In Sailing County, the sun shines brightly during the day, so it doesn't feel particularly cold. But now that it's afternoon and a breeze is blowing, I can feel a chill in the air.

"Bilian, go and find our cotton-padded clothes!"

"Isn't this weather a bit too abnormal?" Guan Zhiyue said to Bilian, shivering from the cold.

He quickly put down the bundle he was carrying and walked towards the large wooden box next to him, which was full of Guan Zhiyue's thick clothes.

Looking at the thick clothes, Bilian couldn't help but sigh, "Sigh, the New Year is almost here, and we're back at the border again."

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t have come to the border with the master and the others,” Bilian sighed.

Guan Zhiyue had already taken off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and put the quilt over her head, leaving only her eyes exposed, as she watched Bilian bring her a cotton coat.

"Wouldn't it be better if I came?"

"I haven't had a New Year's Eve reunion with my dad and brothers in a long time, but it's a pity that my grandparents will be spending the New Year alone in Beijing this year."

Guan Zhiyue said dismissively.

Bilian thought it made sense. She had spent the last few years in the palace, watching those noble ladies from wealthy families flirting and posing at banquets, trying to seduce either the princes or the emperor. It was utterly disgusting.

Furthermore, the women in the Emperor's harem are all quite formidable. Although the Emperor has devoted all his attention to his empress these past few years, he still finds them somewhat disgusting!

"Does Your Highness have any delicious food this year?"

Guan Zhiyue put on her cotton coat and looked at Bilian, saying, "There must be a lot of good food this year, since it's all meat!"

"The place we've come to is specifically for raising yaks and sheep!"

"Moreover, the meat from these free-range sheep and cattle is very firm, unlike the yellow beef we usually eat!"

"This flavor is truly extraordinary! I'll have my second brother find a way to get a whole roasted lamb for you to try!"

Upon hearing Guan Zhiyue's words, Bilian was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Guan Zhiyue and her servant were chatting animatedly in the room, while in the main hall of the military camp...

"Marshal, I should also pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress!" Ruan Liang said to Guan Hongsheng.

Guan Hongsheng said, "As a subject, Old Ruan, you should indeed pay your respects to the Empress, but as brothers, I don't want you to go."

How could Ruan Liang not understand! He smiled bitterly and said, "Back then, I thought that my bunch of rascals had a chance to marry your Yue'er."

"What a pity, our two families can't become in-laws!"

Guan Hongsheng patted Ruan Liang on the shoulder and said, "Let's just be brothers, not in-laws."

Ruan Liang said with a smile, "Now it seems we can only be brothers."

So the two of them walked out of the hall and all the way to Guan Zhiyue's room.

"Knock knock knock~~"

A knock sounded on the door. Guan Zhiyue was inside with Bilian, studying the customs and culture of the Turkic people.

Who is it?

"It's me!"

As Guan Hongsheng finished speaking, Bilian opened the door to the room and saw that General Guan was accompanied by a man of similar age.

Bilian quickly bowed respectfully and said, "Master, General!"

"Hmm! Is Yue'er inside?"

"Yes, sir, please come in, General!"

Hearing the voice, Guan Zhiyue sat up from her reclining position and looked at the two people who entered the room, saying, "Father, what brings you here? And who is this?"

Ruan Liang looked at Guan Zhiyue and was about to kneel down to pay his respects.

"This humble general pays his respects to the Empress..."

Guan Zhiyue quickly stepped forward and offered a helping hand, saying, "General, there's no need to be so polite!"

"Please have a seat."

Ruan Liang glanced at Guan Hongsheng, who smiled and said, "Old Ruan, we all know each other. You even held this girl when she was little!"

"It's just that you've been stationed at the border for many years, so you haven't seen her much lately, and the girl doesn't recognize you anymore."

Guan Hongsheng sat down with an air of authority and looked at Guan Zhiyue, saying, "Yue'er, why don't you come and pay your respects to your Uncle Ruan? He's the uncle who used to bring you gifts back to the capital when you were little!"

After this reminder, Guan Zhiyue found this person's existence in the original owner's memories again, and hurriedly smiled at Ruan Liang and said, "Uncle Ruan, it's been a long time. I haven't seen you before. Thank you for your gifts every year!"

Ruan Liang smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. This is all I should do."

“Uncle Ruan, there are no outsiders here, you can just call me Yue’er.”

"I heard that Brother Ruan Jing and the others are also stationed here, but I haven't seen them yet. Where are they?" Guan Zhiyue asked.

Ruan Liang is thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old this year. His wife has been stationed with him on the border of the Turks. Only the old man and his wife are left in the capital. There are no other people.

Four boys were also with them on this side of the border. The eldest and second eldest brothers, Nguyen Tinh and Nguyen Trung, were twins and were 20 years old this year, the same age as Guan Chengzhuo. The youngest, Nguyen Quoc, was 15 years old this year.

Ruan Liang's wife is a close friend of Guan Zhiyue's mother, but they have never met for many years. However, their relationship is quite good. Despite not seeing each other for many years, their relationship is very strong.

"Uncle Ruan, is Auntie with you here?" Guan Zhiyue asked.

Ruan Liang smiled, took a sip of tea, and said, "Your brothers are all here, and your aunt is here too. If you're not busy, you can ask your aunt to come and keep you company."

Guan Zhiyue nodded and said, "That's great! Your aunt is practically a local, she definitely knows what's fun and delicious here."

Ruan Liang smiled and said, "Yes, there are still many fun and delicious places here, but they can't compare to the grandeur of the capital!"

Guan Zhiyue waved her hand and said, "Uncle, this is about the local customs and culture of each place. When you have time another day, you must ask Aunt to take me to see them."

"By the way, what's the current situation with the Turks? Uncle Ruan, you've already fought against them, what are your thoughts?"

"I came along this time because I've figured out something new."

When Guan Zhiyue mentioned this, Ruan Liang was reminded of something, especially now that they have enough to eat and wear, other countries have started to make trouble.

"Yue'er, you're the one who researched all of these things! Do you know how inhuman these people are? They come to spy on our secrets every day!"

Guan Zhiyue nodded and said with a smile, "Uncle Ruan, you are only separated from the Turks by a river, why didn't you send someone to negotiate?"

Ruan Liang said, "This is unprecedented, and the Turks are also unreasonable, directly provoking us."

Guan Zhiyue placed one hand on the small table and tapped it intermittently before asking, "How many battles have you fought? What are the casualties?"

Ruan Liang said, "We've already fought five or six rounds. The Turks aren't really interested in fighting. They just wanted to launch a surprise attack on us, cause us some trouble, and then retreat. So, the casualties haven't been too bad!"

"But continuing like this is making people feel uncomfortable!"

Guan Zhiyue understood and then said, "Father, Uncle Ruan, I have an idea, but it's not perfect yet. I'll explain it to you both in detail after I've perfected it."

Ruan Liang didn't say anything, after all, he didn't think Guan Zhiyue had any good ideas, otherwise why would they go to war? But he didn't say anything either, and got up and left Guan Zhiyue's room with Guan Hongsheng.

After everyone had left, Bilian looked at Guan Zhiyue and said, "Your Majesty, do you have any good ideas?"

Guan Zhiyue shook her head, indicating that she didn't know!

Bi Lian was already petrified in the wind! What the hell! How dare the Empress speak such words to the two generals...?