After the interstellar female general died in battle, she transmigrated into the body of a dashing p

Upon seeing the visitor, Zheng Zhian asked Zong Zhenping to apologize to Old Master Yu, as she was about to leave.

Zong Zhenping refused... Of course, that was impossible. He responded in a gentle voice, and was extremely enthusiastic: "If needed, I, Zong..." Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Zhian's figure had already almost disappeared around the corner, "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse." The remaining words swirled in his throat.

"Still looking?" Yang Lai waved his hand up and down in front of Zong Zhenping's eyes, looking surprised as if he were seeing him for the first time. "Hey, put it away."

Hearing him say this, the reluctance in Zong Zhenping's eyes slowly sank to the bottom, and he murmured:

"It's obvious?"

"Heh." Yang Lai rolled his eyes, then put on his composed and self-possessed noble demeanor again: "You're practically wearing your 'I like you' on your sleeve."

Before learning Zheng Zhian's true identity, Yang Lai never even considered that possibility. But seeing the brat's attitude today, it's no wonder he sent a stranger to his birthday party.

Zong Zhenping smiled with a hint of bitterness: "Writing it down would be a good idea if it were useful."

“You…” Yang Lai admired Zheng Zhi’an’s temperament, but that didn’t mean he approved of Zong Zhenping getting too close to her: “Are you in such a hurry to return to the Northern Border because of her?”

What he really wanted to say was: Have you been blinded by lust?

Let alone provoking Zheng Zhian, even getting involved with the simplest of the imperial heirs, the Fourth Princess, could easily lead to certain death.

He had been investigating the truth behind the Northern Barbarian raid in the seventh year of the Hongwu reign and the defeat at Anhui City, and he also wanted to regain military power. Every single one of these tasks was a dangerous undertaking.

Now, Zong Zhenping is recklessly interfering in the affairs of Arslan, disregarding everything else and determined to return to the northern border. His years of planning have been disrupted, and a single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Yang Lai wished he could crack open Zong Zhenping's head to see if swill had gotten inside.

“Cousin.” Zong Zhenping knew his worries. Explaining directly would only make him seem impulsive, so it was better to let him see for himself.

“Uguwa sent his son to the court, but instead had 20,000 troops used as a racecourse on the other side of the Luandie River. What do you think his purpose was?”

The Yang family's position dictated that they had to keep a close eye on military movements from all sides. Although Yang Lai was not favored by his father at home, he held a real position in the army and had his own keen sense of the situation on the border.

"It is rumored that Arslan is Uguwa's favorite son. Judging from the methods Uguwa has used to deal with various tribes over the years, besides wanting to train his son, he probably also wanted to test Anchong."

“If that were all, it would be fine, but I’m afraid…” Zong Zhenping’s surroundings seemed to suddenly be covered with a layer of frost. “Back then, when Ele died on the way back, Wuguwa took the opportunity to push all the military mistakes onto him, and also threw the mud at Anchong for the cause of that war.”

He, Uguwa, was initially impatient for quick results in unifying the tribes, but his actions, a complete reversal of fortune, made him the savior of the northern barbarian tribes.

"He's a remarkable person," Yang Lai commented aptly.

Few knew the details back then. Yang Lai never expected that Wuguwa had such a good grasp of the situation and timing. No wonder he was able to unify the Northern Barbarian tribes that had been ruling independently for nearly a hundred years.

Zong Zhenping scoffed, "Ele's son, Arsleng, was forced by various pressures to marry his daughter to Wuguwa back then, but the Atata tribe has never considered itself a vassal, and there are many frictions between the people of the two tribes."

"If Uguwa wants to attack Anchong now, how do you think we can make the Atata tribe quickly forget their past and unite with him?"

"No wonder, the way he was strangled back then was so suspicious." Yang Lai suddenly realized, piecing together the entire sequence of events from back then. A chill ran down his spine, and an almost cold-blooded guess surged into his mind.

"If Arslan dies in Anchong..." Yang Lai's expression suddenly froze.

If Arslan died in Anchong, then the death of Ele back then could be confirmed as being caused by Anchong.

The previous misunderstandings between the Atata tribe and Wuguwa are now turning into reality as the anger accumulated by the Atata tribe over the years is set to be directed at Anchong—Wuguwa will completely unify the Northern Barbarians.

“Even tigers don’t eat their cubs, is Wuguwa really that ruthless?” Yang Lai didn’t want to believe it, but he knew the truth in his heart.

For an ambitious man, exchanging a son for a tribe would mean completely unifying all tribes, while also having a legitimate reason to send troops against An Chong—a win-win situation...

