Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Reassuring Him

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “This time, Northern Di sent the sickly Prince Lu Chuo as an envoy to Sheng Kingdom so they could openly find a reason to send troops…”

“But Princess saved Lu Chuo,” Shang Xing Yu said, picking up her meaning. “Princess thinks Northern Di will not let it go?”

“Mm.” Sheng Zhi Wan nodded.

“If Northern Di wants to attack Sheng Kingdom, they must first get past the Mo Bei army,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “The land routes were frozen. As long as the Mo Bei army’s grain and supplies were cut off, Northern Di could wear the army down and starve them out. But at the same time, without grain, Northern Di would also be worn down and starve.”

“So they will move against the Mo Bei Military Camp’s grain and supplies?” Shang Xing Yu narrowed his eyes.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not help looking at Shang Xing Yu.

No wonder Shang Xing Yu was the Prince Qin Yu who had crushed Eastern Wa. Sheng Zhi Wan had only hinted once, and Shang Xing Yu already thought of the most workable method.

In her past life, it had been exactly like this.

Lu Chuo had not died in Sheng Kingdom, but Northern Di still used it as an excuse to send troops. Before the cold disaster had even eased, Northern Di led a batch of elite soldiers into the Mo Bei Military Camp.

With no food, the horses died off. If the Northern Di people wanted to survive, they could only raid elsewhere and seize resources.

The Northern Di princes were ruthless to the extreme. Especially the eldest prince, Lu Yang. In a single night, Lu Yang looted Mo Bei’s grain. As for whatever he could not take away, Lu Yang burned it all clean with one fire.

Mo Bei lost its grain and supplies. The other two princes seized that moment to lead their armies in.

Governor-General Xu died in battle. Wu Du Pass fell.

Wu Du Pass and Yu Wen County were occupied by Northern Di.

Qi Shu Xian led a hundred thousand New Army and faced off against Northern Di at Qiangchang for months.

In the end, it was still a letter from Sheng Zhi Wan. Sheng Zhi Wan reminded Qi Shu Xian to ally with distant forces and strike nearby ones, trading grain to cooperate with the scattered tribes to Northern Di’s west. Only then did Northern Di have no choice but to retreat and turn back to defend itself…

Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her eyes and thought over those memories.

Shang Xing Yu’s gaze, however, could not help drifting to the half-wet hair by her temples. A bead of water gathered at the ends and then slid down her pale neck.

Shang Xing Yu’s throat bobbed twice, and Shang Xing Yu abruptly looked away.

“Princess… should Princess dry Princess’s hair first?” Shang Xing Yu asked.

The cloth for drying hair was held out in front of Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan was still thinking about serious matters, so Sheng Zhi Wan took it without thinking.

Shang Xing Yu’s hand fell empty.

Shang Xing Yu drew his hand back, curling his fingers bit by bit, until his hand finally rested on his lap.

“Was there any new news from Xian Long Mountain?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked while wringing her hair.

Shang Xing Yu pressed down the stray thoughts in his heart. “It was still the same report as last time. There were 97,000 people. The old, weak, women, and children made up three-tenths, so there were fewer than 70,000 soldiers. But thinking about it now, the number has likely increased a lot.”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded. “At present, the first thing is to make the Mo Bei army prepare and guard against Northern Di taking desperate measures.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “Second, we still need to solve Northern Di’s problem at the root.”

Sheng Zhi Wan turned to Shang Xing Yu. “What did Young Master Shang Er think of Lu Chuo?”

Because Lu Chuo was trying to steal the Princess from Shang Xing Yu, of course Lu Chuo was not good.

Shang Xing Yu blurted out, “Not good.”

“Mm?” Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Shang Xing Yu. “Where was Lu Chuo not good?”

Shang Xing Yu snapped back to himself. “His body was not good. Princess meant-which side of him?”

Sheng Zhi Wan fell silent for a moment.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan notice that this playboy’s eyes did not seem very honest. Sheng Zhi Wan snorted and turned to wring her hair in another direction.

“I intend to form an alliance with Lu Chuo,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “What does Young Master Shang Er think?”

Shang Xing Yu instinctively wanted to refuse.

But the words turned around in Shang Xing Yu’s mouth. “Princess wants to support Lu Chuo and make him the new emperor of Northern Di?”

If Northern Di fell into internal chaos, that would be good for Sheng Kingdom. And if Lu Chuo truly became the new emperor of Northern Di, it would only help what Princess wanted to do, not harm it.

Even though Shang Xing Yu did not like it, Shang Xing Yu had to admit it. “Princess’s idea was workable.”

“Mm.” Sheng Zhi Wan nodded. “If there is a chance, Young Master Shang Er can approach him and test him a bit.”

After saying that, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly crooked her finger at Shang Xing Yu.

