Wonderland of Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Wonderland of Love Synopsis

When the dynasty is in turmoil and imperial power is at risk, Li Yi, the grandson of the emperor, is forced to take on the important task of quelling the rebellion.

He and Cui Lin, the only daughter of a general are each leading an army in the dispute.

They fight against each other among various forces and fall in love during several encounters, staging a romantic love story.

Wonderland of Love Recap

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Lao Lan River has eighteen bends, and the first bend is Silver Pine Beach. In Silver Pine Beach...

As the powerful folk songs echoed, the scouts of the Western Garrison, led by General Li Ni, shouted for their comrades to come and eat the bread. The relief officers who came off duty wolfed down the bread with water. General Li Ni, who arrived late, scolded Old Bao for stealing his craft and the best flour he had sent for the 17th Prince. Old Bao didn't deny it, stating that he had just taken a little, and the 17th Prince had said that they would share both hardships and good fortune.

While they were talking, there was a sudden sharp scream from outside the city, and everyone tensed up and rushed to guard the city walls. Xie Zhanger, who was also a scout, jumped up and then crouched on the ground like a mantis, carefully listening to the sounds of the earth. In just a short while, he sensed something and signaled to Li Ni. Li Ni set aside his bread, tightened his grip on a bow and arrow, and kept his eyes fixed on the approaching group of people and horses. The arrow was on the string, but before anyone could react, someone hastily shouted that the newcomers were not enemies but General Pei Xian of the Western Garrison.

Li Ni put away his bow and arrow and went out to greet him. Pei Xian bowed to the 17th Prince Li Ni and reported that His Majesty had been harmed by Sun Jing at the Wan Shou Banquet on the sixth day of the sixth month. Now the rebels had taken over the palace and were slaughtering the city, and the Crown Prince had also died for the country. All the princes, their heirs, and countless princesses and concubines had been killed or injured. General Yun Chang, Han, had escorted the Crown Prince out of the siege but was dispersed outside the city by the rebel forces, and his fate was unknown. Li Ni's father, Lord Liang, was taken hostage and imprisoned in the Lord Liang's mansion. Now, the entire royal family had only the line of Lord Liang, and only Li Ni could shoulder the heavy responsibility of restoring order.

Li Ni only wanted to enjoy himself at Lao Lan Pass and hadn't paid attention to palace affairs for a long time. But now, the Great Yu Kingdom was in turmoil, and he couldn't just enjoy himself without a care. The Western Garrison marched towards the palace, but their supplies were running low. To get enough food for his troops, Li Ni planned to capture the food merchant Pi Silang with Pei Yuan. However, to their surprise, there was another group of people also targeting Pi Silang.

Both Li Ni and Cui Lin intended to take action against Pi Silang at the same time. However, they heard a commotion outside the door, so they had no choice but to jump into the bathhouse to hide. Without knowing each other's backgrounds, they ended up fighting each other in the water. Eventually, they were both discovered. Fortunately, Li Ni was quick-witted and lied, claiming that he had entered the wrong room with his lover, allowing them to escape before Sun Jing's subordinates arrived. Once they were safe, the two of them fought again, with their martial skills being evenly matched. However, they both managed to take something from each other during the fight.

Afterward, both sides began to wonder who the other person really was. In Cui Lin's eyes, the Li family had never been skilled in martial arts, let alone produced a man who could match her evenly in combat. On the other hand, Li Ni deduced that Cui Lin was from the Cui family based on an arrow she left behind. Now, the Cui family was also claiming to support the loyalists and heading towards the palace, so the realm was divided into three factions.

Late at night, Cui Lin had originally intended to take a bath, but she unexpectedly encountered Li Ni again. Cui Lin wanted to leave, but her clothes were caught, causing a disturbance. Li Ni sensed something was amiss and sent a bamboo pole towards the source of the noise. Once again, they engaged in combat. Cui Lin momentarily lost focus and was nearly captured by Li Ni. She hurriedly spoke up, revealing that she knew the whereabouts of the Crown Prince. Li Ni believed her and tried to help her up, but he was wounded by her hidden weapon and fell into a well.

Since Pi Silang was under house arrest by Sun Jing, Li Ni decided to use a ruse to gain access to him, claiming that he was sent by Lady Pi to escort Pi Silang. This ploy worked, but Pi Silang's identifying token was already missing. Li Ni realized that the Cui family had sabotaged their plan. It appeared that, at this moment, the Cui family had disguised themselves as the guards of Wangzhou and openly entered the city to obtain supplies. Li Ni remained calm and decided to hold Wangzhou City until Cui Lin was chased by Guo Zhi for negotiation. Indeed, as he had suspected, the Cui family's army had arrived too early.

Inside the Western Capital Imperial Palace, Grand Commander Sun Jing scored another goal in a game of ball. Former Crown Princess Xiao, in response, also scored a goal. They were both very happy, enjoying the pleasant weather, accompanied by their loved ones. Sun Jing's strategist, Xin Fu, hurriedly came and whispered something in Sun Jing's ear. His expression darkened instantly, and in a fit of rage, he struck the ball forcefully, hitting an eunuch's head.