Yang Lai instantly understood Zong Zhenping's meaning.

Regaining military power is of utmost urgency!

————Yuanfu————

Zheng Zhian stepped into the courtyard, and the courtyard seemed to be shrouded in overwhelming murderous aura. Yuan Ming sat bowing on the stone steps, holding Xiao Bai without blinking, his eyes red as if he was about to cry blood tears.

Sanba stubbornly squatted on the farthest wall of the courtyard, not daring to touch the ground.

The moment he saw Zheng Zhian, it was as if he had seen a god descending from the sky.

"Master!" The last syllable rose in pitch, as if expressing relief mixed with some worry.

Ling Fei lagged behind Zheng Zhi'an by a step, and paused when he saw Yuan Ming's condition.

Zheng Zhian stopped two steps away from Yuan Ming, his expression calm: "What happened?"

"Someone's here." Sanba had just started to speak when Yuan Ming interrupted her: "An'an, Xiaobai... is dead."

He carefully held Xiaobai in his arms, then looked up and suddenly tears fell to the ground, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

The person who had always only known how to get angry and seek revenge, and who was always happy and playful, was now like a fragile porcelain doll, looking at Zheng Zhian with a wronged expression and silently choking up.

Zheng Zhian never expected that his little one would be bullied on his own turf.

Do you really think I'm some kind of clay figurine made by the government?

"Don't cry, I'll take care of them for you." Zheng Zhian squatted down, comforting him while wiping away his tears with his fingertips.

These words were like a switch, and tears started flowing out like a broken string.

"Xiaobai...I want...hiccup...Xiaobai..." Yuan Ming's eyes were blurry, and he couldn't see Zheng Zhian's expression clearly. He only knew that with An'an in front of him, he couldn't help but want to cry. "And...and Zhu Zhiling...want her too..."

Zheng Zhian gently patted Yuan Ming's back to help him catch his breath. "I know, take a deep breath." His voice softened even more. "Let's go in and see Zhu Zhiling first, and then we can think about how to get revenge, okay?"

Yuan Ming's face turned red from holding back his words, and he could barely speak, nodding repeatedly.

Several people entered the house.

Zhu Zhiling's external injuries had been bandaged by the physician. Her face was pale, but her lips were a frighteningly dark purple. Her whole body was curled up, and sobs escaped from between her teeth. She looked as if she had just been pulled out of the water.

Zheng Zhi forcibly pressed down on one of her hands to take her pulse, and in an instant she gave up the idea of ​​calling the imperial physician.

"What exactly happened?" Her gaze fell on Sanba.

Sanba was startled by the stare, lowered her head, dared not look directly at him, swallowed silently, and quickly finished recounting what had happened.

After listening to Sanba's account, Zheng Zhian glanced at Yuan Ming, who was still in shock, and said softly, "Ling Fei."

"I'll go investigate now." Ling Fei said, then turned around.

Sanba dared not feel guilty or stay there alone, so he immediately said, "I remember what that person looks like. I'll go find someone to draw a portrait."

Just as Zheng Zhian was about to speak, a muffled groan of uncontrollable pain escaped his lips.

"Well-"

Zhu Zhiling bit her lower lip so hard that it bled, hoping to relieve the cramping pain in her body.

Dark purple blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

Zheng Zhian turned around and knocked Zhu Zhiling unconscious with a karate chop, but then worried that it might backfire.

If his master were here, he might know what kind of poison Zhu Zhiling had been poisoned with, and even if he didn't, he could probably save her life. The problem is, he's not here.

Only those old guys know about such strange and unusual poisons.

A sudden inspiration struck Zheng Zhian, and he blurted out, "Go to the Duke's mansion and invite Grandpa Feng over!"

If we can't count on our master, then perhaps Grandpa Feng, who has traveled extensively and is very knowledgeable in his youth, has a way. As long as we can save Zhu Zhiling's life for the time being, I don't believe that this 'old poisoner' can't figure out an antidote herself.

March 8th received the order and dared not delay for a moment.

Ling Fei, who had left outside the courtyard, returned, followed by two men, one of whom was being dragged along by a man in a white shirt.

This person was the one who attacked Zhu Zhiling and Yuan Ming, who then escaped.

Upon seeing him, Yuan Ming instantly leaped into the air and slammed his right fist into the man's face.

The man pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, including a tooth.

He glared at Yuan Ming with a sinister look, taunting, "Kill me, and this poisonous woman will be buried with me—it'll be a win for me! Haha..."