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

"Little Beast, what do you think? A strong and ambitious young man like me shouldn't have such tender feelings, right?"

It's unclear whether these words were spoken to Lord Diao or to Sikong Jin herself.

The sable's purple eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but think, "You never know. Maybe one day in the future, you will fall madly in love with someone. Of course, that 'someone' can only be that person. Otherwise, I, the sable, will really bite you to death!"

After thinking for a moment, Lord Diao glanced at Sikong Jin, then snuggled into her arms, leisurely closing his eyes to rest, ignoring Lord Sikong's mutterings.

The rapid sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, soon disappearing into the night wind.

Meanwhile, under the flower trellis in the backyard, Xing Fuhua was still sitting on the cold ground, her expression dazed, tears glistening in her eyes. She couldn't stop sobbing, and Ji Wuge, who was watching from the front, couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his heart. After thinking for a long time, he sighed and took out a light blue handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Xing Fuhua.

Xing Fuhua sobbed, her eyes red from crying. Heartbroken, she looked up at Ji Wuge, not taking the handkerchief from his hand, but instead grasping his large hand in a panicked, trembling grip, as if clutching a lifeline. Her voice was hoarse and broken as she said, "Brother Ji... Sikong Jin... is gone... He... he doesn't want me anymore... Please help me get him back... I beg you, please help me get him back, okay?"

Ji Wuge felt a slight pang of pain in her heart, a surge of pity welling up within her. She sighed, "He's already gone. What did he say to you? Why are you crying like this? The ground is cold, Princess, please get up!"

As she spoke, she reached out to help Xing Fuhua up, but Xing Fuhua pushed her away, saying, "Didn't you hear me? I asked you to help me find Sikong Jin! I want Sikong Jin! He can't just leave like this!"

"Princess, he just left in a hurry and asked me to bring this to you! Please get up! What happened? Ajin's expression didn't seem right either. Did you two have a fight?"

Ji Wuge frowned, vaguely sensing that something was amiss. Had things really escalated to this point simply because he hadn't agreed to let the princess go to Malan City? This seemed rather unusual!

As she spoke, she handed the bundle to Xing Fuhua. Xing Fuhua waved her hand, and with a 'thud,' the bundle fell to the ground, its contents spilling out. The dazzling, shimmering light was almost blinding.

It contained precious jewelry, large sums of silver notes, and various rare medicinal herbs—everything imaginable was there…

Even Ji Wuge was dumbfounded!

What does Sikong Jin mean by this? A whole bunch of treasures. Where did he get so many treasures?

When Xing Fuhua saw the things scattered on the ground, her tears fell even more fiercely. She couldn't help but raise her hands to cover her face, which was already soaked with tears, and burst into loud sobs...

"Sikong Jin... Brother Jin... what's wrong with you?"

Xing Fuhua collapsed into tears to one side.

That cold and resolute back view was completely different from his usual gentleness and thoughtfulness.

What other men? Besides him, who else could possibly catch Xing Fuhua's eye these days? If he didn't like her, why would he leave her so many treasures? He's such a stingy person!

Do you feel guilty?

But what was it that made him feel guilty?

"your Highness!"

Ji Wuge frowned, looking at the weeping woman in front of him with surprise and pity. He didn't know how to comfort her, so he took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, then stood silently to the side...

She didn't know how much time had passed, feeling like she had cried all her tears out, before Xing Fuhua, looking dazed and disheveled, scrambled to her feet. She glanced at Ji Wuge with dim eyes, "Don't tell Father about this, I'm fine..."

As he spoke, he walked forward, completely bewildered...

Ji Wuge was puzzled and wanted to chase after her to ask something, but seeing Xing Fuhua's distraught appearance, he couldn't bear it and didn't ask. He just silently followed behind.

Ah Jin, what foolish thing have you done again?

Ji Wuge sighed deeply, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. The way Sikong Jin had left so hastily just now clearly indicated that things were probably not as simple as they seemed…

Traveling day and night, several days later, Lord Sikong returned to Malan City. His subordinates, led by Vice Generals Meng Benbo and Mei Ruhua, as well as military strategist Zhu Si, warmly welcomed their commander's return outside the city!

It had been over a year since they'd last seen each other, and everyone seemed to miss Lord Sikong terribly (actually, they were worried about when he would repay the money he owed them). So, as usual, they frequently tried to coax and charm Lord Sikong, devising all sorts of ways to get him to pay them back. Recently, because Lord Sikong was away, the army's expenses were being managed by the strategist Zhu Si. This Zhu Si was a typical miser; the army was lucky to get meat once every two weeks. Before, when Lord Sikong was in the army, he often sent them out to do side jobs, and they never worried about food or clothing. But now…

The female deputy general, Mei Ruhua, was an iron-fisted woman who kept a tight rein on training every day. Since returning from the capital, this female commander had become like a female tyrant, training like a loveless, twisted old woman, causing the soldiers to complain in various ways. Even Meng Benbo couldn't help but shake his head when he saw it. Zhang Feng and Li Ji, along with the other soldiers from the Four Banners Army, were now under Mei Ruhua's temporary management, so they were naturally subject to such heavy training as well.

They had thought that with the adults back, they could finally complain to them, reduce the intensity of training, and maybe even improve the food in the army. But little did they know, their real disaster was about to begin after the adults returned.

"Ugh, I can't take this anymore. I have to get up before dawn, and what's with this five-kilometer weighted run, push-ups, squats, and pull-ups? What the hell is this?"

"Damn, they even have a 100-meter hurdles? High obstacle course? Climbing ropes? Net wall?"

"My legs hurt so much, I can't even stand up straight, the soles of my feet hurt so much, and my thighs are all chafed!"

"Two hours of riding training every day? Damn it, and it has to be real combat, isn't that going to kill us?"

"I'm done! Let's stage a coup! Down with Sikong Jin! Long live freedom!"

The soldiers were practically struggling on the edge of hell, protesting that the devilish training was unbearable and that if it continued, they would really mutiny.

However, such complaints will only bring them an even more insane and terrifying disaster—

For several nights in a row, screams pierced the air above the military camp, and the next morning, groups of soldiers with bruised and swollen faces would be seen diligently getting up early for training.