At this time, Jirong, with her slightly protruding belly, walked out from the inner room carrying a bowl of medicinal soup and handed it to Li Jiancheng: “This medicine has pain-relieving and dampness-dispelling effects. I noticed the weather looked wrong today and feared my husband might suffer from leg pain again, so I specially prepared it. Drink it quickly while it’s still hot.”

After Li Jiancheng took the medicine, she squatted down and skillfully massaged the place where his bones had been reset. Li Jiancheng set down the empty medicine bowl and pulled her arm: “Since you’re now with child, you can’t bend and crouch as casually as before. Let Steward Wang do this – didn’t he learn from you for a while?”

“I’m fine.” Jirong said while massaging: “Although Steward Wang learned for a while, he still often doesn’t press the right spots. With acupoints, if you press even slightly wrong, there’s no effect, so it’s better for me to do it myself.”

Since following Li Jiancheng, Jirong had always been very understanding and considerate, which Li Jiancheng greatly favored – far more than the several concubines he had previously taken. Now that Jirong was carrying his first child, he naturally loved and doted on her even more, even showing signs of surpassing Zheng Shi in favor. However, Jirong was very measured – no matter how well Li Jiancheng treated her, she firmly maintained the humility befitting a concubine and always showed great respect to Zheng Shi.

After massaging his leg from top to bottom, Jirong wiped the sweat from her forehead, breathing slightly heavily: “Does my husband feel better?”

Li Jiancheng helped her up: “Yes, much better than before. You’re tired too, sit down and rest quickly. Be careful not to harm the child in your womb.”

Jirong stroked her barely showing belly and smiled: “This child will help my husband and father-in-law in future campaigns to quell rebellions. How could he be so delicate?” Then she sighed: “It’s all because I’m useless. Though I’ve read through medical texts extensively, I still haven’t been able to completely cure my husband’s foot ailment, leaving him to suffer foot pain every rainy day. Whenever I think of this, my heart aches terribly.”

Li Jiancheng patted her slender hand: “You’ve done your best. It was that assassin who was cunning – disguising himself as Wu Meixue and poisoning the bone-mending and flesh-regenerating powder you prepared for me.”

Jirong sighed again, looking at Li Jiancheng softly: “Just now… when I came over, Second Young Master was still here, so I accidentally overheard some things.”

“It doesn’t matter, it was just a small matter.” Having said this, seeing Jirong hesitate to speak, Li Jiancheng asked puzzledly: “What is it? Is there something else?”

Jirong bit her lip lightly: “I shouldn’t say this, but after thinking it over, I still feel I should remind my husband.” After a pause, she said slowly but clearly: “My husband must be careful of Liu Hongji!”

Li Jiancheng hadn’t expected her to suddenly say such a thing and frowned: “Why do you say this?”

“When my husband came to Hedong last year, I accompanied you throughout the journey. I know better than anyone how courteously and generously my husband treated Liu Hongji, even personally visiting his door, yet Liu Hongji wouldn’t even agree to meet. But now, Second Young Master has only been in Hedong for a short time, and Liu Hongji actively made contact with him, even arranging that performance with Zhou Xing stealing the money pouch. Now he’s even actively come with Second Young Master to serve father-in-law. There’s only one reason for this – the person Liu Hongji is truly serving isn’t father-in-law, but Second Young Master!”

Having her put it this way, Li Jiancheng also felt that affair had many strange aspects that couldn’t be explained by simply saying “eccentric temperament.” But… what benefit could Liu Hongji gain from doing this?

Hearing Li Jiancheng’s confusion, Jirong said: “I actually thought of a possibility, though I don’t know if it’s correct.”

“Just speak your mind.” Under Li Jiancheng’s urging, Jirong said slowly: “In Zhou Xing’s matter, my husband advocated punishment while Second Young Master advocated clemency. It might be this that caught Liu Hongji’s fancy, leading him to actively approach Second Young Master.”

“Ridiculous!” Li Jiancheng immediately said: “If everyone who errs goes unpunished and crimes go without responsibility, what law and order would remain? Wouldn’t the realm fall into chaos?”

“I naturally know my husband considers the bigger picture, but not everyone can appreciate my husband’s painstaking efforts. Many people like to talk about benevolence and righteousness, and Second Young Master’s behavior exactly suits their preferences. Liu Hongji is probably one of them. Plus, since he actively came with Second Young Master to surrender, he probably values Second Young Master greatly.”

Li Jiancheng snorted lightly with some displeasure: “Let him think what he wants. As long as he’s loyal to our Li family, that’s enough.”

“I just fear he has other intentions, even…” Jirong’s eyes flashed slightly as she said softly: “Influencing Second Young Master.”

Li Jiancheng guessed the meaning of her words and shook his head: “No, Shimin isn’t that kind of person. Don’t overthink it.”

Jirong nodded, saying puzzledly: “Actually, I’ve never understood why father-in-law wants to recruit Liu Hongji. Though this person has some talent, he is after all a criminal wanted by the court. Once the court learns of this, there might be trouble.”

Li Jiancheng said calmly: “Father probably values talent. Alright, this matter ends here. Don’t mention it again. Remember, never speak of Liu Hongji’s affairs to others. Act as if you know nothing.”

Jirong said obediently: “I understand. My husband can rest assured.”

Liu Hongji was assigned to the military camp to work with Changsun Shunde in commanding and training those thousands of troops. At the same time, he secretly wrote letters to his former close friends, asking them all to come to Hedong.

Li Yuan valued Liu Hongji mainly for his extensive network of personal connections throughout various places. Sure enough, within a month, capable men and chivalrous heroes from the martial world continuously came to serve. In a short time, over a hundred people had gathered, each with exceptional skills and extraordinary courage. Several even had talent for leading troops, which greatly pleased Li Yuan.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan quickly pacified several small uprisings, stabilizing the situation in Hedong. Under these circumstances, more and more common people came to take refuge in Hedong – not just from Longmen or Shanxi, but people from nearby areas also came seeking Li Yuan’s protection. The originally empty streets gradually became lively, with vendors and pedestrians visible everywhere as the vitality of this place slowly recovered.

In contrast was Longmen. Despite Mu Duan’er’s repeated strict orders forbidding his people from going to Hedong under penalty of death, people continued to secretly leave. Later, they even rose up in groups to attack the soldiers blocking them, erupting in upheaval. Though those people were eventually all executed, Mu Duan’er’s rule in Longmen had begun showing signs of collapse, which was very unfavorable for him.

Under these circumstances, he finally couldn’t bear it anymore. On the third day of the sixth month, he assembled a force of over five thousand men, led by his capable generals to attack Hedong. Of course, this was merely a probe – Mu Duan’er wanted to assess Li Yuan’s strength and judge whether he could launch subsequent attacks.