The plan went as smoothly as expected, even better than anticipated.

The Duke of Guardian was so angry he almost wanted to kill someone.

The Heir of the Duke of Guardian looked at the Duke and said, "Father, now that General Shi has not received the antidote, why not take this opportunity to...?"

He did not say the last three words, ’get rid of him’.

The Duke of Guardian did want to get rid of General Shi, but General Shi had considerable prestige in the army, and this matter had already become such a big issue, truly killing General Shi could not be concealed.

If Daqi seized the opportunity to attack the city, it’s feared that Nanliang would suffer a crushing defeat.

This was something he had never done, and he would not bear this blame.

After the military doctor confirmed it was the antidote, Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi took it back to General Shi’s tent and administered it to him.

General Shi’s subordinates were on high alert.

They were fully prepared to fight hard.

With the enemy at hand, the Duke of Guardian didn’t think of reclaiming the city but wanted General Shi’s life.

The Emperor entrusted him to protect the country, and sooner or later it will be buried in his hands!

After taking the antidote, within half a cup of tea time, the military doctor pricked General Shi’s fingertip with a needle, and he regained consciousness.

After sleeping for so many days, General Shi’s back had gone stiff.

He was weak all over, his breath as faint as a wisp of smoke.

His memory still lingered on his drunkenness, he rubbed his temples and asked, "How long have I been drunk?"

Young Master Shi’s nose tingled with emotion.

Knowing his father’s survival, he could only imagine how these days had been for him.

Dong Chenglang hurriedly informed General Shi about the poisoning and how they had just retrieved the antidote from the Duke of Guardian’s tent.

The look on General Shi’s face had never been so grim.

The Heir of the Duke of Guardian had brought the Emperor’s edict and fine wine, and he thought the previous matters were wiped clean, never imagining they would poison him with wine!

Dong Chenglang said, "The Duke of Guardian wants Uncle’s life, the antidote has been found, yet he denies it, what does Uncle plan to do?"

General Shi frowned deeply, "I believe it wasn’t the Duke of Guardian who poisoned me."

"Uncle!"

"Father!"

Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi spoke in unison.

General Shi raised his hand and said, "Let General Liu and the others return to train the soldiers, Nanliang cannot fall into internal discord."

Several generals were outside the tent, and General Shi’s words infuriated them to the point they nearly rushed in.

The others were close to taking General Shi’s life, how could he still think it’s just internal discord?!

Who could have planted the antidote in the secret compartment beneath the Duke of Guardian’s bed?

If capable of such, why not directly steal the Border Defense Map?

Killing the Duke of Guardian would be easier than removing General Shi, wouldn’t it?

They only looked to General Shi’s leadership; since he chose to trust the Duke of Guardian, what could they say?

Besides, they truly did not wish to escalate tensions with the Duke of Guardian, it was just that he had gone too far.

General Shi ordered them to train, and they had no choice but to comply.

The Duke of Guardian’s men reported to him, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

In the tent, Dong Chenglang was at a loss for words; though this time he wasn’t the one who poisoned him, the result was nearly what he had hoped for.

He thought his uncle would become rebellious, never expecting him to trust the Duke of Guardian even more.

Dong Chenglang looked at Xie Jingchen’s hand on his shoulder and said, "Don’t stop me."

Xie Jingchen said, "The Great General does not trust the Duke of Guardian, it’s just for the greater good."

Dong Chenglang paused, looking at General Shi.

General Shi regarded Xie Jingchen with evaluation in his gaze, unexpected that he knew his deepest thoughts that were unknown to both his son and nephew.

"Father?" Young Master Shi tested cautiously.

General Shi glanced outside the tent.

The guard on standby stepped out to watch over the tent.

General Shi, feeling weak all over, sat upright and said, "It’s not a day or two that the Duke of Guardian has sought my military power."

"He used to just want the power, now he wants my life too, how can I tolerate that?"

"It’s just not yet time to lay everything bare."

Once there’s chaos within the army, if the news reaches the Capital City, the Shi Family and everyone in Changning Marquis Mansion wouldn’t escape.

He’d been compromising in the army, wasn’t it just for fear of harm coming to his family?

This aspect Dong Chenglang had never thought of, only now realizing how naive he had been.

Xie Jingchen said, "Young Master Zhao has yet to openly rebel, there is no rush for this matter."

General Shi’s attachment to the court was nearly exhausted by the Duke of Guardian, although he was the one who poisoned this time.

General Shi was already seeking a way out, the Duke of Guardian and the Emperor of Nanliang were cousins, the most trusted by the Emperor of Nanliang.

Under the heavens’ purview, unless a new Emperor replaced the old one, there was no path forward for him if marked by the Duke.

Few dared to oppose the court; Zhao Xu, backed by residual power from the Donglin Prince Mansion and having good relations with Daqi, stood the best chance of success.

Moreover, it was unlikely for General Shi to support someone else who clashed with his nephew.

Especially as Dong Chenglang detailed their necessity in approaching Zhao Xu to get the Daqi Prince Zhenbei’s Heir Consort to save them.

Zhao Xu’s effort to go to Daqi for him moved General Shi deeply.

Dong Chenglang, feeling relieved, did not disturb General Shi’s rest and left the tent.

Seeing no one around, Dong Chenglang looked at Xie Jingchen and asked, "Was it really the Duke who poisoned my uncle?"

When General Shi had said it wasn’t him, Dong Chenglang pondered and found it might indeed not be the case.

There were Nanliang people within the Daqi Camp, revealing the symptoms might expose themselves, right?

The Duke wouldn’t risk such a gamble, would he? But he had the antidote.

"It wasn’t," Xie Jingchen replied.

Dong Chenglang looked at Xie Jingchen, "Why do you think it wasn’t?"

"Because I was the one who administered the poison," Xie Jingchen said.

"...!!!"

Dong Chenglang stopped, eyes widened in disbelief, "How... how could it be you?!"

His voice briefly rose then quickly subdued.

Whatever Xie Jingchen’s reasons, at least he was honest.

Confiding in Dong Chenglang was Xie Jingchen’s carefully considered decision.

He feared this matter might one day drive a wedge between General Shi and Zhao Xu.

Dong Chenglang knew, if anything happened in the future, he could stand in front of it.

"Isn’t this what we planned?" Xie Jingchen said.

"..."

Dong Chenglang said nothing.

This was their plan, but at least he could have informed him in advance, right?

These past days, he’s been so worried he couldn’t eat or sleep, without a single word of it!

And wasn’t the poison in his hands before?

Previously blocking him, and now executing decisively, was he afraid of him messing it up?

"Was the antidote also your scheme to frame the Duke?" Dong Chenglang quietly asked.

"No," Xie Jingchen denied.

Dong Chenglang was puzzled, eager to know how Xie Jingchen managed to poison his uncle.

After all, there seemed no opportunity for him to poison.

Not only was his uncle poisoned, but also the wine jar.

Realizing this, Dong Chenglang’s body felt chilled.

It must have been when he supported his uncle, he poisoned the wine jar!

Before the military doctor checked, he had briefly moved close to the wine jar!

"Where did you get the poison?" Dong Chenglang asked.

"If I told you I found it, would you believe me?" Xie Jingchen asked.

"..."

Dong Chenglang stared at Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen did not avoid his gaze.

"Was it really found?" Dong Chenglang asked.

"..."

Someone approached from the distance, giving Xie Jingchen a chance to dodge the topic.

Unexpectedly, it was someone looking for him.

The Heir of the Duke of Guardian was seeking him.