Sun Jing summoned Lord Liang to inquire about Li Ni. Lord Liang was so scared that he shivered and tearfully recounted Li Ni's background. Li Ni's mother had died during a difficult childbirth, and he had been mischievous from a young age, often fighting with his elder brother. As he grew up, he became a lazy troublemaker, causing disturbances. It was for this reason that the late emperor had exiled him to Lao Lan Pass. However, Sun Jing pointed out that the seemingly mischievous and useless younger son in Lord Liang's account had cleverly used tactics to capture Wangzhou. Lord Liang didn't know how to respond and feigned illness, fainting.

At present, the three armies were in a standoff, which benefited no one. So, Cui Lin, disguised as Captain He, and Li Ni, disguised as Captain Pei Yuan, came to Guo Zhi's camp to negotiate. Guo Zhi proposed that one representative from each army should participate in a horse race, and the winning side would have the right to negotiate. Before the race began, Li Ni and Cui Lin, who had a hostile relationship, exchanged sharp words. During the intense race, Guo Zhi's subordinates were eager for victory and didn't avoid the arrows, pushing through to place their own side's flag into the iron jar. One of the horses got frightened and ran straight towards Cui Lin. Li Ni, who was nearby, acted quickly to protect her.

Li Ni and Cui Lin admired the courage of this subordinate, and they were both satisfied with the result. Guo Zhi believed that it was approaching dusk and the priority was to bury this subordinate. He invited both of them to stay the night and discuss negotiation matters the next day. Li Ni and Cui Lin readily agreed. However, during the night, Guo Zhi planned to capture their heads to claim credit with Sun Jing. He had sent them snacks with a secret ingredient.

Meanwhile, Li Ni wanted to investigate Cui Lin's background and quietly infiltrated her tent. However, Cui Lin seemed to have anticipated this and effortlessly captured him. Just then, Guo Zhi's snacks were delivered. In the short time they were out of the tent, Li Ni, who was tied up, disappeared without a trace. When Cui Lin realized the situation was turning bad, it was already too late, and Li Ni had tied her up.

While the two were in a standoff, Guo Zhi's army quietly approached. However, many rockets flew in from an unknown source, setting Guo Zhi's camp in chaos. Cui Lin and Li Ni, although from different camps, now had a common enemy and decided to put aside their previous grievances and stand together. Seizing the opportunity, Li Ni called for Xie Zhanger to inform Pei Yuan to guard the city gate. Cui Lin, on the other hand, took the chance to slip away.

Cui Lin tore off a piece of her clothing and left it by the road to erase her footprints, intending to confuse Li Ni, who was chasing her. When Li Ni arrived, he suspected Cui Lin's scheme but decided to outsmart her. He pushed her into a river, seeking revenge for the previous incident when she pushed him into a well. However, after Cui Lin fell into the water, she quickly went silent, and the ripples caused by her struggle gradually subsided. Although they had their differences, Li Ni wasn't a heartless person who would let innocent people die. He promptly jumped into the water to rescue Cui Lin. After pulling her to safety, Cui Lin took advantage of Li Ni's momentary distraction and used a hidden weapon in her mouth to strike his acupoint, causing him to faint. In gratitude for Li Ni saving her, Cui Lin hid him in the bushes to prevent him from being discovered by pursuers.

Cui Lin rode her horse ahead, but she lost her way. Frustrated and disoriented, she was suddenly startled when a swarm of horse bees scattered in all directions ahead. Cui Lin fell into a pitfall trap. Fortunately, she only injured her leg and didn't hit any vital areas. Her white horse was frantic but could do nothing except neigh loudly. In desperation, Cui Lin called for the white horse to go and get help.

During the night, Cui Lin sat motionless in the pit, unable to move. She could only watch the bright moon in the sky while her stomach growled, and she gazed longingly at the moonlight. The bone-chilling cold wind rustled the weeds, making eerie sounds. Footsteps approached slowly from not far away, accompanied by an unfamiliar fragrance. After a while, Li Ni, holding roasted meat, blocked the moonlight shining on Cui Lin. Li Ni offered the roasted meat in exchange for Cui Lin handing over the army's supplies to him. Cui Lin refused, insisting that someone would avenge her even if she died. Li Ni had no choice and jumped into the pit. However, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to harm Cui Lin, so he handed her the roasted meat.

Learning that Cui Lin's life was uncertain, Cui Family's son, Liu Chengfeng, immediately dispatched troops to Guo Zhi's military camp. Close attendant Tao Zi and Chen Xing hurriedly came to report that their master was safe. Tao Zi was Cui Lin's personal maidservant, and they had grown up together. She was knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and could track Cui Lin using the unique medicinal powder on her. At that moment, Cui Lin was tied up by the bandit leader Huang Youyi, and accompanying her was Li Ni, who had jumped into the hole to bring her food.

