Even though they were calm and composed, they could not hide their surprise in their eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't notice, but Jiang Kang'an's eyes were full of deep thought.

He was not the only one who could hear Zhiyu's thoughts. What was certain was that besides himself, the emperor could also hear it.

So, what about the others...

He was thinking in his heart, but it didn't show on his face.

He smiled faintly and said, "Why are you being so serious? Since the Third Prince is Wen Jing's good friend, he is our guest. Why should we be so rigid about formalities? Please take a seat."

Xiao Mingye chuckled, looked at Du Chen proudly, and sat down. Du Chen subconsciously sat next to him.

Jiang Kang'an glanced at him lightly: "I wonder what the Third Prince is doing?"

Hearing this, Du Chen also turned his head to look at Xiao Mingye.

He didn't know why Xiao Mingye came, and when he asked him, he was vague.

Xiao Mingye spread his hands and said, "It's nothing serious. I was just a little bored, so I wanted to come over for a walk."

He wanted to know Du Chen's ending from Jiang Zhiyu, but after thinking about it, he couldn't find any good excuse to ask. So he thought it would be better to let them meet. After seeing each other, maybe Jiang Zhiyu would tell him everything in one breath?

Jiang Kangan: “…”

All of them were angry: "..."

Sometimes, he really didn't understand Xiao Mingye. He just came for a walk, so why was he in such a hurry along the way, as if his butt was on fire?

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled.

Xiao Mingye waved his hand: "Brother Jiang, are you going out? I just came here to sit for a while. Brother Jiang, don't worry about me. Your own business is more important."

Jiang Kangan was stunned by his address.

Xiao Mingye didn't care about his identity as a prince, or rather, he never considered himself a prince.

Jiang Wenjing is his best friend and his friend's elder brother, so it's not surprising that he calls him that too.

They all turned their faces away in anger, unable to bear to look.

Jiang Kangan chuckled, probably able to guess his train of thought. He looked into Xiao Mingye's bright eyes.

It is somewhat similar to a juvenile fish.

Jiang Kangan thought to himself.

The guard in his heart completely dissipated at this moment, and Jiang Kang'an stood up: "Then I will leave first."

Jiang Zhiyu and Xiao Mingye nodded at the same time.

After he left, several people breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

Xiao Mingye spoke first: "I heard that you often go to Qingfeng Pavilion? What is there for?"

The corners of his mouth twitched wildly.

Jiang Zhiyu was also stunned for a moment: "You don't know? Don't you call yourself a homosexual?"

"I call myself a gay man and this..." Xiao Mingye blurted out, then froze: "Male, male."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded.

"That's fine, but why do you like going there?"

His tone was calm, not sarcastic, just simple curiosity.

"Why does that guy like to go to Zuiyuelong?"

Jiang Zhiyu asked back.

Xiao Mingye frowned slightly. Seeing him deep in thought, Jiang Zhiyu chuckled, "Same principle."

Xiao Mingye still felt something was wrong. Perhaps Jiang Zhiyu's theory was too advanced for him. Seeing his frown getting deeper and deeper, Du Chen was about to call him, but saw Xiao Mingye suddenly look up with a look of surprise on his face.

"This place is similar to Zuiyuelong. Why are there so many people here every day?"

All of them were angry: "..."

Jiang Zhiyu: “…”

[This kid's train of thought is even longer than Xiangpiaopiao milk tea.]

Xiangpiaopiao milk tea?

What is this?

Ignoring what he didn't understand, Du Chen could tell that Xiao Mingye didn't have anything important to talk about. Just as he was about to say goodbye, Xiao Mingye said, "There's nothing to do in the mansion. Do you want to go see my new mansion?"

I don't know what's wrong with the emperor. He was obviously so angry before, but when he was still in the restaurant at night, Fuping seemed to have been waiting for him. On the left, he felt distressed for the emperor, and on the right, he felt the deep love between father and son.

He blamed the minister for the fact that he had no mansion before, and took him to see his own prince's mansion that night.

Xiao Mingye sneered in his heart.

Although he is not smart, he is not so stupid as to be condemned by both humans and gods.

Without the emperor's tacit approval, how could those people treat him so harshly?

You are just trying to please him by targeting Youzhou.

Since there was nothing else to do, Jiang Zhiyu thought about it and agreed.

While they were living a peaceful life, in the imperial study, Jiang Kangan, Jiang Wenjing, He Yanting and the emperor were carrying the heavy burden for them.

"Nan Gu is easy to defend but difficult to attack. There's a natural poisonous forest at the entrance. The fog has a hallucinogenic effect. Without a guide, it's difficult to get out of the forest."

Jiang Kangan pointed at the map and tapped his fingertips twice.

Jiang Wenjing: "Why not take Erzhu Huaji with you..."

Jiang Kangan knew what he was going to say and flatly refused, "No, they can't be trusted. Moreover, Erzhu Huaji holds a grudge against Zhiyu because of the Tudola incident. Everyone knows that you are Zhiyu's second brother. There's no guarantee that he won't be determined to perish together with you and deliberately point you in the wrong direction."

Jiang Wenjing pursed his lips.

The emperor gently stroked his forehead, and He Yanting asked, "Where is the witch doctor from Nan Gu?"

"We haven't found him yet. When the Jinyiwei went to the mansion to check on him, he wasn't there. I'm afraid he heard about it and went into hiding."

Jiang Wenjing said calmly.

"Hurry up and investigate. I don't want to see any problems in the battle with Nan Gu. Yan Ting, I'll leave this matter to you."

The emperor's face was as gloomy as water, and He Yanting responded.

Jiang Kangan glanced at him and continued, "Aside from the terrain, the Gu worms are the biggest threat to Nan Gu. Zhiyu has taught them some precautions, but the battlefield is ever-changing and one can be easily caught if not careful."

This is also what the emperor is most worried about.

Although according to Zhiyu, the insect is not as miraculous as it is said to be, it still has some power.

There will always be loopholes in prevention. The only solution is to find a doctor who knows about poisonous insects and go with the army to fight and respond accordingly.

But the only doctor in Beijing who knows about Gu worms is...

A name popped up in everyone's mind, and they all tacitly avoided the topic.

The same is true for the emperor.

Jiang Kangan continued to analyze the terrain with a cold look in his eyes.

People are selfish. They can go to the battlefield themselves, but their families cannot.

If we find a witch doctor, the problem will be solved easily. If we can't find one...

…

Outside the city, in the City God Temple, the guard took out a steaming pancake and handed it to Bai Yan. "Master Witch Doctor, the situation is tense right now. Please make do with it. The city is heavily guarded right now. If you enter the city, you will definitely arouse suspicion."

He frowned.

He went up the mountain with Bai Yan to catch insects that day. When they returned at night, they saw that the number of guards in the city had more than doubled. He thought to himself that something was wrong, so he and Bai Yan hid there for a night. It was not until the next day that he found out the whole story.

The current plan is to return to Nan Gu first, but in this snowy and icy weather, if they go into the city to buy a horse, it will definitely arouse suspicion. But if they leave without buying one, with only their two legs, they may not be able to return even if they are injured.