After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 214 Trapped in the North
After Xiang Ning and Pei Yanzhi finished speaking, the merchant's wedding banquet also ended.

Chunxi quietly returned from the merchant's place, bringing back Shang Yan's words and the contract.

It was something we had agreed on with Shang Yan before; he had already drafted the contract and sent it over.

"Pei Yanzhi."

Just as Pei Yanzhi got up to leave, Xiang Ning called out to him.

The man paused, then turned to look at Xiang Ning.

She strode up to him and took a brocade pouch embroidered with twin lotus blossoms from the maid: "This contains wound medicine and antidote pills; the northern border is rife with poisonous insects and miasma."

She paused, her fingertips tightening around the tassel on the brocade pouch.

"Since you're taking Shang Yan with you..."

"What, you expect me to protect someone?"

Pei Yanzhi's eyes flashed with displeasure; his question was practically overflowing with jealousy.

As he took the brocade pouch, he naturally grasped her hand.

There was a damp warmth where their palms touched, and he held on tightly, refusing to let go: "I don't like hearing about other men from A Ning's mouth."

That feeling would drive him to the brink of madness with jealousy, and even make him want to kill.

She wanted to kill everyone who coveted her and who caught her eye.

Pei Yanzhi knew that his idea was dangerous.

Because the people in Xiang Ning's line of sight, including her family, were not just... other men.

The prerequisite for respecting and loving her is being able to accept everything about her.

"you"

Before he finished speaking, Shang Yan hurried over from the rain, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

His hair was still adorned with acacia flower petals scattered at the wedding, but the jade belt at his waist had been replaced with a short sword made of black iron.

Seeing the hands clasped together in the corridor, he turned his face away and coughed lightly: "Lord Pei, urgent report from the northern border."

When Pei Yanzhi let go, Xiang Ning suddenly stuffed a jade thumb ring into his palm.

That was the birthday gift that Lu Jiang had given her before, with the character "Lu" engraved in a subtle pattern on the inner circle.

"If you encounter danger, take this to the manager of the Lu family's rouge shop."

She lowered her voice, "The Lu family's secret agents are three days faster than those on the official road."

Rain streaked across the eaves of the lanterns, tangling the shadows of the three people together.

Pei Yanzhi stroked the jade thumb ring: "Is A-Ning worried about me?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning remained silent and lowered her head quietly.

She wasn't exactly worried about Pei Yanzhi, but she felt that he shouldn't have died.

Consider it her doing a good deed today.

Boom——

As thunder cleaved the sky, a black horse galloped towards them, its hooves pounding through puddles.

"Lu Yongkang launches surprise attack on border granary in Mohe! General Wei is seriously wounded!"

"His Majesty urgently summoned Lord Pei to the palace."

Pei Yanzhi's expression hardened, and the tenderness in his eyes was instantly replaced by coldness.

He put the jade thumb ring into his pocket and gave Xiang Ning a deep look.

That single glance held a thousand unspoken words, yet there was no time to express them.

"A-Ning, I'm leaving."

His voice was deep and firm. He then turned and strode toward the soaking wet black horse.

Shang Yan followed closely behind, mounted his horse, and the two galloped toward the city gate amidst the thunderous roar.

Xiang Ning watched their departing figures, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The rain soaked her skirt, and her maidservant anxiously urged her to go back to her room, but she seemed not to hear her.

At this moment, Chunxi cautiously stepped forward and whispered, "Miss, the contract that Young Master Shang brought..."

Xiang Ning snapped out of her daze, took the contract, unfolded it, and saw that the terms were clear and concise, except for one extra clause.

If Shang Yan is unable to return, I urge Xiang Ning to consider our past relationship and offer him some assistance.

In return, Xiang Ning receives a substantial dividend every year.

He had already made all the arrangements, even finding someone to take care of Madam Shang. He left with the intention of never returning.

Because the place chosen by the barbarians was right at the intersection of the three kingdoms, a place where all sorts of people mingled and no one was in charge.

Xiang Ning took a deep breath, turned around and went back into the house.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was as heavy as the anticipation before a storm.

The young emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his face terribly gloomy.

Even at such a young age, the royal aura he exuded made the ministers below tremble with fear.

Pei Yanzhi hurriedly entered the palace and knelt down to pay his respects.

When the emperor saw Pei Yanzhi, a hint of urgency flashed in his eyes: "Minister Pei, the northern border is in grave danger. Lu Yongkang launched a surprise attack on the Mohe granary, and General Wei is seriously injured. What should we do?"

Pei Yanzhi stood up, his expression calm: "Your Majesty, do not worry. I am willing to lead troops to the northern border with General Lin. We will surely capture Lu Yongkang alive and reclaim the granary."

In fact, Pei Yanzhi had already guessed that Lu Yongkang might go to the northern border when he fled.

Therefore, when he left someone to guard Lu Jiamin, he specifically instructed that an opening be left.

Lu Yongkang felt sorry for his daughter; he didn't even take Princess Qing with him, but he saved Lu Jiamin.

The young emperor nodded slightly: "Since Minister Pei has made such a decision, I am relieved. General Lin, listen to my command: you will accompany Minister Pei to the northern border and must not disappoint me."

General Lin stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Pei Yanzhi and General Lin accepted the order and withdrew to begin preparations for the expedition.

On this journey to the northern border, we must bring Lu Yongkang back; otherwise, I fear other things may arise.

The next morning, Pei Yanzhi went to the northern border first, followed by General Lin and the others.

Palace affairs were busy, and the young emperor also had to deal with the people and evidence that Lord Zhou had brought back from Tingzhou.

Yet they still came out of the city to see them off.

The boy matured a lot after experiencing this.

Shedding his usual naiveté, he truly displayed the majesty of an emperor.

He knew that Pei Yanzhi was someone his mother had left for him.

Therefore, he trusted Pei Yanzhi very much.

Otherwise, why would someone like the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review be given the task of leading troops into battle?

"Take care on your journey. I await your triumphant return."

Upon hearing the young emperor's words, Pei Yanzhi nodded in acknowledgment.

"Furthermore, the Empress Dowager said that if Lu Yongkang is caught, he should be executed on the spot and there is no need for him to come back. She does not want to see him again."

"The Empress Dowager will deal with anyone related to Lu Yongkang."

The young emperor uttered these words in a calm voice, his tone tinged with indifference.

After this incident, Empress Dowager Feng was completely disheartened.

I wanted to protect Lu Yongkang for the late emperor, but keeping him alive would be a threat to the empire.

Born into royalty, there has always been only conflict of interest, and there has never been any genuine affection between them.

Even her own son is distancing himself from her.

"I understand."

With those three words, Pei Yanzhi left the capital.

Shang Yan was already waiting in the next city, although he didn't really want to rely on Pei Yanzhi.

But he also had to admit that power is indeed a useful thing.

However, to everyone's surprise, Pei Yanzhi disappeared three days after entering the northern border.

General Lin was extremely anxious after he discovered he could not contact him.

If Lu Yongkang's men find Pei Yanzhi first, the situation will instantly turn around for them.

Left with no other option, General Lin wrote a letter back to the capital, asking the young emperor to make a decision.

Pei Yanzhi's fate is unknown; should we attack now?

At the Lu residence, a thunderclap suddenly sounded. Xiang Ning looked up at the sky outside and frowned slightly.

Is it going to rain again?

I'm still here, still alive! I just had a lot of relatives visiting these past few days, so I haven't updated! I, Hu Hansan, am back!

(End of this chapter)