Some people speak with consideration at every turn, making others feel like bathed in a spring breeze. Some people speak with nothing but acidity, every word and phrase picking at people’s weak points, deliberately making others uncomfortable and displeased.

The Xie Wei of former days was the former.

After all, he had the refined manner of ancient sages both inside and outside the court—prudent, measured, thorough and proper—earning him great renown. However, in front of her, with their roots mutually known, once the mask was torn off, his words grew harsher and more cutting one after another, completely unmasked and unguarded.

For a moment, her anger nearly drowned and buried her, giving her an impulse to loudly question him—

What do you know?

What do you, such a cold-blooded and ruthless person, know?

You know nothing.

But when Xie Wei had looked at her just now with that nearly penetrating gaze, it inexplicably dissolved this suddenly surging courage.

She actually didn’t dare.

Jiang Xuening sat at the table for quite a while before rising and following him out.

Xie Wei stood under the eaves outside looking at the sky.

The great wind of the borderlands swept from the north, dispersing floating clouds and haze. The clear azure sky was washed clean like water, so blue it was intoxicating—truly rare fine weather.

Daochin and Jianshu saw her first.

Xie Wei then turned his head and saw her eyes seemed slightly red, but he didn’t say anything. Only after she caught up did he walk along the corridor and leave the residence.

The main street was already a scene of jubilation.

Soldiers from near and far garrisons were coming and going in the city. Some wore only tight-fitting clothes, some wore light armor, but their expressions were all uniformly excited.

If one quieted down and listened carefully, one would know they were all talking about the provisions and supplies that had arrived outside the city.

Many common people in the city were also heading in the same direction toward the east city gate, clearly all gathering to watch the excitement.

Only at this moment did Jiang Xuening sense from such fervor an urgency with war imminent.

Along the way, some soldiers even stopped to salute Xie Wei.

Clearly, these days of inspecting the garrison encampments with Yan Lin—they had genuinely accomplished some things.

When Yan Lin first arrived in Xinzhou, he beheaded the general who had originally commanded the army, a man named Wang Cheng.

You must know, this person was one of the Xiao faction’s people.

Regardless of whether Yan Lin came bearing an imperial edict or not, the Xiao family’s roots ran deep. Personnel changes at the border involved crucial military authority. Reassignment was one thing, but to directly behead someone right after being reassigned—if the Xiao family learned of this, how could they let it go?

Most likely it would bring enormous trouble.

Ordinary commanders naturally dared not provoke Yan Lin who was at the height of his power, but they also feared the Xiao family who originally controlled military authority. They couldn’t afford to offend either side. Some observed from the sidelines, watching which way the wind blew, temporarily not getting involved. Others with related interests just waited for the supervising military official sent by the court to arrive, then to give Yan Lin his comeuppance.

But who could have anticipated that Xie Wei would come?

Their fantasy instantly became empty.

Not only was he Yan Lin’s former teacher, but after arriving in Xinzhou, he showed not the slightest intention of providing checks and balances. Just from the strategy meetings and banquets of recent days, one could glimpse the truth. Someone at the banquet pretended to casually bring up the matter of Yan Lin beheading General Wang Cheng upon taking office. Xie Wei had no reaction whatsoever, showing not the slightest intention to investigate or inquire further. Within two days, he even inspected military camps together with Yan Lin, thoroughly displaying a posture of fully supporting Yan Lin.

Those secretly waiting to watch the show and waiting for Yan Lin to suffer misfortune all ate a big loss.

As the saying goes, “Those who understand the times are outstanding.” Anyone who still couldn’t see this situation clearly was blind.

So although only two days had passed, the atmosphere in the army was completely renewed.

Those who should focus their minds did so, those who should drill troops did so.

Even more, some were already secretly speculating whether the Xiao clan had fallen from favor—even that favored consort in the palace couldn’t protect them anymore. Otherwise, why would they deliberately send Xie Wei to supervise the army?

How could they know that from beginning to end there was fundamentally no imperial edict letting Yan Lin take control of military authority, and even sending Xie Ju’an to supervise the army wasn’t originally to support Yan Lin, but to prevent mutiny?

This stratagem was just too audacious.

So audacious that people didn’t even have the thought to suspect the edict was fake. Moreover, with the current Imperial Tutor personally present, wasn’t credibility deepened?

As Jiang Xuening walked and observed along the way, to say she wasn’t impressed would be false.

But beyond admiration, she couldn’t help feeling alarmed.

Just as they were about to reach outside the city gate, she thought to ask: “Wasn’t it originally said that Lu Xian would lead the way and Fangyin would arrive several days later? But Lu Xian didn’t arrive earlier, and Fangyin arriving today is also several days earlier than originally planned.”

Xie Wei said: “The Heavenly Sect caused chaos, the official road wasn’t easy to travel, and all arrangements had to be managed. Perhaps some incident occurred along the way.”

As long as provisions arrived, that was enough.

Whatever incident had actually occurred, he wasn’t very concerned.

The city gate area was already packed with people shoulder to shoulder, squeezed together so tightly not even water could leak through.

