Su Li was worried. Jun Mo had been gone for so long; why wasn't he back yet?
What if Fu Yecheng isn't reliable? What if he's in cahoots with Liang Shao? Even though Zi Yan is skilled in martial arts, that's a military camp.
Just as she was thinking, she saw Jun Mo return from outside the jungle, bringing two people with him.
One was a Mo Guard. The other, stocky and tense-faced, must be Fu Yecheng.
"Maternal Uncle!" Liang Chengnian instantly stood up and shouted upon seeing Fu Yecheng.
Fu Yecheng stepped forward and embraced him.
He quietly pushed aside the hair by his ear. The stone in his heart settled. It really was Little Nian!
"Little Nian, you've suffered! This maternal uncle is incompetent; I'm sorry!" If things were truly as that person said, he had made a thousand mistakes!
His elder sister and brother-in-law were murdered, and he was completely unaware. He only focused on protecting military power for Little Nian, leaving him alone in Ningdu.
"Maternal Uncle, Little Nian is fine!"
Fu Yecheng released him and patted his shoulder.
"Little Nian has grown up, like a true man!"
After speaking, he looked around at the others. "Little Nian, who are these people? Why are you with them?"
Liang Chengnian looked at him and said, "Maternal Uncle, I was pursued by Liang Shao and fled all the way to Tianqi's border city. Elder Sister saved me."
After speaking, he looked at Su Li.
Su Li nodded to Fu Yecheng. "General Fu."
Fu Yecheng frowned. This person's face was ordinary, dressed as a woman, but her voice was that of a young girl. She must be in disguise.
Tianqi was at war with Nanjiang. This period was too sensitive. These people still dared not show their true faces. Was saving Little Nian a coincidence or...
"General Fu, you don't need to doubt us. Although we are from Tianqi, saving Little Nian was truly a coincidence," Su Li said softly.
Wanyan Xue immediately said, "Hey, we saved someone, and you're still suspicious? Aren't you being a bit too much?"
Liang Chengnian tugged at Fu Yecheng's hand and said, "Maternal Uncle, they are truly all good people. I trust them."
"Little Nian, they said you were pursued by Liang Shao because you learned the true cause of your Imperial Father and Mother's deaths. Is that true?"
"Maternal Uncle, it's true. If you don't believe me, go ask Wang Sui."
Fu Yecheng frowned. "Wang Sui? Didn't he betray the country?"
Jun Ce somewhat doubted Fu Yecheng's intelligence. No wonder he could let his own nephew fall into the hands of his enemy.
Liang Chengnian said, "Wang Sui did not betray the country. I gave him the defense map of Jiukong City."
Fu Yecheng's eyes widened. "Little Nian?!"
"Maternal Uncle, Elder Sister and Prince Jing are not those kind of people. What you're worried about won't happen. Our common enemy now is Liang Shao and his son!" Liang Chengnian said.
"He has controlled the court for nearly ten years, and his influence is not to be underestimated. Although those three hundred and fifty thousand soldiers died unjustly, I'm glad that most of his military power is now gone. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Maternal Uncle return to Ningdu."
Fu Yecheng nodded. "My return this time means Liang Shao's death!"
Jun Mo said, "As far as I know, over half of Nanjiang's ministers are Liang Shao's people. You'll need to exert some effort to deal with him."
"This general commands two hundred thousand heavy troops. Can't I deal with one Liang Shao?" Fu Yecheng said.
Liang Chengnian said, "Maternal Uncle, in the eyes of some uninformed commoners, Liang Shao diligently assisted me, toiling without complaint, working for the country and its people. If you kill him with force, it might incite public resentment, saying you're indiscriminately killing a meritorious official and have treacherous ambitions."
Fu Yecheng looked at Liang Chengnian and frowned. "Little Nian, you know Maternal Uncle wouldn't do that."
