Cui Ying's eyes were bright and beautiful, like autumn water, desolate and sorrowful.

  She sighed softly, "My mother passed away early, and my father doesn't care about me for some reason. The Anning Manor is crowded with people, each with their own thoughts, so in the entire manor, I couldn't find a single person who truly cares about me."

  Growing up in such an environment, even the hottest heart will inevitably become indifferent.

  She paused for a moment, "So, when the old lady asked us to marry, all the sisters in the family were unwilling to marry, only I thought it was an opportunity."

  What kind of man Yuan Wulang was had nothing to do with her at that time.

  This marriage was bestowed by the emperor, even if the Cui family fell, it would not affect her status in the Yuan family.

  He was a rough and overbearing man, but she had made up her mind to marry him.

  She was looking at the wealth and prosperity of the General's mansion, as well as the benefits that this marriage could bring to her.

  Cui Ling gently stretched out her hand and wrapped it around Yuan Wulang's waist, getting closer to his chest, feeling the ups and downs of his heartbeat.

  She asked in a soft voice, "Husband, don't you think I'm very selfish and cold-blooded? Only considering my own benefits, but never taking others into consideration?"

  Yuan Wulang was slightly stunned.

  Although he knew it in his heart, Luo's confession was still hard for him to accept.

  He remained silent for a long time, nodded and said, "Indeed... somewhat selfish..."

  But then he sighed again, "Am I not ashamed of myself?"

  In this marriage of theirs, no one is not selfish or heartless.

  Old lady, Emperor, Anning Bo, Cui Ying, and so on...

  Chui Rong saw his expression and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

  She lifted her head and smiled at him, "Although I've made up my mind to marry you, what kind of person you are is also very important to me!"

  She had thought about it long ago, if Yuan Wulang was a good man who could make a living, she would also get along with him well, have some children and live a simple and quiet life, maybe they could spend their whole lives together.

  After all, she didn't want much, just a stable and peaceful life.

  But if he is not a man worthy of her companionship, then she also has her own way to shut the door and live her own small life.

  She was a noble lady given in marriage by the emperor, and whether or not her husband favored her could not affect her stable position.

  Unless the Emperor changed his mind or the Anning Manor fell, as long as she persisted, who could force her?

  Yuan Wulang gazed into her starry eyes and his tone involuntarily softened, "Oh? Tell me!"

  Cui Ling thought for a moment, stretched her body slightly upwards, and wrapped her hands around his neck. "I didn't remember your face before, nor did I know your name, it was all my fault, if you're still not happy, you can punish me. However..."

  Her tone changed, "Now that I know you're such a good person, let's clear up the misunderstanding from before and forget about it! From now on, you stay here and make sure you don't get hurt, I'll go back to Shengjing and live a good life too. When you come back, we can have a good life together again, how does that sound?"

  Unlike Yuan Wulang who liked her because she was his wife, Cui Ying developed a liking for Yuan Wulang not because he was her husband.

  If it were the ninth king who was Yuan Wulang, she would not have felt emotional or a sense of belonging.

  She was willing to get close to him, just because he is him.

  Yuan Wulang's body trembled slightly, and he understood every word she said.

  A surge of immense joy burst forth in his heart, overwhelming his soul. What else could this world offer that would move him more than these words?

  Before the turbulent waves, the small grievances and suffocation that came before were like tiny ripples, disappearing in an instant.

  He was momentarily moved, and a certain part of his body began to stir again.

  But he didn't dare to act rashly, and it was rare for them to be so intimate. He didn't want to start their first time unprepared. If they succeeded, that would be fine, but if they failed, how could he face his wife in the future?

  So, Yuan Wulang restrained his emotions and only lightly pecked Cui Ying's forehead before immediately letting her go.

  He quickly got up and dressed, saying to her, "A day's plan is in the morning. I thought about it, not going for a morning exercise isn't very good. Fei can sleep a bit longer, I'll go and come back."

  After finishing speaking, he seemed like a defeated wild dog, tucking his tail and running away.

  Such a start seems pretty good, Cui Ying looked at the fleeing back and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Her gaze softened, humming a Jiangnan tune as she leisurely got up to wash and then went to her favorite kitchen.

  In the small school grounds, Yuan Wulang was wielding a long spear with all his might, and the sound of the spearhead cutting through the winter wind could be heard.

  He has been in such a state of excitement for nearly half an hour, but there is no sign of him calming down.

  One side of the nine kings was leaning on a beautiful woman's couch, he was wrapped in thick sable fur coat, and his head was still propped up with a windproof fur hat, drinking hot tea contentedly, occasionally glancing at his good brother.

  He furrowed his brow and asked Huai Shu, "What's wrong with your Fifth Master? Has he been offended by someone again?"

  Ever since Cui Ying arrived in Mu Zhou City, Yuan Wulang has become somewhat abnormal.

  According to the probability of Yuan Wulang and Cui Ying's interactions, King Jiū was forced to judge that his good brother's diligent practice of marksmanship at this moment was probably still related to Cui Ying.

