Song Yi smiled and thought deeply for a long time, but in the end she couldn't bear to pretend to be ignorant, so she decided to do her best as a human being.

  Of course, she couldn't directly say "General Gong, when you arrive at the front line, be sure to listen to the commander's orders. If you really want to take credit, don't rush down the road of death" - if she had said that, Jian Yu would not have let her off, and his personal guards would not have spared anyone who showed disrespect to the Duke!

  So she could only subtly remind Jian Yu Bai that war is risky and killing enemies requires caution.

  Alone and deeply infiltrate the enemy camp, beheading the enemy commander...

  The State of Ji's public officials, with such rich experience, did not bring it up. The young and inexperienced nobles who have just emerged from their humble beginnings should not be too ambitious.

  "Don't worry, I won't be going to the front lines this time. The Empress Dowager herself has ordered me to only take care of logistics." Jian Yu Bai smiled and thanked her for her concern, saying frankly, "After all, my strength is still not sufficient, if I really went to the battlefield to fight, not only would I not be able to help, but I would also drag down my comrades!"

  Song Yi Xiao let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

  The result was not yet satisfactory, when suddenly a cyan horse rushed out from the side, and the knight on the horse was about the same age as Jian Yu. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with arms like an ape's and a slender waist like a bee's. With a heroic air, he said: "Ah Yu, don't be disappointed! As the saying goes, 'an opportunity lost is gone forever!' It's rare to have such a chance to go out on a distant campaign. Once we arrive at our destination, if the Duke of Ji doesn't allow it, we can take our own troops into battle. Can he really cut us down with his regular army?"

  "After all, if one doesn't take to the battlefield, isn't it just a waste of a trip? Go and do logistical work? What's the point of those tedious tasks? It's better to stay in the capital and live a carefree life!"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  My previous guess was really too unjust to Lord Jian, this one is the one with "seeking death" carved on his forehead, isn't it?!

  She looked at Jian Xu Bai with eyes full of hope, hoping that he could stick to his own views and not be influenced by others.

  "Orders are like mountains, be careful what you say!" The fact proved that the Empress Dowager's teachings and warnings were still reliable. Jian Yu Bai turned his head slightly, with a hint of disapproval in his phoenix-like eyes under his lowered eyelashes, "Besides, we all promised our imperial ancestors before we set out that we would follow the commander's orders!"

  "If we don't say so, how can we set off?" The young man laughed slyly, "Besides, the imperial court is using an axe to kill a chicken this time. Even if we make a few moves, I'm sure Lord Ji will be able to clean up after us!"

  No need to doubt it!

  With his unbridled energy, it would be strange if he doesn't hold back Da Rui in the future!

  Song Yi Xiao was secretly spitting blood when the young man suddenly pulled his horse in front of her and leaned over, teasingly saying: "Ah Xiao, were you just talking to her? Who is she?"

  Song Yi Xiao was about to respond, but the young man didn't really want to know. He loosened his reins, leaned forward, covered his face with both hands, and made a ferocious expression at her. With great enthusiasm, he scared her by saying, "Do you know what the Wuhuan people look like? Look, it's like this! And they have a blue face and fangs, kill people without blinking, eat people without spitting out bones, and their favorite food is little girls like you with delicate skin! After washing them clean, cut them into several pieces, throw them into the pot, add some ginger and scallions, and stew them over high heat... How about it? Are you scared?"

  "Why be afraid? No matter how it sounds like a monster, but in the face of my great wisdom and power, aren't they all just weaklings that can't withstand a single blow?" Song Yi laughed at him, calmly retorting, "On the contrary, you're the one who's afraid, aren't you?"

  "What a joke!" The young man slapped his thigh in dissatisfaction. "Go ask around, what is Ji Zifu afraid of?!"

  Song Yi smiled and was about to speak when suddenly a thought struck her, and she said seriously: "No need to ask, I already know what you're afraid of! You're afraid of listening to the commander's words!"

  "Afraid of the commander? How is that possible!" Ji Zifu sneered, "I am the son of the Marquis of Fuyang, my birth mother is the Princess of Dai State, and I address her as Imperial Grandmother, just like Ah Xū. What can the Duke of Ji do to me, no matter how high his position or great his power?"

  "I'm not saying you're afraid of the commander, I'm saying you're afraid to listen to what the commander has to say!" Song Yi smiled and glanced at Jian Xu Bai, seeing him smiling with a "you two are just kids, I'm an adult so I won't get involved" look on his face, her mouth couldn't help but curve up.

