"Thirdly," Chang Geng said slowly. "I want to ask yifu to make use of this moment while the news on the Silk Road side hasn't reached the capital yet to find a reason to thoroughly hand over the Marshal Seal. Clearly express you will no longer get involved in military affairs. At the same time, thoroughly communicate with the Emperor, you only need to say that the security of the Northwest is of great importance, that before taking your leave, you have already explained everything to your subordinates — without the Marshal Seal, the commanders of the three factions are not allowed to act rashly in any situation, that the Northwest troops cannot lack its leader for even a day, requesting the Emperor to find someone to take over as soon as possible."

Taking a step back, avoiding the sharp edge while keeping He Rong Hui from committing an offense.

In fact, Chang Geng still wanted to say, "This is not the best plan, it can only be used to treat the branch but not cure the root". However, his instinct told him Gu Yun might not want to hear these words. Thus, he had swallowed it back.

Gu Yun was silent for a long time after hearing this.

Suddenly, his thoughts ran far away, and he couldn't help but think of the child he had picked up from the wolf's mouth in the blizzard as white as feathers that year.

Back then, Shen Yi had lied to Chang Geng that it was only a coincidence. But in truth, it wasn't.

At that time, they already had their own men in the Northern Frontier. After Gu Yun accepted the imperial decree, he actually found Xiu Niang first. After discovering her connection with the barbarians, he decided not to act in order to avoid affecting the grander scheme of things.

Gu Yun was still young back then; his ways of handling things were more or less immature. Only setting his eyes on the barbarian, he had forgotten the former Emperor's command of quickly returning to the capital after finding the little prince, carelessly letting Chang Geng run out of the city gate. Only then did he hurriedly chase after him with Shen Yi in a state of panic.

Even as Gu Yun closed his eyes now, he could still clearly see the image of Chang Geng's appearance at that time — a small thing covered in injuries, scrawny and bare-boned, in the midst of snow and wolves, he had somehow miraculously held on until they arrived.

Gu Yun wrapped him in his outer coat; he was light enough to be carried with one arm. He felt as if he was holding a small dying bird, for fear of suffocating him even with the slightest force.

Time flowed like water, as soon as he looked away for a moment, the boy had already grown so big.