However, when Xie Wei brought Jiang Xuening there, a sharp-eyed soldier on the gate tower immediately spotted them and at once a squad of soldiers came down to clear a path ahead.

Walking through the gate tunnel, the scene outside became completely clear.

The convoy transporting provisions extended from the end of the official road as far as the eye could see, all the way here. At a glance, one could tell they came from different places.

Jiang Xuening even saw insignias from some merchant houses in Datong, Shanxi.

The army had specially deployed a batch of soldiers. After the registrar holding an account book nodded after counting and verifying everything one by one, they would pull these carts into the city’s grain warehouses specially designated for military provisions.

You Fangyin and Lu Xian both stood beside the registrar keeping accounts, each holding an account book, seemingly talking about something with lowered heads.

That registrar was already advanced in years. Being watched by these two people, even the hand holding his brush was trembling.

Lu Xian practically watched with a cold eye.

But You Fangyin lightly furrowed her brows, her fingers rapidly sweeping line by line across the writing in the account book, her expression containing an indescribable earnestness and gravity.

From afar, Jiang Xuening saw that the bottom hem of her peacock blue pleated skirt was already splattered with mud and water. Drawing closer, she discovered that the fingers checking the account book were frozen red, even with some wounds.

She frowned and called out: “Fangyin.”

Hearing this familiar voice, You Fangyin turned her head to see her. Her features immediately relaxed, and without even putting down the account book, she quickly walked over: “Second Miss!”

Jiang Xuening took her hand to look at it, then raised her head to examine her cheeks, only feeling she’d lost a whole circle of weight. Somehow a burst of anger rose in her heart, somewhat displeased: “You were staying well in Jiangnan. For something like escorting provisions, just have Ren Weizhi come. Why did you personally get involved in this commotion?”

You Fangyin was immediately flustered.

She looked at her hesitantly and said: “After discussing with Boss Lu, quite a lot of provisions and supplies still needed to be requisitioned from neighboring prefectures. With only official seals, I feared various merchant houses wouldn’t give this face, so I wanted to personally make the trip. A few days ago, Datong had a rainfall. The road was slippery and difficult to travel. That’s why I ended up in such a disheveled state on the journey here. I didn’t truly encounter any trouble. Please don’t worry.”

Such a stubborn person as always. Escorting provisions meant danger, not much safer than her journey to the border with Xie Wei. She was someone with such a large business under her command—how could she not plan for herself even this much?

Jiang Xuening was angry with her, but seeing her like this, she couldn’t say any harsh words.

In the end, she could only lower her head to wipe away the dirt on her hands and say: “Wasn’t it said you’d arrive in a few days? How did you arrive today?”

You Fangyin’s eyes sparkled brightly as she looked at her: “Grand Princess is trapped in Tatar territory. I fear her circumstances grow worse day by day. I know you’re worried at heart. If all arrangements in the rear could be completed earlier, presumably we could also start the war sooner. So I hurried somewhat on the road. Moreover, hearing that you encountered an attack on your way to the border, I was also worried about you and wanted to come see you a day earlier.”

Jiang Xuening smiled at her foolishness, but her heart felt warm.

Only Lu Xian, standing not far away, heard this exchange between the two. Who knows which wrong nerve it touched, but he gave a cold snort.

Hearing this, Jiang Xuening looked over.

The treacherous merchant Boss Lu from the Youhuang Hall in the capital of former days now also looked quite disheveled. Never mind the mud spatters on his long robe—it had also been torn in several places by branches that had jutted out from who knows where.

Seeing Jiang Xuening look over, he still wore a cold face.

He even rolled his eyes. The account book originally in his hand was tossed onto the desk of that trembling registrar, and he turned and left.

Jiang Xuening couldn’t quite describe that moment’s feeling. It was…

Hostility?

What hostility did Lu Xian have toward her?

Over there, Xie Wei didn’t come over, only standing to the side watching.

When Lu Xian approached, he gave a cold laugh: “Good intentions treated like a donkey’s liver and lungs—making wedding clothes for others!”

Xie Wei looked at him.

Lu Xian grew even more impatient and cursed: “The military provisions and supply accounts in Xinzhou simply don’t add up. Every previous year was full of bad debts. That Wang Cheng was originally an old turtle plundering the people’s fat and blood. The people he left behind are all useless, their hands having done who knows how much dirty work. I brought quite a few people under me. Perfect time to pull them all out and replace them with clean ones!”

After speaking, he seemed even angrier and turned to walk into the city.

Xie Wei raised an eyebrow behind him: “Are your hands very clean?”

Lu Xian nearly jumped.

Turning back, his voice rose: “Xie Ju’an!”

Xie Wei somehow saw through something and suddenly laughed. Before he could say the four words “sever the robe and cut ties,” he waved his hand: “Fine, I’ll listen to you. Replace them.”

All the curses that hadn’t been uttered were suddenly blocked back.

Lu Xian nearly suffocated from these few words. After quite a while, he forcefully flicked his sleeve: “How did I never discover before—you’re actually a scoundrel!”