The former ministers of Northern Ji Kingdom had all surrendered, so to speak—they weren’t truly loyal patriots, but rather opportunistic fence-sitters who knew which way the wind blew. Even without exploiting the people, these men still held considerable wealth.

Comparatively speaking, the Prince was actually poor.

His Majesty naturally understood this situation.

If he wanted money, everyone would have to contribute—it wasn’t just Pang Xiao alone who would be targeted.

With this in mind, everyone felt relieved.

After discussing several issues, Pang Xiao felt much more at ease. After thinking it over, he said: “You are all intelligent people, and many of you have outstanding literary talent. Help this Prince write urging makeup poems—they must be well written! Also, think carefully about the door-blocking questions and compile a list for this Prince to memorize later.”

Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue both stood up and bowed along with the others: “Yes.”

After assigning “homework” to his strategists, Pang Xiao left.

The strategists looked at each other, all barely suppressing their amusement. Those with good literary skills went together to work on urging makeup poems, while several clever ones, drawing on weddings they’d attended before, began listing questions and answers for Pang Xiao’s “pre-exam review.”

Xu Weizhi went to the inner residence to discuss adding two sedan chairs of small gold ingots with Yao Chenggu and Madam Ma.

Pang Xiao ordered his horse prepared and went alone to exercise his mount outside the city.

Following Pang Xiao’s instructions, Huzi quietly went to Prince Consort Ji’s mansion to arrange a meeting with Ji Zeyu.

When Ji Zeyu arrived at the invitation, he saw Pang Xiao wearing dark brocade robes with a jade belt and purple-gold crown, riding his warhorse named Dark Cloud—completely black with a glossy coat—galloping along the moat.

Dark Cloud was oil-black, gleaming in the sunlight. The rider seemed to merge with his mount, leaning over the horse’s back as horse and rider flashed by like lightning, disappearing into the verdant tree shadows.

Ji Zeyu hadn’t ridden his fiery red warhorse today, but instead rode the snow-white warhorse they’d captured when intercepting Qin Yining—the one Pang Xiao had originally given to Qin Yining. Its coat was silver-white throughout, named White Cloud. Since following Ji Zeyu, he had carefully tended it, and White Cloud was now very close to Ji Zeyu.

Ji Zeyu wore a bright red short coat, sitting upright on the silver-white warhorse. His hair was bound high in a topknot, fluttering behind him in the breeze. His posture was straight, his features peerless, his expression cool. The brilliant red looked nothing effeminate on him—it only made him appear cold as frost and unreachably aloof.

Pang Xiao ran a circuit along the willow-lined moat embankment, then soon galloped back.

Seeing Ji Zeyu from afar, he flashed a grin and raised his riding whip: “Zeyu, want to run a lap?”

Ji Zeyu’s lips curved slightly as he nodded and raised his whip: “Drive!”

White Cloud became a silver streak of light charging forward. Pang Xiao also urged Dark Cloud on, and the two thoroughbred warhorses raced at full speed. The two Great Zhou war gods rode with whips flying, both feeling completely exhilarated.

Living in the court, they couldn’t help themselves—what they lacked was exactly this kind of wild, unrestrained galloping pleasure.

After several circuits, they rode one after the other along a small path, walking their horses slowly toward the distance.

Ji Zeyu asked: “Zhixi, what did you want to see me about?”

“I have something I’d like to ask your help with.” Pang Xiao smiled slightly: “I’m getting married next month, and I’m afraid someone might cause trouble. I’d like to borrow your mansion troops to help me maintain order.”

Hearing this, Ji Zeyu looked up in surprise, meeting his smiling phoenix eyes, and smiled: “I’ll personally bring people to help when the time comes.”

Pang Xiao hadn’t expected Ji Zeyu to agree so easily, and said with some concern: “His Majesty will surely overthink it.”

“No matter. If His Majesty asks, I’ll say I was worried about your mansion troops causing trouble, so I brought soldiers to deter them.” Ji Zeyu replied without hesitation.

Moved by this, Pang Xiao reached out and patted Ji Zeyu’s shoulder.

“Good brother, thank you.”

Ji Zeyu looked at the large hand on his shoulder, then smiled: “When we kowtowed together back then, Lord Guan saw it clearly. Once brothers, always brothers.”

Looking at Ji Zeyu’s remarkably bright smile, Pang Xiao’s own smile grew even wider.

“Worthy of being my own brother—on the tenth day when we urge makeup, you must accompany me.”

Ji Zeyu nodded with a gentle smile: “Naturally. I want to see what kind of family raises what kind of daughter to captivate your heart.”

At this point, Ji Zeyu said with some melancholy: “Zhixi, have you truly accepted this marriage and let go of your hatred?”

Back then in court, Qin Huaiyuan’s dramatic scene had forced His Majesty to issue the edict. Ji Zeyu had been angry for several days afterward.

“Minister Qin is too cunning—he forced His Majesty to issue the edict. Either punish you and remove your ability to seek revenge, or win you over by making you his son-in-law so you can’t seek revenge. This man is unfathomable. I’m truly worried you’re being manipulated.”

Ji Zeyu could see that Pang Xiao genuinely liked Qin Yining, so there was one thing he didn’t say.

He was truly worried that Qin Yining was Qin Huaiyuan’s “honey trap” against Pang Xiao.

But now such worries seemed so unnecessary.

Because looking at Pang Xiao’s joyful appearance, he had obviously let go of his father’s generation’s hatred and was willingly “falling for the trap” with relish.

What was done was done—what could be changed now?

The imperial edict was issued, the honey trap had worked, and Pang Xiao was so happy—happy like he’d become a different person.

They’d had feelings for each other since youth. In all these years, this was the first time Ji Zeyu had seen Pang Xiao let go of hatred and smile so freely.

“Your wedding is no small matter. Now I command the troops you used to lead. Though the Tatars are in internal chaos with no time to invade south, if war breaks out again, I think His Majesty will very likely have you lead the Dragon Cavalry Army. I’m now His Majesty’s brother-in-law—he trusts me and naturally wants me to stay in the capital to protect him, so you’re even more likely to be sent away.”

“You’re right.” Hearing Ji Zeyu’s analysis, Pang Xiao nodded seriously: “I also suspect His Majesty has such arrangements. Switching our positions—His Majesty thought of a good solution.”

Ji Zeyu said: “So the Tatars will definitely notice your wedding. Look at you now—you’re so joyful you seem like a different person. You might also let your guard down during the wedding. The Tatars fear me, but they fear the widely renowned you even more. They’re all very cunning—they might make some move. When I bring mansion troops, we can also be on guard.”

“You’re still the most thoughtful.” Pang Xiao smiled gratefully at Ji Zeyu: “Since the situation has come to this, I don’t want to dwell on hatred anymore. Besides, I admit I do like Miss Qin. Perhaps this is heaven’s jest—because of her, I can let go of everything from the past. Our current situation is tense, and we don’t have the leisure to cling to past grievances. So we must look forward.”