As the two sides were about to clash, General Su suddenly appeared and whispered to Xiao Ji.
"General Xiao, under no circumstances should you attack them. They are close confidants of the Ninth Prince. If they are truly captured, it will not only fail to help Brother Feng but also bring trouble to the Northwest Army. The soldiers' pensions have only just been submitted. We must consider the bigger picture!"
They had previously yielded their merits to the Ninth Prince. If, at this moment, Feng Shan were to turn his back on the list because of his subordinates, how could the countless sacrificed soldiers rest in peace?
Thinking of this, he said in a low, anxious voice.
"Are you saying he can slander Brother Feng like this? He has already done enough for Liangzhou. If even I cannot protect him, won't it chill the hearts of others who have helped Liangzhou City?"
"The immediate priority is to investigate this matter thoroughly. Don't worry, I will personally take Brother Feng there. If the Ninth Prince decides to punish him, I will mediate."
General Su was not part of the Northwest Army, so he was considered free.
He merely stayed in the military camp out of personal preference. No one would say much if he left now.
He turned back to look at Feng Shan, a hint of regret in his eyes.
"Brother Feng, if you accompany me this time, it will undoubtedly be difficult. However, for the sake of the bigger picture, this journey is unavoidable!"
"General Su, rest assured. Do not let the matter of pensions be ruined for the sake of me, Feng Shan. If I have not done something, then let it be framed upon me."
"Good."
The two left the Northwest Army's camp and headed straight for the General's mansion.
On the road, the man wanted to tie up Feng Shan, but General Su vouched for him with all his might, forcing him to give up.
After all, once they entered the General's mansion, it was a death sentence. He didn't care about this moment.
He glanced at the backs of the two with a sinister smile, his calculating thoughts evident.
In the General's mansion, the Ninth Prince's chest was wrapped in layers of gauze. The injury looked extremely dangerous, but only those close to him knew it was merely a superficial scratch. This exaggerated display was solely to solidify Feng Shan's guilt.
The accompanying physician understood the Ninth Prince's intentions and naturally dared not speak carelessly.
He could only silently mourn for the unlucky Feng Shan, who had managed to offend the vengeful Ninth Prince. He was in for trouble!
When the messenger announced that Feng Shan had been brought in, the Ninth Prince was ready.
Soon, a figure appearing weak and as if stabbed, unable to move on the bed, appeared before everyone.
As soon as General Su entered the courtyard, he smelled the strong scent of medicinal soup and felt uneasy, knowing it was a trap.
But since they had come this far, there was no turning back. He had no choice but to enter the room.
As expected, he saw the Ninth Prince lying in bed, his face pale, his eyes hazy, as if he were about to die.
"What has happened to Your Highness?"
"Hmph, what has happened? General Su, go and question Feng Shan properly. He bribed the Su people to assassinate Your Highness. What are his intentions!"
Another lackey of the Ninth Prince spoke up, his righteous indignation even more exaggerated than his drunken stupor at the banquet.
General Su glared at him with his tiger-like eyes, and the man was so frightened that he shut his mouth.
These mere showy fighters were no match for General Su.
"Cough, cough."
The Ninth Prince's timely cough interrupted the tension between the two. He spoke weakly to General Su.
"Has Feng Shan been apprehended?"
"Your Highness, there must be something strange about this. Patriarch Feng is merely a merchant. Why would he send people to assassinate Your Highness?"
"Hmph, General Su, stop speaking well of him. The assassin has already confessed. It was Feng Shan who bribed him! Cough, cough!"
With that, he signaled to the person beside him to bring forth the assassin.
The man was covered in blood, clearly having been tortured. His fingers had been severed, and he lay there, barely alive.
General Su frowned, "Isn't this a forced confession?"
After being beaten to such an extent, he would naturally say whatever they wanted.
"Presumptuous! General Su, how can you be so protective of the assassin? Do you have some collusion with the Feng family?"
General Su did not rush, but instead let out a hearty laugh.
"In broad daylight, I never knew one could be so brazenly framed! I am the vanguard sent by His Majesty to reinforce Liangzhou. My interactions with the Feng family in the capital are not that close. Are you implying that my Su family is colluding with the Feng family, and even behind them is the Bai family, plotting against Your Highness?"
"You!"
General Su deliberately exaggerated the matter. How could that person dare to provoke three prominent families in the capital at once? Wasn't that courting death?
So, he retreated behind with indignant dissatisfaction, not daring to say another word.
"General Su, this person assassinated this Prince. The evidence is conclusive. Do you mean to say that this Prince would risk his own life to frame a commoner?"
The Ninth Prince questioned, and after hearing his words, his cronies began to look down on others again.
"This subordinate dares not. It is just that this matter seems very suspicious. May I be allowed to handle the investigation? I will surely give Your Highness a satisfactory answer."
"General Su need not trouble himself with this matter."
With that, he said to the person beside him, "Immediately detain Feng Shan. All matters will be dealt with after this Prince has recovered!"
"Yes!"
Without a word, they came forward and bound him.
As Feng Shan was forced to the ground with his head pressed down, he exchanged a glance with the assassin.
It was him!
That blacksmith who refused to stay in Liangzhou City!
No wonder the Ninth Prince said he bribed the Su people. Looking around, the Feng family was undoubtedly the one most connected to the Su people in the city. "General Su, rest assured. The Ninth Prince's reputation precedes him. He will not wrong a good person, nor will he let a bad person go. Now that I am unjustly accused, I believe the Ninth Prince will protect me and ensure that the person behind the framing does not succeed."
"Brother Feng!"
"Drag him away!"
"Yes!"
The Ninth Prince couldn't be bothered to watch their brotherly affection. Even as he left, he had to say something to disgust him. Truly, he was not afraid of death.
However, compared to his life, the things behind the Feng family were clearly more important. Feng Shan would not die until he obtained the key to controlling the Feng family.
General Su also understood this, which was why he did not stop them further.
The most important thing now was to investigate the matter.
Who was the assassin?
Why did he attempt the assassination?
How did the Feng family get involved?
Were there any other hidden arrows waiting?
One by one, troubles rushed towards General Su. He was momentarily at a loss and knew he had to discuss it with someone immediately.
On the way back to the military camp, he sent word to Prince Ding and also notified the Feng family.
When Madam Hua received the message from General Su, she was completely stunned.
Despite the bright sunshine, a biting cold wind seemed to blow around her.
Her eldest son, Feng Jinhua, standing beside her, was furious and about to rush out to reason with his father, but was held back by Madam Hua and the steward.