*

The attack caused many casualties among the exiles. The wounded needed to be bandaged, and the bodies of the exiles needed to be properly disposed of. So the group did not continue their journey but instead set up camp by a stream not far away.

By the stream, Madam Shi pulled Nan Qing aside, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Qing'er, you and Prince Xian..."

She had also seen Prince Xian's performance during this period. Although it was indeed because of Prince Xian's care that the people in the General's Mansion were not living too badly.

Moreover, that Prince Xian was the son of an old friend, and his nature was not bad.

So if the two of them could get together, I would actually be happy to see it happen.

But deep down, she still felt a little uneasy...

Prince Xian's health is indeed far too frail!

Moreover, she was aware of the Imperial Medical Academy's diagnosis that he would not live past the age of twenty.

Although the child is now past twenty, who knows how much longer he can hold on?

So she's been really conflicted about this.

She hopes that her daughter can find someone she loves to spend her life with.

But what if...

Nan Qing didn't understand what she meant. She only thought her mother was asking her about what had just happened, so she quickly said:

"Mother, Prince Xian and I... well, that's how things are now anyway."

"He seems alright. Let's just observe for now and see what happens next."

Nan Qing's words were quite irresponsible, and he even sounded like a playboy. Shi's mother immediately patted her arm lightly.

"You child, you're talking nonsense. I don't care about your affairs. As long as you think it's good, that's fine. But you can't play games with people. We don't tolerate fickleness in our family. But if you really don't like someone, we can just find another one."

"However, you should still be a little more reserved. Although it was an accident, you didn't have to throw yourself at him. Once we get there and the engagement is arranged, you can be more affectionate then."

Nanqing's mouth gaped slightly as she looked in amazement at her incessantly chattering mother.

She felt that her mother was even more open-minded than she was...

What do you mean by "if you don't like this one, just find another one"?

Does Father know how unrestrained Mother is...?

Before Nanqing could offer any opinion, Madam Shi looked at Nanqing with a subtle expression and whispered in her ear:

"Let me tell you, don't be too nice to men. If they don't listen to you, give them a good beating or a scolding. Don't spoil them."

"Look at your dad, I've got him completely under my thumb. If I say east, he'll try to go west."

Looking at her mother's proud expression, Nan Qing thought about it and realized it was true.

In her memory, her mother was a skilled whip wielder, and whenever her father angered her, she would drag him to the training ground.

Although her father was also a good shot, he didn't dare to really fight back, otherwise it would never end.

So every time the two of them came down from the training ground, her father would limp and be in pain for several days.

Ultimately, it's a matter of one party willing to give and the other willing to receive.

Other couples argue in bed and make up before they get out of bed.

In her family, when her parents quarreled, they would go to the training ground and have a fight. By the time they came down, her mother's anger would have subsided.

Once she got carried away, Madam Shi started sharing her wealth of husband-taming tips with Nan Qing.

The mother and daughter chatted happily, taking turns talking.

On the other side...

Jun Beichen was also summoned by General Shi.

In the forest, General Shi stood with his hands behind his back under a cypress tree. He was not wearing armor, yet he still possessed the proud spirit of a pine tree, and his imposing presence was awe-inspiring.

Jun Beichen walked slowly, his white robes gleaming faintly in the twilight, and the jade pendant at his waist swayed gently with his steps.

Hearing footsteps approaching behind him, General Shi suddenly turned around. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the ethereal Jun Beichen before him, and he said solemnly:

"Your Highness, I am a rough man and I don't know how to say nice things, so I'll just say it directly: do you have any requests for me?"

Jun Beichen smiled and nodded, and said frankly:

"General, you are overthinking it. Miss Shi is a woman of exceptional talent and ability, and I admire her greatly."

General Shi didn't take these words to heart; a man's promises of love have never been very valuable.

He continued to stare straight at the idle prince before him and said:

"Your Highness should know that even though my Shi family has been exiled, our former troops are still scattered throughout the thirty-eight camps of the Northern Border..."

At this moment, General Shi suddenly pulled a dagger from his waist. The dagger gleamed coldly and was firmly pressed against Jun Beichen's throat. If it went in another half inch, it would surely draw blood!

Almost simultaneously.

The shadows of the surrounding trees swayed, and several black-clad guards appeared silently, instantly tensing the atmosphere in the forest.

Despite being threatened by General Shi, Jun Beichen simply smiled calmly, raised his hand, and gave the order:

"Step down"

The surrounding guards instantly sheathed their swords and vanished into the shadows like ghosts, as if they had never been there.

General Shi, who was close to Jun Beichen, did not move his eyes away from Jun Beichen's face even an inch, but kept his eyes fixed on the unfathomable Prince Xian in front of him.

He had never underestimated this seemingly sickly and powerless deposed crown prince.

Because he always remembered.

In the 7th year of the Shunkang era, ten-year-old Jun Beichen came to the northern border army for training and inspection.

That year, enemy troops from the north invaded, and the situation was critical.

That ten-year-old prince was able to point out the sand table in his military tent and break the enemy's siege strategy.

Therefore, despite the decline of the Duan family and the loss of power of the crown prince after the death of the late empress.

Later, he was diagnosed by the Imperial Medical Academy as not being able to live past the age of twenty.

But Shi Yuanhuai still didn't believe it.

Jun Beichen, who was meticulous at the age of ten and could strategize and win battles from afar, would he really be at the mercy of others?

Although his daughter, Jiaqing, is indeed exceptionally beautiful, in the eyes of someone with lofty aspirations, love is too ephemeral.

No matter how beautiful one's appearance is, it can never compare to the coldness of a high position.

Thinking of this, Shi Yuanhuai stared intently at the expression on Jun Beichen's face and said in a deep voice:

"With the assistance of my Shi family army, Prince Xian's plans might be much simpler."

"As long as Your Highness speaks up, this old minister will do everything in his power to help. But after it's done, I don't care how many concubines you have in your harem, the Empress's position will definitely belong to my Qing'er!"

At this moment, Shi Yuanhuai looked exactly like a father who was seeking wealth and status for his daughter.

It was as if as long as he agreed, he would bring the Shi family army to help him seize that high position.

But what if he actually agreed...?

Even with a dagger pressed tightly against his throat, Jun Beichen showed no fear. Instead, he calmly listened to General Shi's words.

After listening, he even chuckled, causing a drop of blood to seep from the skin beneath the knife tip.

Jun Beichen flicked the blade with his fingertips, forcing Shi Yuanhuai, who was caught off guard, to take two steps back.

At this moment, the languid indifference in Jun Beichen's eyes gradually faded, and even his seemingly thin back straightened inch by inch.

When the last trace of his feigned illness disappeared, the person standing before Shi Yuanhuai was no longer the sickly, idle prince who coughed with every step.

The imperial aura between his brows and eyes was already unmistakable.

He was clearly not wearing a dragon robe or a crown.

But the aura and pressure that Jun Beichen brought at this time was even more suffocating than when the late emperor was on the throne!

It was as if he was born to stand above all others, wielding the power of life and death...