Your Majesty said that my life is worthless, so why are you crying when I increase my troops?

"This isn't difficult."

"We just need to do this to stir up suspicion between them..."

Xia Mingyuan snorted coldly, leaned close to Pan Yue's ear and whispered a few words.

Pan Yue's eyes suddenly widened and his brows furrowed.

"Commander Xia, is this really feasible? Isn't it too risky?"

Xia Mingyuan's face was gloomy. "Just do as I say. Even if we are discovered, our plan will be ruined. The Xu family can only take action against us secretly, and they will never dare to openly confront us."

Pan Yue's expression changed. After hesitating for a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and agreed, "If that's the case, then I will trust you this time."

"But you and I must make this clear in advance: if this plan fails, you must not stop me from reporting this to the higher-ups."

Upon hearing this, Xia Mingyuan nodded and was about to stand up and leave.

After walking out of the cell, Pan Yue escorted them all out of the city defense camp before preparing to go back.

At this moment, Xia Mingyuan suddenly turned around and looked at Pan Yue, "General Pan, there is something I have always been puzzled about."

"I see you're not one to be greedy. As a general, you wear plain clothes and eat vegetables, living and eating with the soldiers. Why, even though you're already a fifth-rank official, are you so obsessed with advancing further? Are you not comfortable living in Hanyang City?"

Pan Yue's expression changed and a sneer appeared on his face.

"Commander Xia, I've spent my entire life in the military, so naturally I yearn for higher ground. You're not in power, so you naturally don't know what it feels like to wield power. Compared to being in a high position and having unparalleled power, what does a mere sum of money mean?"

After Pan Yue said this, he looked obviously unnatural and turned away without even looking back.

Xia Mingyuan looked at Pan Yue's leaving back and couldn't help but be stunned. After a while, he couldn't help but smile helplessly.

"What's this guy singing?"

"Just mentioning a promotion casually, and he suddenly became bitter and resentful."

When they returned to the princess's mansion, it was already dark and Wei Saner came to greet them from a distance.

"Sir, you are back."

Xia Mingyuan nodded lightly and asked casually, "Is there anything wrong at home?"

Wei Saner scratched his head. "It's nothing serious. A guy from Cuiwei Tower came over and said there's an Oiran named Xu Shuiyue who wants to see you."

"The women in this brothel are really showing off. They wanted to see you, young master, and even came to your house. I said you were not at home and sent them away."

"Miss Shuiyue is looking for me?"

Xia Mingyuan was slightly stunned when he heard this.

Without thinking too much, he turned around and left the princess's mansion and headed straight for Cuiwei Tower.

At this moment, inside Cuiwei Tower.

Xu Shuiyue stared blankly out the window, pursed her lips slightly, not knowing what she was thinking.

"Girl, stop standing there like an idiot. Master Xia is just a nobody. You took what he said casually as the truth."

"It's already been two hours. If he wanted to come, he would have come a long time ago. This man's words are deceitful. Some of his words are just for listening. If you take them seriously, you'd be a fool."

He Sanniang didn't know what had happened. Xu Shuiyue just believed the man's lies and couldn't accept it for a while.

She walked up quickly, gave a few words of advice helplessly, took Xu Shuiyue's hand, and came to the bronze mirror.

"Men who come to our place are always unreliable."

"The only one we can rely on is ourselves."

"Look at you, your eyes are swollen from crying. Lord Geng specifically asked you to go there tomorrow. If you keep looking so sad, it will be disgraceful."

"If you offend them, not only will you be in trouble, but even Cuiwei Tower will have a hard time."

He Sanniang was trying to persuade them when she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Xia Mingyuan asked several guards to wait for him downstairs, then rushed straight to the second floor and pushed open the door of the room.

"Mr. Xia, why are you here?"

He Sanniang turned around, her face suddenly filled with surprise.

Xu Shuiyue raised her head in disbelief, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

Xia Mingyuan's eyes swept over the two of them, and stopped at He Sanniang, saying lightly:

"Sanniang, please go out first. I have something to say to Miss Shuiyue."

"Hey, Mr. Xia, please take your time chatting. I will take my leave now."

He Sanniang came to her senses and did not dare to delay in the slightest, so she quickly got up and left.

After He Sanniang left, Xia Mingyuan walked to Xu Shuiyue, pulled out a chair and sat down.

The room fell into a brief silence. Looking at the girl Shuiyue in front of him, Xia Mingyuan opened his mouth several times but didn't know how to start.

"Mr. Xia, you're here..."

After a while, Xu Shuiyue was the first to speak, her voice as small as a mosquito.

"I heard that Miss Shuiyue sent people from the brothel to the princess's mansion to look for me this afternoon?"

Xu Shuiyue nodded slightly, but did not dare to look at Xia Mingyuan.

Xia Mingyuan touched his nose and said with a determined heart, "I was not at the mansion during the day. When I came back earlier, I heard the housekeeper mention it, so I hurried over."

"Miss Shuiyue sent someone to look for me. Could it be that she has changed her mind and decided to agree to my conditions?"

Xu Shuiyue seemed to have made up her mind. She raised her head and said, "Master Xia, I have made up my mind. I am willing to cooperate."

"I only ask that Master Xia redeem me from here and give me a chance to live after this is accomplished. I have no other extravagant requests."

"Okay! I promise."

Xia Mingyuan nodded heavily and said no more unnecessary nonsense.

Xu Shuiyue bit her lip lightly. "After tonight, I will go to Geng Ruhuai and ask him to stay by my side. If you have any instructions, please let me know now."

Xia Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "Don't do anything these days. Just try to please Geng Ruhuai. It would be best if he couldn't leave you. As for the rest, I'll send someone to tell you later."

"Remember, it's best to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Don't act rashly before I close the net."

"Yes, I remember."

Xu Shuiyue pursed her lips slightly and forced a sad smile.

However, Xia Mingyuan didn't seem to notice.

After giving instructions on some details that needed attention, he stood up, picked up the teacup on the table, and looked at Xu Shuiyue.

"Miss Shuiyue, I, Xia Mingyuan, am deeply grateful for your help. Today, I will serve tea instead of wine. When you succeed in your attack and retreat, I will welcome you at the Four Seasons Tower in the city."

After saying this, Xia Mingyuan drank the tea in one gulp and was about to turn and leave.

"Sir, please stay."

At this moment, Xu Shuiyue suddenly rushed forward and hugged Xia Mingyuan from behind.

Xia Mingyuan was stunned and couldn't help but stop.

"Sir, I have nothing but my virginity. Geng doesn't know about this, so I just hope he won't let me get away with it..."

"Miss Shuiyue, this..."

Xia Mingyuan was shocked, but heard Miss Shuiyue sobbing softly.

"If you really want to help me get rid of this, please don't despise me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Shuiyue gently unbuttoned Xia Mingyuan's clothes with her hands and hugged him without saying a word.