Chapter 56: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Collaboration

Jinyuan City, a majestic fortress standing proudly in the northern borders of the Great Zhou, resembled a dormant giant beast. Its city walls were scarred by countless blade and axe marks, silently recounting centuries of bloody warfare and conquest against the nomadic tribes of the grasslands.

When the grain transport fleet led by Li Xuan appeared on the horizon, the tightly shut city gates slowly opened amidst a dull, low blast of horns.

At the forefront stood General Xiao Yuan, the Grand General Defending the North, clad in dark armor with an imposing presence as steady as an unyielding mountain, alongside his equally valiant and formidable son, General Xiao Teng of the Loyal and Martial Army.

The father and son had originally come to welcome the Crown Prince and pay their formal respects, but their gazes were instantly and firmly drawn to the intimate scene on horseback.

Li Xuan and Xiao Ningshuang were riding the same horse. He circled her in his arms, his hands holding the reins firmly to shelter her against his chest. Meanwhile, Xiao Ningshuang—who had always been as cold and aloof as a lotus on a snow mountain—was leaning slightly against him, the profile of her cheek appearing remarkably soft in the biting northern wind.

That was no performative political show, but a genuine sense of peace and trust welling up from within.

A flash of astonishment crossed Xiao Yuan’s weather-beaten face, which instantly transformed into an unconcealable warmth of gratification.

He knew his daughter's temperament best; unless it was entirely of her own free will, no one could ever approach within three paces of her.

"Your subject, Xiao Yuan (Xiao Teng), respectfully welcomes Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess!" The father and son dismounted in unison, dropping to one knee with voices as resonant as booming bells.

"Father-in-law, Brother-in-law, please rise," Li Xuan said with a smile as he dismounted, naturally and smoothly helping Xiao Ningshuang down. "We are family, there is no need for such grand formalities."

That single address of "Father-in-law" made Xiao Yuan feel immensely comforted and pleased.

He stood up and looked his son-in-law over with a piercing gaze.

The Li Xuan before him stood straight and tall, with profound eyes and a composed, effortless confidence in every gesture, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the dissolute and incompetent crown prince of two months ago.

It seemed that the martial arts demonstration at Ninghua Hall, the slaying of enemies at the First Line Gorge, and the winning of hearts in Fengxiang Prefecture were all real and undeniable truths.

"The Crown Prince has had a tiring journey," Xiao Yuan said in a deep voice, shifting his gaze to his daughter with a much softer tone. "Ningshuang, you've come home."

Xiao Ningshuang’s eyes reddened slightly as she nodded gently, "Father."

That evening, the General's Manor hosted a grand banquet to welcome the Crown Prince.

All the high-ranking generals of the northern army were present. Every single one of them was a battle-hardened warrior with sharp eyes and an intimidating aura.

During the banquet, Li Xuan did not put on the airs of the heir apparent. Instead, he took the initiative to toast each of the generals one by one, chatting about everything from the northern dust storms to the military rations. With witty remarks and a modest demeanor, he quickly shortened the distance between them.

Tieniu was completely in his element. He was dragged into drinking contests by several equally massive generals. Jar after jar of potent liquor went down his stomach without changing his expression; instead, he cheered for more, drawing bursts of roaring applause from the crowd and driving the atmosphere to a boiling peak.

Xiao Ningshuang sat beside Li Xuan, quietly serving food onto his plate.

Watching him handle these unruly military commanders with effortless ease, a faint smile unconsciously curled the corners of her lips. Her gaze occasionally swept across the banquet, engraving the expression of every single general into her heart.

"Who is that person?" Xiao Ningshuang lowered her voice and subtly pointed her chopsticks in a certain direction.

Li Xuan followed her gaze. It was a deputy general in his forties with square facial features and steady eyes, who appeared remarkably calm amidst the noisy revelry of the other generals.

Throughout the banquet, he had risen several times to skillfully and eloquently block toasts on behalf of Xiao Yuan, looking every bit the trusted confidant.

"His name is Wei Zhong, a Left Camp Commandant under my command," Xiao Teng, seated nearby, volunteered an explanation. "He is steady in nature, rigorous in managing his troops, and was personally promoted by my father. He is a capable and reliable pillar in our army."

Li Xuan nodded, casting another unreadable glance at Wei Zhong.

This man appeared utterly loyal, but deep within his eyes lurked a trace of ambition that clashed starkly with his composed exterior.

