Chapter 225: It's Really Real

"I'm asking you a question, why are you in a daze again?"

Xiao Ning frowned, not understanding why this man surnamed Shen would become dazed after just a few words.

Shen Zhiyi looked at her and shook his head slightly.

"I just delivered the message. I don't have anything to say."

Xiao Ning: "No, you do."

Shen Zhiyi: “…”

He looked at Xiao Ning with a serious expression and couldn't help laughing.

Then he asked obediently: "Then may I ask, General, what does Shen want to say?"

Xiao Ning said: "Let Minister Chen protect Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Shen Zhiyi: “…”

As Shang Xi is the only biological son of Prime Minister Shen, he will probably do his best to help.

But if he wrote this letter, Prime Minister Shen would say that he was too soft-hearted and would never accomplish anything great.

It might even have a counterproductive effect.

But it doesn't matter.

Because he is about to go back.

When he returns to Beijing, he will send Shang Xi out safely.

Wait until the major issues are settled before discussing other matters.

Xiao Ning stared at him, "Will you write it?"

Shen Zhiyi: “…write.”

Seeing Shen Zhiyi spread out the paper, Xiao Ning picked up the ink stick on the table and began to grind the ink.

Shen Zhiyi spread out the paper and looked up, and saw Xiao Ning grinding ink at the table with his eyes lowered.

I inexplicably feel a sense of peace and tranquility in my heart.

His Adam's apple rolled and he turned his eyes away.

He picked up the pen beside him, dipped it in ink and began to write the letter.

The letter was written quickly.

Before Xiao Ning could blow it dry, he took the letter and started reading.

These literati just love to pretend.

There were a lot of greetings at the beginning, but in the middle, the topic changed and got down to business.

The gist of it is that he is now in the military camp and relies entirely on Marquis Jingyuan, so he asks his father to protect Marquis Jingyuan's family.

This was said without much momentum, so Xiao Ning added: "If the princess is ill, you don't have to keep this son anymore."

Shen Zhiyi watched her pick up the pen and write this sentence in a not-so-nice handwriting at the end of the letter, but did not say anything to stop her.

After Xiao Ning finished writing, he picked up the letter paper and blew dry the ink on it.

As soon as he put the letter into the envelope, Xiao Ning snatched it away.

"I'll help you deliver this letter."

Shen Zhiyi: “…”

He looked at Xiao Ning who was sealing the envelope with his eyes lowered, his Adam's apple rolled a few times, and a sense of bitterness of separation inexplicably welled up in his heart.

"Xiao Yanqing."

He called softly.

Xiao Ning raised his eyes and looked at him, asking what was going on with his eyes.

Shen Zhiyi asked, “Your previous love for me was just fake, right?”

Xiao Ning: “…”

What's wrong with you?

She didn’t answer the question, and after sealing the letter, she got up and left Shen Zhiyi’s barracks.

"You're pretending so well."

Shen Zhiyi's voice was very low, but Xiao Ning had good hearing and still heard it.

She felt more and more that Shen Zhiyi was sick.

When the original owner liked him, she avoided him like the plague and even plotted to let her fall into the hands of the princess.

What past are you looking back on now?

Xiao Ning returned to his barracks and wrote another letter.

He told Shang Xi about his troubles and warned him to protect himself at all costs and it would be best for him to leave Shengjing first.

After writing the letter, he was about to fold it up when he saw the sword tassel lying quietly on the table. He paused and wrote on the paper: "The sword tassel is very beautiful. I like it very much. Your Highness, thank you for taking the trouble."

Blow the ink dry, fold it and put it in an envelope.

Xiao Ning took the two envelopes and went out to ask someone to find a messenger.

After explaining everything clearly, the messenger left with the letter.

Xiao Ning entered the barracks, sat at the table, and picked up the sword tassel to look at it again.

After looking at it for a while, she took out her sword and tied the tassel to the hilt.

Then he stood up with the sword in his hand and made a beautiful sword flower.

The sword tassel swung in the air following her movements.

Xiao Ning stared at the sword tassel, the corners of his lips slightly curled up.

It looks really good.

She raised her hand and fiddled with the sword tassel again.

Then he left the barracks.

As soon as she came out, she saw Shen Zhiyi standing at the door of her barracks, looking at her. When he saw her come out, he smiled at her, then turned his head and walked in another direction.

Xiao Ning: “…”

Because Shen Zhiyi often did this, Xiao Ning didn't think much about it and turned to walk towards the training ground.

The soldiers were still training, and the shouts of killing were deafening.

Some rebels were subdued in Jinzhou City, and new recruits signed up to join the army.

After all, three bags of brown rice were given as a gift when joining the army, and the Xiao family army had strict military discipline, so quite a few people came.

Now all the people added up, there are almost 100,000 of them.

The city defense camp of Jinzhou City could only accommodate 40,000 people, and the rest of the people were led by Zhang Zhi to camp outside the city.

Zhang Zhi was a general promoted by Xiao Ning after the expedition.

His ability is not much worse than Li Yuan's.

But after all, Li Yuan has followed her since the beginning, so his feelings for her are deeper.

Zhang Zhi's weight in the camp is second only to Li Yuan.

The new recruits were led by Zhang Zhi to conduct basic training first.

Xiao Ning doesn't engage in checks and balances. She just wants to make sure that Li Yuan has absolute say when she is not around.

When Li Yuan was not around, Zhang Zhi had absolute say.

In this way, in times of crisis, there will be no chaos due to disagreements among the generals.

After the training, free time.

When Li Yuan saw Xiao Ning here, he strode over.

From a distance, one could see a brightly colored tassel hanging on the sword in Xiao Ning's hand.

You should know that all of Xiao Ning's weapons are clean, even the dagger she often uses that can cut through iron like mud is wrapped tightly with cloth strips.

Life is really rough.

He had known her for several years and had never seen anything like this on her weapon.

Why did it suddenly appear?

I think it was delivered along with the letter from home...

The princess gave it to her.

Li Yuan smiled and pointed at Xiao Ning's sword, saying, "General, your sword tassel is really beautiful. Where did you buy it?"

Xiao Ning lowered his eyes to glance at the sword tassel, and the corners of his lips unconsciously raised: "I didn't buy it, it was woven by the princess herself."

Li Yuandao: "The general and the princess have a very good relationship."

The corners of Xiao Ning's mouth curved even more: "Of course! You won't understand this feeling if you're not married."

Li Yuan: “…”

He felt that he would not understand even if he got married.

Unless he marries a man.

Of course, this is impossible.

He will definitely marry a wife in the future, and it would be best if he could have one or two children.

That would be perfect.

Xiao Ning raised the sword again and showed him the small word "Ning" on the small gold piece inlaid in the middle of the sword tassel.

"See? This was carved by the princess herself. I recognize her handwriting."

Li Yuan: "...The princess is really clever and skillful."

Xiao Ning: "Of course not!"

Li Yuan couldn't help laughing, and as he laughed he thought of a fatal question.

The general is a woman, and the princess is also a woman.

Even if the general conquers the world in the future and lets the princess succeed to the throne, if they cannot have children, who will inherit the throne?

Li Yuan took Xiao Ning to a secluded place and asked him the question that troubled him so much.

"General, when the great cause is accomplished, the princess and you..."

Xiao Ning listened to him finish speaking.

Li Yuan bit his tongue several times before he managed to ask, "Can't there be no one to inherit the last position?"