"I am not worried about the safety of the border. The Black Armor Army is stationed here and can ensure it is foolproof. It's just... Gu Beichen is deeply in love with the Western Liang Princess, and His Majesty has already bestowed the marriage. I only worry that there will be trouble when they get married."
Ling Mohan always felt that the Western Liang envoy's arrival, and the Western Liang Emperor's prompt agreement to the marriage, must have had other intentions.
"Murong Jinyun is indeed sincere towards Gu Beichen. These two have already pledged their lives to each other. It's a done deal, and it's difficult to stop now. We can only stabilize the situation for now. We need to send more people to guard the post station. By the way, what are your plans for His Majesty?"
Such major matters required informing Emperor Xuanwen so that they could act more conveniently.
"We have to keep it from His Majesty for now. You go back and rest. I will go discuss it with Prince Jing. If the Western Liang Princess asks you to go out alone, have the dark guards accompany you."
Ling Mohan was worried that the Western Liang people might target Feng Jin. In this situation, caution was still necessary.
"I understand. You be careful too."
Ling Mohan nodded slightly, left a squad of soldiers to protect Feng Jin, and then departed.
...
Deep in the night, a shadowy figure crept into the study of the Third Prince's mansion.
Upon hearing the noise, Chu Yanxi tensed up abruptly, his eyes sharp as he looked at the person behind him: "How dare you come here! If you don't want your life, I do!"
"Third Prince, there's no need to panic. Your Eastern Chu's patrol soldiers won't be able to detect this General's presence, and naturally, they won't know that the Third Prince has dealings with my Western Liang!"
"You shut your mouth, or don't blame me for forgetting our past and ensuring you never return to Western Liang!"
Chu Yanxi's face was grim, and a murderous intent instantly arose.
Baili Xi sneered, not taking Chu Yanxi's words seriously at all: "If anything happens to this General in Eastern Chu, your secrets will be exposed!"
"You dare to threaten me!" Chu Yanxi clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, his murderous intent surging.
"Your Highness can try and see if I can threaten you. My Emperor specifically sent me to thank the Third Prince. If not for the iron ore you prepared, my Western Liang army wouldn't have the weaponry and equipment."
Baili Xi looked at Chu Yanxi provocatively, confident that Chu Yanxi wouldn't dare to do anything to him.
Smuggling iron ore to an enemy country was treason. Once it was exposed, Chu Yanxi would surely die.
"What exactly do you want!" Chu Yanxi asked angrily.
"My Emperor has always considered the Third Prince his most powerful ally. As long as the Third Prince continues to cooperate with my Western Liang, my Western Liang will surely support you in ascending to the throne!"
For his own selfish desires, he had been misguided and cooperated with Western Liang, falling into their hands. He had been acting timidly, and had been coerced by the Western Liang people to do many things.
"I already told your Western Liang Emperor last time that what I did for you was the last thing, and I won't do anything else."
Now Ling Mohan and Chu Chenyi were beginning to suspect him. If this continued, they would eventually find out. If the matter was exposed, it would be a disaster for him.
"Third Prince, you should consider the overall situation. The Western Liang Princess is about to marry the Heir Apparent of the Zhennan Prince's estate. With the support of my Western Liang and the Zhennan Prince's estate, the throne will eventually be yours. Why do you care about short-term gains and losses?"
Chu Yanxi sneered. He knew the dangers of dealing with a tiger and how little benefit he could gain. "Your Western Liang Emperor is ambitious. For years, under the guise of marriage alliances, he has sent out Western Liang princesses like playthings, all to gather intelligence and attempt to annex surrounding countries. This is simply wishful thinking."
Baili Xi's eyes deepened, filled with ferocity: "My Western Liang has a strong military and is of the former Qin imperial bloodline, naturally destined to rule the world!"
"If you cooperate with my Western Liang obediently, you will get what you want. But if you play any tricks, don't blame us for forgetting our past!"
Chu Yanxi's brows furrowed, suppressing his anger: "What exactly do you want to do!"
"We have decided to place weapons within the dowry during the Princess's wedding. We need the Third Prince to cooperate from the inside and help our people transport the weapons into the imperial city."
"What! This is impossible!"
Chu Yanxi refused outright. The capital was heavily guarded, and any person or vehicle entering the city had to be thoroughly inspected. Moreover, the dowry sent by Western Liang would be even more strictly searched. If weapons were smuggled in, it would surely cause a major incident. He truly could not do these things.
"How is it impossible? The Third Prince can request the Emperor to oversee the wedding, and naturally, he can find a way to bring in the weapons unnoticed."
Baili Xi had already planned everything and gave Chu Yanxi no opportunity to refuse.
Western Liang had spent considerable resources to support Chu Yanxi to his current position. Now was the time he was needed, and they would not give him any chance to refuse.
"What do you intend to do by transporting weapons into the capital?"
"This matter concerns Western Liang's secrets, and this General does not know. However, I can guarantee that it will not harm the safety of Your Highness or the Emperor."
"Third Prince, if you don't do this, I cannot guarantee that Prince Jing and Ling Mohan will not receive evidence of your collusion with Western Liang on their desks tomorrow. I've heard that Ling Mohan has been investigating the iron ore matter recently. If he receives some clues, do you think he will thank me?"
Chu Yanxi's heart leaped. He was enveloped in fear, and the last shred of his backbone vanished: "I... I agree, but this is the last time. From now on, I will have nothing to do with you."
"If Your Highness handles this matter well, my Western Liang will definitely help you ascend to the throne."
"Dawn is breaking soon, you should leave quickly." Chu Yanxi did not want any further entanglement with Baili Xi and ordered him to leave.
"You don't need to worry about me, Your Highness. I'll take my leave. Don't forget your promise today, Your Highness."
Baili Xi was not worried that Chu Yanxi would dare to go back on his word, as he held enough leverage over Chu Yanxi to send him to eternal damnation.
"You don't need to worry!" Chu Yanxi shouted angrily.
After Baili Xi left, Chu Yanxi went mad, smashing everything in the study into pieces.
His bloodthirsty eyes were filled with murderous intent, and the anger in his heart could no longer be suppressed.
"Baili Xi, one day I will dismember you!" Chu Yanxi gritted his teeth, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, and red blood dripped from between his fingers.