I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Lu Qingshuang stood there.

It was very quiet inside the tent.

The embers occasionally crackled softly in the furnace, sparks leaping up only to be quickly swallowed by the ashes.

Qin Mu held his teacup, his expression calm.

He will believe it.

Lu Qingshuang looked at him.

After a long time, she gently shook her head.

"No."

Qin Mu looked up.

"What?"

Lu Qingshuang's voice was soft, but without the slightest hesitation.

"I won't do that."

Qin Mu remained silent.

He just looked at her.

Lu Qingshuang did not avoid his gaze.

There was no fear or wavering in those eyes.

There was only one kind of unwavering determination.

She said slowly, "Your Majesty."

"I know where you are right now, and I know what has happened in Northern Mang."

"I also know that Zhao San was a fake from the very beginning."

The teacup in Qin Mu's hand stopped in mid-air.

Lu Qingshuang continued, "I also know that you are Zhao San."

"So I understand what you just said."

"You want me to stay, you want me to tell Your Highness that Zhao San is still in Northern Mang, you want me to continue to spread false information for you."

She looked at Qin Mu.

"I will not agree."

Hu Yanlie stood to the side, his gaze slightly narrowed.

He didn't interrupt, but just glanced at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu showed no sign of anger, and instead slowly placed the teacup back on the table.

Why?

Lu Qingshuang paused for a moment, then said, "Because I am from the Northern Border."

"I am His Highness's person."

"My martial arts skills, the knife in my hand, and the armor I wear are all gifts from the Northern Territory."

"From the day I joined the Zhenyue Army, I knew whose orders I should take."

Her voice wasn't loud, but each sentence was clearer than the last.

"His Highness ordered me to keep an eye on Zhao San, so I'll be right there."

"His Highness instructed me to investigate the situation in Northern Mang, and so I have."

Even if I eventually find out that you are Zhao San, I will not change my stance just because you are the Emperor of Qin.

Qin Mu looked at her for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

"He is indeed loyal."

Lu Qingshuang did not relax because of these words, but simply said, "This is my duty, and it is also my choice."

Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

One moment, one moment.

The sound was very soft, yet it gradually made the atmosphere inside the tent heavy.

"So," Qin Mu looked at her, "what are you going to do?"

Lu Qingshuang did not answer.

Qin Mu continued, "Now you know my identity, you know the current situation in Northern Mang, and you know what will happen if you bring these things back to the Northern Border."

"But you're still planning to go back?"

Lu Qingshuang nodded: "Yes."

"Tell Xu Longxiang everything that happened here?"

"Yes."

Qin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly: "Including when I was in Northern Mang?"

Lu Qingshuang was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."

"Including Huyan Lie, who has already submitted?"

"Yes."

"Including the fact that Northern Mang has already become a pawn in the hands of the Qin Dynasty?"

Lu Qingshuang did not answer immediately.

She glanced at Hu Yanlie beside her, whose expression clearly darkened.

But she finally nodded: "Yes."

Qin Mu smiled.

"So, do you think you'll be able to get out of this tent?"

Lu Qingshuang's fingers gently landed on the hilt of the knife, but she did not draw the knife; she simply gripped it.

"If Your Majesty does not allow me to leave, then I will not leave."

Qin Mu looked at her and said, "You seem to have a clear understanding of things."

Lu Qingshuang said, "Now that I'm here, I'm already prepared."

"The Northern Wilderness is dangerous, but this place is even more dangerous."

"I know."

"Then you still dare to come?"

"Your Highness sent me."

Four words, without any explanation, yet they say it all.

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then asked, "What if I asked you to put down your knife now?"

Lu Qingshuang shook her head: "I won't let go."

"What if I have you locked up?"

"Can."

"What if I don't allow you to see anyone?"

"Can."

"What if I let you stay in Northern Mang for the rest of your life?"

Lu Qingshuang looked at Qin Mu: "That's fine too."

Qin Mu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Aren't you afraid?"

"I'm scared," she answered quickly.

Qin Mu was somewhat surprised.

Lu Qingshuang continued, "I'm afraid of dying, I'm afraid of being imprisoned, and I'm even more afraid of something happening in the Northern Border."

"But none of this can make me betray Your Highness."

As she said this, she slowly loosened her fingers from the hilt of the knife and looked at Qin Mu.

"If Your Majesty only wishes for me to stay, I can stay."

"If you just want me to shut up, I can shut up."

"But I cannot deceive His Highness for you."

Qin Mu did not answer immediately.

Hu Yanlie stood to the side, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He looked at Lu Qingshuang: "Do you know who you're talking to right now?"

Lu Qingshuang turned to look at him: "I know."

"Then how dare you say that?"

"Know what you should say, and know what you shouldn't say."

Huyan Lie's face darkened: "You are a general in the northern border region."

"right."

"You have now entered the heart of Northern Mang."

"right."

"This is my camp."

"I know."

Huyan Lie stared at her: "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Lu Qingshuang was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm afraid, but I don't regret it."

