Chapter 66 A person whose own wife finds it tiring...

The couple returned to their bed.

The bed was warm, and so was the person beside her. Having gotten up too early again, Lin Qingdai began to feel drowsy. But she still wanted to see Ji Ci a little longer and talk to him.

So, fighting off sleepiness, I asked the question that concerned me.

"How's the situation in Tianyun City?"

Ji Yujing: "Wu Tingshan is dead, and the Tiger Tally of the Zhenxi Army has been lost."

Lin Qingdai: "..."

Do you think I'll believe you?

Lin Qingdai's sleepiness lessened by half. Staring at Ji Yujing, her almond-shaped eyes seemed to have a line of words etched in them: Do you think I'm as easy to fool as a three-year-old child?

Ji Yujing chuckled softly.

"So, what does Madam think the truth is?"

Lin Qingdai: "You and General Wu definitely set this up."

"Fake death, then draw out all the destabilizing factors and eliminate them one by one."

Ji Yujing: "As expected, Miss Lin is incredibly insightful."

Lin Qingdai: "I'm not a prophet."

"What's wrong?"

"I've given you the answers to the test questions in advance."

When the two armies are at peace, they are invincible.

"Tell me, how are you going to thank me?"

In the end, she started trying to extort him again. But this time, he really did copy Lin Er's answer, so it wouldn't be right not to thank him.

"Offer yourself in return?"

As he spoke, he shifted his body to the side, firmly pinning the beautiful woman beneath him.

He started kissing her again.

Lin Qingdai reached out and pushed his face away. "You were always mine. I'll take someone else."

"You're not allowed to kiss me until we've reached an agreement."

The young lady was determined to get the reward this time, and she was making such a fuss that Ji Yujing had no choice but to stop and deal with the matter first.

"Go to school for a few classes?"

“No way. Those children are the future hope of Lingdong. Teaching them is your job, how can you pin it on me?”

"Serve as the lady's bodyguard for a few days?"

"No need, I have plenty of guards."

...

He racked his brains and suggested several things, but Lin Qingdai rejected them all.

Ji Yujing was at his wit's end, burying his handsome face in Lin Qingdai's shoulder.

Lin Qingdai stroked his hair, "Has this stumped General Ji?"

"Yeah, it's too difficult."

Lin Qingdai was amused: "Then remember this for now, and continue thinking about it after you've rested."

As soon as he finished speaking, his dejection and grievances vanished completely, and he started kissing her again.

Aren't you tired?

"A person who feels tired even when he is his own wife is a useless person."

Lin Qingdai: "..."

What he said actually made some sense.

This time, Ji and Jing didn't go too far.

He did want to, but considering the cold weather, he worried that all the fuss would make his delicate girl catch a chill.

The young couple slept in each other's arms until nearly noon before getting up.

After washing up, the two went to the kitchen together. When they arrived, it was in complete chaos.

Ye Xiao, Song Yunyan, and Xu Xian arrived uninvited, and now they truly treated the Lin residence as their own, showing no signs of unease.

Ji and Jing and Lin Qingdai sat down.

He picked up the teapot and poured tea for Lin Qingdai, but his words were directed at Ye Xiao and the others, "You came uninvited, so settle the bill after you finish eating."

These words made the kitchen staff even more agitated.

Ye Xiao was the first to speak: "I have to pay for a meal at my brother and sister-in-law's house? Even if my brother agrees, my sister-in-law will not."

Lin Qingdai's smile began to fade.

Before he could finish speaking, Song Yunyan immediately chimed in, "I have to pay for a meal at my sister and brother-in-law's house? Even if my brother-in-law agrees, my sister will never agree."

Hahahaha.

Xu Xian: "It's my turn!"

Song Yunyan and Ye Xiao said almost in unison, "Yes, it's your turn."

Xu Xian: "We brothers have to pay for our meals at our elder brother and sister-in-law's house? Even if our elder brother agrees, our sister-in-law will never agree."

