Feng Jin was full of helplessness, completely unable to understand how Ling Mohan could have chosen to believe Gu Beichen's words and done such a foolish thing.
"You should stop believing Gu Beichen from now on. You have to believe that you are the most perfect. You must face yourself and be yourself, which is the best."
Feng Jin advised him earnestly, hoping to persuade Ling Mohan to turn back and not go down this path to the end.
"Is that so?" Ling Mohan asked uncertainly. He felt that Gu Beichen's words had some truth to them. At least the things Gu Beichen had taught him earlier had indeed made Feng Jin a little less angry.
Now she could speak to him calmly, which showed that it had some effect. He just didn't know why Feng Jin had such a big prejudice against Gu Beichen.
"Naturally. If you dare to learn those irrelevant things from Gu Beichen again, I'll show you!"
Feng Jin warned fiercely, wanting Ling Mohan not to do those foolish things anymore.
Especially not to learn those brainless stupid things from Gu Beichen. She really couldn't accept Ling Mohan slowly becoming like Gu Beichen.
"Okay, I'll listen to my wife."
Although he didn't understand why Feng Jin was doing this, ultimately going along with Feng Jin's words was the best choice for him.
"Alright, let's eat first!"
She was already starving. If Ling Mohan hadn't delayed her, she would have eaten long ago. Now that she had been delayed, the food was going to get cold.
"Young Madam, the food has gotten cold. Shall I take it down to reheat it?"
"No need to bother. Let's just make do with it."
With that, Feng Jin picked up her chopsticks and picked up a piece of fish, eating it with relish. Whether it was cold or hot, she had to fill her stomach first before worrying about anything else.
"Eating hastily and cold food can easily damage your spleen and stomach. As a physician, how can you knowingly do it?"
Ling Mohan lectured, scolding Feng Jin for not taking care of her body.
She clearly knew the consequences but still insisted on knowingly doing it, which was truly unacceptable.
"Shut up. If you don't want to eat, then leave quickly and don't bother others!"
Just as she was happily eating, he had to pour cold water on her at this moment. Was Ling Mohan not doing it on purpose?
The man awkwardly shut his mouth, pretending he hadn't said anything.
Saying anything else would only incur Feng Jin's resentment. He was better off eating his fill peacefully.
"Young General, this subordinate has investigated and found that Fan Shun has a副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general) who strongly resembles the deserter Wang Yunjian from years ago."
"Wasn't he shot to death by arrows? Are you sure you didn't mistake him?"
"This subordinate served with Wang Yunjian for three years and is too familiar with him to be mistaken."
That figure was too familiar, as if etched in his mind, along with those incredibly similar features. Even with some scars on his face, he could still recognize that person as Wang Yunjian.
However, Wang Yunjian had deserted back then, and the soldiers who pursued him reported that Wang Yunjian was indeed dead. How did he become Fan Shun's deputy general?
"Investigate again and confirm it. Then, find a way to bring Wang Yunjian here."
"This subordinate obeys."
Ling Mohan frowned deeply. How could a dead person come back to life? It could only mean that Wang Yunjian had never died back then but had fled to Yuncheng, met Fan Shun, and become his deputy general.
However, he was curious if Fan Shun knew Wang Yunjian's true identity. Harboring a deserter was a capital offense.
This Fan Shun was truly audacious to even do such a thing. There was no one in Yuncheng who dared to speak the truth. Fan Shun's influence had already infiltrated every corner of Yuncheng.
To uproot Fan Shun completely would likely take some effort. Moreover, he did not yet have irrefutable evidence to convict Fan Shun, and there would probably be many twists and turns.
Furthermore, the envoys from Xi Liang would arrive at the border with the dowry tomorrow.
The place of handover was decided by His Majesty in Yuncheng before he set out. Once the dowry arrived, Fan Shun would find an excuse to make him leave Yuncheng. He had to find a way to delay it for another day or two.
...
Wang Nanshi vaguely felt someone watching him from behind, so he quickened his pace, hurrying through the small path ahead. As long as he reached the main street where there were many people, he would be safe.
As he was about to exit, several men in black descended from the sky, as if they had been ambushed.
Wang Nanshi was startled and quickly tried to turn back. Upon seeing the person blocking his path behind him, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, looking at the person before him in disbelief.
"How... How is it you..."
"Why shouldn't it be me? It's been a while. Are you well, Commander Wang Yunjian?"
When Lu Shi clearly saw the person's face, his suspicions were confirmed. This person was the deserter Wang Yunjian from years ago.
"Lord Lu... Lord Lu, for the sake of our having served in the same court and fought on the battlefield together, please... please be lenient and spare my life!"
Wang Nanshi did not deny his identity. He knelt on the ground and begged Lu Shi for mercy, believing that saving his life was the top priority.
"Pah!" Lu Shi spat fiercely on his face.
"Knowing you in this life is the greatest shame. You have the audacity to speak of fighting on the battlefield. You were once a soldier, yet you could commit the act of deserting in the face of the enemy. Because of your timidity and cowardice, tens of thousands of our soldiers lost their lives!"
"I never expected you to escape alive and become Fan Shun's deputy general. But the heavens have eyes, and the net of justice is vast and leaves no one unpunished. You will come back with me to see the Young General and let him deal with you!"
Wang Nanshi had personally witnessed Ling Mohan's ruthless methods. If he returned, he would surely meet a grim end. "I won't go back. Even if I die here, I will never go back with you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Nanshi drew the dagger from his waist and was about to kill himself. It was better to die immediately than to suffer a fate worse than death.
Just as the dagger was about to touch his neck, a pebble flew and struck Wang Nanshi's wrist firmly. The dagger fell to the ground.
The several black-clad men behind him stepped forward and restrained Wang Nanshi.
"It's not that easy to die. People like you should suffer all the punishments in the world before dying. Dying like this would be too easy for you. Take him back."
Afterward, Wang Nanshi was carried away and brought back to the post station.
"Young General, the person has been brought."
Lu Shi turned and said to the person behind him, "Bring Wang Yunjian up."
As soon as the words fell, Wang Yunjian, bound tightly, was roughly thrown to the ground.
Ling Mohan looked down at the man before him, who had a face full of scars and a somewhat shifty demeanor. It really was Wang Yunjian.
His impression of Wang Yunjian had faded significantly, and for a moment, he truly didn't recognize him.