Shen Muzhi knew when to stop. He knew that if he continued, the person in front of him would probably get angry, so he stopped while he was ahead and changed the subject after eating a few more mouthfuls of rice.

"Judging from how you were talking to him just now, have you not yet told him your identity?"

Yan Xiao understood the meaning behind his words immediately, nodded slightly, and replied:

"I didn't have a chance to say that. I was just about to say that, but you just happened to come back. I'm not very good at dealing with little kids, so I thought that since you're back, you can come with me."

Shen Muzhi was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this:

"What can I do if you siblings reunite? Are you worried that he won't be able to accept it right away, or that he won't want to acknowledge you?"

Shen Muzhi felt that if Yan Xiao was worried about these things, then there was really no need for her to worry.

Given Lou Guyu's current sycophantic attitude towards Yan Xiao and his determination to avenge his family, he would probably be very happy to know that his sister is still alive and that she is Yan Xiao.

Upon hearing Shen Muzhi's words, Yan Xiao's expression visibly turned serious, causing Shen Muzhi to become more attentive as well.

He assumed Yan Xiao was acting this way because there were other hidden reasons he didn't know, but then he heard Yan Xiao say very solemnly:

"It doesn't matter whether he acknowledges me or not, but there's one thing you must remember. If he starts crying, please stop him and don't let him get his tears and snot all over me. I'm afraid I might not be able to resist hitting him."

Shen Muzhi: ? ? ? ? ? ?

After considering a whole host of possible scenarios for Shen Muzhi, he suddenly froze upon hearing Yan Xiao's words.

He stared intently at Yan Xiao's expression for a while, trying to discern whether there was any element of a joke in it.

Unfortunately, no, his wife was serious.

For a moment, Shen Muzhi was somewhat bewildered.

He had been worried that after Yanxiao had a younger brother, his already considerable place in Yanxiao's heart might be taken away by someone else.

But now, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for his brother-in-law, whom he hadn't had a chance to acknowledge yet.

Yan Xiao frowned when she saw Shen Muzhi staring at her without saying a word.

"What's wrong? Are you having a problem?"

"No, it's not difficult."

Coming to his senses, Shen Muzhi quickly shook his head, his tone resolute:

"Don't worry, Yan'er, I will definitely stop him."

Yanxiao was very satisfied with this answer:

"Alright, but there's no rush. After you finish eating, take a hot bath to calm your nerves before we talk about it."

Shen Muzhi naturally agreed, "I know Yan'er cares about me, and I will listen to Yan'er."

Shen Muzhi had almost finished eating, so he had someone tidy up the room and then ordered hot water.

As the saying goes, when people are well-fed and warm, they think of lustful desires.

Shen Muzhi glanced at the bathtub in the cubicle, then at Yan Xiao, who seemed lost in thought, and asked in a serious tone:

"Yan'er, would you like to come with me?"

"Um?"

Yan Xiao was talking to the guardian deity at the time, and was a little taken aback when she heard this.

After understanding what Shen Muzhi meant, she glared at him, somewhat amused.

"Stop thinking about nonsense and go wash up, the water will get cold soon."

This is what it means to be rejected.

Shen Muzhi was clearly disappointed, and his eyes looked rather pitiful, a stark contrast to his usual decisive and ruthless demeanor.

Yan Xiao glanced at it briefly before suppressing a laugh and looking away, saying as she walked out:

"You'd better hurry up, I'm going out."

Seeing that his act of playing the victim was useless, Shen Muzhi was completely discouraged. He didn't continue to pester Yan Xiao and strode to the small cubicle after watching her leave.

Yanxiao hadn't seen Shen Muzhi for so long and missed him.

It wasn't that she was unwilling to refuse Shen Muzhi, but rather that the timing was unfortunate. Just now, the guardian deity suddenly informed her that after receiving the barbarian king's message, the Miao king had actually chosen to come out of the mountains on his own initiative.

Worried that the Grand Elder might have ulterior motives, she immediately sent some Miao people who were on missions out to Jiangbei City upon receiving the news.

Those who live closest to Jiangbei City will arrive soon, and trouble is sure to follow them.

Yan Xiao didn't expect to face the Miao King so soon. She originally thought she could deal with Emperor Qing before facing the Miao King.

Yanyun City, which now poses a threat to Jiangbei, has been renamed Shen. Other forces in Qi are already in a state of semi-submission to Shen Muzhi because of the Gu poison incident. It's just a matter of finding the right opportunity to make him submit.

Once the State of Qi is dealt with, reaching an agreement with Lord Qiushan will make dealing with the King of Miao much easier.

As a result, Su Yuanyuan had barely begun her actions when the Miao King couldn't wait to come out of the mountains. Therefore, she had to come up with a solution.

She did want to inform Shen Muzhi so he could handle it, but how could she explain how she knew about this news that Shen Muzhi hadn't even received yet?

While communicating with the guardian spirit about the current situation, Yan Xiao thought of a foolproof solution. In the end, he concluded that they should just do it without giving any reason.

At worst, we can just say it's to be on the safe side and take precautions in advance. Anyway, everyone knows that it's only a matter of time before we clash with the Miao King.

After making her decision, she instructed someone to invite Lou Guyu.

Coincidentally, Lou Guyu was leading Shen Qiyue, who had received the news and was eager to see Shen Muzhi, to the General's Mansion.

Upon hearing that Yan Xiao had come to find him, he looked at Shen Qiyue with a puzzled expression and said:

"Sister Yan and your brother have been reunited after so long, they must have a lot to talk about, right? I just left, why are you looking for me again?"

Shen Qiyue didn't have time to think about those things at the moment. She was originally worried that seeing Shen Muzhi now would affect her brother and sister-in-law's lovey-dovey relationship, and she was still hesitating whether to wait first.

Now that she heard that Yanxiao was looking for Lou Guyu, she knew she could go. She felt a mix of emotions: lamenting her brother's lack of ambition and being happy to see him soon.

Hearing Lou Guyu's question, and considering he had come to inform her, she unusually gave him a kind look and replied:

Why think so much? You'll know when you get there.

"You're right."

As they talked, the two followed the people who had come and headed toward where Yanxiao was.

Yan Xiao didn't know that Lou Guyu had gone to find Shen Qiyue, so she thought Lou Guyu would arrive soon. However, Shen Muzhi had already finished getting ready and arrived, but Lou Guyu still hadn't come.

Shen Muzhi knew that Yan Xiao was waiting for Lou Guyu, but he didn't think much of it, assuming that she wanted to recognize him immediately.

So he waited with her and told Yanxiao about some things that had happened these past few days.

Yanxiao already knew everything about his situation from the guardian deity, but he still listened very attentively.

Shen Muzhi did not disappoint Yan Xiao; he did capture the Barbarian King alive and prepared to use his head to negotiate with the Barbarian King's second son, Qiu Shanjun.

After Shen Muzhi finished recounting the important events that had occurred on his side, he asked:

"I heard you've had the Miao people's chief elder placed under guard. Do you have other plans?"