Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

The candlelight in the tent flickered for a moment, casting Xie Jingxing's face in and out of the light.

Liu Wei knelt on the ground, his knees already numb, but he dared not move an inch.

Blood was still dripping from the riding whip in Xie Jingxing's hand, flowing down his back.

Liu Wei gritted his teeth, but tried to keep his voice steady, "Your Highness, I didn't mean to knock you unconscious."

"The situation forced me to do that; I had no choice."

Xie Jingxing's riding whip stopped in mid-air.

Liu Wei seized the opportunity and continued in one breath: "Those soldiers died and that's it, but you are different."

If anything happens to you, how will I explain it to His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine?

Before I set off, the Imperial Concubine repeatedly instructed me to protect you, even at the cost of my own life.

Your Highness, it's all my fault. I deserve to die for my insubordination!

Punish me however you like, as long as you can calm down!

As he finished speaking, his forehead touched the ground, and the wound on his back was aggravated, causing him to grimace in pain.

Xie Jingxing slowly lowered his hand that was holding the riding whip.

He looked at his trusted deputy general, who had followed him for many years, and at the whip marks on his back, and thought to himself, "Don't beat him to death."

After all, Liu Wei was quite loyal to him.

"Since you were entrusted by your father and mother, then this punishment ends here for today. This is a one-time exception."

Liu Wei felt a sense of relief, but dared not show it.

He knew the prince's temper; if he showed even a hint of relief at this moment, it would only provoke the prince's anger again.

He straightened up slightly, his tone becoming more sincere, "Your Highness, I was actually doing this for your own good."

Just think, if all our men perish here, what will His Majesty think when we return?

What will the entire court think?

These words were like a needle, precisely piercing Xie Jingxing's most sensitive spot.

If all 1,000 soldiers were wiped out, how would the censors impeach him?

To say he's reckless and lacks strategy?

To say he failed the emperor's grace?

Is he not as composed and steady as the Crown Prince?

Would Father Emperor think the same way?

Xie Jingxing closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, most of the fierceness in them had dissipated.

"Liu Wei," his voice lowered, "you did the right thing this time."

I was enraged by that bastard and lost my temper.

Get up.

Liu Wei was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life!"

He slowly stood up, supporting himself on his knees. His legs were stiff from kneeling, and the injury on his back was burning with pain.

But none of this mattered as much as the weight lifted from his heart; the prince finally listened.

Xie Jingxing turned around and returned to the tiger-skin bench, leaned back, and raised his hand to furrow his brow.

The candlelight cast deep shadows on his face, obscuring his true expression.

"Liu Wei, tell me about our losses this time. How many men are left usable?"

Liu Wei already knew the situation and blurted out, "Your Highness, nearly three hundred people have died, about one hundred are seriously injured, and several dozen are slightly injured."

Fewer than four hundred of them were truly capable of fighting.

In total, their numbers were roughly equivalent to those of the bandits at Tiger Head Stronghold.

He deliberately gave the numbers in detail so that the prince would understand their current situation.

In the past, with more people and greater strength, there was still a chance of victory.

With the numbers now roughly equal, if we rashly launch another attack, we might really be wiped out.

Xie Jingxing understood the unspoken meaning in his words, and his brows furrowed even more: "Liu Wei, do you mean I should stop attacking Tiger Head Stronghold?"

He sat bolt upright, his voice suddenly rising: "In that case, I, the King, will not swallow this insult!"

He had never suffered such humiliation since childhood!

He was insulted, ambushed, and utterly defeated.

If we swallow this insult!

How will Xie Jingxing maintain his position in the military after this?

How to face those courtiers who are waiting to see him make a fool of himself in the imperial court?

Liu Wei had anticipated this reaction and calmly replied, "That's exactly what I meant."

It's not that I won't seek revenge, but the current situation doesn't allow it.

It's obvious that Tiger Head Village was prepared all along, just waiting for us to walk into their trap.

They were able to recognize the fake Chen Ergou at a glance, so they must have known we were going to make a move.

My subordinates suspect that something went wrong, which aroused their suspicion.

Xie Jingxing's gaze darkened: "You mean, the real Chen Ergou lied to us?"

Was the code wrong?

"I dare not make a definitive conclusion, but it is indeed possible."

Xie Jingxing suddenly stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and shouted angrily at the guards on night watch outside: "Guards!"

"Go and bring Chen Ergou up here!"

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Chen Ergou, bound hand and foot, was escorted into the camp by two guards.

He stumbled and was forced to his knees, his knees hitting the dirt with a dull thud.

Liu Wei waved for the two guards to leave, then stepped forward and kicked Chen Ergou: "Hurry up and pay your respects to the Prince!"

Chen Ergou trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly: "This humble subject, Chen Ergou, kowtows...kowtows to Your Highness..."

Xie Jing walked forward and looked down at the man who was kneeling tremblingly on the ground.

His eyes were as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month.

"Chen Ergou, how dare you deceive me!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Was the code you mentioned wrong?"

Chen Ergou suddenly looked up, his face ashen: "Reporting...reporting to Your Highness!"

I did not lie!

Everything I said is true!

The code was: those who obey me prosper, those who oppose me perish!

How could a commoner like me dare to lie to you!

"Still dare to argue?" Xie Jingxing kicked him in the shoulder.

Chen Ergou fell to the ground and then scrambled to his knees.

"If you didn't lie to me, then why did the people of Tiger Head Stronghold recognize the fake Chen Ergou as soon as they opened the door?"

"You caused the deaths of so many of my men, and you still dare to say you're not lying!"

Chen Ergou was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and cold sweat poured down his face, dripping onto the ground.

He kowtowed desperately, his forehead pounding loudly: "Your Highness, please calm down!"

Your Highness, spare my life!

I really didn't lie to you!

If I have lied to you, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!

May my entire family die!

May they be childless and without descendants!

The oath was made so hastily and fiercely that it didn't seem like a lie.

Liu Wei stepped forward and whispered to Xie Jingxing, "Your Highness, Chen Ergou made such a solemn oath, so he must not be lying."

Then there's only one possibility: they changed their code.

This shows that they had already anticipated our attack on Tiger Head Stronghold and had taken precautions in advance.

Chen Ergou nodded repeatedly, as if grasping at a lifeline: "Lord Liu is right!"

It must have been changed at the last minute!

Oh, right, I just remembered something.

They've been searching for people down the mountain for the past two days because a young cook and a little girl from the village fell off a cliff, and they've gone down to the bottom to look for them!

Xie Jingxing's gaze sharpened like a knife upon hearing this: "What did you say?"

A young cook and a little girl?

"Fell off a cliff?" Chen Ergou was startled by his sudden reaction.

He stammered, "Yes, yes..."

The whole village was abuzz with the news that the new cook, along with her maid, had been pushed off a cliff by the second wife.

Xie Jingxing and Liu Wei quickly exchanged a glance.

little girl?

When the young master left the city that day, wasn't he dressed up as a little girl?

That young master was indeed hiding here!

"Is he alive or dead?" Xie Jingxing pressed.

"This humble commoner doesn't know..."

I didn't go looking for anyone, but I heard that the cliff is very deep, and falling off might be...

Chen Ergou didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Xie Jingxing suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha………"

Laughter echoed through the tent, startling the guards outside who exchanged bewildered glances.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Xie Jingxing exclaimed three times, his eyes instantly clearing of gloom and replaced by a gleam of excitement. "This is truly heaven's help!"