Jing Zhe never doubted his own charm.

Otherwise, why would so many beautiful women like him? It's true that some of them are his sisters, but Su Mochen, Wang Yingqiu, Mu Qingren, Qiu Qianqian, Yu Xiangrong, and Zhang Xiaoyu are not!

They still love him to death, which is enough to show how charming he is.

Therefore, it's understandable that Murong Xi would fall in love with him.

But Jing Zhe definitely couldn't agree to that.

It's okay to like him, but it's not okay to like him!

Although he wanted to, he couldn't actually do it!

Being the son-in-law of Yueyao Kingdom is not an easy job.

That's why this question came about.

Murong Xi was clearly stumped by the question.

Her current state of mind is somewhat complicated, so complicated that even she herself cannot see it clearly, or perhaps, she does not want to see it clearly.

After analyzing the current chaotic situation in the Western Frontier Kingdom, she felt that a marriage alliance with the An Kingdom was not really necessary. After all, the Western Frontier Kingdom was severely weakened by internal strife and would not have time to attend to the Yueyao Kingdom in the short term.

She could use this time to develop the military strength of Yueyao Kingdom. It would be better to form an alliance with An Kingdom instead of a marriage alliance!

However, just as Jing Zhe said, news of her marriage to Anguo must have reached Jingzhou, and it is estimated that the Anguo court is also making a big fuss about it. If she suddenly says that she will not marry him, it would be like slapping the face of the Anguo royal family. If the Anguo emperor blames her for this and becomes dissatisfied with Yueyao, then we would be in trouble.

Therefore, not engaging in marriage alliances is definitely not an option...

Therefore, she is now in a dilemma. She doesn't want to go through with the marriage alliance, but she has no choice but to go through with it. That's why she was so happy to hear Jing Zhe's analysis.

If we arrive late, people will find fault with us and then refuse to go through with the marriage alliance with Yueyao Kingdom.

This is amazing!

But Jing Zhe just happens to ask such embarrassing questions!

"Who...who has a crush on you? I didn't, don't talk nonsense!"

Murong Xi blushed and glared at Jing Zhe.

"Oh, no, that's best!"

Jing Zhe let out a long sigh.

"What kind of expression is that?"

Murong Xi suddenly became very angry: "What, it's like you're at a disadvantage just because I've taken a liking to you!"

"No...didn't I explain it to you before? My sisters are so amazing, if I were to—"

"Excuse!"

Last night, when Murong Xi heard his explanation that "not marrying her was for the good of Yueyao Kingdom," it seemed reasonable at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was full of loopholes.

"As your older sister, of course I want you to live a good life. How could I make things difficult for Yueyao Kingdom just because you... married me? What, am I that bad?"

"This...is not what you think!"

Jing Zhe couldn't very well say, "My sister isn't just a sister in the conventional sense, but a loving sister who can warm my bed," could he?

"Pah, you know perfectly well whether you are or not!"

Just as being repeatedly "rejected" by Jing Zhe would cause even the proud Murong Xi to feel a great sense of frustration.

"If you won't let me stay, I don't want to stay either! I'll take my men and leave as soon as I get back!"

Murong Xi left after saying those words without looking back.

Watching her resolute retreating figure, Jing Zhe shook his head and smiled wryly. Women, ah, so troublesome…

Yes, my sisters are still the best.

The reason he stayed in Liangzhou for a few days was not only to spend time with Liu Jinghong, but also because he had other things to do.

So he followed them.

...

"General, Young Master Jing is back!"

On the Liangzhou city wall, a soldier on guard pointed outside the wall and suddenly shouted loudly.

After Jing Zhe was taken away yesterday, Liu Jinghong was somewhat worried, but on the surface she pretended to be nonchalant in order to stabilize the morale of the troops.

He told his men that Jing Zhe should be back early this morning, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Everyone stood on the city wall, waiting since dawn, and now that the sun was high in the sky, Jing Zhe still hadn't returned, and everyone was getting impatient.

So as soon as these words were spoken, heads popped up one after another on the city wall with a "whoosh".

Not only were there the Jinghong Iron Cavalry, but also some sect figures such as Feng Da, the leader of the Chiyan Sect, Wang Fujun, the leader of the Sha Gang, and Huang Kun, the head of the Huangfengling Sect.

Of course, they are now all disciples of the Heaven and Earth Sect, and are Jing Zhe's disciples and grand-disciples. When they saw Jing Zhe coming safely from the west, shouts rose and fell.

They felt it was worthwhile for someone to become an apprentice of a 5,000-strong heavy cavalry regiment and return unscathed!

The most excited were Liu Jinghong and Yueyao Saintess Chuxia. After only one glance from the city wall, they leaped up and flew off the wall.

"Empress!"

"Zhe'er!"

The two went their separate ways. Chu Xia came to Murong Xi's side, took her hand and looked her over carefully. Seeing that apart from her clothes and hair being a little messy, she was in good condition and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Jinghong, however, was not so reserved. She didn't even care that her own men were on the city wall behind her. She rushed forward and threw herself into Jing Zhe's arms, hugging him tightly.

Of all Jing Zhe's women, it seems that only Liu Jinghong dared to do this, and was qualified to do so.

Childhood sweethearts are just that unreasonable.

The swift cavalry on the city wall were initially taken aback by this scene, but then they all turned around in an orderly fashion.

Wang Fujun, Huang Kun, Feng Da, and others had been in Liangzhou for a long time and were considered veterans of the Liangzhou underworld. They also turned around with the Jinghong Iron Cavalry. Many of their disciples were puzzled and asked, "Why have you all turned around? Didn't you say that Master had already returned?"

Wang Fujun remained silent.

Huang Kun then spoke up, seemingly asking, "I heard that General Jinghong's beatings hurt a lot, right?"

"It doesn't hurt much."

Wang De, the deputy general of the Jinghong Iron Cavalry, shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"It hurts a lot."

"..."

The other members of the Jinghong Iron Cavalry nodded in agreement, their expressions of shared empathy touching me deeply.

...

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Chu Xia held Murong Xi's hand and asked with concern.

"fine…"

"You just walked back like that?"

Chu Xia looked Murong Xi up and down, and asked curiously.

"Yes, we walked all the way back, we didn't fly—"

Murong Xi felt a little flustered. She almost let something slip while she was talking, giving her a "protesting too much" feeling.

He quickly explained, "It's because we were walking that we were so slow, and that's why we're only just arriving..."

"But isn't the terrain just a mix of grasslands and loess as you go further west? The Empress has walked for so long, why aren't there many muds on her shoes?"

Chu Xia observed carefully; if she had come from the western loess plateau, her shoes shouldn't be so clean.

Looking up at Murong Xi again, I noticed that she seemed flustered, and her cheeks were flushed, something that had never happened before.

Chu Xia was taken aback:

When did the Empress start lying to me?

————