Huyan Lie did not speak again.

Qin Mu suddenly chuckled and said, "Alright."

Hu Yanlie then shut up.

Qin Mu looked at Lu Qingshuang: "You are very loyal."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I'm not praising you."

Lu Qingshuang did not answer.

Qin Mu continued, "What I'm saying is that your kind of loyalty can sometimes be troublesome."

Lu Qingshuang's gaze flickered slightly: "If Your Majesty finds this troublesome, you may kill me."

The tent fell silent.

Hu Yanlie raised his eyes, and Qin Mu also stopped what he was doing.

Lu Qingshuang stood there, her expression unchanged.

"I will not deceive His Highness for you, nor will I cover up what happened here, and I will not send false information to His Highness for you."

"If Your Majesty insists that I do this, then you can only do so by killing me."

Qin Mu looked at her without saying a word.

Lu Qingshuang did not dodge.

Their eyes met in the tent, and the air seemed to freeze.

After a long pause, Qin Mu finally asked, "Do you think I would kill you?"

"I have no idea."

"Then why do you say that?"

"Because this is the only way I can go."

Lu Qingshuang's voice remained calm: "I cannot betray Your Highness, but I am also no match for His Majesty."

"In that case, death is the simplest solution."

Qin Mu suddenly asked, "What if I don't kill you?"

Lu Qingshuang remained silent: "Then I'll stay here."

"How long will you stay?"

"have no idea."

"ten years?"

"Can."

"Twenty years?"

"Can."

"Until death?"

Lu Qingshuang looked at him, and after a moment nodded: "Okay."

Qin Mu looked at her, and for the first time, a genuine seriousness appeared in his eyes.

Do you know what this means?

"Know."

"You may never be able to return to the North in your lifetime."

"Know."

"You may never see Xu Longxiang again."

Lu Qingshuang's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "I know."

Qin Mu didn't let this change go: "Still not changing it?"

"Won't."

Why?

Lu Qingshuang remained silent for a long time.

This time, she did not answer immediately.

She looked down at her hands, hands that had once held spears and knives, with a thin layer of calluses on her palms.

Those are traces left over the years in the North.

She slowly raised her head: "Your Highness saved my life."

Qin Mu remained silent.

Lu Qingshuang continued: "Many years ago, I was just a lowly soldier in the Zhenyue Army."

"That year, heavy snow fell in the north, cutting off supply lines, and many soldiers in the camps couldn't even get a meal."

"I was injured at the time and lying in the tent. Everyone thought I wouldn't survive."

"His Highness personally sent someone to deliver the medicine."

"Later, it was His Highness who ordered that my name be recorded in the military register."

"If it weren't for him, I would have died in the snow in the North long ago."

She paused for a moment: "So I owe him. This life of mine is his too."

After listening, Qin Mu didn't mock him, but simply asked, "So you're willing to die for him?"

"willing."

Even if he sends you to your death?

"If it was his order."

"Going too?"

"go."

Qin Mu looked at her: "Even if you know it's wrong?"

Lu Qingshuang fell silent.

This time, she didn't answer immediately.

The charcoal fire inside the tent burned gently, and Huyan Lie did not urge them on.

After a long silence, Lu Qingshuang finally said, "If Your Highness is truly wrong, I will try to persuade you."

"What if you can't persuade them?"

"Then keep trying to persuade them."

"Still can't persuade them?"

Lu Qingshuang looked at Qin Mu and finally said, "I will stay with him."

Qin Mu nodded slightly: "Understood."

Lu Qingshuang looked at him: "What does Your Majesty understand?"

Qin Mu did not answer.

He picked up the teacup; the tea had gone cold, but he still took a sip.

"I understand why Xu Longxiang sent you here."

Lu Qingshuang did not speak.

Qin Mu put down his teacup: "However, you seem to have forgotten something."

"What?"

"You are not in the Northern Border now, this is the Northern Wilderness."

"You're not facing Xu Longxiang either."

Lu Qingshuang's gaze became even more serious.

Qin Mu looked at her: "You are facing me."

Lu Qingshuang clenched her fist: "I know."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid."

"So you're still insisting?"

Qin Mu suddenly smiled: "Okay."

"Since you are unwilling to lie to him, then I will not force you."

Lu Qingshuang was slightly taken aback: "Your Majesty..."

"But don't even think about leaving."

Qin Mu said calmly, "You don't have to spread false information for me, you don't have to do anything for me, or you can do nothing at all."

"But you must stay here."

Lu Qingshuang looked at him: "Until when?"

Qin Mu picked up his teacup: "Until this game is over."

"What if I disagree?"

"Then keep it."

Lu Qingshuang remained silent, seemingly having anticipated this outcome: "Okay."

Qin Mu looked up: "You agreed?"

"I had no choice."

"You're wrong," Qin Mu shook his head. "You are."

Lu Qingshuang was slightly taken aback.

Qin Mu said, "You can choose to live, or you can choose to die."

"But I will not make the decision for you."

Lu Qingshuang looked at him.

