Chengxu felt that his lord was becoming more adept at lying.

In the past, he would feel uneasy and tense when lying, but now he stood straight and calm, his face expressionless, and his tone as casual as asking someone if they had eaten dinner.

He said, “It’s only right for her to see Juwu off since he’s leaving for so long. What’s there to be upset about?”

However, standing in a corner of the courtyard, watching the lady talk endlessly with Juwu, the lord’s gaze darkened after an incense stick’s worth of time.

What could they be talking about for so long? He’s leaving for ten days or half a month, not ten years!

“Master, should I remind the lady?” Chengxu asked considerately.

Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “If she hasn’t finished talking, let her take her time. What’s the rush?”

That’s what he said, but his expression was growing more displeased. He quietly watched the two from afar for a long time, and when he was sure the lady hadn’t glanced his way, he let out a soft hum, flicked his sleeve, and walked straight out of the moon gate.

Li Huaiyu didn’t notice. She checked Juwu’s luggage and earnestly told him, “I couldn’t give you this opportunity, but he did, so you must seize it.”

Mobilizing troops to Yixian City, if the people from Pingling make a move, he can earn merit. Even if they don’t, Juwu will be seen as a trusted aide of Lord Ziyang, establishing connections and formally entering the officialdom.

She had taken over Yixian City, but only the locals recognized their official positions. The capital didn’t acknowledge them, so their status remained unofficial. Jiang Xuanjin’s actions, though partly personal, genuinely gave Juwu a boost.

Juwu nodded with a complex expression, bowing to her, “Your Highness, take care.”

“Don’t worry, there are plenty of people here. You just go,” Huaiyu smiled. “When you return, we’ll have a banquet to celebrate.”

“Alright.” Juwu solemnly bowed again.

Li Huaiyu, holding her heavy belly, looked at the overcast sky. Honestly, the situation in Yixian City and Danyang wasn’t very optimistic. Apart from ties with Nanping, Danyang was isolated. Even if Jiang Xuanjin now allowed Ziyang to assist, it would take time to ease the tension in Danyang.

Huailin was smart, choosing this moment to strike at her. If Jiang Xuanjin weren’t here, she’d struggle to cope.

But fortunately, the surprise she prepared for Huailin was on its way.

Since the major reshuffle of officials in the capital, the court had been weakened and hadn’t recovered. Li Huailin hastily built his power, promoting many newcomers, which drew much criticism.

Even when the Princess was around, she never purged dissent so drastically. The young emperor not only acted ruthlessly but also targeted many respected old ministers, even showing disrespect to Bai the Censor. He relied heavily on Chancellor Qi, Judicial Officer Liu, and Grand Commandant Sima, becoming increasingly tyrannical.

Every year, Eastern Jin, Northern Wei, Western Liang, and Southern Yan would send envoys to each other to strengthen ties. In previous years, Northern Wei always sent Yun Lanqing, who was wise and eloquent, often turning danger into safety and bringing glory to the nation. However, this year Yun Lanqing had fled to Danyang, so Li Huailin had to send Liu Yunlie.

As a result, upon reaching Eastern Jin, Liu Yunlie was stopped outside the gate. With Liu the Judicial Officer’s temper, how could he endure that? A conflict ensued, and this year Eastern Jin bypassed Northern Wei, sending their envoy directly to Western Liang.

This incident caused an uproar in the court and among the people. Several old ministers, already discontent, finally couldn’t hold back and advised the emperor to stay close to loyal ministers and distance himself from sycophants. Li Huailin brushed it off, clearly intending to protect Liu Yunlie, thinking the matter would pass and he could find a way to make amends later. Who knew the sixty-year-old Grand Historian would be so aggrieved that he would dash his head against the ground before the emperor?

When an old minister dies remonstrating, regardless of the reason, the monarch is left with a reputation for being “foolish and obstinate,” which is impossible to clear.

Huaiyu sighed, “He’s unlucky.”

She had intended to ask the Lord of Hundred Flowers in Eastern Jin for a favor to trouble Liu Yunlie, but who knew it would escalate to this?

Jiang Xuanjin sat across from her, saying coldly, “He brought it on himself.”

Li Huailin was obedient but too deep-minded and adept at disguise. When he taught him the “Strategies of the Emperor,” he noticed some obsessive thoughts and corrected him once, and the child never showed them again.

He thought he had changed, but now it seemed he had just hidden them.

