After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Xie Qinglan looked at Wanyan Lie, a knowing glint in his eyes. He had long guessed that Wanyan Lie had no interest in the throne; otherwise, he wouldn't have come to the capital of Beishuo with Shen Hanzhou, much less willingly married him.

"We want to cooperate with you," Xie Qinglan said bluntly in the Western Rong language. "Beishuo wants to send troops to the Western Rong to quell the internal strife. But we need a legitimate reason—the banner of the Western Rong royal family."

Wanyan Lie was not surprised. He smiled and said, "You want to annex the Western Rong?"

"That's right." Xie Qinglan readily admitted, "The five kingdoms are currently divided, and war has raged for years, causing immense suffering to the people. Only by unifying the world can this chaos be ended, allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity. Beishuo has both the strength and the determination to achieve this."

"The Western Rong people are fierce and their land is vast. If we can incorporate them into the Northern Shuo territory, the strength of the Northern Shuo will increase greatly. At that time, we can march south, conquer the Southern Mountain, and then unify the other countries to establish a unified dynasty."

Xiao Jingyuan said in a deep voice, "I swear in the name of the emperor that once the world is unified, I will never mistreat the people of the Western Rong. I will abolish the slave system, reduce taxes and corvée labor, and allow the Western Rong herders to live a peaceful life like the people of the Northern Shuo."

Wanyan Lie remained silent.

He traced the familiar place names on the parchment with his fingertips, his fingertips brushing against the royal court's mark, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

He hated the throne stained with the blood of his loved ones, yet he deeply loved the land that had nurtured him and the herders who lived on the grasslands following the water and grass. He knew better than anyone that only by ending the internal strife could the people of Xirong no longer be forced to wander.

If the Western Rong were to be incorporated into the Northern Shuo, it might truly be the best outcome.

"I can agree to your request," Wanyan Lie said slowly, his tone firm. "I am willing to help you conquer the Western Rong. But I have three conditions."

"Go ahead," Xiao Jingyuan said.

"First, after the war, the Western Rong were incorporated into the Northern Shuo, but the customs, beliefs, and language of the Western Rong people must not be forcibly changed. They can retain their own way of life."

"Okay." Xiao Jingyuan nodded.

"Secondly, Wanyan Hao and Wanyan Duo's crimes are their own doing, and I will deal with them personally. Their tribes' elderly and weak must not be implicated. All tribal soldiers who lay down their weapons and surrender will be pardoned. Anyone who harms surrendered soldiers or plunders herders, whether from the Northern Shuo or the Western Rong, will be dealt with according to military law."

Xiao Jingyuan nodded: "This is the foundation of military administration, I approve."

"Third—" Wanyan Lie paused, his gaze falling on Shen Hanzhou, a hint of tenderness in his eyes, "Once the Western Rong are pacified, I want to take him back to the grasslands for a while, so he can see the place where I grew up."

"Alright." Xiao Jingyuan nodded. "I agree."

"In that case, it's a deal," Wanyan Lie said.

Xie Qinglan pointed to the vast desert on the parchment scroll: "Since you've agreed, let's discuss the specific plan. We intend to send a surprise force across the vast desert, around to the heart of the Western Rong territory, and directly attack the royal court's rear. You grew up in the Western Rong and are familiar with the terrain of the vast desert, so you're the perfect candidate for this task."

Wanyan Lie looked at the route that crossed the vast sea and nodded: "No problem. Although the vast sea is dangerous, I know a secret passage. As long as we are well prepared, we can cross it within ten days."

"Excellent!" Xiao Zhaoyue slammed her hand on the table, her eyes shining brightly. "With you leading the way, this surprise attack will surely strike at the heart of the enemy's stronghold!"

The four then gathered around the desk and began to deduce the battle situation.

Wanyan Lie, with his familiarity with the terrain and the customs of various tribes, filled in the gaps in the list of dangerous passes and water sources that countless Northern Shu generals were unaware of; Xie Qinglan wrote annotations on the parchment scrolls, predicting every possible contingency; Xiao Zhaoyue finalized the marching route and the allocation of provisions; and Xiao Jingyuan, sitting in the center, made the final decision.

