Chapter 102

Her cheeks were flushed from crying, and her eyes were wet as if there were ripples in the water.

Wet heat waves rose from the neck, and the slender swan neck bent into a graceful arc in the night. There was an itchy feeling rubbing against the snow-white skin, and dense sweat burst from the limbs and bones. The body was filled with a long-lost throbbing, and the consciousness could not help but sink with him, but it turned back at the moment of drowning.

“No…”

She tightened her waist and put on a gesture of rejection, her voice trembling, "Since you have returned in disguise, you can't...if you accidentally get pregnant, won't our reputations be ruined?"

In the dim light, a slender, snow-white arm pressed against him, like a lingering snow. He froze for a moment. After not seeing her for half a year, the longing for her was like a lit fuse, gushing out along with the primitive desire, and soon came back with a vengeance. His big hand roamed around her body, grabbing her slender waist and pushing her forward, as if he was walking on a rope on a cliff. He was terrified, nervous, and shivering, as if he might be swept off by the wind at any time. He tried his best to maintain a clear mind and buried his head low. Every part of her that was ironed and dyed by him rolled up involuntarily.

The longing for separation was burning in her internal organs. She pressed her feet against the edge of the dressing table and made a final struggle with that thin waist.

He took a deep breath, then stopped and stared at her with his dark and deep eyes, like the endless winter night.

"You help me?"

Xie Yunchu glared at him.

"Then I'll go first."

He picked her up.

This was probably the most outrageous thing Xie Yunchu had ever done in her two lives. When she woke up, she was still a little dazed. A hint of paleness appeared in the eastern sky. The remaining lights outside the corridor intertwined with the dark blue sky, flowing quietly on her white jade face.

The man behind her changed his posture, put his slender arms gently around her waist, and held her in his arms.

Xie Yunchu turned around to look at him. His whole handsome face was sunken in the darkness behind her. His eyes were drooping as he slept soundly. A thin layer of film cast a shadow at the corners of his eyes.

Xie Yunchu turned over in his arms, with the lingering pain in the joints between his bones, and fell asleep again with his forehead against his chest.

It's getting light.

The curtains in the main room were drawn tightly, and there was no sound at all.

Nanny Lin stood outside the side room for a long time, and waved away the maids who were waiting outside the corridor to clean the house.

Water was called for in the middle of the night yesterday, and Nanny Lin knew what happened, but Wang Shuhuai did not allow anyone to make it public, so naturally no one could know that he was here. There were many people serving in Chunjing Hall, and it was not easy to cover it up. Nanny Lin tortured for a while, sent all the maids to the backyard, and arranged a few confidants to guard near the main house, guarding the road between the study and the main house tightly.

When Xie Yunchu woke up for the second time, Wang Shuhuai was still not awake. It seemed that he was exhausted from working day and night.

Just like this, I wanted it last night... Xie Yunchu snorted silently, and couldn't help rubbing his sore arm, and quietly moved out of bed.

Nanny Lin and Chunqi brought in hot water to serve. Xie Yunchu was worried about disturbing Wang Shuhuai, so he moved to the bathroom.

After rinsing his mouth, he told Nanny Lin, "I was going to visit Sister Jin in the Nan Mansion today, but it's inconvenient for me to go now. Nanny, please go there for me and ask Xia An to go to the study and ask Qi Wei to pass on any news to the backyard. Don't let anyone know that the master has returned..."

After talking for a while, Chunqi saw Xie Yunchu rubbing her palms non-stop, and gently reminded her, "Miss, your palms are all red..."

Xie Yunchu's face froze, a blush slowly rose on his cheeks, and he turned around as if nothing had happened.

She looked at the accounts for a while in the morning and sent the children to play in the backyard. At noon, she went into the east room. Wang Shuhuai had just come out of the bathroom. He changed into a snow-white robe and sat lazily on the armchair. His deep eyes were fixed on her and he followed her wherever she went.

Xie Yunchu couldn't stand his burning gaze, so he turned around and was about to go out again, "I'll help you prepare breakfast."

Wang Shuhuai stretched out his arms, held the person in his arms, and sat her on his knees. His eyes fell on her clasped hands, and he couldn't help but pull them apart to take a look.

Xie Yunchu followed his gaze, thought of something, and immediately pushed him away in annoyance.

Wang Shuhuai was originally holding her right hand, but after she shook it off, he pulled her left hand.

Xie Yunchu is left-handed...

A low, deep laugh came to my ears, carrying a bit of satisfaction and joy.

