Morning.

Wei Liuying walked out of her temporary residence and saw Xie Jing standing with resentful expression. After the secret talk last night, she was sure that the man had already told Xie Jing the gist of what had happened.

"How do you know?" Xie Jing asked with a grunt.

"It's not hard to guess," Wei Liuying replied unhurriedly. She walked to the front and noticed that there was faint gong sound from a distance. "I'm not too knowledgeable, but it's the signal that tell the Emperor had died, right?"

Xie Jing was stunned and looked to a distance. His expression turned grave. "It's true…"

"So quick," Wei Liuying murmured

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing." Turning her head away, Wei Liuying's eyes glinted with a trace of determination. "It's time."

"Yes."

"I would like to ask for some help, Soldier Xie Jing. I hope you can listen to my request."

Xie Jing looked at Wei Liuying warily. After last night, he felt that the strategist was too dangerous for him to deal with. And he was right.

Listening to the young strategist request only made him want to cry.

…

- Prince Ji Sheng's City -

"We're departing to the north?" Gao Ling asked with confusion. Should they really make their moves like this when the situation was tense and bad?

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. He was donned in armor and looked at his wife. "Protecting the border is a very important task, isn't it?"

Gao Ling pursed her lips. She knew that it was an important task, but they were waiting for news from Yang Xian. Should something happen to Yang Xian, she was sure that her husband would never let things go.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? If we're staying here, there's nothing that we can do either. Rather than waiting for the inevitable, it's better to make the first move and change the course."

Gao Ling was even more confused. At the very least, she was glad that she could participate in the battle because Prince Ji Sheng didn't tell her that she had to stay behind. She could come along with him to the battlefield.

"Your Highness, we're all ready."

"Let's depart."

Coming out of the front gate, Prince Ji Sheng led the soldiers to the dry lands towards their new border. There were several cities that was currently built by their soldiers but not many people would be staying there until the location was safe.

Time passed as the soldiers continued to move.

"We should have passed the surveillance, Your Highness. This area is hidden," Commander Zhao reported. Without either Yang Xian or Wei Liuying, he was the one tasked to inform anything important to Prince Ji Sheng. While his real position and personality didn't really suitable, he was the one who knew Prince Ji Sheng the best.

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. "Ling'er."

"Yes?"

"You'll stay here with Commander Zhao and defend the frontline. Make sure no one can guess that I'm not here."

Gao Ling nearly rolled her eyes. Making it seemed like General Sheng was not here would be difficult because of how eye catching he was. However, she could just make some kind of act to make sure no one knew about his disappearance. By the time they knew, it would be too late.

"Leave it to me. Where do you want to go, Ji Sheng?"

"Dong Shan City," Prince Ji Sheng replied. "If battle start, it's the best place for me to be."

"I understand. Take care of yourself."

"I will."

Watching her husband departing back, Gao Ling noticed that the soldiers were scattered to several small groups. It was as if they were tasked to guard the area and covered an even wider area with more groups. This was one of the normal tactics considering that the area they needed to guard was large.

'I see, it's for the sake of fooling the people who watch over.'

If Prince Ji Sheng departed to the north with his soldiers, no one would dare to question or even doubt him. Their thoughts would be that he wanted to defend the frontline because the situation might turn dire because of the Emperor's impeding death. Even if there was report of him going to the north, other people would only think that he was caring for the kingdom as a whole more than the throne.

But it was not the truth. Even if he didn't care for the throne, he cared for his life too. If the one who ascend the throne was not Prince Ji Tian, he might not be in safe position even at the north.

"Your Highness?" Commander Zhao looked at Gao Ling in confusion.

Gao Ling smirked. "We'll camp out tonight. Prepare Ji Sheng's tent for me and act as if he's with me."

"It'll be done as you say, Your Highness."

Gao Ling nodded and hummed. Thinking that she had to fool so many people made her a bit excited. Those people would never realize that they were actually fooled by a girl, would they?

At the same time, Gao Ling felt a bit worried. Prince Ji Sheng was going away to make sure that he could reach Dong Shan City to face Prince Ji Shu, but she couldn't be there for him because of her current position.

'I'll make sure to do a good job. You better not die, Ji Sheng.'

After praying in her heart, Gao Ling made her way to the hill and looked around her. She sighed internally and wished for the best.

…

- Capital City -

Inside his residence, Prince Ji Shu was waiting patiently. He didn't want to make any movements unless it was already the time.

"What did Yang Xian do during this time period?" Prince Ji Shu asked.

"Replying to Your Highness, Strategist Yang stayed inside his temporary residence and didn't go out unless it's time to eat. He paid close attention to the restaurants to make sure that he's not poisoned, but he didn't do anything aside from eating."

"Did he leave any trace?"

"There's nothing, Your Highness."