Huaiyu lowered her eyes, “If he had listened to you, or at least to me, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

Unfortunately, he trusted Li Shan, who was duplicitous, skilled in manipulation, and unable to distinguish loyalty from treachery. He must have taught Huailin that the Three Dukes must be confidants, so Bai Dezhong was stripped of power, and Chancellor Qi and Grand Commandant Sima held the court together.

It seemed stable, but in reality, it lost the people’s hearts.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Huaiyu didn’t want to discuss it further and just watched the person in front of her.

When Jiang Xuanjin focused on something, his eyelashes didn’t tremble, and his eyes were like ink, misty like wet black stones after rain. His hands, accustomed to handling documents, now held a file, his expression cold but his actions gentle, carefully trimming her overgrown nails.

Relaxing her brows, Huaiyu smiled, “I can do it myself, you know.”

Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, lifting her other untrimmed hand for her to see, “Do it yourself?”

Her nails were ragged, all chewed by her.

“Don’t you think it’s quick this way?” Huaiyu said confidently, “You take forever to file one nail, I can finish in two or three bites.”

His brow twitched, and Jiang Xuanjin squinted, “Stay still.”

Chengxu and Yufeng watched from behind, their expressions calm but their hearts turbulent.

Their lord, who would ignore so many documents, came to file the lady’s nails just because Qi Jin said pregnant women shouldn’t have long nails.

Not long ago, he was sulking, refusing to go to the hall for lunch, forcing the lady to ask if he was unwell. Now, he sat here for half an hour, even setting aside the urgent letter from Lord Lü.

Can’t you stay angry a bit longer?

With one hand held by him, Huaiyu mischievously touched Jiang Xuanjin’s face with the other, then rubbed his lips, pressing them unconsciously.

Jiang Xuanjin was slightly annoyed, glaring at her.

Li Huaiyu giggled, “So soft!”

They must taste sweet.

Pausing with the file, Jiang Xuanjin snorted softly, suddenly opening his lips to take her finger in.

“Hiss—” Her fingertip trembled, and Huaiyu felt a rush of heat, panicking as she tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t let go. His eyes were dark, half angry, half teasing.

For the first time, Li the Rogue’s face turned redder than Jiang the Little Princess’s. After struggling for a while, she softened her tone, “Let go, don’t hurt your lips.”

“Didn’t you say they were soft?” He released her, snorting.

“Okay, not soft, not soft!” Huaiyu agreed, her eyes sparkling. Leaning over the couch, she kissed his cheek.

Chengxu and Yufeng exchanged a glance and turned away.

Such blatant intimacy, who were they trying to provoke? Following the lord was tough; when he was unhappy, they had to endure the cold, and when he was happy, they had to shield their eyes from the blinding light.

No wonder their salaries were high; this job was not for the faint-hearted!

On the coldest day of winter, Jiang Shen came to see Jiang Xuanjin.

“I’m going back to Ziyang,” he said.

Jiang Xuanjin looked up from his documents, surprised, “Have you thought it through?”

“What is there to think through?” Jiang Shen chuckled, pointing to his handsome face, “There are plenty of fish in the sea.”

Jiang Xuanjin silently watched him.

Jiang Shen laughed, but as he laughed, the light in his eyes dimmed, “We’re brothers, can’t you pretend not to see?”

Xu Chuniang was letting go day by day, while he was struggling more and more, struggling without results.

Li Huaiyu said that in every way, he was less suitable for Xu Chuniang than Chijin.

Yes, Chijin was gentle and considerate, without multiple wives and concubines, and wouldn’t break her heart. He was a great man.

But he couldn’t stand it. The thought of Xu Chuniang giving all her goodness to this man kept him awake at night. The result of his anger was losing his composure and becoming unlike himself.

With women, he had always been carefree, cherishing them without obsession, earning a reputation for being fickle but enjoying it.

But with Xu Chuniang, he found himself despicable, jealous, selfish, and angry, showing all his ugly sides.

Rather than losing the last bit of goodwill, it was better to leave. He could still salvage some grace. Jiang Shen thought this way, even secretly applauding himself when he made the decision.

But now, under Jiang Xuanjin’s knowing gaze, he suddenly felt defeated.

“What else can I do?” he said, “I can’t handle her.”

Jiang Xuanjin said sympathetically, “Don’t be too upset.”

The comfort was half-hearted. Jiang Shen sat on a nearby chair, snorting, “You’re doing well, aren’t you afraid I’ll go back and tell Father to bring you back?”

“How can telling the truth be considered tattling?” Jiang Xuanjin leisurely pulled out a letter from Ziyang City and placed it on the table, “This matter should also be told to Miss Xu.”

Jiang Shen was stunned, got up to take the letter, and opened it, and his expression became complicated.