Obviously I didn't say anything and didn't do anything.

Xie Yunchu's ears were red, and he said unhappily, "If you continue like this, go to the study."

Wang Shuhuai held her obediently and didn't move.

After a moment of silence, Xie Yunchu asked about his return.

"Now that you're back, what about the military camp?"

Wang Shuhuai closed his eyes and rubbed her temples, slowly exhaled, and said in a deep voice,

"The letter of credence has been torn up, and the peace talks have broken down. I must seize the opportunity to pursue the victory. I will return to Xichuan after lunch."

When Xie Yunchu heard that he was going back immediately, he was extremely worried. "Where do you think you are doing if you keep going back and forth like this? Don't do this again in the future."

"No, never again..." His hot body temperature rubbed into her skin through the clothes, "Wait until Xi Chu is determined, and my Great Jin will unify the world, no longer be attacked from all sides, and once the border barriers are removed, we will reach Quanzhou in the south and the Western Regions in the west, and trade will become more prosperous. In the future, the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe, and I will never leave you again."

Xie Yunchu was stunned.

Five years after his rebirth and seven years after his marriage, he had been through many ups and downs in both his past and present lives and had never had a peaceful day.

She also hopes that the dust will settle soon so that she can enjoy a peaceful and peaceful life.

"You keep your word."

"It's a deal."

After a while, Wang Shuhuai had lunch in Chunjingtang, put on a mask and quietly returned to the study.

At that time, there was someone waiting for him in the study.

It was the Duke Wang He.

Wang He was also shocked when he received the news that Wang Shuhuai had quietly returned home this morning. He was sitting in an armchair waiting, and when he saw Wang Shuhuai coming in with a gloomy look, he began to scold him.

"You are so brave. The commander of the three armies left the tent quietly. Do you know what the consequences will be if you are discovered?"

Wang Shuhuai looked indifferent. He sat down behind the long desk opposite the old man and smiled nonchalantly.

"I discussed with the two governors and decided to secretly go to Western Chu to investigate the enemy situation. We can still handle it."

At this point, it was superfluous for the Duke to say anything. He frowned and sighed a few times, then asked,

"What's the matter with the marriage?"

Wang Shuhuai frowned slightly and said calmly, "Among the three commanders, the Right Commander Cao Hong is neutral, and the Left Commander Linwu Old General is your Majesty's man. I can't cover the sky with one hand. The Western Chu delegation came to ask for peace, and I insisted on ignoring them and pursuing the victory. The old general heard that the Mengwu army had increased, so he didn't dare to make a hasty judgment and sent someone to send the news back to the capital."

"Besides, the Ministry of Revenue is running out of military supplies, so we can only temporarily cease fire."

"At first, no one was mentioned as the candidate for the marriage. After the delegation passed through the border, they were probably bribed. After entering the capital, they decided on me. If I'm not mistaken, it must be the work of Prince Xin."

The Duke pondered and said, "No matter what, the Mongols have invaded and Western Chu has not yet been settled. If chaos breaks out at this time, the people will surely suffer and their lives will be devastated. We must remain calm."

Wang Shuhuai's face was cold and indifferent, "I understand. At least wait until they are both injured, and then I will clean up the mess."

The Duke urged him, "Go back to Xichuan quickly. Leave everything here to me."

Wang Shuhuai was silent for a while, then stood up and walked to the screen, took down the robe that was lying on top, put it on, and tied the knot slowly.

"However, it is impolite not to reciprocate. Before I leave the capital, I have one more thing to do."

Since the emperor ordered Prince Xin to go to war, of the 100,000 southern troops, 50,000 went to Xichuan, and 50,000 followed Prince Xin to the north. Only 100,000 imperial guards were left in the capital to protect the imperial city.

Within two days, 50,000 soldiers gathered in the suburbs waiting for King Xin to send troops.

Prince Xin first went to Fengtian Hall to find the emperor and get the tiger talisman. The tiger talisman still needed to be inspected, so the emperor ordered him to kowtow to the empress and pay his respects. It was an old custom to bid farewell to his stepmother before going to the battlefield. Prince Xin asked his lieutenant general to wait outside Fengtian Hall, and he went to Kunning Palace first.

In the past, the Queen and the Princess had always been at odds with each other, but after the incident with the Crown Prince, the two sides had completely fallen out. The Princess was domineering and did not take the Queen seriously at all. The Queen had a hard time in the palace. Prince Xin knew this very well, and when he entered Kunning Palace to pay his respects, he signaled the Queen to dismiss her attendants and had a secret talk with her.