  But in her heart, she knew that it was just a matter of time before they would meet again. If she could help, then so be it - She put her hands on her hips and assumed an air of disdain, saying in a crisp voice, "You were just trying to persuade General Jian to disobey orders with you earlier, clearly because you're afraid that the commander's instructions are beyond your capabilities!"

  "You little kid, what do you know? I'd be brave if I didn't listen to him. How many people in the world can afford not to follow military orders under General Ji's command?"

  "You say I'm a kid, are you much older than me?" Song Yi sneered disdainfully, "You're obviously scared but still making excuses, not heroic at all!"

  "Who says I can't?" Ji Ziyu floated with a playful gaze at her, "But if I do, what's in it for me?"

  Song Yi Xiao almost choked, doing a good deed and still having to pay the price? Where in the world is there such logic! She glared at him sideways: "What benefit? Why should I give you benefits? It was you who said you weren't afraid of anything!"

  "Think there's no benefit?" Ji Zifu snorted with a smile, her face suddenly turning cold, and said in a chilly tone, "Do you think I'm stupid? You think you can deceive me with just a few words and make me obey? You're overestimating yourself!"

  He turned his face as if turning a book, and after Song Yi's smile passed, her expression suddenly became very awkward.

  "Would you like a flower skirt or earrings? Why make things difficult for the little girl, I'll have someone buy a whole box for you right away?"

  One sentence made Ji Zi float stunned, Song Yi smiled and covered her mouth with her sleeve, endured and endured again, but still couldn't hold back, "Pfft" and laughed with a bent eye!

  "Ah Xū you're really meddling in other people's business!" Ji Zǐ Fú glared at her, complaining to Jiǎn Xū Bái, "I was just teasing her!"

  "When did you say making people laugh wasn't making them cry?" Jian Yu Bai didn't give face, "Last time even Zhang Xing cried for over an hour, and the Empress Dowager couldn't comfort her——Today the army sets out, if someone wails by the side of the road, damaging morale, no matter if it's a little girl, what would be the consequences?"

  Ji Zi Fu nodded: "Still, Ah Xū is quite considerate!"

  Then the whip shook and "slapped" in front of Song Yixiao, "Did you hear?! On such a big day today, dare to cry out loud, be careful with your whole family's head!"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  She thought she understood why even Princess Changxing was reduced to tears by this cousin!

  Fortunately, at this time, the Yuan siblings finally finished talking - Yuan Xueying pulled her brother over and smiled at Song Yi: "I told my brother that these days, sister took great care of me, and my brother wants to thank you in person."

  "Sister, you're saying this!" Song Yi smiled, unaware of her kindness, and thought that Yuan Xuepei was worried about her younger sister and made an excuse to thank her and entrust her with a few words. She politely said, "I didn't take care of my sister, it's my sister who took care of me instead!"

  Yuan Xuepei smiled ambiguously and sized her up a few times, implying: "Miss Song is quite lovely."

  This remark was incomprehensible to Song Yixiao, but Yuan Xueying's face lit up with joy, and she only said that her brother seemed to have a good impression of the sister-in-law he had chosen for himself.

  Yuan Xuepei said, "But I have to go on an expedition today, so everything will have to wait until I return triumphantly before we can discuss it!"

  Song Yi Xiao was indeed a person who lived for many years, and he couldn't help but think that Yuan Xue Lian had been with him for only a short period of time, yet she already had the idea of wanting him to be her brother-in-law. Now, listening to her words and tone, he also sensed that she seemed to be hinting at an engagement in the future. He couldn't help but laugh and cry: "This Lord Hou is really going all out for his sister!"

  She also thought that Yuan Xuepei was afraid that she and her mother were not kind enough to Yuan Xueyu, so she used marriage as a temptation - anyway, it's just empty talk, and it's only said in front of Song Yixiao. If he doesn't acknowledge it afterwards, can Song Yixiao still force the marriage?

  Although it is understandable that Yuan's brother and sister lost their parents at an early age, and the elders who are still alive do not have good intentions. In this situation, as a brother, taking care of his younger sister is not easy, and Yuan Xuepei has a heavier heart, which is also understandable.

  But being "calculated" on her head, Song Yi Xiao was still unhappy. She narrowed her eyes and smiled: "Lord Yuan, may I borrow a step to speak?"

  "Brother, hurry up!" Yuan Xuepei hadn't even finished speaking when Yuan Xueying excitedly urged him on - he helplessly glanced at his sister, sighed, and then followed Song Yixiao in the opposite direction of Li Jianbai and Ji Zifeng for a couple of steps: "What does Miss Song want to say?"

