"Dealt with." Those three simple words carried the weight of an end. Xin Jiuwei felt a chill run down her spine. Xiao Xun's methods were always so direct and ruthless.

"The person behind it all?" She raised her eyes and finally looked at him. This was the key point she was concerned about.

Xiao Xun's eyes were unfathomable, like a cold pool: "The clues have gone cold. That clerk only cares about money, not the supplier. The source of the banknotes... points to a gambling den that has been abandoned." He paused, his sharp gaze locking onto Xin Jiuwei, "This matter is somewhat similar to the methods that Qi Huaiyu usually uses."

It's Qi Huaiyu again!

Xin Jiuwei's heart sank. He had indeed connected the two things! He was testing her! She forced herself to meet Xiao Xun's scrutinizing gaze, her face revealing no flaw, only a perfectly measured solemnity and worry: "This person acts mysteriously and is like a persistent ghost. If it really was him, I'm afraid... trouble will be endless in the future."

Xiao Xun didn't speak immediately, but stared intently at her, as if trying to see through her calm facade to her deepest thoughts. His gaze was incredibly penetrating, carrying a cold inquiry and a hint of... indescribable suspicion? The air in the tent seemed to freeze.

After a long silence, he slowly shifted his gaze, his voice regaining its usual coldness: "I will continue the investigation. Take good care of your injuries." With that, he turned and strode away from the tent without lingering.

The oppressive feeling dissipated as he left. Xin Jiuwei's tense body slowly relaxed, a thin layer of sweat already seeping from her back. Looking at the bottle of imperial medicine on the small table, and recalling the unfathomable look in his eyes as he left, she felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet. His investigation of Qi Huaiyu was like a sword hanging over her head. He seemed to suspect that her relationship with Qi Huaiyu was not simply that of a "faithless man."

For the next two days, Xin Jiuwei was ordered to rest in her tent. Xiao Xun did not appear again; only Chen Qing delivered clean clothes and light meals to her daily. Xin Kui used this rare "rest" time to avoid Xiao Xun's notice and carefully gather information outside the hunting grounds, focusing on Qin Lang, the young general of the Pingxi General's Mansion.

“General Qin is indeed an upright man and has considerable prestige in the army,” Xin Kui reported in a low voice. “He doesn’t seem to be too keen on the Second Prince’s attempts to win him over, but he hasn’t become too close to the Sixth Prince either. The day he took the initiative to point out that the wild boar had been poisoned, it seemed to be purely out of duty and… a little bit of justice.” Xin Kui carefully chose her words.

Xin Jiuwei seemed lost in thought. A young general who held military power but had not yet chosen sides was, in this situation, like a tempting piece of meat. Xiao Zhuo would definitely try his best to win him over, and Xiao Xun... probably wouldn't let him go either. She clearly remembered the look in Xiao Xun's eyes when he last looked at Qin Lang that day.

Her ankle sprain healed quickly. On the morning of the third day, after a follow-up examination by the imperial physician, it was confirmed that she could move slightly. Xin Jiuwei didn't want to stay in the oppressive tent any longer, so with Xin Kui's help, she slowly walked to a high slope with a wide view at the edge of the camp for a walk and some fresh air.

The autumn air was crisp and clear, and the hunting grounds were vast. In the distance, the mountains and forests were ablaze with color, while the grasslands nearby were open and expansive. The distant sounds of hunting horns and the hoofbeats of horses could still be faintly heard.

Xin Jiuwei took a deep breath of the crisp air, and the frustration in her chest dissipated slightly. Holding Xin Kui's hand, she carefully took steps, feeling the strength returning to her ankles.

"Miss Xin?" A clear male voice, tinged with surprise, came from her side.

Xin Jiuwei looked in the direction of the sound. She saw Qin Lang, still clad in gleaming silver armor, seemingly having just finished a patrol and riding past. He dismounted swiftly, his handsome face showing concern: "Your foot injury... is it alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, General Qin. I'm much better now." Xin Jiuwei nodded slightly, her posture distant yet polite. She didn't dislike this straightforward young general, but she knew it wasn't appropriate to have too much contact with him at this time.

Qin Lang seemed oblivious to her aloofness. Instead, he took a few steps closer and looked at her with an open and honest gaze: "That day was dangerous. Miss Xin remained calm and composed, which is admirable. I am truly ashamed that I failed to notice anything amiss in time and was unable to provide timely assistance."

"General Qin, you flatter me. If you hadn't pointed out the wild boar's unusual behavior in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable," Xin Jiuwei said politely. She noticed that Qin Lang's eyes were clear, carrying a soldier's frankness and appreciation, without any other ulterior motives. This made her tense nerves relax slightly.

“Miss Xin, you are too modest.” Qin Lang laughed heartily, revealing a set of white teeth. “This humble general has heard that Miss Xin’s ancestral home is Yingzhou? My father was also stationed on the northern border in his early years and has fond memories of the scenery and customs of Yingzhou. The northern border is not peaceful now… I heard?” He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of sincere inquiry.

The Northern Frontier! My brother, Xin Yunzhou!

This topic instantly touched a nerve with Xin Jiuwei. A barely perceptible hint of urgency flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She couldn't reveal too much concern in front of a general she was just speaking with.

"The north is bitterly cold and wars are frequent, so the people have it tough." Xin Jiuwei said in a flat tone, downplaying the severity of the situation. "My elder brother... also served on the frontier and knows the hardships involved."

"Oh? Your brother is also in the Northern Army?" Qin Lang's eyes lit up, clearly more interested in his comrade. "I wonder which general he serves under? I know a few people in the Northern Army..."

Xin Jiuwei was carefully considering how to answer, without revealing too much information, yet still managing to glean some intelligence about the northern border from Qin Lang, when a cold, deep voice suddenly broke through like a chilling current:

"General Qin is busy with military affairs, how could he have time to chat here?"

Xiao Xun appeared at the foot of the hill at some point. He did not ride a horse, but instead led Chen Qing up step by step. His dark robes remained motionless in the autumn wind, and his face was calm as still water. Only his unfathomable eyes, as if tempered with ice, were fixed on Qin Lang, carrying an invisible and suffocating pressure.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Qin Lang's smile froze. Feeling the chill that rushed towards him, he immediately clasped his hands and bowed, "This humble general greets Your Highness the Sixth Prince! This humble general merely saw Miss Xin taking a stroll here and inquired about her injuries."

Xiao Xun's gaze slowly shifted from Qin Lang to Xin Jiuwei's face. His eyes were calm and expressionless, yet Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. She clearly sensed a surge of extreme displeasure and icy anger beneath that calm surface. Was he displeased that she had come out without permission? Or was he displeased that she had spoken with Qin Lang?

"Your foot injury hasn't healed yet, so it's not advisable to stand in the wind for too long." Xiao Xun's voice was devoid of emotion, but carried an unquestionable tone of command. "Xin Kui, help your young lady back." His gaze didn't linger on Xin Jiuwei's face for even a second, as if she were merely an object to be disposed of.