Since Nanny Ge returned to the palace that day, there had been no movement from Concubine Mei. To settle the unease of Lady Mei, she secretly sent someone to the General's Mansion to inquire about the news, and was relieved when she learned that Chu Xinian was still safe.

In fact, Chu Xinian is not only safe, he is like a fish in water in the General's Mansion. Xie Jingyuan doesn't seem to take care of things very much, as long as Chu Xinian doesn't make any big disturbances, no matter what strange actions he makes, the other party will most likely turn a blind eye—

For example... grabbing a box of ants?

Now that the weather has not yet warmed up, ants don't come out to move around much. It took a lot of effort for Chu Xinian to barely catch dozens of them. After all, he didn't know where to find a guinea pig.

Xie Jingyuan was afraid of the cold and still stayed at home. He was lying on the bed reading military books, and when he glanced out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chu Xinian sneaking around the window, not knowing what he was doing.

He didn't want to care about it at first, but his interest was aroused again. He dropped the book slightly and observed it without any trace.

Chu Xinian dipped a brush coated with honey, drew a line leading inside the house at the position of the window frame, and placed five ants at the starting point. After the ant was dizzy for a while, it began to crawl slowly into the line along the traces of honey. When it was about to crawl inside the house, it turned around and fled to other places one by one.

Small animals are born with keen senses, and they seem to know that the house is extremely dangerous.

Chu Xinian entered the room, and under Xie Jingyuan's watchful eye, he took out the aromatherapy ball hanging on the bed and put it into his sleeve, and asked the servants brought from Quyang Hou's mansion to move out all the incense burners, incense tripods and flower arrangements in the house. The room became empty in an instant.

Xie Jingyuan raised his eyebrows slightly: "Chu Xinian, do you want to rebel?"

Standing by the window, Chu Xinian lowered his head and teased the ants in the box with his fingertips, lowered his eyes and smiled, "The sun is just right today, and those things are all damp. It's not bad, it's good to have a good time."

Besides, it was Xie Jingyuan who wanted to rebel, not Chu Xinian.

Xie Jingyuan threw the book, and said with a ‘warm-hearted’ sly smile: "What on earth do you want to do, tell me, this general can help you."

He put on his mask again during the day, and the other half of his face seemed to be invisible, covered tightly and cannot be exposed to the scorching sun and the watchful eyes of other people.

Chu Xinian didn't speak. He is a rigorous person, he would not open his mouth casually until his inner guess is confirmed, he just said: "Just basking in the sun."

He was waiting for the smell in the room to dissipate. Standing by the window, the warm sun leans over. The whole person is carved out of jade, like a banished immortal, never knowing why such a person is rumored as a fool.

Yun Que stepped forward quietly, pretending to be waiting on the sidelines, and said to Chu Xinian in a low voice while serving tea: "My lord, I have found out everything."

She helped Mrs. Wang, who was laundering clothes in the backyard, washed her clothes for several days, and the other party was so happy that she couldn't see her teeth, to the point that she almost recognized Yun Que as her daughter. During the chat, Yun Que also found out a lot of secrets in the mansion.

Chu Xinian took the tea cup she handed over, and glanced at Xie Jingyuan without any trace: "Speak."

Yun Que said in a low voice: "General Xie actually didn't live here before, he lived in Yuhen Pavilion in the South Courtyard, and there is a study room in it. Jiu Yong and another guard took turns to be on duty, but they suddenly moved out more than half a year ago for some reason."

Chu Xinian thought to himself that Xie Jingyuan noticed the poisoning and changed his residence, but it was a pity that he moved here and there yet still got poisoned. He handed the teacup to Yun Que, indicating that he already knew and asked her to back down.

Not surprisingly, the list of military headquarters should be hidden in Yuhen Pavilion.

Moved out… Yuhen Pavillion… Poison…

Chu Xinian chewed on these words repeatedly, and tasted a different meaning. Seeing that the smell in the room had almost dissipated, he put three more ants on it. This time they followed the trail of honey and crawled all the way into the room.

Xie Jingyuan appeared by the window at some point, with a black windbreaker draped over his shoulders, occasionally coughing. He thought Chu Xinian was playing with something nice, but it turned out to be ants.

