Eunuch Xiao Yang instinctively wanted to refuse, but couldn’t find the words to say no.

Before leaving the palace, the steward eunuch specifically reminded Eunuch Xiao Yang to act honestly. If they heard he had a change of heart, none of his family would be safe.

He also told him if someone discovered his magical arts and tortured him for a confession, when he couldn’t endure it, he should hold his breath until he fainted, then hypnotize himself to forget everything, so when he wakes up, he truly remembers nothing, not betraying himself or his masters.

What could Eunuch Xiao Yang do? His family was probably under the steward eunuch’s control, so he had to agree.

The steward eunuch promised that as long as he completes his task well, he will be allowed to stay on the prairie and will be rewarded with wealth and nobility, and his family would be sent to be with him.

Even if Eunuch Xiao Yang didn’t believe it, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue down this dark path.

Along the way, although Eunuch Xiao Yang appeared proud, he was actually extremely anxious and fearful as he followed Qin Bohan out of the Capital City.

He was self-aware enough to know that despite his arrogance, he was compelled to act this way, unsure if the steward eunuch had any fallback, or if any of the escorting people were informants for the steward eunuch.

So, he stayed close to Qin Bohan, not leaving his side, partly to show he was diligent in his duties, and secondly because he believed Qin Bohan’s side must be cleaner, not under constant watch.

Watching Qin Bohan, because he was the Emperor’s envoy, humbly conceding in everything, inflated his vanity tremendously.

This little satisfaction, along with Qin Bohan not suspecting him and not hiding anything, prevented him from acting against Qin Bohan.

Who would have thought, upon reaching Chicheng County, he would be exposed.

He thought his act was flawless, yet Qin Bohan had been suspicious all along, never showing any sign until reaching Chicheng County, where he decisively took him down.

Reflecting now on the journey, Qin Bohan’s sudden proposal for a swift and light trip, bringing him ahead to Chicheng County, must have been long planned.

Or perhaps, Qin Bohan guessed that among the attendants, some must have been compromised, hence this move.

Then he, boasting intelligence yet being a foolish fool, walked right into the trap.

After being knocked out, upon waking, he instantly knew his magical arts were exposed, Lady Dingguo was prepared.

Eunuch Xiao Yang was clever; knowing this, he naturally wanted to preserve his life.

He decisively used the method the steward eunuch taught, yet he cunningly held back from fully hypnotizing himself, pretending instead to forget everything.

Planning to muddle through the chaos.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Wang Yongzhu, naturally failing, and was tickled mercilessly with feathers, unable to live or die.

If he had known this, he would have begged for mercy from the start and confessed everything.

After listening to Eunuch Xiao Yang’s confession, Wang Yongzhu understood that Qi Le had left such a trap in the Capital City, who knows how many more hidden figures remain in the Imperial Palace?

If the Emperor was aware, he would probably want to use this opportunity to root out all of Qi Le’s hidden agents.

However, Eunuch Xiao Yang’s words cannot be entirely trusted.

After some thought, Wang Yongzhu instructed others to continue guarding Eunuch Xiao Yang, allowing him to be unbound and to move within the house but forbidden from leaving or talking to anyone.

Surviving the ordeal, Eunuch Xiao Yang agreed to anything to stay alive, nodding fervently, eager to swear he would not leave the room without Lady Dingguo’s orders and would not look at others recklessly. If not trusted, he was willing to keep his eyes covered.

Wang Yongzhu chuckled, "No need for such trouble, just stay inside with the windows and doors locked from the outside. I will verify what you confessed, and if you didn’t lie, so be it. If you uttered even one false word, we have many wild wolves in Saibei on the mountains; often people taken by wolves never return. I think Eunuch Xiao Yang, being smart, won’t be carried off by wolves, right?"

Eunuch Xiao Yang shivered violently, nodding like a pecking chick, eager to bare his heart in sincerity.

Having dealt with Eunuch Xiao Yang, Qin Bohan had woken up on the other side.

While Master Jian was still drunk and asleep,

Qin Bohan vaguely heard about Eunuch Xiao Yang waking up, but knowing Wang Yongzhu had discretion, he leisurely drank a hangover remedy and ate a bowl of very soft white porridge, accompanied by small dishes drizzled with chili oil, fresh and appetizing.

Eating early in the morning, Qin Bohan was sweating thoroughly, feeling entirely at ease.

Just after breakfast, Wang Yongzhu arrived and shared the confession gained from Eunuch Xiao Yang with Qin Bohan.

It was then Qin Bohan disclosed that he too sensed some among the entourage were suspicious.

But he thought they were spies from other factions and had not considered any of them might be colluding with the prairie side.

Immediately his gaze turned icy, and he clapped his hands.

Attending guards and followers outside rushed in, hearing Qin Bohan instructing two of them to take his handwritten letter, meet the main force, and inform the deputy leader to apprehend and interrogate all suspicious individuals.

Having conveyed all instructions, Qin Bohan initially intended to wait for the main force to arrive for a unified departure to the border.

Now, lacking patience, considering the many diverse entourage members, instead of waiting for them and encountering troubles,

he preferred to proceed first with his close followers and several guards, directly to meet Song Chongjin and the others.

If needed, he could ask Wang Yongzhu to provide some guards for escort.

Regarding the main force, once in Chicheng County, it would naturally be Wang Yongzhu’s responsibility to watch over them and identify all suspicious individuals.

It was crucial for him to sign documents with the prairie before the year’s end; he had no mood to handle these matters.

Hearing this, Wang Yongzhu turned green.

Are they all accustomed to just being hands-off like this?

But ultimately she understood the priorities, knowing Qin Bohan’s arrangement was most sensible.

For the greater good, she gritted her teeth and agreed.

Preparing changes of clothes, knee pads, gloves, and withdrawing about ten individuals from her own side to escort Qin Bohan to the camp.

Having made his decision, Qin Bohan acted promptly, leaving behind his seal and drafting a letter for everyone in the main force to obey Wang Yongzhu’s orders.

He then hurriedly set off with about ten followers, braving wind and rain to the camp.

At the camp,

as negotiations sped up due to Song Chongjin’s tough stance, and Qi Le seemed to express sincerity, the prairie side kept conceding at the negotiation table.

Perhaps these concessions left the prairie side disgruntled, as several times during the negotiations, people from the prairie approached the negotiation site, even seemingly attempting to act against the negotiating team.

Thankfully, the scout at the camp was extremely vigilant, and the generals protecting Song Chongjin’s team never relaxed their guard, appearing timely to deter the prairie side.

But since then, tension lingered on both sides, with soldiers escorting them to the negotiation site not leaving, glaring at each other till the day’s negotiation ended, then both sides’ soldiers escorting them back.

The camp’s security tightened further, with no approach to the negotiators’ residence without command from the general.

As Qin Bohan arrived swiftly enveloped in wind and snow at the camp, before approaching, he was surrounded.

Luckily, some recognized Qin Bohan’s familiar guards, the ones Wang Yongzhu used to send supplies, so they didn’t apprehend them.

They still conducted a brief inquiry according to protocol.

The guards hurriedly explained Qin Bohan’s identity, urging them to quickly report inside.

The soldiers at the camp entrance were dumbfounded, given a push by the guards, they stumbled inside to inform Shangguan.

Soon, a throng emerged from the camp in a clamor.

Leading them was none other than Song Chongjin.

Seeing Qin Bohan, Song Chongjin promptly saluted respectfully, followed by companions and military generals greeting Qin Bohan.

After exchanging pleasantries briefly at the camp entrance, it was Song Chongjin who invited everyone inside.