Tantai Qingyue studied Ning Chen for a while. Then, suddenly, she said, "I can help you. But what do I get out of it?"

Ning Chen blinked, then grinned wickedly. "You can have me. Happy?"

Tantai Qingyue's little mouth curled. The disgust on her face said it all.

Ning Chen's face fell. "Little Tanzi, I'm in high demand... Besides, who in this world besides me is good enough for you?"

"Everyone in this world besides you is good enough for me."

Ning Chen's mouth twitched in sheer exasperation. "Little Tanzi, don't you feel even a little something for me?"

"I do..." Tantai Qingyue broke into a smile. "If I could cut you down with one stroke, I am sure it would feel wonderful!"

Ning Chen: "..."

Fuck... This woman is no good!

Tantai Qingyue went on, "It is not out of the question for Xiliang to send troops against the Great Xuan. But afterward, you may not take revenge."

Ning Chen nodded. "Naturally!"

"And you must release some of the Xiliang people!"

Ning Chen thought it over. "All right, no problem!"

The White Mountain River was through now anyway. Xuanwu City still had tens of thousands of Xiliang slaves, more than he needed at the moment. Releasing some of them didn't matter.

If he ran short of labor, he could just go to Xiliang later and grab more!

Tantai Qingyue's pretty face lit up with smiles. She was in a very good mood... First, because she had saved another batch of Xiliang people. Second, because Ning Chen had known perfectly well she was eavesdropping on the roof and hadn't hidden anything from her. Being trusted felt pretty great.

Time flew, and seven or eight days went by in a blink.

That day, something big happened in Xuanwu City!

Ning Chen was wounded!

He was leading his troops in drills when one soldier's musket went off by accident and hit him.

Ning Chen was carried back to the city lord's residence. Plenty of people saw it: he was covered in blood and unconscious.

The next day, word spread.

Ning Chen's life…