The princess regretted it.

Chapter 216 Zhong Chuzhou's Speculation

The intelligence Changsheng had gathered was actually something Zhong Chuzhou had suspected long before he saw Zhang Zhenyuan's group, but he had no concrete evidence. Now, he seemed to have a vague idea of the purpose of these jade buttons. Those seemingly ordinary jade buttons were probably more than just decorations. There might be a huge conspiracy hidden behind them, and this conspiracy was very likely quietly affecting their grain transportation operation and even the security of the war in the northern border.

He frowned slightly and fell into deep thought, his mind constantly sorting out the clues he had at hand, trying to connect them together and find out the complete truth.

Mu Zixuan noticed something was wrong with Zhong Chuzhou, so he leaned in closer and whispered, "What's wrong? What news did Changsheng bring back?" Zhong Chuzhou looked up at Mu Zixuan and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid things are more complicated than we imagined. Those jade buttons..."

Zhong Chuzhou whispered his guess to Mu Zixuan. When Mu Zixuan heard it, his eyes widened immediately, his face full of disbelief, and he subconsciously shouted: "What?" The voice seemed particularly abrupt in this relatively quiet rest atmosphere. The soldiers around who were taking the time to rest and replenish their energy all raised their heads and looked over here with some doubts.

Mu Zixuan immediately realized his own rashness and quickly covered his mouth with his hand, looking up at Zhong Chuzhou. Zhong Chuzhou simply blinked calmly, and Mu Zixuan's expression grew serious. The surrounding soldiers saw nothing strange about the two men and simply exchanged glances before returning to their respective duties.

Mu Zixuan lowered his hand from covering his mouth and said in a low voice, "If your guess is true, then what they are asking for is extremely outrageous. Should we tell the emperor?"

"Don't be anxious yet. There are still many things that remain to be investigated." Zhong Chuzhou frowned slightly and whispered slowly, his eyes revealing a calm and composed expression. "Besides, even if we tell the Emperor about this now, they'll have plenty of excuses to get away with it. After all, we're only speculating right now, and we don't have any solid evidence. Without any evidence, they'll be able to completely distort the facts and shift all the blame. Not only will we not be able to bring them to justice, but we might even alert them, making them even more vigilant and hiding even deeper. Then, it will be even more difficult to catch them later."

"Then what do you want to do?" Mu Zixuan asked immediately. He looked at Zhong Chuzhou with some expectation in his eyes, hoping that Zhong Chuzhou could come up with a comprehensive response plan.

"Let's get the food and fodder safely to my uncle first. He must win this time." Zhong Chuzhou's gaze was firm, with a glint in his eyes. "This battle in the northern border is crucial, and food and fodder are of paramount importance. Only if my uncle wins on the battlefield can we stabilize the situation and deter those with ill intentions from acting rashly.

"Once they learn that the food and supplies haven't been stolen, they'll definitely send someone to contact us. After all, they've been planning this for so long, they won't give up easily. And Zhang Zhenyuan is now in our hands, the only heir to their Zhang family. This is a big blow to them, and they'll definitely be in a state of panic. It all depends on what they're going to do then. We just need to act according to the circumstances and follow the clues. We'll definitely be able to find more of their flaws, gather enough evidence, and take them down in one fell swoop." At this point, Zhong Chuzhou narrowed his eyes slightly.

Mu Zixuan listened to Zhong Chuzhou's plan and nodded slightly. He had always trusted his cousin when it came to strategies. He knew in his heart that Zhong Chuzhou was full of ideas and had eight hundred tricks up his sleeve.

He looked at Zhong Chuzhou, his eyes full of trust, and whispered, "Okay, let's do as you say. Let's get the food and fodder to my father first." As he spoke, he raised his head and looked towards the north, sighing softly, "Alas! I don't know what my father looks like now. Cousin, do you think my father will recognize me?"

Zhong Chuzhou looked at Mu Zixuan's expression, smiled, and patted his shoulder. "Okay! Then let's continue on our journey. In two days, we will be almost there. Then you will be able to see your uncle."

Mu Zixuan also collected his thoughts. The two of them gathered themselves, and the soldiers had almost finished their rest. Soon, everything was ready. With a command from Zhong Chuzhou, the grain transport convoy set off again. The clatter of horses' hooves and the rolling of wheels kicked up clouds of dust.

In the imperial palace in the capital, Concubine Cen unexpectedly left her palace today, carrying her beloved pet. Ever since Zhang's demotion and confinement, Concubine Cen's health has surprisingly improved. The sickly look that always lingered between her brows has gradually faded, replaced by a radiant look.

She was wearing a thick cloak, a gift from the Emperor yesterday when he visited her palace and felt her hands, finding them cold. Made of precious fox fur, pure in color, soft and warm, it enveloped her tightly, revealing only her slightly pale yet still beautiful face. Supported by the palace maid Mingyue, she walked slowly. Judging from the direction they were heading, they were heading to Concubine Zhang's place.