Returning to the relay station!

Su Ziluo entered to find Yuchi Lin waiting for him.

“General!” he called out.

Su Ziluo nodded. “How did it go at the palace?”

“I said everything as the general instructed. Liang Wen of the border city has already been stripped of his position, and the Great Lin Emperor has also agreed to select a suitable woman for a marriage alliance with our nation.”

Su Ziluo nodded!

Yuchi Lin raised his eyebrows, his face full of doubt. “General, that Great Lin Emperor is suspicious. I’m afraid what I said today won’t gain his complete trust.”

“That’s exactly what we want—for him not to trust us!”

“This? Why?”

Su Ziluo’s hands rested on the wheels, moving forward half a meter, the corners of his mouth curved in a mysterious smile.

His slender fingers lightly tapped on the armrest, producing crisp sounds!

As he spoke, “The great king has ordered us to find a way by any means to reclaim the two cities ceded to Great Lin five years ago. Our thirty thousand troops maneuvered at the border for months—wasn’t it all for this moment to enter the capital? Although the marriage proposal is just an excuse, the next step is to find a way to complete the great king’s commission.”

“Yes!” Yuchi Lin’s voice was deep. He asked another question, “To obtain two cities without attacking—that Great Lin Emperor doesn’t seem like a generous person.”

Indeed!

The world’s wolves are mostly of the emperor breed!

Su Ziluo wasn’t anxious either. He glanced outside. “It’s getting late. Everyone should go rest. We’ll discuss this matter further.”

“Yes.”

Yuchi Lin cupped his hands and left.

Inside the room—

That carved wooden window faced directly toward the moonlight.

The spring moon was exceptionally round, hanging alone in the ink-black sky—utterly beautiful!

Su Ziluo moved his wheelchair to the window. In his raised eyes, the orange glow of the nearby candlelight reflected, completely melting out that ripple of sorrow.

After a moment, he took the tassel from his sleeve. His fingertips gently rubbed the bead on the tassel—smooth and lustrous!

“Ziluo, with battle imminent, this tassel was left by your mother. Now I’m entrusting it to you. You must remember—if something happens to me, if I die on the battlefield, you must find a way to survive!”

“Father!”

He called out.

In his mind flashed scenes from the great battle at Cangshui five years ago.

The smoke of war, horns filling the sky—

The sounds of slaughter, the clashing of weapons, all entering his ears!

Across the entire Cangshan land, armored soldiers died by the thousands, blood flowing for hundreds of miles.

Su Ziluo was surrounded by several Lin army soldiers, his armor covered in fresh blood. Several meters away, a sharp sword thrust viciously toward General Su.

“Father!”

That hoarse shout shook the heavens!

And the owner of that sword—

“Ji Li, I want you to accompany my father in death!”

…

On the other side, Ji Yunshu and Jingrong had already returned to Prince Rong’s mansion.

Ji Yunshu had wanted to immediately return to the East Garden, but Jingrong forcibly pulled her to his courtyard.

He ordered someone to bring some late-night snacks and refreshments.

“I imagine you didn’t eat much at Consort Xiao’s palace.”

How considerate.

Ji Yunshu didn’t decline. Her stomach was empty—she was indeed hungry.

She simply picked up some pastries and began eating.

Jingrong suddenly asked, “You still haven’t told me how you knew that General Yuchi isn’t the real Qujiang general?”

Ji Yunshu glanced at him, took a deep breath, and explained unhurriedly, “That man appears to be a fierce person. I imagine on the battlefield he’d be a brave general. However, I noticed his skull protruding at the back, and his shoulder bones connecting to his neck were slightly drooping. This condition should be caused by a heavy blow to the back of his head during combat. Moreover, I saw his right hand was bent and not straight, so I concluded that the injury to his skull bone is precisely at the depression point of the right bone. The consequences of such an injury are either: one, becoming an imbecile, or two, becoming a witless brute. How could such a person possibly lead thirty thousand soldiers against one hundred thousand? Therefore, the real Qujiang general must be someone else!”

