After all, they had been together for half a year, Huai Yu had seen Jiang Xuanjin in various forms, when he was excited and his eyes sparkled, when he was angry and his whole body was tense, and when he was shy and his ears were bright red.

  I thought I had understood it thoroughly, but who would have thought...

  Raising her eyes to look at the person standing in front of her, then looking around the room where only the two of them were present, Huai Yu lightly smiled: "What instructions do you have for me, Your Highness?"

  In the past, she couldn't hear his breathing, after all, he had good manners and a stable inner strength. But now, even two steps away from him, she could clearly hear his disordered gasps, like a fish on dry land, weakly inhaling air that didn't belong to him, almost dying.

  Jiang Xuanjin raised his eyes to look at her, with no light shining through them, dark and oppressive, like the surface of the sea on a stormy night.

  He approached her, his pale fingertips seeming to want to touch her rounded belly, but ultimately stopping an inch away. He slowly opened his mouth, his voice like a dry well with an empty bucket, rough and hollow: "I've thought for a long time..."

  "After thinking for a long time, I still can't figure out what makes Lu Jinghang better than me?"

  There was a hint of grievance in his tone, accompanied by the trembling and choking that came with being infuriated to the extreme. His Adam's apple rolled up and down like he was constantly drinking. His face showed little expression, as if it had been frozen stiff by the cold wind outside just now.

  If she still can't figure out what's going on with him looking like that, then it's a waste of her brain.

  How to say... I was still worried that he would come and fight with her for the child in her belly, but now it's a bit of a laughable situation. Huai Yu asked him: "Who told you the news?"

  Jiang Xuanjin didn't answer, instead asking her back: "If others don't mention it, are you planning to keep it from me for the rest of my life?"

  "You know, what's the benefit?"

  A stifling pain in his chest, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his eyes and laughed hoarsely: "Can't you deceive me just once more? Just say this child is mine, and that when you were with me, you didn't have anyone else in your heart."

  "Good!" Huaiyu clapped her hands and laughed, "This child is yours."

  He pinched her hand against his chest, Jiang Xuanjin's lips turned white, his long eyelashes drooped down, and his eyes trembled, apparently he didn't take her words seriously.

  Hua Yu tilted her head and stretched out another hand to touch him.

  The majestic and powerful Zi Yang Jun was actually trembling all over, his body icy cold, with a chill emanating from his clothes.

  Suddenly I want to hug him tightly, just like a long time ago, with our fingers intertwined, giving him all the warmth from my body, making him warmer.

  But... Lowering her head to glance at her own belly, Huai Yu sneered and curled up the corner of her mouth.

  It's impossible, if she takes another step forward, she'll be smashed to pieces. It's better for her to retreat, retreat far away, at least she can keep the little one in her belly safe.

  "Does the Princess still hate me?" The person in front of him spoke, his voice as soft as a willow catkin. "If she still hates you, how do you plan to take revenge? Can you inform me in advance so I can prepare myself?"

  Hua Yu really wanted to continue speaking with a light and humorous tone, but inexplicably, her throat tightened up.

  "I don't hate you anymore." She pursed her lips, "Xu Xian and the others are unharmed, I am also unharmed. You escorted me out of the imperial palace to leave Kyoto and return to Danyang, we have long been at odds."

  It's all over between us, so I'm avoiding him, don't want to see him, and never want to have anything to do with him again.

  This kind of thought, belongs to him alone.

  Holding her hand and slowly pulling it back, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his voice: "What if I don't want to fight you?"

  "If I still want to make things difficult for you?"

  Hua Yu was taken aback, her body also tensed up: "What do you want?"

  A faint sneer spread across his lips, growing wider and wider. Jiang Xuanjin said in a low voice, "Isn't the Eldest Princess always doing bad things? How can she not guess what's on my mind at this moment?"

  These words coming from his mouth made Li Huaiyu very uncomfortable. Was he going to deal with her? Because he thought the child in her belly wasn't his, so he was furious and wanted to destroy her?

  A chill ran down her back, and Huai Yu subconsciously took a step back.

  However, behind her was a soft couch, and in front of the couch there was a two-inch high footboard. In the chaos, she didn't notice it, stepped on it, lost her balance, and her body couldn't help but fall backwards.

