Chapter 26

Chapter 26

◎Combining Three Chapters◎

"Sister, is Lord Xie the same person as Xie Jiuyi?" Zheng Wuheng asked curiously.

Huiyin nodded. "Yes, he is the Governor of Huai and Si. They’ve been staying here for a month or so, waiting for your brother-in-law, probably to discuss important matters with him."

Zheng Wuheng smiled. "And what could be more important than taking Qingzhou? It's as clear as day, isn't it?"

Huiyin smiled gently. "My brother is really smart. But just like before, don't ask too much about this. After all, this is still the Prince of Wei's territory. Even if your brother-in-law probes you about it, remember the old saying: don't say more than you need to."

In her previous life, it was because the Prince of Wei wanted to take Qingzhou. The Governor of Qingzhou had appealed to the imperial court for help. Lü Wei, acting on behalf of the emperor, deliberately ordered the Crown Prince to lead the campaign. Li Heng first led the He family's troops into battle in Qingzhou, with the Zheng family also sending Pei Shuo to assist. Li Heng ended up defeating the Prince of Wei.

And because of that victory, Li Heng became confident and decided to attack Xuzhou.

Now that she was married to Li Cheng, there was no way Pei Shuo would fight for the Eastern Palace anymore. If he did, De Yin would never think highly of him, and it would be a waste of effort.

**

Li Cheng hurried to Xie Jiuyi's residence. The two hadn't seen each other for over half a year, so when they met again, they were especially excited. "Lord Xie, forgive me for coming late," Li Cheng said.

"Yunzhi, don't blame yourself. We thought you were here, so we came ahead of time. We have urgent matters to discuss with you," Xie Jiuyi said with a smile.

Li Cheng took his arm and they entered together. Yin Liyi personally came out to serve tea and said, "I made sure to prepare your favorite Pu'er tea, knowing how much you love it."

Li Cheng pointed at them and said, "You two, husband and wife, singing the same tune. What's the matter? You have to tell me first, or else I won't even be able to drink this tea."

The three of them laughed heartily, with Yin Liyi laughing the hardest. She felt that it was wonderful how they were still the same as before.

Of course, Xie Jiuyi was talking about taking Qingzhou, and he needed Li Cheng to write a letter to Zheng Fang in Jizhou, asking him not to make any moves. The Prince of Wei had allied with Zheng Fang of Jizhou for this very reason.

In reality, Li Cheng knew exactly why the Prince of Wei was doing this. Writing the letter would be simple, but whether it would be effective was another matter.

Helping the Prince of Wei achieve his great cause would also bring him power and solidify his position, allowing his followers and subordinates to live better lives. But why give the opportunity to take Qingzhou to Xie Jiuyi instead of him? If he had taken charge, the results would have been far more efficient.

But he wouldn't say this out loud and simply agreed readily. "It's a small matter. I'll write a letter."

Xie Jiuyi smiled. "Thank you then." He also wanted to keep Li Cheng for a meal. "Since we haven't seen each other for so long, I've asked the kitchen to prepare a feast. We can chat while eating."

"No need. My brother-in-law has come from Jizhou and is currently at my home. I need to host him. Don't worry, once the letter is written, I'll send it over," Li Cheng said.

Xie Jiuyi needed Xuzhou's support for the Qingzhou operation, so he also discussed some defensive strategies. Li Cheng said, "The weather has turned cold and dry these days. I'm also preparing to return to Xuzhou. I've left Yuwendang in Huai and Si; he's capable enough to handle things there. Rest assured, I'll make all the necessary arrangements and fully support you."

"Yunzhi, thank you," Xie Jiuyi said, touched by his broad-mindedness.

Thinking back, Li Cheng had met Yin Liyi first. Although he had been dismissive of her, he had also helped her gain a foothold in the Prince of Wei's mansion. Everyone could tell he had feelings for her. But due to a twist of fate, he had met Yin Liyi, and later, following the principle that 'a friend's wife is not to be trifled with,' he had distanced himself from her. It wasn't until they reunited and confessed their feelings that they finally got together after all the twists and turns.

Li Cheng smiled. "It’s my duty, no need for thanks."

