"What's going on? Just as I was about to take a break and put down what I was holding, I got up: 'Just in time, I need to use the Zi You Ge.'"

  Chi Jin nodded: "I'm going to the West City Gate, the horse carriage is outside, I'll give you a ride."

  No deliberate no overzealousness, a straightforward and unadorned sentence, without giving anyone any reason to refuse.

  She tidied up her emotions, put on a cloak and followed him out. The cold wind outside was biting, there were not many people on the street, and many shops had half-closed doors. However, the silk shop on West Street had its door wide open, with an attendant standing at the entrance waiting for her arrival. He bowed and said: "Miss, would you like to take a look? Our store has just opened, and we have a lot of good goods."

  He turned back and glanced at Chi Jin, nodded his head, put down the curtain and left.

  Xu Zhuniang didn't think much of it and followed her companion into the store, selecting some good-looking silk threads. As she raised her eyes, she caught sight of a notice posted on the wall.

  "Can the young lady knit a lace?" The shop assistant smiled and said, "This is what our boss has posted. It says that if anyone can use our store's ten-color silk thread to knit an exquisite lace, we will give away a piece of priceless purple jade."

  He took out a box and opened it: "It's this piece of jade."

  Xu Chuyi looked down and was so scared that she took a sharp breath of cold air.

  Fine purple jade, carved with auspicious patterns, just string a rope and it can be worn as an ornament.

  Although the princess's mansion gave her a monthly allowance, she didn't dare to spend it as she hadn't earned it. In a few more months, Huaiyu would be giving birth, and she was at a loss. She didn't know what gift to give. This thing had come at just the right time; if she could make some money from it, she wouldn't have to worry anymore.

  Xu Chuyan's eyes lit up and he asked the shopkeeper, "What kind of socks are considered to be exceptionally good?"

  The fellow said: "Girl, just go big and bold with it, the more complex the pattern the better, as long as you're sincere. You'll definitely move the boss."

  After some thought, he went back to the counter and fetched a few more pictures for her: "You look familiar, so I'll give these to you."

  Repeated thanks, just received and took a look, the patterns on the pictures are all good, there is one big red picture, the pattern is the most complex and festive.

  That's it!

  She had an idea in her mind and didn't bother thinking about other things, so she took the silk thread and went out the door, planning to head back.

  "Xu Niang." Lu Jinghang's voice sounded from behind.

  At first startled, she turned her head to look back, and Lu Da Zhuanggui seemed to be heading back to the Gongzhu Fu, sitting in the horse carriage smiling at her: "On such a cold day, why don't you come with me?"

  He also had the driver put down a stool.

  She was afraid of the cold, and Xu Chu Nian didn't refuse too much. He got in the car and sat neatly in the corner, smiling and thanking him, whispering: "Today I'm lucky."

  Lu Jingxing's phoenix eyes were filled with a smile as he gazed steadily at her.

  He was originally going to the west of the city, but halfway through, he met someone who turned his car around and asked him to help send someone.

  "Does Miss Xü know what Chi Jin's surname was before?" Lu Jinghang couldn't help but ask, finding the matter quite interesting.

  Chu Nian shook his head: "It seems that Lord Chi Jin rarely mentions anything about himself."

  "That's him being humble." Yu Gu's fan turned lightly, and Lu Jinghang sighed. "If it were someone else, born into a wealthy family in Jiangnan, they would be boasting about it."

  Jiangnan Zhuangjia? Xu Chucheng's eyes widened in shock: "Zhuang Beihua?"

  "You've also heard something?" Lu Jinghang raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and nodded, "That's right, he has some connections with General Xu."

  Zhuang Beijian was a powerful figure in the martial arts world, and had clashed with the imperial court. At that time, the Jiangnan government couldn't do anything about him, so Xu Xian led Princess Chang to go over there once, and for some reason, the two of them became friends. Later, Zhuang Beijian accepted amnesty, and Xu Xian even sent a congratulatory gift from afar.

