CHAPTER 1102: CHAPTER 604: XU JIANWEN’S KILLING GAME (PART 2)

Once Pei Niannu’s existence is discovered, it is highly likely to expose Princess Consort Lu Yaner’s role as a hidden agent.

This is an unacceptable loss.

As for the "Dragon Girl," Zhao Douan also plans to keep her as a trump card. It’s important to know that any trump card held in reserve now might be the decisive factor in the upcoming final battle with Prince Jing.

If he hides these two cards well, Zhao Douan can only rely on his martial skills openly.

But who knows if there’s a powerful magician within the rebel army, orchestrating something covertly during this meeting?

Therefore, he plans to bring at least one priest along to mitigate the risk.

As for Ji Yue, though also a magician, her skills are too singular, making her the last resort.

Yu Xiu’s eyes coldly fix on him: "Commander Zhao, as I have mentioned, our Heavenly Master Mansion has its rules. Please seek someone more capable."

I despise principled women... You’ll never get married like this... Zhao Douan rages helplessly.

At the table, Ji Yue, with disheveled hair cosplaying as Zhenzi, cautiously raises her hand: "Sir, I can..."

Zhao Douan glares irritably at Yu Xiu: "I didn’t come to ask you, I’m here to find Jin Jian, my junior sister!"

"..." Ji Yue lowers her hand weakly, feeling rejected, she buries her head in her chest.

Yu Xiu responds sarcastically, sneering: "You can’t just ask Jin Jian to do your bidding; don’t think having some filthy money..."

Just as she utters the word "money," the snoring of Jin Jian, who was sleeping heavily on the bed, abruptly stops, and her crystalline little ears perk up!

"..." Yu Xiu instantly falls silent, holding her breath with full concentration.

The snoring resumes: "Hoo, hoo..." and the ears flop back down.

Whoa... is she really that sensitive? Zhao Douan is taken aback, gazing at the bed. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively speaks: "Money..."

"Hoo... Ack!" The snoring halts again, and the ears perk up once more.

"...The day before yesterday, I received a letter..." Zhao Douan shifts his words.

The ears of Jin Jian flop down once more.

Zhao Douan changes his words again: "In the letter, there was a silver note..."

"Snap!" The small ears perk up again, like a humanoid antenna, and even anticipated with a kick.

"...An expired note, just like waste paper."

Jin Jian’s tense body relaxes again in her sleep, turning over and mumbling something as she enjoys her sweet dream.

The three of them: "..."

Yu Xiu feels a headache coming on, raising her hand to interrupt Zhao Douan, her gaze stern, like a school principal protecting a girl from bad influences: "Commander Zhao, Jin Jian is very pure."

Zhao Douan sighs: "Priest, you misunderstand me. Jin Jian and I have always had a pure monetary relationship. Actually, you might not know, we’ve collaborated many times in the Capital, and it’s always been pleasant. This time, I’m just hiring her to help dispel some risks. I’m willing to offer sincere compensation... Well, it’s still early, let’s let her sleep, we’ll ask her opinion when she wakes up tonight..."

After saying this, Zhao Douan turns to leave.

But he’s startled to see Jin Jian already left the bed, standing at the door, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her right hand, clutching the One-eyed Magic Staff with her left, her priest robe dragging on the ground. She yawns, lifts her eyelids, and faces Zhao Douan and Yu Xiu’s bewildered gazes as she says matter-of-factly:

"Let’s go, when are we moving? Just so you know, I don’t accept silver notes, only full silver ingots."

Well, in wartime, banks often go bankrupt and are looted, she’s not foolish enough to take risky silver notes!

...

...

South of Hu Ting City.

The once bustling Da Feng Tower is now deserted, no longer boasting its former grandeur.

In the past, Prince Huaian hosted a banquet for Zhao Douan in this famous tower. But now, this tower long celebrated by poets and scholars has fallen into rebel hands.

At this moment, on the top floor of Da Feng Tower.

Xu Jianwen stands with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the scenery through an open window.

From here, one can see the frozen Yansuo Lake outside the city.

Qi Yuchun reports from behind him: "... Some remaining soldiers who fled back from the White Stone Bridge brought back a message from Zhao Douan to Prince Jing, saying to be ready... Now, White Stone Bridge has also fallen into court hands."

Xu Jianwen faces the cold wind, his voice indifferent: "These defeated remnants still listen well, even helping Zhao Douan send messages; they’ve forgotten their identity, haven’t they? Threatening Xu Wen."

Qi Yuchun blinks, saying: "Your Highness, then shall we order these remnants to be killed as a warning?"

Xu Jianwen replies: "There’s no need to ask me about such trivial matters. Has Zhao Douan entered the city yet?"

Ren Kun, with a roguish air, says: "He has entered. Made quite a fuss, saying he brought a coffin to Hu Ting, claiming if it doesn’t hold Prince Jing’s corpse, it’ll hold his own."

"Carrying a coffin into battle... quite a strategy." Xu Jianwen sighs lightly, his eyes showing a hint of admiration: "Who said this Zhao Douan can’t lead troops? I think he understands well. First, he opposed the envoy delegation in the Capital, made military pledges, then carried a coffin high-profile... In this way, his reputation in the court’s three major camps has significantly increased. Instead of weakening the court’s military strength with this change of commander, it’s likely to rise. Haha, the term ’public opinion,’ my third sister couldn’t grasp since she ascended the throne, and the entire civil and military officials were at a loss. Yet this gigolo-turned Zhao Douan plays the public opinion game with great skill."

Ren Kun and Qi Yuchun exchange a glance, unable to recall how many times they’ve heard admiration for Zhao Douan from the prince’s lips.

One must know.

How distinguished is Second Prince Jian Wen?

He’s someone who compelled countless talents to bow, willing to go through fire and water for him.

If not, how else could he have initiated the Xuanmen Coup years ago? If it weren’t for the unexpected factor of the Empress, Xu Jianwen would have succeeded in that battle.