  Huai Shu also found it inexplicable. Last night, Wu Ye slept in Wu Nainai's elegant boudoir and wouldn't let him go to wait on them outside.

  Since Fifth Master wasn't driven out by Fifth Granny for the entire night, this should be a small victory for their new marriage, with love entwined and inseparable.

  Why get up so early and run to the small school field to go crazy?

  Who knows what happened between them...

  He shook his head at the nine kings, "My father stayed in Ya Qing Xiao Zhu last night."

  Jiǔ Wáng Jùn Měi's face faintly showed a hint of loss, but he concealed it well, and in an instant, he regained his usual elegant composure. "If that's the case, how can he still be like this?"

  He took a sip of tea and said to Yuan Wulang, who was still sweating profusely, "Achu, stop and have a cup of tea."

  Yuan Wulang swung two more flower spears before stopping.

  On a cold winter day, he was only wearing a thin set of clothes, but at this moment, his clothes were already soaked through.

  He seemed to be in a carefree mood, casually taking the coat handed over by Huai Shu and putting it on, then sitting down loudly in the small chair beside Jiu Wang, "Ah, I've sweated all over my body, what a relief!"

  After drinking several cups of tea, he asked casually, "What happened to Miss Jianyue later?"

  In the eyes of the nine kings, a hint of cruelty flashed out. "She said that she was forced to open the walls and gates of Lingyun Prefecture because Ji Du threatened her with her younger brother's life. She poisoned the beef, and your wife, Cui Shi, was also personally bound and handed over to Ji Du by her."

  He paused for a moment, then continued, "Liu Jianyue told the truth, so I didn't bother her much. But people who repay kindness with enmity are not allowed to stay in the Yín estate, so I had someone send her to Lincheng."

  The Western Frontier of Lin City is the coldest place in the Sheng Dynasty.

  Liu Jianyue, although she was just a village girl who grew up in the countryside, was the daughter of the landlord and had been pampered since childhood. The kind of place that Lin Cheng was, was an unprecedented disaster for her.

  When the Ninth King spoke, he always had a calm and composed demeanor, no matter how shocking or stirring his words were, he was like an unmoving Buddha.

  He slightly raised his hand, gazed at the tea water that was faintly swaying in the cup, and his mouth corners slightly curled up, "I dealt with her like this, you won't be feeling heartache, will you?"

  Yuan Wulang hastily let out a "hiss" and said, "I took her in with good intentions, but she secretly plotted against my wife. It pains me to think that such a person exists! You also think too much of me..."

  He was taken aback again and suddenly thought that Liu Jianyue had always been very enthusiastic about him, often looking at him with a strange gaze.

  Could it be...

  Ji Wang suppressed a laugh and said, "Ah Jun, you really are slow-witted."

  Liu Jianyue had a crush on Yuan Wulang, and everyone in the Linyin Mansion who had eyes could see it, except for Yuan Wulang himself, who was completely unaware.

  Yuan Wulang snorted again, "How many girls have a crush on me? Do I need to pamper each one individually? Moreover, she almost killed Feng'er. Even if you don't punish her, I won't let her off."

  Whether or not Ji Du had Liu Xianyue's brother in his hands, if he really did, it would be worthy of sympathy.

  However, for the sake of her own brother, doing something that goes against heaven and reason is also unacceptable. All one can say is that there will be a day of reckoning, and it's only a matter of time before she gets what's coming to her.

  Ji Wang glanced at Huai Shu's face with a hint of disappointment and originally wanted to say something else, but after thinking about it, he didn't say anything in the end.

  However, Yuan Wulang used to treat women with a compassionate and gentle heart, although he didn't take them seriously. But after seeing his wife now, he seems to have become strict.

  Does that woman really have magic power?

  As he thought so, the funny scene of her riding on the wall that day flashed in his mind, and he stared at Yuan Wulang absent-mindedly.

  Yuan Wulang turned his head and saw Jiu Wang staring at him motionlessly, and he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. "Hey, what are you looking at me for? Did I grow flowers on my face?"

  Jiǔ Wáng Shén turned around, his eyes slightly cast down, and he raised an eyebrow saying, "Hm, there really are flowers on your face now, and they're all blooming, very red."

  "He paused for a moment, 'Speak up, what's troubling you again that made you come here to practice your marksmanship for half an hour at dawn?'"

  Yuan Wulang took a deep breath and said, "What's so difficult about it?"

  Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

  He thought of his own troubles, and in front of his good brother, wasn't it a piece of cake?

  It's known that although Jiǔ Wáng's reputation for being infatuated with flowers has some exaggeration, he is indeed a seasoned veteran.

  Maybe it's really possible to have a good discussion!

  Yuan Wulang thought for a moment and then said, "Cough cough, now that you mention it, there is indeed something difficult that I'd like to ask your advice on."

  He turned around and deliberately sank his face to Huai Shu, saying, "I have a major secret to tell the Ninth King, you retreat first!"