Xiao Yanxi smiled. "General Yue really is a woman of the battlefield. When it comes to love, she doesn't play coy at all... She's definitely not like other women."

Ning Chen laughed. "So those who love each other are made husband and wife at last... Congratulations, Old Feng. You won your beauty."

But then a strange look crossed his face. "Why do I keep feeling something's off about this?"

Xiao Yanxi asked curiously, "Off how?"

Ning Chen shook his head. "I can't put my finger on it."

It wasn't as if Feng Qizheng had never told Yue Congyun how he felt.

But her heart was set on the battlefield, and he'd been shot down again and again... So why had she agreed to share his room just like that this time?

"Old Pan, on the way here, did Miss Yue say anything to you?"

Pan Yucheng asked without thinking, "Say what?"

Ning Chen shook his head. He couldn't have said what, exactly. He just felt Yue Congyun had been a little off today.

"Never mind, it's nothing... Did you write to Miss Nanzhi?"

Pan Yucheng nodded, looking a little down.

All these years he'd been off at war at Ning Chen's side, and he'd let the two of them down, mother and daughter.

Ning Chen could see what was on his mind. "Don't worry. This year Her Majesty is bringing Miss Nanzhi into the palace for the New Year too."

They were still talking when Yuan Long arrived.

"My lord prince, we've gotten to the bottom of it. Those roving bandits were Kang Xiao's men after all. The bandit chief recognized him the moment he laid eyes on him."

Ning Chen nodded, not surprised in the least. He'd seen it coming.

Xiguan City lay in ruins, and its people had nothing to live on.

Gathering a few hundred drifters would be child's play for Kang Xiao right now. Give them one full meal, and they'd die for you.

"Murder and robbery. The crime is of the worst. Tomorrow, drag that bandit chief to the market crossing and behead him for…