As he was about to leave, Yin Liyi came out to see him off. Li Cheng glanced at her and continued on his way.

When he returned, it was two hours later. Huiyin got up to welcome him. "My prince, the wind and snow are fierce outside. Come inside and warm up."

She then ordered hot soup to be served.

On a winter day, a bowl of clear beef soup was incredibly comforting. Especially after riding back on horseback, Li Cheng was hungry, and those snacks wouldn't have been enough to fill him up.

Huiyin had observed Li Cheng closely. When he was home and not going out, he ate little and had a small appetite, often skipping meals. But after riding or practicing martial arts, he needed meat.

Sure enough, he ate heartily and then asked, "Why aren't there any pot-sticker pancakes? The ones you had them make last time, with a crispy golden exterior and a chewy texture that could soak up the meat juices."

"Do you like eating that? I'll have them prepare it for dinner tonight." Huiyin smiled but still didn't ask him what he went to Lord Xie's residence for.

Li Cheng nodded heavily and then asked about Zheng Wuheng. "I didn't see him when I came in earlier. I'll go find him after I finish my meal."

Huiyin pulled him back. "He's a restless young man. I had Manager Qiao take him out to explore Xuzhou city. He'll be back for dinner, so you don't need to rush. Rest for a while after eating. You've been on the road for so long; aren't you tired?"

Li Cheng was comforted by his wife's gentle words. He was indeed very tired, but he still wrote a letter first, had his personal guard deliver it to the Xie family, and then rested.

This sleep was incredibly sound. When he woke up, it was already dark outside. Under the flickering lamp shadows, a young woman was doing needlework. She was dressed in a pink-blue silk vest with multicolored floral patterns, looking very young and beautiful. That warmth enveloped him, making him feel warm all over.

"What time is it?" Li Cheng's voice was hoarse when he spoke.

Huiyin smiled. "It's just the hour of You. I've been keeping an eye on the time."

Li Cheng was quick; afraid of delaying, he immediately got up, combed his hair, changed his clothes, and the couple invited Zheng Wuheng over. It was the first time Zheng Wuheng met his brother-in-law, Li Cheng. He saw that Li Cheng was dressed in the dragon robe of a prince, with a pair of five-clawed dragons on his shoulders, tall and handsome, noble and dignified.

Zheng Wuheng was about to perform a formal greeting, but Li Cheng stopped him. "You're my brother-in-law; there's no need for so many formalities. We're family; no need for all these rituals."

Although Zheng Wuheng was young, he had been trained as an heir and carried himself with the demeanor of a noble family's child.

After the three of them sat down, Huiyin said to Zheng Wuheng, "The prince doesn't expect you to perform a formal greeting, but you should still know the proper etiquette. Normally, you should perform the national ceremony before the family one; otherwise, it would be disorderly."

At that moment, no one brought up these matters, but if there were to be a future conflict between the two sides, Li Cheng could immediately say that Zheng Wuheng was disrespectful to him.

Zheng Wuheng's face turned red, and he immediately apologized to Li Cheng, who said, "Your sister can be a bit strict. When family members meet, if they perform formal greetings again, wouldn't that take away the fun?"

Huiyin smiled. "The prince's advice is well-taken. However, Wuheng is still young and wild like an untamed horse. If I don't remind him, he might not take it seriously. After all, you are broad-minded and never care about these trivial details, but others might."

"The princess is right," Li Cheng nodded.

For some reason, Zheng Wuheng felt that his sister and brother-in-law were being too polite. Though unmarried, he had observed how his parents and older siblings interacted, and it wasn't like this. The intimacy between a husband and wife should be apparent to outsiders and shouldn't feel like the relationship between a subordinate and a superior.

In fact, Huiyin kept a clear distinction between bed and board, home and outside. She believed that intimacy between spouses should be loving to make each other feel comfortable. Her husband treated her with respect, and they were closer at home, but they couldn't be like that outside.

Perhaps subconsciously, Huiyin didn't want to be seen as merely a pampered wife. After all, there could be many pampered wives, but she was irreplaceable.

The table was set with an array of dishes: appetizers, fresh fruits, dried fruits, hot dishes, and soups, all beautifully arranged. During the meal, Huiyin even arranged for song and dance performances to entertain them.

