If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

He acted swiftly, finishing his business and returning to the governor's mansion before dawn.

Wang Jue dismounted and tossed the reins to a guard. "Organize the case files and send them to Jiankang first thing tomorrow morning."

He strode across the front yard, through the corridor, and headed straight for the back courtyard.

Xi Lingxian was still fast asleep.

She was wrapped tightly in the blanket, with only her face showing.

The morning light peeked in through the cracks in the window, falling on her pillow and illuminating her half-open eyes.

Hearing footsteps from outside, she propped herself up and glanced towards the door.

Wang Jue pushed open the door and came in, his robes still damp with morning dew and dust from his journey.

He had a slight weariness on his face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like a chess player who had just made a big move and was in a good mood.

"You're back so soon?" Xi Lingxian's voice was still hoarse from just waking up.

"Hmm." Wang Jue sat down on a chair in the outer room, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank half of it in one gulp.

He deftly removed his outer robe, casually draped it over a low stool, and his gaze fell on the slender figure curled up on the couch. Without the slightest hesitation, he lifted the slightly cool corner of the quilt and unceremoniously bent down and crawled inside.

Xi Lingxian was a light sleeper, and the sudden coolness made her stiffen. Her drowsy state vanished instantly, and her voice, still hoarse from sleep, tinged with annoyance, said, "What are you doing on my bed? Get up!"

The man buried his face in her neck, the faint, warm scent of her body lingering around his nose, and said lazily, "This secret room doesn't have an underfloor heating system, it's very cold. I'll let you sleep here for a while."

Before she could speak again, he stretched out his long arm and shamelessly wrapped it tightly around her, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "Don't move, let me sleep for a while, I'm very tired."

Xi Lingxian felt a chill run through her body from the lingering coolness emanating from him. Thinking of how he had been working day and night for official duties these past few days, and how his exhaustion was impossible to hide, she couldn't bear it.

She was also very sleepy at the moment and had no mind to argue with him, so she quietly shrank her body towards the corner of the bed.

She had barely moved when a warm, strong hand gripped her waist tightly.

With a slight effort, the man easily pulled her back into his arms. He lowered his head, his lips brushing against the top of her hair. "We've already kissed. What's the point of this self-deception?"

Xi Lingxian pretended not to hear and ignored him.

The man seemed to be truly exhausted, and after a moment, he could hear long, even breathing.

建康

Upon learning of his eldest son's death, Yu Liang immediately vomited a mouthful of blood.

Yu Jia's attempt to frame Xi Jian and his son failed, but the crime of falsely accusing an official of the imperial court could not be easily dismissed.

The emperor died on the second day of the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Grand Commandant Wang Dun will serve as regent, and the next emperor will be decided through discussions among the major aristocratic families.

Of the children left by the late emperor, besides the deposed crown prince, there was only the second prince as his sole heir.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Second Prince is the undisputed next emperor. What the powerful families want is an emperor who reigns idly, a puppet that is easier to control than a child emperor.

Yu Liang was stripped of all his official positions and imprisoned; his cronies were either ambushed or annihilated.

The day the Yu family's property was raided happened to be the day Yu Shi, who lived in the Xi residence, passed away.

Xi Jian didn't even give him a second glance, as if he intended to throw him directly into a mass grave.

Wang Dun advised him not to make things too ugly, since the person was already dead, what was the point of worrying about those things?

In other words, what's wrong with gaining a good reputation in the end?

Having said all that, a thin coffin became Xi Jian's final bottom line.

Wang Dun: "Fine, this can be considered her retribution."

"I'm hosting a celebratory banquet at my residence tomorrow. Brother Xuanping, would you like to join me?"

Xi Jian hesitated, "You really know how to pick a day. I was originally planning to go to pay respects to my late wife tomorrow."

Now that everything was settled, he had a lot to say to her.

Wang Dun looked at this romantic fool and was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Among the aristocratic families, one faction rises and falls, and there are no permanent winners.

Today's ally may be tomorrow's enemy who stabs you in the back.

But subconsciously, Wang Dun was willing to trust Xi Jian.

I can't quite explain why, but I just feel that a person who can remain deeply devoted to his deceased wife for so many years, even if he's not the best, at least has some principles.

"Very well, let's meet another day. I won't disturb your memorial service for your deceased wife."

"Very well. I will host a banquet at my residence another day to entertain the Grand Commandant."

Wang Dun stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "No rush. We can just wait until the people from Jiangzhou return and then have a wedding feast."

Xi Jian was taken aback, then understood.

He smiled apologetically, "If that were possible, it would be wonderful."

"Where's your son You'an? Didn't he come back to Jiankang with you?"

"With his fiery temper, wouldn't he have beaten Yu Liang to death if he came back?" Xi Jian said helplessly. "I didn't let him come back. It just so happens that there's a girl in Guangling who has taken a liking to him. It'll be good for them to develop their relationship."

Wang Dun laughed loudly, "Great! Great! Double happiness is just around the corner!"

Xi Rui, far away in Guangling, was unaware of the double happiness; all he wanted to do was report it to the authorities.

But after thinking it over, he seems to be the highest-ranking official in the Guangling region at present.

The girl from the Xu family is even more outstanding than his sister.

Every day they acted like highway robbers, and he was like a young girl being harassed by them.

This is so shameful!

"Young master, Miss Xu has gone out!"

Upon hearing this, Xi Rui, who was inspecting the docks, shoved the account books in his hand into his aide's arms and said, "You take care of the rest."

The advisors were puzzled as they watched their young master flee in disarray.

"If you don't like Miss Xu, just tell her clearly. Why are you playing cat and mouse like this?"

The adjutant beside him walked over upon hearing this, smiled, and asked, "Do you think the eldest young master truly dislikes it?"

"Hiding before even seeing the person, how can that be considered liking them?"

"Why is it that Miss Xu can always find him so accurately? He's a brave general who fights valiantly on the battlefield; how could he not avoid a girl?"

The staff were confused.

"If you like him, why are you hiding like this?"

"I think even the eldest young master himself doesn't know whether he likes it or not."

Xu Zhaolan took a carriage to Guangling Street. Today, guests were visiting her mansion. They were her brother's colleagues and friends, so she went out to buy some fresh food to entertain them.

The maid lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the window. "Young lady, look, the Lantern Festival is over, but it's still so lively outside."

Xu Zhaolan asked listlessly, "Ah Huan, do you think if a man keeps avoiding you, does that mean he really doesn't like you at all?"

The maid stammered, "This servant doesn't know either..."

Xu Zhaolan was even more disappointed. "You don't need to be afraid to say it. I can handle it!"

"I think so, young lady. Actually, I've wanted to say this for a long time. So many people like you, you don't need to make that person from the Xi family lose face like this."

"But I like him."

"What do you like about him?"

"He looks exactly like me, he's tough yet meticulous, and he's brave and resolute. That's the kind of man I like."

"That woman wants to continue..."

"No way!" Xu Zhaolan gritted her teeth, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, I'm not playing with him anymore!"