Xu Nian felt that Jiang Yuanqing's words made sense.

But no matter how reasonable that was, she couldn't get back in time, and besides, she didn't know the emperor's current condition. Even if she rushed back, she couldn't save him...

She didn't know if she had enough time to make it back from the capital.

But I need to examine the emperor's illness to determine if he is beyond medical help, so that Jiang Yuanqing and the others can prepare for his passing.

After much thought, it seems there's only one solution left.

When Gu Zhan returned from his tent, Xu Nian had been sitting at the table waiting for him for a long time.

"Wang Er said you have something important to discuss with me. What is it? Has something happened in the capital?"

Xu Nian: "The Emperor is critically ill. Moreover, the imperial physicians cannot find the cause of the illness. Jiang Yuanqing suspects that His Majesty has the same Gu poison in his body as he does, which has been out of control due to the deaths of the Fifth Prince and Elder Xun, and that is why it has erupted at this time."

“Theoretically, His Majesty is beyond saving in this situation. However, I still need to take a look and confirm. If there is hope, I will return to the capital immediately.”

Gu Zhan's heart skipped a beat; Xu Nian's expression was far too serious.

The emperor seemed more troublesome than not, as if he could be saved. "But the ring you gave the crown prince cannot reveal the image."

"That's why I need your ring. I'll use the ring to transmit information and check on His Majesty's condition."

Marshal Gu's little finger, which was wearing the ring, curled slightly. Xu Nian's words were unexpected yet reasonable. He hesitated for a moment, thinking that he would return the ring after using it.

He then picked it off and placed it in Xu Nian's palm, saying, "Take it. Tell the Crown Prince to remember to return it after he's done using it."

This was the first thing Xu Nian had ever given him; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a token of their love. Gu Zhan carried it with him very carefully.

When I went out to fight, I would hide it in my purse and under my pillow, afraid that I might accidentally lose it.

She clutched the ring tightly in her hand, the hard edge digging painfully into her palm. Instead of immediately handing it to Jiang Yuanqing, Xu Nian took out a piece of paper.

"With a major battle imminent, we must root out the bad apples in the army. Otherwise... otherwise there won't be enough time."

That letter was something Jiang Yuanqing had researched long ago, about Liu Jun's background.

He was an orphan in his early years. He married a woman, but while he was away on business, someone broke into their home and raped her to death. It turned out that the person who raped her was a wealthy and influential person.

Having already bribed the government officials, not only was that scoundrel not convicted, but Liu Jun himself was also beaten and left barely alive outside the city.

Jiang Yuanche happened to pass by, took pity on him, and saved him. He also helped Liu Jun clear his name and gave that family a good beating!

From then on, Liu Jun was deeply grateful to Jiang Yuanche, and even his enlistment was at Jiang Yuanche's behest, because there were men from the Fifth Prince's faction in the army at that time.

Therefore, he was promoted very quickly, and by the time some of the spies had been almost completely removed by the Third Prince and the Second Prince's men after Jiang Yuanche deliberately showed weakness.

He was already a trusted deputy general of Gu Zhan, and often accompanied him on campaigns in the north and south.

This person suffered bullying from a young age and had a very low sense of right and wrong. Even after receiving kindness from many people, he only remembered Jiang Yuanche as his benefactor.

He wasn't supposed to be accompanying the army this time, but he volunteered because of Jiang Yuanche's request.

He didn't care whether the other party was a government or an enemy that harmed the people. As long as Jiang Yuanche asked him to do it, he would definitely complete the task well.

This included, but was not limited to, trying to ruin Xu Nian and Gu Zhan's reputations within the military, although this was unsuccessful.

They also murdered Elder Xun and deliberately leaked information to the Japanese pirates, making them think it was time to attack the city, in order to prevent Gu Zhan and the others from gathering their souls and learning the whole truth.

His methods were very clever. If Xu Nian hadn't realized there was a spy in the army early on, and hadn't been on guard with Gu Zhan and the others, they wouldn't have discovered him.

The previous incident involving Elder Xun was a catalyst; before that, they only had suspicions, but after that, they became certain.

Because that barrier had a recording function, everything that happened that night was recorded in detail, and Gu Zhan knew the people in the military better than anyone else.

Even though Liu Jun was masked, he still recognized him.

The reason they didn't expose them on the spot was because they feared there might be other spies in the military camp, and that revealing one would have far-reaching consequences. If it alerted others, things would be even more difficult to handle if they were in the open while the enemy was in the shadows.

Now, however, we can't wait to find everyone...

"You want to spread the news that the Fifth Prince has been beheaded?" Knowing Xu Nianru like Gu Zhan, he knew what his wife was going to do from the moment she opened her mouth.

Sure enough, Xu Nian nodded, "We don't know who else in the army is Jiang Yuanche's man. Whether they're doing it for personal gain or, like Liu Jun, to repay a debt of gratitude, it doesn't matter."

"As long as we spread the news, those who are driven by self-interest will inevitably waver when they learn that the Fifth Prince is dead."

She paused, taking a sip of water. Gu Zhan continued, "If it's like Liu Jun, he might seek revenge for the Fifth Prince, and in his anger, he might reveal his true colors and turn his attention to us."

The couple's ability to act is truly remarkable; they had just discussed it at noon.

News spread in the afternoon that it was a letter from the capital. Da Bao and Er Bao had been corresponding with Xu Nian ever since she went to war.

She didn't hide this from anyone; almost everyone who was close to Gu Zhan knew about it.

So no one found the letter suspicious. In the huge tent, Xu Nian sat in a corner reading the letter while several generals in the middle looked at the sand table and simulated battle formations.

With a loud bang!

The group was startled and looked up. Princess Fu'an in the corner had stood up for some reason, her eyes wide open. She was so shocked by the contents of the letter that she didn't even notice when she stood up and overturned the table.

"Princess, has something happened at home?"

Gu Zhan wasn't here. The only two people Xu Nian was familiar with were General You and General Liu. The latter wouldn't bother talking to her unless absolutely necessary.

Only the Right General, who knew the inside story, asked a question with a somewhat unnatural expression. Fortunately, he was usually taciturn, only becoming more talkative when interrogating prisoners, so no one suspected anything.

Xu Nian shook her head, saying in a tone of disbelief and regret, "No, it's the Fifth Prince. I originally thought that since Xun Lao was dead, there was no way to verify it. I never expected that someone would step forward and accuse him of treason and harming his brothers. He was beheaded and his head displayed to the public seven days ago."

"I didn't expect His Majesty to act so quickly, actually sentencing him to death in court on the spot."