Qin Mu continued, "Since you say your life belongs to Xu Longxiang, then keep it for yourself."

"At least don't throw your life away easily before he tells you to die himself."

For the first time, Lu Qingshuang's eyes showed a noticeable change.

She hadn't expected Qin Mu to say something like that.

But she quickly regained her composure: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qin Mu did not respond.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent.

A guard dressed in black lifted the tent flap: "Your Majesty."

Qin Mu raised his eyes: "Speak."

The man walked to Qin Mu's side and lowered his voice: "News has come from the Northern Border."

Qin Mu glanced at Lu Qing Shuang, and Lu Qing Shuang realized something as well, but she didn't move.

The guard continued, "Xu Longxiang has already begun investigating Zhao San. The Northern Border has dispatched three groups of people to investigate all the traces Zhao San left behind in Northern Mang."

Qin Mu's expression remained unchanged: "So fast?"

"Yes."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then said, "Reply in the original manner."

The guard was taken aback: "Is this the old news?"

"Okay." Qin Mu nodded. "Tell them that Zhao San is perfectly fine."

"The situation in Northern Mang has stabilized, and Huyan Lie has firmly established himself."

"Don't worry, Xu Longxiang."

The guard hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, would you like to add some more details?"

Qin Mu thought for a moment: "Add it."

"It is said that Zhao San has already taken control of several important forces in Northern Mang, and will continue to act according to plan."

"Also, tell him not to send anyone to Northern Mang for the time being, lest it ruin the plan."

"Yes." The guard clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to leave.

Qin Mu called out to him again, "Wait."

The guard turned around.

Qin Mu said calmly, "Write the message as if Zhao San personally delivered it back."

"clear."

The guards withdrew.

Lu Qingshuang stood to the side, without saying a word from beginning to end.

Only after the tent flap was drawn back down did she look at Qin Mu: "Are you planning to continue deceiving His Highness?"

Qin Mu looked at her and said, "It's not that I'm going to lie, but that he needs to believe."

Lu Qingshuang frowned: "If he knew you were Zhao San..."

"So he can't know now."

But the truth will eventually come out.

"We'll keep it a secret as long as we can."

Lu Qingshuang looked at him: "Why did you do that?"

Qin Mu did not answer.

He simply looked at the map of Northern Mang on the table.

On the map, the location of the North was lightly circled by a vermilion brush.

After a moment, Qin Mu said, "Because now is not the time for him to know."

Lu Qingshuang remained silent.

She suddenly realized something.

Qin Mu wasn't afraid of Xu Longxiang finding out at all.

Quite the opposite.

He seemed to have been waiting.

Xu Longxiang walked to the deepest part of the chessboard by himself.

Then tell him.

It was all a setup from beginning to end.

north.

Zhenyue Hall.

It was already completely light.

Xu Longxiang stood in front of the desk.

Three newly delivered secret letters were placed on the table.

The first letter came from Northern Mang.

The second letter came from a scout in the North.

The third letter came from a contact he had never met.

None of the three letters were signed.

But the last letter was signed with only two words.

Zhao San.

Xu Longxiang stared at those two words for a long time.

Then I reached out and took it apart.

There were only a few lines of text inside.

"The situation in the Northern Mang region is now settled, and Huyan Lie has firmly secured his position as Khan."

"The Red Wolf Tribe, the Black Mountain Camp, and the White River Army have all submitted."

"Everything is going well for me in Northern Mang, there's nothing to worry about."

There's one last sentence.

"The plan will proceed as scheduled."

Xu Longxiang finished reading but remained silent.

Fan Li stood aside, waiting for his reaction.

After a long while, Xu Longxiang finally let out a soft breath.

My shoulders seem to have loosened up a bit.

"He's alright."

Fan Li nodded: "It seems everything is alright."

Xu Longxiang read the letter again, especially the last sentence, "The plan will proceed as scheduled."

A slight smile finally appeared on his lips.

"I knew Zhao San wouldn't have any problems."

Fan Li remained silent.

Xu Longxiang felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

He had been worried about Zhao San these past few days.

They were worried that he would be discovered by the Northern Barbarians.

They were even more worried that he had already fallen into Qin Mu's hands.

But now, this letter proves everything.

Zhao San is still here.

The plan is still ongoing.

The situation in the Northern Barbarian Lands was even smoother than he had anticipated.

Xu Longxiang folded the letter carefully and put it into his sleeve.

Then he raised his head: "Fan Li."

"exist."

"Pass down the order to continue investigating Northern Mang."

Fan Li was taken aback: "Didn't Your Highness already...?"

Xu Longxiang waved his hand: "Investigate as you see fit, but don't worry about Zhao San anymore."

He walked to the map, his finger landing on the location of Northern Mang, his eyes sharpening once more.

"He's still alive."

That's enough.

Fan Li looked at him but didn't say anything more.

Xu Longxiang stared at the words "Northern Mang" on the map and slowly said, "As long as Zhao San is still in Northern Mang, we still have a chance in this game."