"You really are still a child at heart." Xie Jingyuan's expression was half a smile, and his words seemed to be both positive and negative.

If you change this sentence, it has the same meaning as calling someone childish.

Seeing a few stupid ants running around carrying honey on the window frame, Chu Xinian inexplicably remembered what Yun Que said just now that Xie Jingyuan had moved. He laughed lightly, then realized something was wrong, and restrained himself, but the smile was still deep in his eyes.

The corner of Xie Jingyuan's mouth froze: "What are you laughing at?"

He is a general, and he hates those civil servants whose minds are closer than a sieve, but Chu Xinian seems to be deeper than those civil servants, and some casual actions will arouse his vigilance.

Seeing that the ants had already crawled into the house, Chu Xinian smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just think the ants are very interesting, but they are a little stupid." 

Now he can confirm that the source of the poison is these scented objects, Just don't know which one. After all, only by finding out can we follow the clues and find the murderer.

Xie Jingyuan is not interested in ants. Seeing an ant crawling up to his shoe and slowly crushing it to death, he smiled sadly at Chu Xinian, "What's the point of playing like this? I saw a man in the past who was covered in cuts and bruises. Before, insects and ants devoured your body, which is much more interesting."

He was deliberately scaring people again. But Chu Xinian nodded seriously, with a face of agreement: "It's really interesting."

He had never seen a scene where a large living person was gnawed into a skeleton by insects and ants. If he will have a chance to see it another day, really wants to study it.

Xie Jingyuan: "..."

Xie Jingyuan finally discovered that ordinary tricks cannot scare Chu Xinian. There was some imperceptible interest in his eyes, he turned and went back to the bed without saying a word and continued to read his military book.

Chu Xinian continued to do his own experiments. He took out the aromatherapy ball from his sleeve, ordered someone to hang it in the house again, and then put in the ants, but saw that they were all crawling correctly.

Chu Xinian concocted it according to the prescription, took away the aromatherapy ball and replaced it with an incense burner, and all the ants crawled in.

In the end, only the flower arrangements in the vase remained.

But what could be wrong with flower arrangements in vases?

Chu Xinian did an experiment for the last time. He only put flower arrangements in the house, but the ants still crawled in.

From the above experiments, it can be seen that when the three or both coexist, they are poisonous, and when they exist alone, they are non-toxic…

–Is it a mixed drug?

Chu Xinian was a little surprised, he didn't expect such advanced poison to exist in ancient times. He wrote down his first research manuscript in this dynasty, and when he was about to conduct the second exclusion experiment, he saw a gatekeeper rushing into the house suddenly, knelt down on one knee and informed Xie Jingyuan: "General, The Prince's visit—"

Chu Xinian's pupils shrink when he hears that, Prince?!

Since ancient times, emperors have had many sons, and today's Majesty is no exception, but there are only a handful of those who are capable of competing for the throne. The crown prince Yin Chenghao was born first to the EChenghaompress, who was the heir apparent and then the eldest son. He should have been the most favorable contender for the throne. It's just that since the queen's death, he has become more and more reckless and chaotic, and his talent is mediocre, which does not suit the emperor's heart.

The rebellion failed in the later period, and Yin Chenghao was directly imprisoned in the East Palace. On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, he was given to hang himself and be buried in the Tomb of Princes.

Just before Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan got married, the crown prince was punished and confined for three months because of his bad upbringing. Counting the days, it was almost time for him to be released. Unexpectedly, the other party came directly to the General's Mansion.

It's really not a good time...

Xie Jingyuan obviously thought of going with Chu Xinian, he frowned, dropped the book of War and stood up: "Take His Royal Highness to Yuhen Pavilion, I will go there later." 

Seeing this, Chu Xinian put aside his own experiments for the time being, and hid all his plans under a harmless smile: "The Crown Prince is here, and I will go with the general to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." 

In the Great Qin Dynasty, how can you not see that the ambition of the first emperor, Zhao Gao, was treacherous. Although the Great Yan Dynasty is a fiction written by Chu Xinian, he is full of interest in every character. If possible, he would like to meet and study them.

Xie Jingyuan paused when he heard the words, and stared at Chu Xinian with long and narrow eyes: "Why do you want to go?"

