After being wrongly married, I stabbed my husband to death and became famous throughout the world.

Li Shu spoke calmly, not forgetting to be a flatterer, and picked up the wine pot to fill the cup for the young General Rong.

However, Rong Zhengyu felt his scalp tingle when he heard what she said.

"You only learned of my name today, but you even found out that I have connections in the court. Miss Li, you are truly capable." Rong Zhengyu said somewhat sullenly.

Li Shu's words struck him squarely to the heart.

His father was the Minister of Works. Although he had little to do with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, he shared many of the same political affairs. If he had just asked his father more questions about the affairs of the court, he would have discovered the predicament on the border much earlier.

He only learned later that in the past two years, the royal family had commissioned the Ministry of Works to undertake several major projects, including large-scale construction and palace building. If more money was spent in this area, less would be spent in other areas!

Just as Li Shu said, he was not very familiar with his father, and his letters home only reported that he was safe and sound, and he never said anything else.

He was sent away to study when he was young, and came to the border to gain experience at the age of twelve. He was not close to his family, so he was naturally embarrassed to ask to get closer or talk about confidential matters.

He knew that although his father wasn't close to him, he valued and loved him dearly. Since he couldn't be filial to his father in person, he couldn't cause him any more worry...

He didn't even consider the matter of grain supplies last year when it came to his own interests.

At most, they would just criticize the incompetent ministers in the court.

“It’s not hard to find out about your affairs,” Li Shuting replied frankly.

"Ah Zheng, don't get angry. Miss Li didn't mean anything by it. She's very perceptive, but her thoughts are rather naive and simple. Naturally, she doesn't know that the Rong family's situation is complicated..." Cheng Mian quickly reassured her.

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; his words only made Rong Zhengyu feel even more upset.

Is this still his friend?

How badly has your elbow turned outwards!

"She's naive and simple-minded?!" Rong Zhengyu raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Even the beehives in the trees aren't as cunning as her! Think about it carefully. An ordinary person might have the ability to point out the key points with just a few words, not only deliberately provoking me but also feigning innocence in front of you..."

"Is the general angry?" Li Shu asked, looking surprised. "It's all my fault!"

"..." Rong Zhengyu's lips twitched.

You're getting more and more excited, aren't you?!

"Doctor Cheng is kind and compassionate, which is why he thinks I am simple. I can never learn his magnanimity in my entire life." Li Shu first praised Cheng Mian, and then sighed, "General Rong, there is no need to be angry. In fact, even someone like me has his merits."

"You? You're quite confident!" Rong Zhengyu said angrily.

"The reason you saw me today, General, is because I am cunning and you suspect that I am using Doctor Cheng, so you want to teach me a lesson, is that right? But I think that if you could also act like a cunning villain, you could avoid a lot of trouble."

“You are the commander-in-chief. If you suffer, then thousands of soldiers will suffer with you. If you place all your reliance on the court and act as an upright and pure person, then even if you win one battle, you cannot win every battle.” Li Shu continued to stab him in the heart without any mercy.

Nowadays, the entire border army is not valued by the imperial court.

If a wise ruler sits on the throne, there is no need to worry about logistics in battles, and with fierce generals to kill the enemy, victory in every battle is assured. But the current court is simply not trustworthy.

Rong Zhengyu glared at Li Shu for a while, feeling angry.

But thinking about the court's inaction, he felt a surge of anger in his chest, and finally picked up the wine cup and drank the wine in front of him in one gulp!

He never expected that the imperial court would withhold grain supplies!

If they had known this would happen, they would have thought of a solution beforehand...

"As a commoner, do you really think I, as a general, have done such a bad job?" General Rong was starting to lose confidence after being told that.

Li Shu shook his head again: "A general's duty is to fight. Scheming is the behavior of a petty person. The relationship between ruler and subject, official colleagues, and comrades in the army should be one of gentlemen. I am just an ordinary citizen, and naturally I only speak of self-interest. I hope General Rong will not hold it against me."

Listening to Li Shu's words, Cheng Mian felt that she was too polite and too modest.

It's not wrong to scheme. Eight or nine out of ten people in this world are scoundrels. How many are truly virtuous?

Rong Zhengyu felt a little better: "Then do you admit that you took advantage of Doctor Cheng?"

Li Shu nodded.

Rong Zhengyu's eyes lit up, and she quickly looked at Cheng Mian: "Look—"

“Miss Ali already told me before. I know she had no choice in the matter. She also knew about the Ma family, but the Ma family was powerful and she really didn’t know how to fight against them, so she thought of me. But... she didn’t use me to kill anyone. In fact, I even bought more than a dozen warhorses from her at a low price!” Cheng Mian said hurriedly.

"..." Rong Zhengyu looked at his friend in shock, and in the end, all his words were stuck in his throat.

What was he supposed to say?!

You already confessed?!

Why didn't you tell me earlier or later? Why did you have to make it clear right before you came to the military camp to see him? This is obviously because you were afraid of having your thoughts exposed, so you lied to him beforehand!

But Li Shu did it so flawlessly that it was difficult for him to hold a grudge.

"I heard from Vice General Han that you remained calm in the face of danger and saved the troops from a lot of losses. We have rewards and punishments here. If you want anything, just say so, and I will do my best to satisfy you!" Rong Zhengyu felt that he could not pursue the matter any further, so he tried to be generous and said.

He looked Li Shu up and down, trying to guess Li Shu's preferences.

When Li Shu didn't need to change clothes, he wouldn't make himself suffer too much, especially after he had money, the materials used for his clothes became much better.

A few days ago, there were many traveling merchants, and a lot of foreign goods entered the border town, including clothes and jewelry. Li Shu picked out some inexpensive accessories and bought some, so her clothes were both neat and elegant.

She didn't like to smell of sweat, looking no different from other young girls.

Therefore, in Rong Zhengyu's eyes at this moment, Li Shu was a girl who loved beauty.

What could a young girl like that possibly want? Nothing more than some money, or... asking him to help her find a promising young man in the army.

Anyone is fine as long as they don't target him, even Cheng Mian... he thinks that's acceptable.

After all, Cheng Mian is easygoing and doesn't compete for anything, so he really needs a shrewd girl like her by his side to help him.

Thinking about it this way, Rong Zhengyu looked at Li Shu and suddenly found him much more pleasing to the eye.

Rong Zhengyu's sudden gaze made Li Shu very uncomfortable.

So she followed suit, returning the look with a sweeping, scrutinizing gaze, a meaningful scrutiny, and a half-smile...

She learned quickly and accurately.

But on her face, this look seemed a bit strange.

"What are you staring at me for?" Rong Zhengyu felt a chill run down his spine.

He felt that Li Shu's gaze... was like staring at a piece of pork, beef, or mutton, as if praising him for looking delicious and easy to cook.