Chapter 24: The Army Approaches the Border

No wonder he dared not go home.

He had practically offended the entire faction of the Third Prince beyond redemption. Even a man of the Grand General’s status and power would have to think twice before committing such an act. At the very least, one would need to secure an escape route, but Zhou Hao had simply charged ahead without a second thought. Now, the Empress would undoubtedly dispatch assassins.

"My good son-in-law, you have offended the Empress to the point of no return. There is no room for reconciliation now." The Grand General shook his head with a bitter smile, his expression quite awkward.

"Reconciliation? I never considered it," Zhou Hao replied, his expression grave, his eyes fixed on the Grand General with intense earnestness. "The Empress and the Third Prince were already bent on my destruction; I am merely striking first."

"Since we are already mortal enemies, why should I worry about such things?"

Upon hearing this, Bi Ruxue looked at Zhou Hao with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She truly had not expected his mindset and style to be so decisive; she had clearly underestimated him.

Bi Yutang, meanwhile, shook his head with a wry smile, his expression laced with unease. Although the Empress’s faction relied on her, they had become a force to be reckoned with in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Furthermore, the Emperor of Zhou favored the Third Prince and intended to see him ascend the throne. Before long, the Grand General’s estate would likely be targeted by these people.

Zhou Hao remained calm, as if none of this mattered to him.

"Father-in-law, after we finish eating, would you mind bringing a few servants to accompany me home? If I don't go back, those assassins likely won't show themselves."

Assassins?

The Grand General swallowed a mouthful of food, his expression filled with astonishment. *Does this boy realize what he is saying? It is not assassins you should be worried about—you should be worrying whether a small detachment of troops will storm your estate.* Given the Empress’s vindictive nature, why would she bother with mere assassins? The ones she sent earlier had already failed to kill him.

"Yutang, tell me, which army in the capital refuses to obey my command?"

Bi Yutang pondered for a moment, his expression shifting instantly, his eyes fixed on Zhou Hao with nervousness. "Father, other than the Palace Imperial Guards and the Royal Forest Army, all other troops must obey your orders. You need not worry about those being mobilized by the Empress."

The Grand General had ascended to such a high position due to his exceptional capabilities. He had forged the troops under his command into a solid wall of iron; only the scattered, peripheral units remained outside his control, overseen by various other factions. That was why he had been able to submit his confession to the Emperor so readily. Even if he were no longer the Grand General, it mattered little; the soldiers would only listen to him.

The Emperor of Zhou naturally disliked the Grand General, but there was no choice—only the troops under the Grand General’s command could hold back the barbarians at the borders. If not for the Grand General’s lack of ambition to rebel, combined with the severe troubles at the borders, the entire dynasty would have long since changed hands.

"The Palace Imperial Guards and the Royal Forest Army?"

"Bi Yutang, are you certain that only these two forces can be mobilized by the Empress?"

Hearing these names, Zhou Hao laughed even more brazenly. Wouldn't these two forces provoke the Emperor far more than a simple assassin? What were the Palace Imperial Guards? They were the sole guarantee of the Emperor’s safety. Many of the guards protected the Emperor at close range. If something were to go wrong with them, the Emperor would never sleep soundly again. If they were compromised, the Emperor could be poisoned, beheaded, or die in any number of bizarre ways by his own bodyguards at any moment. The Royal Forest Army was slightly different, but if the Empress had planted spies within their ranks capable of mobilizing them, the Emperor would be just as restless.

"If the Empress can mobilize these two forces, that would be wonderful. Even if I am thrown into a dungeon, it would be worth it." Zhou Hao’s face was filled with excitement as he set down his bowl and chopsticks, his gaze locked onto the Grand General. "Father-in-law, do you think the Empress will send assassins tonight, or these two armies?"

Assassins were fine, but having the Imperial Guards and the Royal Forest Army show up—that would be even better!

The Grand General looked at him with surprise, shot a glance at Zhou Hao, and spoke slowly. "Are you planning to pull off something massive?"

"I must warn you: this is not as simple as you think. If these two forces possess an imperial decree, I will have to obediently hand you over." Handing him over would signify the Grand General’s submission to the Emperor. However, he didn't say that he couldn't assign a few soldiers to follow him afterward. Since he was his son-in-law, what was wrong with having a few guards follow him into the prison? The Grand General kept this to himself, letting Zhou Hao figure it out.

Zhou Hao waved his hand, his smile practically overflowing. "No need. After I am in the dungeon, I ask that you speak to the Emperor at tomorrow’s morning court session and inquire whether he truly issued a decree to detain the First Prince."

Zhou Hao sneered. The Emperor of Zhou certainly doted on the Third Prince and even treated him as his successor, but a successor was one thing, and imperial power was another. The Emperor would only give away power that he could no longer hold onto himself. If the Empress were truly foolish enough to forge a decree, the Emperor would likely be driven to madness. If she could forge a decree today, what about tomorrow? Would he simply be forced into becoming the Retired Emperor, or would he die suddenly in the palace?

Watching Zhou Hao’s smile, the Grand General shook his head and sighed inwardly. *Why go to such lengths?* The Emperor’s words were untrustworthy, and now this had sparked a disaster.

Bi Yutang and Bi Ruxue understood clearly. Having grown up in the Grand General’s estate, they had been exposed to such machinations since childhood.

"Brother-in-law, your methods are truly ruthless, but are you not afraid of being beaten to death in the dungeon by the Royal Forest Army?"

Beaten to death in the dungeon?

Zhou Hao scoffed. Was this an insult to his own abilities, or was it overestimating the loyalty of the Royal Forest Army? "They are, after all, meant to be loyal to the Emperor. As long as the imperial decree does not order them to kill me, they will not dare to act, nor will they. At worst, I shall treat it as a one-day tour of the prison."

With these words, they set down their utensils and prepared to return to the First Prince’s estate.

As they stepped out of the Grand General’s residence, a spy darted away, moving through the darkness like a shadow slipping through the cracks. The man sped through the streets and arrived at the Third Prince’s mansion.

"Reporting to the Third Prince, Zhou Hao has left the Grand General’s estate and is presumably returning to his own residence."

Upon hearing of Zhou Hao’s movements, the Third Prince gripped the armrest of his chair with sudden force. "Good. Since you have left the Grand General’s estate tonight, I will let you see exactly what the consequences are for provoking the Crown Prince!"

"Someone! Bring me the Imperial Father’s decree from my quarters. We are going to mobilize the Imperial Guards to capture my useless brother!"

The Third Prince’s eyes were filled with malice, his smile twisted into a grimace.