Chapter 119 Farewell The next moment, Jiang Zhuoying was pulled into a room, blanket and all...

The next moment, Jiang Zhuoying was pulled into someone's arms, blanket and all. As soon as she opened her eyes, she could see the other person's loose clothes.

"What have I done to offend you?"

Even with his deep cunning, he couldn't immediately fathom the little thing's thoughts.

"...Your Majesty, I dare not."

Qi Fan lowered his eyes. The little girl nestled in his arms had a delicate face and fair skin. Although she was without makeup, she was still captivating. Her gaze deliberately shifted, and her cherry lips were slightly pursed, clearly indicating that she still harbored some displeasure.

"I find you to be quite bold on a daily basis."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

How can they be the same?

If she could really find fault with him, she would have complained long ago.

After holding it in for a long time, she finally spoke up in a muffled voice: "Your Highness, please release me as soon as possible."

Why?

"I have thought about it. It is not proper for Your Highness to stay with me every day like this."

"I am resting with my own Crown Princess. Is there anything improper about that?" The man frowned slightly.

Jiang Zhuoying retorted coldly, "I'm afraid it doesn't conform to His Highness's sense of propriety."

Qi Fan's brow furrowed even more. He was always wise, and combining Jiang Zhuoying's words that night with his own temperament, he quickly came to a conclusion.

The next moment, Jiang Zhuoying was carried back to the bed along with the blanket. Her face stiffened, and she was about to throw a tantrum when a warm body pressed against her back.

She was completely held in the man's strong arms.

"I am now inseparable from the Crown Princess. As for what the Crown Princess said, if anyone is gossiping in your ear, you may complain to me."

He loosened the grip on his arm: "I will stand up for you."

Jiang Zhuoying's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. She twisted her body slightly and said with a forced pride, "Fine... then."

...

The following day, Chu Yixin came to report.

Qi Fan's men have followed Jiang Lang's lead and found out who the Xiyan people were colluding with him behind the scenes.

He is now the second prince of Xiyan.

"The second prince's birth mother is unknown, and he is not the son of the current Queen of Xiyan."

The man holding the memorial also explained it to Jiang Zhuoying.

Today, Jiang Zhuoying could no longer stay on the couch, so Qi Fan ordered someone to move her chaise lounge from the bedroom to the side of the desk.

Thus, her every move was under the man's watchful eye.

"Then the crown prince who succeeds to the throne must not be him?"

Jiang Zhuoying asked in a very tactful way.

"That's how it is. But after winning that battle against Da Rong back then, he became qualified to compete for the crown prince position."

The man's voice was calm as he answered her while making annotations on the memorial.

Jiang Zhuoying pinched her chin and suddenly said, "Could we devise a plan to lure the Second Prince out, capture him, and then use him to exchange for our Yanmen Town?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Fan paused slightly in his hand holding the wolf-hair brush, his gaze slowly shifting from the memorial to the chaise lounge beside him, a hint of interest in his eyes.

At this moment, Chu Yixin had already excitedly joined in the celebration.

"Your Majesty is truly wise! In my humble opinion, this plan is brilliant; all it takes is..."

"Cough cough."

Chu Yixin's expression froze slightly. She turned her head to look at the man sitting behind the desk, then lowered her head.

Jiang Zhuoying followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow: "What does Crown Prince Brother think?"

She thought that if her father and Chengyun succeeded in this matter and captured the Second Prince of Xiyan alive, it would be considered a meritorious deed.

This merit is not particularly great, and it is unknown whether it can offset the serious crimes committed by Jiang Lang for the Duke's mansion.

Qi Fan stared at her: "This time, Xi Yan's matter cannot be settled simply by returning Yanmen Town."

He didn't make his meaning clear, and Jiang Zhuoying was slightly taken aback for a few moments before quickly understanding what he meant.

This time, Xiyan must be taught a lesson so that he will never dare to act recklessly again.

“Then Father and Chengyun…” she couldn’t help but mention them.

"The Crown Princess must trust them implicitly." The man's tone held a deeper meaning.

Jiang Zhuoying was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant, and nodded emphatically.

"They must be eager to protect Da Rong and have the opportunity to redeem themselves through meritorious service."

This is the only way.

The only way to save the Duke's mansion.

...

A few days later, Jiang Lang compiled the relevant matters concerning Duke Fu Jin's upcoming expedition. This was an extremely important secret. Perhaps fearing that something unexpected might happen, the Second Prince of Xiyan came to Da Rong without revealing his identity.

The purpose was to obtain this special intelligence personally as soon as possible.

Crown Prince Qi Fan personally led his men to capture the Second Prince of Xiyan alive. As a result, the Emperor was overjoyed and his health improved dramatically. All the civil and military officials were delighted and greatly encouraged.

Xiyan sent envoys, proposing to exchange Yanmen Town for their second prince.

But Da Rong did not agree.

...

On the throne room.