Shen Hanzhou sat to the side, listening to the incoherent Western Rong language, his head nodding off, his chin resting on his hand, occasionally bumping his head against the edge of the table with a "thud," then suddenly waking up, glancing around blankly, and continuing to doze off.

Two hours later, the battle plan was finally finalized.

"It's settled then." Xiao Jingyuan closed the parchment scroll and said in a deep voice, "Three days later, 20,000 Yanran Iron Cavalry, led by Princess Xiao Zhaoyue, will march to Hexi to feign an attack on Wanyan Duo's main force. In addition, 5,000 elite cavalry will be selected to form a surprise force, led by Wanyan Lie and Shen Hanzhou, to cross the Han Sea and directly attack the royal court."

"No!" Wanyan Lie glanced at Shen Hanzhou beside him and immediately objected, "The Han Sea is too dangerous, he can't go."

Shen Hanzhou looked completely bewildered. Seeing this, Xie Qinglan repeated the plan and Wanyan Lie's words in the Northern Shuo dialect.

"Why not?" Shen Hanzhou instantly sobered up, his neck stiffening as he urgently asked, "If you can go, why can't I? I am a general of Beishuo, leading troops into battle is my duty! Besides, if I don't go, who will watch over you? You're a prince of Xirong leading our Beishuo troops, what if you change your mind?"

"You...don't worry." Wanyan Lie looked at him, his tone extremely gentle, "I've...married you, I won't...betray you. You stay...in Beishuo, and take good care of your injuries."

"My injury has long since healed!" Shen Hanzhou said, deliberately straightening his back, but the back ached, and he hissed in pain, instantly bending over.

Wanyan Lie quickly reached out to support his waist, gently pressing his fingertips on his sore spot. "Look... still trying to be strong. Be good... wait for me... to come back."

"No!" Shen Hanzhou stubbornly turned his face away.

Wanyan Lie sighed helplessly at his stubbornness and reached out to ruffle his hair: "Okay... I'll take you. Stay... with me... and don't... wander off."

"I know, I know!" Shen Hanzhou immediately beamed with joy, his hand unconsciously reaching for the sword at his waist, only to find nothing, but his eyes shone like stars.

Xiao Jingyuan waved his hand, "Alright, you guys go back and pack up."

After everyone left, only Xiao Jingyuan and Xie Qinglan remained in the study.

The wind rustled through the crabapple grove outside the window. Xie Qinglan bent down to tidy up the documents on the table, then looked up at Xiao Jingyuan, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Your Majesty."

"Hmm?" Xiao Jingyuan leaned against the bookshelf, his gaze fixed on him without taking it off.

"Destiny is on your side."

The image of him strategizing and planning was still etched in Xiao Jingyuan's mind—the calm and confident posture as his fingertips traced the map, the fleeting sharpness in his eyes when he proposed the surprise attack on the vast sea, and now, looking at him with such focused eyes, those eyes that were usually as cold as a deep pool were now surprisingly bright.

Xiao Jingyuan felt a surge of heat explode in his chest, making his throat tight and his breathing somewhat disordered.

He strode over, grabbed Xie Qinglan's wrist, pulled her into his arms, and then pressed her down onto the sandalwood table covered with memorials.

The memorials were scattered all over the floor with a clatter.

"What are you doing!" Xie Qinglan was caught off guard and was pressed down on the table. Her cheek was pressed against the cool sandalwood, and she tried to get up by propping herself up on the table with her elbows.

"Don't move." Xiao Jingyuan's voice was extremely low and hoarse. He grabbed his wrist with one hand and pressed it to his side, while the other hand reached for his waist. "That thing, I'll take it out for you."

Xie Qinglan abruptly stopped struggling, her ears flushed crimson, and she bit her lip, responding in a muffled voice, "Mmm."

He believed it and obediently relaxed his body.

