Ning Chen glanced into the room. "There shouldn't be any more trouble, should there?"

Zisu said quietly, "The mother is out of danger. She is only very weak. I've left a prescription, and if she takes the medicine as written she'll be back on her feet in a few days."

Ning Chen nodded slightly. "Good. Let's go."

Ning Chen took Zisu's hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world and walked out with her.

Liang Jingwu held Beilin Pass with a hundred thousand men, and he was a fierce fighter and a bold commander. Ning Chen thought highly of him.

They already had the fellowship of men who had fought on the same field.

And this time he had preserved the Liang line. Whatever happened from now on, he believed Liang Jingwu would stand on his side without a moment's hesitation.

Still not enough, though. He would have to stage a piece of self-inflicted suffering and bind Liang Jingwu to him for good... and clear away Ren Qifeng, that stone in the path, while he was at it.

He remembered the day the State Preceptor of Nanyue stood up at court with a first line meant to shame the Great Xuan, and this Ren Qifeng had capered higher than anyone.

Capering clown. Your good days are over. Ning Chen laughed coldly to himself.

"The little young master is so sweet."

"Eh? What was that?"

Ning Chen had been thinking and had not caught what Zisu said.

Zisu said with a light smile, "I said the Liang family's newborn boy is so sweet."

"You're joking, right? Can a newborn be good-looking? Aren't they all wrinkled and blotchy..." Ning Chen stopped short. "You like children?"

Zisu nodded and made a small sound of assent.

"Er... If you want children, I feel this is something I could help with."

Zisu's small face went red. She gave Ning Chen a look. "You wish."

"How can you call that wishing? The point is that I'm a man who likes to help. I do good deeds and leave no name behind —…