After Wang Wanzhen had completely walked away, Wei Pinjin’s adviser emerged from behind the artificial mountain, gazing thoughtfully in the direction Wang Wanzhen had departed.

Tonight the Wei manor was full of guests. The courtyards temporarily arranged for male and female noble guests to rest were separately set on the east and west sides.

The direction Wang Wanzhen was heading was the east courtyard—where the male guests were lodged.

—

After following Xiao Li into the temporary residence courtyard arranged by the Wei manor, Zheng Hu scratched the back of his head somewhat uncomfortably: “Sorry, Second Brother, I nearly brought you trouble again.”

The lanterns in the corridor cast warm yellow dim light, illuminating the large flakes of flying snow drifting outside the eaves.

Xiao Li’s stern brows and eyes were cut into bright and dark shadows: “Why did you openly take action at today’s funeral?”

Zheng Hu hung his head: “I was impulsive. Originally I wanted to quickly settle the matter of the military armor, so I took the complete set of documents to the Marquis of Wei’s manor to find that turtle grandson. Who would have thought that dog of a thing wouldn’t even look at them once, then changed his tune saying the military had to advance the silver first—wasn’t this purely playing with people? Seeing his ugly face, I really couldn’t swallow my anger, so I beat him up.”

Xiao Li asked: “When the other party dared to make things difficult to this extent, didn’t you think it might be a trap?”

Zheng Hu was stunned, then anger appeared on his face again: “It really was that dog son of Wei Qishan who instigated it?”

Xiao Li stopped walking and looked at him sideways.

Under that gaze, Zheng Hu lowered his head again. Only then did Xiao Li say coldly: “Today, as long as the other side had even a somewhat passable excuse, your act of hitting someone couldn’t have ended well.”

Zhang Huai, who was traveling with them, continued: “What the Lord says is absolutely right. Regardless of whether it was instigated by the Wei manor’s Second Young Master, General Zheng shouldn’t have directly taken action at a funeral. This time we can consider it a lucky accident—that merchant house head acted this way yet didn’t have an excuse sufficient to resolve the aftermath. In order to cover for the person behind the scenes, he had no choice but to use that lame excuse and take all the blame upon himself, giving us an opportunity to take over the merchant house.”

“But if the person instigating from behind had planned more thoroughly, General Zheng’s act of hitting someone at the Marquis of Shuobei’s funeral today could, at minimum, be described as disrespecting the Marquis of Shuobei. At maximum, it could become a case of the military oppressing common people and forcibly seizing military supplies.”

At this point, his gaze darkened somewhat: “Right now the Northern Territory’s situation is unstable, and the Lord has only just assumed his position. Once this matter is publicized, the former would drive a wedge between the Lord and the Wei clan’s old guard, while the latter… would cause the Lord to lose the hearts of the Northern Territory’s people. This move that seemed to merely delay making armor is actually an extremely vicious chess piece!”

Zheng Hu was somewhat dazed. When he hit the person, he had indeed been overwhelmed with anger, but he also felt he was in the right, which is why even after Wei Pinjin arrived, he hadn’t backed down at all.

Now, after Zhang Huai explained it this way, he immediately felt a chill down his spine. Realizing he had nearly caused a great disaster, he hurriedly assured Xiao Li: “Second Brother, I know I was wrong. From now on I’ll definitely think three, four, five times before acting, and absolutely won’t do it again!”

Xiao Li glanced at him: “After returning, three months’ salary forfeited.”

Zheng Hu quickly said: “Three years would be fine!”

The wind picked up, blowing snow particles into the covered corridor, leaving faint wet marks on Xiao Li’s robe. As the group continued walking forward for a stretch, his cold and stern face finally showed a bit of softening as he said: “Among those who have always called me ‘Second Brother,’ apart from Xiao An, only you remain, Tiger.”

“Xiao An is already gone, and you’ve followed me down this path. Only if you preserve your life will there be someone to continue calling me ‘Second Brother’ in the future.”

These words made Zheng Hu’s eyes instantly redden.

He grinned: “Second Brother, rest assured, my life is tough, and I cherish it dearly. In the future, even if you become emperor, Second Brother, I won’t change how I address you—I’ll still call you this!”

This was meant as a joke, but Zhang Huai instinctively looked toward Xiao Li.

