The look on the young man’s face in silver armour is vivid and amusing, but Yan Yuanheng has always felt a bit uncomfortable after watching him for a long time.

He looked straight ahead for a moment, his heart itching to look away, and was about to turn his head to look again when a white horse appeared at his side.

Yan Yuanheng immediately looks ahead.

Shi Tingyun, rubbing his ears and walking alongside him, whispered, “I’ve come to you to get away from it.”

When Ah Shu saw this, he thought that his son and the thirteenth prince had something important to discuss, so he stopped chattering and went to check on the condition of the prince’s master in the carriage at the back.

Yan Yuanheng, a little pleased, inclined his head, “Well, no harm done.”

Chi Xiaochi observes the ornaments of the flower-like inlay on his forehead.

He had always been curious as to why the Thirteenth Prince would follow such a fancy trend when he was usually so simple and understated in all his outfits.

Now that he is closer, Chi Xiaochi can see that there is a flesh-coloured wound inside the vertical tracery that cannot be seen unless one looks closely.

The long, thin vermilion ornaments, with their heads and tails coinciding, resemble the twin fish of yin and yang and cover the scars appropriately.

When Shi Tingyun was fifteen years old, his father returned to Wangcheng to report on his work and brought with him a wine made from peach in the south of the country, which tasted as rich as fruit.

Shi Tingyun just thought he had something new and invited Yan Yuanzhao to share a drink with Yan Yuanheng.

After three glasses, Yan Yuanheng stood up silently and walked out the door. Shi Tingyun and Yan Yuanzhao could not shout behind them, so they thought he had something urgent to do and did not think much of it.

Half an hour later, Yan Yuanheng returned with an out-of-print book in his hand, and without saying a word, he shoved it into Shi Tingyun’s arms.

Yan Yuanzhao tried to bring it over to see what it was, but was pushed away by Yan Yuanheng.

He said, “Last time you said you wanted it, but you didn’t have any money on you, so I bought it from the owner, but I couldn’t find a reason to give it to you, so I kept it in the bookstore. I’ll give it to you today, but don’t show it to anyone else.”

Shi Tingyun and Yan Yuanzhao are dumbfounded.

Yan Yuanheng Seriously stressed, “I gave it to you, you alone, no one else is allowed to see it, I secretly pinned a flower I really like inside ……”

With that, he turned the pages and frowned slightly at the tip of his brow, “Where are my flowers.”

Shi Tingyun had already guessed what was happening: ” Yuan Heng, you’re drunk.”

Yan Yuanheng pulled Shi Tingyun over, flipped his palm and went back to touch his belt: “I’m not drunk. You’ve hidden my flowers.”

Outside, the wind rustled the gardenias outside the window, sending a light fragrance that reminded Yan Yuanheng.

He staggered out the door, “I’ll go and pick you another one.”

Shi Tingyun was unable to stop him, and Yan Yuanzhao was too dazed to see what was going on before Yan Yuanheng got up the tree and fell down with a slip, cutting his forehead with a sharp branch.

The wound was not shallow and was on the face. The doctor examined the wound and sighed, saying that it was bound to leave a scar.

While the doctor was examining him, Yan Yuanheng stared straight at Shi Tingyun and muttered Nanjiang Wen under his breath, and even Shi Tingyun didn’t know when he had quietly learned this.

There was a great deal of chaos at the time, and Shi Tingyun does not remember exactly what Yan Yuanheng said.

Shi Tingyun had a good meal of family law for a flower that he didn’t know existed.

……

Time back to the present.

Yan Yuanheng was uncomfortable with his gaze: “What are you looking at?”

”In one hour, the Thirteenth Prince has looked back at me twenty-seven times.” Chi Xiaochi justified, “How can I return this love if I don’t look at the Thirteenth Prince a few times?”

Yan Yuanheng is silent, stroking his fingers over the reins a few times, looking extremely calm.

…… Hold on a second while I think of an excuse.

