Liu Yi’an left that very night, but the innate experts he brought along stayed behind under the pretense of protecting the princess.

Du Ge didn’t mind the dozen or so innate experts left behind. Before Fourth Prince Gu Shiming gave a clear response, these people not only wouldn’t dare to harm Luo Shuang but would also protect her well.

By the time the so-called Fourth Prince realized he couldn’t control the situation, Du Ge’s power would have grown so much that they wouldn’t be able to act even if they wanted to.

Moreover, with his ability to make friends, it wouldn’t be long before he could turn them into his own allies.

…

Huangfu Xing was tricked into coming.

The reason was simple: Huangfu Yue sent him a letter saying that Luo Shuang had been captured. Without doubting his daughter for a moment, Huangfu Xing brought his personal guards to take over Yutang Pass.

He would never have imagined that the emperor’s own brother would be a traitor.

Yutang Pass was too important a place for him to leave it to Huangfu Yue, who had no combat experience.

Had it not been too late at night to mobilize troops, he would have marched his army directly into Yutang Pass.

But there are no “ifs” in life.

As soon as Huangfu Xing entered Yutang Pass, he was captured by a dozen innate experts.

When he saw Huangfu Yue standing next to Luo Shuang, he was so furious that his beard and hair stood on end, and he cursed loudly.

Huangfu Yue felt both ashamed and wronged.

Caught between the two armies, she couldn’t explain herself to her father and feared that Du Ge might really kill him.

As He Xu had said, staying alive was the only way to have a chance.

“Father, don’t blame me. Chongming Kingdom has been infiltrated by Qingwu Kingdom to the core. Even the people around Fourth Prince are Qingwu Kingdom spies. Father, surrender. Following Chongming Kingdom leads nowhere…”

Huangfu Yue knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face as she tried to persuade Huangfu Xing, explaining the reasons for their failure.

Liu Yi’an and Du Ge had their conversation far away.

Except for Wu Chang, no one knew what they talked about. Throughout, Huangfu Yue believed that Liu Yi’an and his men were spies from Qingwu Kingdom.

Huangfu Xing’s cursing abruptly stopped. He looked at Huangfu Yue and said angrily, “Even so, you should not have surrendered. No one in the Huangfu family has ever been a coward. Even if we fight to the last man, you should not have surrendered, nor should you have tricked me into Yutang Pass. Our family’s honor, built over generations, is now ruined by you…”

Huangfu Yue was speechless, tears streaming down her cheeks as she trembled with shame.

“General Huangfu, do you also look down on women?” Du Ge glanced at Huangfu Yue and shifted the focus with a single sentence.

“She has done more harm than good,” Huangfu Xing said. “If she had died in battle, I would have respected her more. As it stands, I wish I had never had this daughter.”

Huangfu Yue was stunned, looking at Huangfu Xing in disbelief, her heart growing cold.

Huangfu Xing didn’t even glance at her. He looked at Du Ge and said, “Now that you’ve captured me, do as you wish. But I will never surrender.”

“General Huangfu, you are indeed loyal and righteous,” Du Ge said, nodding in approval. He gestured to the innate experts holding Huangfu Xing, “You can step back. I want to speak with General Huangfu alone.”

The men silently retreated. Liu Yi’an had ordered them to monitor Du Ge and Luo Shuang’s every move, but this was just another attempt at persuasion.

They had already witnessed Du Ge’s skill in persuading Huangfu Yue and saw no harm in letting him try again.

Before Liu Yi’an left, they knew Huangfu Xing would be lured in, and they were prepared for the entire Huangfu family to be incorporated.

Du Ge looked at Huangfu Xing and, with a wave of his hand, lifted a stream of water from the moat, carrying him out of sight.

Wu Chang perked up his ears. The mention of the Demon Star had already made him admire Du Ge immensely. Now, he was even more eager to see how Du Ge would persuade Huangfu Xing. To him, Du Ge was an endless treasure trove, with everything worth learning.

“Speak quickly or not at all,” Huangfu Xing shouted impatiently. “I won’t fall for your persuasion.”

“General Huangfu, haven’t you found anything strange?” Du Ge asked, shaking his head.

Huangfu Xing spat at Du Ge, trying to provoke him.

Du Ge easily blocked the spit with a water screen and smiled, “General Huangfu, under what circumstances would Qingwu Kingdom’s spies infiltrate Fourth Prince’s circle, and not just one but a whole group of innate experts?”

Huangfu Xing was suddenly taken aback.

“Qingwu Kingdom is already gone. These innate experts didn’t consider their own safety but instead risked everything to break into Yutang Pass to save Fourth Princess Luo Shuang. Doesn’t that seem illogical to you?” Du Ge continued, “General Huangfu, you’ve led troops for years. By now, you should see the truth. In this, you’re not as perceptive as Huangfu Yue; she figured it out.”

Huangfu Xing swallowed hard, “Are you saying…”

“Exactly what you think,” Du Ge nodded. “Your Huangfu family was a gift from Fourth Prince to me. You and your daughter were sold out by him.”

