After making some hefty purchase of medicinal herbs, Harper didn't want to shop around anymore. She was eager to get back to
the general's mansion and study those herbs she had just procured. Matthew knew very well about her, so he went back with
her.
As soon as the couple arrived at the gate of the general's mansion, Luther, accompanied by two men, went up to them and
greeted, "Greetings, Your Highnesses."
"Where are you heading, Luther?" Harper asked in confusion. "Is there something urgent at the barracks?"
"Your Highness, there isn't any particular emergency at the barracks, but I was trying to find you. I heard you both went out of the
mansion alone, with no guards for your protection. So, I was worried about your safety." Luther was a very considerate person.
He was ready to undertake any tasks that one could think of, and could control an army of one hundred thousand soldiers in a
short time. It was evident that he wasn't simple-minded.
"Thank you so much for your concern, Luther. We just wanted to take a walk around the Birch Pass and see its local traditions,
its people, as well as its culture. If you sent some people to follow us, the civilians would feel uneasy, and they might feel like
being harassed," Matthew said indifferently. "People here live and work peacefully. I couldn't find anything inharmonious or
strange at all. You indeed manage it very well."
"Your Highness, thank you for your kind words. I am just doing my job."
Matthew nodded and walked in with Harper. He turned around at the threshold and ordered, "Barry, stay at the door. When the
things that Harper purchased are delivered, ask someone to move them into her room. She needs them."
"Yes, Your Highness."
At the same time, Luther followed up and said, "Your Highness, the Worship Ceremony will be held in five days at the capital of
the South Kingdom. May I know when you are leaving for the ceremony?"
"Tomorrow," Matthew replied swiftly. "In order to avoid anything undesirable, you lead the soldiers and wait at the border. By
then, ask your people to deal with the changing situations tactically."
A hint of surprise flashed across Luther's eyes. He asked, "Will the South Kingdom create trouble then?"
Matthew didn't reply. He didn't know whether the South Kingdom would take the chance to stir up trouble, but he was sure that
Francis would do it. However, at the moment, Matthew was also concerned with something else. The garrison of the south
domain was the most complex army among all the forces in the Bright Dynasty. Two of the three generals of the south domain
hadn't met him so far. Matthew had been in the Birch Pass since the last two days, but they never showed the courtesy to visit
him. It was obvious that even though he was the prince, they didn't take him seriously.
"It doesn't matter if the South Kingdom will use the opportunity to create trouble, but what's more important is that our army can't
mutiny." Matthew gave a meaningful look at Luther. "What is your opinion on the other two generals of the garrisons here?"
"General Wei is a senior leader. He has his own useful way of dealing with the South Kingdom. It's just that he doesn't like to
make friends with others." Luther was careful in his wording. "As for General Xu, despite his unruly personality, he treats his
soldiers very well. He often lives in the barracks along with his soldiers and seldom goes back to the Birch Pass. That may be
the reason he didn't come to visit you in the last two days."
Matthew had also heard things about the two generals. Despite knowing that he was the envoy to the South Kingdom, the two of
them kept away from seeing him. One directly avoided seeing him, while the other hid in the army. It was hard to believe that
there wasn't any problem. There must be a lot of secrets among the garrisons of the south domain, and they might mutiny.
"General Wei and General Xu have years of experience in military affairs. Still, if things end up worse, do you think you can
defeat them?" Matthew asked abruptly.
"Your Highness, I am flattered. Yet, both General Wei and General Xu are hugely experienced. I am not a match for either of
them. If they join hands, I'm afraid I will have to concede defeat," Luther said with a modest smile.
"Well, I think you are a match for them." Matthew tried to boost his confidence as he was convinced about him. If not for going
through Luther's file, Matthew wouldn't have known about his abilities.
"Your Highness, you must be joking. The two are mightily experienced and battle-hardened. I don't think I can defeat them." The
serious expression on his face drew Matthew's attention. After taking a glance at him, Matthew returned to his residence.
Luther didn't follow him. He learned that the couple would leave tomorrow. What he needed was to make necessary
arrangements for their travel to the South Kingdom.
"General, the South Kingdom has never allowed any outsider to attend their Worship Ceremony before. But now, why did they
decide to invite outsiders to the ceremony so abruptly?" the deputy general asked doubtfully. After all, the Worship Ceremony in
the South Kingdom was its most important festival and was equivalent to its national ceremony.
"Who knows about the intentions of the South Kingdom? The only thing we need to do is to safeguard the Birch Pass and stop
people from the South Kingdom from trespassing our territory," Luther said slowly. "Let our people prepare for it. The envoy team
will set out tomorrow. You should select five hundred strong warriors to stand by. They will be arranged to escort Prince Matthew
and his team to the capital of the South Kingdom."
"Yes, general."
Barry stood at the door like a spear, waiting for the delivery of medicinal materials purchased by Harper. After a slight nod at
Barry, Luther headed to the military camp. Barry glanced at his receding figure and then moved his eyes away. He thought that
Luther should be very good at martial arts and wanted to test his fighting skills with him. But he knew it was not the time for that
wilfully.
After Luther left his mansion, he didn't go to the military camp, but went to a teahouse not far away from his
mansion.