After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Inside the royal courtyard, fallen leaves rustled in the breeze, and the air was thick with a somber atmosphere.

Zhang Liang looked coldly at Liu Longyue, "Your Highness was still drunk. Was it the princess who revealed the matter of Zhongshan just now?"

Liu Longyue was speechless. "Military Advisor Zhang is indeed a prophet. It was indeed I who informed the Crown Prince."

“If you truly care about the young master, then let’s not bring this up again. I will take care of Zhongshan myself.”

Zhang Liang was different from ordinary strategists. He only cared about the result. How many people died in the process, and who died, was irrelevant to him, as long as the interests of the northern frontier were not harmed.

Liu Longyue opened her mouth, but ultimately nodded silently.

"I'll trouble you to look after the Crown Prince tonight, Princess. As for the delegation, if there are any unusual developments, the Crown Prince will handle it for you."

After Zhang Liang finished speaking, he turned and left.

As Liu Longyue watched the departing figure, she suddenly felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of fear.

Chen Futu's four advisors were all more wicked than the last.

Yu Qian was exceptional in political affairs, Zhuge Liang was adept at strategic planning, Liu Bowen was shrewd and calculating, and Zhang Liang was known for his deadly moves.

Last time in the capital, she was tricked by Zhang Liang and forced to flee. Now, in order to make the crown prince ascend to the throne of the Northern Frontier King and make it legitimate, Zhang Liang is even willing to sacrifice the lives of Zhou Qingzhi's entire clan. He is simply ruthless.

It would be too terrible to be enemies with such people. I wonder where the Crown Prince got all these extraordinary people.

That night, a storm brewed in Longcheng.

Chen Futu was completely drunk and fast asleep, while the delegation had already gathered around the Grand Wizard.

Yemo recounted everything that had happened that night. The great wizard's hideous bronze mask looked particularly sinister in the darkness. "I warned you not to do anything under my nose. Don't think I don't know why some of you came to the Northern Frontier. If anyone dares to ruin this marriage, don't blame me for being ruthless."

As she spoke, her heterochromatic eyes kept sweeping across Yemo and Xueyunzi's faces, and the two lowered their heads guiltily.

Their mission was under the Empress's decree to target Liu Longyue, but this did not escape the notice of the Grand Wizard.

The Grand Wizard continued, “The Confucian scholars of the Great Qian Dynasty are not respectable. You don’t need to resort to such underhanded tactics. Just wait quietly for the ceremony to begin.”

"I'll wait to understand."

After Yemo and his group left, Xueyunzi muttered, "Young Master, the Great Wizard forbids us from attacking the princess. What should we do?"

“The Grand Wizard is the Grand Wizard, but I am the envoy of this delegation. I must find a way to sow discord between the princess and Chen Futu. How can my Beiwu Mingzhu be married off to a barbaric land?”

After discussing it with everyone, Yemo actually came up with a plan to target Liu Longyue.

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, Chen Futu finally awoke. Looking at Liu Longyue beside him, he asked groggily, "Has anything happened?"

"Your Highness, rest assured, everything is normal. Lord Yu and the generals are finalizing the arrangements for the ceremony, and it will begin in a few days."

"Is there any movement from the scholars?"

"They want to see Zhou Qingzhi, but with the Tiger Guards around, they can't see him and can only make a fuss. In addition, Mr. Qingtian had someone publish last night's events in the newspaper. The people know that Old Master Zhou has defected to Longcheng, and they are all celebrating for you."

Liu Longyue had not expected that Chen Futu had such a high prestige in Longcheng. It was said that some people threw rotten vegetable leaves at those scholars, making them like rats crossing the street, only daring to hide in the garden and not daring to go out.

"Did you notice that the Northern Martial Envoys tried to make things difficult for you last night?" Chen Futu asked, rubbing his temples.

Liu Longyue nodded, "I noticed. It's thanks to the young master that the students arrived in time to interrupt them, otherwise I wouldn't know how to handle this situation."

“A bunch of clowns. If one plan fails, they’ll probably come up with another. You can go out and give them a chance. I want to see what they’re up to.”

Chen Futu loathed Yemo and his group. If it weren't for the need for Beiwu's support, he would have banished them long ago.

Liu Longyue said in a low voice, "What a coincidence, just now, the delegation invited me to Baihua Tower for a chat, and I was just informing the young master."

"Go ahead, I'll be watching from the shadows. They won't be able to cause any trouble. But what's wrong with that great wizard? Why didn't he attend the banquet last night? Does he look down on my Northern Frontier?"

"The High Priestess in Beiwu performs the function of a priest. She usually lives deep in the ancestral temple and rarely goes out, so she doesn't like to have contact with people. I was quite surprised that she came here this time."

What Liu Longyue said was true. Master-level beings rarely show themselves in the world unless a major event occurs. As for why the great wizard came this time, it was unpredictable. Or was the great wizard here for some purpose?

"Never mind her for now, you get ready and go to your appointment."

After getting up, washing up, and having breakfast, Chen Futu took Ge Fei to the villa where Zhou Qingzhi was being settled. Sure enough, there were still a few scholars gathered outside discussing something. When they saw Chen Futu's carriage coming, they all instinctively ran away.

Chen Futu inquired about the situation of the Tiger Guard, and the captain replied, "The old gentleman has been reading books and making annotations, and he eats very little. He also refuses to see scholars who come to visit him."

"Is it?"

Chen Futu pondered for a moment, left Ge Fei outside the door, and then knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

Curious, Chen Futu pushed open the door and entered. He saw a dark hall with fluttering gauze curtains, where an old figure was hunched over a table writing something and muttering to himself.

Chen Futu slowly walked to the table and was immediately taken aback. The old man, who had been quite energetic yesterday, was now disheveled and looked desolate, as if he was hanging on by a thread and would pass away at any moment.

"Sir, what's wrong with you...?"

"The Crown Prince has arrived."

Zhou Qingzhi coughed a few times, then waved with a smile, indicating that he should sit down.

Chen Futu silently sat down. The table was covered with various books and some manuscripts he had written.

"Your Highness, this book is a good book, a remarkable book, it is worthy of being passed down for generations."

"Sir, there's no need to rush. You have plenty of time to look at it at your leisure."

"He is so engrossed in his studies that he forgets to eat, so happy that he forgets his worries, and so unaware that old age is approaching. The young master is truly a man of unparalleled talent."

"Sir, actually this book..."

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Just as Chen Futu was about to explain, Zhou Qingzhi interrupted him, raising his head with a thirst for knowledge shining in his cloudy eyes.

Chen Futu paused, "I came here because..."

"No need to say anything, no need to say anything."

Zhou Qingzhi stood up shakily, looked around, then picked up the booklet that was placed to the side and bowed as he handed it over.

Chen Futu was startled and quickly helped him up.

Zhou Qingzhi exclaimed, "Your Highness, this trip has broadened my horizons. I have learned that there are always people more capable than myself and that there is always something beyond my understanding. Just as the saying goes, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.' Your Highness can be my teacher."

"I still have a long way to go."

"Your Highness, there is no need for such modesty. Based solely on this book, you are a wise ruler. I was blind to your true worth. To express my apology, I have written a special letter to congratulate Your Highness on ascending to the throne of the King of the Northern Frontier."