Chi Xiaochi waited for a small moment before Yan Yuanheng was ready to open his mouth and let out a slightly regretful sigh, “The Thirteenth Prince does not wish to speak more with the last general, then the last general will retire.”

Yan Yuanheng was startled and watched Shi Tingyun ride off without looking back, clutching the reins with a vague look of remorse on his face.

Chi Xiaochi rode up to the carriage and leaned down to lift the curtain: “How is your health, sir, do you feel seasick?”

Inside, Lou Ying, dressed in loose, comfortable clothes, is leaning on a soft pillow and reading a book, looking up at the sound of her voice with a light smile, looking in good spirits.

In this life, unlike the previous one, the situation in the southern border was stable and the hemlock poisoning was even six months away, so the procession moved at a moderate pace and Ah Shu had plenty of time to set up, even offering a Buddha’s hand in the carriage.

Unlike the sweet fragrance of the usual spices, the fresh aroma of Buddha’s hand is very soothing to the discomfort caused by bumps and bruises.

Chi Xiaochi, relieved, rolled off his horse, handed the reins over to Shu on one side, caught up with the slow-moving carriage at a brisk pace, helped it to a gallop, mounted the carriage in one step and got into the palanquin.

Lou Ying still doesn’t know what the world line is. They left the General’s residence early in the morning and travelled more than 20 miles from the West City Gate before Chi Xiaochi found the opportunity to exchange feelings with him.

He recapitulates the general situation of the world line to Lou Ying.

Lou Ying nodded, “Do you have an idea yet?”

Chi Xiaochi asked rhetorically, “Sir, why do you think that when Chu Ziling merely produced a jade pendant, there would be courtiers in the southern dynasty who would support Chu Ziling as an imperial son?”

”Because he captured Shi Tingyun alive and killed Shi Jinghong with hemlock, and when he said he was a royal son, someone immediately believed him and came out in strong support?”

Lou Ying understood what he meant: “…… Chu Ziling, he had contacted these people beforehand?”

”Those southern courtiers are not bad at all.” Chi Xiaochi said. Chi Xiaochi said, “First, we should conceal Chu Ziling’s identity and keep it secret. If he really is the emperor’s son and returns with great success, these ministers will be able to support him and gain a lot of benefits. Chu Ziling’s business is right in their hearts.”

He said, nodding at his temple: ” Shi Tingyun remembered the names of those few stockholders who used to come to Chu Ziling’s tent.”

As Shi Tingyun remembers it, three people were treated with respect by Chu Ziling after his rise to power.

General Pa Sha, who often confronted the northern army at Zhennan Pass, was a lieutenant in the tent of the main general, Tie Muer.

General Wu Yichun, a cavalry general stationed on the north-west side of Zhennan Pass, had no combat duties and was mainly responsible for the transportation of military food.

A Wen minister surnamed Jin, a second-ranking official in their court, was a brother-in-law of Pa Sha and had little merit and remained a mediocre man in his forties.

These are, of course, the positions they held before their promotion.

Since Chu Ziling’s ascension to power, they have risen to the top and with their previous skills, there is little hope for them unless their ancestors’ graves are smouldering.

After reading Chi Xiaochi’s notes, Lou Ying understood: “He chose the right people, people with some power and connections who wanted to move up the ladder.”

In general, Chu Ziling’s origins were not very glamorous, so he had to pave his way ahead of time in order to smooth his way.

But then he met Chi Xiaochi, a ground drill with a burst of power.

Lou Ying added: “Not many people would know the true identity of Chu Ziling.”

”It’s not much. Who wants to fling open cards without holding a good poker hand.” Chi Xiaochi says, “But that’s good too.”

Lou Ying : “So you’re going to keep Chu Ziling pinned down so he doesn’t have a chance ……”

But Chi Xiaochi said, “No, I can’t. I have to hold him up.”

He looked at the sky and said to himself, “Speaking of which, my letter arrived the day before yesterday, and the one from Chu Ziling should have arrived by now.”