However, the atmosphere at the table was dull. Huiyin was pregnant and had just scolded her brother, so she didn't say much. Zheng Wuheng, still a young boy, dared not speak much either. Seeing this, Li Cheng couldn't help but start a conversation. "Heng'er, I heard from your sister that you practice martial arts regardless of the weather. What weapons are you proficient in?"

Zheng Wuheng and Li Cheng began chatting, one remark after another.

Seeing the atmosphere liven up, Huiyin smiled. "You two chat slowly. My presence might make you feel uncomfortable."

As a pregnant woman, she didn't like the smell of alcohol, and everything was currently for the sake of the baby.

Li Cheng saw the snowflakes outside and said to Fugui, "Bring a warm sedan chair over so that your mistress doesn't catch a cold."

Fugui immediately complied, and Huiyin left after a bow.

Even in the warm sedan chair, it still felt chilly. It was much warmer inside the room. She then said to Nanny Nan, "Please take extra care of the young master. He's still young, and with me being pregnant, I worry he might not tell me if anything goes wrong."

Nanny Nan smiled. "Don't worry, my lady. This old servant understands."

Huiyin took off her hairpins and ornaments in front of the mirror, feeling much lighter. The servants brought hot water to help her wash up, and after a while, she felt like she had eaten too much and stood for a moment before lying down.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard Li Cheng's footsteps. Huiyin opened her eyes, sat up from the bed, and had someone light the lamp.

In the room, the couple was in a different mode. Huiyin nestled in his husband's arms, smiling. "You seem to be in high spirits. What did you do at Lord Xie's place today? Lord and Lady Xie came to our Xuzhou last month and have been inquiring if you've returned."

Li Cheng hesitated about whether to tell Huiyin, but he thought that if he didn’t share such matters with her, she would find out sooner or later. When that happened, she would surely distance herself from him. He certainly didn’t want his rear to be unstable, so he smiled and explained, "It's about the great affairs of the Prince of Wei, and it's fine to tell you. Last time, when Yuwendang was receiving you, you were ambushed. Those people were sent by Ma Kui, the Governor of Qingzhou. The Prince of Wei has endured him for a long time and naturally doesn’t wish to tolerate him anymore. They were waiting for me to return, hoping I could help mediate and avoid any accidental injuries by getting your family on board."

Huiyin had already guessed this, but she looked at Li Cheng and said, "I have no opinion about Lord Xie, but since they want to keep my father in check, why didn’t the Prince of Wei send you? If you went, I could help you write a letter, and this way, you could also achieve merit."

Li Cheng, however, replied, "Xuzhou can’t do without me. I’ve been training the navy for a long time. What will happen to Xuzhou if I leave?" Although he said this, his heart might not have fully agreed, but in front of his wife, he had to prioritize the bigger picture.

Generals are always eager for battle. As long as there was a fight, one could achieve merit and get promoted.

Huiyin playfully said, "In my heart, Clarity Lang is the best, and I wish you could contend for the world so that you would be worthy of such status. However, I support your noble integrity. You can write a letter to my father, but he probably won’t believe it. I’ll write another letter and have my brother take it back."

"Huiyin, why… why are you so good to me?" Li Cheng was somewhat overwhelmed.

Huiyin was thinking of her family’s interests. She didn’t want to be a pawn for the Lu and He families. By giving this favor now, the Prince of Wei wouldn’t continue northward, and the He and Lu families could deal with the Prince of Wei themselves.

But she feigned concern for Li Cheng and said, "You’re my husband, so of course, I’ll be good to you. Besides, as a couple, we share the same fate. If the Prince of Wei gives you an opportunity in the future, I’ll also benefit from your success."

After the passing of Li Cheng’s parents, he had been walking alone. Even though the Prince of Wei had recognized his talents, Li Cheng had to stand firm on his own, and only he knew the bitterness in his heart.

Fortunately, Huiyin was very good to him. Although it was affection for her husband and not for him as a person, even so, he felt it was good enough.

Moreover, what she said was very practical. Who wouldn’t want power and wealth in this world? In troubled times, even a dog in peace is better off than an ordinary person. When he was isolated and without aid, even the people below could rightfully withhold Lord Wu’s fiefdom’s stipend from him.

