Chapter 596: Chapter 596: Nightmare

Shen Yanchuan was no stranger to this name.

Shen Youyan commanded two hundred thousand soldiers in the Northern Border. Under him was no shortage of valiant and skilled generals, all stationed along the several-hundred-mile-long border defense line.

This Zheng Baoli was one of them.

However, he did not report directly to Shen Youyan. Jingyuan was far from Shen Youyan’s garrison, so Shen Yanchuan was not familiar with the man, having only met him once.

Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment, his eyes slowly narrowing.

"This Zheng Baoli... He can’t be thirty yet, can he? I remember that just a few years ago, he was merely a minor Thousand Commander. How much time has passed for him to have skyrocketed through the ranks, getting promoted several levels in a row?"

A Deputy Assistant General was a fourth-rank official, a powerful commander who could be said to hold sway over an entire region.

Yun Cheng nodded. "Correct. The man comes from a common background; the only person he could rely on was his distant relative, Fan Chengzhuo. Coincidentally, Fan Chengzhuo has no sons and dotes on this distant nephew. When he first joined the army, he went to the Xie Family Army."

The so-called Xie Family Army consisted of the soldiers who had followed Xie Pei through campaigns across the land. These men held Xie Pei in extremely high esteem and were absolutely loyal to him.

Ten years ago, after Xie Pei relinquished his military authority, the Xie Family Army was disbanded on the spot and its soldiers were reassigned to different units.

But these men had once faced life and death together. Even after being separated, the bond between them remained profound.

The unit Zheng Baoli joined was led by former members of the Xie Family Army.

"Normally, given his status, it would have been impossible for him to be assigned there, let alone become a Hundred Households right after joining. But because Xie Anjun recommended him, the commander showed him favor. On top of that, after this Zheng Baoli arrived, he did indeed prove to be exceptionally valiant in battle. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to Households. From there, his rise was meteoric, and in just a few short years, he has already reached the position of Deputy Assistant General."

Shen Yanchuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Even so, that’s too fast. Has he performed any great deeds?"

"He has." Yun Cheng nodded. "It is said that he is a natural-born warrior, particularly skilled at dealing with Master Wa. He has won several victories, earning him impressive merits and great esteem."

"Oh?"

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Does this mean I’ve been away from the Northern Border for too long and my information is outdated?"

Yun Cheng gave a somewhat helpless smile. "The Marquis and the Princely Heir both have important matters to attend to. Besides, the Northern Border’s defense line is vast. Even if a few valiant soldiers emerge, how could you possibly notice every single one? Moreover, according to my investigation, this Zheng Baosu is skilled at guerrilla warfare, not direct confrontation. Although he has won, they were all small-scale skirmishes. It was the accumulation of these minor victories that earned him his current position."

Historically, military generals who were rapidly promoted and heavily entrusted with responsibility earned their merits through real, hard-fought battles.

If one became famous in a single battle, a promotion would be deserved. But if not... one could only endure and wait, climbing the ranks bit by bit.

Zheng Baosu’s achievements were indeed impressive on paper, but they were still a far cry from what it would take to be noticed by someone of Shen Youyan’s caliber.

Shen Yanchuan had been away from the Northern Border for nearly a year, so it was normal for him to be unaware of these details.

Shen Yanchuan did not dwell on this for too long. He quickly sorted out the connections.

"In other words, Xie Anjun and Fan Chengzhuo connected through this Zheng Baosu. Xie Anjun used his status as the Heir of Duke Zhongyong to ask those commanders for a favor in supporting Zheng Baosu. In return, Fan Chengzhuo repaid the kindness and secretly allied with him."

Yun Cheng nodded. "That’s the gist of it. Princess Huan Ning and Xiao Chengxuan are full siblings, and she is married to Xie Anjun. In this way, Fan Chengzhuo has been pulled onto Xiao Chengxuan’s ship."

Shen Yanchuan mused for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

"So, Fan Chengzhuo is part of the Second Prince’s faction? But the other day, Xiao Lansi personally admitted she despises Xiao Chengxuan. Yet Fan Chengzhuo repeatedly tried to save her, as if he were on her side... If what you just said is true, Fan Chengzhuo should be on the same side as Xiao Chengxuan. He should want Xiao Lansi cut into a thousand pieces, so why would he help her?"

"What?"

Yun Cheng was stunned.

He didn’t know the details of what happened that day, so hearing this so suddenly, he was taken aback.

"How is that possible? Fan Chengzhuo and Xiao Lansi are completely unrelated, so why would he help her? Logically, the only common interest between them should be Xiao Chengxuan. But Xiao Lansi wasn’t sincere and had a falling out with Xiao Chengxuan, so he..."

Yun Cheng’s voice trailed off, his brow furrowing tightly.

’If that’s really the case, it means... there’s also a secret between Fan Chengzhuo and Xiao Lansi!’

’And it’s a secret Xiao Chengxuan definitely doesn’t know about!’

A dark look flickered in Shen Yanchuan’s eyes.

"Keep investigating that Zheng Baosu. Start from the day he joined the army and check every single detail thoroughly!"

Yun Cheng’s expression turned grim.

"Yes!"

Shen Yanchuan gazed out the window and murmured to himself, ’If only Ugle hadn’t left yet, I could have asked him...’

Unfortunately, the situation in Wazhen had changed drastically, and Ugle had already rushed back.

’Calculating his travel time, he should be back in Barna soon.’

’Zhuola is probably waiting for him.’

A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

’But this is good, too. For a good while, we won’t have to worry about an invasion or conflict with Wazhen.’

’It frees up just enough time to investigate this Zheng Baosu.’

Recalling the people who had walked past Chen Songshi when he entered the palace today, Shen Yanchuan thought for a moment before reciting a few more names.

"...Investigate these few as well. See if there’s anything unusual about them in private."

"Yes!"

「...」

「That night.」

Ye Chutang had that dream again.

In the dream, yellow sand billowed, and countless figures clashed. The sounds of battle carried from the distant horizon, chilling the heart.

The air was filled with the desolate scent of wind and earth, and the thick, inescapable stench of blood.

Compared to her previous dream, the overwhelming aura of blood was even thicker this time—grim, chilling, and utterly harrowing.

Ye Chutang was in the midst of it all but couldn’t move an inch.

Vaguely, a figure seemed to break through the encirclement, racing toward her.

The figure drew closer and closer, and a sense of familiarity washed over her.

Ye Chutang’s lips moved, and she subconsciously tried to call out a name.

But just then, a torrent of flashing blades and a rain of arrows descended without warning! In an instant, they engulfed the figure!

Ye Chutang’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest, but her throat was tight, and she couldn’t utter a single word.

’That’s... that’s—’

WHOOSH—!

Ye Chutang woke with a start, her forehead drenched in cold sweat. Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.

Xiao Wu seemed to sense something, groggily opening his eyes to look at her in confusion.

Ye Chutang calmed her turbulent emotions, glanced at the dim light outside, and gently tucked the blankets around Xiao Wu.

"It’s still early. Go back to sleep."

Xiao Wu obediently nodded and buried his head by her side, falling asleep again.

Ye Chutang pressed her lips together.

’That dream...’

Suddenly, a commotion erupted, and Princess Qingyang’s tense and panicked voice rushed in from outside.

"Chutang! Something terrible has happened!"

Ye Chutang’s heart sank!

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