With wives as numerous as clouds and soldiers as numerous as a million, you say he's a useless

If you blossom, butterflies will come.

After what happened with Zhao Xuefu and Mu Yanqi, Ye Chengan understood a principle.

Men don't need to put in the effort to pursue women. As long as you focus on your career and demonstrate your talent, women will naturally come to you willingly.

Moreover, there is far more than one.

Ye Cheng'an wanted to refuse, but then he saw Mu Yanqi lower her head...

A woman from the Western Regions, with bright eyes, white teeth, and lips as red as fire.

Just like the experience she brought to Ye Cheng'an, it was wonderful, passionate, and exciting.

At that moment, Ye Cheng'an's mind was too busy to think too much; he instinctively hugged Mu Yanqi's head.

……

It took a full hour for the two to finalize the deal.

After a closely contested battle, the two grew closer, their eyes and gestures revealing an unspoken understanding.

Poor Zhao Xuefu had no idea that the two men were so audacious as to openly repair the fortified village in front of her while secretly carrying out their own scheme, and were even gloating over the 144,000 taels of silver that Zhuyu had given her.

"The imperial treasury is empty. Although this money cannot completely solve Father Emperor's worries, it is better than nothing. Hongluan, immediately have someone send all these silver notes to the imperial court for Father Emperor."

As soon as Zhao Xuefu finished speaking, Ye Chengan and Mu Yanqi walked out of the room side by side.

Strange, why did she feel that Mu Yanqi seemed even more beautiful and charming?

Just like a flower that has just been watered, it exudes a graceful charm after being nourished.

Ye Cheng'an also looked completely refreshed...

What exactly did they talk about behind my back?

"Prime Minister Mu must have finalized a deal with the eldest young master. Shouldn't you be leaving now?" Zhao Xuefu was eager to get Mu Yanqi to leave.

Mu Yanqi wasn't annoyed. What did an imperial decree for marriage matter? The real skill lay in who could truly win over the eldest young master!

Zhao Xuefu will simply keep her bestowed marriage decree and remain a widow for the rest of her life.

According to Mu Yanqi's observation, the imperial court and the northern border are on opposite sides, and the eldest young master will probably never touch Zhao Xuefu, this thorny rose.

Unless, of course, the other party can completely set aside her princess status for him and forever be devoted to him.

Unfortunately, how could the proud Ninth Princess possibly betray her father and turn to someone else?

Stance determines everything; in this battle for Ye Cheng'an, Zhao Xuefu will never be her match.

"Of course, but I cannot leave yet," Mu Yanqi said with a smile.

"Why?" Zhao Xuefu frowned.

Mu Yanqi said, "Because the eldest young master wants to purchase a lot of supplies from me, I need to write to the Western Regions and have someone send them over. Until the money and goods are settled, I will stay here as the eldest young master's honored guest."

"Young Master, am I right?"

"Not bad." Having just tasted the heavenly pleasure from Mu Yanqi, Ye Cheng'an was naturally willing to stand on her side.

This infuriated Zhao Xuefu. In a fit of rage, she threw the marriage decree bearing Ye Cheng'an's name into his hands. "Ye Cheng'an, I don't care what deal you make with Mu Yanqi, or how long she stays here, but please always remember your place!"

"You have been betrothed to me by my father, and you are my future consort."

"I do not wish for you to get too close to other women!"

Are we getting too close?

Ye Cheng'an raised an eyebrow slightly. He had just made a close-range deal worth over 100 million with Mu Yanqi, the female prime minister of the Western Regions.

Can Zhao Xuefu stop her?

"It was all one-sided love on the part of the princess. I told her this a long time ago. I don't want to be a prince consort, and I certainly don't want to marry the princess."

"I will write a memorial to the court later, asking His Majesty to cancel our arranged marriage."

"If the princess wishes to continue her travels in Liuzhou, I will still treat her as an honored guest. However, if she intends to bind me with the status of her fiancé, I regret that I cannot comply."

"...Ye Cheng'an!!!" Zhao Xuefu swore that she had never suffered such a great humiliation in her life.

She's always the one being pursued; she's never the one pursuing anyone.

What's most infuriating is that Ye Cheng'an is so ungrateful.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, so angry that she wanted to leave Liuzhou right now.

Ye Cheng'an completely ignored her, instead instructing Zhuyu and Zhongbo, "Prepare a superior room for Prime Minister Mu that is closest to me. From today until the end of my transaction with Prime Minister Mu, she will be staying at the eldest son's residence!"

Mu Yanqi's smile widened. Sure enough, to capture a man's heart, one must have a real, substantial relationship with him.

Zhao Xuefu angrily returned to her room, locked herself in, and cried incessantly.

She didn't know why she was crying. She had come to the Northern Border and Liuzhou to spy on the Northern Border's strength and weaknesses, so that she could send a message to the imperial court and have the imperial army swallow up the Northern Border...

The reason for treating Ye Cheng'an differently was also to win him over and have him lead the northern troops to submit to the imperial court.

At the beginning, she was so confident that the young master of the Northern Border would become her devoted subject, but now, why does she feel that everything is out of control?

Not only could she not make Ye Cheng'an willingly fall at her feet, but her joys and sorrows were also swayed by him.

This was an emotion she had never felt before.

Meanwhile, troops from the nine cities, led by Nie Chongshan, the magistrate of Pingyang City, had gathered outside Yong'an City.

The army of over ten thousand men marched in a grand procession, giving the impression of a massive army pressing in on the border.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Jingchuan rushed to the eldest son's residence. "Young master, something terrible has happened! The troops from all nine cities have gathered and are demanding that you leave, or they will break through Yong'an City."

coming!

The main event—the united forces of the nine cities to deal with him—has finally arrived!

If it were anyone else, they would be terrified, but there was not a trace of fear or apprehension on Ye Cheng'an's face.

Instead, they were filled with joy and anticipation.

The person who brought the money has finally arrived!

This locust plague is a tremendous opportunity for him!

Of course, all of this is thanks to the incompetent Xiao Heming, who not only failed to control the locust plague but also deliberately spread the locusts to his territory. Otherwise, how could he have made so much money so quickly, how could he have had the opportunity to teach Su Wanrou's lackeys a lesson, and how could he have gained a foothold in Liuzhou?

"Lord Shen, go and convey my message: the miraculous water for eliminating locusts is extremely rare. I currently only have enough miraculous water to cure the locust plague in one city. The rest of the cities will have to wait."

"Therefore, let the officials of the nine cities bid against each other, starting at ten thousand taels of silver, the highest bidder wins!"

"Also, tell them that if they don't want to pay, that's fine too, but they must agree to one condition: all the locusts they capture after using my locust-killing magic water to reduce their activity must be delivered to Yong'an City intact for me."

Upon hearing Ye Cheng'an's words, Shen Jingchuan frowned. This group had brought troops from nine cities, yet the eldest young master said that the divine water was only enough to solve the immediate crisis of one city.

Is he trying to sow discord among the nine cities and break up their alliance?

This is indeed a possible solution, but the problem is that even he can see through this scheme, so how could the Nine City Commanders be fools?

Will they fall for it?