As he was lost in thought, Huiyin took his hand and said, "Rest now; it's getting late."

She had planned to ask Li Cheng about Yin Liyi, but given their superficial relationship as a couple, if Li Cheng was hiding something, bringing it up would only alert him. If there was anything between the two of them, she needed to secure some leverage first.

Because she still wasn’t sure what kind of person Li Cheng really was. Just like Li Heng, who could pretend for three years only to turn out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing—at least she had discovered and countered him. Lü Xiao and Dong Yuniang knew nothing.

The next day, Li Cheng took Zheng Wuheng around Xuzhou city for a tour and even hosted a banquet at home, inviting prominent figures from Xuzhou to introduce Zheng Wuheng. He also told Zheng Wuheng that after the spring, he would take him to meet the Prince of Wei.

Since Li Cheng was an only child with no brothers, and Zheng Wuheng had a sincere personality with a noble demeanor, completely different from his father Zheng Fang, Li Cheng treated his brother-in-law as his own younger brother. After they became familiar, they even referred to each other as brothers.

When Huiyin saw him return with a rattle, claiming it was for her unborn child, she couldn’t help but laugh. "You, this isn’t for my baby in my belly; it’s clearly for you. I’ve seen you playing wildly these past few days. You should calm down, read more books, and practice martial arts more. That’s the proper path."

"Sister, I know," Zheng Wuheng, like young men everywhere, didn’t like to be nagged.

Huiyin also stopped herself from saying more. "If you don’t want to study during the New Year, that’s fine, but at least observe how your brother-in-law handles things and learn to gauge situations. When you go to meet the Prince of Wei after the New Year, speak less and think things through yourself."

Zheng Wuheng nodded. "Alright, I’ll listen to you, Sister."

Huiyin couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile and pushed the snacks on the table toward him. "Look, I had these bought from Dehe Lou, your favorite snap pea pastries. Try them."

The sister and brother chatted about the customs of Xuzhou for over half an hour before Zheng Wuheng took his leave.

When Li Cheng returned from outside, he asked, "Will the noblewomen of Xuzhou come to pay their respects to you later? Is everything prepared?"

"Don’t worry; everything is already prepared. Here’s the gift list; take a look," Huiyin handed him the gift list.

Li Cheng pointed at the Xue family. "Add two more Ruyi scepters here." Then he pointed at the Wei family. "You’ve given too much to the Wei family. A surrendered person has an innate rebellious nature. No matter how well you treat them, they will follow the trend. Remove these two items."

He thought Huiyin would be angry because, in the past, when he had been this critical, others would tolerate him for a while.

Unexpectedly, Huiyin smiled and said, "It’s my oversight. I’ll rewrite a new copy and have them prepare it quickly."

Huiyin believed that as long as someone wasn’t deliberately undermining her, she should humbly accept their guidance. Those who taught you were better than those who superficially flattered you while waiting to see you make a mistake.

Her memory was excellent, and except for one uncertain point, she rewrote the rest of the gift list for Li Cheng.

Li Cheng took it and looked over it, praising, "Not bad, this is exactly how it should be."

Huiyin, fearing that the servants wouldn't arrange things properly, went to check everything herself. Only after ensuring everything was in order did she sit calmly on the high seat, waiting for the various titled ladies of Xuzhou to come and pay their respects.

Lady Miao, speaking quietly to Lady Xue, said, "Though the young princess is young, she handles things with ease and has never made a mistake. It's truly remarkable."

In reality, it was ten years of practice behind the scenes for a moment on stage that lasted less than a cup of tea. No one is born knowing how to do many things; it's through hard work that one becomes capable.

After seeing off the guests, she glanced at the gift list again and, seemingly casually, brought up Yin Cifu. She wanted to use Yin Cifu to test Li Cheng's feelings towards Yin Liyi.

"Oh, I noticed you gave similar gifts to both the Princess Consort of Wei and Yin Cifu. Although Yin Cifu has given birth to the eldest son, she remains a secondary consort. Who knows what the future holds?" Huiyin said with a smile.

