You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Since Xiao Yan told him to be more obedient, he could pretend to do it and let Xiao Yan calm down first.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He knew Lou Li was right. He craved that position, desperately wanted it. If he lost this opportunity, he didn't know when the next one would come.

"This matter... can be done as you wish, but you must guarantee that everything is under control and that the Northern Barbarians must not be allowed to truly threaten us, otherwise neither of us will have a good life."

Xiao Yan turned around, staring intently at Lou Li, his tone filled with unquestionable authority.

If the Northern Barbarian army were to launch a large-scale invasion, the territory of the Great Zhou would inevitably be threatened, and he had no intention of ceding his own possessions to others.

Lou Li nodded slightly, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes: "Your Highness, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. As long as we join forces, Xiao Long and the Xie family are nothing but fish on a chopping block, at our mercy."

The two exchanged a smile, but it was a chilling smile that sent shivers down one's spine.

Lou Li has already instructed the Lou family to prepare to take over from the Xie family at any time. As long as the Lou family controls the Northern Army, everything will gradually go as they wish.

This was his plan, one that would both grant Xiao Yan's wish and allow him to obtain what he desired.

The prestige and status of the Xie family in Xuancheng will soon belong to the Lou family.

Lou Li straightened his clothes. The room was a mess, but his heart calmed down.

The Third Prince has now agreed to his approach, and they are bound to succeed this time. As he was tidying up the things on his desk, Shen Mengyan walked in from outside.

His study was in a secluded spot in the mansion, and he disliked being disturbed, so few people came here.

"What are you doing here?"

Lou Li's eyes were unfriendly. Shen Mengyan was his wife's younger sister. He and she didn't usually interact. However, since Shen Mengning was pregnant, her younger sister often came to the mansion to keep her company.

His study was forbidden territory.

Shen Mengyan intentionally or unintentionally fluffed open her collar slightly.

"Brother-in-law, Sister Lou Yao went back to her parents' home today. My sister was talking to Sister Lou Yao, and I was bored, so I came to see you."

Shen Mengyan's voice carried a hint of coquettishness, seemingly completely ignoring Lou Li's obvious displeasure.

Her gaze swept around the study, finally settling on Lou Li's clenched fist, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

"Brother-in-law, you seem to have something on your mind? Could it be that you're worried about the Northern Barbarians?"

She approached quietly, trying to probe Lou Li's thoughts with words. Entering a man's heart is the key to winning him over.

Lou Li quickly composed herself and gave her a cold glance: "What do you, a mere woman, know about national affairs? Go back to your sister's place. I don't need your concern here."

Shen Mengyan didn't back down; instead, she went even further, almost pressing herself against Lou Li: "Brother-in-law, although I don't understand those grand principles, I know that everything you do is for our own good. Mengyan is willing to share your burdens..."

Lou Li's heart stirred, and he looked Shen Mengyan up and down.

He subtly took a step back, creating distance between himself and Shen Mengyan: "If you have this intention, then stay with your sister and don't let her overwork herself during her pregnancy. As for the rest, I have my own arrangements."

Seeing Lou Li's resolute attitude, Shen Mengyan stopped pressing him. However, before leaving, her meaningful gaze seemed to say that she had seen through everything and was just waiting for the right time.

She refused to believe that this man could resist temptation.

The door closed gently, and Lou Li sat back down at his desk, but his heart was filled with turmoil. After Shen Mengyan's outburst, he had no desire to stay in the study any longer, and he cautiously slipped into one of the concubines' rooms.

The Xie family's backyard.

When Shen Cong'an learned that Xie Wanru was going to the northern border in person, he immediately came to persuade her.

Before he left, Shen Mo went to his room to ask him some questions about the books he had read that day. He saw that he was still wearing his outer clothes and did not seem to be resting, so he knew that he was going out again.

"Father, are we going to Aunt Wan's again?"

Shen Mo asked.

Although he didn't know what his father and Aunt Shen talked about each time, he vaguely guessed that it was something serious.

He didn't know when his father and Aunt Wan became acquainted, but he always felt especially happy whenever he saw them discussing matters together.

It's as if they're a family.

Most people are unaware of the war in the Northern Border, so he was also unaware that his newly recognized third uncle, Xie Yanting, was currently in a state of utter distress.

"Okay, you should get some rest. I'll be back soon." Shen Cong'an patted his head.

Shen Mo put the book behind him. "Father, I have something I want to ask you."

Seeing his serious expression, Shen Cong'an stopped and looked at him gently. "Go ahead and speak, but keep it short, because I have urgent business to attend to and can't wait too long."

Shen Mo took a deep breath. "Does Father like Aunt Wan? Because you are different when you are with Aunt Wan than when you are with me, and the same goes for everyone else. It seems like Father is only different when he is with Aunt Wan."

The servants in the mansion would occasionally mention Aunt Wan with regret, saying that their second uncle had misjudged her; Aunt Wan was the most virtuous and kind woman.

Some even said that Aunt Wan should have chosen her father back then. Although she would have suffered for a while, her father has now woken up and become the Vice Minister of War, with a bright future ahead of him.

Moreover, he is just a stepson, not his father's son, so it won't affect his future children in the slightest.

More importantly, he also hoped... that they could be together, and he wanted Aunt Wan to be his mother.

Shen Cong'an never expected Shen Mo to have such thoughts. He had never had any improper thoughts about Xie Wanru. He was grateful to Xie Wanru for saving him from dire straits, and he admired Xie Wanru's state of mind and her magnanimity.

Such a woman is like the bright moon in the sky; she is not someone he can defile.

He spoke softly, "Mo'er, the emotional world of adults is sometimes much more complicated than you think. But, neither of us has romantic feelings for your Aunt Wan. There's more to it than just love between men and women, do you understand?"

Shen Mo looked up, his eyes filled with anticipation: "But Father, what if Aunt Wan is interested? In my opinion, you two are the ones who should be together the most."

Shen Cong'an smiled wryly and patted Shen Mo's shoulder lightly: "It's impossible. You should focus on your studies and stop overthinking."

After saying that, Shen Cong'an patted Shen Mo's head again, turned around and left in a hurry, leaving Shen Mo alone on the spot, his eyes shining with a sensible yet slightly sad light.

Shen Mo knew that although he was young, he hoped to build a bridge between his father and Aunt Wan in his own way. His father was not doing well, so he wanted to help him.