  "Chi Jin was the ninth son of Zhuang Bei He, named Yan Xue Han, originally a spoiled young master who grew up being pampered. Who knew he had a hard bone and refused to be disciplined? At seventeen, he left home to make his way in the world, hating evil like an enemy, recklessly charging forward, offending many people. He was unwilling to return to the Zhuang family, so General Xu tricked him into entering Fei Yun Palace."

  Xu Chu's eyes widened in shock as he listened: "Deceived?"

  "Could it be, with the Jianghu's ultimate skill, one by one from the palace gate to Feiyun Palace, the pure gold was originally so simple, one by one followed and picked up, after picking up, found that there was a little girl with her hands on her waist in front of her, and without saying a word, she beat him up."

  Lu Jinghang didn't actually see this scene, it was all told by Xu Xian later, but thinking about it now, Li Huaiyu's expression at that time must have been very cute.

  He smiled and said, "If he wants to return to the Zhuang family now, he can immediately go back. After all, he has a proper official position, which is also considered a justification for his family. However, he refuses to do so."

  Xu Chunian thought for a moment and said, "He probably thinks he hasn't done enough yet."

  After such a long time of contact, even if they don't get along well, the initial fermentation can be seen. Although Chi Jin is gentle and considerate, he is actually very strong-willed and has high demands on himself. He often gets up early to practice sword fighting outside. Before doing anything, he will think carefully before taking action. If there's any mistake, he'll definitely avoid the crowd and blame himself for a long time.

  For him, a decent official position was still far from enough for him to return home and face his notoriously famous father.

  Lu Jinghang said with a smile, "I don't know if it's because of the impression he made on the Empress when he entered the palace, but afterwards, his methods became more and more ruthless. Now, no one in Feiyun Palace dares to provoke him, afraid of being trapped by him."

  "Hmm?" Up to this point, Xu Chuyan disagreed, "How could he set someone up?"

  Obviously a very kind and simple person!

  Lowering his head to take a look at the silk thread and chart in her hands, then looking up again at her determined expression, Lu Jinghang opened his fan to cover his face: "Mmm makes sense."

  Young Master Zhuangjiu, your moves are so subtle that no one has ever detected them.

  Xu Chunian felt that Lu Zhuangui had misunderstood Chi Jin, but she didn't have the standing to say much more. After all, she and Chi Jin weren't close friends either. It was better for her to just go back and make amends with her husband.

  Lu Jingxing sent her to the Princess's mansion but didn't intend to get off the carriage.

  Chu Nian curiously asked: "Aren't you going in?"

  He smiled faintly and said, "I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to. Miss, you can go back first."

  Slightly stunned. Xu Chu Nian suddenly realized.

  Since Zi Yang Jun and Huai Yu reconciled, Lu Zhuang Gui seemed to have rarely appeared in the Princess's mansion. He had many shops and also the largest wine tower inn in the first line of the city, so he could rest wherever he wanted, and Huai Yu was not worried about it either.

  Standing at the door watching the curtain fall. Blocking his pair of sentimental eyes, Xuchu suddenly remembered a poem that was popular in the capital city back then:

  The mandarin duck's stolen mate will not be returned to its owner, drunk and sleeping on a rug under the full moon.

  Lu Da, the shopkeeper, wielded a Nan Yang jade bone fan, shattering the tender hearts of countless beauties in the capital. Yet, despite having so many admirers willing to die for him and offer themselves to him, after all these years, he still remains alone.

  She took this question back to the main courtyard and asked Huaiyu about it.

  Li Huaiyu smiled and leaned against the soft couch, saying: "He was too romantic when he was young, and had seen all the beauty of the world, so he got tired of it. If you want him to settle down, unless there's a stunning beauty who can surpass his own charm, otherwise he won't be moved."

  Ziyang Jun quietly looked at the document in the outer room, the scarlet pen paused for a moment, and fell down with a bright red dot.

  He stared at that point for a while, then pulled out a clean letter paper from beside him and changed his brush. He wrote a letter and handed it to Cheng Xu, asking him to send it out.