As it happened, when Dong Yuniang was first pregnant, many people had exalted and demeaned her, but in the end, Dong Yuniang's child did not survive.

Li Cheng, upon hearing her mention this, explained, "The Princess Consort of Wei is of noble birth and has a daughter. She once had the exclusive favor of the prince, but Yin Cifu is even more beloved now. Even if the Princess Consort of Wei were to have more children, they would still be ranked below Yin Cifu."

"I didn't expect this secondary consort to be so favored. She must be a great beauty. I've met Lady Xie, and she is indeed a great beauty. Alright, since you say so, I won't mention it again." Huiyin, not hearing Li Cheng bring up his connection with the Yin sisters, felt somewhat certain and a little disappointed, though she forced herself not to show it.

Li Cheng, thinking she felt inferior because of Yin Cifu's beauty, couldn't help but comfort her, "You are much more beautiful than her."

Huiyin felt even less happy. A beautiful woman can easily win a man's heart, but for someone with an ordinary appearance to be widely admired, that speaks to her exceptional charm.

It's easy for a not-so-familiar couple to misunderstand and get upset like this; it's unavoidable.

Pregnant and confined indoors, she feared catching a cold if she ventured outside. During this quiet and confined New Year season, Li Cheng brought her a horse lantern, and even such a small gift made her very happy.

But she looked at Li Cheng and said, "I still want to build a snowman. Can you help me build one, please?"

In summer, seeing her in a bodice, he thought she was the epitome of voluptuous allure. But now, in a fur-lined jacket with her hair tied back with a simple pom-pom, she looked sweet and endearing, far from her usual seductive charm.

Li Cheng's heart suddenly stirred, and as if possessed, he agreed.

A small snowman was placed on a gilded white porcelain plate, and Huiyin used her rouge to paint its little mouth red, resting her chin in her hands as she gazed at the little snowman.

With the snow falling outside, and Li Cheng unable to go out, he stayed with her to watch the little snowman.

Gradually, his sarcastic nature revealed itself. "You're not going to eat? Just to watch this little snowman? When the sun comes out, your little snowman will melt away."

Huiyin pouted in dissatisfaction. "My little snowman won't disappear. Besides, I really don't feel like eating. Yesterday, I ate too much again unexpectedly, and my face has swollen up. Looking in the mirror, I don't even recognize myself."

Pregnancy can really make a woman feel less confident about her appearance. She didn't know about others, but someone as beautiful as her really felt the change. Formerly fitting clothes no longer fit, movement was inconvenient, and there were even spots on her face and leg cramps. It was truly uncomfortable.

She thought Li Cheng might be impatient with her playful teasing. But pregnancy was indeed hard work. In the past, she could go outside to build a snowman, play until her hands were red, then return for a warm bowl of ginger soup and a good night's sleep.

But now, she could only sit indoors and enjoy the snow.

Unexpectedly, Li Cheng picked up the pom-pom from her hair accessory and unconsciously scratched her cheek. "You've been through so much, but you're still incredibly beautiful. Don't doubt yourself."

He then leaned down and kissed her, as if to prove it with action.

Their lips and tongues entwined, and Huiyin, feeling a bit overwhelmed, gently pulled away.

But Li Cheng took her in his arms and carried her to the bed.

Afterward, both Huiyin and Li Cheng felt a bit surprised by how things had unfolded, as they had both lost control. She was very particular about people, but Li Cheng's scent was pleasantly fresh, and kissing him felt sweet. Everything about him made her want more.

"It's safe. I asked the doctor before. Except for the first three and last three days, it's fine during the middle of the cycle." Li Cheng explained.

Huiyin thought to herself that he was indeed a man of action, and at that moment, he had dispelled her biggest concern. She touched her face and said, "I feel so hot."

Perhaps fearing they might lose control again, Li Cheng said the next day that he wanted to take Zheng Wuheng to Jianye to pay respects to the Prince of Wei. Huiyin also felt she needed to keep her desires in check, so she specially had the little prayer room cleaned up.

"Prince, please take care of Heng'er," Huiyin said, bowing afterward. She noticed that his lips were slightly swollen and his face was a little flushed, but he tried to remain composed.

