Chapter 24 is not a good one. Touching the tiger's tail.

Upon hearing this, Jing Hui stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Jing Ao.

Jing Ao stood behind Jing Hui like a wall. Today, he was dressed in a golden robe, with glittering jewels hanging on his head and chest. In particular, the golden crown with phoenix feathers on his head was so dazzling in the sunlight that it hurt Jing Hui's eyes.

Jing Hui narrowed his eyes and asked, "What did you say?"

With his hands behind his back, Jing Ao puffed out his chest and raised his chin, saying, "This prince has a way to prevent Jing Ning from marrying that foreign old man."

There was a small court assembly this morning, which just ended not long ago. Jing Ao had not been to Jingning Palace, and the imperial edict was in Jing Hui's hands. They hadn't even left the palace yet, but Jing Ao's information network was truly impressive.

Jing Hui remained calm and composed. She gave a cold laugh, raised her chin, and said, "Go on."

Jing Ao leaned closer to Jing Hui, covered his mouth with his hand, and said, "I've had a lot of contact with Lu Songyuan these days, and I feel deeply that this person... do you understand?"

Jing Hui didn't understand, she just looked at him.

"Tsk!"

Seeing that Jing Hui was oblivious, Jing Ao said bluntly, "After all, you two have been married for some time now. You can have Lu Songyuan take Jing Ning as a concubine, so that the two sisters can share one husband... Oh dear!"

Before Jing Ao could finish speaking, Jing Hui reached out and slammed his palm heavily onto the crown on Jing Ao's head.

The hair ornament fell to the ground with a crisp sound, and Jing Ao's hair instantly became disheveled.

His hair was throbbing with pain, and Jing Ao angrily shouted, "Jing Hui!"

Jing replied, "Try talking nonsense again and see what happens."

Jing Ao's scalp had been pulled painfully, and the pain brought tears to his eyes.

He wiped away his tears and glared fiercely at Jing Hui, but when he saw Jing Hui's angry expression, he choked up.

"I'm giving you advice, you crude and vulgar person!"

Jing Hui pointed at Jing Ao, "Jing Ao, don't let me find out that you were the one who interfered in Jing Ning's affairs."

Jing Ao's neck stiffened for a moment. "I... I'm busy."

Jing Hui's face was full of mockery. "That would be best."

After Jing Hui finished speaking, she turned and left. Jing Ao rubbed his scalp to relieve the pain, and grimaced as he watched her retreating figure, saying, "No matter what, you're a young lady, don't bring up military power in front of Lu Songyuan, or I'll make you pay! Jing Hui, did you hear me...?"

Jing Hui ignored Jing Ao, practically throwing abacus beads at her face, afraid that Lu Songyuan would listen to her and hand over military power, leaving it in his hands.

If Lu Songyuan really listened to her, Jing Hui would definitely get military power and first send Jing Ao to the northern army camp to clean the soldiers' chamber pots.

"Princess, please don't be angry."

Looking at Jing Hui's furrowed brow, Ayan comforted her, "Judging from today's events, I feel that the Empress Dowager intends to marry the Fifth Princess to Rong Xi. His Majesty is probably unaware of this."

Yes, after Emperor Jingwen fell seriously ill, the Empress Dowager took control of the court, which rekindled her desire for power.

The military power, which posed the greatest threat to imperial authority, was the first problem that needed to be addressed.

"Father is seriously ill and should not think too much."

The cold northwest wind swept across Jing Hui's face. She knew very well how much Emperor Jingwen disliked Jing Ning, and as the Empress Dowager had said, the marriage of the princess was always decided by the Empress Dowager, and he never interfered with such decrees.

"Does the princess have a solution?"

Jing Hui shook his head.

Seeing this, Ayan said nothing more.

Jing Hui walked on in silence, lost in thought, unaware that someone was emerging from a fork in the road ahead.

The man said with a smile, "Oh, who's bullying our fearless little princess?"

That voice was so sleazy, Jing Hui looked up and glared at it.

What are you doing here?

Lian Zhu smiled, pulled her cloak tighter, and slowly walked to Jing Hui, walking alongside her out of the palace.

"I just went to see His Majesty with my father. He has fallen into a coma again since we went to the deep mountains. My father went to the Ministry of Revenue, so I came to find you."

Lian Zhu turned her head and glanced at Jing Hui. "I've heard about Jing Ning's matter."

