Upon entering the Lan Residence, General Lan was immediately instructed by Lady Lan to have the maids prepare hot water and clean clothes.

With a wave of impatience, Lan Yingwu ordered the maids to call for Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er.

"In the northwest, a beast chaos has erupted, and the court has decided to dispatch troops for support. The candidates for the expedition to pacify the chaos have already been determined." Lan Yingwu's tone carried a touch of grievance and resentment.

"Father, is Emperor Xia going to send you to pacify the rebellion in the northwest?" Lan Cai'er asked eagerly as soon as she heard it.

Ever since his reassignment from Li City, General Lan Yingwu has not led any expeditions. Though a General of Army with military power in hand, he had no battlefield to wield his skills.

"The commander for the Western Expedition has been decided upon, and it will be led by Hong Fang," Lan Yingwu said with self-deprecating laughter.

This news came as a surprise to both Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er.

"Father, with such a significant beast chaos occurring in the northwest, why wouldn't the court send you, a seasoned general, but instead send Hong Fang? Although Hong Fang is skilled in cultivation, he is a civil servant who has never been on the battlefield. Sending him to fight is like an armchair strategist," Lan Cai'er indignantly defended her father.

Within the Daxia court, civil and military officials were separate, and for many years, the military was dominated by Lan Yingwu and Nangong Jian.

Among them, Nangong Jian was the leader among the nobility's military generals, while Lan Yingwu represented those from commoner backgrounds.

After the death of Nangong Jian, Lan Yingwu became the leading military general in the court, second only to the Marquis. Yet unexpectedly, he was not chosen as a leader for the Northwest Expedition Army this time, and when the news spread, those from commoner backgrounds were filled with complaints.

"Cai'er, your analysis is not bad, but there's one thing incorrect. This rebellion refers to the beast chaos, not the usual battlefield killing. Although Hong Fang is a civil servant, his Martial Arts Cultivation is above mine. It is rumored that the Northwest Beast Chaos has eighth and ninth stage Peak Spirit Beasts and even demon beasts. Hong Fang has traveled the country in his early years and spent several years in the northwest, gathering enough experience in slaying spiritual beasts. Hence his selection for this expedition makes sense." Lan Yingwu's words, however, were only half the story.

Lan Cai'er listened with a look of half-understanding, while Ye Lingyue by her side had mostly figured it out.

This time, after the Crown Prince was deposed and the furious Emperor Xia relieved Hong Fang of his post, it inadvertently touched the interests behind the Crown Prince among the Daxia Nobles.

Although Emperor Xia was angry with the Crown Prince's behavior, at his core, Emperor Xia was also a noble, and as the Emperor, he deeply understood the importance of maintaining balance.

So on one hand, he stripped Hong Fang of his post, delighting the factions of commoners, but on the other hand, he had to appease the noble faction to prevent excessive dissatisfaction.

If nothing unexpected happens, Hong Fang will regain his original position if he achieves great merit in the Northwest Expedition.

This also means that Ye Lingyue's past efforts might be utterly wasted.

"Hong Fang has become the General of Western Expedition, truly deserving the title. Do you know who the Deputy General of this Western Expedition Army is?" Lan Yingwu scoffed, clearly dissatisfied with the choice of deputy commander.

With Nangong Jian dead, only the younger generation of generals could serve as Hong Fang's deputy in court... Yet Lan Cai'er and Ye Lingyue couldn't figure out who the suitable candidate for the deputy commander might be after much thought.

"Xia Houhong, somehow Hong Fang and Noble Princess Consort Luo managed to persuade His Majesty to let Xia Houhong onto the battlefield to atone through meritorious service," said Lan Yingwu, then looked at Ye Lingyue with concern.

Ye Lingyue's eyes shifted with thought, and she realized that she might have underestimated both Hong Fang and Xia Houhong - the centipede worms might be dead but not stiff.

Emperor Xia released Crown Prince Hong and appointed him as the Deputy General of the Western Expedition Army. Not long after the imperial decree was issued, Xia Houhong was released from the Heavenly Prison.

"My poor Hong'er."

Just a few days of not seeing him, the drastic change in Xia Houhong's appearance shocked Noble Princess Consort Luo and Hong Fang.

Crown Prince Hong had become skin and bones, with deeply sunken eye sockets, limping legs, and emitting a stench akin to a rotting corpse; who could associate him with the spirited Crown Prince Hong from just a few days ago.

After bringing Xia Houhong back to his sleeping quarters, Noble Princess Consort Luo immediately ordered Chou Alchemist to treat his injuries, only to find that he was clinging desperately to life, fragile as a three-year-old child.

Noble Princess Consort Luo held Xia Houhong in her arms, weeping as if her heart was being torn apart.

"Who is the death-defying fool that dared to torture my Hong'er?" Noble Princess Consort Luo was both angry and outraged.

"Who else could it be, if not that cheap wench Ye Lingyue? These past few days, she has tortured me daily. I want to slice the flesh off that woman piece by piece." Thanks to Ye Lingyue, the wound where Xia Houhong's flesh had been gouged out near the heart had never healed.

It was unknown by what methods Ye Lingyue had used, but although there were no visible wounds on Xia Houhong's body, he felt pain all over, as if ants were gnawing at his flesh and bones.

"Fourth Prince, a gentleman's revenge can wait ten years. When you eventually ascend to the throne, not to mention a single Ye Lingyue, even ten would be at your disposal," said Hong Fang, causing Xia Houhong to pause.

"Lord Hong, now that I am in this state, it is difficult even to secure my position as a prince, let alone to inherit the throne," Xia Houhong lamented.

"Fourth Prince, do you know why you were released this time? It is because Noble Princess Consort Luo, in alliance with the Four Great Noble Marquis, knelt outside the Golden Throne Hall for six hours to earn you this opportunity. Emperor Xia has already commanded you and me to head northwest to quell the beast chaos. During this time, you must recuperate from your injuries as soon as possible." Ever since learning about Xia Houhong's peculiar predilections and the near disaster to his own son, Hong Fang's fondness for Xia Houhong had vanished.

Now in the eyes of Hong Fang, Xia Houhong was merely a chess piece that could be utilized.

If he obeys, he can continue to enjoy his glory and wealth; but if he does not, Hong Fang would not hesitate to destroy this piece on the northwest battlefield.

"What! Father Emperor is sending me to the northwest battlefield, isn't this sending me to my death!" Xia Houhong exclaimed as he leaped up.

The northwest battlefield is the most dangerous in Daxia and where the heavily armed border army is stationed.

Because there, unlike in other places where the Xia Army faces humans in combat, in Northwest Daxia, soldiers must battle both the heavens and the beasts.

Xia Houhong had heard that Daxia's fiercest army, the Tiger Wolf Army, was stationed there.

It was said there was a scarcity of rations, forcing soldiers to rely on hunting beasts for food, and even worse, there were rumors of cannibalism during the winter.

There was an abundance of beasts, with not only difficult-to-handle Spirit Beasts but also demon beasts capable of transforming into humans.

Compared to the northwest battlefield, the Heavenly Prison was practically a paradise on earth.

The pampered Xia Houhong, upon hearing he was to go to the northwest battlefield, was terrified out of his wits, cursing Hong Fang vehemently in his heart.