Anywhere is fine

Wu Qi had been in a good mood these past few days, occasionally tugging at Yi Shen's sleeve to ask him to accompany her out. Yi Shen was naturally happy to oblige, taking her hand and leading her back into the house. After she changed into a new outfit, he would find himself a new dress based on the color of her clothes, and then they would go out hand in hand.

The weather in Changru Town was fine, and everyone was dressed lightly. Yi Shen knew that Wu Qi liked to go out these days, so he didn't leave any marks on her body in conspicuous places. He tended to leave marks on her thighs and waist. The only conspicuous mark was on her little finger, where her clothes couldn't cover it.

Wu Qi was also very puzzled by this. If his first time biting her little finger while panting was considered unbearable excitement, then the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth times... leaving marks on her little finger could only be described as a "fetish".

However, if he likes it, then so be it.

Although, Wu Qi was not the reason why he liked her little finger so much.

As the two walked down the street, Yi Shen held Wu Qi's hand, gently rubbing the mark on her little finger with his fingertip, and silently curved the corners of his lips into a smile.

When Yi Shen was very young, he noticed that Wu Qi seemed to have a doting and indulgent preference for him. This doting and indulgence did not mean that he was rebellious or that she blindly pursued him.

Blatant favoritism, unwitting protection, frank praise... When she arrived, she brought all of this to her side as well. Even her eldest brother, who was usually oblivious to emotions, was surprised and asked, "Isn't Xiao Qi being too biased and indulgent towards Weichong?"

When he heard those words, he felt an undeniable sense of pleasure.

He grew up being pampered and indulged by Wu Qi, but Wu Qi seemed unaware of it. However, almost everyone except Wu Qi could immediately realize that she was extremely biased towards him.

This bias exploded in his heart on that damp, rainy day. No matter what he did, she just nestled in his arms, hugging his neck, sobbing or choking back tears.

Even though the pain was inflicted by him, she still clung to him.

Even though she was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face, she still looked up and kissed him.

For some reason, halfway through, Wu Qi raised his hand, his little finger brushing against his eyes and eyelashes, and slowly said, "Eyes..."

He held her in his arms, leaned down, brought his eyes close to hers, and asked, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

She replied, "Beautiful."

For some inexplicable reason, at that moment, Yi Shen really wanted to bite her little finger, the little finger that brushed against his eyes and eyelashes. He knew Wu Qi's unconscious doting affection, so he did just that.

When she gently pressed her little finger to his lips, he glanced at her, seemingly a little out of it, his eyes unfocused, staring intently at his lips.

She should be grateful that her parents gave her such a face, which makes her so infatuated.

She bit her little finger, the pain in her lower body and little finger making her frown and bring out some tears. He wanted to wipe her tears, but he hugged her first.

"I want a hug," she said.

He held her in his arms, stroking her hair and back in that moment of calm, and then heard her say in a muffled voice, "I want a kiss."

He started kissing her, just as she had suggested.

Thinking to myself—I'll bite her little finger again next time.

The person who had been bitten on the little finger several times was completely unaware of what was happening. She stood in front of the stall buying fruit. As the weather warmed up, there were more fruits available. There were several kinds of fruits, but Wu Qi still didn't know their names. Fortunately, she had learned a little of the local language, so she could still buy fruit and pay for it.

She carried the fruit, and Yi Shen paid for it.

"Is that your husband?" the stall owner asked.

Wu Qi said, "Yes."

"Young Master Yi, right? You're quite famous."

The people here didn't know that Yi Shen was the third son in his family. Seeing his noble appearance, they assumed he was an only child and called him "Young Master Yi".

Wu Qi smiled and asked curiously, "How did you become famous?"

The stall owner said, "A few days ago, Young Master Yi was voted the number one on both the list of women's favorite husbands and the list of mothers-in-law's favorite sons-in-law. In the past few decades, no man has ever won both of these lists and topped both of them at the same time."

Upon hearing how impressive it was, Wu Qi's expression turned serious, and he asked, "Really? What kind of rewards are there for the top two finishers?"

"...There's no reward...of course not." Seeing that Wu Qi had finished his fruit, the stall owner picked out another fruit from the stall and handed it to Wu Qi. Wu Qi didn't hesitate and took it to eat.

The stall owner said, "This is an honor! A tremendous honor!"

Yi Shen spent a fortune to build a mansion as soon as he arrived. The maids and servants in the mansion all said that he was affectionate and rich. In addition, a few days ago, many rich children stepped into the Yi mansion, which made the people of Changru Town even more certain that Yi Shen must be from a noble family, and that he was popular and his friends were all from legitimate wealthy families.

Over time, amidst gossip and idle chatter, Yi Shen clearly came to be known as a wealthy young man who, because his wife was sickly and sensitive to the cold, accompanied her to Changru Town for the winter.

And without his knowledge, Yi Shen had already grown into the top of the list of the town's most favored son-in-laws and wives.

Although there were no rewards on the list, Wu Qi still praised Yi Shen in public and picked out a large and beautiful fruit from the stall owner's stall as a reward for Yi Shen.

Yi Shen gladly accepted and gave the money to the stall owner.

The stall owner waved his hand, saying he didn't want it anymore, and said with a smile that he was about to make a lot of money, adding that it was already an honor to see the top spot on the list. Hearing the stall owner say this, Wu Qi really felt that this list was very important, and after asking, he found out that it really was.

