The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Duan Lixing escorted the Zhou father and son to Yulu City. Along the way, Duan Lixing kept thinking about what Nangong Xun had said. He thought about it for a long time but still couldn't understand why Nangong Xun had asked him to kill the Zhou father and son on the way.

Duan Lixing recalled the words His Majesty had said to him when he left the palace. He pondered them repeatedly until his head ached, but he still couldn't understand them.

Just then, someone came to report that the number one swordsman of the Northern Desert was cursing incessantly.

Duan Lixing arrived at the prison cart where the number one swordsman of the Northern Desert was being held and shouted, "If you curse again, I'll have your mouth gagged!"

"Come here if you dare! Unless you kill your grandfather, lest your little emperor do it himself!" said the number one swordsman of the Northern Desert.

Duan Lixing stood at a distance, then suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "I understand!"

"General! What do you understand?"

"Gag him if he curses again!" Duan Lixing walked up to the prison cart carrying the Zhou father and son. "Your Highness Zhou! I would like to have a talk with you!"

"I have nothing to say to you!" Zhou Moyao closed his eyes.

"Prince Zhou! Do you know what the consequences will be if you go to the capital?" Duan Lixing asked.

“That Zhou Shiyao is far inferior to his father; he’ll definitely try to kill us!” Zhou Moyao said.

“Since Your Highness is well aware of the situation, and since you’re going to die anyway, you might as well die with some dignity,” Duan Lixing said.

"What does General Duan want?" Zhou Moyao asked.

“You and your son could choose to commit suicide on this journey to resist going to the capital, or you could leave behind a legacy of unyielding spirit,” Duan Lixing said.

“You should say that my son and I committed suicide out of guilt!” Zhou Moyao said.

“Prince Zhou, there’s no need to be so serious! If you fall into His Majesty’s hands, you can imagine how miserable your fate will be!” Duan Lixing said.

"General Duan! Congratulations! You're about to be promoted again! Do as you say! Go and prepare a cup of poisoned wine for my son and me, and make us drink it!" Zhou Moyao said.

Duan Lixing immediately ordered two cups of poisoned wine to be brought up. Zhou Moyao and his son accepted the poisoned wine with trembling hands. The two looked at each other and smiled. Zhou Moyao said, "My son! In the next life, do not be born into the royal family again. Be sure to be born into an ordinary family! Let us not be father and son in the next life! Your father has failed you!" After saying this, Zhou Moyao picked up the poisoned wine and drank it all in one gulp. He then vomited blood and died.

"Father! Wait for me! I'm coming!" Zhou Shixian also drank the poisoned wine, then laughed loudly, before spitting out a mouthful of blood and curling up in the prison cart to die.

Duan Lixing looked at their corpses and ordered his men to buy coffins to put them in, then sent news of the Zhou father and son's suicide out of fear of punishment to the palace.

When Zhou Shiyao saw the news that Zhou Moyao and his son had committed suicide out of fear of punishment, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was just thinking about how to deal with the father and son when they returned to Beijing, and then this news came. He didn't have to bear the crime of killing his uncle. Zhou Shiyao was overjoyed and issued the commendation order to Duan Lixing.

When Duan Lixing received the Emperor's commendation order, the first person he sincerely thanked was Nangong Xun. If Nangong Xun hadn't told him to kill the Zhou father and son, he would have put the Emperor in a difficult position. Just thinking about it was terrifying; it was too dangerous.

Duan Lixing returned to the palace and recounted the attack on the Zhou family to His Majesty. He also reported to His Majesty on how the Feng family manor had helped the court. After listening, Zhou Shiyao said, "The court should reward the Feng family manor! Appoint the manor owner, Feng Weiran, as the Protector General of the Nation! Award her a thousand taels of gold and a thousand taels of silver, and also some silks, satins, gold and silver jewelry, since there are many women in the manor."

"Your Majesty! What should be done with the bodies of Prince Zhou and his son?" Duan Lixing asked.

“Perfect! Take my imperial decree to the Feng family and bury them, father and son, anywhere in the imperial mausoleum. Just bury them as ordinary princes,” Zhou Shiyao said.

"As you command!" Duan Lixing withdrew.

"Your Majesty! The number one swordsman of the Northern Desert has also been captured!" Duan Lixing said.

"Is that the person who challenged the martial arts masters of our Great Lu Kingdom? Wasn't he said to be Shou Shangxing's disciple?" Zhou Shiyao said.

"Yes!"

"I have just received a battle report from the northwest border. The report says that Shou Shangxing has made great contributions to our army on the northwest border. Let's send this number one swordsman of the northern desert to the prison for now!" Zhou Shiyao said.

"According to the order!"

Zhou Shiyao returned to Fuyuan Palace and summoned Yun Ze into the palace.

"Prime Minister Yun! News has come from the Northern Border that the negotiations between the two countries have ended and the treaty has been signed. Li Chaoyang played a significant role in the Northern Border this time. Tell me, is there no one to protect this world without the Li family father and son?" Zhou Shiyao said.

“Your Majesty! Li Chaoyang and his son are loyal to the country. I hope Your Majesty can be more tolerant of them and leave the rest to time!” Yunze said.

“And Cao Yong! I sent him to the northwest border as a grain and provisions officer, but he colluded with the Western Regions and secretly interacted with Zhou Moyao and his son. This makes me very angry. I misjudged him!” Zhou Shiyao said.

"We must have the Court of Judicial Review thoroughly investigate the crimes of Imperial Censor Cao once we return to the capital! This will be an explanation to His Majesty," Yunze said.

“Let’s do as Yun Xiang said,” Zhou Shiyao said.

"Is His Majesty's decree to arrest Li Linlie and bring him back to the capital still valid?" Yunze asked.

"I am preparing to issue three imperial edicts. The first is to pardon and reward Li Linlie, the second is to commend the soldiers in the northern border, and the third is to commend the soldiers on the northeastern border. I will dictate them, and Prime Minister Yun will write them down for me!" Zhou Shiyao said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Yunze felt a weight lifted from his heart.

The three imperial edicts, delivered by urgent messenger over an eight-hundred-mile journey, quickly reached the border.

After receiving the imperial edict, Chai Gu had to return to Yulu City immediately. Before leaving, he only took his eldest son with him, leaving his three younger sons on the northeastern border.

"Yin Shuo! I'm entrusting them to you! Train them well! Don't feel sorry for me!" Chai Gu said.

"Don't worry, teacher! I will!" Yin Shuo said.

“We’re leaving! This place is in your hands!” Chai Gu said.

"General Yin! Everything here depends on you! See you in the capital!" Wei Qiao said.

"Teacher! General Wei! Take care on your journey! Farewell!" Yin Shuo saw them off at Pingcheng and watched them until they were out of sight before returning to the city.

Yin Shuo sat in his room for a while, the image of Shangguan Xingyun resurfacing in his mind, refusing to leave.

At this moment, Yin Shuo felt an impulse. He wanted to immediately chase after Shangguan Xingyun to find her and tell her in person that he loved her and that he could put aside fame and fortune to travel the world with her.

As Shangguan Xingyun gazed at the starry sky in the military camp, Yin Shuo's image inadvertently flashed before her eyes. She couldn't help but laugh at herself for becoming so frivolous, for not thinking of a man for no reason.