"Um."

Jing Hui glanced at him and said, "Don't give me any bad advice."

Lianzhu raised an eyebrow. "You ran into the Second Prince?"

Jing Hui responded softly, "Very annoying."

“Father sent me to reassure you; there’s always room for maneuver,” Lianzhu said.

Jing Hui understood what Lian Zhu meant and shook his head, "This is not a big deal, there's no need to trouble the Prime Minister."

Lian Zhong has worked diligently in the court over the years and is the most genuine supporter of Emperor Jingwen.

As Emperor Jingwen's right-hand man, Lian Zhong has helped Emperor Jingwen with his work and reforms over the years, which has affected the interests of many people and naturally made many enemies in the court.

After Emperor Jingwen fell ill, the people behind the princes gradually gained power, which has caused Lian Zhong a lot of trouble these days.

"Why."

Lianzhu sighed.

Despite being a military officer, he had followed Lian Zhong since childhood and had been exposed to the intricacies of court politics. He was well aware of the complexities involved and, after a sigh, said nothing more.

As the two approached the palace gate, Ayan had already sent someone to bring out Jing Hui's horse that had ridden into the palace. The horse was now with Lian Zhu's horse.

I mounted my horse and rode in silence. On this snowy afternoon, there were only a few people on Taiping Street, making the voices of a few children playing on the street seem particularly loud.

They were singing an unknown folk song with a strange melody.

Jing Hui looked away and said, "There is a way, to be honest."

Lian Zhu responded with a puzzled sound, then paused and asked, "You mean Lu Songyuan?"

"Yes, who doesn't know that everyone in those small northern countries fears General Lu's name?"

Jing Hui rolled her eyes at Lian Zhu and said, "What the Empress Dowager said makes sense. If Lu Songyuan relinquishes his military power, my father and the princes can finally rest easy."

"Don't do anything reckless."

Lianzhu frowned. "Lu Songyuan is not a good person. His purpose in coming to the capital has not yet been found out. Don't touch a tiger's tail."

"Tsk."

Jing Hui turned his head away. "The path the Empress Dowager pointed out is the fastest way to save my sister. How can we not give it a try?"

If that doesn't work, she'll think of another way.

"Be careful you don't lose both your money and your life," Lian Zhu advised.

"No way."

Jing Hui's little brain started working instantly. After thinking for a moment, she saw a candied hawthorn stall by the roadside and asked A Yan to buy two skewers.

"You're planning to use this to bribe him?" Lian Zhu asked with disdain.

"Does he lack food?"

Jing Hui waved the candied hawthorn in her hand and raised her chin. "But believe it or not, if I give it to him, he will definitely eat it!"

"ha."

Lian Zhu chuckled, "I don't believe it."

Forget it.

"What's your plan?" Lian Zhu couldn't help but ask.

"Coercion, bribery, intimidation, feigning helplessness, crying."

Jing Hui said in a series of sentences, "As long as it can achieve the goal, this princess has plenty of ways."

Indeed, Jing Hui is the kind of person who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

"But you have to do me a favor."

She nodded repeatedly. "Go on."

"The cellar of the General's Mansion was repaired a few days ago. I originally planned to move all the wine from the Brocade Palace here, but I only moved a small part of it at the time. Then something happened and I never had time again."

Jing Hui patted the horse's head and looked at Lian Zhu, "Could you help me transport all the wine to the General's Mansion?"

"Hey!"

He sighed repeatedly, "I, a dignified Lieutenant General, have become a servant in your household."

"Are you going or not?" Jing Hui didn't waste any more words with him.

Lianzhu nodded helplessly and irritably, "Go, go, go."

"Okay."

Jing Hui patted the horse's rump, "This princess is leaving now, see you later!"

-

After Jing Hui left, Lu Songyuan took another nap.

He drifted in and out of his dream, feeling as if something was pressing down on him. He slept for an unknown amount of time. When he woke up, he lay on his pillow with a furrowed brow, trying hard to recall what had happened after he returned to the manor the day before, but he couldn't remember anything.

I only vaguely remember my fingertips touching a warm place.

"Tsk."

He had never drunk a whole glass of wine before. Lu Songyuan cursed inwardly at the people at the table who were urging him to drink, and rubbed his throbbing temples in frustration.