This list, especially the top one, reflects the preferences of the women and mothers-in-law in Changru Town. Naturally, the men of Changru Town should follow the preferences of the top person, Yi Shen, and make corresponding changes.

How can this be changed?

Whatever hairpin Yi Shen used today, that's what they'll use, even if the patterns are different, the colors will have to be similar; whatever clothes Yi Shen wore today, that color of fabric will be snapped up tomorrow; whatever Yi Shen did today, that place will be crowded with people tomorrow.

For example, the fruit stall of a vendor.

For five days in a row, not a single fruit was left.

Wu Qi was amazed; this grand occasion resembled the scene when "Young Master Yi's Etiquette Manual" had just gone on sale. Yi Shen remained silent, then took Wu Qi's hand and returned to his residence, closing the door to all visitors, though no guests actually came.

"This is a good thing!" Wu Qi sat on Yi Shen's lap and patted his head. Yi Shen buried his head in her neck and said in a muffled voice, "What's so good about it?"

"Fortunately, I found a good husband!" Wu Qi smiled.

Upon hearing this, Yi Shen looked up and asked, "What's so good about your husband?"

"Let me see." Wu Qi cupped Yi Shen's face, examined him closely, and finally smiled and kissed him. "He's perfect everywhere."

This coaxing had appeased Yi Shen. Since he couldn't go out for the next few days anyway, Wu Qi devoted himself to researching phoenix feathers in his study. Coincidentally, the Liuge from the capital also quietly arrived, making Wu Qi even more focused.

Yi Shen was not idle either; a series of secret letters kept him confined to his study.

According to Yi Shen, things have gone too smoothly, especially at the palace. It's been too smooth, as if they have people inside the palace.

However, Lin Kuo's men did not go inside.

This matter was rather strange, and he couldn't help but take it seriously. He began to investigate, and the students of the Pavilion Academy also secretly investigated the matter in the capital, but they couldn't find anything.

A force was quietly helping them within the palace, but no one knew who this force belonged to. Yi Shen, who was usually decisive in killing others and matters, hesitated again and again on this matter, unable to make a decision for a long time.

Because Ning Chanyuan is still under house arrest by the Emperor in the palace.

If he were reckless and caused Sister Yu Qu's death, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life. Moreover, Ning Xunxu was the youngest and only had Ning Chanyuan as a relative. If Ning Chanyuan died, he really didn't know how Ning Xunxu would live on.

Yi Shen hesitated, while the forces within the palace remained leisurely, sending letters from time to time. Even after receiving the letters, Yi Shen never made a decisive decision, often pondering for a long time before still wavering.

The capital was not entirely peaceful either. Lin Kuo, Song Yinxing, and Ning Xunxu carefully considered their words before uttering them, fearing they might leave a handle against them. The students of Ge Xue were even more cautious in their words and actions. If anyone faced the most difficult situation, it would undoubtedly be the parents of the students, each of whom was a high-ranking official in the court, attending court by day and plotting rebellion by night.

After a while, he almost suffered a mental breakdown.

Unfortunately, it's clear to anyone with eyes that the fate of the nation is sealed... and so it is.

Today, Yi Shen received another secret letter. After opening it, it read: "A small town in the southwest has rebelled. Han Su and I are ordered to go there."

The signature is Lin.

Wu Qi looked at the secret letter and asked, "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

Yi Shen shook his head and said, "I don't know."

When rebels meet those who intend to rebel, it's like fire meeting oil; they hit it off immediately. But they are not long-term partners. Since they both want power, a fierce battle is inevitable.

However, it is not yet time for a fierce battle with them.

Prior to this, they were all allies.

The Emperor sent Lin Kuo and Ning Xunxu there, for reasons unknown, but Ning Chanyuan was still in the palace, so this matter had to be handled with extreme caution.

"Never mind," Yi Shen said.

"Are you worried about Sister Yuqu getting into trouble?" Wu Qi asked.

Yi Shen nodded and said, "It might be a trap."

The uprising in the small southwestern town at this juncture was, in their eyes, a divine intervention; whether to suppress it or form an alliance, it would be entirely beneficial.

However, another secret letter arrived.

—The head of the Ning family is seriously ill, and the Emperor has no interest in court affairs, so the uprising is temporarily suspended.

Unsigned.

“This…is strange,” Wu Qi said.

Yi Shen lowered his eyes and looked at the secret letter again, then suddenly said, "I think I know who in the palace is helping me..."

Wu Qi smiled and said, "Sister Yuqu."

Yi Shen looked at her and asked, "When did you find out?"

"Just a guess," Wu Qi said. "I just remembered that the patterns on the Moonfall Camp token and the patterns on the Han Su telescope are very similar, as if they were made by the same person."

"And I remember that Sister Yuqu had a red mole on her neck."

“A red mole? I hadn’t noticed it before,” Yi Shen said.

“The red mole is nothing, but it inexplicably reminds me of when I met the Emperor before. I saw him holding a jade plate with a white jade flower-shaped rim and a dot of vermilion.” Wu Qi sighed and shook his head, saying, “At the time, I thought that the white jade flower-shaped plate was a defective product. How could the Emperor use such a plate? Later I realized that it was not a defective product. He must have deliberately put a dot of vermilion on the white jade flower-shaped plate.”

That touch of vermilion seemed to overlap with the red mole on Ning Chanyuan's neck.

Wu Qi said, "Unfortunately, Sister Yuqu is a human being, not some broken jade plate."