"After all, she's a young lady from the capital."

"Right?"

Many people chimed in, "Yes."

Song Yunyan: "I remember once on my birthday, Dai Dai gave me a white jade persimmon, which was as big as my fist."

As he spoke, Song Yunyan clenched his fist to show everyone.

"Qishan white jade is very valuable."

“My mother said that the Empress’s white jade phoenix seal was made of this jade, and this type of jade is very precious.”

Ye Xiao was filled with envy and looked at Lin Qingdai longingly: "Sister-in-law, my birthday is next February..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yujing tapped him on the head.

The voice suddenly went silent.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lin Qingdai kept smiling and said, "I understand."

Amidst a harmonious atmosphere, everyone enjoyed lunch.

Ji Yujing, Xu Xian, and the others returned to the military camp, while Lin Qingdai and Song Yunyan decided to visit the academy. On the way to the academy, Song Yunyan mentioned his departure to Lin Qingdai. He had been in Lingdong for some time and it was time to return to the palace.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingdai slowed her pace and stopped completely, turning to face Song Yunyan.

"Fourth Brother, there are some things I've hesitated to say for a long time, but I've decided to tell you anyway. If you still decide to return to the palace after hearing this, I won't stop you."

Song Yunyan looked at Lin Qingdai, who had suddenly become serious, and nodded solemnly.

"you say."

Lin Qingdai: "Do you know why Zhang He rebelled at this critical juncture?"

Song Yunyan: "Isn't he just trying to be made a king?"

Lin Qingdai: "He does want to be crowned a king, but his strength is not enough to support his ambition. If Zhang He were just Zhang He, he would never dare to do such a thing."

Song Yunyan was stunned for a moment, "He has someone backing him?"

Lin Qingdai: "I met Zhang He in Ningyue City, and I specifically tested him. I can now tell you with certainty that this whole affair was orchestrated by the First Prince."

Zhang He opposed the massacre of civilians; all of this had only one purpose.

"You're out."

Song Yunyan wanted to say it was impossible, after all, his elder brother looked so gentle and refined, and he was also down-to-earth in his work in the court.

But it was Dai Dai who said these words; she would never lie to him. If she wasn't sure, she wouldn't have told him.

For a moment, his emotions were in turmoil, and he remained silent.

Lin Qingdai felt bad seeing him like this, but there were many things that no one else could bear for him; he could only rely on himself.

"Now that Wu Tingshan is gone, His Majesty's fears have been removed. How will he deal with the Empress? Song Yunmian will no longer respect the Empress and the Second Prince. Furthermore, Prince Jingxian has developed a grudge against the Second Prince because of Princess Zhaohe's matter..."

However, Wu Tingshan's death will inevitably cause the high-ranking generals who have benefited from his favors to harbor resentment or hatred towards the royal family. If the emperor deposes the empress again, no one can guarantee how they will respond.

In short, the capital city is about to descend into chaos.

If he goes back at this time, Song Yunyan, being upright and soft-hearted, will inevitably be implicated.

It's better to stay in Lingdong and live a carefree life.

Lin Qingdai could sense that her fourth brother was happy, living as he pleased on the vast land.

"Then my mother..."

Lin Qingdai: "The Imperial Concubine is so clever, she can definitely protect herself. Even if you go back, she will still have to take care of you."

After Lin Qingdai finished speaking, silence fell over the room.

After a long while, Song Yunyan finally spoke again.

"Dai Dai, I won't go to school with you today. I'll wander around and think things over."

Lin Qingdai nodded slightly: "Fourth Brother, just remember that no matter how the situation changes, you have a mother, brothers, and sisters, and we will always stand by your side."

Song Yunyan reached out and touched the top of Lin Qingdai's head, just like when they were children.

"Fourth Brother understands."

Song Yunyan wandered aimlessly around Jingning City, his mind filled with memories of the past and the words Lin Qingdai had once spoken to him.