"Your Majesty, it is the best strategy to reclaim Yanmen Town without losing a single soldier." These were the words of the Prime Minister.

Qi Fan stepped forward: "Father, even if we follow Xi Yan's wishes after this incident, they will surely hold a grudge against Da Rong for this. Once the Second Prince returns to Xi Yan, he will surely amass troops again to attack Da Rong."

"Your Highness is young and impetuous. When two countries are at war, it is the common people who suffer. If the current predicament can be resolved so easily, why go to the trouble of seeking something far away instead of something closer?"

The prime minister emphasized his words, clearly displeased.

"Now is the best time to establish the prestige of our Great Rong Kingdom." Qi Fan ignored the noise from the side and continued speaking with a slight bow.

"The Duke of Zhenguo is already old, and taking up arms and commanding troops is only a temporary expedient. Where in the court can we find a suitable commander?"

The prime minister was still rambling on and on.

The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, finally spoke slowly from his throne: "What the prime minister says makes sense. Does anyone recommend a crown prince?"

Qi Fan replied solemnly, "Your subject does indeed have someone to recommend."

He narrowed his eyes: "Jiang Zheng."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

...

The Crown Prince's Residence.

Jiang Zhuoying was filled with anxiety, fearing that the news she received would be bad.

She was originally playing chess with Xiangyue and the others, but she kept getting distracted and eventually messed up the game.

"Forget it, I don't have the mind to play this right now."

She leaned out the door and tugged at Xiangyue's sleeve: "Go and see if that scoundrel has shown up."

Ah Liu, standing to the side, was completely immune to this and automatically ignored those words.

Xiangyue responded to her, then turned and ran out.

Xiangxing, who remained inside the room, gently comforted her: "Miss, don't worry. His Highness will come to see you as soon as he returns to the manor."

Jiang Zhuoying's heart was constantly in her throat, feeling uncertain and extremely anxious.

She frowned as she looked out the door: "If it's not good news, he might not even dare to come see me."

Upon hearing this, Xiangxing patted her back and said, "No, the current situation is under His Highness the Crown Prince's control, as you know, Miss."

Jiang Zhuoying did know, but this matter involved her father and Chengyun, who were now the two most important people in her life.

She was filled with fear, afraid that something unforeseen might happen.

Before Xiangyue could return, Jiang Zhuoying had already spotted Qi Fan.

The man strode inside, removed his cloak, and headed straight for the bedroom.

His expression was calm and composed: "Don't worry, everything is as expected."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying finally let out a slow breath, but her heart was still pounding wildly. She could only lightly cover her chest, feeling a little dizzy.

Qi Fan glanced sideways and gestured for Xiangxing and the other maids to leave.

After the maids left, he reached out and untied his outer robe, draping the chilly robe over the cangue. Then he sat down beside Jiang Zhuoying and pulled her into his arms.

Looking down at the pale-faced girl, the wrinkles between his brows deepened.

Where does it hurt?

Jiang Zhuoying felt as if she had no bones. She held the man's palm and placed it over her chest: "My heart is beating a little fast, and I feel a little dizzy."

Qi Fan lowered his eyes, rubbed her temples, and said in a low voice, "Father Emperor has already given his permission at the morning court session today."

Jiang Zhuoying closed her eyes and gave a soft "hmm".

Having such an opportunity to redeem himself is also a way out for his father, Chengyun, and the Duke of Rui's mansion.

"How is Jiang Lang?" Jiang Zhuoying asked softly, her eyes slightly open.

Since the capture of the second prince of Xiyan, Jiang Lang has been secretly imprisoned. In order not to alert the enemy, it was said to the outside world that he had contracted a seasonal disease and had temporarily taken leave from court.

“We have people specifically assigned to guard him, so he won’t have any chance to come into contact with outsiders.”

Jiang Zhuoying nodded slightly. With a great battle imminent, it was necessary to maintain stability in the court, so she decided to temporarily suppress the matter concerning Jiang Lang. She understood.

Now, it all depends on whether Father and Chengyun can turn the tide in this battle. If they win a great victory and please the Emperor, then everyone except Jiang Lang will be safe.

But if we still lose, then...

Therefore, victory is the only option in this battle.

We cannot afford to lose.

Jiang Zhuoying has been carefully cared for lately, and everything is going smoothly for her. After Yu Jin examined her pulse, she was able to get out of bed and walk around, but she needed to be careful not to have any major emotional fluctuations.

If you feel unwell, you must be alert and rest immediately; do not overexert yourself.

Therefore, she went to see her father and brother off.

It had been some time since I'd seen Jiang Zheng and Jiang Jinran, and their weathered and dejected state was still vivid in my mind.

Jiang Zhuoying was still worried, but when she actually saw the person, her slightly uneasy heart was completely at ease.

The last time I saw my father, he looked haggard, but this time he was much more energetic and not as thin as before. He had regained some weight and his complexion was healthy and full of vitality.

Most importantly, he no longer exudes an air of dejection, and his former youthful vigor is different from his former high spirits. Now, he is more composed and reserved after weathering the storms.

