"I've never understood why the records about Chu Wende are so scarce, when historians should have recorded the lives of all the royal family members?"

Lou Mu sighed, poured Tang Nian a cup of tea, and then began to explain.

"In their generation, there were many talented people, and Chu Wende was just an ordinary prince among them."

"In the major events that happen every year, there are always other princes involved, but Chu Wende is the only one who seems to have disappeared without a trace."

"Later, after the Chu Emperor ascended the throne, he ordered the destruction of all records of Chu Wende. Only at the request of the Empress Dowager were a few traces left."

"Was it done by the Chu Emperor?"

Tang Nian thought of that selfish emperor and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Lou Mu nodded: "No one knows what happened back then. Chu Wende has become a taboo subject for the Chu Emperor. No one will dare to provoke him."

Given the Chu Emperor's temperament...

"Could it be that Chu Wende's accident was caused by the Chu Emperor?" Tang Nian raised her head and stared at Lou Mu seriously.

Lou Mu was not used to Tang Nian's serious demeanor, so he turned his head away and said, "It's very possible, and I now suspect that many of the things the Chu Emperor did before seizing the throne may have been credited to Chu Wende."

Tang Nian seemed to be deep in thought, her fingers lightly tapping the table.

"I noticed you didn't think Old Yang was Chu Wende before, so why have you changed your mind now?"

Lou Mu sighed upon hearing this.

"I previously thought that Elder Yang should be much older than Emperor Chu, but Chu Wende is only two years older than Emperor Chu."

“But these past few days when I went to see Lin Zhenming, I also saw him at Lin Zhenming’s place a few times. Their way of getting along seems a bit strange.”

"eccentric?"

Tang Nian became even more curious, staring intently at Lou Mu, waiting for him to continue.

Lou Mu didn't keep them in suspense and continued speaking.

"If what you say is true, then Old Yang should have been saved by Lin Zhenming, so he should have respected Lin Zhenming, not to mention that Lin Zhenming is a great general guarding the frontier."

"But in reality, the way the two of them get along seems to me like Lin Zhenming is very respectful to Old Yang, which looks really strange."

But Lou Mu never overlooks these small details.

He saw all of this.

Upon hearing this, Tang Nian's heart stirred.

"If Elder Yang is indeed Chu Wende, then Lin Zhenming also knows his identity?"

Tang Nian recalled Lin Zhenming's attitude towards Ming Huan's portrait and found it really strange, but if there were other people behind him, it would make sense.

But if Minghuan was in Old Yang's hands, then why would he kill him?

These mysteries were giving Tang Nian a headache.

She rubbed her temples and then heard Lou Mu analyze the situation.

“Even if he isn’t Chu Wende, his influence in the army is enough for us to test him.”

Are you going to the military camp again this afternoon?

Tang Nian rested her chin on one hand, gazing leisurely at Lou Mu.

Lou Mu's heart melted when he saw Tang Nian blinking her eyes and acting cute. Even if he wasn't going, he would still go.

So in the afternoon, Tang Nian went with Lou Mu.

Unexpectedly, Old Yang was also in the military tent.

With Lou Mu's reminder this morning, Tang Nian has been carefully observing the way the two of them interact.

Just as Lou Mu had said, Lin Zhenming treated Old Yang with utmost respect, not at all like a powerful general who commanded respect from all directions.

The conversation revolved around military matters, and since it wasn't appropriate for Old Yang to remain seated in the tent, he made up an excuse and left.

Then, the generals arrived.

They all looked displeased when they saw Tang Nian, but they held back because of their status.

Tang Nian remained silent, sitting beside Lou Mu and listening intently.

Finally, one of the generals couldn't stand it anymore: "Young lady, we're discussing important military matters, it's probably inappropriate for you to be sitting here."

Tang Nian raised an eyebrow and sized up the general who had stepped forward.

Yes, he wasn't there last time.

Clearly, he didn't believe the token belonged to Tang Nian, let alone now that he saw it hanging on Lou Mu's waist.

Lou Mu didn't speak, his lips were slightly pursed, but his eyes were smiling as he secretly glanced at Tang Nian.

Tang Nian stood up slowly and steadily, looking directly at Lin Zhenming.

"Does this also represent General Lin's meaning?"

Lin Zhenming vehemently denied it.

Tang Nian reached out her hand, and Lou Mu cooperated by taking the token from his waist and placing it in Tang Nian's hands.

"First of all, this token is mine, and it even has my name engraved on it."

Tang Nian spoke casually, and with a flick of her wrist, the token flew out of her hand, grazed the general's ear, and was firmly embedded in the wooden stake behind him.

The general raised his hand and touched his ear, only to find his hand covered in blood.

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the military tent, Lin Zhenming quickly came out to defuse the situation.

But the general, ignorant and fearless, pointed at Lou Mu and shouted.

The other generals in the tent all stared at him as if they had seen a ghost.

Tang Nian and Lou Mu exchanged a glance.

This is clearly not right.

Since things have come to this point, we might as well go along with what the person behind the scenes wants.

Lou Mu then stood up and took out a token from his pocket.

"I remember General Lin was also very interested in this token of mine before?"

After everyone had seen the words engraved on the token, there was a deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, everyone knelt down on the ground.

"This humble general pays his respects to His Excellency the Grand Secretary."

Lin Zhenming was truly at a loss for words.

The situation on the border is complex and complicated, so he naturally had to be extra careful. Who knew that he would offend two important figures like this?

And those junior officers, they thought that having one important figure from the capital was enough, but who knew that the Grand Secretary, who inspired fear in everyone, was also coming.

They all had their heads down, drenched in cold sweat.

"So, now we can sit here and listen to you discuss important matters?"

"Yes...yes." Lin Zhenming wiped the large beads of cold sweat from his forehead and quickly said, "Please take a seat, gentlemen."

"Alright, let's stop here for today. If you all have nothing urgent to attend to, we'll take our leave now."

Lou Mu walked to the wooden stake, pulled out the token, and returned it to Tang Nian.

Upon hearing this, the generals and commanders secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, Lou Mu took a deep look at the general whose face was ashen.

The two returned to the inn without saying a word.

After closing the door and setting up the barrier, Tang Nian couldn't help but complain: "Relying on an insignificant little general to expose both of our identities, what a brilliant scheme."

"That's good too, it allows you to move forward with what you want to do."

Lou Mu didn't care.

He had already decided to reveal his identity after weighing the pros and cons.

It's just that no one expected Chu Yanjun to give Tang Nian such a token, which is why it's been delayed until now.

"You mean, go to Da Gan to find Ming Huan?"