  "Will Lord Yuan be with Lord Jian for the entire journey?" Song Yi smiled and saw the impatience in his eyes, so she didn't bother to linger and directly said what she wanted to say. "The young master of Ji is very hot-headed and always wants to stir up trouble with Lord Jian! You, Lord Yuan, are calm and wise, it would be great if you could take care of Lord Jian a bit."

  Actually, Yuan Xuepei just now got off the horse and only wanted to chat with her sister, didn't think about coaxing Song Yixiao. It was just that Yuan Xueying kept telling him about Song Yixiao's good qualities, and between the lines, she hinted "Brother, if you want to find a wife for me, wouldn't it be great if you found Sister Song?"

  She had never brought up the matter of her sister-in-law before, so Yuan Xuepei couldn't help but suspect that her younger sister was being guided or even hinted at by Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao, and was unhappy in her heart, which is why she threw out a bait.

  This made Song Yixiao ask himself to take a closer look, and he suddenly realized that it was a misunderstanding. He couldn't help but laugh awkwardly: "You don't need to tell me, I will follow Ah Xū anyway, this is the Empress Dowager's order!"

  His parents have passed away, and his stepmother and uncle are not dragging him down. This time he can join the ranks of the golden ones, mainly because since childhood he has been close friends with Jian Yu Bai, like brothers.

  So in both public and private life, he will take good care of the young Lord of Yan.

  "This person's cleverness is not to be mentioned, just looking at how he dotes on Yuan Xueyao, he absolutely won't take risks easily!" Song Yi smiled upon hearing this and secretly let out a sigh of relief, "With him keeping an eye on Jian Wubai, even if Ji Zifeng still goes to seek death, it should also not implicate Jian Wubai!"

  As for Ji Ziyu... what can you do if someone wants to seek death?

  Besides, she's not even familiar with him!

  But things are hard to predict. Half a year later, in the first month of Xianjia 15th year, the north border sent back bad news as it did in previous years.

  The sons of the Marquis of Fuyang, the Duke of Yan, and the Marquis of Boling, among others, were captured by the Wuhuan while competing for merit and advancement, and were held as hostages to force Da Rui to withdraw his troops and cede territory.

  The Prince of Ji did not dare to act arbitrarily, and had to send the memorial back urgently with an additional 800 li, which was both a request for punishment and a request for instructions.

  Both sides were shocked!

  Yuan Xueying heard the news and fainted on the spot, unconscious!

  After half a year of being together, even though there was still some resentment towards Zhiqin's affair, they had developed some genuine feelings for each other.

  Song Yixiao waited in the Qingbi Building until midnight, finally waiting for her to slowly wake up. He comforted her with warm words for a long time, seeing that she was only crying, looking as if nothing could be more sorrowful than death itself. He couldn't help but slap his hand on the table and say: "Yuan Houye is just being held captive, Wuhuan wants to use him to coerce Da Rui, will they dare to harm him? Apart from not having freedom, who knows whether he's enjoying good food and drink?! You're putting on this expression now, is it auspicious or not?!"

  "Moreover, it's not just him who was captured. In the future, when it comes to meting out punishment, it won't be possible to single him out for severe punishment. With so many nobles involved, even if Lord Jian is implicated, would Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty allow him to receive heavy punishment? Most likely, they will downplay the matter - after all, in the eyes of Her Majesty and Your Majesty, these people are just a group of children!"

  The words that followed were somewhat deceitful, but enough to intimidate Yuan Xueying. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, and indeed didn't dare to cry: "So, brother won't be in trouble?"

  "Of course!" Song Yi smiled, her previous life wasn't very clear about this matter either, she only knew that although it dragged on for six years, the Wuhuan were still annihilated, the entire royal family was captured and taken back to the capital, paraded in the Temple of Heaven as prisoners - apparently there was even a princess selected to enter the palace - as for who those people were who caused the great disaster, she didn't know, let alone what happened afterwards.

  But anyway, Yuan Xue didn't know either, so she said with no pressure at all, "So what are you crying about now? Don't cry for nothing and make something out of it!"

  Yuan Xue watched her calm and composed appearance, admiringly, yet feeling troubled: "If brother's future is ruined because of this matter, I wonder if Song sister would still be willing to marry him?"

  This problem had been troubling her for more than five years, especially after Song Yixiao turned fourteen and grew into a slender and beautiful young woman. Yuan Xueying was increasingly worried that someone else would snatch away the candidate she had set her sights on as her future sister-in-law.

  Unexpectedly, in the early spring of Xianjia's 20th year, she finally waited for her brother to return, but she no longer had this thought.