After the banquet dispersed, Xiao Yuan invited Li Xuan to his study.

Dismissing the attendants, the father-in-law and son-in-law sat facing each other.

"The methods Your Highness employed in Fengxiang Prefecture have already reached this old subject's ears," Xiao Yuan personally poured a cup of hot tea for Li Xuan, his voice low. "Using the hearts of the common people as your blade, seizing the power of an entire prefecture without a single drop of blood. Excellent methods."

"Father-in-law flatters me," Li Xuan laughed. "It was merely an opportunity delivered right to my doorstep by the Second Brother. If I hadn't accepted it, wouldn't I have failed his kind 'intentions'?"

Xiao Yuan looked at him with complex eyes. "For twenty years in the northern border, this old subject fancied himself firmly in control of the military morale. But the winds of the capital eventually blow even unto this place. The military is not a monolith; some have grown weary and lazy, while others... have nurtured other designs."

These words were already an expression of absolute sincerity and heart-to-heart trust.

Li Xuan understood instantly. Xiao Yuan was confessing the hidden crisis lurking within the northern army.

"When Father-in-law speaks thus, could he be referring to Commandant Wei Zhong?" Li Xuan directly pierced the veil.

A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Yuan's eyes, which quickly turned into appreciation. "Your Highness possesses torches for eyes. Wei Zhong is indeed a man of exceptional capability, yet his ambitions are far too high. This old man promoted him out of an appreciation for his talent, but I have also constantly guarded against him. Recently, he has grown closely associated with several mid-level officers, faintly forming a clique of his own. I fear... he has been seduced by certain factions in the capital."

"The Third Prince, Li Yi." Li Xuan spat out the four characters indifferently.

Xiao Yuan’s pupils contracted.

"The people who ambushed me at the First Line Gorge were sent by the Third Prince. He planted spies in my Eastern Palace, only for me to uproot them. I cut off his financial lifelines, so naturally, he harbors a deep grudge. The Second Brother wishes to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, while the Eldest Brother is brave but brainless. The only one who would go to any lengths at this moment to plant a thorn in Father-in-law's army is him." Li Xuan's analysis was both calm and precise.

Xiao Yuan fell silent. He had never imagined that the northern borders he guarded had already been penetrated to this degree by the undercurrents of the capital. This felt no different from a thorn being driven straight into his heart.

"How does Your Highness intend to deal with this?" Xiao Yuan asked.

"Deal with it?" Li Xuan chuckled, picking up his teacup and gently blowing across the surface. "Why rush to deal with it? A thorn is most dangerous when you cannot see it. Now that we have spotted it, it can instead serve as bait."

He looked at Xiao Yuan, brilliance flashing in his eyes. "Father-in-law, my purpose in coming here is not merely to deliver grain, but to seize this opportunity to help you thoroughly excise this abscess within the army."

"What does Your Highness propose to do?"

"It's very simple." Li Xuan set down his teacup, his voice not loud, yet carrying an unyielding, iron-clad resolve. "Tomorrow, I shall personally go to the military camp to review the three armies and reward the soldiers. I want everyone to see that I, this Crown Prince, am not only capable of delivering provisions, but also discerning of loyalty and treachery. Since certain people wish to dance on stage, I shall build them a platform and let them dance to their heart's content."

Xiao Yuan looked at the Crown Prince, who was even younger than his own son, and felt a shock beyond measure. This kind of daring, this level of strategic calculation—how could this merely be an heir apparent? This was already the true art of imperial mastery.

He slowly rose to his feet and delivered a solemn, deep bow to Li Xuan, his hands folded before him.

"To have Your Highness in the Great Zhou is the supreme fortune of our state and the blessing of all commoners!"

...

The next day, before dawn had broken, the massive grain transport fleet escorted by the Imperial Guards officially rolled into Jinyuan City, heading straight for the military granaries.

Li Xuan had changed into a sharp, fitted martial outfit, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Ningshuang atop the city wall to inspect the columns stretching for miles.

For now, the mission could be considered nominally complete. But Li Xuan knew that the true trial was only just beginning.

His gaze swept past the bustling soldiers and landed on the rolling military encampments in the distance.

That impregnable fortress of an army camp was, in his eyes at this moment, both his firmest backing and a perilous dragon's pool and tiger's den riddled with crises.

And he was about to personally pluck the hidden dragons and fierce tigers out from the depths one by one.