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

Yun Shuyao was taken aback.

"Which family's daughter is she?"

"She belongs to the Qin family. She follows her father and manages the shop."

Yun Shuyao was stunned for a moment.

The Qin family were merchants.

Yun Shuwen used to despise this kind of background the most.

"That girl doesn't mind me."

Yun Shuwen said.

"I now travel with caravans and know how tough this business is. She doesn't look down on me at all. Neither do I."

Yun Shuyao didn't speak.

She simply nodded.

"Good luck with your marriage."

Things are much better for the Qin family than before.

Lü Xingjian stayed at the estate.

He managed some of the accounts for Qin and often accompanied her on outings.

Qin's complexion was indeed better than before.

The divine physician Mu took her pulse.

When he came out, he shook his head repeatedly.

"Hard to say."

"If this illness had occurred in the past, she probably wouldn't have survived within three years. But now... I'm not so sure."

"If you ask her how many years she has left, I can't say for sure. Perhaps, there's still a chance for things to turn around."

Upon hearing this, Yun Shuyao's eyes welled up with tears.

She didn't ask any more questions.

All she knew was that her mother was smiling more often now than before.

When Lü Xingjian came in from outside that day, there was still a thin layer of snow on his shoulders.

He was tall with straight shoulders and back.

Although her temples were frosted with gray, it only made her eyes and brows appear clearer and brighter.

Those eyes were gentle even when they weren't smiling; they must have captivated many people in their youth.

He shook his cloak, first placing the account books on the table, then checking the medicine on the stove.

"Did you take your medicine today?"

Qin was leaning against the window looking at the flowers.

"The bitterness is there."

Lu Xingjian didn't say anything, but took the medicine bowl down and tasted it himself first.

"It's not hot anymore, keep it warm."

He then took out a small paper packet from his sleeve and placed it next to the medicine bowl.

It's candied fruit.

Good medicine tastes bitter.

Qin glanced at it.

I have to coax you into drinking it.

Lu Xingjian pushed the plate towards her.

Madam Qin smiled and shook her head, but eventually picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it.

After winter set in, Qin's old leg ailment flared up again.

Lu Xingjian made sure to have hot water boiled for her every day, and he personally wrung out a handkerchief and placed it on her knees.

"I'll do it myself."

"You sit down."

He held her hand; his palm was warm.

Through the handkerchief, that little bit of warmth seeped in little by little.

"When I was sick before, I would just tough it out on my own."

Qin said in a low voice.

"The past is the past."

Lü Xingjian spoke in a neutral tone.

"From now on, I'll take care of things; you won't have to shoulder everything alone."

Qin did not speak again.

He simply turned his head and looked out the window.

The flowers in those pots under the eaves are blooming better this year than in previous years.

The smile on her face was no longer the forced one it used to be.

The divine physician, Dr. Mu, has come to take pulses again.

After finishing, he stroked his beard and shook his head.

"Strange, her illness should have been getting worse day by day, but now it seems to have stabilized."

"How long can this stability last?"

"It's hard to say, let's wait and see."

Lu Xingjian saw Doctor Mu off at the door, but there was little joy on his face.

When she turned around, her steps were lighter than when she came.

He pushed open the door and went in, and saw Qin Shi tidying her hair in front of the mirror.

You look good today.

"It's because you feed me too well every day."

"Then let's feed them for a few more years."

Qin raised her hand and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

"That doesn't sound like something a scholar would say."

"Even a scholar who has passed the imperial examination is a human being."

Lü Xingjian said.

"When people get old, they always need someone to talk to."

Qin did not respond.

She simply pushed the cup of hot tea next to the mirror towards him.

They're doing quite well on the other side of the border.

Mingrui and Chuntao got married while she was in postpartum confinement.

Chuntao wrote a letter, her handwriting crooked and messy.

"Your Highness, it's windy here and there's not much food, but we're still full."

The general treats his servants very well.

He said that after the border patrol was over, he would take the servants to see the snow.

Yun Shuyao read the letter over and over again several times.

"Silly girl, still calling yourself a servant."

She smiled and put the letter into the box.

At the beginning of the new dynasty, the capital city appeared to be at peace.

Xiao Fang, however, was not truly at ease.