"Mother, thank you for your help last time at the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. You risked your life to give me this opportunity. I will always be grateful to you."

The queen held a string of agarwood beads in her hand, smiling warmly, "My son is both civil and military, a blessing to the country. As the queen mother, it is reasonable for me to help you."

Although the queen had no children, she was not without ambition and scheming. Her husband trusted the eldest princess more than her, so how could the queen not have resentment in her heart? Among the several princes, Prince Xin was the most capable and the one most likely to compete with the eldest princess. Therefore, when Prince Xin secretly sent someone to contact her, the queen chose him without hesitation.

Prince Xin kowtowed again, "I lost my mother when I was young, and I have always regarded you as my biological mother. If you become successful in the future, you will be the true master of the harem, and no one will be able to hold you back."

The queen smiled gracefully, "My son, do you have any plans?"

"Yes." Prince Xin pursed his lips into a straight line, his expression calm, "However, everything is ready except for the east wind. I want to get rid of the eldest princess, and I still need the help of my mother."

A strange look flashed in the Queen's eyes. She looked at Prince Xin for a while and laughed, "My son, if it's just a small favor, then it's fine. But if it's a rebellion, I won't help you."

If there is no rebellion, the Queen is still the Queen. Although the eldest princess does not get along with her, she will not take her life. It's just that her life is a little uncomfortable, which is not a big deal. If the Queen is asked to sacrifice her own life and the life of her mother's family to help Prince Xin succeed, that is absolutely not allowed.

Prince Xin knew that he and the Queen were far from trusting each other, so he smiled and said, "I know my limits, Mother, you only need to do this..."

Prince Xin leaned forward and whispered a few words.

The queen was surprised and asked, "Is that all?"

"That's all."

The queen hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, I will help you."

Prince Xin returned to Fengtian Palace, took the tiger talisman and went straight to the Southern Army camp, then personally raised the flag and sent troops.

That day, the army set out from the capital and went to the Xishan camp to camp for the night. After the tents were set up, Prince Xin went into the tent to read the military reports from the front line. When he finished his work late at night, he suddenly remembered something and immediately summoned his deputy general to ask,

"Why hasn't Mr. Cheng Xuan arrived yet?"

Mr. Cheng Xuan is full of wisdom and is Prince Xin's most trusted confidant. Prince Xin cannot do without him whether he is fighting for the throne or going on an expedition. Originally, Cheng Xuan would have set out with him today, but as the food, fodder and equipment were not yet complete, Cheng Xuan went to help him deal with it. According to the agreement, he should have arrived by now, so why is he still nowhere to be seen?

The deputy general looked bitter when he heard this. "I sent someone to pick him up early. It's really strange. I didn't see Mr. Cheng Xuan all the way back to the capital along the official road. I asked the captain guarding the gate, and he said that Mr. Cheng Xuan left the capital an hour after the army set out."

When Prince Xin heard this, his face darkened and he had a bad premonition. He immediately threw the document in his hand and strode out of the tent. At this moment, a man suddenly ran out of the night in front of him. It turned out to be one of the secret guards of Prince Xin's mansion, and he was carrying another person on his back.

Prince Xin frowned when he saw this scene, "What's going on?"

The secret guard didn't bother to talk, but put the man behind him down. He lifted up his dark hood, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. His face was pale as hell, and he stared at Prince Xin with a half-smile in his eyes. There was a ball of blood and mud stuck to the corners of his mouth, and his arms were draped weakly on the secret guard's shoulders, looking extremely weak.

Prince Xin saw his appearance clearly and his face darkened, "Lin Xiyue?"

Lin Xiyue panted weakly, "Didn't you ask me to help you keep an eye on the palace? Last night I saw a man in black enter the palace, so I squatted in the dark and followed him that night. This afternoon, the man left the palace, and I followed him. I found out that he was Wang Shuhuai. Wang Shuhuai knew about your bribery of the envoys. He returned to the capital, and just followed Mr. Cheng Xuan out of the city in disguise. I followed him to the dark forest thirty miles southwest, and then I shot and killed Mr. Cheng Xuan."

Prince Xin felt a mouthful of blood rush up his throat when he heard this, and his face changed. "Are you serious? How is Mr. Cheng Xuan?"

Lin Xiyue spread her hands and sighed, "Fortunately, I arrived in time and risked my life to save Mr. Cheng Xuan, but he lost too much blood and is now placed in a dilapidated temple thirty miles away from here. Your Highness must send a military doctor to treat him quickly, otherwise it will be too late."

