It was already night when Yan Sikong returned home. After returning from court, he mostly stayed in the study except for eating and changing clothes. Even though it was late at night, it was no exception.

When he arrived at the study, he pushed the door and felt it bounce back slightly. This tiny movement was a secret signal between him and She Jun. She Jun came to find him and was inside the room.

He was about to enter the house when suddenly, a voice came from behind him: "Yan Sikong."

No one except Wan Yang would dare to call him by his name in the mansion.

Yan Sikong closed the door again, turned around, and said respectfully, "Madam."

Wan Yang looked solemn, looked around to see if there was anyone around, and whispered, "I have something to ask you."

"It's getting late, Madam, you should go to bed early. If you have anything to say..."

Wan Yang turned a deaf ear to him, strode over, and was about to push the door of the study: "Come in..."

Yan Sikong grabbed her wrist with a cold expression.

Wan Yang looked at Yan Sikong in surprise. In the three years since they got married, Yan Sikong had always been very respectful to her and had never looked at her with such a serious expression. The hand that was holding her wrist was extremely strong, which made her feel a little afraid.

Yan Sikong quickly let go of her hand and raised his voice: "What is it that makes Madam so anxious? I still have official business to attend to. Can we talk about it tomorrow?"

"No." Wan Yang calmed down and pushed open the door of the study. "I'm going to ask you now. It won't delay you for long."

Yan Sikong had no choice but to follow him into the study and close the door. He looked around but could not find She Jun, but he knew where she was hiding.

Wan Yang looked around and saw that the doors and windows were closed. After swallowing nervously, she asked hesitantly, "I heard that... my cousin... was plotting a rebellion?" Her voice was soft and cautious.

Yan Sikong knew that this was what she was going to ask. After he got the confirmed news that Feng Ye was alive, he was in a state of confusion and could not rest day or night. He took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

The color on Wan Yang's face faded away instantly, and her whole soul seemed to be sucked out of her in an instant. Her thin body swayed. She bit her lips, and every delicate facial feature twisted in pain: "I have half Feng family blood, why...how should my mother and I get along?" The last sentence she asked was not about Yan Sikong, but about this murderous life.

Yan Sikong said slowly in a steady voice: "The Concubine Xian married into the royal family and is a member of the royal family. Your Highness is also a princess of the golden branches and jade leaves, and is the beloved daughter of His Majesty. No one will embarrass Your Highness and the Concubine Xian."

Wan Yang's eyes sparkled with tears: "Then am I going to watch my father and cousin kill each other?"

"It was destined that year." Yan Sikong whispered, "Your Highness, don't think about it anymore."

"How can I not think about it?" Wan Yang trembled, "Yan Sikong, everyone says you are proficient in military tactics. Tell me, who will win and who will lose?"

"How dare I speak nonsense?"

Wan Yang stepped forward and grabbed Yan Sikong's clothes, looked up at him, and shouted excitedly: "It's just you and me here, tell me."

Yan Sikong shook his head: "Your Highness knows it in your heart. You and I are both mortals. How can we predict the future? Especially on the battlefield, things change rapidly and victory or defeat is unpredictable."

Wan Yang stared into Yan Sikong's eyes with his clear eyes: "Why do you say that?"

Yan Sikong was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing.

Wan Yang suddenly said in a fierce voice: "You have always been very smooth and tactful, and you are always very careful in what you say. As a minister and my son-in-law, if it were you in normal times, you would say that our army will win and the enemy will lose... You must know something, what do you know?"

Yan Sikong laughed at himself. Whenever it came to Fengye, he would be stupid. But he had not expected Wanyang to be so smart. He might have underestimated this adorable little princess in the past three years. He said calmly, "I made a mistake."

"Yan Sikong, I know you have hidden a lot from me. You and Ali did everything behind my back. You played dumb whenever I asked you anything. Don't really treat me like a fool!" Wan Yang gritted his teeth and said, "I have a feeling that you are plotting something in secret. You... you scare me."

Yan Sikong said softly, "Your Highness, you worry too much. The affairs of the court and the public are full of twists and turns. I don't want to bring those dirty things back home. You and I are married, and the less you worry, the more at ease I will be." He paused, and his tone became a little harder, "You don't have to worry about the rest."

Wan Yang could keenly sense the perfunctory and cold attitude behind his gentle and humble appearance. She sneered, "First husband and wife? What a first husband and wife, but what kind of husband and wife are you and me?"

"I am indeed unworthy, but I will do my best in this life, fulfill my duties as a husband and a subject, and protect Your Highness."

Wan Yang's eyes flickered slightly, with some unspeakable thoughts mixed in them. The two of them were in a stalemate for a moment. She suddenly let go of his hand, turned her back, and whispered: "I will also ask about your cousin's news, you must report it truthfully."

