Chapter 1036: Everything Should End
Editor: Henyee Translations

Tang Jinghong said, “Yes, he’s one-eyed. I noticed it before and meant to tell you, but I got sidetracked thinking he might be the same one-eyed bandit we heard about earlier.”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “Now that you mention it, do you think it’s the same person?”

Tang Jinghong considered it. “There’s a ninety percent chance it is.”

Chu Qingzhi waved her hand. “Once we figure out their purpose, we should capture him. We’ll get our answers then.”

Tang Jinghong agreed. “Right.”

They tracked the group for three days, eventually reaching the border town of Yunse Pass in Chen’an Nation.

The one-eyed man led his soldiers into a large mansion. Inside, there were more soldiers, and the three courtyards were connected, hiding them well from detection.

“That’s a pretty good hiding place!” Yuan Hongjun whispered from the rooftop, blending into the darkness.

“Shh!” Bao LinYuang, noticing someone approaching, quickly signaled Yuan Hongjun to be quiet.

They both hid.

Chu Qingzhi arrived. “What did you observe?”

Yuan Hongjun whispered, “Master, those soldiers just eat and sleep after arriving here. They haven’t done anything else.”

Chu Qingzhi patted his shoulder. “You two stay here. I’ll go capture the one-eyed man.”

Yuan Hongjun asked, “Master, where’s Brother Tang?”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “He returned to Liang City first. With so many soldiers, there must be something big going on.”

Yuan Hongjun nodded. “Understood.”

Chu Qingzhi infiltrated the mansion, which housed over thirty thousand soldiers. She had to be cautious to avoid being exposed, as it would be very dangerous.

The one-eyed man seemed to feel safe there and didn’t take special precautions. Chu Qingzhi easily captured him and met up with Yuan Hongjun and Bao LinYuang to leave the mansion together.

They found a secluded courtyard where Chu Qingzhi threw the one-eyed man on the ground and doused him with water to wake him up.

Seeing Chu Qingzhi, the one-eyed man was terrified. “You’re not dead!”

Recognizing her wasn’t surprising, but Chu Qingzhi didn’t care. “Why did you bring the soldiers here?”

The one-eyed man didn’t resist, knowing it was futile. “It was the Third Prince who ordered me to bring the soldiers here…”

From his confession, Chu Qingzhi learned that the soldiers were indeed refugees, as Tang Jinghong had suspected. They had been trained for a long time to start a war.

The five sons of the king of Summer Mulberry had fought for the throne, and the Third Prince had been crowned the heir apparent. Ambitious, he wanted to expand his territory even before ascending the throne, leading to the current situation.

Chu Qingzhi relayed this information to Tang Jinghong.

At that moment, Tang Jinghong was reading a letter from the Prince of Eastern Tomb, saying that the prince’s residence had been robbed by bandits a few days ago, losing many valuable items.

Tang Jinghong shared the news with Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s time to curb their extravagant lifestyle.”

“Exactly.” Tang Jinghong didn’t intend to intervene. It was embarrassing enough that a prince’s residence had been looted by petty thieves.

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Tang Jinghong, what should we do with these soldiers?”

They were just refugees, so there was no need to kill them all. Tang Jinghong replied, “I’ll send someone to take over and disband them after everything is settled.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Alright.”

Once Tang Jinghong’s men arrived, Chu Qingzhi helped them take over the mansion’s soldiers and then returned to Liang City.

…

In Liang City.

Yuan Hongjun suddenly remembered something he had been meaning to tell Chu Qingzhi but kept forgetting. “Master, I need to tell you something.”

Chu Qingzhi dismounted and led her horse towards Tang’s camp. “Go ahead, what is it?”

Yuan Hongjun said, “The smallpox outbreak started in Summer Mulberry. The Third Prince was extremely cruel. When he discovered the disease, he immediately ordered the infected to be driven out of Summer Mulberry, one by one.”

These people had no choice but to flee to Chen’an Nation, which then suffered. A heavy rain spread the smallpox nationwide, nearly wiping out the country.

The mastermind behind throwing the sick into the forests of Dalin was the Third Prince. He had coveted Dalin for a long time, intending to weaken its strength through the epidemic, making it easier to conquer. However, he hadn’t anticipated someone like Chu Qingzhi would solve the smallpox problem.

Hearing this, Chu Qingzhi’s eyes turned cold. “One day, I’ll make this Third Prince personally experience the horrors of smallpox.”

Yuan Hongjun nodded. “Master, you should go rest now.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “You two don’t wander off. Go to sleep.”

They replied, “Understood.”

…

In Tang’s camp.

Meng Shengdong returned triumphantly. “General, we successfully destroyed all the poppy fields.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes showed approval. “Well done. Let the soldiers rest, and I’ll reward you all later.”

“Thank you, General!”

Xia Lan reported, “General, everything is arranged as you instructed.”

Tang Jinghong said, “Keep a close watch. When the sacrificial ceremony begins tomorrow, close the city gates and trap them.”

“Yes, General.”

Tang Jinghong lightly tapped the table. The Xuan family’s succession ceremony was over, and they planned to assassinate him at the sacrificial ceremony. Once he was killed, Summer Mulberry would launch an attack.

Now, having learned of the plan in advance, Tang Jinghong intended to trap and capture all the Xuan family’s shadow guards in one fell swoop.

Tomorrow was the sacrificial ceremony. Everything was ready, just waiting for the trap to be sprung.

…

Chu Qingzhi received a letter. “The Third Prince has reached an agreement with the Xuan family. Summer Mulberry is making moves at the border. The Third Prince is likely preparing to mobilize troops. Be prepared.”

Chu Qingzhi read the letter and handed it to Tang Jinghong. “I think I’ve figured out who Lord Yun is.”

Tang Jinghong also had a suspicion. “Is it the Third Prince?”

“Exactly,” Chu Qingzhi confirmed. “This man’s scheming is profound. He started planning years ago, even sending people to create chaos in the capital. It’s astonishing.”

Despite everything, Tang Jinghong admired the man’s cunning. “He’s the most calculating person I’ve ever encountered.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “He’s played us like pawns. I will destroy him.”

Tang Jinghong agreed. “We’re on the same page.”

…

Zeng Huo rushed to Tang’s camp. “Miss Chu, we’ve identified who the Fourth Elder is.”

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Who?”

Zeng Huo slowly revealed, “It’s Xuan Dongsi!”

“Him?” Chu Qingzhi was surprised. “No wonder we couldn’t find him in Eastern Tomb.”

Zeng Huo said, “Now that the Yun organization is falling apart, should I lead the cleanup?”

Everything should end now. Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Yes, wrap it up.”

Zeng Huo saluted and left.