Jiang Xuanjin flipped through his documents, casually saying, “Congratulations, Second Brother, you’re going to be a father.”

Guluan was diagnosed with pregnancy, and counting the days, it was just before he left.

“Truly a case of fate without destiny,” Jiang Shen laughed, pressing the letter onto the table, “Now it’s even more impossible for her to leave with me.”

“If this hadn’t happened, would you have divorced Guluan and Cuixue to bring Miss Xu back?” Jiang Xuanjin asked.

Jiang Shen shook his head solemnly, “You know it’s impossible. Guluan and Cuixue have been with me for years. Where would they go if I let them go?”

“Then why did you come here?” Jiang Xuanjin was puzzled, “You know why Miss Xu left.”

Slowly closing his eyes, Jiang Shen pursed his lips, silent.

Jiang Xuanjin watched him for a while, understanding, “Second Brother isn’t lacking, but Miss Xu isn’t suitable for you. Let her go.”

The room was quiet for a long time, faintly hearing voices from the courtyard and birds in the backyard.

After a while, Jiang Shen hoarsely said, “If I let her go, will she be better off?”

“Yes,” Jiang Xuanjin nodded without hesitation.

Laughing softly, Jiang Shen cursed, “You are my dear third brother!”

He already knew the answer before coming to Yixian City. He thought she wouldn’t be well, but after arriving, he found that as long as she didn’t see him, she always had a gentle smile, her gaze soft, looking like a serene beauty from a painting.

Xu Chuniang wasn’t particularly beautiful, he knew that there were plenty more beautiful than her. But it was this person who made him taste despair.

“When I leave, don’t make a fuss,” Second Young Master Jiang straightened his back, instructing seriously, “After I’m gone, tell her the flowers in Ziyang City have bloomed, and I’m hurrying back to see them, not patient enough to wait for her.”

“Also say, I never intended to cling to her. The scenery in Yixian City was too good, so I stayed a bit longer.”

“Chijin is great. She has the divorce letter, she should remarry and live her life. I won’t stop her. I’ll also establish a new main wife, as she said, marrying that Qi family girl is fine too.”

Jiang Xuanjin propped his chin, watching him, seeing his second brother’s eyes slightly red, “And, I’ve learned to be considerate, won’t deliberately hurt anyone’s heart again. She taught me this, but unfortunately, she won’t enjoy it. Pity her for me.”

His tone was smiling, but his lips wouldn’t curve. Jiang Shen closed his eyes, hoarsely saying the last sentence, “In the future, don’t tell me her news.”

“Alright,” Jiang Xuanjin agreed, “I’ll remember it all.”

Jiang Shen nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to leave his room.

Xu Chuniang was sitting in the main hall, embroidering shoes for the little one in Huaiyu’s belly, her needlework swift and skillful.

Outside, the sound of luggage being moved was heard. She pretended not to hear, carefully embroidering the tiger head pattern, quickly finishing one shoe.

But somehow, hearing the wheels rolling, the silver needle pricked her finger, and a drop of bright red blood appeared.

Chijin glanced at her, handing her a package.

“What’s this?” Chuniang asked, puzzled.

Opening the paper package, a sweet aroma wafted out. Chijin said, “I made sugar with the newly bloomed plum blossoms. Try it.”

The floral-scented candy melted away the bitterness in her mouth. As Xu Chuniang savored it, her vision blurred.

“You know everything, don’t you?” she murmured, “You know, but you didn’t expose me.”

He knew she couldn’t let go, knew she hadn’t moved on, yet he stood by her side, covering for her, preserving her last bit of dignity.

Chijin said, “The tiger you’re embroidering is missing a stroke on its forehead.”

“…”

Looking down, it was true. Chuniang laughed through her tears, picking up the shoe to re-embroider.

“He’s gone, so don’t think too much about other things,” Chijin said gently, “Life must go on.”

“Mm.” She nodded, her eyelashes trembling, tears falling into her clothes, leaving a dark spot.

Frowning slightly, Chijin stood up and went out.

With no one around, Xu Chuniang took a deep breath, choked for a moment, then wiped her face.

She wasn’t reluctant; Jiang Shen should leave. His home wasn’t in Yixian City, and he’d stayed for months. He had concubines to comfort, and staying longer was inappropriate.

But she couldn’t suppress the annoying emotions. The habit was scarier than feelings. She lost someone she was devoted to, feeling empty and uncomfortable. How would she get through this period?

Half an hour later, Chijin returned, saying, “There’s a new shop on West Street selling all kinds of threads. Want to take a look?”