He understood Xuanyuan Yan's intention. He was about to leave the capital, and after that, everything in Shengjing would no longer concern him.
He seemed to be aware of his current situation, so he didn't reveal anything.
After leaving Shengjing, he wouldn't be able to help with immediate issues, so he wouldn't need to get involved.
The words spoken by the master at Guanyuan Temple suddenly echoed in his ears. Could it be because of him?
"These days won't be peaceful, be extra cautious."
Qin Yi acknowledged, "Understood, sir."
Yan Chi and Yan Yang accompanied Qin Yuchuan to the military camp, where all the important personnel had already arrived.
Everyone gathered to discuss various matters concerning this war.
This military meeting lasted until noon before it concluded.
"General, I heard you encountered an ambush on your way here. Were you injured?" Na Muqi asked with concern.
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "It's nothing."
Na Muqi said, "This is probably someone trying to prevent you from leading the troops into battle. They won't give up after one failed attempt. General, you need to be extra careful these days."
"It's a crucial time now. If something happens to you, it will destabilize the army morale, which is disadvantageous to us."
Qin Yuchuan was like an anchor in the army. As long as he was present, everyone could feel at ease.
For this reason, Na Muqi always prioritized his safety.
"Na Mu, I'll be careful."
At the Prince's mansion.
Xuanyuan Yan sat in the study, listening to Ming Jiu's report.
"Your Highness, I've found that the Empress has close ties with Southern Frontier. The previous assassination attempts on General Qin were likely carried out by their spies."
Spies who could gain Xuanyuan Sheng's trust and even become the Empress despite being a commoner couldn't be simple characters.
"If I remember correctly, the royal family of Southern Frontier has the surname Murong, and the Empress is also surnamed Murong. Could this be a coincidence?"
Ming Jiu said, "Although Murong is the royal surname of Southern Frontier, it's quite common. Your Highness, do you suspect she's a member of their royal family?"
"Regardless, she must have some connection with Southern Frontier."
In the imperial court, there were plenty who disliked Qin Yuchuan.
But no one had ever truly wanted to kill him, because they all knew he was valiant in battle and unparalleled in strategy. Tianqi still relied on him.
It was understandable that Murong Yan and her group wanted to eliminate him for Southern Frontier's sake, but they had underestimated Qin Yuchuan's strength.
Having been a general for so many years, how could he not have any self-preservation skills?
Ming Jiu said, "Your Highness, I think this woman might ruin our plans. Should we deal with her secretly?"
"No need. It would be interesting to let Xuanyuan Sheng know that his bedmate has betrayed him." Perhaps this woman could become his aid.
Ming Jiu didn't quite understand his master's wicked sense of humor, but remembering what they had done to him initially, he felt that the dog emperor deserved to die.
It was time for his master to claim retribution for the suffering he had endured over the years.
On the night of the third day of the first lunar month, at Heyin Hall in the Tianqi Imperial Palace.
A grand farewell banquet was being held.
Qin Yuchuan watched the revelry in the hall with a solemn expression.
On the main seat, Xuanyuan Sheng frequently raised his cup in toasts, speaking words of encouragement and anticipation for a triumphant return.
The court officials very politely raised their wine cups and drank them dry.
Qin Yuchuan had also drunk quite a bit of the wine in front of him.
Murong Yan felt this was her last chance and she must seize it. She sent a palace maid to replace Qin Yuchuan's wine pot with one containing drugged wine.
Watching Qin Yuchuan, who seemed unaware, Murong Yan's anxious heart finally settled.
The drug in the wine pot wasn't some deadly poison. Arsenic and similar poisons would turn black upon contact with silver wine pots, easily detectable.
If such a thing happened at the palace banquet, Xuanyuan Sheng would surely investigate thoroughly, and she couldn't escape blame.
Therefore, what she had used was merely an aphrodisiac. For this purpose, she had even specially arranged a woman for him.
If he were to engage in illicit relations with a royal consort, even if Xuanyuan Sheng urgently needed to use him, he probably wouldn't be able to set out for battle tomorrow.
Qin Yuchuan, having spent years in military camps, had learned to drink early on.
He also had some knowledge about wine, and moreover, the scent of the aphrodisiac was quite strong, easily detectable.
Qin Yuchuan looked towards Murong Yan in her high seat. Her expression was calm as water, revealing nothing.
But at today's banquet, she should be the only one harboring ill intentions towards him.
He wanted to see exactly what she planned to do.
Qin Yuchuan excused himself, claiming dizziness and went out for a walk. He saw a suspicious-looking little palace maid.
He decided to follow her, and after arriving behind a dilapidated palace hall, the little palace maid disappeared without a trace.
Qin Yuchuan stepped into the hall and saw a plainly dressed royal consort. Combining this with the drug in the wine earlier, he realized what the plan was.
"Who... who are you?"
Faced with a strange man suddenly appearing in her chambers, fear took over.
Qin Yuchuan didn't linger long, "I followed a suspicious palace maid here. Please forgive my intrusion, my lady."
As he finished speaking and prepared to leave, unexpectedly, the great doors of the palace were suddenly shut.
"What... what's going on?" the royal consort asked nervously.
Even the doors of an abandoned palace hall weren't easy to break.
Though the door was bolted from the outside, who said they had to exit through the door?
With a single leap, he was out of the palace hall.
"My lady, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly come out? Quickly return to the hall to rest, don't catch a chill!"
The thinly-clad palace maid supported the royal consort back into the hall, as if nothing had happened.
Qin Yuchuan returned to Heyin Hall as if nothing was amiss. Murong Yan thoughtfully observed the wine pot in his hand.
She had clearly seen him drink it, where had things gone wrong?
"General Qin is valiant in battle. This time too, you will surely achieve great victory. I drink to you, General, wishing you a smooth journey!"
Qin Yuchuan had to accept Murong Yan's toast, after all, she was the Empress.
Although the court officials were unwilling to acknowledge her status, they wouldn't disrespect her in public.
He only had this one pot of wine in front of him. It seemed she wasn't willing to give up.
"General, are you unwilling to give me face?" Murong Yan asked.
Qin Yuchuan poured himself a cup and drank it, but didn't touch the wine cup again.
Murong Yan observed his every move from the corner of her eye, but saw that he remained as usual, without any change.
She began to doubt if that wine was the one she had prepared, but that wine pot was indeed the one she had marked, it couldn't be wrong.
He had clearly drunk that wine just now, could he be enduring the effects?
The dose of the aphrodisiac powder was quite strong; she was certain he wouldn't be able to maintain his composure until the end of the banquet.
At this moment, Qin Yuchuan's entire body felt feverish. He barely managed to endure by suppressing it with his inner energy.
After the banquet ended, Qin Yuchuan didn't linger for pleasantries and hastily departed.
Murong Yan watched his somewhat flustered figure retreating, a dazzling smile on her face.
She had already made several preparations. At this point, he should have little energy left to deal with wave after wave of assassination attempts.
After tonight, the War God of Tianqi would cease to exist, and there would be a chance for victory in this battle for the Southern Frontier.