  Just a moment ago, the fierce-looking Zi Yang Jun suddenly turned pale, grabbed her hand and pulled hard, barely stopping her from falling over. He shifted his body to one side, just in time to support her back before she hit the edge of the soft couch.

  With a "thud", the person behind her let out a muffled groan, his hands supporting her waist as he slowly placed her in his arms.

  Her pupils constricted, Li Huaiyu stared blankly at the furnishings in the house in front of her, and it wasn't until a while later that she turned her head to look back.

  Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips, with a misty look in his eyes, as if he was still shaken, stretched out his hand to hold her tightly in front of him, and buried his face in her shoulder, closing his eyes.

  "You..." Yu Zhang opened his mouth, wanting to ask if he was in pain, but felt it wasn't suitable and forcibly stopped himself.

  The room fell silent, the cyan-colored hem of her clothes scattered on the threshold, mixed with the peony-patterned corner of her robe, and was stained with some gray.

  The yard was packed with people, Qingxuan and they thought of going in to take a look several times, but were stopped by the guards. Chengxu and Yufeng looked very ugly, while Lu Jinghang's face still had a smile on it, his eyes were not relaxed either.

  These two said they would talk by themselves, but Huaiyu was still pregnant, what if something came out of the conversation?

  Jiang Shen stood in the distance, patting the crimson pillar beside him: "How did he still come?"

  Frosty sky reluctantly said: "The slave has already told the monarch the truth, but after hearing it, the monarch still insisted on entering the city."

  "What is this foolish child thinking?" Jiang Shen shook his head, "Must come and look for trouble for himself?"

  "I don't know, but Master is really furious." Frost said worriedly, "I'm afraid he'll do something rash in his anger... This is still within the First Line City."

  "Swallow your anger back into your belly." Jiang Shen said irritably, "I bet a hundred taels of silver that no matter how angry he is, he won't do anything to Li Huaiyu."

  He had no choice but to endure this heart-wrenching pain.

  Almost out of breath from being held by someone, Huai Yu moved her body and frowned, saying: "I remember."

  The person behind her let go of her and propped up against the soft couch behind her back, bringing her to stand upright.

  Hua Yu glanced at him twice, scratched her head, and really felt a bit embarrassed. She picked up her skirt and wanted to leave.

  "In a short while, we will be bothering you for some time." Jiang Xuanjin spoke in a light tone, "Please have Your Highness prepare several guest rooms."

  Li Huaiyu's footsteps paused, and she furrowed her brow: "What if I don't want to prepare?"

  A little bit of the broken emotions were all gathered, Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips and rolled up his sleeves, saying: "The other day, a handwritten letter from the imperial court was delivered to my hands. The letter said that as long as Zi Yang is willing to lend a way, there will be an imperial edict issued, granting me three cities of Zi Yang as fiefs."

  Ziyang's back is Dayan, let Ziyang borrow a road, what does it mean? It is clear without saying.

  "Are you threatening me?"

  Jiang Xuanjin nodded: "Yes."

  He has a chip that can threaten her and it's heavy enough, so why not threaten?

  Li Huaiyu was silent, his eyes rolling around, as if thinking about whether what he said was true or false.

  Jiang Xuanjin stretched out his hand and directly handed over Li Huairan's handwritten letter from his sleeve to her face.

  The familiar handwriting, the words and sentences that attacked Dan Yang were far more serious than Jiang Xuanjin's two lightly written sentences.

  "Are you going to give up all three cities?" Hua Yu furrowed her brow. "What benefit would staying in the First Line City bring to Your Highness?"

  He lowered his eyelids indifferently and said, "Does Ben Jun need to discuss with Princess Chang about this matter?"

  "Alright, I won't lose out on this deal. There's no reason for me not to agree. However, Your Highness, let me make one thing clear: you might not have a comfortable stay here. Don't get angry and go back on your word later."

  He reached out and grabbed the fox-fur cloak beside him, wrapping it around himself. Jiang Xuanjin didn't look at her again, turning to open the door.

  The wind rolled in from outside, blowing the soft fox hair into ripples. Jiang Xuanjin raised his eyes and met Lu Jinghang standing at the door.

  After all these years, this person seems to have never changed, still with that sloppy appearance, standing without dignity, and a hint of elegance and coldness in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, just looking at him is not someone who can live a peaceful life.

