Ning Wanwei first gained the emperor’s favor thanks to her resemblance to his elder sister. Two years ago, Jiang Xuanjin was in the imperial study teaching him “The Emperor’s Strategy,” discussing the principle of “not harming one’s kin.” Li Huailin had asked, “Then what about my sister killing the Lord of Pingling?”

Jiang Xuanjin paused and replied, “That’s why she is rightfully condemned by everyone.”

Li Huailin knew his sister was secretly watching, and he asked deliberately to ease the hatred he couldn’t dispel. But seeing his sister truly hurt and leaving in sorrow, he felt uncomfortable.

This discomfort found a solution when he saw Ning Wanwei. She bore a resemblance to his sister, and he picked her out from a hundred others, softly asking, “What would make you happy?”

She was so frightened she couldn’t speak for a while. But when she regained her composure, she knelt before him and said, “I would be happy to stay by Your Majesty’s side.”

“Very well,” Li Huailin agreed, bringing her into the harem and bestowing upon her the title of Consort. He spent every night in her palace, asking her to sing him to sleep like his sister used to. Whenever he plotted against his sister, he would reward Ning Wanwei. After his sister’s death, he favored her above all others in the harem.

Yet Ning Wanwei never became arrogant. She seemed to understand where his favor came from, serving him with propriety, comforting him, and never asking for more.

Gradually, Li Huailin found that when he looked at her, he no longer saw his sister’s shadow. The person before him was her, someone who genuinely cared for him. He couldn’t understand what was so good about him that she would be so devoted. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in her feelings; he was just afraid… afraid she would leave. Afraid that those he cherished most would eventually leave him.

Pressing his lips together, Li Huailin stood up, walked to her side, and took the medicinal wine she had used, gently dabbing her forehead wound with a cloth.

Ning Wanwei’s pupils contracted, then relaxed. The emperor was always like this, treating her well after losing his temper. She was used to it. As long as he didn’t send her away, everything was fine.

“Liu Yunlie has ulterior motives,” he said softly as he applied the medicine. “I need to find a way to keep us both safe.”

Her eyelashes fluttered, and Ning Wanwei reached out to hold his sleeve. “Wherever Your Majesty goes, I will follow.”

Staring at her for a long time, Li Huailin suddenly smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth, a rare hint of boyishness in his expression. “Alright,” he said.

With Xiliang’s troops pouring into the country and the border in crisis, Jiang Xuanjin received the news with a grave expression. “As expected,” he said. “Liu Yunlie is with Xiliang.”

Since learning that Liu Yunlie had married his sister to a Xiliang general, Jiang Xuanjin had suspected him. Liu Yunlie was usually cautious, and getting involved with Xiliang at such a critical time could make him a traitor for the ages. With his cunning, he wouldn’t risk his life without a good reason.

Now, he held troops but didn’t fight, not only giving up the capital but also allowing Xiliang’s forces into Northern Wei. If he weren’t with Xiliang, he had no reason to make such decisions.

Li Huaiyu, leaning against the bed, couldn’t help but curse, “That scoundrel! He infiltrated the court for years just to open the door for Xiliang!”

“Don’t get upset,” Jiang Xuanjin said, setting down the documents and frowning. “Qi Jin said you need to rest.”

Mentioning it made Li Huaiyu laugh and cry. Since giving birth to the two little ones, Jiang Xuanjin had been treating her like a porcelain doll, not allowing her to stand or move, feeding her meals, and even bathing her. When she couldn’t stand it and wanted to move, he would carry her around the room with a cold face.

Yes, carry her, not letting her touch the ground.

“Are you getting back at me?” Huaiyu teased, hooking his hand with her finger. “Getting back at me for scaring you on the day of delivery?”

Jiang Xuanjin gently stroked her hair. “How could I?”

It was obvious! Look at his eyes! Huaiyu dared not speak her anger, her eyes rolling as she smiled. “Aren’t you supposed to say something today?”

He had promised her on the day of delivery to say those three words to her every day.

Looking a bit uncomfortable, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze. “I’ve been saying it for almost a month. Aren’t you tired of hearing it?”

“I’ll never get tired of it!” Li Huaiyu waved her hand, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “My greatest joy every day is hearing you say it.”

“Don’t you think you’re a bit shameless?” Jiang Xuanjin said, slightly angry. “Even at that time, you were setting traps for people.”

Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, Li Huaiyu nodded. “Yes, I think I’m quite shameless, so you mustn’t learn from me! You have to say what you promised, come on!”

Jiang Xuanjin: “…”

He truly understood why this person chose to be a villain because villains don’t need to care about face; they do whatever makes them happy. Unlike him, who was almost driven mad by his promises.

With her hand holding his, her eyes fixed on his face, Jiang Xuanjin tightened his expression and murmured.

“Hmm?” Huaiyu dug her ear. “I didn’t hear you.”

Jiang Xuanjin was annoyed. “You’re doing it on purpose!”

“Are you being mean to me?” Huaiyu blinked, pulling the bed curtain with a pitiful look. “You’re being mean to me!”

His temple twitched, and Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Who is ‘me’?”

“‘Me’ is ‘me’!” she said coquettishly, twisting her waist and throwing him a flirtatious glance.

Jiang Xuanjin stood up, ready to leave.

“Hey, hey, don’t go.” Huaiyu reached out to pull him back, grinning. “I won’t tease you anymore.”

He sat back on the bed, and she leaned over, cupping his face and kissing his lips.

“Your body,” he frowned, catching her waist.

“Hmm?” She licked his lower lip with her little tongue, smiling. “Then hold me steady.”

With that, she let go.

The weight in his hands suddenly increased, and Jiang Xuanjin grunted, realizing this shameless person was using his support to kiss him. Yet he couldn’t let go, or she would fall off the bed.

“You…” he said, both angry and amused.

Kissing his lips gently, Li Huaiyu said openly, “I’m spoiled and fearless!”

She had the nerve to say it! It was outrageous!

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Xuanjin closed his eyes, adhering to the Jiang family’s tradition of self-reflection, concluding that it was all his fault. He deserved it!

He endured it. What else could he do with her?

The atmosphere in the room was so good that Cheng Xu and Yufeng wished they could pretend to be incense burners.

Did these two not see them at all? Huh? Two living people standing here, and these two could still get affectionate while discussing serious matters?

What about Liu Yunlie’s issue? Could they still talk about it?

Cheng Xu was so angry, that he felt their salaries had to increase; this job was impossible otherwise!

Yufeng asked him with his eyes: Stay or leave?

Nonsense, of course, stay! Cheng Xu signaled with his eyebrows: We’re waiting for the master to make a decision and then spread the news!

Yufeng nodded in understanding, then unexpectedly kicked Cheng Xu in the rear.

Caught off guard, Cheng Xu stumbled, bumping into the nearby rosewood round table, knocking over the candlestick with a “thud.”

Jiang Xuanjin was startled, quickly pinching Huaiyu’s waist and placing her back on the bed. Then he turned, his gaze coolly fixed on the person by the table.

“Master…” Cheng Xu’s hair stood on end, hurriedly waving his hands. “It wasn’t… it wasn’t me!”

Looking at the overturned candlestick on the table and then at the person closest to it, Jiang Xuanjin’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Cheng Xu broke out in a cold sweat, glaring at Yufeng with a near-desperate look.

A good brother would take a knife for you, but this scoundrel’s knife was aimed right at his ribs!

Yufeng looked indifferent as if it had nothing to do with him.

Cheng Xu had no choice but to step forward and ask, “May I ask the Lord how to issue the orders?”

The Qinwang army had grown to two hundred thousand. If they pursued the emperor, they could surely capture him, but then the border would be unguarded, and Xiliang’s troops would continue to ravage. If they split their forces, they would be attacked from both sides, with Xiliang in front and Liu Yunlie behind, uncertain of the outcome on either side.

“In the name of the Grand Princess, issue an edict to the border, ordering the border guards to resist Xiliang with all their might,” Jiang Xuanjin said, taking paper and pen. “Then divide the forces of Changlin and Nanping to support the border, while the rest quell the internal chaos.”

As he spoke, he detailed the troop distribution and deployment on paper, handing it to Cheng Xu. “Deliver it to Lord Changlin.”

“Yes!” Cheng Xu took the letter, relieved to have escaped a disaster, and was about to run.

However, just as he reached the door, his master’s voice caught up with him.

“After delivering the letter, clean the stables twice.”

Cheng Xu: “…”

What was meant to come would come; there was no escaping it.

Murong Qi, having caught wind of the situation, came to find Jiang Xuanjin and Li Huaiyu.