He mused.

If we calculate at the usual speed of the Southern Border’s troop deployment, the day after tomorrow at the earliest, or seven days at the latest, Ding Yuan City will be attacked by a small group of Southern Border troops.

This was Chu Ziling’s usual style, never trusting anyone, and even if he had received information from Shi Tingyun, he would have sent troops to test the situation in Dingyuan first.

Like Shi Tingyun, he knew Wen Feiru, the guardian of Dingyuan City. He is half Southlander, living at the border, but his parents were killed by the invading Southlanders.

If he had been wounded, he would have sent one of his junior generals to fight against such a small force.

On the surface, it is an expression of contempt, but in reality it is a cover for pride.

If Chi Xiaochi was right, Chu Ziling would send a letter to his contact, telling him that if Wen Feiru came out to meet him in person, then he was not badly wounded, so he must not fight hard and waste his strength; if the leader of Wen Feiru’s men came to fight, then he must think before he fought, for Wen Feiru was probably not in the city, and Zhang, who was also in Dingyuan, was a good strategist, and was somewhat difficult to deal with. But if you send a small group to fight, you must not miss the opportunity to show that Wen Feiru is still in charge of the city, and then you must mobilise your troops to fight, not to take the city, but to capture Wen Feiru and cut off one of Shi Jinghong’s arms.

Chu Ziling’s arrangement has a further layer of subtlety.

–He was able to pick himself clean.

There are many people who know the nature of Wen Feiru, and it is not difficult to deduce from his actions in response to his enemies that the above is true.

As to how the news of General Wen Feiru’s injury became known to the Southlanders, it could have been put on the heads of the spies, and no amount of suspicion could have been cast on Chu Ziling, who was thousands of miles away.

But Chu Ziling could never have imagined that there was another Chi Xiaochi plotting thousands of miles away.

Shi Jinghong was such a person that he could guess nine out of ten letters sent by his own son without having to go into detail, and he would have had a proper response.

Since he was a boy, Shi Jinghong taught Shi Tingyun that he had to know how to win as well as how to lose in battle.

This victory was a gift he gave to the Southland for nothing.

Seeing Chi Xiaochi lost in thought, Lou Ying simply stopped speculating and looked at him with his book in his hand, his heart and eyes soft as hell.

Chi Xiaochi mulled over his next plan and, looking at the time, decided that he had spent a bit too much time with his husband and that it was time for him to go out and let off some steam, so he greeted, “Sir, I’m off, ah.”

Chi Xiaochi was about to get out of the carriage when Lou Ying suddenly asked behind him, “Did you really count?”

Chi Xiaochi : “…… what?”

Lou Ying gazed at him, “Twenty-seven strokes.”

Chi Xiaochi understands what he’s referring to and spreads his hands, “Nonsense. He doesn’t know how to count himself.”

He asked again, “Can you hear it now?”

Lou Ying said, “The system is partially functional again, but you can only hear your side of the story, you can’t speak or see the world line.”

Chi Xiaochi gave a hoot and jumped out of the carriage, but something was odd in his mind.

Lou, why would you ask such a thing?

He consciously and voluntarily dismissed the most plausible one and clapped his horse to march further back in the line.

Sending Chi Xiaochi away, Lou Ying continues to read in the fresh scent of Buddha’s hand.

…… was actually going through the world line looking for clues.

The reading of the world line was restored half an hour ago.

Lou Ying just wants to hear Chi Xiaochi by his side, telling him stories.

He speculates on Chi Xiaochi’s possible next move.

After a long moment of contemplation, he looked down at the art of war he was holding in his hands and said to himself, “…… pigeons.”

Coincidentally, a few seconds later, Chi Xiaochi’s voice asked, “Did you bring the pigeon coop?”

Chu Ziling’s reply followed, “They are all good pigeons, the worst of which have been to the southern border dozens of times.

Lou Ying smiles and turns a page in the book in silence.