  She has been by his side for many years, knowing more about him than he does himself, and having won her heart deeper than he ever could. She never deceived Lu Jinghang, treating him with kindness every day, yet to him, she was cruel, as if they were sworn enemies.

  "It's an honor to be seen in such a light by you, sir." Lu Jing's eyebrows relaxed, the closed fan spinning around his fingertips as he laughed heartily.

  This is full of jealousy and coldness, just like the emotions he has been suppressing in his heart.

  A ray of sunshine broke through the gloomy sky in Lu Da's heart.

  Jiang Xuanjin didn't make a sound, and with a wave of his hand, he rode the wind towards Jiang Shen.

  "Isn't it just going out with friends for fun?" Standing in front of him, Jiang Xuanjin said coldly, "Is there even half a friend like you in this mansion?"

  The river is deep and wide, he stood behind the crimson pillar: "I said... I know you're not in a good mood, but I'm innocent, why should I be affected?"

  Who else can be affected if not him? Jiang Xuanjin said, "You set off tomorrow and return to Lü Qing for me. Let him temporarily take charge of the main city of Ziyang."

  Hugging the pillar and shaking his head repeatedly, Jiang Shen's tone was very firm: "I won't!"

  "You can't stop me." He casually threw out a sentence and Jiang Xuanjin walked past him.

  Jiang's face turned dark with anger, and he forced a laugh: "How can he become more and more unreasonable?"

  The frost behind him said in a low voice: "It's also reasonable, you should go back."

  "Huh?"

  "...I'm saying, you're being utterly unreasonable!"

  He snorted, Jiang Shen turned and walked towards his own house, muttering to himself as he went: "I'm not leaving, this city is perfect for writing poetry, with its dry and desolate landscape, corpses scattered all over the place!"

  The frosty sky was silent, and he thought that these two young masters of the Jiang family might have been a bit mentally unclear recently.

  Li Huaiyu was huddled in the quilt with a bowl of chicken soup, while Lu Jinghang leaned against the headboard, fiddling with his fan and asking her, "What do you plan to do?"

  Frowning anxiously, Huai Yu said: "Now it's not about what I want to do, but what he wants to do."

  "He's already taken this child as mine, what else can he do?" Lu Jinghang sneered, "Either he'll take revenge on you or take revenge on me."

  If it weren't for that little accident just now, Huai Yu would have agreed with this sentence, but now she shook her head: "I don't think so."

  He really wanted to take revenge, so he didn't catch her and let her fall like that. The child would definitely not survive. In his opinion, it was a double revenge against both her and Lu Jinghang, killing two birds with one stone.

  But he didn't do that.

  "For now, the most important thing is still Kyoto." Huai Yu said, "I previously revealed my identity to the world, just to give Huai Lin an excuse to attack me, so that I can counterattack with a legitimate reason. But there has been no movement all along. I thought it was because Huai Lin didn't dare to move, but who would have thought that he had been plotting all along? If Jiang Xuan hadn't stopped him, we might have really been caught off guard."

  Jiang Xuanjin's interception has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that Danyang is safe, the disadvantage is that no matter what, Huai Lin will not be able to openly attack the first-line city, but can only secretly manipulate. Once she resists, it would give Huai Lin a reason to call for the emperor's enthronement, and even if she comes out to say that she was wrongly killed by the emperor at the beginning, no one would believe her.

  What should I do?

  He rubbed his chin, just in a dilemma, when he saw the green silk coming from outside, with an unusual expression: "Master, Purple Yang is indeed settled here. Cheng Xu and others moved many things, all put into the guest room."

  "What's the big deal? If someone says they're going to stay, of course they'll stay."

  "May...," Qing Si pursed her lips, "He lives in the guest house in your yard."

  Li Huaiyu: "......"

  She turned her head to look at Lu Jinghang and asked: "Does this person think that life is not exciting enough, so he came to me?"

  Lu Jingxing nodded in agreement: "Why don't we stimulate him a bit more?"

  "Go ahead," said Hua Yu, "you go tell him you're also pregnant, that'll definitely be stimulating."

  “……”

  Lu Jinghang rolled his eyes and gently tapped the fan bone on the table: "Seriously, he's already considered this child mine, when do you plan to marry me?"

