He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

The carriage from Prince Xin's residence came to a stop in front of the post station.

Ji Ling, dressed in a black brocade robe, stepped out of the carriage.

The emperor's decree ordered him to come to "comfort" and "monitor" the Great Zhou delegation.

On the surface, it was to demonstrate the importance that the Northern Barbarians placed on their allies.

Secretly, however, they were keeping a close watch on every move these people made.

Especially the Jiang family.

Ji Ling's gaze was deep.

The message sent back by Canglang only revealed that Jiang Bingning had grown up in seclusion and had not done anything out of line.

But the more this is the case, the more suspicious it becomes.

How could a sheltered young woman understand the "Wolf Sacrifice Dance"? How could she acquire such excellent martial arts skills?

She harbors too many secrets.

The easiest way to uncover these secrets is naturally through her family, preferably those she grew up with.

A slight smile curved the corners of Ji Ling's lips.

Jiang Yuerong.

He slowly stepped into the gate of the post station.

The innkeeper was already waiting at the door, bowing and scraping as he welcomed him inside.

"King Yue, what brings you here?"

Ji Ling gave a noncommittal "hmm," his gaze casually sweeping across the courtyard.

After the first snowfall, the courtyard was covered in a blanket of white.

In a pavilion not far away, a figure stood there, gazing intently at a red plum tree.

It was Jiang Yuerong.

Today she specially changed into a light red padded jacket, which made her skin look as white as snow and her features as beautiful as a painting.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around, feigning surprise.

When she saw that the person who came was Ji Ling, the surprise in her eyes almost overflowed, but she forcibly suppressed it.

She quickly lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully.

"This humble woman, Jiang Yuerong, pays her respects to His Highness, the Prince of Yue."

Her voice was soft and melodious, with just the right amount of timidity.

Ji Ling stopped in her tracks.

He looked down at her.

"Oh? Miss Jiang knows me?"

His voice was deep and magnetic, resonating in the winter air.

Two blushes involuntarily rose to Jiang Yuerong's cheeks.

"Your Highness is a hero revered by everyone in Beidi. I've heard so many tales of your heroic deeds along the way that my ears are practically calloused."

She kept her head down, but kept stealing glances at Ji Ling out of the corner of her eye.

The man before her was the most esteemed prince of the Northern Barbarians, wielding immense power and influence.

If I could win his favor...

Jiang Yuerong's mind started to wander.

Ji Ling seemed oblivious to her unusual behavior.

"I have come to visit the delegation on the Emperor's orders, but I did not expect to run into you here, Miss."

"Miss seems to have a particular fondness for these plum blossoms?"

Jiang Yuerong was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

"Your Highness, I simply feel that the red plum blossoms of the Northern Barbarians have a more elegant and refined character than those of our Great Zhou."

A subtle, unobtrusive compliment.

Ji Ling smiled slightly, gesturing for her to sit down in the pavilion with him.

"I have always been very interested in the customs and culture of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"May I ask Miss Jiang to enlighten me on a few matters?"

This was exactly the opportunity that Jiang Yuerong had been longing for.

She suppressed her inner elation and responded softly.

"Your Highness is too kind. I am not very knowledgeable and I am afraid I have not spoken well."

"But whatever Your Highness wishes to know, I will answer without reservation."

Ji Ling personally poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.

"I have heard that General Jiang is a famous general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and his way of managing his household is also extraordinary."

"I wonder what the General's daughter has been learning since childhood?"

"Is it the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or needlework and embroidery?"

Jiang Yuerong took the teacup, and a warm current flowed from her fingertips into her heart.

She held her teacup and sighed seemingly casually.

"What ordinary girls learn, we should naturally learn as well."

"only……"

She paused deliberately and glanced quickly at Ji Ling.

There was a complex look in his eyes.

Ji Ling remained calm and composed.

"Just what?"

Jiang Yuerong lowered her eyelids, her voice tinged with a hint of resentment.

"But my sister is different from others."

"Oh?"

Ji Ling raised an eyebrow slightly; the fish had taken the bait.

"My sister has never liked those things that are considered girly since she was a child."

"She disliked painting flowers and embroidering phoenixes, but preferred wielding swords and spears."

She looked up at Ji Ling.

"Your Highness may not believe it."

"When my sister was ten years old, she was able to draw the three-stone bow that hung in my father's study."

Ji Ling paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

Three stone bow.

Only the vanguard generals with extraordinary physical strength could pull it apart.

A ten-year-old girl?

Seeing the strange look on his face, Jiang Yuerong felt even more smug.

She continued softly.

"My father often looked at my sister and sighed, always saying..."

"It's a pity I wasn't born a man."

Ji Ling's eyes darkened slightly.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Yue-rong.

"Is this really true?"

Jiang Yuerong panicked. She had no idea what Jiang Bingning was really like. Since childhood, apart from her mother, no one in the family had ever treated Jiang Bingning kindly.

All the information we have now is just speculation based on Jiang Bingning's life trajectory after her previous life.