In an instant, everything became clear!

Jingrong had to admire her. He had pondered in the hall for a long time without figuring it out, yet Ji Yunshu, with just one glance, analyzed it so thoroughly. He had no choice but to submit.

“You’re so clever—it’s truly a pity.”

“A pity about what?”

“A pity you’re a woman.”

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him. “Men and women—you ancient people really discriminate. Such feudal thinking!”

Ancient people?

Feudal thinking?

Jingrong laughed, the corners of his mouth turning up. He said strangely, “Your words are always so peculiar. Each time this prince must ponder them carefully. In the future when we live together, this prince will probably have something to guess every day.”

Live together?

Ji Yunshu’s hand holding the pastry paused.

She threw cold water on him. “Who said I want to live with you?”

“What, trying to renege now?”

“Hm?”

Jingrong became serious. “You and I have kissed, we’ve slept together. In the future, you must marry this prince.”

Shameless!

The pastry in Ji Yunshu’s hand fell back to the plate. She swallowed, looking helpless.

She emphasized, “I’ve told Your Highness to forget about that matter. I won’t remember it either.”

“Forget?” Jingrong curved his lips. “Can’t forget. This prince is going to make you take responsibility.”

Truly shameless and unreasonable!

Forget it! Forget it!

She was too lazy to respond.

Yet Jingrong was like sticky taffy, insisting on clinging to her.

“Say something!”

“My mouth hurts. I don’t want to talk.” Ji Yunshu’s words left no gaps, causing Jingrong’s expression to turn sour.

Unhappy, he moved even closer to her side and said, “Fine, if your mouth hurts and you don’t want to talk, then this prince will talk to you.”

“…”

“Listen well. What this prince wants to tell you is a matter of great importance.”

A matter of great importance?

Ji Yunshu’s expression remained calm, making it difficult to tell if she was interested. She simply remained silent.

In her heart, she probably wanted to hear it anyway.

Jingrong cleared his throat and asked seriously, “You must know about that Miss Kong Yu, right?”

She nodded!

“Kong Yu and I grew up together since childhood, and our relationship was quite good. Though she’s always thought about becoming my Princess Rong, matters of the heart are ultimately determined by one’s feelings. In my heart, I regard her as an older sister, without the slightest romantic feelings between man and woman. I can only blame myself for being vague and not making it clear to her. The entanglement that exists now was not my intention. Can you understand?”

So nervous!

Yet these words also sounded strange.

Ji Yunshu narrowed her eyes at him, her forehead slightly furrowed. “This is the matter of great importance?”

Your Highness, are you kidding me!

Jingrong seemed to have been struck, but he wasn’t angry or anxious. He straightened his demeanor with a preaching tone.

He said, “I’m telling you this because I hope you can understand—in this prince’s heart, there is only you. There’s absolutely no room for other women.”

These words were quite explicit, too lazy to make Ji Yunshu guess. He simply stated it directly and clearly.

Having heard such words many times, Ji Yunshu’s heart had developed immunity. Yet each time she heard them, she inexplicably felt flustered, her heart racing chaotically!

She immediately moved away, turning to the side, both hands tightly gripping her robe. She replied, “Who is in Your Highness’s heart, in the end, has nothing to do with me. I also…”

Before finishing her words, her arm was gripped by a force and pulled up. Forced to turn around, she fell into Jingrong’s embrace.

Sitting on his lap!

The position was ambiguous and provocative.

“Let me go!” Ji Yunshu’s hands pressed against his chest, rising up indignantly.

But her strength was no match—she was held fast.

“Be quiet. If the people outside hear a commotion and come in to look, you and I really won’t be able to explain.”

Damn it, even now we can’t explain!

Ji Yunshu’s eyes glared fiercely at him. Whether her flushed cheeks were from anger or from her racing heartbeat was unclear.

With cold eyes, she said one sentence.

“Your Highness must not forget this saying—since ancient times, a gentle embrace is a hero’s tomb!”