The feeling of holding someone in his arms was intense. Lu Songyuan opened his eyes. In the days that Jing Hui was away, the inexplicable emptiness in his chest was filled, and now he had an indescribable feeling all over his body.

Only the word "comfortable" can describe it.

"General."

Lu Zhouxue's voice came from the outer room, "Are you awake?"

"explain."

Lu Songyuan gave the order, then slowly sat up.

"yes."

Lu Zhouxue said, "Yesterday, after you got drunk, it was the Second Prince who put you on the carriage. He invited you to come to the General's Mansion for a chat today. Do you remember?"

"I don't remember."

Lu Songyuan asked, "What?"

"Just now, the Second Prince's personal eunuch came and said that the Second Prince had urgent business to attend to at the palace today and would come to the residence another day."

"Um."

Lu Songyuan said, "I understand."

Lu Songyuan straightened his clothes, lifted the curtain, and Lu Zhouxue stepped forward, handed him his clothes, and then stepped aside to stand properly.

"What business did he have at the palace?"

Lu Songyuan dressed and sat in his wheelchair, asking the question.

Lu Zhouxue walked behind him and pushed the wheelchair out. "I just received definite news that the Empress Dowager has bestowed a marriage upon the Fifth Princess and Prince Rongxi."

Lu Songyuan sneered after hearing this, "That old geezer is all that's left to be buried, and a bunch of idiots in the court are still rushing to get him."

Lu Zhouxue said, "With you here, how could Prince Rongxi dare to personally propose marriage? The Empress Dowager's purpose is probably not simple."

"Um."

Lu Songyuan touched the red jade pendant at his waist, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Find two skilled men and bury them near the Empress Dowager. They don't need to be too close, nor too far away."

"Understood."

Lu Zhouxue hesitated for a moment before saying, "There was also news just now that Your Highness killed Rong Xi's envoy who came to propose marriage in the Lianyu Palace and then went to the Empress Dowager's palace. It seems that he was reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, and the princess cried for a long time."

Lu Songyuan was taken aback. "You cried?"

"yes."

Lu Zhouxue said, "On the palace road, the princess even hit the second prince. Now she is riding back with the General of the Palace Guard, so she seems to be in a better mood."

The scouts sent out said this, and Lu Zhouxue replied in the same way.

"Lieutenant General".

Lu Songyuan pressed the tip of his tongue against his lower lip, "A string of pearls?"

Zhu, what an annoying name.

"yes."

After Lu Zhouxue finished speaking, seeing that Lu Songyuan remained silent for a long time, she couldn't help but ask, "Does the general intend to get involved in this matter?"

Lu Songyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice colder than the snow outside, "Why should this general concern himself with it?"

Lu Zhouxue paused for a moment, "If the imperial decree to bestow a marriage upon the Fifth Princess is issued, the princess will probably be heartbroken."

Lu Songyuan raised an eyebrow. "What does Jingning have to do with me?"

Lu Zhouxue looked at the blood-red hairpin on Lu Songyuan's head and said nothing more.

After pushing Lu Songyuan to the porch with the servants standing at the main door, Lu Zhouxue said, "It's almost noon, General, please have your meal."

"Um."

Lu Songyuan looked towards the back gate from the neatly arranged snow in the courtyard.

There was no one there.

"Push me to the kitchen."

He had barely finished speaking when a clear voice suddenly came from the doorway, calling his name.

"Lu Songyuan!"

Lu Songyuan turned his head and saw Jing Hui wearing a silver dress and a crimson cloak. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and as she ran, the cloak fluttered, making her look like a butterfly that was still lively in winter, appearing extremely agile.

She was holding two strings of candied hawthorns high in her hand, running along the stone path towards Lu Songyuan.

Ayan followed behind her, and there was no one else behind Ayan.

Lu Zhouxue looked down at her general and saw that Lu Songyuan, who had just been looking cold and stern, had a faint smile in his eyes when he saw the little princess running towards him.

Jing Hui ran down the steps and waved, "I've come to bring you something delicious!"

Lu Songyuan raised the corner of his lips slightly, then suddenly lowered them as if remembering something.

He looked at Jing Hui and said coldly, "Do I need a bite to eat?"

Jing Hui ran all the way, his feet covered in snow. He was a little unsteady when he stepped onto the steps. When he stepped on the top step, his foot suddenly slipped and he fell straight forward.

Lu Songyuan shouted sternly, "Be careful!"