Li Cheng also turned his face and said seriously, "Then the princess should take care of her health at the mansion."

"Yes," Huiyin nodded.

Zheng Wuheng thought to himself that his sister and brother-in-law didn't seem very close. Otherwise, before the Lantern Festival was over, his sister was still pregnant, but her husband didn't want to stay by her side. From now on, he would work hard to learn martial arts so that in the future, he could support his sister, who had always planned everything for him.

When it came to the emotions between a couple, Huiyin couldn't explain it to her brother. They had too little experience and didn't know how to understand many things. Naturally, it wasn't Zheng Wuheng's fault for not understanding these things, and Huiyin didn't know that her brother cared about them either.

…

However, Granny Chao knew the details. She said to her daughter Yun Hui, "The young princess is still pregnant. Shouldn't she arrange for the maids around her to be introduced to men to help relieve the young prince a little? How can a young man in his prime go without for so long? And now that she's pregnant, she's still seducing her husband. Does she have no sense of shame?"

"Mother, be careful with what you say," Yun Hui warned, very alert.

Granny Chao smiled and said, "I know. This is my room, and even the laundry maids have been sent away."

As Li Cheng's wet nurse, Granny Chao was treated quite well. She had several young maids serving in her own home, but someone who had managed affairs suddenly had no power in her hands. Even when the young prince returned, she couldn't see him, which naturally left her feeling a little lost.

Now, the ones managing the inner court were the young princess's mother and her dowry maids, and the ones serving the young prince were the senior maids by his side. The princess wasn't allowed to enter freely.

Yun Hui had brought the New Year gifts and said, "I've been busy lately and couldn't come over. These were rewards from above. I can't finish them all, so I'm leaving them here as a token of my filial piety."

Granny Chao took a closer look and saw two pieces of blue-green cloud satin, a set of white silk jacket and skirt, two packages of pastries, half a pig, and two packages of tea.

"My girl, these pastries are from Deyun Tower. You don't like sweets, so it's my gain," Granny Chao said. At her age, if she had to buy these pastries that cost two taels per package, she certainly wouldn't, but since they were distributed by the prince's mansion, she didn't hold back. She opened them immediately and started eating eagerly, with some crumbs falling, which she casually wiped away with a handkerchief.

Yun Hui patted her back and said, "Slow down. If it's not enough, we can buy more."

Granny Chao waved her hand and said, "Do you think this money comes with the wind? You only earn one tael a month and have no extra benefits. During festivals, you rely on rewards from above to get a few clothes. You should save them for your dowry."

"Mother, I've already decided not to marry," Yun Hui said firmly.

In reality, as a mother, she wasn't completely unaware of her daughter's thoughts. "Or is it that you're staying at the prince's mansion for the young prince? Silly girl, it's not worth it. The young prince now has a young princess. That vixen is a domineering one; how could she tolerate you by his side? Besides, the young prince doesn't seem to care much about you either. Last time, you made a pair of shoes, and he gave them away as a reward to someone else."

Granny Chao understood her daughter. She wasn't trying to climb the social ladder; she genuinely wanted to marry the person she loved.

It was pitiful. After all these years of serving the young prince, in the entire prince's mansion and even in the entire Jiangnan region, there were few people whose appearance and status exceeded the young prince's. Once her standards were set so high, she naturally couldn't find anyone outside who measured up.

But in the past, such a thing would have been fine. After all, she was the girl placed by the Prince of Wu next to his son. But now, it was difficult.

Yun Hui shook her head and said, "Mother, I don't aspire to be the young prince's woman. As long as I can stay by his side, I'm content. He doesn't like me, and that's understandable. I'm just a servant; how could I expect someone to like me?"

If she couldn't marry a good man, she'd rather not marry at all. Although Yun Hui was a servant, she didn't feel inferior to those young mistresses. The only difference was their status.

What she has now is more than enough.

Granny Chao walked into the room and took out two marinated crabs from a box to eat. "You've put in so much for the prince's mansion and the young prince, and in the end, we don't know what the outcome will be. Look, now Princess Zheng won't value you."

Yun Hui let out a slow sigh.