Xiao Li’s face revealed no emotion that could be discerned. He simply patted Zheng Hu’s shoulder and said: “However the brothers came out of Yong City, that’s how they’ll all return intact.”

“There are still many urgent matters to handle in the military. Since you’ve come, that’s good. I’ll go back for a trip. Tonight you can stand guard here on my behalf.”

According to Liang region customs, on the night of a great funeral for the deceased, guests who came to pay their respects all needed to keep vigil through the night.

The opera stage in the courtyard where the spirit hall was set up would also perform throughout the entire night.

It was just that many female guests or elderly guests couldn’t endure it, so the manor arranged temporary rest chambers for the honored guests.

Zheng Hu readily agreed.

Xiao Li looked at Zhang Huai again: “Military Advisor, you should also remain. Today’s events contain many suspicious elements—we mustn’t let any more complications arise.”

Zhang Huai nodded: “Huai understands. Huai will have people keep watch on the Wei manor and that merchant house head.”

After Xiao Li gave a slight nod, he turned to call for someone to prepare his horse, but a personal guard stationed outside the courtyard hurried over: “My Lord, the Princess seeks you.”

Hearing the words “Princess,” Xiao Li almost instinctively raised his eyes.

The personal guard continued reporting: “She is currently outside the courtyard.”

As if understanding something, the unusual expression in Xiao Li’s eyes faded, and he simply said: “Let her in.”

Before long, Wang Wanzhen, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, was led into the hall by the personal guard.

Xiao Li sat in the main seat above, using this interval to look at several memorials requiring urgent handling. Zheng Hu and Zhang Huai stood on his left and right sides respectively.

Wang Wanzhen’s mourning clothes were thin. Her somewhat loosely styled falling-horse bun hung scattered over one shoulder. The red mark that hadn’t faded on half her face resembled smeared rouge, gorgeous as half-applied makeup, though her expression remained composed and calm as usual.

She glanced at Zheng Hu and Zhang Huai in the room, then her gaze fell on Xiao Li as she said: “This palace has some matters and wishes to discuss them with the Lord privately.”

Xiao Li continued reading the memorial: “They are both Xiao’s brothers and trusted confidants.”

The implication was that she could speak directly.

Wang Wanzhen smiled ambiguously, her tone carrying a certain perfectly calibrated provocation: “This palace dares to come alone to see the Lord—is the Lord actually afraid of this palace?”

Xiao Li unfolded another section of the memorial in his hand and said indifferently: “See the guest out.”

Wang Wanzhen’s expression stiffened slightly. She had clearly understood that the other party didn’t regard her, this so-called former Jin Princess, with any importance at all. Her earlier attempt at provocation now seemed utterly laughable.

She steadied her composure and said: “The matter this palace wishes to discuss with the Lord will interest the Lord.”

“It concerns Southern Liang’s Princess Hanyang and this realm.”

Xiao Li finally raised his eyes and tilted his head slightly toward Zheng Hu and Zhang Huai, raising his chin slightly: “You two go out first.”

Both Zheng Hu and Zhang Huai knew that this former Jin Princess Wang Wanzhen was a false title. Zheng Hu only glanced at her once before walking out, but Zhang Huai’s gaze fell on her for a long time with scrutiny, carrying a certain silent threat and warning.

Wang Wanzhen’s back was ramrod straight. Sensing Zhang Huai’s gaze, she looked straight ahead without turning aside, a half-smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

—As long as Xiao Li had designs on this realm, then her chess move tonight would be the correct one.

To avoid suspicion, after Zheng Hu and Zhang Huai left, they didn’t close the door but stood at the courtyard gate, occasionally looking back toward the hall.

Inside the room, Xiao Li tossed the memorial in his hand back onto the desk and leaned back slightly: “You may speak now.”

His gaze was cold, indifferent, and sharp, almost forcing one not to dare meet it directly.

Wang Wanzhen swept her eyes over his handsome yet icy face. When wind blew in from the wide-open door, she gathered the mourning clothes that were being blown about with one hand. Probably because she had heard about Xiao Li’s past early on, she understood clearly that they were the same type of person, and at this moment inexplicably felt a tremor in her heart.

