Xie Jingrun thought of how he had been missing her day and night in the capital, and how he had even neglected state affairs for her sake, while she was having so much fun here that she didn't seem to care about him at all. This made him feel uneasy. "What, do you not want me to come?"

Rong Qingqing was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Xie Jingrun snorted coldly, his tone displeased, "I see you're getting along quite well with Yelü Qi. Have you forgotten your place?"

Even if Rong Qingqing was slow to realize, she could tell this man was jealous. She was both amused and exasperated. "What nonsense are you talking about? Aqi and I are just ordinary friends. I haven't forgotten my place." After a pause, she suddenly reached out and hooked his chin, saying flippantly, "Jealous, huh?"

Xie Jingrun slapped her hand away and gently scolded, "Don't touch me in public!" But the corners of his mouth were already turned up.

Rong Qingqing pouted. "Don't change the subject. Even if you don't admit it, I can tell." As she spoke, she quickly leaned over and kissed him on the chin when he wasn't looking.

Xie Jingrun's handsome face flushed slightly.

This woman...

Can't you see the people coming and going on the street?

He tightened his grip on the reins.

“…Xie Jingrun, I miss you.” Rong Qingqing whispered in his ear.

Xie Jingrun's heart softened, and he placed his large hand on her waist. "Mmm."

Rong Qingqing glanced at him with some dissatisfaction, "That's it?"

Xie Jingrun was taken aback. "Then what should we do?"

"Don't you miss me at all?" Rong Qingqing asked in a resentful tone.

Xie Jingrun: "Why would I have traveled all the way to Suzhou if I didn't want you to?"

Rong Qingqing looked at him with bright eyes, "I thought you came here to sign an alliance with the Xiongnu."

"Signing an alliance hasn't reached the point where I need to personally intervene," Xie Jingrun said helplessly.

"So you really came to Suzhou for me?" Rong Qingqing felt happy and sweet.

Seeing the overflowing joy in her eyes, Xie Jingrun's slight dissatisfaction with her playing with Yelü Qi vanished.

"Um."

...

The Liang and Xiongnu quickly reached a consensus and signed an alliance to make peace forever and never go to war again. Afterwards, both countries opened markets in their respective border towns so that merchants from both countries could trade and sell their goods.

This, to some extent, promoted the economic development and prosperity of both countries, but that's another story.

After the two countries signed the alliance, Xie Jingrun took the opportunity to reward the soldiers of the three armies on the border. As the empress, Rong Qingqing also took out a lot of silver to subsidize the soldiers.

Looking at the soldiers' dark, honest faces, Rong Qingqing felt a little heavy-hearted.

These soldiers left their homes to defend the country's borders, unable to return home for many years, and unable to see their parents, wives, and children.

She really wanted to do something for them.

On her way back to the Protectorate, she kept thinking about this question.

Xie Jingrun noticed her unusual behavior and asked, "What's wrong?"

Rong Qingqing pursed her lips and suggested to him, "Xie Jingrun, the soldiers are guarding the border for the country. Not only is it hard work, but they also can't see their families. I'm sure they are very worried and missing them. It would be great if their families could come to visit them."

Xie Jingrun was somewhat surprised, "Visiting relatives?"

“Well, the soldiers have to guard the border and can’t go back to their hometowns, but their families can come to the border to visit them. So I’m thinking of building family barracks next to the military camp. That way, the soldiers’ families will have a place to stay when they come to the border. Of course, they have to come in shifts, otherwise there won’t be enough room.” Rong Qingqing told him her idea.