  Li Huailian was worried about the rupture of relations with Eastern Jin at the end of the year, and someone came up to report: "Your Majesty, if I'm not mistaken, Eastern Jin is now under the regency of Baihua Jun, and Baihua Jun has a close relationship with our Ziyang Jun. If Ziyang Jun takes the initiative, there may still be room for maneuver."

  His face sank, Li Huailin said: "Ziyang Jun is now reluctant to return to Kyoto again, what else do you expect?"

  That person was apparently newly transferred from outside Kyoto and looked puzzled: "Your Excellency is such a stickler for etiquette, why wouldn't you return to Kyoto? Is there some kind of difficulty?"

  He hadn't finished speaking when he was gagged and dragged away by someone beside him.

  Zihan wiped the sweat from his forehead and cupped his hands: "Your Majesty needn't take it to heart."

  Li Huailian sneered: "It's been so long since then, and yet there are still so many people who treat Ziyang Jun as a god."

  "It takes a long time to thaw out ice that has formed over three feet, and it's the same with changing people's minds," said Qihan. "Ziyang Jun has had a reputation for many years, and he hasn't done anything seriously wrong. It's really not possible to change public opinion overnight."

  How can he not be anxious? The Empress and Prince Zi Yang have both left the capital, and now everything in his sight is a mess. In the past when he didn't take control of politics, the officials never said anything bad about him, but instead respectfully asked him to ascend to the throne as soon as possible. Now it's good. No matter what he does, there are people who mention Princess Chang and Prince Zi Yang in front of him, sighing and lamenting, seemingly thinking that this emperor is not up to par.

  How could their attitude change so quickly?

  After all, he was still young and couldn't calm down. Li Huailian turned his head and asked: "Have the people from Pingling received their orders?"

  "Your Majesty, I've received your order. The imperial envoy arrived a couple of days ago and has already entered the first line of defense."

  "Very well." He said with a huff, "Since the various officials in the court miss the princess so much, why not invite her back and let them have a good look?"

  Ning Guifei listened silently from behind the screen and let out a silent sigh.

  A few days ago, Your Majesty was ill and when he was dizzy from the fever, what he called out for was still "Imperial Sister", but how is it that now that he's wearing the dragon robe and standing here, he seems like a completely different person?

  He is already an emperor and has everything, in fact, if he can let Princess Changping off the hook, it would be a good thing for himself.

  What a pity, she shook her head.

  The gloomy sky, dark clouds pressed the city, as if it was about to collapse. Imperial Envoy Jia Liang led a thousand soldiers from Pingling, holding high the precious sword bestowed by the Emperor, and marched towards the First Line City with an air of majesty and pride.

  "Adults and children have heard that Dan Yang Chang Gong Zhu is a ruthless person who doesn't blink, you'd better be careful." Someone beside him said with cupped hands.

  He chuckled and said, "I've already investigated clearly, there are no garrison troops in the first-tier city. There are only a few mountain bandits causing trouble. With so many of us, what's to fear from a single Princess Chang? Even if she brings reinforcements, we have more reinforcements behind us! And besides, Prince Pingling is backing us up!"

  "But," the man said in a low voice, "this city is also close to Ziyang. I heard that Lord Ziyang has also arrived."

  "Nonsense!" Jia Liang scolded, "Zi Yang Jun is busy with state affairs in the main city of Zi Yang, how could he suddenly run to a small town like this? Moreover, everyone knows that you and the Princess of Dan Yang are sworn enemies, so why would he come to help us?"

  It seems to be this reason, the small soldier stopped talking, and the large army continued to advance. Jia Liang looked at the weak city wall from a distance, his chin raised high, and ordered: "Go tell them to open the city gate, if they don't open it, we'll just trample over it and flatten that city wall!"

  The people behind him burst into laughter and shouting, the person who called out ran quickly, with a smile on his face, to spread the news.

  The city gate looked like it was about to collapse. Someone on the city wall heard their shouts, stuck out his head and took a look at them, saying coldly: "Not open."