Although those royal princes and clan elders no longer wielded any overt power, they were still of royal blood.

Xiao Fang didn't kill them.

But we will never give them the slightest chance to take advantage of us.

He entrusted this matter to Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao is now the commander of the Imperial City Guard.

He held the reins of everything, from the slightest breeze to the slightest movement, inside and outside the palace.

Every day before dawn, secret reports from all sides would be delivered to his desk.

"Last night, someone at the Prince An's residence was drinking and cursed the Regent for abusing his power."

After saying that, they dispersed, and no one responded.

"Prince Ning has been ill these days and has been staying at home."

Those former subordinates who submitted invitations were all turned away by the gatekeeper.

"The elders of the Zhou family have been copying scriptures at home recently. They occasionally correspond with old friends, but only talk about family matters, nothing else."

"King Zhao went out today to visit his estate outside the city to inspect the land. He was accompanied only by a few servants."

Lu Zhao turned the pages one by one.

After finishing reading, he picked up a pen and casually underlined a few names.

"They're all behaving themselves."

"Let them say a few words, then let them be."

As long as they do not leave their residence, gather crowds, send messages, or maintain an army, there is no need to alarm them.

He paused.

"They haven't forgotten about the matter of the wise king."

It's a good thing that people are behaving themselves now.

His subordinate asked.

"Should we increase the surveillance?"

"Add two shifts to take turns watching over it."

It doesn't need to be too close, just enough.

Report immediately if they make any unusual moves.

"Yes."

Lu Zhao closed the folding book and leaned back in his chair.

"Given the current situation, who dares to think of anything else? They can only curse a few words in their own homes."

"Let them curse."

"The Regent won't do anything to them just because of a few insults."

That's exactly what happened.

These days, the princes and clan elders are all behaving themselves better than the last.

Prince An would occasionally host banquets at his residence, and if he drank too much, he would utter a few curses.

"With the regent wielding absolute power, how can our royal family possibly survive?"

But no one at the table dared to accept it.

After they finished cursing, they dispersed.

Prince Ning simply feigned illness and rarely even received guests.

The elders of the Zhou family were even more ruthless; they secluded themselves to copy Buddhist scriptures, severing ties with even their old friends.

Lu Zhao reviewed the reports daily and understood their contents.

It's not that they don't want to.

They just don't dare.

The wise king's blows had long since penetrated into the bones of these people.

He selects the most important pages each day and keeps the rest for his own records.

He suppressed what he could.

Only those things that couldn't be contained were reported to Xiao Fang.

These movements in the shadows were kept under his watchful eye, day after day.

On the surface, the court appears stable.

In the shadows, everything is under control.

The most exciting event recently was the day Lin Huiyin got married.

Ye Zhaozhao is the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Studs.

She has an open and honest personality and is never coy.

Lin Huiyin grew up climbing over walls.

Now, we've finally brought him home properly.

The wedding was a huge affair.

Almost all the playboys came.

Some people gave antiques, some gave fine horses, and some gave a big box of fancy trinkets.

More than a hundred tables were set up for the banquet in the courtyard.

The sounds of drinking games, laughter, and banter never stopped.

Until Xiao Fang arrived.

The moment he stepped across the threshold, the entire courtyard fell silent.

The boxers have stopped fighting.

The noise eventually stopped.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Lin Huiyin hurriedly came forward to greet her.

"You've arrived."

Xiao Fang handed over a box.

"A congratulatory gift."

"It's enough that you're here, there's no need to bring gifts," Lin Hui said with a smile.

Xiao Fang paused for a moment.

He glanced at the people filling the courtyard.

Those brothers who used to put their arms around him when they saw him now stand ramrod straight.

Some people instinctively stepped back.

Xiao Fang figured it out.

He turned his head and smiled at Lu Zhao.

"What, you all shut up as soon as I arrived?"

Lu Zhao glanced around and quickly replied.

"Who wouldn't dare! Lin Huiyin's wedding is today, we must make a scene!"

After he finished speaking, everyone laughed again and followed him to the other courtyard.

But no one dared to put their arm around Xiao Fang's shoulder anymore.

Xiao Fang walked among the crowd, watching the figures of those people laughing and joking.

She sighed softly.

We've become estranged after all.

But there's nothing we can do about it.

He is now the regent.