The White Tiger Festival Hall was silent, and even the candle flames no longer flickered.

Jiang Xianzong sat behind the desk, staring at Zhang Xia, who also sat in a chair, returning the gaze of this West Capital Road Jiedu Envoy. They were in a standoff.

Both of them tried to glean some clues from the other's eyes, hoping to gain a slight advantage in this psychological battle, but both failed.

Jiang Xianzong leaned forward slightly, staring at Zhang Xia, and asked, "I can't understand why I can't become the Council Chief Executive Officer. I hope the envoy can enlighten me. If you can't give a reasonable explanation, I'm afraid you'll die here in my White Tiger Festival Hall."

Zhang Xia smiled slightly and turned to the little monk: "Go outside and wait for me."

The little monk acknowledged and turned to leave the White Tiger Festival Hall.

Inside the hall, only Jiang Xianzong and Zhang Xia remained. Jiang Xianzong said casually, "The envoy is planning to deceive me. That boy has no depth. You sent him out because you're afraid he might give something away?"

Zhang Xia, exposed but not admitting, only smiled and said, "Actually, throughout the court and the public, there is no one more suitable than you, Commander, for this position."

Jiang Xianzong sneered: "It's a bit late to say good things now."

Zhang Xia said with a smile: "Commander, who do you think, besides yourself, is capable of contending for this position? If someone wants to compete, they must at least know who their opponent is."

Jiang Xianzong calmly said: "Champion Marquis, Lu Jin, only these two."

Zhang Xia shook his head: "Champion Marquis Yuan Heng Lizhen does not qualify. Although he has led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry for many years, he is merely a capable general, not a leader. He has his heart set on becoming the first Martial Saint of two dynasties. If he can achieve sainthood, he will naturally transcend all worldly matters. He has no interest in the court affairs and disdains them."

Jiang Xianzong remained expressionless: "So only Lu Jin is left."

Zhang Xia continued: "Lu Jin holds great power, controlling both the Military Intelligence Department and commanding the loyalty of the Hu Ben Army. Now, even the people from the Temple of Martial Arts are coming down the mountain to support him, naturally making him the strongest candidate. But he belongs to Yuan Xiang, and the Emperor would naturally not want to see Yuan Xiang dominate both court and public."

Jiang Xianzong laughed: "So it seems I am indeed the most suitable?"

Zhang Xia changed the subject: "Actually, there is someone even more suitable than you, Commander."

Jiang Xianzong frowned: "Who?"

Zhang Xia said meaningfully: "Yuan Zhen."

Jiang Xianzong was visibly stunned: "Yuan Zhen is already dead at Guyuan, his remains never found... but Yuan Zhen was indeed more suitable than I am."

Yuan Zhen led the Heavenly Strategy Army for many years and also served as the Longyou Road Military Governor for a long time. He held significant prestige in the court and carried no personal bias. When he set out for Guyuan, the Emperor of the Jing Dynasty personally wrote an Imperial Decree in blood for him, making him a true confidant and direct subordinate of the Emperor Jing.

If Yuan Zhen were still alive, no one else would have had a chance at becoming the Council Chief Executive Officer.

But Yuan Zhen died, unexpectedly.

Zhang Xia again spoke with meaning: "Commander, Yuan Zhen had always been steady and composed, retreating unharmed even in defeats during multiple southern expeditions. Why, then, did he die at Guyuan this time?"

Jiang Xianzong's fingers brushed the scabbard: "Does the envoy imply that Yuan Zhen died at the hands of Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin? Victory and defeat are common for military strategists. From the day we donned our armor, we were prepared to die on the battlefield and have our bodies wrapped in horse hide. It's nothing unusual."

Zhang Xia smiled and countered with a question: "Then may I ask, Commander, do you know why Yuan Zhen ventured south this time?"

Jiang Xianzong grasped the sword hilt, slowly drawing the sword from its sheath: "The Southern Dynasty's Imperial Three Camps were restrained by me and Yuan Heng Lizhen at Chongli Pass and couldn't move. The spies from the Military Intelligence Department under Lu Guanwu reported that the Crown Prince of Ning Dynasty was ordered to go to Guyuan, an opportunity too rare to miss..."

As he spoke to this point, his brows furrowed deeply.

Lu Guanwu had only been in charge of the Military Intelligence Department for a year; before that, it was Lu Jin who held control.

