After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

Lan Shu knew from a very young age that there were many heartless and ungrateful men in this world.

His stepfather was once the most beautiful woman in Huzhou, but unfortunately, this reputation was not a good thing.

Because his stepfather was the most beautiful woman in the most prestigious brothel in Huzhou.

The younger brother and a scholar who was going to the capital for the imperial examination fell deeply in love, and he not only gave her his body but also his heart.

Unfortunately, scholars are often heartless and ungrateful, and once they left, they never returned.

When Lan Shu was ten years old, her uncle died in despair.

Lan, a scholar, grew up in a brothel. Without the protection of his stepfather, he was surrounded by wolves and tigers.

When he was twelve, he drugged the customer who had bought him at a high price, stole his money, and ran away.

He didn't know where to go.

He wandered aimlessly along the Wuding River and met a boy of similar age to him.

The boy also had a tragic past. After his stepfather died, his second stepfather wanted to sell him to an illegal mine.

He fled.

Lan Shu thought to himself, "So he's not the only pitiful one."

There are actually people just as pitiful as him.

The two traveled together, and after running out of money, they resorted to swindling, cheating, stealing, and robbing.

Young people are so extreme in their understanding of both good and evil.

Lan Shu felt he should rot into the mud.

Until they met a kind couple in Yuezhou.

This kind couple carefully taught them the principles, took care of their daily lives, and guided them onto the right path.

Her husband was the headmaster of the academy and was once a renowned Confucian scholar.

When Lan Shu turned eighteen, his face had fully blossomed, and even if he stayed indoors, he would still make the other young men in the academy blush.

He always knew he was good-looking, having completely inherited his father's appearance.

He doesn't need to say anything; what he wants will be readily provided.

He can get everything he wants with ease.

Even a single glance or gesture could cause the students of the academy to fight each other over him.

One of the top-scoring candidates went even further, abandoning his childhood sweetheart who had been with him for many years for the sake of Lan Shu.

Lan Shu disdained to get entangled with him and never paid attention to his flattery and fawning.

But things in this world cannot be avoided just because you want to.

Then one day, a rumor spread from who-knows-where that the academy had taken in such a vixen, and that she was making the students neglect their studies and only think about her.

I wonder who they're trying to benefit from.

The boy had a deep bond with Lan Shu, how could he bear to see Lan Shu being portrayed in such a way?

He even got into several fights because of this.

Later, the rumors intensified.

Or: Lan Shu was actually the headmaster's mistress, and the two of them were having an affair in such a sacred place as the academy.

Or perhaps: Lan Shu had affairs with many people in the academy, and was simply a fox spirit from the mountains who came down to absorb people's life essence.

Not wanting to cause trouble for the headmaster and his wife, Lan Shu left a letter in the quiet of the night and left without looking back.

The one who always stayed by his side was the boy who shared his joys and sorrows.

He never believed the rumors or gossip, nor was he afraid of the storms and trials outside.

He said he would protect the Lan Shu forever.

Lan wrote a letter.

Just when Lan Shu thought that not all men in this world were heartless and ungrateful, reality slapped him in the face again.

When Lan Shu was in Hua County, Yuezhou, he met the famous Prince Cheng.

His Highness Prince Cheng was standing with one foot on the head of the magistrate of Hua County, saying, "I have so much military pay, and half of it is cut off after it passes through your hands. You're saying it has nothing to do with you?"

The bronze gates of the county government office were wide open, and Lan Shu stood by with his arms crossed, watching the commotion for a while.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to watch the county magistrate make a fool of himself, but only Lan Shu dared to watch and even interrupt.

"He's just a minor county magistrate; he certainly doesn't have that much power to embezzle military funds."

Yin Cheng looked up and saw a beautiful woman in red standing gracefully at the door, watching the lively scene in the courtroom with an air of nonchalance.

Upon seeing this, the magistrate hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Highness, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

"Heh." Lan Shu scoffed. "Just because you don't dare doesn't mean your superiors don't. I bet that batch of military pay is still hidden in the ancient temple on Qingshui Mountain, isn't it?"

Yin Cheng narrowed his eyes. "How did you know?"

"The military supplies must have been transported along the official road at the foot of Qingshui Mountain. Since the supplies were found to be intact at the last checkpoint, they must have been lost near Qingshui Mountain," Lan Shu said. "Military supplies are not a small amount, and they would not have kept on their person to avoid suspicion. The only possibility is that ancient temple."

Yin Cheng instructed one of his generals, "Go to Qingshui Mountain to search."

Lan Shu raised an eyebrow.

This is Yin Cheng, the fierce god who strikes fear into the hearts of the world.

He looked very menacing, but not very violent.

Lan Shu was seeing someone like this for the first time, so she couldn't help but become curious.

Upon hearing the name of the ancient temple at Qingshui Mountain, the magistrate's face turned ashen.

It has been common practice for officials to withhold military pay since ancient times. As the saying goes, the timid starve while the bold get rich.

The higher-ups take their cut, and in the end, some of the profits are left for the local officials.

This has been how it's always been for so many years.

Who would have thought that His Highness Prince Cheng would act so unpredictably?

Tell me, who in this world would dare to send an urgent letter to the emperor asking how much military pay had been issued?

Only the king was present.

He got the route map for transporting military funds and is now calculating the accounts one by one.

This man wields considerable military power, is completely unreasonable, and disregards all laws and regulations.

He carried the handover documents from officials in various places and searched for people only by the names on them.

If you stay indoors, he will come to your house directly.

If you pretend to be compliant, he will have people steal your private wealth.

In short, it's extremely unreasonable.

It wasn't that there weren't troublesome officials who said they would report to the court and ask His Majesty to make a decision.

He directly drew his sword and eliminated his own men.

They're all dead, so they won't file a complaint.

Every year, so many successful candidates in the imperial examinations cannot obtain official positions, which provides a good opportunity for the court to fill vacancies.

Who wouldn't shudder at the mention of that reputation?

Lan Shu, seeing that there was no more fun to watch, was about to leave when Yin Cheng called him back.

Yin Cheng said, "You're pretty amazing."

"Your people just arrived, and you're already so sure I'm right?"

"I trust my judgment," Yin Cheng said. "You can be my strategist."

Lan Shu seemed to have heard a joke. "How can a young man like me be a strategist?"

Yin Cheng said, "Stop with the nonsense, just tell me if you're willing or not."

Lan Shu thought for a moment and asked, "What are the benefits of being your strategist?"

"What do you want?" Yin Cheng asked.

Lan Shu hesitated slightly, "I want the jade pendant with the dragon pattern on your waist."

Without saying a word, Yin Cheng took off the jade pendant and threw it to him, "Here, is that enough? If not, I have a few dozen more at home."

Lan Shu chuckled, "Do you know what it means when a young master hands over a jade pendant to a young man?"

"I don't care what you mean, I'm just asking you, are you coming to the Northern Army as a strategist or not?" Yin Cheng said. "You can name your salary."

Lan Shu tossed the jade pendant back to him, saying, "Alright, I agree. But I have one request."

"you say."

"I need to bring someone with me."

Yin Cheng said, "No problem."

At that time, Lan Shu never imagined that the person he brought was actually a spy that Yan Ru had planted long ago.

From the very first encounter, it was all a calculated scheme.