Famine and exile: I brought the Spirit Spring to save the entire Marquis's mansion.

At night, the soundly sleeping Sang Ning kept snuggling into Huo Chang'an's arms.

His body was burning hot, like a giant furnace.

The man was overjoyed, his arms filled with her beauty, cherishing her dearly, letting her rest her head on his arm, holding her tightly in his embrace.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her cheek.

After stroking her for a long time, I realized that Sang Ning was fast asleep and hadn't woken up at all.

I completely lost all sense of vigilance in his presence.

Huo Chang'an was both happy and helpless. He suppressed his unbearable desire and fell asleep peacefully.

The next morning, Sang Ning woke up from the cold.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself alone in the tent.

She was covered up tightly with the blankets. It wasn't even winter yet, so why was she so cold?

Could this be a sign of catching a cold?

As soon as I moved, I felt unwell. Oh my god, it turns out my period has started!

No wonder you feel cold.

What's even more embarrassing is that the menstrual belt is already on!

Sang Ning covered her face. Was she sleeping so soundly that she didn't even notice this?

The curtain was opened a crack, and Huo Chang'an came in carrying a bowl of brown sugar millet porridge.

Seeing her like this, her phoenix eyes curved into a pleased smile.

She used to make him blush, but she also had her moments of shyness!

"Hurry up and drink some porridge to warm yourself up."

"How did you know..." Sang Ning asked softly.

"Your feet felt a little cold this morning, cough cough... so I touched them..."

They even touched her butt, but she didn't wake up.

"Did you wash your hands?"

Sang Ning looked at his hands as he held the porridge, unable to bear the sight.

Huo Chang'an: "...You're still complaining? Wash it, wash it, drink it now."

Sang Ning then picked up the porridge, blowing on it as she sipped it.

So warm.

Huo Chang'an had already taken the comb and was kneeling behind her, carefully combing her hair.

"Your hair has grown long again; you can put it up in an updo after the wedding."

He never forgot about getting married.

Sang Ning glanced to the side and saw him take out a dagger, pinch a strand of hair, and cut it off.

"What?"

“Naturally, it’s hair wrapped up.”

He cut off a strand of his own hair, tied the two strands together, and put them into a sachet.

Sang Ning understood, and a soft ripple spread through her heart.

The hero is saddened by the beauty.

A beautiful woman is most afraid of a tender-hearted but tough man.

On this clear morning, as late autumn draws to a close and early winter approaches, the army prepares for battle amidst an uncertain situation.

In the dimly lit and cramped military tent, she felt a sense of tranquility and peace.

"If it's cold, don't leave the tent. We won't go into the city today."

Huo Chang'an picked up the empty bowl, gave her a word of advice, then tucked her back into the blanket and kissed her forehead.

I'll make you an egg pancake later.

"Okay." She didn't want to move anyway.

"Hehe... My husband is so good. I hope you will always be this good."

"No, it won't work. Things have to be better in the future."

Haha, that's a really nice thing to say.

Huo Chang'an and she stared at each other for a while, their gazes becoming increasingly locked.

He turned his head away and sighed inwardly: If he doesn't go out now, he'll be stuck for another half a day.

After sealing the tent, he walked toward the edge of the woods.

Qin Wangyuan, whom we hadn't seen for a long time, was waiting there.

"My lord, as you instructed, I had people spread rumors in the Jingzhou area that the late emperor had left behind an illegitimate son. Sure enough, some people investigated and found the person, and then pursued him relentlessly, attempting to kill him."

Our men captured several, but they refused to speak and all bit their tongues to commit suicide. They all bore the insignia of second-class imperial guards.

The second-class assassin in the palace... it really is the Crown Prince.

The illegitimate child—are they looking for Ning'er?

The Crown Prince doesn't even know which woman the Emperor favors, nor can he distinguish between men and women, yet he wants to kill her. What is he afraid of?

"My lord, General Yan also discovered that before the late emperor sent the secret letter to the Marquis, he secretly summoned Du Xin to the palace."

It's time to guide the heart again!

Huo Chang'an thought about it and couldn't connect these things, but he was certain that it was all related to Ning'er's background.

Regardless of all that, we're about to storm the capital, and all the filth hidden within that palace will be utterly destroyed.

"Take this letter and this sachet to Langya County and give them to Master Liu of Qingshan Taoist Temple. Make sure you watch him complete the ritual yourself."

Qin Wangyuan took the item with a heavy heart.

Huo Chang'an solemnly repeated his instructions once again.

"Yes, my lord, I understand."

……

Inside Xihua City.

Shao Songchen led Jintang to a fairly nice mansion.

The area in front of the mansion was bustling with activity, as servants set off firecrackers and distributed wedding candies to the neighbors.

"Jintang, this is it. Oh? Is there some good news at her family's house?"

"Brother Chen, didn't you say that Sister Nianxi is an only child?"

"Yup!"

"Didn't you say she's only ten years old?"

"Yup!"

The two of them simultaneously furrowed their brows slightly, so who is getting married?

"Jintang, go and ask her."

"Why don't you go?"

“I’m afraid her mother will keep me here again and make me her family’s child husband.”

That's hilarious! Isn't he afraid?

Fourth Aunt always tells him to take good care of himself.

However, Jintang still went over, smearing mud on her face beforehand.

He returned soon with a serious expression.

"Sister Nianxi has been sent to Mingshui Temple to become a goddess, which is said to be a great honor for the family."

I smell a conspiracy.

My fourth aunt once said that anyone who acts in the name of God is trying to cover up a secret... except for her.

Shao Songchen suddenly bristled, like an enraged little leopard.

"This definitely wasn't her choice! She loves to travel and explore, why would she want to become some kind of goddess? It sounds like a charlatan's act!"

"But those people looked very happy, as if a huge windfall had fallen from the sky."

"I'm going to ask her mother what happened!" Shao Songchen ran towards the door.

Jintang didn't follow.

At least one of the two people should stay outside so that they can call for help if they encounter danger.

The gatekeeper remembered Shao Songchen and led him inside.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, he came out.

His face showed anger.

He used to say girls were troublesome and that they were liars. Now you know, girls are actually very cute and need boys to protect them.

"Jintang, how could parents worship their only child to a god, saying that she will ascend to become a goddess when she turns eighteen?"

They also said that other people's daughters all became priestesses, and the number of those chosen as goddesses could be counted on one hand, and that one of them had already ascended to heaven a couple of years ago.

Although Shao Songchen is usually arrogant, he knows that he is not as smart as Jintang, and Jintang must know what's going on.

“I guess those chosen as divine servants are all children from poor families, or girls who aren’t that pretty,” Jintang said.

"Yes, yes, Nianxi is very beautiful. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone home with her. Of course, she's not quite as pretty as Jintang, just a little bit less."

Can you please stop comparing him to girls?

Jintang's face showed disgust again, and she said solemnly, "A huge conspiracy! They're either after money or women."