She knew nothing of the details.

She could only give vague answers.

"Well... I don't know."

"As my older sister grew up, she became increasingly aloof, and we sisters talked less and less."

She blamed everything on the discord between her sisters.

A knowing glint flashed in Ji Ling's eyes.

"To be honest, I have always held General Jiang in high esteem."

"To be able to raise two such outstanding daughters, the general must also have extraordinary abilities in military command."

"General Jiang, do you have any insightful opinions on the defense of the northern border?"

This is an extremely sensitive question, as border defense deployment is a matter of national military discretion.

Ordinary people would never inquire so easily.

But Jiang Yuerong was so focused on showing her value to Ji Ling that she had completely lost her senses.

In her view, the King of Yue was testing her and giving her a chance!

Although she was foolish in her previous life, she was born into a military family and had been influenced by what she saw and heard her father and his advisors discuss some adjustments and ideas for border defense.

Those are all "foresight" for the future!

She acted mysteriously.

"Since Your Highness has asked, I will humbly offer a few words."

"I once heard my father say that there are several places on the border defenses of our Great Zhou that seem solid but actually harbor hidden dangers."

Ji Ling adopted a posture of listening attentively.

"I would like to hear the details."

Jiang Yuerong's eyes sparkled with confidence.

"For example, the beacon towers outside Yanmen Pass are in too prominent a position. Once they are outflanked by a small group of elite enemy troops, they can be easily destroyed, thus cutting off communication along the entire defensive line."

"Take the garrison in Shuofang City for example. It seems to be guarding a strategic pass, but in reality, it is too far from the water source. If the city is besieged, it will fall without a fight in less than ten days. My father's idea is that the main camp should be moved three miles east, with its back to the Yinma River, which would be the safest course of action."

She rattled off two instances from her memory where her father had only begun adjusting plans a few years later in her previous life.

After saying that, she looked at Ji Ling with a hint of anticipation.

However, Ji Ling's face remained calm and composed.

But in his heart, he was already sneering.

Yanmen Pass beacon tower?

Last month, the Zhou state sent people to move the beacon towers back five miles and set up two additional hidden sentry posts.

Garrison in Shuofang City?

The Zhou army camp had already moved west, guarding that little-known mountain pass and completely eliminating the possibility of a surprise attack.

This Jiang Yuerong...

Everything she said was completely contrary to the current reality.

Looking at her self-righteous appearance, Ji Ling found it all laughable.

If this woman wasn't just spouting nonsense, then it must be her "famous general" father who usually uses false information to fool this good-for-nothing daughter.

Either way, they're pathetically stupid.

But he showed no sign of it on his face; he even nodded in approval.

"Miss Jiang has extraordinary insight, which has broadened my horizons."

Upon receiving the praise, Jiang Yuerong lowered her head shyly.

"Your Highness flatters me."

Ji Ling stood up, seemingly preparing to take his leave.

He straightened his sleeves, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and sighed with feigned regret.

"It's a pity."

"Three days later, the Lin family will hold a plum blossom appreciation banquet, inviting noble ladies from all over the capital. The invitation has also been sent to your sister."

"That's a banquet hosted by the most prestigious family in the Northern Barbarians; countless people would love to go but can't."

He paused, then glanced at Jiang Yuerong.

"To my surprise, your sister rejected it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yuerong's eyes lit up instantly.

The Lin family's plum blossom appreciation banquet!

My sister actually refused?

What an idiot!

She could hardly contain her elation.

Isn't the opportunity that my sister didn't want precisely what was prepared for her?

She stood up abruptly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Your Highness!"

Ji Ling turned around and looked at her, feigning ignorance.

"Um?"

Jiang Yuerong bit her lower lip and mustered her courage to speak.

"My sister is aloof and doesn't like crowds. But the Lin family is a prestigious family. If we offend them because of this, wouldn't that be... wouldn't that be unpleasant?"

"This humble woman...this humble woman dares to ask, may I attend the banquet in my sister's place?"

"It can be considered a courtesy to the entire Jiang family."

Ji Ling looked at her, a faint hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected her to be so bold.

Then, that surprise turned into a gentle smile.

"Oh? Miss Jiang, you're so kind."

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

"It's the same whether your sister goes or not."

"I will send someone to the Lin residence to inform them later. I'm sure Madam Lin will be very happy to have such a beautiful guest as Miss Jiang."

Jiang Yuerong's heart began to pound wildly.

Become!

It actually worked!

She was so excited that she could barely speak and could only curtsy.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness! I am deeply grateful!"

"It was just a small favor."

After saying this indifferently, Ji Ling turned around and left without looking back.

Jiang Yuerong watched his figure disappear outside the courtyard gate before straightening up.

She touched her burning cheeks, feeling that the road ahead was like these plum blossoms, full of promise and light.

She is about to step into the true elite circle of the Northern Di!

Jiang Bingning, you fool, everything you gave up will be mine!

Just you wait, I will soon crush you under my feet!