She forcibly suppressed that palpitation, raised her eyes to look directly at Xiao Li, her eyes burning fiercely with ambition while also revealing unspoken affection, her voice even more gentle as if carrying some kind of enticement:

“The Lord is unparalleled in wisdom and courage, and also unmatched in military strategy—truly a peerless hero. Wanzhen truly cannot bear to see the Lord subordinate to others. However, that Princess Hanyang of Southern Liang is of the legitimate imperial Wen clan bloodline and has now captured all the people’s hearts. The Lord has just taken over Northern Wei. In the future, if you wish to contend with her for position, your reputation must be unblemished. Continuing to assist the Wei clan and using the name of restoring Jin to wage war with Southern Liang would be the superior strategy. But this is too unfair to the Lord…”

Her gaze at this moment seemed to become a hook, reaching straight for one’s heartstrings: “Wanzhen is willing to bear a bloodline for the Lord, so that in the future you may rightfully inherit this great mandate.”

Since Wei Pinjin was willing to be a puppet, she could only choose another worthy tree.

Xiao Li had designs on this realm, yet he himself didn’t have a sufficient title to contend with Southern Liang’s Hanyang for position, but she did.

If the two of them raised a child together, with Xiao Li protecting her, she naturally wouldn’t fear Wei Pinjin. When necessary, she could even eliminate Wei Pinjin and claim to the outside world that the child was Wei Pinjin’s. The Wei clan’s old guard would not only raise no objections but would continue to support her and her son.

At that time, she would not only avoid complete dependence on Xiao Li but could also use the Wei clan’s old guard to pressure Xiao Li, achieving a delicate balance between the two power factions.

After the realm was pacified and the time was ripe, she could gradually weaken the power in Xiao Li’s hands and use the full court of civil and military officials to eliminate Xiao Li—this was not impossible.

For her, this was even more advantageous than when Wei Qishan was alive and she continued to humble herself pretending to be the former Jin Princess.

After all, when Wei Qishan was alive, she still needed to be cautious everywhere. She could only slowly bide her time using the former Jin Princess title after having a child.

Cooperating with Xiao Li… the child could tie down this fierce wolf rapidly rising in the Northern Territory. Without Wei Pinjin, and with the Wei clan’s only bloodline in her womb, she would have the support of all the Wei clan’s old guard.

This would also bring Xiao Li nothing but benefits. Supporting his own bloodline to ascend would always be better than supporting a Wei clan puppet who might turn against him in the future.

Wang Wanzhen believed the bargaining chip she offered was sufficient to persuade Xiao Li.

However, after Xiao Li heard all this, his brows, which were already suppressing some cold languor, seemed to lose the last bit of patience. His deep double eyelids flattened somewhat with the motion of raising his eyes, making his gaze even more cold and sharp: “This is what Madam Wei the Younger wanted this marquis to dismiss his attendants to discuss with this marquis?”

The words “Madam Wei the Younger” made Wang Wanzhen’s expression stiffen again.

He didn’t even deign to maintain superficial courtesy by calling her “Princess”!

Wang Wanzhen knew in her heart that he looked down on her. Forcibly suppressing the sudden humiliation rising in her heart, she reluctantly curved her lips slightly, putting on an appearance of indifference as she continued:

“The Lord is an intelligent person. Today with the military ordering armor, the attitude of the Wei clan’s old guard is already evident. Even if the Lord takes over the merchant house, throughout the entire Northern Territory, the relationships between the great clans and the Wei clan are like the roots of ancient trees tangled underground—not easily dismantled. If what comes from my womb becomes the Wei clan’s only bloodline, then wouldn’t the entire Wei clan become the Lord’s possession…”

She wanted to continue speaking, but saw that Xiao Li’s gaze toward her was no longer cold but disgusted. He spoke in icy tones: “On the night of the Marquis of Shuobei’s great funeral, Madam Wei the Younger should go keep vigil.”

Like a resounding slap struck hard across Wang Wanzhen’s face.

The composure on her face could no longer be maintained, leaving only humiliation.

These words were just short of explicitly saying she was unfaithful as a wife, having an affair on the night of her father-in-law’s funeral.

