Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The lingering charm of the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, like the last brilliant sunset of autumn, lingered over the capital.

However, beneath the surface of the spotlight, undercurrents are surging.

The study of the Protectorate General's residence.

Lin Feng removed his court robes and changed into a dark-colored casual outfit, as he perused the military reports delivered by express courier from the northern border. The defenses of Cangyun Pass and Iron Wall City were solid, and generals such as Lei Bao and Yan Qing were performing their duties, bringing temporary peace to the border. However, the disappearance of Prince Lin and the remnants of "Red Abyss" was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, always keeping a sense of vigilance in his heart.

"Commander," Bai Xiaohe said in a low voice as she brought in a bowl of ginseng tea, "Someone from the palace just arrived with gifts from His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, which have been registered and put into storage. In addition, the Empress and several imperial concubines also received gifts, mostly jade, spices, and silks, for the women in their households."

She paused, then added, "Princess Pingyang sent someone separately to deliver a box of the palace's secret 'Nine-Flower Jade Dew Ointment,' saying it has miraculous effects on treating external injuries, removing blood stasis, and promoting tissue regeneration, especially suitable for...new and old injuries."

Lin Feng shifted his gaze from the military report, glanced at the exquisite porcelain bottle in the brocade box, and nodded: "Understood. Categorize the rewards and register them. The princess's ointment... accept it, and thank His Highness for me."

"There's one more thing," Bai Xiaohe said with a slightly strange expression, "From this afternoon until now, the gatekeeper has received visiting cards and invitations from seventeen prominent families. Among them... nine families are trying to invite you to a banquet at their residences under various pretexts, or... to visit with their eligible female relatives. Among them, the invitation from Grand Tutor Shen's residence invites you to come to his residence in three days to appreciate the newly acquired rare copy of the 'Essentials of Military Strategy' from the previous dynasty."

Grand Tutor Shen? Shen Qingqiu's father? Inviting him to appreciate military books? This reason is quite unique, fitting his status as a military general without seeming too deliberate.

Lin Feng picked up the invitation written on exquisite cloud-patterned paper. The father of the most talented woman in the capital was quick to act.

"Understood. Decline all other invitations by citing busy military duties and the need for rest. As for Grand Tutor Shen's invitation… accept it. Reply with that I, Lin, will certainly attend on time and apologize for disturbing your presence," Lin Feng said. Grand Tutor Shen was one of the leaders of the upright officials in the court, with disciples and old friends throughout the court and the countryside; befriending him would not be harmful.

"Yes." Bai Xiaohe replied, then whispered, "In addition, our people have discovered that in the past two days, there have been some unfamiliar faces around the mansion, seemingly coming from different directions, as if they are monitoring us. We have sent people to keep an eye on them, and our initial assessment is that there are people from the palace guards, spies from the Zhou family of the Censorate, and some others... whose backgrounds are unclear and whose origins cannot be determined for the time being, but they are acting very secretly, unlike ordinary spies."

"As expected." Lin Feng wasn't surprised. "The tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind. Keep an eye on them. As long as they don't cross the line, there's no need to alert them. Focus on investigating those with unclear backgrounds. I suspect... they might be related to Prince Lin or the remnants of 'Red Abyss'. They won't let this go easily."

"clear."

……

On the other side of the capital, the residence of Censor Zhou of the Censorate presented a completely different scene.

Inside the study, Censor Zhou sat in a grand chair with a gloomy expression. His uncle, Zhou Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of Rites, also sat beside him with an unpleasant look. Several like-minded censors and officials sat below them.

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!" Imperial Censor Zhou slammed his fist on the table, making teacups rattle. "That Lin Feng, a mere border soldier, has managed to gain some merit and the Emperor's favor, and now he's so arrogant! At the chrysanthemum banquet, was he composing poetry? He was showing off! He was slapping the faces of all of us civil officials! And that martial arts competition—it was all just a farce, a cheap trick to amuse himself! Fan Kuai is useless too, he was completely fooled by him!"

"Nephew, please calm down." Zhou Wenyuan stroked his beard. "This young man is indeed exceptional, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses a deep and shrewd mind. He is not someone to be trifled with. Right now, the Emperor is in high favor. A head-on confrontation would not be a wise move."

"Are we just going to let him continue to be so arrogant? If this continues, will there be any place for us civil officials in the court?" another young censor said indignantly.

"Of course not." Zhou Wenyuan sneered.

"A military man who gains power ultimately has a shallow foundation. Lin Feng may seem to be enjoying glory now, but in reality, he faces danger at every turn. The northern border is not yet pacified, Prince Lin is on the run, and the 'Crimson Abyss' demons have not been eradicated—these are all swords hanging over his head. His Majesty uses him now because he values ​​his abilities, but if the border is lost, or if he makes even the slightest mistake, how long can this imperial favor... last?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Moreover, I've heard that old fox Shen Mingxuan (Grand Tutor Shen) seems to have taken a liking to him as well, and has even invited him to his residence to examine military books. The Shen family is the leader of the upright faction, with countless disciples and old friends. If they were to form a marriage alliance or ally with this Lin Feng..."

Everyone's expression changed. Grand Tutor Shen wielded immense influence within the civil service. If he too sided with Lin Feng, the combined power of civil and military officials would make Lin Feng's foundation even more unshakeable.

"We absolutely cannot allow the Shen family to get too close to Lin Feng!" Imperial Censor Zhou urged.

"That's natural." A glint flashed in Zhou Wenyuan's eyes. "However, it's not advisable for us to intervene directly. I have a plan..."

……

Meanwhile, deep within the palace, in Princess Pingyang's "Lanyue Pavilion".

Princess Pingyang did not play the zither or read as usual. Instead, she sat by the window, gazing at the sky outside the palace walls, lost in thought. In her hand, she unconsciously stroked a warm, smooth jade pendant.

The personal maid, Qiuyue, cautiously stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, the 'Nine-Flower Jade Dew Ointment' you asked us to send to the Grand Protector's Mansion has been delivered. Grand Protector Lin accepted it and asked us to convey his gratitude to Your Highness."

"Hmm." Princess Pingyang responded faintly, her gaze still fixed on the subject.

"And..." Qiu Yue hesitated for a moment, "This servant heard that the Shen family sent an invitation to Protector Lin, inviting him to come to their residence in three days to appreciate some military books."

Princess Pingyang's fingers, which were caressing the jade pendant, paused slightly. Shen Qingqiu… that woman of exceptional talent and beauty, as aloof and elegant as a chrysanthemum. The way she looked at Lin Feng at the chrysanthemum-appreciation banquet…

"It is only natural that Grand Tutor Shen is devoted to scholarship and appreciates talent." Princess Pingyang's voice was unreadable, but Qiuyue could sense that the prince's mood was not as calm as it appeared.

"But Your Highness, what about Miss Shen...?" Qiu Yue wanted to say something more.

"Alright, step down." Princess Pingyang interrupted her.

Qiu Yue dared not say more and bowed as she withdrew.

Silence returned to the pavilion. Princess Pingyang sighed softly, clutching the jade pendant in her palm. That man, like the most dazzling star, had suddenly burst into the silent night sky, drawing everyone's attention. But what stood between them was not just the palace walls, but also their social status and the political climate…

Shen Qingqiu... comes from a distinguished family and is renowned for his talent...

A faint sense of bitterness and unease crept into my heart.