Yun Xiangrong lowered her eyes as she applied medicine to Shang Rui, seemingly casually changing the subject:

"I wonder how Linglong is doing now; she's pregnant."

It's quite unfortunate, my husband, just as you were about to return to the capital, your sister Linglong was diagnosed with pregnancy.

"If you had spent more time with her a few days earlier, my husband, she wouldn't have had to worry about you so much while she was far away in Jiangnan."

Mentioning the Su family mother and daughter, Shang Rui's face turned mocking, a far cry from the obsequious manner she had shown towards them in Jiangnan. She coldly sneered:

"A businessman is just a businessman. He won't amount to much."

The mother and daughter, thinking themselves clever, used Su Linglong's pregnancy as an excuse not to return to the capital with him.

Those who seek advantage and avoid harm may think they can deceive the world, but in reality, their cleverness backfires.

How could he possibly allow a merchant's daughter to bear his eldest child? It's wishful thinking and utterly ridiculous!

In comparison...

Shang Rui pulled Yun Xiangrong into his arms, deeply moved by the memory of his cousin's unwavering devotion to him in both her past and present lives.

"Cousin, I'm sorry you had to endure this hardship in Jiangnan."

A shy blush appeared on Yun Xiangrong's beautiful face, but her eyes quietly reddened.

She rested her head on Shang Rui's shoulder, completely relying on him, and gently shook her head.

“I’m not upset. We’re engaged, and although we’re not married yet, in my heart you’re already my husband…”

Yun Xiangrong's voice grew softer and softer as her mind was filled with memories of the palace coup and their interactions after leaving the capital. Her face turned completely red.

She and her cousin had been living as husband and wife for some time, and if the current situation hadn't been unfavorable to her cousin, she might be pregnant by now.

And Su Linglong...

As Yun Xiangrong looked towards the capital, a mocking glint appeared in her eyes, identical to Shang Rui's.

My cousin is right. A businessman is a businessman; he will only use underhanded methods that are not respectable.

Su Linglong always tries to win favor, but when it comes to crucial moments, she always listens to her mother's arrangements and doesn't dare to resist at all. Since she's so afraid of death, she should just hide in Jiangnan.

She's different; she's not afraid of death.

Her feelings for her cousin have remained unchanged since childhood, and no matter the outcome, she will always be wherever her cousin is.

"Chirp chirp—chirp chirp—"

During the coldest days of winter, the mountains and forests are quiet, and the chirping of insects is a rare sound.

Not far from the two, Yun Luobai stood with his hands behind his back under the evergreen tree.

His expression was inscrutable, as if he had made some kind of decision after careful consideration.

Shang Rui brought back quite a few people this time.

Jiangnan has always been a prosperous region, with local officials, wealthy merchants, and a strong military.

Furthermore, Su Zhaodi's sudden betrayal was in the wrong, and Shang Rui extorted a large sum of money and manpower from her.

Humans are inherently greedy; they are never satisfied with the status quo and always desire more wealth, higher power, and greater status.

Shang Rui possessed the late emperor's handwritten edict and a list of the crown prince's crimes, and Yun Luobai was also very skilled at persuasion.

Most importantly, there was the allure of the opportunity to rise to power, which led many officials and wealthy merchants to risk everything to choose Shangrui.

so,

Shang Rui truly possesses the capability.

As for loyalty, that's another matter. After all, they were just temporary teammates who teamed up because of their own greed, so it's normal for them to have different thoughts.

Shang Rui may have wanted to catch them off guard, or he may have wanted to strike while the rumors were still fresh.

That evening, as the rain gradually subsided, Shang Rui led a large army along the official road and openly stormed into the capital.

In the rain, a massive army pressed on to the city.

The guards on the city wall of the capital were terrified when they discovered this and immediately shouted:

"Quickly, close the city gates—!!!"

"You, Zhang Hu, hurry to the palace and report this...!!"

"Archers...!!"

The sounds of orders, footsteps, horses' hooves, the heavy slamming of two massive city gates closing, and the terrified cries of people rushing through the city gates...

For a moment, chaos erupted at the city gates.

In the distance, Shang Rui, the leader of the troops, rode his tall horse and looked out at the city gate, laughing heartily.

"Father, I have returned!"

Shang Rui refused to acknowledge Shang Changze as the emperor of Qingyan, preferring to refer to himself as "I" rather than "this king" in front of his subordinates.

Similarly, at this time, he would not refer to himself as "this king," but would instead bring up Emperor Mingde and naturally refer to himself as "your subject."