Prince Xin was so angry that he immediately ordered the secret guards to bring the military doctor to help, and he personally helped Lin Xiyue into the tent.

Lin Xiyue was covered in blood, with one leg hanging limply, and blood flowing down her trouser leg, leaving a bloodstain on the ground.

"How are you?" Prince Xin asked worriedly.

Lin Xiyue snorted lightly, "I won't die." There was a hint of hatred in her mouth.

Prince Xin helped him sit down and someone else came in to treat the sword wound on his leg. Lin Xiyue leaned against the table, straightened his injured leg, and looked lazy, as if he was not the one who was injured.

Prince Xin sat behind the desk with a gloomy and solemn expression.

"Wang Shuhuai is really courageous. He actually dares to return to Beijing at this time."

Lin Xiyue raised her lips and looked at him, saying sarcastically, "I am much more fortunate than you. I will definitely spend a night with you when I come back. Who is like you? You leave the two concubines alone and delay marrying the new princess. You even kill her mother and force her to observe mourning for three years. Xie Yunchu doesn't know that you are so devoted to her."

Prince Xin lowered his eyelids slightly, moved the paperweight on the table, and did not respond to him.

At this moment, the deputy general helped Lin Xiyue tear off the clothes that were stuck to the wound. Lin Xiyue groaned in pain, and the topic was dropped. When Lin Xiyue's wound was bandaged, Prince Xin asked him expressionlessly,

"Your father is in Xuanfu. Will you follow me to Yulin or Xuanfu?"

Among the generals of the old faction, the emperor trusted the Duke of Zhenguo the most and allowed him to guard Xuanfu, which was closest to the capital. When Mengwu saw that Xuanfu was heavily guarded, he sent troops to Yulin, Shanxi. At this time, Prince Xin went to Yulin to put out the fire.

Lin Xiyue asked him nonchalantly, "Where do you want to go?"

Prince Xin narrowed his eyes.

A few years ago, he accidentally saved Lin Xiyue's life at the border. Later, he learned that he was the young master of the Zhenguo Duke's mansion. However, it was difficult to tell whether Lin Xiyue was androgynous, and her appearance was very different from that of the Zhenguo Duke. Prince Xin had always suspected his identity until three years ago when he found out that fifteen years ago, the Zhenguo Duke had a decisive battle with the leader of a Mengwu tribe and slaughtered 5,800 of the other side's soldiers. Among them, only one young child was left, who was Lin Xiyue. Lin Xiyue was wearing Mengwu's clothes at the time, but she looked like a person from the Central Plains. Later, when he asked, he learned that her mother was from the Central Plains. The Zhenguo Duke remembered that the Mengwu had abducted many Central Plains women to the grassland. He hated and cherished her, and softened his heart and spared his life, brought him with him, and even transplanted him to become his own son.

After Prince Xin knew the truth, he secretly interacted with Lin Xiyue. Lin Xiyue also guessed that Prince Xin had found out his identity. Neither of them made it clear, as they both knew it in their hearts.

Hiding the orphans of the enemy army is tantamount to collaborating with the enemy.

Prince Xin has now got the upper hand over the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

This handle can be used to deal with the Duke of Zhenguo, or to win over the Duke of Zhenguo.

The Duke of Zhenguo has always been impartial in the court, and the emperor trusts him even more than the Duke of Wang Guo.

Prince Xin knew very well what kind of chess piece he had chosen.

Last time, he used Lin Xiyue to persuade the Queen to help him create a dangerous situation in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and create an opportunity to ambush the Crown Prince and the King of Han.

"Come with me to Yulin."

This is to keep Lin Xiyue by my side.

Lin Xiyue shrugged and said nothing.

Prince Xin ordered the guards to send Lin Xiyue downstairs to rest, and anxiously waited for Mr. Cheng Xuan to come back. When he was brought back, he found out that Wang Shuhuai had ordered his men to ambush on the road that Mr. Cheng Xuan had to pass, and all the soldiers led by Mr. Cheng Xuan were killed or wounded.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cheng Xuan died of his injuries and was dying when he returned to the tent.

Prince Xin was so angry at the loss of his military advisor that he flew into a rage, his eyes narrowed like an eagle, and he immediately called in the secret guards.

"Gather the assassins to go to Xichuan. When Wang Shuhuai takes over Xichu, be sure to take his head!"

"Yes, sir!"