Huiyin certainly wouldn't put Yunhui in a position of importance. To put it plainly, who wouldn't prefer to use their own people? Yunhui was Granny Chao's daughter, and Granny Chao had been scheming against Huiyin from the start.

It was also said that after the New Year festivities were over, Zheng Wuheng returned to Jizhou with the gifts Huiyin had prepared, accompanied by Li Cheng.

This time, it was heard that the Prince of Wei had bestowed many treasures upon Zheng Wuheng. He had also interacted with various lords and shed some of his youthful naivety, no longer being the young man who easily felt flustered when speaking to elders.

In front of Li Cheng, Huiyin personally handed over the letter she had written to her father. Seeing this, Li Cheng was naturally very moved—this was what it meant to be of one heart as a couple!

"Heng'er, go back and tell Father and Mother that I am doing well and your brother-in-law treats me well. They need not worry. In a few months, after I give birth to the child, I will write home again," Huiyin said, her hand on her belly, uttering some pleasantries.

This time, while traveling with his brother-in-law, Zheng Wuheng noticed that the advisors and soldiers around him treated him with great respect. Even the Prince of Wei showed much appreciation for him, which pleased him greatly. Although he felt reluctant to leave, thinking of his parents and his sister's instructions, he bid his sister a proper farewell before mounting his horse and leaving.

After his younger brother left, Li Cheng decided not to go to Huai and Si for training. Instead, he focused on defense deployment in Xuzhou and thus stayed put. His ability to remain at the Wang Mansion made Huiyin the happiest, for with her husband by her side, they could discuss matters and spend more time together.

"Are you really not leaving?" Huiyin asked, her arm wrapped around his.

Seeing her so happy, Li Cheng couldn't help but smile. "I'll be in Xuzhou for these days."

After the polite phase passed, Huiyin realized that Li Cheng was no longer speaking like a normal person. If he had said something like, 'I’ll stay and be with you for the birth,' she would have been touched. But instead, he said he would be in Xuzhou for these days.

After a moment of inward frustration, she released his arm and pulled him to sit at the desk, smiling as she said, "To help us get to know each other better, let’s each write down our hobbies and interests on a piece of paper. Here, fill this out like I did."

Li Cheng, having nothing else to do, indulged her in the game.

After a short while, Huiyin took the paper and looked through the list. Everything else was fine, but under the section for skills, there was a long list: archery, calligraphy, qin playing, swimming, brewing wine, cuju...

"You know so many things!" Huiyin exclaimed in admiration.

Li Cheng actually disdained writing so much, but he didn't want Huiyin to think lightly of him, so he listed many skills. Seeing her looking at him with admiration, he felt a bit pleased but also thought it was somewhat childish.

Thus, he maintained a calm demeanor and said, "There are many more things I haven't written down."

Huiyin felt her stomach hurt from laughing but cooperated by saying, "You know why I did this? I wanted to learn more about you, and it turns out you’re even more impressive than I thought."

"Since you're unable to move much now due to your condition, after you give birth, I'll mix you a drink that you've never had before," Li Cheng said with a smirk.

Huiyin didn't praise him blindly but looked at him sideways and asked, "As they say, 'Eat the sovereign's salary, and loyally serve him.' You're mixing me a drink, so how should I repay you?"

Li Cheng, seeing her ambiguous expression, leaned in and whispered two sentences into her ear. Huiyin blushed and said, "Why are you always thinking about such things?"

"As a married couple, it’s only natural for us to be intimate. Why should I be shy?" Li Cheng replied, not seeing anything wrong with it.

As the couple was talking, news arrived that the Prince of Wei had officially appointed Xie Jiuyi as the General of the Northern Expedition to take down the usurper Ma Kui, the governor of Qingzhou. At the same time, Zheng Wuheng had returned home and handed over Huiyin's letter to their parents, conveying his sister's messages.

Zheng Fang knew that among his three children, his eldest daughter De Yin was excellent in literary skills and had a reputation as a talented woman. People often praised her the most. His youngest son was pure-hearted and young but diligent. However, his second daughter, Huiyin, was different from the rest. As a child, she had been a careless and absent-minded little girl, but as she grew older, she became very capable. Almost every problem had a quick solution when she was around.

He often sought her advice on military matters, finding her decisive and thorough—far from ordinary.

