"Oh? Did you reach any conclusions?" Jun Wuji narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, looking at the group of people wiping their sweat with a half-smile.

"This...this, we are incompetent and have not yet come up with a solution."

Damn it, wasn't it said that the Seven Kill Pavilion never failed in its missions? How did it fail this time?

Not only did they fail to kill Prince Ji, but they also allowed him to arrive in Jiangnan several days ahead of schedule.

It seems the rumors in the martial arts world were unreliable; they overestimated the Seven Kill Pavilion. Now look what's happened—a thousand taels of gold gone, and the Silent Prince is still standing here unscathed.

They probably won't get a single penny of the disaster relief funds from the imperial court; they've truly lost both their wife and their army!

Just then, Jun Wuke's carriage slowly approached. Hearing the sound, everyone looked up and saw the Crown Prince. They were filled with fear again and hurriedly kowtowed and knelt down.

"Your Highness, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Jun Wuke lifted the carriage curtain, fanning himself as he slowly stepped down, a gentle smile on his face.

"Please don't stand on ceremony, everyone," Jun Wuke said, and as everyone prepared to rise, they did so.

The leader of the group, Hexun, had only raised his leg halfway when he caught a glimpse of Jun Wuji's cold, icy gaze, and instantly froze on the spot.

Seeing He Xun's reaction, the group behind him dared not make any rash moves. For a moment, they remained in a half-kneeling, half-standing position, creating an awkward scene.

Di Beiyao couldn't help but burst out laughing, and only then did everyone notice Di Beiyao, whom they had ignored due to their fear.

But then they saw this woman standing next to Prince Ji, and quite close at that. No woman had ever appeared beside Prince Ji before.

They had heard rumors that His Highness Prince Ji had used his military power to exchange for a woman's marriage contract with him, but they were skeptical. They never expected it to be true.

The woman before them must be the future Princess Consort of Ji; it seems they'd better curry favor with her.

Although Prince Ji had lost his military power, no one dared to underestimate him. Every soldier in the army held him in the utmost respect.

Moreover, the small border countries often cause trouble, and it is only with the help of His Highness Prince Ji that they can be suppressed. Therefore, they dare not offend Prince Ji.

Jun Wuji was initially furious with He Xun and the others, but Di Beiyao's smile inexplicably calmed his anger somewhat, and even the chilling aura emanating from him dissipated a bit.

He took the hand of the woman beside him and led her into the provincial government gate. After seeing Jun Wuji leave, the group slowly got up and surrounded Jun Wuke, flattering him as they entered the provincial government.

In the provincial government building.

Jun Wuji and Jun Wuke sat on the main seats, one on each side.

The former maintained his perpetually icy expression, while the latter continued to fan himself, keeping his usual gentle smile.

The group below, heads bowed, appeared timid and hesitant, but in reality, their thoughts varied.

Finally, He Xun broke the atmosphere, rising to bow humbly before the two imposing figures at the head of the table.

"Your Highnesses must have had a long journey to reach Jiangnan. Perhaps I could have someone arrange for you to wash and refresh yourselves?"

"Let's prepare a delicious meal, and after Your Highnesses have rested for a while, we can discuss disaster relief matters again, shall we?"

Upon hearing this, the coldness in Jun Wuji's eyes intensified, and his thin lips curled into a smile.

He looked at Hexun with a half-smile, without saying a word, just staring straight at it.

Hexun felt a cold sweat pouring down his back; his undershirt was probably soaked through.

He stood up shakily, not knowing what he had done to displease this man.