Xiao Jingyuan untied his jade belt and pushed his robe up to his waist. When his fingertips touched the jade dildo, which was warm from his body heat, Xie Qinglan's body trembled violently, and he bit his lip without making a sound.

"Raise your buttocks a little higher, I can't see you like this." Xiao Jingyuan's voice was very low, with hot breath falling on his reddened nape.

"You...you shouldn't use such foul language." Xie Qinglan's voice was already trembling a little, but she still obeyed and slightly raised her waist, crossed her arms, and buried her face in them.

"Where did you find any foul language?" Xiao Jingyuan gently turned the jade dildo in his fingers, feeling the increasingly rapid breathing of the person in his arms. "Spread your legs a little wider."

Xie Qinglan bit her lip, parting her legs slightly, revealing the back of her neck, which was already bright red: "Is...is it okay?"

Xiao Jingyuan slowly took out the jade dildo and placed it aside. Xie Qinglan's tense body finally relaxed. Just as he was about to sit up, a hot hand firmly gripped his waist and pressed him back onto the table.

"Ah—"

Caught off guard, Xie Qinglan gasped, her eyes instantly reddening: "Xiao Jingyuan... why are you bullying me again..."

Her voice was already trembling with tears.

"Qinglan is so seductive, I really can't resist." Xiao Jingyuan leaned down and kissed his reddened nape. That primal urge rose again, and he began to feel aroused on his own.

"When did I—um—" Xie Qinglan's words were broken and intermittent. He tried to dodge forward, but Xiao Jingyuan grabbed his waist and dragged him back. He slumped onto the table, too weak to support himself.

"You smiled at me." Xiao Jingyuan nibbled at his reddened earlobe. "And you even praised me. The way you were pointing out the flaws in the country just now was also very alluring. It felt so good."

"Not here—" Xie Qinglan turned her head and saw the memorials scattered all over the floor. Her voice was filled with suppressed gasps. "The memorials—uh—fell—"

"Never mind." Xiao Jingyuan tightened his arms, pulling him closer to his chest, resting his chin on his shoulder, his breathing heavy and rapid, "Don't squeeze."

"You're such a scoundrel—a shameless scoundrel—um," Xie Qinglan managed to rummage through her muddled mind, cursing him intermittently.

The parchment scrolls on the desk were knocked to the floor by their movements, the inkstone overturned, and ink splattered everywhere. A breeze blew through the window, rustling the scattered papers and masking the faint, suppressed sounds.

……

After a long while, Xiao Jingyuan pulled the person up from the desk and held him in his arms.

Xie Qinglan nestled in his arms, her whole body sore and weak that she didn't even want to move her fingers. Her eyelids were half-closed, and there were still some tiny water droplets clinging to her eyelashes.

Xiao Jingyuan personally fetched a bowl of warm lotus seed porridge, pulled the person back into his arms, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to his lips.

Xie Qinglan turned her face away and ignored him.

"Qinglan, eat something." Xiao Jingyuan gently nuzzled his cheek and coaxed him softly.

"I won't eat it."

"After a busy morning, how can I not eat something?"

Xie Qinglan turned her head sharply, her eyes, washed by tears and passion, staring coldly at him, the corners of her eyes still tinged with an alluring red, and said, word by word, "You won't be getting into bed with me tonight."

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't help but laugh at his appearance, which was clearly weak and soft but still trying to put on a cold face and say tough words. He reached out and pinched his cheek, not taking it seriously: "Go ahead, go ahead."

That night.

After washing up, Xiao Jingyuan tiptoed to the bedside, lifted the quilt, and was about to lie down—

A foot delivered a precise kick to his chest, the force of which sent him flying.

With a dull thud, Xiao Jingyuan fell solidly to the ground, his head hitting the door panel, making him wince in pain.

"Qinglan..." he called out, rubbing the back of his head, sounding aggrieved.

"roll."

A cold, uncompromising voice came from inside the quilt.

Xiao Jingyuan sat on the ground, rubbing his chest where he had been kicked, and looked at the little dumpling on the bed, wrapped tightly in the quilt and refusing to show him even her back. He finally realized—

This time, I've really angered them.