Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Three days later, at midnight, at an abandoned temple thirty miles outside the capital.

Wild grass grows rampant among the broken walls and ruins; in the half-collapsed temple, the golden body of the Buddha statue is mottled, and spider webs hang like curtains.

Moonlight leaked through the dilapidated roof, casting a stark white glow on the ground.

Xiao Chenlin stood alone in the center of the main hall, his hands behind his back, waiting silently.

The night wind swept through the hall, making the tattered prayer flags flutter, and the mournful cries of night birds echoed from outside the hall.

He had been waiting for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Xiao Chenlin's brows furrowed, and impatience surfaced in his eyes.

He was always the one waiting for others, never the other way around.

Since he sat on that dragon throne, apart from Yelü Yuanjia, no one has dared to make him wait this long.

"Northern barbarians!"

The time was almost up, but the person who was supposed to arrive had not yet arrived.

Xiao Chenlin snorted coldly and turned to leave.

But just as they took a step, a figure strolled leisurely into the main hall.

The moonlight slanted in through the palace gate, outlining the man's unusually tall figure.

He was nearly a head taller than the average man from the Great Wei, with broad shoulders and a wide back.

Even when wrapped in a cloak, the outline of his bulging muscles could still be seen beneath the fabric.

As soon as you get close, you feel the oppressive aura of the Northern Di people, almost like that of wild beasts.

He stopped three steps in front of Xiao Chenlin.

He lifted his hood slightly, and the moonlight finally illuminated his face.

His jawline was sharp and defined, and his skin was a deep tan from years of exposure to the sun and wind.

With high brow bones and deep-set eyes, those eyes were pure black in the dark, but when the moonlight shone through, a very faint golden ring would appear around the edge of the pupil.

Xiao Chenlin suppressed his discomfort and said in a deep voice, "You're late."

Lu Ye spoke, his voice low and hoarse, with a distinct Northern Di accent.

"We encountered patrols from the Great Wei on the way, which caused us to take a detour and delay our journey."

He spoke slowly, seemingly not very familiar with the Mandarin of the Great Wei.

Xiao Chenlin narrowed his eyes. He had indeed strengthened the defenses around the capital, especially the key routes leading to the northern border.

It would indeed be difficult for the Northern Barbarians to infiltrate.

His doubts lessened slightly. "Speak, what is it?"

"In the past, we always kept letters in a hidden compartment under the Buddha statue. Why is Crown Prince Yelü insisting on sending someone to meet me face-to-face this time?"

Lu Ye's hands, hidden under his cloak, tightened slightly.

Pei Yaojun had taught him that he couldn't be hasty or reveal any flaws.

He slowly raised his head, his black and gold eyes under the hood staring directly at Xiao Chenlin.

"The matter is of great importance." He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "His Highness has instructed me to deliver a message."

"A message?"

Lu Ye took a step forward, and Xiao Chenlin immediately stepped back, his hand already on the dagger at his waist.

Lu Ye stopped, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his hood.

"You won't let me near? Aren't you afraid that someone might be eavesdropping and it will leak out?"

Xiao Chenlin's gaze swept across the surroundings.

The abandoned temple was deathly silent, with only the mournful sound of the wind.

But he dared not gamble. If even a little bit of the matter of colluding with the Northern Barbarians were to be revealed, he would be doomed.

He released his hand from his sword, nodded slightly, and said, "Speak."

Lu Ye stepped forward again. This time, Xiao Chenlin did not retreat, but all his muscles were tense, ready to strike at any moment.

The two were only an arm's length apart.

Lu Ye whispered in his ear, "His Highness said that he helped you ascend the throne, and now it's your turn to help him."

After saying that, Lu Ye retreated and created some distance between them.

"Does Crown Prince Yelü still need my help?" He turned his head and looked at Lu Ye.

"The Northern Di cavalry swept across the grasslands, and he was the crown prince; it was only a matter of time before he ascended the throne."

"As long as he does not ascend the throne of the Northern Barbarians, he cannot relax his vigilance for even a day. Isn't His Majesty of the Great Wei the same?"

These words struck a nerve with Xiao Chenlin, and his face darkened.

"I cannot help. Great Wei has just experienced turmoil, and its treasury is empty. I cannot spare any troops to assist it right now."

After saying that, Xiao Chenlin turned to leave.

Lu Ye stood rooted to the spot. "Has Your Majesty forgotten?"

Xiao Chenlin paused.

"The Northern Barbarian army is still in the five northern cities. No, it should be the five northern cities now."

Xiao Chenlin turned around abruptly, a terrifying rage surging in his eyes.

Xiao Chenlin was not unaware of the Northern Di army's ambitions and changes. Originally, it was agreed that five cities would be ceded, but since his throne was not obtained legitimately, directly ceding them would likely provoke criticism from the world.

He then ordered the Northern Barbarians to start a war, and then passed on the Great Wei's defense map to them. After the Northern Barbarians breached the map, they could then take the five cities without any problem.

"Are you threatening me?"

Lu Ye met his gaze calmly.

"If Your Majesty is unwilling, our army may naturally march south and take even more."

Moonlight leaked through the hole, shining between the two.

Dust particles danced in the beam of light, like a silent battle.

Xiao Chenlin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed his anger deep in his chest.

"Alright, I agree."

Lu Ye shook his head, "Just agreeing is useless."

He took out a scroll of silk, made of snow wolf skin, with wolf head totems embroidered in gold thread along the edges.

As the silk scroll unfolded, moonlight illuminated the densely packed Northern Di script on it.

"His Highness requires you to affix your seal according to the rules of the Northern Di royal court."

Xiao Chenlin did not answer immediately. He was suspicious by nature and well-versed in the ways of power struggles. How could he easily leave such a fatal handle?

"You previously said you wanted to deliver a verbal message, fearing that leaving a written letter would be discovered, but now you want me to sign a silk scroll?"

"Crown Prince Yelü's words don't match up. Is it because he has a bad memory, or... do you have some kind of trick up your sleeve?"

Seeing that the other party was about to become suspicious, Lu Ye remained calm and unhurried.

"The silk manuscript is different."

"What's the difference?"

"Two copies will be made, one for you and one for His Highness, and you can take turns using them."

The Northern Barbarians were as taciturn as ever, but Xiao Chenlin understood them perfectly.

By having each other's weaknesses, one can demonstrate sincerity and prevent either party from backing out.

After all, their cooperation was based on mutual checks and balances.

Without leverage or leverage, who can guarantee that the other party won't change their mind halfway through?

Xiao Chenlin took the silk scroll.

The characters on the silk scroll were written in both Northern Di script and Han script.

The content does indeed correspond to his past with Yelü Yuanjia.

Last winter, Xiao Chenlin instigated the Northern Di to raise an army and secretly ambushed Xiao Yiheng.

After Xiao Chenlin ascended the throne, he promised to cede five cities in the northern border to the Northern Di.

In addition, an extra clause was added, requiring Xiao Chenlin to do his utmost to help Yelü Yuanjia ascend the throne of the Northern Di.

Those secret matters were all private plots between him and Yelü Yuanjia, and apart from their close confidants, it was difficult for anyone else to discover them.

But he was still worried.

"Crown Prince Yelü, when did you become so cautious? In the past, you have never asked for my personal seal in any correspondence."

…………