Clothes make the man.

The military camp was situated about five miles from the garrison town, a fifteen-minute ride on horseback. Feishu was dressed in a deep purple robe and wore a golden crown—attire reserved for those of princely rank. Throughout the various dynasties, there had been strict regulations regarding clothing; any transgression could result in decapitation, or in severe cases, charges of treason leading to the execution of one’s entire clan. It was truly a case of a bloody tragedy sparked by a mere garment, a testament to the ancient adage that "man relies on clothing just as a horse relies on a saddle." Yue'er and the guards from Prince Jun's estate followed behind Feishu. As they arrived at the camp gates on horseback, several soldiers blocked their path. The leader among them barked a question, "Who goes there? Are you unaware that this is a vital military zone where unauthorized entry is forbidden?" Having spent years on the battlefield, these soldiers were unfamiliar with the courtly habit of judging status by attire; commoners rarely understood such nuances.

Feishu calmly produced the medallion his brother had given him and presented it to the soldier, commanding, "Summon your superior to meet with this official!" The medallion granted access to anywhere, including the Imperial Palace, and its mere existence spoke volumes of Feishu’s identity.

Upon seeing the token, the soldiers immediately saluted. "Please enter, My Lord!" Yue'er and the others dismounted and proceeded on foot, observing the surroundings. The land outside the camp was desolate, with no signs of human life as far as the eye could see.

As they walked, a general approached them. He appeared to be in his forties, with dark, weathered skin and a sturdy build, though his face bore the traces of exhaustion, as if he had not rested in days. This was General Huancheng, the commander-in-chief, followed by a tall, handsome lieutenant. As the general drew near, Feishu produced the imperial decree and declared, "General Huancheng of the Western Pacification, receive the decree!" Originally intended for Zhao Chengxian, the task of reading it had unexpectedly fallen to Feishu. General Huancheng led his men in kneeling on one knee, cupping their hands in a salute. Feishu began to read, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: 'Last night, We were greatly shocked to receive a letter from the Linyan Kingdom. We have specially dispatched an imperial envoy to investigate this matter. If the accusations are true, there shall be no leniency; if they are baseless, the innocence of the troops shall be restored. We expect the full cooperation of all officers and soldiers to identify the true culprit.' Thus it is written!"

Yue'er and the others surveyed the camp. On the surface, it appeared no different from any other, a village of tents. In the open space before the tents, soldiers were engaged in various drills—sparring, bayonet practice, archery, and more. They stood in a state of high alert, for the Linyan Kingdom could launch an attack at any moment. They traded their lives for the honor of the nation and the safety of the people; the military was a sacred profession.

General Huancheng and his men shouted in unison, "The subordinates accept the decree! Long live the Emperor, long, long live the Emperor!" The sound was thunderous and magnificent. The general invited them into his command tent. Once inside, he gestured toward the main seat, smiling at Feishu, "My Lord, please take the seat of honor." Feishu ignored him, choosing instead to sit in a chair to the side. This left the general feeling somewhat awkward, but he could say nothing and took his seat beside the envoy.

In truth, the two guards from Prince Jun's estate had not entered the tent, choosing instead to patrol the camp. Seeing that the general and his lieutenant were preoccupied, Yue'er slipped out to walk through the camp. It all seemed perfectly normal to her, and she muttered to herself, "It looks fine during the day, but perhaps the truth will reveal itself at night. I wonder if Bookworm has found anything over there?" Even when alone, she still thought of Zhao Chengxian as "Bookworm." She noticed several soldiers being led into the general's tent under guard and, driven by curiosity, followed them inside. Could these be the men who had caused this incident?

The moment they entered, the soldiers began pleading their innocence. Feishu roared with commanding authority, "Whether you are innocent or not is not for you to decide! I ask you: did you or did you not cross into the territory of the Linyan Kingdom?" The men nodded. Feishu continued, "Why did you go there? Speak the truth at once!" At that moment, Feishu did not look like an eighteen-year-old youth; he carried the unmistakable air of royal blood.

One soldier, who appeared to be a simple, honest man, spoke up, "We went to Linyan's Lin City to drink, just as we often do. The wine there is mellow and fragrant, and since the city is only ten miles from the camp, we often went in disguise. It was the same the day before yesterday; we drank and returned, having done absolutely nothing. That night, the Linyan Kingdom sent messengers claiming we had robbed them and assaulted their women, so the General detained us. My Lord, that is the truth! We are innocent, we are truly wronged..."

As the cries of injustice echoed, Feishu ordered them to be taken away. He turned his attention to the testimonies provided by the Linyan Kingdom. Yue'er watched from behind him, wondering if there would be any unexpected discoveries. Read on to the next chapter.