Chu Xinian took it for granted: "Naturally, it is a courtesy of a courtier."

The Crown Prince and the King of Jin are sworn enemies, and Chu Xinian seemed to be completely unaware of how sensitive his identity was, not only he didn't want to hide, but wanted to bump into it.

Xie Jingyuan thought of the Prince's reckless temper, and frowned: "Why should I take you there?"

Chu Xinian can always find countless reasons that people can't refute. Adorned in white brocade looking very innocent and smiling slightly: "The general is already married to me, you and I are naturally one, no matter what we do, we should be together."

Marrying a man as a wife is definitely Xie Jingyuan's shame in this life. When he heard that; he should have been angry, however he laughed instead, and suddenly grabbed Chu Xinian by the throat and pushed him against the wall. The cold mask scraped against his ears, making one feel like walking on the tip of a knife: "

Don't just talk, show it. If in the future I'm smashed to pieces and drift my soul to the deepest hell, should I also drag you down with me? Hmm?"

Xie Jingyuan smiled in a low voice, sickly and sinister, his eyes under the mask became deeper and darker, like an evil ghost crawling out of hell, wanting to drag people and eat them.

"It should be like this."

Chu Xinian's coquettish and fluttering words made Xie Jingyuan's smile froze. He took Xie Jingyuan's cold hand, and slowly pulled it from his neck, always calmly: "If the General in the future wants to pull me together, he will accompany me until the next life." 

Lying will not cause a piece of meat to lose. It doesn't matter whether Chu Xinian's words are true or not, the important thing is...

"General, let's go, don't make His Royal Highness wait."

"..."

Xie Jingyuan stared at him, thinking 'What?' after a while, he finally slowly withdrew his hand. He turned around and walked out of the house, leaving a word: "Follow"

As soon as he stepped out of the house, the coldness outside hit his face, and the sun hanging in the sky could not relieve it a bit. Xie Jingyuan couldn't help coughing twice again, at this moment, a wind cloak suddenly appeared on his shoulders, and Chu Xinian's voice sounded in his ears: "After a few more months, the weather should be warmer."

He pointed with a slender tip, he fastened the wind cloak in twos and threes, then withdrew his hand.

Xie Jingyuan raised his eyes to look at him, walked straight towards Yuhen Pavilion without saying anything.

The system beeped: [Please pay attention to the host, the villain's degree of blackness has dropped to 97%]

It added: [The grades are depressingly poor, the speed is a bit slow, dear, please continue to work hard]

Chu Xinian: "... "

To be honest, he still hasn't figured out what the degree of blackening is, and what is the reason for its decline. The only thing that was certain was that what the system said was like some kind of fart; smelly and useless.

Chu Xinian followed unhurriedly, walking while observing the route in the mansion without any trace. It turned out that there was a post at five steps and a sentry at ten steps, and the guards were tighter than iron barrels. No wonder Chu Jiaoping was helpless with the list of military headquarters.

Yuhen Pavilion was in the South Courtyard. When Xie Jingyuan arrived, the Crown Prince was already waiting inside. He stepped up the steps, looked back at Chu Xinian, and said in a cool voice, "If you offend the Prince, I will not intercede."

His words revealed a lot of information, for example, the prince hates to be intercepted, and he was very angry with King Jin. None of the parties liked him, including Chu Xinian.

"Then I can only admit that I am unlucky." Chu Xinian didn't look panicked at all.

[Prince Yin Chenghao, descended from the Liu family of the former empress, the eldest son of Emperor Yan. Reckless, impulsive, and as he got older, he became increasingly stubborn, indiscriminate, and foolish, addicted to sensuality.

In the twenty-eighth year of Qisheng, the prince gathered his cronies, murdered his brothers, and raised troops to rebel, intending to coup and usurp the throne, but was captured by Prince Jin in front of Tai'an Gate. Emperor Yan was furious, abolished his title as the Crown Prince and imprisoned him in the East Palace.

In the winter of the thirty-fifth year of Qisheng, Emperor Yan passed away, and the new emperor came to the throne. He gave the deposed prince Chenghao to hang himself and be buried in the imperial mausoleum.]