  She smiled and sipped two mouthfuls of soup, saying: "I'm not taking advantage of you, why are you rushing to let me take advantage of you? With your looks and family wealth, you can marry any decent girl from a good family, but instead you want to be the stepfather of my child? He thinks this child I'm carrying is yours, but I never said that.

  "You've been wasting my time for five or six years, and you still have the nerve to say that?"

  "We're talking reason here." Putting down the soup bowl, Huaiyu leaned on the soft couch's armrest and looked at him seriously. "Five or six years of friendship, really becoming husband and wife, don't you feel awkward?"

  "Do you feel awkward?"

  "Nonsense!" Hua Yu pointed to Qing Si, "I've known her for ** years too, shouldn't our feelings be deeper? But if we became husband and wife, don't you think it would be awkward?"

  It seems to be quite awkward.

  Lu Jinghang lowered his head and thought for a while before feeling that something was off: "Can I be the same as Qing Si?"

  "What's the difference?" Huai Yu glared, "Aren't they all my closest people?"

  Lu Jingxing understood, this son of a bitch didn't take him as a man!

  He rubbed his temples in frustration and muttered: "Troublesome guy."

  Hua Yu laughed heartlessly and said, "You've already arranged everything in the shops on the front line, why not return to the main city of Dan Yang first? Xu Xian and the others are also unknown how they're doing over there, you can go and meet up with them."

  Lu Jinghang narrowed his eyes: "Want me to leave?"

  "Look at what you're saying, how can I drive you away?" Huai Yu waved her hand. "It's just that there's nothing much to do on this side of the city anymore. You might as well go and do something else instead of wasting time with me here."

  Dozens of Lu Ji shops were set up in various parts of the city, solving the problem of extremely high prices in the city with affordable goods. Although it offended many merchants, it also earned the unanimous support of the people. Nowadays, when mentioning "Lu Jinghang" again, few people will say that he is a "Lang Xiang", and most people will say that he is a businessman with great courage and conscience.

  The other day, a matchmaker came to him and said that someone's daughter was pining for him, couldn't eat or sleep, and her life was hanging by a thread. Lu Jinghang went there and came back to tell her that women were all deceitful, just like the girl who threw herself at him with such ferocity, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she was like a starving tiger descending from the mountain.

  Hua Yu thought that Lu Jinghang should also have someone by his side. Whether it was Hu Er or someone else, she couldn't let this "female leopard" continue to delay him. Getting married was impossible, and just thinking about the rumors of their affair made her want to exhaust all her thoughts to wash herself clean, even more impossible was pulling Lu Jinghang into the muddy pit as well.

  He sensed her thoughts and Lu Jinghang lowered his eyes.

  "After a while, he spoke up: 'I was just messing with you, getting married is a serious matter, I didn't plan on really doing it with you. The shop in First Line City has just started making a profit, and for now, I still can't leave.'"

  "Huh?" Hua Yu raised an eyebrow, "You've already earned a month's worth of Snowflake Silver, and you're still saying it's barely profitable?"

  "You're not a merchant, what do you know?" The fan pressed against her forehead, Lu Jinghang said, "I have my own measure."

  This guy looks careless, but his thoughts are actually meticulous. He doesn't want to delay him, the closer he gets, the farther she retreats. She's right, a five or six year friendship, ruined because of this, not worth it.

  In that case, he can take a step back then.

  Taking a deep breath, Lu Jinghang turned his head and said, "You're only concerned about Jiang Xuanjin, but you've neglected Lang Linjun. I'll get him settled in, and when you have time, go talk to him."

  "Good." Huai Yu nodded, watching his back as he walked away, seemingly lost in thought.

  Jiang Xuanjin went to the streets of a first-tier city, a place he had heard people mention countless times in reports. He had been eager to take a look since morning. His mind was a mess and he couldn't sit still at home, so he decided to come out for a walk.

  The streets of the main city were sparse, but not desolate. Many newly opened shops had people in tattered clothes standing inside. Passersby looked worried and gloomy, but they hadn't reached a state of despair.

  Li Huaiyu saved this place and in just two short months, brought vitality to this border town.

  He passed by a tea house, sat down to listen to people talking, next to him changed several tables, some boasted about Wu Zetian, some boasted about Chi Jin, and even some boasted about Lu Jingxuan and Xu Chuyan, but in the end, he didn't hear anyone boast about Princess Danyang.