Looking at Jiang Jinran again, the injury on his left forearm had completely healed. He was wearing a heavy suit of armor, which made him, who was already tall and strong, look even more imposing and upright.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhuoying, he raised an eyebrow.

"You are currently unwell. Wouldn't it be better to meet again when my father and I return in triumph?"

Jiang Zhuoying glared at him: "What are you saying? This is an important day."

She paused, then took out two amulets from her pouch and handed them to the two men.

"This was obtained by His Highness the Crown Prince and me from Fu'an Temple yesterday. It will surely ensure your journey goes smoothly."

She originally intended to ask for it herself, but Qi Fan was worried about her, so he accompanied her on the trip.

Six years ago, at the gate of the Duke of Ruiguo's mansion, my mother did the same thing, personally handing over two peace charms obtained from Fu'an Temple to my father and Chengyun respectively.

Six years later, however, she became the one who did it.

The father and son had clearly recalled the incident, and for a moment they both remained silent, simply taking the amulet with their hands.

Seeing her vacant eyes and forlorn expression, Jiang Jinran clenched the amulet tightly and said casually, "You little rascal, you're still as protective of your food as you were when you were a child."

Jiang Zhuoying was slightly taken aback, her expression changed slightly, and she frowned: "What are you talking about?"

Jiang Jinran frowned and snorted in dissatisfaction: "If His Highness hadn't sent that horn bow, would you have been thinking of keeping it for yourself?"

Jiang Zhuoying: "???"

What kind of horn bow?

Before she could fully recall what had happened, she saw Jiang Jinran turn and go to the bedroom. When she came out again, she was carrying a horn bow.

Jiang Zhuoying's pupils widened slightly. She had bought the bow to welcome her father and Chengyun, but later, upon learning that Chengyun had injured his arm, she hid it away, fearing that seeing the bow would trigger painful memories.

When did that scoundrel steal it?!

And then he gave it to Chengyun?

"Just you wait and see!"

Jiang Zhuoying's brow twitched as she saw him toss up the horn bow, which spun once in mid-air.

"I agree!"

Before she could even utter a word to stop him, she saw him swiftly pick up an arrow from the side, nock it on his bow, and in a flash, the arrow shot out.

Almost simultaneously, the door was opened from the outside, revealing a familiar figure, and the arrow that had been shot was aimed directly at the doorway.

Jiang Zhuoying's eyes widened instantly, and her heart almost skipped a beat.

Qi Fan's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't even blink. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Zhuoying heard a crisp "whoosh" sound, and the arrow that had been heading straight for the door was now stuck diagonally in the door frame.

The man's face was ashen, and a dagger gleamed coldly in his hand.

Jiang Zhuoying took a step forward, her footing unsteady, her chest pounding almost uncontrollably.

"You wretched child! Quickly apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Jiang Jinran obviously hadn't expected this turn of events. He had only wanted to show off to his silly older sister so that she would have less to worry about on the battlefield.

Unexpectedly, His Highness the Crown Prince entered right here.

He knelt down with a thud, and Jiang Lang quickly walked forward from behind and knelt down on one knee.

"This subject has failed in his duty of education, causing my son to disturb His Highness the Crown Prince and nearly lead to a grave mistake. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

Jiang Zhuoying had recovered slightly from the earlier panic, and the man had helped her sit down.

The incident happened so suddenly that it really startled her.

Qi Fanxu supported her waist and sat down beside her. His expression was cold and his lips were taut, clearly indicating his displeasure.

Jiang Zhuoying also frowned, her expression somewhat solemn.

She thought to herself that Cheng Yun was so impulsive, and she was afraid that he would make a big mistake again due to recklessness this time.

Qi Fan narrowed his eyes, his face showing displeasure: "I entrusted this horn bow to you with the intention of helping you to regain your strength, so that your fortunes will turn around in the future."

"Even after this ordeal, you still act rashly and recklessly. You are simple-minded, impulsive, and impatient, and it is difficult for you to achieve great things."

"I need to reconsider this trip to the border."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Zhuoying frowned, but remained silent.

Jiang Jinran panicked and kowtowed heavily.

"This guilty subject has already realized his mistake and is willing to accept Your Highness's punishment. However, as a son of the Da Rong clan, I should bear the responsibility of protecting my country. Now that we have defeated Xi Yan and protected A Zhuo and my grandfather, how can I let my father bear such an important task alone?"

"I hope Your Highness will rescind your order. This humble subject is willing to bear the consequences of my actions alone."

Jiang Zhuoying looked at Jiang Jinran kneeling on the ground and pursed her lips: "Chengyun, I know your intention when you drew the bow just now, but if His Highness had not caught your arrow, do you know what crime it would be to assassinate the Crown Prince?"

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Author's Note: [Panda head emoji] It's almost over!

Just so you know, Yingbao in the bonus chapter is the Crown Princess! [doge emoji with rose in hand]