son, don't mess around

The snow had not yet melted, and the air still carried the smell of gunpowder.

The border between Xuzhou and Zhongzhou was already engulfed in war. Within the territory of the Da Ning Dynasty, cries of despair were everywhere.

With the fall of Anping, this once vast northern city is now almost entirely in ruins.

The rebel army led by Xu Wang was in high spirits and determined to take this strategic pass.

But the imperial army refused to yield an inch, even after suffering heavy casualties and running out of ammunition and food. They continued to engage in fierce street fighting with Xu Wang's rebel army in the city, using the city walls and houses as cover to harass and fight a protracted and fierce battle.

Even though Xu Wang's rebel army was strong and well-equipped, it would be difficult for them to take the city in a short time.

The battle was extremely fierce and tragic.

After Anping City, the imperial army was already facing a severe food shortage.

Even with the capital's best efforts to procure supplies, it was difficult to sustain the military pay for the soldiers at the front. As the fierce fighting continued, the imperial army finally reached the point of running out of ammunition and food.

Food shortages mean that mutiny could happen at any time!
How much fighting power can the imperial army, which can't even fill its stomachs, have?
Everyone understood this principle, including Xu Hong, which is why he quickly assembled a large elite army and was determined to take Anping City at all costs.

We must capture this crucial pass and hold out until the imperial army runs out of ammunition and supplies. At that point, the imperial army will surely be defeated.

At that point, Li Piaomiao would only have two paths to choose from.

They either had to drag the conflict out, eventually running out of ammunition and supplies, and being defeated and captured. Or they would have to withdraw their troops back to the capital, declaring the suppression of the rebellion a failure.

Regardless of the outcome, Xu Hong will be able to seize the opportunity to march south from Anping City and penetrate deep into the territory.

At that time, the world will fall smoothly into his hands.

Therefore, Li Piaomiao knew very well that she could not retreat!

Even if we run out of ammunition and food, even if we are at our last step, we cannot retreat.

As the new ruler of the Da Ning Dynasty, she must hold this place firmly and must not retreat even a step.

In such a critical situation, just when the imperial army was about to run out of ammunition and food, she finally met the person she wanted to see.

Lin Jiangnian is here!
……

A cold wind howled as Lin Jiangnian sat on his tall horse, gazing ahead.

Behind him followed his maid Fengling, his subordinate Lin Qingqing, and a seemingly endless line of grain carts escorted by the guards of the Prince of Lin's residence.

But in Lin Jiangnian's line of sight, his gaze fell on that stunningly beautiful and aloof figure.

Looking into the distance, it felt incredibly familiar.

The aloof figure in my sight stood there like a beautiful sculpture.

It feels like it was just yesterday, even though we haven't seen each other for months.

The two looked at each other from a great distance.

Lin Jiangnian smiled!
Then, he dismounted and strode forward.

The aloof figure in my line of sight grew closer and clearer.

Until Lin Jiangnian walked up and stopped.

Beside him, the generals from various factions of the imperial army cast complex and surprised glances at him.

Lin Jiangnian ignored him, his gaze fixed on the figure that haunted his dreams in the distance.

The next second, Lin Jiangnian took another step.

"Your Majesty, I greet you!"

A clear and powerful voice echoed all around.

In her line of sight, Li Piaomiao gazed quietly at the familiar face before her, seemingly in a daze, a tenderness that was hard to express in the past flowing in her eyes.

But soon, it gradually disappeared.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Lin Jiangnian looked up and met Li Piaomiao's gaze.

Her eyes remained aloof, revealing her cold pride and dignified, imposing presence.

It seems that after ascending the throne, she possessed a unique aura.

Can't tell!

But it inexplicably excited Lin Jiangnian.

Especially when their eyes met, Li Piaomiao's gaze remained aloof. But for some reason, Lin Jiangnian sensed a hint of... unease in her eyes?
The current empress of the Great Ning Dynasty seemed somewhat nervous when she saw him.

Lin Jiangnian regained his composure and cupped his hands again: "Since His Majesty issued the decree ordering troops from all over the country to assist the court in suppressing the rebellion, the Prince Lin's mansion has dispatched 100,000 troops. Now the army has passed through the capital and will soon arrive at the front line to resist the rebel Prince Xu."

These words caused an uproar among the surrounding generals.

Has the army of Prince Lin finally arrived?

Many people were overjoyed. They had held on until now, and finally, reinforcements had arrived... Even if these reinforcements might have ulterior motives, at least they had come.

Just as many generals were showing joy, Lin Jiangnian spoke again.

"Your Majesty, I know that the Imperial Army has been resisting the rebel Prince Xu for a long time. Our soldiers have fought bravely on the front lines, and it is only right that their logistics be guaranteed. Therefore, several months ago, I joined forces with various prominent families in Jiangnan to raise funds and collect various kinds of grain, military pay, and military equipment to contribute my humble efforts to the Imperial Court. The first batch of donated grain and military pay has finally been successfully delivered today, enough to pay the soldiers on the front lines for a month..."

