inside the prisoner’s cart. After taking a bite, he chewed hard and glared fiercely in Qian Jiyun and An Jiuyue’s direction.

He was right—Qian Jiyun really fancied this woman. He followed her like a shadow, and she even ate the pastries Yan Nuo had specially bought in town!

He finally thought of how to deal with Qian Jiyun. He would not have to fear Qian Jiyun if he captured An Jiuyue.

“Wait and see!” he muttered under his breath.

On the other side, near a bonfire, An Jiuyue elbowed Qian Jiyun.

“What happened?”

Qian Jiyun immediately turned to her and handed her his water pouch.

“Do you want some water?”

An Jiuyue shook her head. She ate pastries, so she was not very thirsty.