"yes."

Wan Yang took a deep breath and left without looking back.

Yan Sikong went forward to close the door and said, "Come out."

The door of the cabinet was pushed open from the inside, and a living person stood out neatly. It was She Jun. He was still cynical and said jokingly, "This little princess is really as beautiful as the rumors say. You are willing to let her live a widow's life. Tsk tsk."

Yan Sikong said seriously: "Don't say useless things. What's the news?"

"Which news do you want to hear?" She Zhun pointed north with one hand and south with the other.

"From Liaodong."

"Really?"

"Hurry up and tell me."

"You should also know the situation in Liaodong. Mizhou was besieged, and Zhuoletai's spies burned the grain and grass. Five days and five nights later, Han Zhaoxing surrendered to the Jin Dynasty with his three sons and 8,000 soldiers. Now it is General Liang Huiyong who is guarding Guangning, and Zhuoletai is keeping his troops at bay."

Liang Huiyong...

Hearing this name, Yan Sikong's heart trembled slightly. The brave young general back then has now become a capable general. If Liang Huiyong had not helped him at the critical moment, he would have been captured by Han Zhaoxing long ago.

"I heard that General Liang is both wise and brave, but he has only led a few troops. Can Zhao Fuyi set off?"

Yan Sikong shook his head: "It will take three to five days to organize the army. After receiving the imperial edict, he has already entered the palace to meet the emperor and request to transfer troops from Datong."

"Today's Datong is no longer the Datong with Feng's army. It is also because Wala has not recovered yet. Otherwise..."

After Feng Jianping's death, Datong suffered a severe reduction in its military strength. Although it took the opportunity to recapture the Hetao area, the Hetao area was often plundered by roaming barbarians and there was no peace for a single day, which made the Datong soldiers suffer.

"But the only place we can mobilize troops for right now is Datong. Other places are either too far away or too busy to take care of themselves."

She Jun sneered, "It is true. Your little wolf king has been attacking cities and strongholds all the way, which has frightened the garrison commanders in Huguang. There is no more troops to be dispatched from the Jiangnan area."

"He won't advance any further." Yan Sikong said.

"Oh? How did you know?"

"He seems to be advancing rapidly and invincible, but in fact, he won by being fast. He took advantage of the high morale and killed the Sheng army by surprise. Now the Sheng army has come to its senses and is mobilizing troops. Their strength is several times that of his, and they have strong cities and dangerous waters to defend. The Feng family army is short of troops and food, and is not good at naval battles. If they continue to fight, they will surely be defeated."

"What will happen to him?"

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes: "Based on my understanding of him, he will withdraw his troops immediately and turn to the northwest."

She Jun was puzzled and asked, "Why?"

"What he wants is to plunder enough troops and silver in Huguang, and to become famous throughout the world for his undefeated achievements and to intimidate the imperial court. Then, he will move to Hetao."

"Hetao? That's where the Yi and Xia meet, it's poor and chaotic."

"That's exactly what he wants. First, the bandits will join his rebel army. Second, he can lure the Datong army that once followed the Feng family to surrender, or even capture Datong. Third, there are horses in Hetao, the best horses in the world."

She Jun was stunned: "...really?"

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes and said, "He is a natural born general when it comes to leading troops into battle. He can smell blood and see the enemy's weaknesses like a wolf."

"Then, what if you fight with him?" She Jun asked curiously.

Yan Sikong was stunned for a moment and said, "I will win."

"Why?"

"I understand him better than he understands me. This is knowing the enemy. I understand myself better than he understands himself. This is knowing myself."

She Jun was silent.

Yan Sikong shook his head and said, "Let's not talk about him anymore. There are more important things right now. Are all the things I asked you to prepare ready?"

"We have spent so much time and are ready at any time." She Jun said coldly, "These crimes are enough to make Xie Zhongren die ten thousand times."

"But as long as the tyrant emperor shows even the slightest bit of pity or hesitation, this thief will seize the opportunity to turn the tables. So this time, we must risk everything and make sure he is killed."

"Think carefully. Yan Zilian was defeated, Feng Jianping was defeated, and if you lose this time, you will have no chance again."

"This is the last chance. If that thief can get away with committing such a serious crime, then I will have nothing to do but watch him grow old and sick, and there will be nothing I can do to shake him." Yan Sikong said viciously, "I have been planning for this day for seventeen years."

"I'm just worried that the thief is so cunning that he won't just sit there and wait for death. He will definitely make other moves."

Yan Sikong nodded and said, "So I didn't make any moves for now. Let's wait and see tomorrow."

Tomorrow, he will step on the sinful Xie Zhongren again, and push the bastard to the edge of the cliff step by step until he gives him the final blow!

Feng Ye, wait for me...