  These people seem to have no idea who is saving this drought-stricken city.

  "Sir... sir?" A girl who had been wandering around for a while finally gathered her courage to come forward, her face red as she handed him a hot water bottle, "Your face is all pale from the cold, warm up."

  He stuffed it in and ran away, hiding in an alley, then stuck his head out to look at him.

  Jiang Xuanjin furrowed his brow, put the tea down on the table, took out a handkerchief and wiped each finger clean, completely without any intention of leading the way, and continued walking forward with a vacant expression.

  Cheng Xiao sympathetically glanced at the girl, there are many brave people in this world, but few know that their master has a cleanliness habit, handing over things like this, the master will naturally not appreciate it.

  Not to mention, the master of this house must have a face that is definitely not pale.

  The various regional kings' requests for reduced taxes had arrived in Kyoto, and Li Huailian's face looked very unsightly. Others were all subdued by Zi Yangjun, but what about Pinglingjun?

  The Pingling Jun in power today is Li Shan's illegitimate son, Li Fangwu. Although he was not favored by Li Shan since childhood and grew up to be a timid and weak-minded person, he is still his brother after all. If he doesn't help him, it's fine, but instead helps Jiang Xuanjin?

  Li Huairan sneered and immediately issued an edict summoning Li Fangwu to enter the capital to report for duty.

  Entering the capital to report for duty is something that has to be done every year, and it's not a big deal. But Li Fangwu was afraid, as soon as he submitted his memorial, the emperor didn't summon anyone else, why did he specifically summon him first? Is it because he asked for too many reductions, so the emperor wanted to teach him a lesson and intimidate others at the same time?

  Holding the imperial edict for two days, Li Fanggui pretended to be ill and hid in the Pingling Junfu, not daring to move.

  Just as Zheng Liu was feeling a bit lonely, a handsome young man with red lips and white teeth appeared at the door.

  "In Xijiang Yan, I met Pingling Jun."

  Li Fangwu looked at him for a while, then suddenly realized: "Young Master Jiang from the Jiang family, originally the Left Supervisor of Yueting Prefecture, what instructions do you have?"

  Jiang Yan cupped his hands: "Ziyang Jun had known that Pingling Jun would have difficulties at the meeting, so he specially ordered me to come and rescue him."

  Jiang Xuanjin knew it long ago? Li Fangwu was shocked and immediately asked: "What did your superior say?"

  "The lord said, 'Pingling has an old case that hasn't been solved, which is already a knot in Your Majesty's heart. Adding to this the matter of tax reduction, they will definitely use Pingling as a scapegoat for you. Once you leave Kyoto, it may be impossible for you to return.'"

  “……” Li Fangwu sighed, just like the things he worried about. His father had committed too many atrocities, and since he took over as the Pingling Jun, he hadn't slept well, fearing that those killed by his father would come to him in his dreams to settle accounts.

  It is said that sons pay for their fathers' debts, but when his father was alive, he didn't even treat him as a biological son. How innocent he is, yet he still has to bear the consequences of his crimes?

  "The imperial edict has been received, how can I not go to Kyoto?" Li Fangwu said with difficulty, "If Your Majesty says I disobeyed the edict, this crime I cannot bear."

  "Your Majesty can't bear the burden, isn't there still Prince Zi Yang behind you?" Jiang Yan said, "You can be ill for a few more months, and leave the rest to His Highness, I guarantee that no blame will fall on him."

  Li Fang asked in confusion: "Why did Master Zi Yang help me just now?"

  "The principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold' should be understood by you, Your Highness." Jiang Yan smiled and said, "We are all neighboring fiefs, so it's only natural for Prince Ziyang to help you."

  Is it? Li Fang doubts the letter.

  For the next few days, he really pretended to be ill and waited nervously for a response from Kyoto. As a result, five days passed, but there was no letter or memorial from Kyoto. His days of pretending to be ill were very comfortable, and he slowly believed Jiang Yan's words.

  Someone reminded him: "Your Majesty, in three days it will be the anniversary of your father's death. According to previous customs, you should enter the capital and kowtow at the ancestral temple."

  "This year I won't go," said Li Fangwu. "Just say that I'm bedridden with illness, and it's a matter of life and death. I believe Your Majesty will not blame me."