It was rare for her handwriting to be this disorderly and untidy; Chang Geng managed to make out what was written with much difficulty: "I discovered the source of the poison in the Marshal's body. If I find the secret recipe, an antidote can be created."

Chang Geng's footsteps came to a halt.

However, his ecstasy did not even have a chance to rise when he saw Chen Qing Xu's following sentence: "But his eyes and ears have been damaged for many years. He even attacks poison with poison, the effect has been accumulating for a long time. The poison can be cured, but a severe and lingering illness is difficult to treat, Your Highness, please ready yourself."

Another line followed afterward, the handwriting even messier: "I suspect this is a secret unknown to outsiders of the barbarian goddess. Since the last goddess had entered the palace as an act of peace, it has been difficult to find more clues from outside the country. If convenient, you can try to look for one or two in the Forbidden Palace."

Chang Geng read from beginning to end, then rolled the letter up and thoroughly burned it, his heart sinking.

The Marquis of Order had been on the battlefield for many generations, their contributions incredibly grand, the Marquis' Manor was also a special gift from the monarch. When one looked up from the small courtyard where Chang Geng lived, they could make out the magnificent golden curling roof of the palace under the moonlight. Chang Geng intentionally yet unintentionally glanced towards the direction of the palace. There seemed to be a surge of wind and thunder in his eyes.

Only flashing by for a brief moment, it instantly retracted back inside him, undetectable.

Early the next morning, Gu Yun indeed did follow Chang Geng's advice, sending his written apology to the palace.

He first stated his own progress of reflecting on his actions and sincerely acknowledged his mistake with the Emperor, then claimed that his old injury had recurred; afraid that it would be challenging to handle the responsibility, he requested the Emperor to take back his Marshal Seal.

Sickness was a commonly seen excuse, but surprisingly, this request of the Marquis did not appear at all like an excuse — for he used his own Kai calligraphy style, that had made quite a name for itself among the common folk, to list all details for the transfer of military affairs — and finally, stated an absurd request of moving the location for his house arrest punishment to the suburbs of the capital.

The elegant writing couldn't conceal the meaning between his words: "I have already reflected on my actions, let me go out to play."

This request carried the style of the Marquis of Order, dyed with a hint of arrogance and honesty, one could tell at a glance it was undoubtedly not the work of a counselor writing in his stead.