Zhang Xia, for the third time, spoke with deeper meaning: "Commander, how did Yuan Zhen lose?"

Jiang Xianzong spoke in a deep voice: "The Liu Family's Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry of Ning Dynasty suddenly appeared outside Guyuan City, and the Elephant Armor Camp had long been ambushed there..."

Zhang Xia interrupted: "Thousands of Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry and more than ten thousand in the Elephant Armor Camp. From Henan Province to Guyuan, it's a route of fifteen hundred miles, passing through twelve cities. As a man of the army, Commander surely knows the manpower required to transport military supplies. Did the Military Intelligence Department really not know they had arrived at Guyuan?"

Jiang Xianzong remained silent, carefully contemplating the implications.

The exploits of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department over the years need no mention. Many forces wanted to intervene, but Lu Jin guarded it tightly. Yuan Cheng barely managed to find the opportunity to force Lu Jin to resign and retreat, inserting Lu Guanwu. Yet, within just one year, Lu Guanwu was killed, and Yuan Cheng was captured and taken to the Ning Dynasty...

Zhang Xia observed his expression, pressing the argument: "Commander, what do you think led to Yuan Cheng's capture by the Ning Dynasty?"

Jiang Xianzong showed subtle movement in his expression: "The envoy's words about Yuan Zhen's defeat are mostly speculative, without solid evidence. As for the capture of Yuan Cheng, if the envoy continues to speak of hearsay and groundless words, I shall no longer entertain it."

Zhang Xia earnestly said: "Surely, Commander already has the answer in mind. Lu Jin has been meticulously planning and striving for the position of Council Chief Executive Officer for years, and now with the Temple of Martial Arts as a backing, how could he easily give up? If you go to the central command, can you really deal with someone so ruthless?"

Jiang Xianzong unsheathed his sword and placed it on the desk: "Lu Jin is ruthless, but I am not without my abilities."

Zhang Xia resolutely stated: "If the Commander agrees to Yuan Xiang's terms, it would merely fall into Yuan Xiang's plan to kill two birds with one stone. It could both prevent Yuan Cheng from returning to court and use the Commander as leverage against Lu Jin. I'm afraid Yuan Xiang would be overjoyed in his dreams. But the real question is, Commander, do you wish to be used as a tool by others?"

The White Tiger Festival Hall fell silent again. Zhang Xia's words cut through the air like a knife and pierced into Jiang Xianzong's heart.

Zhang Xia felt confident inside, knowing she had persuaded Jiang Xianzong.

But just then, Jiang Xianzong suddenly smiled and said: "Such a formidable young person, it's no wonder you dared to break into my White Tiger Festival Hall with such skills... I'm a bit reluctant to let you return to the Southern Dynasty."

As soon as this was said, Zhang Xia's heart skipped a beat!

She leaned back against the chair, feigning composure as she said, "What does the Commander mean by this? I am Zhang Xiguang from Shangjing of Liaoyang Prefecture..."

Jiang Xianzong raised his sword, pointing it at Zhang Xia. "Zhang Xiguang is one of my people. Did you really think I wouldn't know what she looks like?"

Zhang Xia smiled and said, "Commander..."

Jiang Xianzong interrupted, "Don't think I'm bluffing. Her travel document states that she lives in Long Willow Lane, Ande Square, her husband is Zhou Sheng, and her distant cousin is Zhou Zhixue. They're all my people... who are you really?"

Zhang Xia tightened her grip on the armrest, her thoughts gradually sinking: Jiang Xianzong was not bluffing her.

No wonder someone from Shangjing of Liaoyang Prefecture would travel such a long distance to deliver grain to Baidadan City. It turns out this grain team was originally sent by Jiang Xianzong to gather information on Shangjing.

Third Master Hu probably never expected that this travel document would harbor such a perilous secret.

After a long time, Zhang Xia's tense body suddenly relaxed. She released the armrest, smiled calmly, and said, "Commander, it doesn't matter who I am. Everything that was supposed to be said has been said, and you have made your decision. As for me, whether I live or die is up to you."

Jiang Xianzong said with interest, "Resigned to death? Quite some courage. What's intriguing is how a mere woman is so perceptive of our Jing Dynasty's court affairs. You're no ordinary person; capturing you might be a great achievement for me."

