The carefree sixth prince, my father respectfully invites me to ascend the throne.

"Silly girl, we're friends!" Yang Ling was taken aback when she saw Murong Jin crying, and quickly comforted her.

Yang Ling's words made Murong Jin, who was originally feeling somewhat sad, suddenly burst into laughter through her tears.

She took a deep breath and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Brother Ling is right, we are friends!"

“Yes, friend!” Yang Ling was amused by Murong Jin’s actions and laughed.

Murong Jin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yang Ling finally smile.

Just then, a series of crisp footsteps sounded. Murong Jin looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Murong Xue and Shen Wanyi were approaching.

Murong Jin immediately wiped the smile off her face and stood up. "Greetings, Princess! Greetings, Consort Shen!"

Murong Xue, with an arrogant air, glanced at Murong Jin, then turned to Yang Ling, "Young Master Yang, it's been a long time!"

Upon hearing Murong Xue's greeting, Murong Jin frowned slightly. Before Yang Ling could answer, she spoke up to deflect his question, "Why has the Princess come to the Imperial Garden?"

Murong Xue snorted coldly upon hearing this, and said sarcastically, "What? Is Princess Rui afraid that I will disturb you and Young Master Yang's flower viewing?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin's expression changed drastically, and her tone became even colder, "Princess, watch your words!"

"Be careful what you say? I was just concerned about Young Master Yang. Why is Princess Rui reacting so strongly? Are you feeling guilty?" Murong Xue didn't take Murong Jin's threat seriously at all and continued to provoke him.

"Princess! Don't go too far!" Murong Jin clenched her fists, wishing she could shut Murong Xue up so she wouldn't spout nonsense!

Sensing Murong Jin's anger, Yang Ling quickly stepped in to defuse the situation, "Your Highness has misunderstood. Miss Murong was just worried that I was being bullied!"

Murong Xue raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Oh? In that case, Young Master Yang, please tell me, who dares to bully you?"

Seeing this, Yang Ling replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Princess, I have just returned from the Southern Frontier and have not yet visited the elders, which is why I am staying in the capital for the time being. As for the matter of someone bullying me, I'm afraid you are overthinking it!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue snorted coldly, "Hmph! I hope so."

After saying that, Murong Xue ignored Yang Ling and turned to Murong Jin, "Murong Jin, instead of resting in your room, you're out here in the wind. If you catch a cold, Father will scold me again."

Upon hearing Murong Xue's warning, Murong Jin sneered, "Ha! I forgot that the Murong Manor is now the Prince Rui's residence."

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue glared at Murong Jin, then turned to the maid beside her and instructed, "Luoluo, I'm tired. Help me back to my room to rest."

Upon hearing the order, Green Ivy stepped forward and helped Murong Xue leave in another direction.

Murong Xue left, and Yang Ling looked at Murong Xue's thin figure, feeling a mix of emotions. "Jin-meimei, let me take you back to your courtyard to rest."

Murong Jin looked at Yang Ling's slightly melancholy eyes, felt a pang of pain in his heart, and nodded, "Yes, let's go."

The two walked side by side on the cobblestone path in the Imperial Garden.

"Brother Ling, what is the purpose of the Northern Desert sending envoys to propose marriage?" Murong Jin suddenly asked, because she vaguely guessed the Northern Desert's ambitions.

Yang Ling stopped, lowered his eyelids, and slowly uttered three words, "Military tally."

Military tally...

Murong Jin's pupils contracted slightly as his mind flashed with images of the Northern Desert's troop deployment map and information on its generals.

The Northern Desert army has about 100,000 elite soldiers, and the Northern Desert emperor has seven sons in his direct line of blood. In addition to the current crown prince, there are six other sons, but the most favored eldest prince is missing.

The troop deployment in the Northern Desert was similar to that in the Western Moon Kingdom, which was controlled by Xiao Yan.

If the two countries were to go to war, Xiyue would undoubtedly lose.

Although the Western Moon Kingdom's military strength was greater than that of the Northern Desert Kingdom, the Northern Desert Kingdom's forces were more dispersed, which inevitably gave enemy countries opportunities to take advantage of the situation.

Thinking of this, Murong Jin couldn't help but sigh.

Seeing that Murong Jin hadn't spoken for a while, Yang Ling looked up and met her worried face. "Jin-meimei, what are you worried about?"

Murong Jin shook her head. "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried about Bei Mo." She was unwilling to voice her concerns, as she wasn't sure if Yang Ling would believe her if she did.

Seeing Murong Jin's worried expression, Yang Ling smiled and said, "No matter how powerful Bei Mo is, it won't be a match for Dong Chu. Don't worry!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile. "I know, but what I'm afraid of isn't the Northern Desert."

Yang Ling seemed to realize something and asked in surprise, "You mean my elder brother?"

Murong Jin frowned upon hearing this. Why did Yang Ling mention Xiao Yan, and why did she call him that so naturally?

“Yes, what they want is the kingdom of Xiyue, not Xiao Yan.” Murong Jin knew that Xiao Yan was as tempting as a piece of fat meat in the eyes of Bei Mo.

Yang Ling nodded in sudden realization, then asked another question, "Don't you blame your royal uncle?"

Murong Jin was taken aback, looking at Yang Ling with confusion, "Why blame him?"

Yang Ling looked at Murong Jin seriously, "He knew that Bei Mo wanted to seize Xi Yue Kingdom, but he pretended not to know anything."

Murong Jin scoffed at this, "Brother Ling, I've never thought the Emperor was wrong!"

She knew that the Northern Desert's target this time was the Western Moon Kingdom, and that they had been planning this for many years.

The Western Moon Kingdom was completely unprepared. If Xiao Yan hadn't reminded her, she wouldn't have noticed the problem at all, let alone taken precautions.

Moreover, she knew very well that this incident was definitely related to Bei Mo.

She even suspected that the Northern Desert Emperor had colluded with spies from the Northern Desert to seize control of the Western Moon Kingdom under the guise of a marriage alliance.

Murong Jin felt a chill run down her spine when she thought of this.

She never imagined that one day she would become a pawn to be used.

Yang Ling was surprised when she heard Murong Jin say that, but she didn't ask any further questions.

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Ling said, "Actually, this matter isn't all bad."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin looked up at Yang Ling, signaling him to continue.

Yang Ling smiled faintly, "Sister Jin, have you ever considered that if Xiyue and Beimo form an alliance, our Dongchu will be in danger?"

Murong Jin frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "What does Brother Ling mean...?"

"The Northern Desert Emperor is a monarch of great talent and ambition, but he has been slow to attack our Eastern Chu."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin's eyes flickered. "Why?"

"Because the Eastern Chu army is strong and well-equipped, the Northern Desert has no chance of winning. Moreover, the Western Moon and the Eastern Chu have always kept to themselves."

Murong Jin agreed with what Yang Ling said.

The Northern Desert did have a numerical advantage, but they lacked supplies.

The Western Moon has abundant grain reserves, but even that can't withstand the daily depletion. Meanwhile, Eastern Chu, with the help of Murong Jin's pharmacy, is gradually easing its food shortage, which is one of the reasons why Murong Jin dares to confront the Northern Desert.