The Ningzhou Military Camp, where the Beiman transported the red sand ore.
A few veteran generals looked at the cartful of red sand ore, their eyes wide open, faces flushed with excitement. This red sand ore was hard-won by the Second Young Master, who nearly lost his eyesight for it. On the battlefield, every soldier longed for armor and weapons made from red sand ore, just like starving wolves in the mountains eyeing soft sheep with shining eyes.
Prince Kang was taken by Xie Xun to wash up, dressed in fine clothes and a jade belt, showing no sign of the dishevelment of being imprisoned. When Prince Kang met Xie Xun’s icy gaze, his spine tingled. He and Xie Xun had always been at odds, with deep-rooted enmity. He always felt that Xie Xun, relying on the power of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, was arrogant, despite the fact that this was the Yuwen family’s empire, yet he kept hearing malicious gossip.
They said that the Yuwen family’s empire was granted by the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, that the Marquis Mansion’s third son, Xie Ting Lanjun, was ambitious, and that after subduing the Beiman, the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion would be able to override imperial power and aristocracy. When Xie Xun first returned to the capital, his left leg was injured. The Imperial Physician judged that he would be tormented by his leg injury for the rest of his life and could no longer fight on the battlefield. For a man of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, if he could not fight, he was considered a useless person. The world expected the men of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion to be god-like warriors, defending the borders.
An heir to the Marquis Mansion, who could not go to the battlefield, would be abandoned sooner or later. Prince Kang was arrogant and provocative in front of Xie Xun, thinking with one injured leg, Xie Xun would be nothing but a cripple, and his nature would be restrained. Yet every time he provoked Xie Xun, he got beaten up. When it reached Emperor Jianming, the Emperor would also side with Xie Xun and heavily punish him.
Prince Kang was quick-tempered and irritable, and after being provoked, he repeatedly made things difficult for Xie Xun. Their friction intensified; Prince Kang had never feared Xie Xun, but now, seeing Xie Xun’s frost-like face, a strange fear gripped Prince Kang.
If Xie Xun didn’t want him to stabilize the Beiman, Prince Kang believed Xie Xun wouldn’t hesitate to kill him with a sword outside the military tent to avenge the Marquis, the Eldest Young Master, and others!
No matter how hedonistic and flamboyant, Prince Kang was still a child raised in the palace. He sensitively noticed that Xie Xun had changed. He was no longer the Xie Xun who raced horses and schemed against him in the Imperial Garden.
He was the commander of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry.
One word from him could overturn the Yuwen empire.
He held life-and-death power, unwavering, transforming from the pampered young heir of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, protected by his father and brothers, into a self-reliant Prince Qin.
For the first time, Prince Kang faced Xie Xun like a stray dog, dejected and in pain. "Did he really kill my father, framing the Marquis?"
"He is your elder brother; you know him better than I do." Xie Xun sneered, "Yuwen Zhao, if the Beiman sensed a mutiny in Ningzhou, do you know what would happen? Do your job well; this is atonement for him."
Prince Kang looked up at the sky, clear and blue.
Of course, he knew what would happen if the Beiman detected a mutiny in Ningzhou. He had also heard the disputes between his father and elder brother. His elder brother always had the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion set in his sights.
After he ascended the throne, the Marquis Mansion guarded Ningzhou, given ample honor. Even if he conferred the title of King—which was of a different surname—they in Ningzhou did not obstruct his view; the Beiman had already negotiated peace, so why?
Prince Kang couldn’t comprehend. Since he was young, he knew he couldn’t compare to his elder brother, neither possessing the talent to open up territories nor having the ability to maintain and flourish the kingdom. He was merely a carefree Prince Xian under imperial protection.
He really couldn’t understand, how did it come to this!
As predicted by Xie Xun, Dugu Jing escorted the red sand ore to the front line. After months apart, Dugu Jing’s authority grew even stronger; his prestige at the Beiman Royal Court was stronger than even the Beiman King’s.
A strong younger brother and a weak elder brother are also not good for the Beiman Royal Court.
When Dugu Jing saw Xie Xun, he squinted his eyes, "For such an important handover of red sand ore, even if the Marquis doesn’t take me seriously, it should be General Zhao Wu Xie Zhang who comes to connect, why is it you?"