"Mother Consort, please beg Father Emperor for me, I am his biological son, I don't want to go to the Northwest Battlefield to face certain death," Xiahou Hong pleaded with Noble Princess Consort Luo.

"Crown Prince, this is not up to you. The military order has been issued, and in at most five days, we must depart. Yulang will also accompany the army this time. During these days, Crown Prince, please take good care of your injuries and make sure not to cause any more trouble," Hong Fang sternly said. After speaking, he glanced at the Chou Alchemist, who understood the hint and quickly followed Hong Fang out.

As soon as Hong Fang left, Noble Princess Consort Luo quickly pulled Xiahou Hong over.

"Hong'er, this time your mother can't help you. You have no choice but to go to the Northwest Battlefield. However, you can rest assured that I have found two capable guards for you. With them by your side, you'll be safe as long as you don't encounter any Spiritual Beasts above the ninth grade," Noble Princess Consort Luo said, and then clapped her hands. Two masked figures walked in.

The two masked figures were one tall and one short.

The tall one was about two meters in height, with a slim figure and particularly long limbs.

The short one was round and plump, resembling a short winter melon.

Both of them bowed to Noble Princess Consort Luo and then pulled off their masks

Seeing the faces under the masks, Xiahou Hong was startled. The taller one, with a pair of large protruding ears, was called Zhao Feng.

The shorter one had a nose unlike ordinary people's, resembling a pig's snout. He was named Bi Emperor.

Xiahou Hong usually favored pretty and tender children and detested those with ugly appearances the most. The thought that his Mother Consort wanted these two odd figures to follow him filled his face with disgust.

After noticing Xiahou Hong's expression, Noble Princess Consort Luo lowered her voice and said.

"Hong'er, do not offend these two Lords. Although they are hideous, they are very capable. Zhao Feng's ears can hear the slightest movements several miles away to help you detect enemy attacks and ambushes. As for Bi Emperor's nose, it's unmatched in the world and can help you track down enemies who have disguised themselves. They have both been sent by your biological father, from thousands of miles away, to protect you."

"Mother Consort, what are you saying? What biological father? Am I not Father Emperor's son?" Xiahou Hong was greatly shocked.

"Mother Consort can no longer hide it from you at this point. Yes, you are not Emperor Xia's son. You are a Beiqing person, and your biological father is also from Beiqing. Back then, while pregnant, your biological father sent me to Daxia, and I became a consort in the Xia Palace. I have been painstakingly managing affairs for many years, all to let you, inherit Daxia, and become Emperor Xia," Noble Princess Consort Luo said, her heart filled with extreme hatred for Emperor Xia after seeing her beloved son stripped of his Crown Prince title and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince collapsed to the ground.

So it turned out that he was not some noble Crown Prince of Daxia, but just a...

"Hong'er, don't be afraid. Your biological father may not be the Emperor, but he surpasses any Emperor. You are no lowly born bastard. Rest assured, just wait for the right moment, and you will definitely be able to recognize your lineage," Noble Princess Consort Luo knew that Xiahou Hong was proud and would need time to accept this reality.

"Little Master, don't worry. Our master surpasses that so-called Emperor father of yours by a long shot. With our brotherly help, Little Master will certainly shine in this Northwest Beast Chaos," Zhao Feng said in a strange and eerie voice.

"Mother Consort, since I'm not Emperor Xia's son, then Xiahou Qi and I are no longer brothers?" Xiahou Hong seemed to remember something, his face showing a continuous flicker of emotions.

Noble Princess Consort Luo glanced at Xiahou Hong and saw a strange radiance blossoming on his gaunt face.

Noble Princess Consort Luo's heart trembled. Could it be that her Hong'er harbored inappropriate thoughts towards Xiahou Qi?

"Mother Consort, rest assured, I've changed my mind. To inherit the throne, I have decided to go to the Northwest Battlefield," declared Xia Houhong, as if he had become a different person.

As for his biological father, Xia Houhong didn't care much. What he was concerned about was how to maintain his noble status. Once he became Emperor Xia, the first thing he would do was to execute that lowly wench from Lan Residence, and then confine Xiahou Qi, making him his plaything forever.

At this thought, Xia Houhong burst into raucous laughter.

Outside the sleeping quarters, Hong Fang and Chou Alchemist also heard Xia Houhong's sick laughter.

Since being released from the Heavenly Prison, the Fourth Prince seemed to have changed completely, becoming crazier and more peculiar, Hong Fang and Chou Alchemist mused silently.

But now both of them were also trapped, having chosen to align with Noble Princess Consort Luo and Xia Houhong.

"Vice Director Chou, congratulations on turning misfortune into luck and reentering the Imperial Hospital," said Hong Fang, pulling himself out of his thoughts and congratulating Chou Alchemist with a cupped-hand salute.

Speaking of which, Xia Houhong's use of a self-harming strategy to treat Emperor Xia's headache was originally to get Xia Houhong out of prison. Although that goal was not achieved, it accidentally led to Emperor Xia starting to value Chou Alchemist again.

Chou Alchemist was promoted back to his position as Deputy Chief of the Imperial Hospital, now responsible for preparing Headache Pills for Emperor Xia.

"It was also thanks to Lord Grand Protector's strong support," Chou Alchemist flattered.

"I am no longer the Grand Protector, Vice Director Chou should still be careful in his words," said Hong Fang with a faint smile.

"With Lord Grand Protector's ability and talent, resuming the original position is just a matter of time. Not to mention, Lord Grand Protector is heading to the northwest to suppress the rebellion. If you can make great achievements, it is not just restoring your official position; there is even a possibility of being granted a title and becoming a chancellor," Chou Alchemist said, his face full of compliments.

Truly, Chou Alchemist envied these Military Officers who could go to the battlefield. In Daxia, although Alchemists could serve in the government, it was impossible for them to reach the level of being granted a title or becoming a chancellor.

Only Martial Artists who went to the battlefield to earn military merit could truly bring glory to their family name.

"Why does Chou Alchemist say this? There is a great opportunity at hand, depending on whether Chou Alchemist is willing to take it or not. A distress letter has also arrived today from Dan City, which borders the Northwest Battlefield. Several days ago, a Master Alchemist who was transporting Elixir Pills to the Northwest Battlefield encountered a beast attack and unfortunately died. Now Dan City urgently needs a Master Alchemist," said Hong Fang, who as the commander of the suppression forces in the northwest, received this news much earlier than most.

Even the Imperial Hospital and Lan Yingwu were not aware of this news yet.

Dan City is located in the northwest of Daxia, amidst rugged mountains and rivers. It was originally a remote Mountain City, but due to its special geographic location, it was chosen as a gathering place for Alchemists of the northwest region.

Dan City is similar to the Imperial Hospital; the Alchemists there specialize in refining Elixir Pills to support the frontline of the Northwest Battlefield.

Soldiers wounded on the Northwest Battlefield would also be sent to Dan City at the earliest opportunity to receive treatment.

It can be said that the best Alchemists in Daxia were either in the Imperial Hospital in Xia Capital or in Dan City.

And a Master Alchemist, to put it bluntly, is the one who leads the Alchemists of Daxia in Dan City, managing the refining of Elixir Pills to rescue the wounded. His status is similar to the director in charge of the Imperial Hospital.