The Old Marquis said evenly, "The Prince is making a dangerous move! What if it fails? Wouldn't the entire Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion be wiped out?"
The Zhenbei Marquis said with complete confidence, "If the Little Marquis leads the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion against the rebels, he'll rally our troops and strike fear into the enemy. He'll surely retake the Outer City like a blade splitting bamboo. You must have faith in him, Marquis!"
The Old Marquis had pinned great hopes on Ning Xiaochuan. Naturally, he did not want him taking such a risk.
But the Peacock Bright King now held power in the Imperial City. Defying her military order would amount to open rebellion. The Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion would face attacks from both the court and the rebels, and the entire mansion might be wiped out.
Besides, the Old Marquis and the Peacock Bright King had a longstanding friendship. That made it even harder to refuse her.
Resolve hardened in the Old Marquis's eyes. He had decided to take Ning Xiaochuan's place as commander of the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion and reclaim the city districts occupied by the rebels.
Ning Xiaochuan had been watching the Old Marquis's expression. The moment his gaze sharpened, Ning Xiaochuan knew what he was thinking. He stepped forward first, took the military order from the Zhenbei Marquis, and said, "Tell the Prince that Ning Xiaochuan accepts the order. Before nightfall, I will retake the districts occupied by the rebels."
The Old Marquis's face darkened. He glared at Ning Xiaochuan. "Nonsense—"
Delighted, the Zhenbei Marquis hurriedly said, "The Little Marquis truly lives up to his place as heir to the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. Loyalty and courage run in his blood. I admire him greatly. I'll wait outside for the Little