Zhang Xia shook her head. "That's all unimportant. What matters is that you, Commander, need to ensure the envoys proceed southward and that Yingyuan City returns to the court. Only this move can change the whole situation. No matter how the court fights, you can continue to be the Jiedu Envoy of Western Capital Road and maintain the peace for the people. Commander, Western Capital Road has suffered disasters year after year, the people cannot endure more war."

Jiang Xianzong slowly withdrew the sword pointing at Zhang Xia and placed it on the table: "I'm about to hand over Baidadan City to the Southern Dynasty, leaving the gates of Western Capital Road wide open. How can I be at ease?"

Zhang Xia suddenly said, "The Commander should know that for the Ning Dynasty, gaining Baidadan City is more harmful than beneficial. They don't want it; they'll want something else."

Jiang Xianzong mused, "What do they want?"

Zhang Xia did not answer anymore.

Jiang Xianzong sneered, "Do you really think I won't kill you?"

Zhang Xia paid no mind to the issue of life and death and said calmly, "Commander, the envoy Jiang Xiansheng is on a mountain path twenty miles outside the city, pursued all the way to Western Capital Road, in grave danger... Please, Commander, quickly bring him back to Baidadan City."

Jiang Xianzong said with a murderous look, "You, being from the Southern Dynasty, barged into my White Tiger Festival Hall, and even though you are a woman, I should still execute you."

Zhang Xia continued on her own, "Commander, someone under your command is plotting to assassinate the envoy. You must go personally; otherwise, if the envoy is attacked, it will be hard for you to explain."

Jiang Xianzong asked, "You risk your life to come here just to have me bring back the envoy? Why?"

Zhang Xia replied, "If Jiang Xiansheng dies in Western Capital Road, and Yuan Cheng can't return to the court to check Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin, within three years there will surely be a great war between the two dynasties! Western Capital Road will be ravaged, with corpses everywhere!"

Jiang Xianzong asked, "Are you truly unafraid of death?"

Zhang Xia answered, "By that time, nine out of ten homes in Western Capital Road will be empty, mothers without sons, wives without husbands, fields without farmers, roads without travelers. Is this what you want, Commander?"

The White Tiger Festival Hall fell silent once more; neither spoke further.

Both possessed strong minds and would not change their decisions based on others' words.

Zhang Xia knew she had said all she could, and Jiang Xianzong also knew that this woman genuinely feared no death.

Zhang Xia suddenly smiled and said, "Earlier the Commander asked where I got the travel document from. I bought it from the Military Intelligence Department."

Jiang Xianzong laughed heartily, "Facing death without fear? Even at death's door, you want to sow discord among the nobles of our dynasty. Interesting!"

Zhang Xia remained silent.

Jiang Xianzong looked at Zhang Xia from afar, "Girl, throughout the histories of the two dynasties, there have been many remarkable achievements by envoys. Su Yue borrowed five thousand cavalry from the barbarians to suppress a rebellion; Zhang Jian was held in the barbarians for over ten years, never losing his mission; Li Yuan led thirty-six followers to raid the royal court at night; Fu Jie orchestrated the assassination of the King of Loulan during a state banquet in Loulan... I always thought the historians exaggerated, but now that I've met you, I finally believe it threefold."

Zhang Xia said earnestly, "Commander, there's no time to lose."

Jiang Xianzong got up and walked around the desk to leave: "Although I don't know why you're in such a hurry, as you wish, I will personally go retrieve the envoy..."

He walked to the red gate and looked back at Zhang Xia, "Rest assured, you won't die. I don't kill women, nor do I kill envoys. I only hope I won't regret letting you return to the Southern Dynasty."

With that, he walked out of the White Tiger Festival Hall and loudly ordered, "Bring my horse, follow me to welcome the envoy back into the city."

The sound of horse hooves clattered outside, then gradually faded away.

Zhang Xia slowly sat down, holding onto the chair, and breathed lightly.

The little monk rushed into the White Tiger Festival Hall, noticing Zhang Xia's slightly trembling fingers, he looked into her eyes, "Benefactor..."

Zhang Xia asked with a smile, "What, do I look unwell?"

The little monk nodded.

Zhang Xia rubbed her face, "How about now?"

The little monk honestly replied, "Much better... Benefactor is becoming more and more like Benefactor Chen Ji."