It turned out that, without his awareness, every step taken by everyone in the capital was purposeful. Going to the southeast to quell the rebellion was his heart's desire, but his father and mother wanted him to gain military merit and rise to the throne.

Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed, because this battle was a scheme orchestrated specifically for him by his blood-related elder brother.

When those in power fight amongst themselves, it is always the innocent civilians who die.

The blood and screams before Ningyue City stirred Song Yunyan's blood, and he suddenly moved with incredible speed. Originally, he wanted to vent his anger and agitation by exhausting his physical strength, but unknowingly he ended up outside the military camp.

He had come by once every few months, and the soldiers on duty recognized him and rushed in to report.

Not long after, Ye Xiao came out.

But Song Yunyan stood there quietly, like a human-shaped ice sculpture devoid of any emotion.

Seeing his expression, Ye Xiao knew something had happened.

He strode up to Song Yunyan:

"Since you're already here, why don't you come in and sit down at the barracks?"

Song Yunyan snapped out of her daze and gave a barely audible response.

The Ningdong Army's camp was never what Song Yunyan had imagined.

Lively but not chaotic.

It was the same last time I came, and it's the same this time.

Having just finished lunch, the soldiers gathered in small groups to chat, each holding a fruit in their hand, munching on it; the fruits varied in type and color.

Song Yunyan knew all too well where these fruits came from. Ever since learning that the Ningdong Army was about to return, Dai Dai had gone into the mountains with the villagers and picked all the fruits that were edible at the moment.

He picked quite a lot, and of course, he ate quite a lot too.

The fruit in the wild forest is really sweet.

Some soldiers saw him, and although they might not recognize him, they still smiled at him in a friendly manner.

Song Yunyan couldn't help but smile in response.

Ye Xiao led Song Yunyan into the council hall. Ji Yujing had only just returned, and the tea was still warm while the files on the table were not yet laid out.

Upon suddenly seeing Song Yunyan, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "Didn't you go to school with Dai Dai?"

Song Yunyan and Ye Xiao sat down.

"I talked to Dai Dai about some things, but I felt irritable and didn't go with her."

Ji Yujing probably guessed: "Dai Dai asked you to postpone your return to the capital?"

Song Yunyan tacitly agreed.

Ji Yujing: "So what do you think?"

Instead of answering, Song Yunyan asked, "Why do we, as family, have to fight each other? It's fine if we fight amongst ourselves, but we have to drag innocent civilians into it."

“In front of Ningyue City, innocent civilians were stabbed to death. If I don’t compromise, more people will die. I always thought it was Zhang He’s ruthless traitor, but Dai Dai told me that it was all my brother’s doing.”

The emotions were finally released, and they surged forth in a torrent.

At this point, Song Yunyan's dark eyes reddened, revealing disappointment and anger.

Ji Yujing and Ye Xiao had almost never seen Song Yunyan like this before—sharp and dejected—and could understand his feelings. He had come with lofty ambitions to quell a rebellion for the country, only to find himself a laughingstock.

However, there was no way to offer comfort.

Throughout history, the struggle for succession among princes has always been cruel, and a pure and passionate young man like Song Yunyan was destined not to fight to the end.

But he was luckier than many princes.

Someone was protecting him, without any ulterior motive.

After a long silence, Ji Yujing suddenly stood up and stepped down from the main seat.

When he reached Song Yunyan and Ye Xiao, he said in a low, cold voice, "Get up, both of you."

"What are you doing?" Ye Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

"Today's contest will determine the winner, who will be granted the title of general."

Duels are a traditional event in the Ningdong Army. Anyone in the army, regardless of rank, who is confident in themselves can challenge Xu Xian and the other three generals, even if they are of a higher rank.

Even the main general, Ji Yujing.

Those who succeed can be promoted to general.

Ye Xiao: "Isn't the generals' duel held every two years? It's not time yet."

Ji Yujing: "This time, it's a special occasion for our Fourth Prince, who bravely rescued the common people."

"Song Yunyan, do you dare to fight?"