"The second and third batches are already on their way and will arrive soon to ensure the supply of the troops at the front..."

An uproar erupted, a complete uproar.

Many generals, having seen the continuous stream of carriages arriving at the army camp, had already guessed what was going on. If the news that reinforcements from the Prince of Lin's residence were about to arrive at the front lines evoked a mixture of joy, excitement, and trepidation...

Upon learning that they had received supplies of grain and military pay, and that this was only the first batch with a continuous supply to follow, many generals could no longer contain their elation.

Is there enough food?

Are the soldiers receiving their pay?

what does this mean?
it goes without saying.

This means everyone can survive, there's no need to withdraw troops, and there's no need to worry about a mutiny.

Furthermore, once they had enough food and military supplies, they would have the confidence to continue dragging out the conflict with Xu Wang's rebel army.

As long as the military pay is sufficient, what is there to fear from Xu Wang's rebel army?
At that moment, almost all the generals present looked at Lin Jiangnian with a different expression.

It was a look...like seeing a savior.

Although they knew the identity of the young man in front of them, his appearance was tantamount to saving the precarious imperial army and the Great Ning Dynasty!
For this reason alone, the generals present were already grateful.

His arrival, and the life-saving military funds he brought, undoubtedly saved countless lives.

At this moment, there is silence!
Even the usually aloof Li Piaomiao could not hide her excitement.

There was a hint of emotion in her gaze as she looked at Lin Jiangnian.

"The Crown Prince of Lin is loyal to the emperor and loves his country. He has made such a great contribution, saving my army from dire straits. I will remember this forever. Once the war is over, he will be rewarded handsomely!"

Li Piaomiao's voice remained cold and clear, "Your Highness has traveled a long and arduous journey escorting the provisions. Let's settle down and rest for now before making any further plans."

Lin Jiangnian and Li Piaomiao locked eyes, a meaningful look appearing in their eyes.

"Sir, obey the order!"

"..."

The supplies and provisions transported from Jiangnan were finally delivered to the imperial army just as they were about to run out of food.

This news instantly caused a huge uproar in the imperial army!

They didn't know what was happening; they only saw a spirited young man sitting atop a tall horse. Behind him, a steady stream of military supplies was being transported into the army.

That's... grain?!

It wasn't just food, but also various military supplies, weapons, armor, and even winter clothing.

These are exactly what the imperial army needs most right now, and their appearance at this critical juncture is undoubtedly a true godsend!

The news spread rapidly throughout the military, like a powerful stimulant, deeply penetrating everyone's hearts.

The morale of the troops, which had been broken and demoralized, was quickly restored!
With food, weapons and armor, and winter supplies... these things were enough to restore the fighting spirit of the imperial army!

Meanwhile, the name of the spirited young man who appeared with provisions quickly spread throughout the army.

Lin Jiangnian!
Your Highness, Crown Prince of Lin!

……

Inside the steamy bathhouse, Lin Jiangnian soaked in the hot water, trying to dispel the chill and fatigue from his body. His arduous journey northward, constantly on the move to escort provisions and troops and prevent them from being intercepted by Xu Wang's rebel army, had taken a heavy toll on him.

After all that, even with his profound inner strength, he was quite exhausted.

Fortunately, the supplies were delivered safely, preventing a possible mutiny by the imperial army.

Lin Jiangnian lay in the bathtub, closed his eyes to rest, and enjoyed the long-lost relaxation.

Then, the bathroom door was quietly pushed open, and a footstep sounded silently as it crept in.

Thick fog enveloped the area, and footsteps crept silently up behind Lin Jiangnian.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Just as the footsteps approached Lin Jiangnian from behind, Lin Jiangnian, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke, his tone playful.

"It's been so long since we last met, why are you acting so suspiciously?"

Upon hearing this, the figure behind him was startled, his delicate face turning pale instantly, and he patted his full chest in lingering fear.

When she looked again, she saw that Lin Jiangnian had turned around at some point and was looking at her with a half-smile.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

Jinxiu's face flushed red instantly, especially as her gaze unconsciously drifted into the bathtub... even though the steam obscured everything.

But she had already mentally visualized the shape...

"Where is there any sneaking around?"

Jinxiu stubbornly defended herself, her face flushed as she nervously turned her head away.

"Isn't this sneaky?"

Lin Jiangnian looked the woman up and down. After not seeing her for so long, Jinxiu seemed to have become even more beautiful and charming.

Her alluring and radiant feminine charm was even more pronounced, especially under her clothes, which revealed her magnificent, rounded chest, which seemed to have grown considerably larger.

He stood awkwardly to the side, looking as if he had been caught doing something wrong.

"Since you're already here, why don't you come over and give me a back rub?"

Lin Jiangnian spoke with a half-smile.

Jinxiu's face flushed even more. She didn't know how she had sneaked in. Now, running away was difficult, and explaining herself was equally difficult.

