I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

Because of Liu Ruyan's disgusting affair, Xiao Jingshi's longing to return home reached its peak.

He ordered the team to speed up, traveling day and night, wishing they could cover 300 li (approximately 150 kilometers) in a single day.

Xie Zhao and Lu Chengyuan were exhausted by his reckless energy. After several days, they felt like their bones were about to fall apart.

"I can't go on, I can't run anymore." That noon, Xie Zhao reined in his horse, panting heavily. "Your Highness, if we keep running like this, I'll be meeting the King of Hell before we even get back to the capital. Please, just a little rest!"

Xiao Jingshi knew that people weren't made of iron, and the long journey had taken a heavy toll on their physical strength. He glanced at the equally exhausted soldiers behind him and finally pulled on the reins.

"Rest here for half an hour," he said coldly.

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, dismounted, and collapsed to the ground, too weak to even move a finger.

They are now not far from the capital, at most two or three days away.

But these two or three days seemed to everyone as if they were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, so far away that the end could not be seen.

Xiao Jingshi dismounted, walked to a tree, poured some water from his water bag, and drank it slowly.

He remained agitated.

The closer he got to the capital, the stronger his longing for Ye An'an became, like a surging tide.

He even began to regret why he hadn't brought her with him to Jiangnan.

Although the journey may be a bit tiring, at least I can see her every day and eat her cooking every day.

It's better than this, being here alone, enduring endless longing and... the harassment of those inconsiderate flies.

Just as he was lost in thought, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from the official road in the distance.

"Something's wrong!" the soldier on guard immediately shouted the warning.

Everyone tensed up, grabbed their weapons, and prepared for battle.

Xiao Jingshi also frowned and looked in the direction from which the sound of horses' hooves came.

At the end of the official road, amidst billowing dust, a troop of about a hundred light cavalrymen was galloping swiftly toward them.

The cavalry unit was disciplined and imposing, their warhorses being fine and spirited steeds from the north. The leader, dressed in black armor, was tall and imposing. Although his face was obscured by distance, the sharp, battle-hardened aura he exuded could be felt from afar.

"Judging from the flag, it seems to be... the Zhenbei Army?" Lu Chengyuan had sharp eyes and noticed the large black flag fluttering in the wind among the enemy's ranks.

The Northern Garrison?

Xiao Jingshi's brows furrowed even deeper.

The Zhenbei Army is stationed year-round on the northern border, serving as the first line of defense against foreign invasions. Without orders from the imperial court, they are strictly prohibited from leaving their assigned area.

How did they end up here?

Could it be... that something happened in the North?

Thinking of this, Xiao Jingshi's heart sank instantly.

The cavalry was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, they were right in front of us.

The leading general, about fifty paces away from Xiao Jingshi's troops, suddenly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up with a neigh.

The hundred cavalrymen behind him also reined in their horses and stopped in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized and without the slightest disorder. This air of absolute discipline alone was enough to show that this was a truly elite force.

The leading general dismounted and strode towards Xiao Jingshi.

It wasn't until he got closer that the crowd could see his face clearly.

He was in his early twenties. His face was dark and rough from the wind and sand, but his features were extremely handsome. He had sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and eyes as sharp as an eagle. His whole body exuded a fierce and dignified aura.

He walked up to Xiao Jingshi, stopped, then knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in a salute.

"This humble general, Ye Feng, a lieutenant general of the Zhenbei Army, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy.

Ye Feng?

The name made Xiao Jingshi pause for a moment.

He felt that the surname sounded familiar.

He carefully examined the young general in front of him and suddenly felt that his sharp eyes and high nose bridge seemed to... bear a resemblance to someone else.

"Ye Feng..." he murmured, repeating it over and over, before suddenly realizing what was happening.

Ye An'an's father was General Zhenbei, Ye Xiao.

Ye An'an seems to have two older brothers, both of whom are serving in the military.

So, the Ye Feng in front of us is...

Xiao Jingshi's expression instantly became somewhat subtle.

Looking at the rough man kneeling before him, who was eight shades darker than himself, a strange emotion welled up in his heart for the first time.

This... this means she's met her "family"?

He... is he my second brother-in-law?

"General Ye, please rise." Xiao Jingshi quickly stepped forward and personally helped him up, his tone unconsciously becoming much gentler than usual. "General Ye, why are you here instead of guarding the northern border?"

"Your Highness," Ye Feng stood up. He was half a head taller than Xiao Jingshi and had a more robust build. Standing there, he resembled an iron tower. "This humble general was sent by the Emperor's secret edict to travel day and night to the capital to report on the military affairs of the northern border to the Emperor."

"I see." Xiao Jingshi nodded.

"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is also returning to the capital from Jiangnan. I calculated that we should meet here, so I waited here on purpose." As Ye Feng spoke, a kind of simple and honest smile appeared on his usually serious face. "And... I also wanted to see my little sister at home."

When he said the word "little sister," his eyes revealed an undisguised tenderness and doting affection befitting an older brother.

When Xiao Jingshi heard him mention Ye An'an, the irritation he felt because of Liu Ruyan instantly vanished.

Looking at the man in front of him, who bore a resemblance to Ye An'an in his features but whose temperament was completely different, the subtle feeling in his heart intensified.

There's a feeling of... the ugly daughter-in-law finally meeting her in-laws... no, it's more like the nervousness of a son-in-law meeting his brother-in-law.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat strange.