“Everyone knows to seek help from neighboring countries. Why can’t you two think of that?” she said, frowning at them. “My Eastern Jin is powerful, much stronger than that lousy Xiliang. I’m willing to back you up, ensuring even the throne is overturned.”

Jiang Xuanjin replied calmly, “No need.”

Li Huaiyu agreed for once, “Indeed, no need.”

“Can’t you see how tense the situation is outside?” Murong Qi raised an eyebrow. “With Xiliang involved, your chances of winning are slim. If your army is defeated, it’s all over.”

Jiang Xuanjin said tactfully, “We handle our affairs. Lord Baihua need not worry.”

Li Huaiyu smiled, getting straight to the point. “Huailin is young and easily deceived, inviting wolves into the house. We’ve lived nearly fifty years combined; how could we fall for such a trick? Win or lose, it’s Northern Wei’s business. If the Lord has spare time, why not take a walk?”

A clever person isn’t scary; two clever people together are. Murong Qi was unwilling, having waited in Northern Wei for so long without finding an opportunity to take advantage. Seeing Xiliang coming to share the spoils, her Eastern Jin troops couldn’t enter the territory.

But at least, given Northern Wei’s situation, chaos was inevitable, and Eastern Jin’s position wouldn’t be shaken for a decade.

Relaxing, Murong Qi couldn’t be bothered to discuss it further, turning to say, “I just went out for a walk and came back, and for some reason, a lot of people followed me.”

Li Huaiyu rolled her eyes. “With your face on the street, what’s surprising about people following you?”

“No, usually the people who follow are gentle and blush, but today this group was aggressive, carrying sticks and hoes, like they wanted to hit me.” Murong Qi shrugged. “But when I stood still and let them come, they didn’t move. Very strange.”

Li Huaiyu was stunned. “What did you do on the street?”

“Nothing much,” Murong Qi recalled, looking at the ceiling. “Just accidentally kicked over two stalls, snatched a girl’s handkerchief, and drank a jar of wine.”

Jiang Xuanjin and Li Huaiyu: “…”

Murong Qi thought about it and felt something was off, asking them, “Do you have to pay for wine here?”

“Of course!” Huaiyu slapped the bed. “Not paying is called stealing!”

“Oh,” Murong Qi nodded, counting on her fingers. “Then I kicked over two stalls, stole a handkerchief, and a jar of wine.”

Her tone was as if she were listing good deeds.

Jiang Xuanjin instructed Yufeng, “Go and compensate the people.”

“Why compensate?” Murong Qi chuckled. “I do the same in Eastern Jin, never paying.”

Huaiyu clasped her hands in admiration. “You’re a real rogue, yet still praised. I’m impressed.”

“You’re too kind,” Murong Qi stood up. “Since you two won’t fall for my tricks, I’ll go for another walk.”

Jiang Xuanjin watched her leave, then told Yufeng, “Find someone to guide Lord Baihua. She’s not familiar with Yixian City yet.”

If she’s going to steal, she should pick the right shop, like Lu’s in Yixian City, which is easy to rob.

Understanding his master’s intention, Yufeng bowed and agreed, “Yes.”

Northern Wei was descending into chaos. West of the capital, all territories respected Lord Ziyang, no longer under imperial control. In the east, the emperor’s forces roamed, and Xiliang’s troops ravaged. The difference was that Liu Yunlie led his troops defensively, while Jiang Xuanjin divided his forces to guard the border against Xiliang.

Old Master Jiang knelt in the Jiang family ancestral hall for a day.

“Grandfather,” Jiang Yan gently advised, “You should understand, Uncle did nothing wrong. This time, it’s the emperor who is at fault.”

No matter what, foreign troops must not be allowed into Northern Wei, a family rule the emperor had completely violated.

Old Master Jiang remained silent, staring at the words on the ancestral tablets.

The Jiang family had been loyal for generations, always supporting the emperor, even if he wasn’t wise, fulfilling their duties with utmost loyalty.

Jiang Xuanjin was his most beloved youngest son, the most accomplished in the Jiang family, yet now he had driven the emperor out of the capital.

Even knowing he had his reasons, wrong was wrong. He should kneel here and apologize to the ancestors on his behalf.

And… pray for the ancestors’ protection, to keep this unfilial son safe and allow him to return peacefully.