Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Lin Hui couldn't help but inform Xiao Fang, and also mentioned that he had spread the news that Long Yuanming had died in prison.

Xiao Fang immediately understood Lin Hui's intention.

He was telling the other princes not to have any wicked thoughts.

Even though the new emperor is in poor health, it's not their turn to ascend the throne.

north.

Yun Shuyao had just finished her postpartum confinement when Xiao Fang led the 50,000-strong Imperial Army, which had been prepared in advance, to return to the capital.

The reason is simple: the Empress hadn't given birth yet, but Long Yuanqi couldn't hold on any longer.

The day before the army returned to the capital, Xiao Fang hosted a farewell banquet.

The large tent was packed with people.

Those who will leave tomorrow and those who will stay today are all gathered together.

Doctor Mu originally intended to stay.

Seeing how hard the soldiers on the border were suffering, he wanted to stay a few more days and mentor the young military doctors.

Ke Yun Shuyao was in poor health, and Qin Shi was also frail.

Despite his concern, Doctor Mu decided to accompany him back to the capital.

"With Lao Wu and the others watching over things here at the border, nothing serious will happen."

I'll go with you, and give Shu Yao a few more days to adjust her schedule."

Xiao Fang nodded.

"With Mr. Mu here, I am at ease."

Mingrui also stayed.

Chuntao naturally followed Mingrui.

The two had already gotten married while Yun Shuyao was in postpartum confinement.

Xiao Fang called Mingrui aside.

"After I return to the capital, I will request an official title for you."

You don't have a formal official position yet, but I can only entrust the northern border to you with peace of mind."

"This subordinate understands."

Mingrui clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Now that the war is over, the Southern Yue and Western Rong have just been incorporated, and there are still some young Northern Hu who haven't grown up yet."

Your first task while you're in charge here is to have them learn the characters and language of Daliang.

Don't let them write their own words anymore; children need to be taught from a young age.

Books can be read slowly, but the Chinese language must be pushed forward first.

In time, they will become true citizens of Daliang.

The second thing is that soldiers should not be allowed to support themselves.

You should frequently lead patrols along the border.

If they train their troops in secret, shut them down immediately.

Third, we must open the door to trade wide.

You let the Qin family's merchant caravan come in and sell the grain, salt, and cloth from Daliang to them.

Let them understand that following Daliang means they'll have meat to eat, unlike following Wang Qiang from before.

My brother-in-law will be frequently traveling this trade route in the future.

Fur coats and medicinal herbs, these things from the north, were transported back.

"You should connect with the Qin family's caravan and revitalize the border town first."

Mingrui listened attentively and agreed to each answer.

Xiao Fang glanced at Ming Rui again.

"You'll have to stand on your own from now on. Don't stay silent all the time."

To be a general, you not only need to be good at fighting, but you also need to earn the respect of your subordinates.

There's something that needs to be said, so we can't leave out.

You need to use your brain and your mouth.

Chun Tao is a clever girl; you should learn from her.

Her little mouth is never idle.

Mingrui's ears turned red.

"This humble general...will do his best."

Chun Tao was saying goodbye to Yun Shuyao.

Chun Tao knelt on the ground, her eyes swollen from crying.

"Miss... this servant will miss you."

Yun Shuyao's eyes also reddened, and she bent down to help Chun Tao up.

"Silly girl, it's not like we'll never see each other again."

The garrison commander was also allowed to return to the capital once a year.

When you come back in the future, you won't be able to serve me tea and water anymore.

By then, Mingrui will be a full-fledged general. You will be the general's wife.

Yun Shuyao wiped away Chuntao's tears.

"You need to maintain some dignity; you can't just start crying at the drop of a hat."

The spring peach blossoms were drooping and swaying.

"Then this servant is still Miss's Chuntao."

"Yes, you will always be my Chuntao."

Chunzhi came over and hugged Chuntao.

The two sisters burst into tears.

Yun Shuwen was also standing to the side.

He wore a slightly worn robe today, which made him look much more neat and tidy.

"Sister, my caravan is ready."

I've prepared everything you and your niece will need for the journey, so you won't suffer.

Yun Shuyao nodded.

"Thank you, brother."

Yun Shuwen bowed to Xiao Fang again.

"Brother-in-law...then I'll lead the strong team out of the city first."

Xiao Fang hummed in agreement.

"Back in the capital, the Prince Zhongyong's Mansion will leave the gate open for you."

