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

On the way, the tall and broad-shouldered General Su quietly approached Sang Ning and bent down to ask for advice.

"Madam Sang, how did you manage to get so fair-skinned? Do you have any way to make my face fair too?"

Sang Ning glanced at Old Su's African face.

His face and the beard on his chin blended seamlessly with the autumn waters and the vast sky.

It was completely black.

I'm in a real dilemma.

He used to be dark-skinned, but not this badly. Now the fire has scorched his skin, making him practically a brother to a black bear.

"General Su, after the outer skin peels off, your skin will return to its original state, so you don't need to worry."

"I know, I mean, could you be a little whiter than before?"

This……

It's probably impossible to become fair-skinned naturally, and he's already so old. If he were a young man, he could at least take care of himself, but he's an old man, so there's no point in trying.

"I've heard that yellow clay has skin-care benefits, as well as detoxifying, sterilizing, and sun-protecting properties, but I don't know if it can improve your naturally occurring condition," Sang Ning said dismissively.

“I wasn’t born that way! I got it from working out and getting tanned all the time!” he retorted loudly.

Then he ripped open his shirt to show Sang Ning.

I go!

Siamese cats!

It wasn't something I was born with; my face is dark, my limbs are dark, but my body is white.

Huo Jingya grabbed a stone and smacked Su Huiye.

"Have you no shame? You're an eyesore to my fourth sister-in-law! Put your clothes on, you lecher!"

"Hey, hey, don't talk nonsense, I have something to ask you!"

Sang Ning quickly stopped the two from arguing.

The more you try to cover it up, the worse it gets.

"General Su, you want to become pale just for the girl you like?"

"Yes, her name is Xiaofang. She's really beautiful, about the same height and weight as you."

To be honest, I fell in love with her when she was thirteen, but things were not peaceful back then, so I didn't dare to think about getting married.

Now that the war has finally ended in a truce, I'm still alive, and she hasn't married—this is God giving me a chance!

Thinking of his beloved girl, Old Su's eyes shone brightly, like a young lad, both apprehensive and excited.

"She'll be eighteen in two months. Her dad said she can choose her own husband. I need to become fair-skinned so she can choose me!"

Huo Jingya: "..."

Sanning: "..."

He was already eyeing someone when he was thirteen. You could say he was shameless, but he waited patiently for five years.

You might say he's devoted to his lover, but you'd also think he's an old man dating a young girl, and the girl is pitiful.

Huo Jingya retorted without hesitation: "You're old enough to be someone's father, and you're still dreaming of marrying a swan? Are you blind? Who would choose you?"

"You... what did you say? Who's the father?" General Su's eyes widened, and his bushy beard bristled with anger.

He roared, "Listen to me! I'm twenty-three! I'm in my prime! I'm still a flower!!!"

Sanning: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Upon hearing Su Huiye's words, Bai Yi immediately realized what was going on and put on a poker face, giving up.

Su Huiye became increasingly defensive, staring intently at Huo Jingya, her eyes red as she continued to shout.

"You try going to the training ground and getting sunburned for a whole day!"

"Try standing on the city gate tower for a whole day!"

"I wasn't any worse than your pretty-boy brother before I joined the army!"

"You people, you Beijingers are really annoying!"

Huo Jingya was both scared and guilty, and angry that he called her fourth brother a pretty boy, but she held back and didn't say anything more.

Sang Ning also felt quite guilty.

I won't dare to guess other people's ages anymore.

Bai Yi and Su Huiye profoundly illustrate that appearance has nothing to do with age.

Ugh!

Conditions in Liangcheng were already harsh, and ordinary people looked much older than their actual age, let alone the soldiers who guarded the city and defended the border.

They deserve everyone's respect.

Sang Ning bowed to Su Huiye and said, "General Su, we apologize to you. We were wrong."

You and all the soldiers sacrificed more than just your appearance for the border defense and the people; you gave your precious lives. How many heroic souls were buried under the yellow sand to bring us the peace we enjoy today? You are the greatest, the most lovable, and the most beautiful people in Dongyang Kingdom.

We enjoy the peace you gained at the cost of your lives, yet we mock you—we shouldn't have! I'm sorry!

"I'm sorry." Huo Jingya bowed immediately after Sang Ning.

Su Huiye was stunned.

He's a rough man; when he gets angry, he vents his anger.

Once you've vented, it'll be over.

I really wouldn't make a big deal out of some young women.

But Sang Ning apologized sincerely and said something that left people bewildered.

He didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Only then did it dawn on him that they were the family members of the old Marquis of Boyang, and also the families of soldiers.

How could they possibly be mocking them? They were simply unaware of the situation.

Everyone stopped and looked over with complicated expressions.

Bai Yi also turned around.

He looked at Sang Ning with a weary gaze and a sorrowful expression on his dark face.

“Madam Sang, you may not know, but General Su’s original name was not Su Huiye.”

"He is from Yequan."

“From the moment I joined the army, I dreamed of becoming a great general, defeating the Western Liao, and returning home in glory. That’s why I changed my name to Huiye.”

"But... he can never go back."

Su Huiye's tall body trembled, and grief appeared in his eyes.

Sang Ning and Huo Jingya sensed something was wrong, but they didn't know what the situation was.

Li Yuzhi, however, knew.

She said gravely, "Yequan already belongs to the Western Liao."

Two years ago, the imperial court ceded territory and paid reparations, giving the three cities of Yequan, Dewu, and Changji to the Western Liao.

Bai Yi continued, "Yequan has already become part of the Western Liao. The people there have been massacred, and his family is gone. He can't go back..."

"Stop talking! Why are you saying this to them!" Su Huiye shouted, her eyes red.

"I'm saying this to let Madam Sang know that Liangzhou must find water and cannot become a deserted city. Once Liangzhou is no longer able to supply us, we will have to fight alone at Yangguan and may very well end up like Yequan."

"No need to say anything more, I will definitely lead you to the water," Sang Ning promised earnestly.

She couldn't bear to see heroes shed tears, or loyal and virtuous people suffer injustice!

"If Lady Sang finds water, then she and General Su will be the greatest, the most lovable, and the most beautiful people."

Sanning: "..."

She got it.

She never imagined that one day she would be brainwashed by someone else.

However, she was willing to be washed.

The Western Liao were inhumane; they chose to massacre the entire city, even if it meant driving everyone away!

These cruel executioners!

It reminded her of a species from some tiny place!

She gritted her teeth and said, "General Su, as long as we are alive, we will return one day. We will not give up an inch of our land!"

Su Huiye was somewhat encouraged and nodded emphatically.

"You can change it back to your original name then to pay respects to your family and fellow villagers!"

Tell them you have avenged them! Let them rest in peace!

By the way, what was your original name?

"Su Erdan".

Su Huiye was moved to tears.

Sanning: "..."

Is this really not because the name was ugly that it was changed to Su Huiye?