When Chu Xinian saw the man in the bright yellow mang robe who was sitting leisurely in the study room, he quietly thought of his ending in the original story. After realizing it, he shook his sleeves and saluted along with Xie Jingyuan: "Greetings to His Royal Highness."

The prince Yin Chenghao is impulsive and irritable, with a reputation of mediocrity, he is degree lower than Chu Xinian comparatively.

He came to see Xie Jingyuan today. One reason is to visit the sick and the other is to discuss important matters. Seeing the General coming, he subconsciously opened his mouth. Who would have thought that there would be a young man in white clothes with an extraordinary temperament behind him, so he couldn't help but pause.

Yin Chenghao had never met Chu Xinian before, so when he saw this, he got up subconsciously, thinking that Xie Jingyuan had brought an extraordinarily out-of-this-world talent that would take him flying to the dragon's throne. He barely stood up unright, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and cast doubtful eyes on Xie Jingyuan: "This is...?"

Xie Jingyuan couldn't say it anyway. He sneered and thought, 'can't it be other than the person who is married to me?'

Chu Xinian stared at the Prince for a while, and found that the character of the other party was the same as in the book, and still did not collapse or change, so he was slightly relieved. He introduced himself generously: "The second son of Quyang Hou, Chu Xinian, greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Yin Chenghao's agitated mood just after hearing the words suddenly cooled down completely as if someone had poured a basin of water. It turned out that he was not an expert in the world, but a life and death enemy. As expected, he had a bad look on his face, so he sat back down again, and asked with a questioning tone, "Are you Chu Xinian?"

...On the side of Prince Jin?

Chu Xinian straightened up: "Exactly."

Yin Chenghao thought to himself, isn't Chu Xinian a playboy, why doesn't he look like that. His tone changed from suspicious to hostile: "Gu heard that you fled with a prostitute from a brothel on your wedding day and abandoned General Xie, is this true?" The prince is trying to stand up for his subordinates

(TL: Gu is another honorific term to address yourself)

???

Chu Xinian glanced at Xie Jingyuan.

Xie Jingyuan had already sat down, resting his head lazily, as if watching a good show.

Chu Xinian was calm and composed: "Of course not. The day of Xinian's wedding was robbed by gangsters, so he didn't show up on purpose. It wasn't intentional."

Yin Chenghao waved his hand in disgust: "It doesn't matter whether you intend it or not, Gu will enter the palace later and plead to withdraw this marriage, you can go back to the Quyang Hou Mansion."

Xie Jingyuan paused upon hearing this.

Yin Chenghao knew that Concubine Mei Gui was uneasy and manipulative, so she rushed to blow the pillow wind when she was at a passionate time to ask the Holy Majesty to give Xie Jingyuan a marriage, clearly intending to break his own arm so the Prince partylist will loss a faction of power. Nothing he said could make this marriage change.

Chu Xinian thought that Yin Chenghao was really foolish and reckless, that he could say such words at will, all the things he said never went to be thought twice, he would just say it casually. It was expected that he would not be able to fight King Jin.

As for what the other party said just now, asking the emperor to withdraw this marriage is even more nonsense and outrageous.

Because this marriage is not only mixed with Concubine Mei's calculations, but also the Emperor's plan.

Compared with the direction of the original book, the character of the prince does not seem to have collapsed. After Chu Xinian confirmed this, his goal had already been achieved, and he followed up with the words: "His Royal Highness is right, so Xinian will retire first." 

Yin Chenghao was very satisfied with his self-awareness and he finally came out as a less annoying person: "Go, go."

Chu Xinian withdrew from the door, turned around inadvertently, and saw Xie Jingyuan staring at him. Without thinking much, he closed the door casually.

The courtyard is lush and vivid, with patches of Bistem trees planted, black fruits falling all over the ground. Chu Xinian went down the steps, looked up at the blazing sun and squinted his eyes, thinking to himself that Xie Jingyuan held the military power, why would he choose a fool of a prince and be loyal?

Probably... In the past, when the entire family of the Xie family was punished, the civil and military officials of the Dynasty chose to divert their eyes and escape from the disaster, only the Crown Prince, Yin Chenghao, begged for mercy...