Huangfu Xing’s face turned extremely ugly in an instant.

“So, do you still insist on your so-called loyalty and righteousness?” Du Ge chuckled, “Huangfu Yue was right. Chongming Kingdom is rotten to the core, not because of Qingwu Kingdom’s infiltration but because it decayed from within.”

Huangfu Xing’s face showed pain. He took a deep breath, “No matter what, I will not surrender.”

“Don’t you want to know why Gu Shiming gave me this gift?” Du Ge asked.

“I don’t want to know,” Huangfu Xing replied. “Just kill me.”

“He wants to use me to disrupt Chongming Kingdom and create an opportunity for himself,” Du Ge continued. “He wants to become the next Duke Dingguo.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Huangfu Xing asked.

“I haven’t agreed to his plan,” Du Ge said.

Huangfu Xing was stunned.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Qingwu Kingdom fell because of Duke Dingguo, and Fourth Princess Luo Shuang was forced into exile,” Du Ge sighed. “I deeply resent such power grabs. If the Fourth Princess’s father and brothers were overthrown, and she helped another minister seize power, what would people think of her?”

Huangfu Xing’s emotions stabilized. He looked at Du Ge in surprise, “What do you want to do?”

“Pretend to agree with Fourth Prince, deceive him into providing more troops and supplies, then counterattack Qingwu Kingdom and thwart his plans,” Du Ge smiled. “Once we withdraw our forces from Chongming Kingdom, Fourth Prince will have to bear the consequences alone, unable to admit he supported us.

At that time, I will send a letter to Chongming Kingdom’s emperor in the name of the Fourth Princess, explaining everything. No matter how he deals with Fourth Prince, it will be better than a fraternal conflict.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Huangfu Xing asked.

“Because to accomplish this, I need your full cooperation,” Du Ge said. “If you die, it will be difficult for me to incorporate the troops outside the city. But if you live, it will be much easier.”

Huangfu Xing frowned.

“General Huangfu, dying is easy,” Du Ge continued. “You don’t need to provoke me; I can easily kill you and fulfill your so-called loyalty. But ask yourself, is that really loyalty?”

Before Huangfu Xing could respond, Du Ge laughed, “That’s just an excuse to avoid your responsibilities. To put it bluntly, it’s the act of a coward.”

Huangfu Xing swallowed hard.

“If you die and refuse to cooperate, I might really take a risk and collaborate with Fourth Prince, plunging Chongming Kingdom into chaos and waiting for an opportunity to reclaim Qingwu Kingdom,” Du Ge said. “At that point, Chongming Kingdom would truly suffer.”

“You can’t do that,” Huangfu Xing said.

Du Ge smiled, “True loyalty means enduring humiliation, being misunderstood and cursed by the world, yet persisting. Before the truth comes out, it will be painful and torturous. Not everyone can endure it. General Huangfu, do you want to be that truly loyal person?”

Huangfu Xing looked at Du Ge and fell silent again.

“Maybe you’re thinking of finding an opportunity to kill me and the Fourth Princess, then returning to expose Fourth Prince’s plot, right?” Du Ge asked, smiling at Huangfu Xing.

Huangfu Xing was shocked.

“You’re too naive,” Du Ge shook his head. “If you kill us, there will be no evidence. When you accuse the emperor’s brother, your Huangfu family will be doomed. And you might even force Fourth Prince to rebel early.”

Huangfu Xing closed his eyes, his brows furrowing and relaxing repeatedly. After a long time, he sighed, “How should I cooperate with you?”

In this short time, his voice had become hoarse.

“Just follow orders,” Du Ge smiled. “Once we gather enough troops through Fourth Prince, we will counterattack Qingwu Kingdom. After helping the Fourth Princess reclaim her kingdom, I promise she will personally send a letter to Chongming Kingdom’s emperor, providing all evidence of her dealings with Fourth Prince, clearing your family’s name. At that point, you can choose to return to Chongming Kingdom or stay in Qingwu Kingdom.”

“How can I trust you?” Huangfu Xing asked.

“You have no other choice. I can’t give you any guarantees. The path the Fourth Princess and I are on is difficult; we can’t even guarantee we will succeed,” Du Ge said. “This is the painful part of the path of loyalty. You might die in disgrace before reaching the end. It’s a hard path. Do you want to walk it or die? Either way, I can fulfill your wish.”

“It’s really hard. A general should die on the battlefield, but…” Huangfu Xing smiled bitterly, looking suddenly older. After a long pause, he said, “Alright, I’ll walk the path you’ve given me.”

“General Huangfu, you won’t be disappointed,” Du Ge smiled. “Liu Yi’an has gone to report to Fourth Prince. He might return in a few days, and you can hear the evidence of Fourth Prince’s treason yourself.

But you must not reveal it. Right now, neither Huangfu Yue nor the Fourth Princess knows about my dealings with Fourth Prince. They still think Liu Yi’an and his men are Qingwu Kingdom spies. I don’t plan to let them know.”

“Understood,” Huangfu Xing said, his expression complex. Finally, he nodded, “I understand.”