Hearing His Highness ask him to rub his back, Jinxiu felt embarrassed and annoyed.

"Your Highness, all you do is bully and order me around, don't you?"

Despite saying that, Jinxiu still took a towel and went to the bathtub, carefully rubbing Lin Jiangnian's back.

Lin Jiangnian closed his eyes and comfortably enjoyed Jinxiu's 'service', while asking with a smile, "It's been so long since we last met, has Miss Jinxiu missed me?"

"No."

"Really not?"

"Not really."

"What about Anning... Ouch, be gentle!"

Amidst the rising steam, Jinxiu rubbed her hands together angrily, her voice filled with resentment: "Your Highness, you've been thinking about Anning ever since you arrived, haven't you?"

"How could that be? I was just concerned about you. You've all suffered so much while following the princess on the front lines; you've all lost so much weight."

As he spoke, Lin Jiangnian turned to look at Jinxiu in front of him. He hadn't seen her for half a year, and Jinxiu did indeed look somewhat haggard. It was clear that she had lost a considerable amount of weight during her time on the front lines.

Jinxiu pouted. It wasn't hard work at all. They were the princess's personal maids, and their treatment here was quite good.

However, the conditions at the front line are different from those in the military, and they are more difficult. I am not used to everything.

However, upon hearing His Highness's words, Jinxiu felt a surge of joy.

This guy still has some conscience; he knows how to care about her.

……

Having not seen each other for half a year, Jinxiu had a lot to say to Lin Jiangnian. Lin Jiangnian, of course, also missed this kind and understanding girl, Jinxiu, very much.

Inside the bathhouse, Jinxiu rubbed Lin Jiangnian's back while recounting the events that had transpired on the princess's side over the past six months. Nothing much had happened at the front lines, mostly just matters of war. However, having witnessed so much life and death in the past six months, Jinxiu had clearly been affected, becoming much calmer and more composed.

Then, Jinxiu asked Lin Jiangnian about what had happened during this time. Lin Jiangnian gave a brief explanation, which Jinxiu listened to with great interest, and she kept asking questions.

She has a naturally cheerful personality, but she hasn't had anyone to talk to for the past six months, which has almost driven her crazy.

Right now, I must have a good talk with His Highness and rekindle our relationship.

At that moment, Jinxiu felt a burning gaze fixed on her.

Looking up, she realized that His Highness's gaze was off. Looking down, she saw that when she was rubbing His Highness's back, her full chest was slightly exposed through her collar, revealing a glimpse of her figure.

Jinxiu blushed and was about to look up when her gaze fell on the surface of the bathtub.

"Your Highness, you...you shameless!"

Jinxiu blushed, "It's been so long, Your Highness, you're still as lecherous as ever!"

Lin Jiangnian retorted confidently, "Is this the first day you've met me?"

"I...I'll go and complain to the princess later!"

"Hey, you're tattling, aren't you?"

"No, I was wrong..."

Seeing that His Highness was about to take advantage of her, Jinxiu panicked: "...Your Highness, please don't do anything rash! The princess wants to see you later!"

"It's alright, I'll finish this quickly, it'll be over soon."

beautiful:"……"

"This servant admits her mistake, Your Highness, I'm sorry!"

"..."

Inside the bathroom, after a period of commotion.

Lin Jiangnian changed his clothes with Jinxiu's help, stood in front of the bronze mirror, and looked at his refreshed self, feeling quite pleased.

She leaned close and pecked at the delicate, fair face next to her, feeling great.

Jinxiu blushed, but didn't refuse... Of course, refusing wouldn't have made any difference.

She hadn't seen His Highness for half a year, and she missed him terribly; otherwise, she wouldn't have sneaked in to find him.

She stood in front of His Highness, gently straightening his clothes and carefully buttoning each button.

"The princess has had a hard time lately. Your Highness, please remember to comfort her and don't upset her!"

“The princess also misses His Highness very much… Although the princess doesn’t say it, I can tell.”

"..."

Looking at Jinxiu, who was helping Lin Jiangnian get dressed while chattering and giving him instructions, she had the air of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

After she was dressed, Lin Jiangnian took the opportunity to put his arm around her slender waist and hug her tightly.

Jinxiu blushed: "Your Highness, please stop fooling around, the princess is still waiting for you..."

Lin Jiangnian leaned close to her fair neck and took a deep breath before whispering in her ear, "Then I'll come see you again tonight?"

"Remember to leave the door open."

Jinxiu's face flushed.

Your Highness, you're preoccupied with that thing, aren't you?
Are you going to see her tonight?
Jinxiu bit her lower lip, but did not refuse.

She just let out a soft hum to express her little emotion.

But not refusing is naturally...

Lin Jiangnian was in a great mood and kissed Jinxiu on the cheek again before reluctantly letting her go.

He turned around, went to the door, and opened it.

then.

He then saw a young girl holding a sword standing at the door of the room, looking at him expressionlessly.

"..." (End of this chapter)