That night, the whole army was stationed at the White Mound and buried in pots and pans to make a meal.

They had set out with the ration convoy, so naturally the food was not bad, and the evening meal consisted of millet and roast chicken.

When the rice was ready, Yan Yuanheng hesitated for a few moments, and with great determination, he sat down next to Shi Tingyun in what he thought was the most natural and unpretentious manner, and waited with him for the same chicken to cook.

Chi Xiaochi, having eaten buns in the post-apocalyptic world, is happy to have a meal in the wild.

Turning over the greasy roast chicken on the grill, he asks Yan Yuanheng, “Are you happy with it?”

Yan Yuanheng said calmly, “I have been to war. There was a time when I drank only water from drinking horses for three days in a row.”

He was talking about the first time he went up to the town’s south pass to gallop.

Chi Xiaochi tore a chicken leg from the grill and gave it to him with crispy skin.

Yan Yuanheng held it in his hand and did not open his mouth, his eyes shifted slightly down and noticed a brocade bag hanging from his waist, frowned and asked, “Is this object ……? I haven’t seen you wearing it before.”

Chi Xiaochi looked down at it, “A gift from Yuan Zhao before he left.”

Said to be a gift from Yan Yuanzhao, it was actually sewn by his side concubine.

The Sixth Prince’s side concubine was also a strange woman, her boudoir name was Jinrou. When she was sixteen, she learned that she was to be married to the Sixth Prince, and after receiving the order to thank him, she cried bitterly for a day and a night.

Outsiders thought it was tears of joy or reluctance to get married, but her young sisters of the same age in her noble family were understanding and went to comfort her.

In the words of Yan Yuanzhao, those who didn’t know would think I had died and she would be widowed once she got married.

When Shi Tingyun kindly corrected him, “If you were really dead, she would laugh.”

Yan Yuanzhao’s response was a kick in the teeth.

He commiserated, “Is it so reluctant to tie the knot with me.”

Shi Tingyun glanced at the warblers surrounding him and said, “Can you say that when you get out of the Flower House.”

Yan Yuanzhao is really a woman of great reputation, and being promised a side concubine is indeed not a good place to be.

However, Shi Tingyun knew that Yan Yuanzhao drank, rode horses and cuju, but in the matter of men and women, he had never touched anyone other than the courtesans he was given by the emperor to enlighten.

Yan Yuanzhao was able to get away with it because of the kindness of his birth mother, who was also the late queen, and seeing the affection of his father, Yan Yuanzhao had hopes for his rightful wife.

He only wanted the one he loved most to be his rightful wife and the one he loved most to bear him children.

The night Jinrou married, Yan Yuanzhao made it clear to her that he had no feelings for her, and she didn’t have to have any feelings for herself, she was alone in the sixth prince’s house doing whatever she liked, as long as she didn’t make any mess, he had enough money to support her, good food and drink, a lifetime of happiness.

The sixth concubine is also a straightforward person, and after a few days of muttering like any other woman, she finds that Yan Yuanzhao is indeed not interested in her, so she is happy to be at ease, spending her days embroidering bandages, getting high on melon seeds, growing grapes and visiting the book market.

When Shi Tingyun went to the southern border, Yan Yuanzhao told Jinrou that she had a pair of purses made and went to the temple to have them opened, one for Yan Yuanzhao and one for Shi Tingyun.

When Yan Yuanzhao brought the purse to me, he gave me a rare moment of seriousness: “Keep it for me. This object has been enlightened by the master, and if you are in danger, this object will have a sense. I will go to your rescue, no matter how many thousands of miles it takes.”

When Chi Xiaochi took the purse, he weighed it in his hand and thought, “Is this how you straight men give it?

At these words, Yan Yuanheng’s eyes changed.

When he left in the morning to bid farewell to his father, he saw this object on his sixth brother’s waist and saw that it was a perfect match for the one in front of him.

…… Could it be that the man …… Stop Cloud refers to as his beloved is the sixth royal brother?