Behind Rongma Village, in a snow-covered mountain stream.

Ji Fengming stripped off his black clothes and black veil, put his hands on his hips, and told everyone in detail how Chen Shiyu and his brother had been confused and embarrassed. He and everyone else laughed so hard they almost choked.

Ji Fengyao was itching to try it.

It's a pity that she was too petite, and her black disguise didn't make her look like a soldier, so she couldn't go out and witness the Chen brothers' spectacular "forced performance" herself.

Shang Xiye keenly noticed the smile on Hei Xiao's face.

That gentle, faint smile, though lacking the flamboyant and wicked look of his former smile, was genuine and touching.

He thought it was the right thing to bring Black Owl and Ji Fengming to the Northwest together.

At least during his trip to the Northwest to participate in the eradication of Black Purgatory, he never saw Black Owl completely lose control again. This should all be attributed to Ji Fengming.

Thinking of this.

Shang Xiye then turned his gaze to his young wife and brother-in-law Ji Fengming. The two siblings had faces that looked five or six parts alike, and their smiles were equally bright and warm.

He held his young wife's soft, chubby little hand tightly;

He thought to himself: This is wonderful.

After laughing and joking for a while, Ji Fengyao and Ji Fengming remembered something and asked, "Your Highness, what about the soldiers of the Chen family who were driven into the mountains? If we don't take care of them, they are dressed so thinly and have no food in this cold weather. I'm afraid they won't be able to make it back to the capital."

"Hey, little sister, why do you care about them? If we hadn't used some methods, they might still be our mortal enemies," Ji Fengming said dismissively.

“They have different stances and positions, so it’s not their fault,” Shang Xiye said after a moment of silence. “Besides, they are not only soldiers of the Chen family, but also soldiers of our Great Zhao. Their current predicament is also due to us. Now that things have developed to this point, the Chen family will never allow them to return to the capital to meet the emperor. If we do nothing about them, they will only have one way out: death.”

“Your Highness, I am familiar with this area. Let me lead my men to bring them back,” Wei Shu volunteered.

Shang Xiye nodded: "Alright, after you find them, find a secluded place to settle them properly, explain the pros and cons to them, and don't let them return to the capital yet."

"Understood, Your Highness," Wei Shu immediately got up and left.

Chen Shiyu and Chen Xiaoyi returned to the military camp with more than 30 trusted soldiers, looking completely bewildered. After analyzing the bizarre battle, the three of them felt their spirits plummet.

"The battle can be described as a major defeat, and we have a reason to return to the capital. However, those deserters who escaped are a major hidden danger and must be eliminated." Duke Chen clenched his right fist and slammed it heavily on the tea table beside him, a ruthless glint in his narrowed eyes.

Chen Shiyu's face was also gloomy, and his tone was icy: "That's easy. We just need to set up ambushes along the way back to the capital; guard all the main entrances and exits of the capital. We'll kill one of them as they go back, and there will be no way they'll see the Emperor!"

Duke Chen and Chen Xiao both nodded in agreement.

That night, the Chen family soldiers received the devastating news that "the entire army was almost wiped out in today's battle" and that they would be able to break camp and return to the capital in two days.

The entire military camp was filled with weeping.

They wept for their innocent relatives or brothers who had died unjustly at the border, and they also wept for themselves who were finally able to return to the capital and finally be able to live.

Meanwhile, Shang Xiye, Ji Fengyao, and Wu Zhong had already led their horses out of the city.

The wedding of the Ninth Prince and Princess Zhaoping is in five days, and they must return to the capital before the wedding.