Wang Wanzhen took several breaths before suppressing that malicious anger in her heart. The carefully adorned light makeup on her face revealed a mournful, self-mocking expression: “Wanzhen thought that since the Lord, like Wanzhen, came from humble origins, you would understand why Wanzhen strives desperately to climb upward. What Wanzhen seeks is merely some stability…”

She gazed mournfully at Xiao Li, her face full of desolation, then actually began removing the mourning clothes she wore: “Wanzhen only wishes to become a chess piece in the Lord’s hands, to help the Lord seize this realm. Please show Wanzhen mercy…”

Xiao Li hadn’t expected she would do such a thing. He grabbed the memorial on the desk to shield his eyes, the disgust in his eyes almost spilling out along his downcast thick black lashes. He called out icily toward the outside: “Tiger!”

Even with all her determination, Wang Wanzhen couldn’t continue undressing after Xiao Li called for someone.

Enormous humiliation and shame pressed down on her, twisting into venomous malice in her heart at this instant.

She no longer had any face left to speak of here today. Forcibly suppressing the tears surging to her eyes, she fastened her garments and, ignoring Zhang Huai and Zheng Hu who had rushed back upon hearing the sound, strode rapidly out of the room.

“Second Brother, you called me?” Zheng Hu brushed past Wang Wanzhen. Seeing her expression so terrible, he only glanced at her briefly before heading straight into the room.

Zhang Huai followed a few steps behind, only hearing Xiao Li order coldly: “Prepare my horse. I’m returning to the military camp.”

The gaze he directed at Wang Wanzhen inevitably carried more scrutiny, but then his initial hostility faded—clearly he didn’t think she could bewitch Xiao Li.

Wang Wanzhen once again felt humiliated.

She used every bit of self-control she possessed to force herself to appear relatively normal on the surface. After leaving the courtyard and walking to a secluded bamboo path, she could no longer restrain the malice throughout her body. She hurled the lantern in her hand violently to the ground and crushed it with one foot.

In the firelight ignited by the spilled lamp oil, she gritted her teeth, allowing large tears to fall from her eyes, filled with venom and hatred.

They were both people who had clawed their way out of the mud—she had already lowered herself to this extent, yet that Xiao fellow still dared to humiliate her like this?

He merely happened to be born male; his path to seizing power and climbing upward was merely easier than hers!

Wang Wanzhen cried until her shoulders shook, yet her eyes became increasingly determined and resolute.

A voice in her heart told her it was all right—she only lived to climb upward. If this path didn’t work, she would always find another.

She would get revenge for today’s humiliation!

As she raised her hand to wipe her tears, a neatly folded handkerchief was offered from the side.

She instantly concealed the resentment on her face and looked warily toward the person.

—

When Xiao Li returned to the military camp, it was already midnight. He removed the wind and snow-blocking cloak, sat wearily behind the desk piled with reports and memorials, rubbed his brow, and took out the scroll he had placed in the painting tube that morning. Unrolling the painting, he looked at the young woman in the image standing among peony flowers in white brocade robes with gold trim. Only then did his tightly furrowed brow relax somewhat.

He cleared a small space on the desk and spread the painting beside it, then leaned over the desk to doze lightly.

The young woman in the painting had a smile at her lips, as if also looking at the person outside the painting.

—

A thousand miles away in Southern Chen, Wen Yu, exhausted from days of continuous travel, took a sip of the restorative soup Tongque had been brewing for half a day, but ultimately couldn’t suppress her morning sickness and vomited again.

Zhaobai anxiously hauled the military physician over at once, but the military physician didn’t dare prescribe anything either.

They also needed to temporarily conceal the fact that Wen Yu was pregnant from outsiders, so they had to claim Wen Yu had caught a cold and brew a pot of cold remedy medicine.

After such a great ordeal, it was only after Wen Yu recovered and steadied Zhaobai, saying she was fine, that Zhaobai stopped rushing around like a headless fly.

Wen Yu leaned against the headboard with soft pillows behind her back and instructed Zhaobai, who hadn’t left her side for even a moment: “After entering the royal court tomorrow, send the Azure Cloud Guards to make contact with Fang Mingda.”

Zhaobai said: “I know all this. Princess, you should focus on recovering your health first.”

She stared at Wen Yu’s belly, which showed no signs yet, and in the end didn’t say a single bad word about the child, only saying with some hidden anger: “Her father is a disaster!”