Su Li stepped forward. "General Fu, we all know you wouldn't, but the common people don't. You also know Wang Sui's current predicament. Wang Sui was once Liang Shao's confidant. If he were to step forward and expose Liang Shao, revealing the true cause of the former Emperor and Empress's deaths, then dealing with Liang Shao would be effortless. Not only would you and Wang Sui not bear any infamy, but you would also be meritorious officials who set things right."
Fu Yecheng retorted, "Since you know Wang Sui was once Liang Shao's confidant, you should know he was utterly devoted to Wang Sui. Take this defeat for example; he clearly didn't betray the country, yet he willingly admitted guilt and took the blame for Liang Xuanting."
Jun Mo suddenly spoke, "You don't need to worry about that. You will enter the capital as usual tomorrow. If you still have doubts, wait for my message. I will arrange for you to meet Wang Sui. Then you can decide."
Fu Yecheng nodded. "That's excellent. But I don't understand, what do you gain from helping us so much?"
Jun Mo said coldly, "Of course, I have my purpose. Liang Shao and his son: one sent troops to disturb my Tianqi, the other ordered the massacre of a city. This blood debt, I'm not saying I'll make an entire city of Nanjiang's people pay for it, but I definitely want the lives of these two! At that time, you'll have to hand them over to me!"
Fu Yecheng and Liang Chengnian exchanged glances. Fu Yecheng asked, "You want to avenge the people of Shuiyong City in Tianqi? Who are you?"
This person's identity was probably not simple. Otherwise, what standing would he have to seek revenge?
Anyway, Liang Chengnian also knew his identity, so Jun Mo didn't hide it.
"Jun Mo."
"You are Prince Jing of Tianqi!"
Jun Mo nodded. "I am."
Fu Yecheng thought for a moment, then spoke again, "Alright, this general will follow your arrangements. However, Liang Shao took my elder sister's life, so I want his life!"
Jun Mo also took a step back and said, "Alright, but I want to take his head back to Shuiyong City."
"Deal!"
A secluded courtyard in the Fourth Prince's residence.
"General, what are your orders?"
Wang Sui said coldly, "Early tomorrow morning, go to the pastry shop on East Street and tell the shopkeeper that I want to see his master."
"Yes!"
Watching his subordinate disappear, Wang Sui's eyes turned sinister.
Liang Shao, since you are unjust, do not blame me for being unrighteous!
You promised to spare this general's family, yet you broke your word. Then this general no longer needs to show any consideration!
Early in the morning, Mo Yang hurried in.
"Master, there's news from East Street."
Jun Mo and Su Li exchanged glances, their lips curving. "It seems Wang Sui has understood."
Su Li said, "He was able to investigate so quickly. It seems he still has some ability. He has people in the Fourth Prince's residence."
"Of course. After all, he's followed Liang Shao for decades. Without some hidden influence, he wouldn't have such a position."
Su Li said, "Then you're still going to the Prince's residence tonight?"
"Yes, and we need to bring Fu Yecheng along."
Su Li nodded. Although their time together was short, she could tell that while Fu Yecheng was a good person, he sometimes seemed to miss a beat.
He really should meet Wang Sui himself.
Su Li chuckled, "It seems our people won't be needed after all. Wang Sui and Fu Yecheng can handle capturing Liang Shao and his son."
Jun Mo tapped his teacup with his finger. "That's for the best. Every soldier of my Tianqi is a living being. This way, it not only reduces casualties but also keeps Tianqi from interfering in their internal affairs, which is excellent."
Then he looked at Su Li and said, "Li'er, this war will end soon. After we offer the heads of Liang and his son as sacrifices to the people of Shuiyong City, we'll return to the capital and get married!"
Su Li smiled, "Wuxi said there are only two auspicious dates this year. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month has passed, so only the twelfth lunar month remains."
Jun Mo thought for a moment, then said helplessly, "It's August now. We'll be back in the capital by September at the latest. So, the twelfth lunar month it is."
"Let's talk about it when we get back to the capital. After being away for so long, I really miss my parents and Yu Ge'er."
Jun Mo held her hand to comfort her. "Soon."
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