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

When Shen Cong'an arrived at the Xie residence, Xie Wanru had already packed some personal clothes, indicating that she was indeed going to the Northern Border.

"How could you be so impulsive? The Northern Frontier is a battlefield for men. What are you, a woman, doing there?" Shen Cong'an said worriedly.

"Xie Wanru, it's just a divorce, why are you being so irrational?"

Xie Wanru gently put down her teacup. Packing was indeed tiring. Her gaze was firm. "My mind is made up, but I'm not doing this out of spite about divorce. My father and brothers are in the Northern Territory. I'm just going to reunite with them. Besides, I've practiced martial arts with my father since I was a child and I'm a disciple of the headmaster of Void Mountain. I'm not a weak woman."

Shen Cong'an sighed: "I know you are highly skilled in martial arts, but you can't joke around with your own life."

Xie Wanru didn't like hearing that.

The North is dangerous, but with her martial arts skills, it shouldn't be difficult for her to protect herself.

"How am I playing with my life? I'm not going to my death. Don't say such discouraging things to me, it's bad luck."

Xie Wanru rolled her eyes at Shen Cong'an, "Besides, are only men allowed to go into battle? Take you for example, even if there were ten more of you, you still couldn't beat me. You should just focus on assisting His Highness the Crown Prince and mind your own business."

Shen Cong'an wasn't angry when he was rebuked. "I'm doing this for your own good, and you're getting angry. If something happens to you, who will I talk to in the future?"

In short, Shen Cong'an opposed Xie Wanru going to the northern border.

For the first time, Xie Wanru thought Shen Cong'an was really long-winded; this man was never like this before.

“Then I won’t go. Can you guarantee victory in this battle? Shen Cong’an, I’ve already lost my family once, and I don’t want to lose them a second time. I’ve changed history, so many things have become uncontrollable. It all started because of me, and it’s only natural that it will end because of me.”

Xie Wanru was truly determined; this time, she had to fight alongside her family.

“You can be in charge of logistics. The Emperor has bestowed an official position upon you. I am already the Vice Minister of War. You can do many things for your father and brothers. This is not the only path you can take. Besides, you have finally been given a second chance at life. Why give up on yourself so easily?”

Shen Cong'an was getting increasingly agitated; how could this woman be so stubborn?

Xie Wanru was getting a little annoyed by the nagging. "Shen Cong'an, when I saved you, we already agreed that you would listen to me, not the other way around, right?"

Her words made Shen Cong'an realize he was in the wrong. They seemed to have said something like that before, and Xie Wanru's decisions hadn't seemed to be wrong all this time.

"Besides, if you want to control where I go, what will you do if I want to remarry in the future?"

Xie Wanru found Shen Cong'an annoying, so she wanted to give him a piece of her mind.

Shen Cong'an, however, had a different understanding of these words. He remembered what Mo'er had asked him before he left, asking if he liked Xie Wanru.

He looked at the woman in front of him; Xie Wanru was no longer the same person she was at the Shen family.

In the Shen family, Xie Wanru was the second wife, a married woman, and his sister-in-law, so she naturally had to dress appropriately and elegantly. But now, she was a daughter of the Xie family, a favored princess, and both her clothing and her temperament were different from before.

Shen Cong'an's gaze became complex and profound; it seemed he had overstepped his bounds.

His voice carried a barely perceptible tenderness and compromise: "I don't mean to control you, I'm just worried about your safety. But if you really feel this is something that must be done, I will do everything I can to ensure your safety, make all the necessary preparations for you from the rear, and ensure that the military supplies are in good condition."

He paused, as if considering his next words, "As for marriage... if you want to remarry someday, as long as it's your choice, I won't say anything. It's our Shen family that has wronged you, but you said you wanted to make those who wronged you pay the price, so... don't die easily. If you die, I won't take revenge for you."

Revenge seems to have become the focus of Xie Wanru's rebirth.

Xie Wanru smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't die even if you die. I don't plan to tell anyone else about this trip to the Northern Border, but I lied to Dongzhu and said that I would only set off after the Empress agreed. So I need you to find a way to distract her. I don't want her to take any risks with me."

"Moreover, Dongzhu is highly skilled in martial arts, and she can help you if she stays in Xuancheng."

Shen Cong'an nodded slightly. Although he was worried, he understood that Xie Wanru's decision was difficult to change.

He sighed softly and said, "Alright, I'll help you distract Dongzhu. But remember, you must take good care of yourself. Staying alive is more important than anything else."

Xie Wanru glanced at Shen Cong'an gratefully. She knew that this man was usually reliable, but now he was being so long-winded, which meant he really cared about her.

She nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely return safely. After I return from the North, we will discuss together how to deal with those who have wronged us."

The two exchanged a smile, as if everything was understood without words, showing a great tacit understanding.

The Lou family at this moment.

Lou Li did not linger in the concubine's room. He returned to his study and pondered his next plan once more.

The Northern Barbarian army was willing to cooperate with them to deal with Xiao Long and the Xie family. However, Lou Li also knew that the Northern Barbarians were cunning and could not be trusted entirely.

He had to ensure that every step was flawless, not only to obtain that position and make the Lou family the most prestigious family in the Great Zhou, but also to ensure that the Northern Barbarians would not undermine their alliance.

As night deepened, the lights in Lou Li's study remained brightly lit.

He picked up his pen and wrote furiously, sending secret letters to various places. He firmly believed that as long as he acted according to the plan, everything would go as he wished.

Just as he was exhausted, Shen Mengyan appeared again.

"Brother-in-law, my sister said it's late and you haven't gone back to your room to rest yet, so she asked me to come and ask you."

Shen Mengyan didn't wear the same outfit she wore during the day; instead, she changed into a pink one, which made her look even more delicate and charming.

She stood at the door of the study, her eyes filled with a hint of probing and calculation in the dim candlelight.

Lou Li put down his pen, rubbed his temples, and revealed a tired yet dignified smile. This woman really is persistent.

"How is your sister today? I've been busy with official duties and have neglected to check on her."

Lou Li lowered his eyes, refusing to look at her.

Shen Mengyan moved gracefully into the study, personally poured Lou Li a cup of hot tea, and said in a gentle voice, "Sister is doing well, but I'm worried about brother-in-law's health and afraid that you'll overwork yourself. You should also take care to rest."

Shen Mengyan's voice carried a girlish quality, which made Lou Li momentarily dazed.

Lou Li took the teacup, took a small sip, and looked at Shen Mengyan with a deep gaze: "Are you sure it was your sister who sent you?"