Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

Jiang Qingyan pushed open the door, strode in, picked up the clothes draped on the screen, walked around the screen, and went straight to the bed.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Nian slowly opened her eyes, sat up, and gently stretched her shoulders.

"Little boy, have someone bring lunch into the inner courtyard in a little while. Go and tell your mother that this general will practice archery in the courtyard for a while and will not go to the front hall."

Seeing no one answer, Lu Nian looked up at the direction from which the footsteps were coming from.

The newcomer was dressed in a magnificent purple robe, and a stunningly beautiful face approached him with a gentle smile. The red mole on her nose looked particularly alluring in the afternoon sunlight... and on her right arm... she carried several disheveled garments...

This person... is... the Emperor!

This must be a dream! How could the Emperor be in his bedroom? And even holding his clothes! He must still be dreaming!

Lu Nian lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes...

Jiang Qingyan's mind slowly filled with ellipses... What's going on? She clearly heard him speak just now, and he even sat up, so why did he glance at her and then pretend to be asleep again?

Jiang Qingyan walked directly to the bed, plopped down on Lu Nian's lap, casually tossed the clothes off her arm aside, and quietly watched him.

Lu Nian felt a sharp pain in his legs and suddenly opened his eyes. This wasn't a dream... it was real! The Emperor was really in his bedroom, sitting on his lap!

Lu Nian hurriedly stood up to bow, but her legs were pressed down by Jiang Qingyan's buttocks. She dared not struggle to break free, so she could only bend her upper body slightly and bow to Jiang Qingyan with her hands clasped in a simple gesture.

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I was unaware of your arrival. I beg your forgiveness..."

I didn't hear any servants announce it just now. How did the Emperor get in? Lu Nian was full of suspicion.

"It's alright. I was traveling incognito this time and didn't tell anyone. You can relax," Jiang Qingyan said softly, without any displeasure on her face.

But her buttocks... remained firmly pressed against Lu Nian's legs, showing no intention of moving away...

Lu Nian propped himself up on the bed with his hands, trying to sit up straight. "Your Majesty, has come to see me personally this time because you have some important matter to instruct me to handle?"

"Can the Ministry of Rites send someone to inform us?" Jiang Qingyan asked casually, observing Lu Nian's posture.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites just sent someone to say that Your Majesty has ordered me to go to the southern border to fetch the bride before the tenth of next month," Lu Nian replied hastily.

Seeing a thin layer of sweat on Lu Nian's forehead, presumably because her legs had gone numb from being pressed down, Jiang Qingyan slightly lifted her buttocks and sat on the couch.

"I have come here today precisely to discuss this matter with you," Jiang Qingyan said solemnly.

"I've heard that you have a strategist named Yi Luo, who is extremely skilled in disguise and can even change his appearance. Is that true?"

The story goes that when the original owner was still the crown prince, he overheard the late emperor and Mo Ting talking privately while he was hiding in a corner.

Lu Nian slightly twitched her calves, which had gone numb from being pressed down by Jiang Qingyan, and reached out to pinch them.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. There is indeed such a person by my side. But since he was taken under my command, he has never used the art of disguise again. Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Lu Nian felt a little nervous. Kings are all suspicious. Could it be that the emperor was afraid that he had rebellious intentions and wanted to use the art of disguise to do something treasonous?

"Don't be afraid, I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted him to disguise himself as you and go to pick up the bride in your place," Jiang Qingyan quickly reassured him.

Then he used his fingers to lift Lu Nian's chin and carefully examined his handsome features...

If this face were mass-produced and used to disguise every ugly person, how pleasing the world would be to the eye!

Jiang Qingyan started overthinking again…

Gathering her thoughts, Jiang Qingyan smiled faintly.

"On the tenth day, you will have Yi Luo impersonate you and lead the army to welcome the bride. On the ninth day, you will take ten of the best Jinyiwei guards in plain clothes and set off to infiltrate the southern border."

Lu Nian's brow twitched slightly. "Does Your Majesty mean that I should launch a surprise attack on the Southern Frontier?"

"Bingo! As expected of the Great General, so clever!"

Jiang Qingyan snapped her fingers.

"On the tenth day, that cunning and suspicious old scoundrel, the King of Southern Xinjiang, will surely send a large number of elite troops to escort the legitimate princess. Firstly, to protect the legitimate princess from being assassinated by the Xia people, thereby sabotaging the marriage alliance. Secondly, knowing that the envoy to escort the princess is you, General Lu, the Jade-Faced Yama, he is naturally afraid that there will be any unusual movements on your side."

Jiang Qingyan pinched Lu Nian's serious little face and continued:

"At that time, the guards in the Southern Frontier will surely be lax. You will then quietly infiltrate the Southern Frontier Palace and capture that old traitor alive! The Embroidered Uniform Guard has plenty of ways to make him willingly write a letter of surrender... After announcing this to the people of the Southern Frontier, secretly escort him back to Da'an, where I will personally meet him..."

A look of amazement flashed in Lu Nian's eyes. Was the emperor in front of him still the timid and cowardly good-for-nothing he used to know?

Seeing that Lu Nian didn't speak, Jiang Qingyan's eyes darted around. Could this kid have been bragging all along? In the original owner's memories, Lu Nian had repeatedly suggested to the late emperor that he should personally lead troops to attack the Southern Frontier!

Jiang Qingyan decided to use a provocation tactic. She narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "Could it be that General Lu is afraid? You're a strong young man of eighteen or nineteen, are you afraid of that old codger who can't even stand up straight?"

Lu Nian was speechless... Why did the Emperor's words sound so strange? But... the words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound... Who had Lu Nian ever been afraid of?

"Your Majesty, I was merely wondering if the Regent is aware of Your Majesty's plans?"

"This... um... ah... he knows..." Jiang Qingyan stammered, her eyes darting around, but she didn't dare look at Lu Nian's face...

How could she forget the Regent? These people only listen to the Regent, not her!

But if Mo Ting were to be told this... would he agree? Besides, if Mo Ting were involved, wouldn't the credit go to him?

Seeing Jiang Qingyan's appearance, Lu Nian roughly guessed what was going on...

Although the Emperor is usually quite unreliable, her idea this time is exactly what Lu Nian wanted. Failing to recover the southern border has always been a great regret for Lu Nian, and also a regret for Da'an...

“In that case, I will obey.” Lu Nian cupped his hands in greeting.

Seeing that Lu Nian stopped pressing the matter of the Regent, Jiang Qingyan nodded in satisfaction and gave him some instructions:

"Lu Nian, remember this: while recovering the southern border is important, your safety is even more important. If you sense anything amiss, immediately stop and return to Da'an, understand?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Nian was taken aback. Throughout history, emperors had been ruthless, always forbidding their troops from returning to the city until victory was achieved. How could they possibly care about their lives? If not for this, his father wouldn't have died on the battlefield…

But this incompetent emperor, whom he had never respected, said that his safety was more important...