Chao Shuo looked at the heartless Li Shang and Wei Ting, but seeing the serious-looking Song Jue beside him, he felt a little comforted. However, he suddenly noticed that the corners of Song Jue's mouth were also curving into a strange smile.

Damn it, would he have come back if it weren't for them?

Not only did they not sympathize with me, but one or two of them even mocked me.

Ji Mohan came out of the tent a little later and looked at the wet Chao Shuo, saying, "Go down and wash yourself clean before you see me."

"Yes, Your Highness," Chao Shuo said respectfully. Alright, that's enough. My heart is broken, there's no love left. That's it! Hmph ╯^╰

Ji Mohan glanced at Li Shang and Wei Ting, who were laughing hysterically, and pinched the corner of his eye with a headache. He said, "Li Shang, Wei Ting, go and call Miss Jing and His Highness the Crown Prince to my tent. Song Jue, come in with me."

"Yes, Your Highness." Li Shang and Wei Ting stopped laughing and obediently replied. Oh no, they had gotten too cocky in front of the prince.

Seeing the two of them looking rather embarrassed, Chao Shuo went downstairs to tidy himself up, feeling quite pleased with himself.

Sure enough, the prince still cares about him; otherwise, why would he stand up for him instead of others? Hehe.

Li Shang and Wei Ting were furious at his smug look. They raised their fists to threaten Chao Shuo before going to complete the task assigned by the prince.

One hour later.

After washing up, Chao Shuo stood in the tent and reported on the situation in Huangzhou City. "The city of Huangzhou is heavily guarded, especially in the west of the city. There are several places in the west where the gates are surrounded by soldiers, and I cannot get in, so I have not been able to find out anything."

"Where does Mr. Gongsun Gua live in the city?" Jing Xi asked.

“Reporting to Miss Jing, I have not heard of Gongsun Gua’s name in the city,” Chao Shuo replied after thinking carefully.

"No? That shouldn't be the case." Jing Xi asked with some doubt. Logically speaking, Jiang Bai, as a spy within a spy, should have accurate information. So why is there no news about Gongsun Gua? It seems I'll have to ask Jiang Bai when I get back.

"How many troops are there in the city?" Crown Prince Ji Mosheng asked.

"Your Highness, there are about five thousand soldiers in the open, while the hidden forces are heavily guarded. I haven't had time to investigate further. However, I can confirm that there are definitely more people in the hidden forces than in the open, and their martial arts skills are much higher," Chao Shuo said respectfully.

"Yes, I understand." Ji Mosheng glanced at Ji Mohan, surprised that there were so many people. He wondered if the 30,000 troops they had brought were enough.

“However, the annual Tianhuan Festival is coming soon. On that day, only couples will be allowed to enter Huangzhou,” Chao Shuo continued. That day would be the best opportunity to enter the city.

“Alright, then let’s wait until that day to go in together,” Ji Mohan said in a deep voice.

Jing Xi and Yan Wan nodded, and Ji Mosheng had no objections either, so the decision was made happily.

After leaving Ji Mohan's camp, Jing Xi rushed to Jiang Bai's residence. Her doubts grew stronger, and she felt that something was not quite right.

Everything was too coincidental, too deliberate.

As soon as Jing Xi entered the room, Jiang Bai said directly, "Jing Xi, I want to go into Huangzhou with you."

"Jiang Bai, do you want to come with us into Huangzhou?" Jing Xi asked uncertainly.

Jiang Bai thought for a moment and nodded firmly. If Jing Xi went in, then he would definitely go.

“Okay. Then we’ll pretend to be a couple and go in with Wan’er and the others,” Jing Xi nodded and said.

"Yes, Jingxi, don't be afraid, I'll be with you." Jiang Bai said seriously. Anyway, Jingxi now knows his secret, and he also knows Jingxi's biggest secret. Since the two of them are now honest with each other, he doesn't need to hurt Jingxi and the others to do things for Prince An. He has already repaid Prince An's kindness.

Over the years, we have provided Prince An with so much gold and silver jewelry for him to use in stationing troops. Isn't that enough?

Jing Xi chuckled and said, "I'm not scared, Jiang Bai. But you, your face is as pale as a ghost. Are you scared?"

“Yes, Jingxi, I’m scared. I’m scared that something will happen to you, scared that you’ll leave,” Jiang Bai nodded and said.

Jing Xi froze on the spot, overwhelmed by Jiang Bai's passionate and sincere emotions.

Jing Xi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Jiang Bai, I'll be fine, you'll be fine, and Wan'er too, we'll all be safe and sound."

“Yes, Jingxi, we’ll be fine.” Jiang Bai repeated. At worst, he would go see Prince An and tell him that he, Jiang Bai, had enough to prevent Prince An from succeeding and from taking that position.

So many years have passed, do you still think of him as that defenseless little beggar from back then? He's not someone to be trifled with!

——

“Your Highness, you will stay in the military camp this time, and I will go in with them,” Ji Mohan said in a deep voice.

The Crown Prince is the heir apparent and cannot be harmed in any way. Although he believes the Crown Prince is too sentimental and somewhat indecisive, he loves his people like his own children, treats his officials well, and is of upright character, making him a good ruler.

Ji Mohan's previous desire to take that position was merely to avenge his mother. Now, the cause of his mother's death has reached a stalemate, and there may be other hidden details about what happened back then. Since it has little to do with the person in the palace, he naturally will not rebel. All he wants is to seek fairness.

What's so good about being confined to the palace every day, sitting alone on the throne?

Moreover, he now has Yan Wan, a position that is too high for people to reach, and too far away for those close to him to drift further and further away.

He had Yan Wan, and that was enough. God had already given him the best gift in the world, and he dared not ask for anything else, otherwise God would blame him for being too greedy.

Ji Mosheng nodded and said, "Brother, be careful when you go in. I will be your backup and help you."

Ji Mohan nodded.

Ji Mosheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother, you are highly skilled in martial arts. If possible, could you help Jingxi out?"

Ji Mohan turned and gave Ji Mosheng a cold look, then said in a chilling voice, "Your Highness, she is not suitable for you. I understand what you said, and I will help her when necessary." After saying this, Ji Mohan turned and left.

Ji Mosheng remained somewhat lost in thought, muttering, "I know she's not right for me, but my heart just can't help wanting to get closer to her."

She may not be right for him, but he loves her. So he is willing to respect her and doesn't want to put too much pressure on her. If she loves someone else, then he will silently wish her well and restrain himself from getting close to her.