Yun Shuwen grinned.

"Okay!"

At noon, the brigade was fully equipped.

Lu Zhao arrived early.

"Is everyone here? Let's go!"

Xiao Fang turned around one last time and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ming Rui and the other guards.

"I'll leave the Northern Frontier to you all."

Mingrui led everyone in returning the greetings.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, take care on your journey!"

"Take care of yourself!"

Yun Shuyao sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and glanced behind her.

The sky is high in the north, and banners flutter in the wind.

"I'm gone."

Xiao said softly beside her car.

Yun Shuyao nodded.

The procession slowly began to move.

The sounds of horses and wheels mingled with the farewell cries of the soldiers behind them.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please wait!"

Xiao Fang did not turn back.

He simply drew Yun Shuyao's curtains tighter.

"Don't catch a cold."

Gu Jinghuai suddenly ran away while he was using the restroom.

After receiving the news, Xiao Fang ordered the main army to proceed first, while he led only a small group back.

Gu Jinghuai was found in the sheepfold.

The sheepfold was smelly and filthy, with hay and sheep droppings scattered all over the place.

Gu Jinghuai huddled in the corner, still wearing his tattered prison uniform, his hair a mess like a bird's nest, his face covered in bloody cuts from the Gobi Desert winds and sand.

He heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang stood at the entrance of the sheepfold, his back to the blazing fire, his face expressionless.

He didn't draw his sword; he simply untied it and threw it to the guards behind him before walking into the sheepfold.

He didn't ask Gu Jinghuai why he ran away, nor did he ask him if he knew about his crime.

He simply walked forward step by step, like a silent wolf approaching a trembling rabbit.

Gu Jinghuai stepped back, his back slamming against the earthen wall of the sheepfold, with nowhere left to retreat.

His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something.

Perhaps it was a plea for mercy, perhaps an explanation, or perhaps some nonsense that even he himself didn't believe.

But before he could say anything, Xiao Fang's fist came down.

One punch.

The sound of his nose breaking was crisp and short, and blood spurted from Gu Jinghuai's nostrils, splashing onto the earthen wall.

Two punches.

His brow bone was sunken, and his left eye was so swollen that it was only a slit.

Three punches.

A few teeth flew out and landed in the sheep dung heap.

Xiao Fang kept throwing punches without saying a word.

His knuckles were cut, and blood was seeping down between his fingers; it was impossible to tell whether it was his or Gu Jinghuai's.

The guards outside the tent could only hear the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh, one after another, like someone pounding on a tattered human skin drum.

No one dared to go in and try to persuade them.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Fang finally stopped.

He stood up and looked down at Gu Jinghuai, who was lying on the ground with only a faint breath left.

He took a handkerchief from the guard and slowly wiped the blood from his fingers.

His knuckles were all broken, and the back of his hand was swollen.

Yet he wiped the blood with composure, as if he were wiping something insignificant.

"Tie him up."

His voice was calm, as if he were instructing the kitchen to add a dish.

"He will be taken back to the capital and publicly executed by slow slicing, cutting him into three thousand pieces, in order to atone for his sins."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the sheepfold.

It was already broad daylight outside, and countless soldiers were watching from the outside.

He stood in the middle of the camp, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, yet he felt the stone that had been pressing on his chest for the entire journey finally shift.

If Yun Shuyao didn't need someone to stay with her, he would have come and beaten this bastard long ago.

Although he bears the main responsibility for his father's death, the war on the border of Daliang was indeed instigated by the traitor Gu Jinghuai.

When the news of Xiao Fang's return to the capital reached the city, the entire imperial city was in an uproar.

The Zhenbei Army decisively defeated the Northern Hu King's court, captured the Northern Hu King alive, and beheaded his fourteen sons and seven daughters.

This was an unprecedented victory since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Victory reports praising Xiao Fang's achievements were plastered all over the city gates and walls.

The whole town was buzzing with talk of the bravery of the son of Zhenbei.

The storyteller wrote a new story overnight, and the teahouse was packed.

In the imperial court, in front of all the civil and military officials, Long Yuanqi said "Good" three times.

An imperial edict was issued on the spot—Xiao Jizhui would be restored to his original title, Prince of Zhenbei, and would be granted the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Xiao Fang inherited the title of Prince, was granted the title of General Who Guards the North, and was awarded ten thousand taels of gold.

A private message was also inserted at the end of the imperial edict—

"I am very honored to be your brother."