In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Xie Yige gave it a comforting look, then reached for a jade pen and a blank sheet of paper on the small table beside the low couch.

"We need medicine to treat external injuries, bandages, and remedies for miasma and mosquitoes, as well as dry food, water, salt, sugar, and high-proof liquor..."

Xie Yige muttered to herself as she continued writing.

"And..." she added several dozen more lines with a delighted expression, "I'll put all the things my husband and I use here."

Several items were highlighted with a red circle.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on her thick, long hair and giving her a light golden hue.

In no time, the three sheets of paper were filled with writing.

For stopping bleeding from external injuries: wound medicine, peach blossom powder, dragon's blood powder, frankincense and myrrh ointment, and Bletilla striata powder.

Detoxifying herbs for miasma: Atractylodes lancea, Pogostemon cablin, Eupatorium fortunei, Scutellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis, Phellodendron chinense, Bidens pilosa, Murraya paniculata, Cinnamomum cassia, Realgar.

External wound dressing: white ramie cloth, prepared silk dressing, silkworm wool and cotton wool, hemp thread tie.

Army rations included: roasted rice, roasted wheat, dried meat, pickled fish, honey-preserved food, dried fruit...

As Xie Yige wrote, she couldn't help but frown. "These all look awful."

"Dudu, will things get damaged if we put them in our space?" She tilted her head and looked at Xie Dudu.

"Master, this space has a preservation function."

"Preservation function? Does that mean it won't spoil?"

"Uh-huh."

Xie Yige's eyes lit up immediately. With a wave of her hand, she wrote down all the foods she loved to eat in Chang'an: pastries from Yun Su Fang, roasted chicken from Zui Zhi Lou, braised duck, honey-fried cherries, mutton flatbread, cheese, fresh fruits...

Xie Dudu glanced at her food and couldn't help but suggest, "Master, you could actually put some ready-made dishes in there."

"Dudu, you're so clever! I'll have the chefs at Linshui Pavilion and Wangjiang Tower prepare lots of delicious food."

Xie Yige became excited as she wrote, her pen tip practically leaping with joy.

She suddenly remembered something, "The Gu soldiers are troublesome; we need to prepare more things to deal with them. We need to bring plenty of ropes, flammable oil, and sulfur."

Xie Yige was happily stocking up on goods.

Cui Yutang, however, was far from happy.

He had just entered the main hall when, instead of the two uninvited guests, there were three. In addition to Cheng Chuliang and Li Zhige, his uncle Xie Wanzhou had also arrived.

Why is he getting involved?

He composed himself and crossed his arms: "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

The other three quickly stood up to return the greeting, and Baoyu had another round of fresh tea served.

Cheng Chuliang sat in the seat on the right. He was a new face and not very familiar with the other three.

He was the eldest son of Cheng Wuting, the Left General of the Valiant Guard. At the age of twelve, he followed his father to fight and guard the northern frontier. Compared to Li Zhige, who had lived in the capital for a long time, he was a true military family member who had experienced the cruelty of the battlefield.

He sized up Cui Yutang, the newly appointed Southwest Pacification Ambassador by the Empress, his new superior—who actually looked a few years younger than him.

With his upright and powerful posture, cold and dignified eyes, exuding the aloofness and nobility of a superior, how could he lead a group of roughnecks to victory?

Was his father lying to him?

"May I ask what brings you all here?" Cui Yutang asked indifferently, breaking the silence.

Cheng Chuliang and Li Zhige exchanged a glance. He stood up abruptly, stood at attention, bowed slightly, and gave a standard military salute.

"I have come to bother you because the morale of the soldiers is low, so I have come to ask for instructions."

"Why is morale wavering in the army?" Cui Yutang asked calmly.

"The situation in the Southwest is extremely risky, and the commander-in-chief is in charge as a civilian official. The brothers are very worried that they may not return."

Cheng Chuliang was proud and straightforward, and he never beat around the bush. He wasn't sure about Cui Yutang's abilities, so he didn't hide anything and spoke the truth.

That's a very blunt statement. If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't be able to keep their composure.

But Cui Yutang only glanced at him indifferently without replying, and instead turned to Li Zhige.

"Lieutenant Li, is it the same situation on your end?"

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief," Li Zhige replied, standing up and bowing.

Cui Yutang remained seated, his figure unmoved, his deep phoenix eyes now exuding an incomparable majesty, his voice carrying an unyielding and chilling aura.

"Issue my order—a grand military review will be held tomorrow at the Tiandu Training Ground. I will be present in person."

Cheng Chuliang and Li Zhige were both startled. They bowed and clasped their fists at the same time, and the sound of their armor clashing was particularly clear in the quiet hall.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

After receiving the orders, the two hurriedly left to prepare for the grand troop mobilization the next day.

The main hall fell silent, leaving Xie Wanzhou, who was still in shock from what had just happened.

The somber atmosphere of the military was completely unfamiliar to him, who had only recently become an officer. His already bright eyes widened even more, and for a moment he didn't know how to address Cui Yutang, his nephew-in-law.

Cui Yutang composed himself. He looked at Xie Wanzhou's features, which bore a resemblance to Zhou Xuan'an's, and for some reason, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"Uncle, what brings you to Chaoyi Villa? Are you looking for my wife?"

"No." Xie Wanzhou stood up, her expression unusually serious.

"I have obtained permission from the Empress Dowager to serve as the Ambassador of Pacification and Secretary, and to accompany you to the Southwest."

Cui Yutang's hand, holding the teacup, stopped, his handsome brows furrowing deeply: "Grandfather and Grandmother also agree?"

Xie Wanzhou lowered her head. "I begged my eldest sister, and she helped me persuade Father and Mother."

Cui Yutang was utterly speechless, his voice filled with helplessness. "Uncle, are you aware that the situation in the Southwest is very dangerous? Why do you want to go there together?"

Xie Wanzhou lowered his head even further, the tips of his ears slowly turning red, his voice muffled: "Sang Miao, she wants to go back to the Southwest with you."

"Sang Miao?" Cui Yutang frowned slightly, not immediately recognizing who it was.

"She's outside the villa, wanting to see you. Her brother is still in your hands." Xie Wanzhou looked up at him, her eyes filled with pleading.

"Is it that Gu soldier?" Cui Yutang remembered.

Xie Wanzhou nodded repeatedly.

"Go and bring her in." Cui Yutang stood up. "I'll go find my wife to come see her."

Xie Wanzhou looked at him blankly. Why did he want to find Xiao Yige?

Cui Yutang ignored him and strode out of the main hall.

Sunlight bathed the courtyard in a golden hue. Cui Yutang walked through the covered walkways and flower-lined paths, and soon returned to the main building where they lived.

Xie Yige was currently lying on the low couch, writing a list of supplies, and she was engrossed in it.

Five or six sheets of paper were spread on the low couch, and the person was writing while muttering to themselves. Dudu had already shrunk back into the depths of her mind as soon as she heard the footsteps.

Cui Yutang didn't say anything. He walked over and pulled her into his arms from behind.

Xie Yige was startled, but she quickly smelled the cool sandalwood scent on him. When she was pulled into that familiar embrace, her body relaxed, and she softly leaned into his arms.

"Baby, are you going to be my behind-the-scenes strategist?" He rested his chin on her shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the several sheets of paper covered with writing on the table.