Shang Xing Yu was unhappy, and Sheng Zhi Wan saw it.

Sheng Zhi Wan also saw that Shang Xing Yu wanted her far too much.

Sheng Zhi Wan was not the kind of person who hesitated and looked back and forth. Since Sheng Zhi Wan had already decided to make Shang Xing Yu her prince consort, then it was not impossible to reassure Shang Xing Yu early.

As long as Shang Xing Yu behaved and worked for Sheng Zhi Wan.

“Princess?” Shang Xing Yu did not understand.

Until a sweet, warm scent suddenly appeared right in front of Shang Xing Yu. They still had not touched, yet the strings in Shang Xing Yu’s head seemed to snap all at once.

“Princess-” Shang Xing Yu did not dare move. Shang Xing Yu’s body went stiff, and even Shang Xing Yu’s voice came out blurred.

They were inches apart, their breaths tangling.

Sheng Zhi Wan had thought doing something like this would be easy.

After all, in her past life, Sheng Zhi Wan had already been someone’s wife.

But thinking was one thing, and doing it now was another. Sheng Zhi Wan felt like her heart was about to jump out of her throat. The thump-thump in her chest was so loud that she forgot what she meant to do next.

Sheng Zhi Wan could only freeze in place.

“Princess?” Shang Xing Yu called again.

Still getting no response, Shang Xing Yu could only lower his eyes slightly.

Sheng Zhi Wan happened to lift her face at the same time.

Their eyes met, and both of them stepped back at once.

Sheng Zhi Wan clenched her hands and forced herself to look calm. “I… just saw a spider in front of you.”

Shang Xing Yu had been nervous to the extreme, but seeing that Sheng Zhi Wan seemed even more nervous than Shang Xing Yu, a bright joy rose in Shang Xing Yu’s chest.

Shang Xing Yu smiled. “Then thank you, Princess, for driving the spider away for me.”

“No need.” Sheng Zhi Wan answered.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan realize this excuse sounded strangely familiar.

Before Sheng Zhi Wan could remember where she had heard it, a hand that felt slightly rough brushed her cheek.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s body trembled.

By the time Sheng Zhi Wan snapped back to herself, the bold man had already leapt out the window. Only the dim candlelight remained, making the room look faintly unsettled.

*The next day.

Two imperial edicts were delivered, one to Princess Qing Ning’s residence and one to the Fengguo General Residence.

The capital’s number one playboy had actually become His Majesty’s personally appointed prince consort.

And to keep Shang Xing Yu from being too idle as a prince consort, Emperor Chong Sheng even granted Shang Xing Yu the rank of Junior Fifth Rank Prince Consort Commandant.

When the edict was finished, Shang Xing Yu respectfully bowed and accepted it.

Behind Shang Xing Yu, Shang Tian Hao, Shang Xiu Yuan, and the rest could only kneel.

Shang Xiu Yuan clenched his hand hard.

Last time, Shang Xiu Yuan had been personally chosen by His Majesty for the Overseas Tea Route assignment. Shang Xiu Yuan had gone around with the official ships and vomited for nearly a month before being promoted to Junior Fifth Rank Assistant Director in the Ministry of Revenue.

But now, Shang Xing Yu did not have to do anything and still reached the same rank.

“This trip troubled Eunuch and everyone,” Shang Xing Yu said.

Shang Xing Yu pulled out several heavy embroidered pouches. Shang Xing Yu stuffed the biggest one into the palace eunuch’s hand and distributed the rest to the Yu Lin Guards who had come with the palace eunuch.

Shang Xing Yu already knew Shang Tian Hao would not prepare anything, so Shang Xing Yu had prepared it himself.

The palace eunuch took the embroidered pouch, and his eyes lit up.

Shang Xing Yu raised his voice. “Please trouble Eunuch to tell His Majesty that I will definitely prepare the betrothal gifts well. I will not fail His Majesty’s trust.”

The palace eunuch paused.

His Majesty had not mentioned any betrothal gifts. Still, even when a man married a princess, betrothal gifts were required. And the palace eunuch had just received a generous reward.

So the palace eunuch nodded. “Prince Consort Shang should prepare well. This servant offers congratulations to Prince Consort Shang.”

“Many thanks, Eunuch!” Shang Xing Yu said. “Eunuch, please take care on the road!”

After seeing the palace eunuch off, Shang Xing Yu’s hands felt warm as Shang Xing Yu held the imperial edict.

Shang Xing Yu had wanted this for so long. Shang Xing Yu had thought about it for so long.

After Sheng Zhi Wan married, Shang Xing Yu did not even dare look at Sheng Zhi Wan too much. Shang Xing Yu feared that one day Shang Xing Yu would fail to hold back his feelings and bring Sheng Zhi Wan trouble.

Now fate had turned.

At last, Shang Xing Yu was going to become her husband.