Zheng Wuheng said, "Father, Sister said that your current role is to be a knife by Prime Minister Lü Wei's side. If that knife were to kill Prime Minister Lü Wei immediately, your value would be gone. It's not easy for us to hold onto Jizhou. Now that the Prince of Wei is attacking Qingzhou, we should remain neutral and grant the Prince of Wei a favor. Prime Minister Lü Wei will certainly not tolerate the Prince of Wei's growing influence. When the two tigers fight, we can reap the benefits."

Zheng Fang stood up and couldn't help but smile at Madame Ji. "Huiyin is indeed intelligent. Moreover, since De Yin hasn’t had any children, helping the Crown Prince might not guarantee who benefits in the end."

Madame Ji said, "My lord has his counselors to consult. Huiyin is still young, but her insights are valuable. What should be done still requires discussion with your advisors."

Zheng Fang waved his hand. "There's no need. It's hard to guarantee that some of these people haven't been bought and are deliberately influencing me with their words."

"Since my lord says so, let's first listen to Huiyin's suggestion. If something goes wrong, we can make a decision immediately," Madame Ji said. As a female general, she also had considerable strategy.

Zheng Fang nodded.

Xie Jiuyi had long been preparing his troops and making thorough preparations. The attack on Qingzhou's Ma Kui proceeded very smoothly. One reason was that the Prince of Wei had planned meticulously in advance. Another was that Ma Kui, fond of luxury and indulgence, had let his army devolve into little more than a band of marauders, more interested in plundering than fulfilling their duties.

Ma Kui was a man of Lü Wei. When Lü Wei sent a letter requesting Zheng Fang's assistance, Zheng Fang declined, citing that spring had just passed and the grain supplies were insufficient, making it unwise to mobilize the troops. Lü Wei knew that Zheng Fang had a strained relationship with Ma Kui and wasn't surprised by his refusal, so he didn't press the matter.

Within days of occupying Qingzhou, the Prince of Wei humbly explained that Ma Kui had caused unrest in Qingzhou, leaving him no choice but to relieve the Emperor of his worries.

The Emperor was weak and unable to attend to state affairs. Naturally, Empress He wished for her brother to continue controlling Qingzhou, so she issued an edict ordering the Prince of Wei to return Qingzhou.

How could the Prince of Wei agree to that? He wasn't about to give up what he had already taken.

Lü Wei suggested that Crown Prince Li Heng lead a campaign on behalf of the Emperor to retake Qingzhou for the imperial court. Thus, Crown Prince Li Heng prepared to march south with the He family's forces.

His belongings, however, were entrusted to De Yin to manage, which, in the context of the inner household, indicated which concubine was most favored.

De Yin felt a warm sense of honor at being chosen for this task. She had been arranging flowers with Lu Xiao but apologetically excused herself to follow the palace maids.

In De Yin's eyes, the Crown Prince saw her as his wife. Even though he hadn't said it outright, his actions spoke volumes.

For instance, right now, Li Heng told her not to trouble herself and shared his inner concerns: "The Empress has commanded me to lead the campaign, but the He family doesn't listen to me at all. If I go, I fear I will only be walking into certain death."

De Yin, well aware of the Prince of Wei's ambitions, hurriedly said, "What can we do about this?"

Li Heng smiled and said, "Don't worry. If something really happens to me, I will write a letter requesting the Empress to grant you permission to return home, and you may remarry."

"No, I only regret that I can't help you," De Yin said with guilt.

Li Heng shook his head and replied, "I know you've done your best. You're just a woman in the palace; what more can you do to help me?"

De Yin looked at him and said, "I may not be able to help you, but my father and brothers can. You know that Jizhou is adjacent to Qingzhou. If my father sends troops, everything will be fine."

Li Heng's eyes lit up. "If Marquis of Zhaojie assists, I will have a much greater chance of success. As you know, I'm not the Empress's biological son, so the He family won't give their all for me."

De Yin had already discussed with her grandmother the possibility of asking her father to help Li Heng. Her grandmother had said that her father hadn't agreed. Now that she, his own daughter, was personally asking, he would surely agree. If he refused, she would kneel and plead until he agreed.

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