The number one spendthrift woman in the capital actually brings glory to her entire family?

Ji Wuge was very confused. In his impression, Emperor Dayong was a very cautious person, and he was always suspicious, skeptical and calculating. Take the marriage between Sikong Jin and Xing Fuhua for example. If nothing unexpected had happened, they were sure that Liu Xianxian would have also betrothed to Sikong Jin. Only Emperor Dayong would have thought of such a despicable scheme.

"Does he still have some trump card up his sleeve? Given the current situation, he probably can't touch the Liu family for the time being, but the Sikong family..."

"You mean, the Emperor might join forces with the Liu family to deal with the Sikong family and my Ji family?"

Ji Wuge frowned, puzzled, and said, "But if either of our two families declines, or if both decline, it probably won't benefit the Liu family at all. The Emperor's next target is very likely the Liu family. Liu Changyue isn't stupid, how could he not have considered this?"

"Actually, I think that the Emperor's initial idea was not like this. He probably wanted to use the Ninth Princess as a pawn. Now that Ajin's marriage to the Ninth Princess is a done deal, he has to change his strategy and take action ahead of time during this Seventh Four-Star Conference." Tang Jingyao analyzed rationally, "Now the three major families are trending towards a three-way balance of power. Only by breaking this balance and provoking a struggle between the three families can he reap the benefits."

"Ajin, what's your opinion?"

Tang Jingyao suddenly turned to look at Sikong Jin, who was silent beside him. Ji Wuge also subconsciously turned to look at her, only to find a mocking smile on Sikong Jin's delicate face, with a strange and cold light flowing in her eyes, quite different from her usual cunning and treacherous nature.

"Our wise emperor is going to make a big splash this time, he's really got guts!"

Sikong Jin raised an eyebrow and smiled, a slightly sarcastic sneer.

Tang Jingyao and Ji Wuge exchanged a glance, then couldn't help but smile bitterly. Tang Jingyao sighed, "I know the Emperor very well. He's incredibly cunning. Over the years, he's always turned a blind eye to the power struggles between various factions, watching them maneuver from behind the scenes, controlling every pawn. Ah Jin, just like with the death of your father, Commander Sikong Qi, could you guarantee the Emperor didn't know the inside story? After Commander Sikong's demise, the court was in chaos, and the Emperor used that opportunity to reshuffle the deck. That time, it was the three major families who suffered..."

Not long after dinner, Sikong Jin got up to take her leave, and Tang Jingyao's wife, Lan Zixi, specially escorted Sikong Jin to the door.

"Xi'er, you didn't have to come out to see me off. Look, there's no moon tonight, the sky is quite gloomy, it looks like it's going to rain. And I heard there have been strong winds and heavy rain these past few days. Did you close all the windows at home?"

Sikong Jin glanced at Lan Zixi, who seemed hesitant to speak, and then spoke in a heavy tone.

Lan Zixi looked up at the gloomy night sky, where there was still a stifling heat in the air. She remained silent for a while before looking down at Sikong Jin. "Ajin, the Ninth Princess is a good girl."

"Yes!"

Sikong Jin nodded slightly, agreeing with Lan Zixi's words.

"So you must treat her well. All these years, no matter the circumstances, her devotion to you has remained unchanged. Sometimes I really admire her." Lan Zixi sighed, her gentle gaze filled with concern. "I saw her on Chaoyang Street today; she didn't look well..."

"Tang Jingyao is still infatuated with you. Last time I asked Ji Wuge to invite him to Manfanglou, he pretended to be all proper. You don't know what he's like..."

"Ajin, I'm talking to you about something important!"

Lan Zixi glared at her angrily; this girl always tried to change the subject like that.

"Oh!"

"After this Seventh Four-Star Assembly, she hopes to leave the Imperial City with you, or go to Hangu City with Lord Yukisaki. It's no longer safe here... Ajin, if you are a responsible man, you must protect your woman, understand?"

Lan Zixi said solemnly, her shallow eyes filled with deep concern and worry, "These past few days, Brother Jing has been leaving early and returning late. Although I don't know if something has happened, I know that perhaps another big storm is coming. I'm very worried! Ajin, remember, nothing is more important than life. This time, Sikong Mo..."

Seeing that Sikong Jin's face had darkened and her eyes had become incredibly deep, she wisely stopped and simply looked at her with concern.

Sikong Jin glanced at Lan Zixi indifferently, then suddenly raised her head to look at the empty and gloomy night sky. In a daze, she felt a faint chill brush against her cold face. She was as calm as a lonely star in the sky that was so pale that it had almost no light.

Lan Zixi didn't dare to say a word.

Sikong Jin gave her the feeling of being unfathomable; almost no one could see what she was thinking, especially in the last six months. She remembered that a long time ago, Sikong Jin was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve, but now, the Sikong Jin before her was like a thick, unyielding ink, too profound…

Some people grow and mature through numerous hardships...

Sikong Jin, that's probably the kind of person she is, Lan Zixi thought. After struggling for a moment, she reluctantly stuffed the umbrella in her hand into Sikong Jin's hand and said gently, "It's going to rain soon, take the umbrella!"

……

After a long, long time, Sikong Jin finally sighed softly, lowered her head, looked calmly at Lan Zixi, shook her head, and said with a bitter smile, "No, Xi'er, you wouldn't understand... In my heart, there are many things more important than life itself..."

She suddenly stopped talking. Lan Zixi looked at her in confusion, and after waiting for a long time without hearing her speak again, she hesitated for a moment, about to ask a question, but Sikong Jin had already strode forward with firm steps.

"For example, responsibility."

"Or, faith..."

Her slender figure passed through the dim streetlights, her soft voice drifting in the gloomy air, and soon, she and her figure were swallowed up by the oppressive darkness.

……

"That's just his personality. Don't worry, I'll protect him."

Just as Lan Zixi was staring blankly in the direction Sikong Jin had gone, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder, and a warm sensation came through her shoulder. She subconsciously turned around and found Tang Jingyao with one arm around her shoulder, also staring blankly in that direction.

"I, Tang Jingyao, will dedicate my entire life to protecting you and the two of them."

Tang Jingyao's calm voice carried a resolute air, and his usually gentle gaze was filled with unwavering determination.

His mind drifted back to what had happened six months ago in Maran City—

The image of that sharp, cold arrow, which should have pierced his heart, passing through Sikong Jin's palm...

There's also the scene where Sikong Jin dragged him and Ji Wuge out the window to escape when they were dining and dashing at Wanchunlou...

Disguised as bandits to evade pursuit, they accidentally stumble into a bandit's lair and engage in a battle of wits and courage with the villains, sharing life and death together...

Lan Zixi knew, of course, who Tang Jingyao was referring to as the two people he was talking about. They, like her, were Tang Jingyao's Achilles' heel.

"Brother Jing, I believe we will both live a peaceful and happy life."