Two months later, the Ning'an Army reached the southern frontier.

In the tent, Ning Chen sat by the charcoal brazier, leafing through a book for fun.

Xiao Yanxi was brewing tea beside him.

Spring had come, but it was still pretty cold. Spring cold nips the young ones to death, as the saying goes.

Still, a few more days and it would surely warm up.

Yuan Long, Lei An and the others came in.

It was Yuan Long's tent in the first place.

Yuan Long having himself announced at his own tent would have looked very strange... so they came straight in.

They were about to salute, but Ning Chen waved them into seats to talk.

They gathered around the brazier, and Yuan Long said, "My lord prince, what do we do next?"

Ning Chen gave them a single, calm word. "Wait!"

They looked at him, puzzled.

Ning Chen smiled. "The muskets and cannon haven't been secretly shipped down here yet. Kang Luo won't pass up the chance of a lifetime. So all we have to do is wait patiently.

We spent two months on the road. Kang Luo must have gotten word long ago.

Don't worry. I'll bet you that within half a month, envoys from Kang Luo or the Gaoli Kingdom will turn up."

They nodded.

Ten-odd days went by in a flash. Ning Chen was drinking tea and reading in the tent when Xiao Yanxi walked in.

She looked at him and said quietly, "Something's happened in the Gaoli Kingdom."

Ning Chen put down his book and looked up at her. "What happened?"

Xiao Yanxi said, "The old emperor of Gaoli is dead."

Ning Chen was taken aback. "When?"

"Half a month ago."

Ning Chen thought for a moment. "So Jin Dongxing has taken the throne?"

Xiao Yanxi shook her head. "He's lucky to be alive."

Ning Chen frowned. "What do you mean?"

Xiao Yanxi said, "When the old emperor died, he left a testamentary edict that stripped Jin Dongxing of his place as heir apparent and named the Third Prince, Jin Tiancheng, to succeed to the…