The mountain bandits were uncertain about how to deal with the beautiful Cui Lin. Some suggested selling her for money, while others proposed marrying her as their leader's concubine. Huang Youyi, feeling a headache, immediately interrupted them and interrogated Cui Lin to find out her true identity. Cui Lin, with a sly twinkle in her eyes, falsely claimed to be the beloved concubine of Crown Prince Li Ni. The actual Li Ni was dumbfounded, admiring Cui Lin's ability to lie without blushing. To avoid trouble, he reluctantly played along, saying he was Li Ni's bodyguard, tasked with escorting this "concubine of Li Ni" to Wangzhou.

With the Li royal family's decline, the mountain bandits were not inclined to believe them. One bandit, recalling that Zhao Youde was formerly in the Western Army, rushed to greet Li Ni and was overjoyed to meet Seventeenth Young Master here. It was then that Cui Lin learned that the adversary behind her was indeed Crown Prince Li Ni. Li Ni felt like he had come home and had his restraints removed, while he ordered Cui Lin's bindings to be tightened.

In order to rebel, Sun Jing had pillaged nearby villages, and Zhao Youde had joined the mountain bandits because of it. As for the court, they all had grievances. Sun Jing and the rogue bandits didn't care about the lives of the common people, and the Li royal family wasn't much better. Repeated corvée labor and hardship had driven these people to become outlaws and rulers of the mountains. Zhao Youde suggested that everyone recognize Li Ni as their elder brother and together join the Western Army. The bandits, being straightforward, didn't wait for Li Ni to speak and flocked to him, vowing in blood brotherhood. But that knife was clearly aimed at Cui Lin, representing the "Li royal family."

Seeing this, Li Ni felt the need to intervene and falsely claimed that this royal concubine was his beloved, and they were eloping. Upon hearing this, the bandits' attitude changed, affectionately referring to Cui Lin as their sister-in-law and quickly untying her. Everyone chatted and headed toward the "bridal chamber." Li Ni was in a difficult position and had no choice but to take Cui Lin into the room. With no one else around, they no longer held back and vied to occupy the bed. Li Ni chose to play the role of an eager suitor, hoping to force Cui Lin to yield, but she turned away and prepared to rest.

At this moment, Tao Zi had followed the trail of medicinal powder to the mountain stronghold and, witnessing Li Ni's inappropriate advances on Cui Lin, became angry and drew her small crossbow. Li Ni noticed in time and shielded Cui Lin. Seeing the short arrow, Cui Lin realized Tao Zi had arrived and immediately pushed Li Ni away and got up. At the same time, Xie Zhanger also arrived. Before the few of them could introduce themselves, a commotion started outside, with reports of Guo Zhi leading his troops to attack the mountain. Li Ni and Cui Lin had been away from their respective camps for several days and needed to return quickly. They left Xie Zhanger and Tao Zi behind to assist the mountain bandits.

Cui Lin's leg injury had not yet healed, preventing her from traversing the mountain path. To avoid drawing attention, Li Ni borrowed clothes from the villagers and bought a horse-drawn carriage. They finally arrived at a checkpoint, but Sun Jing's subordinates were looting from the common people. Both were angry but couldn't afford to take risks, so they reluctantly turned the carriage towards the mountain road. The rugged mountain road caused Cui Lin's body to ache with pain. Li Ni furrowed his brows and carried Cui Lin on his back. When Cui Lin woke up, she found herself lying on a straw mat, and Li Ni was roasting meat nearby.

Suddenly, voices from outside alarmed them. Li Ni nervously grabbed his short sword and peered through a crack. Fortunately, the newcomers were not mountain bandits or official soldiers but an elderly couple who had rescued them. The old couple had returned from hunting in the mountains, and the four of them shared a satisfying meal. During the night, while the old woman was sleeping, Cui Lin stuffed her pearls into the woman's clothes. They were abruptly awakened by a group of aggressive soldiers. The old couple insisted they hadn't seen any strangers, and the soldiers let them go.

But when Cui Lin and Li Ni emerged, they found the elderly couple's lifeless bodies. Both had been shot in the back and held hands until the end. Li Ni was furious and blamed Cui Lin for stunning him earlier, preventing them from saving the elderly couple in time. But given the circumstances at the time, Cui Lin had no other options.

Liu Chengfeng and Cui Lin had grown up together since childhood. In his eyes, Cui Lin was unlike any other woman in the world. From a young age, Cui Lin had treated him differently from everyone else. He had long held a fondness for Cui Lin but didn't know if she felt the same way about him. Hearing that Tao Zi had already found Cui Lin, he quickly drank a medicinal concoction, intending to continue forward, hoping to meet Cui Lin on her way back. On the other hand, Guo Zhi had led his army and was nearing the city of Wangzhou. Outnumbered and with few options, Pei Yuan planned to abandon the city and withdraw.

Struggling to reach the city, Cui Lin finally couldn't hold on any longer and fainted. Li Ni found a doctor for Cui Lin and personally brewed medicine for her. In her deep sleep, Cui Lin was drenched in sweat and caught in a nightmare. In her dream, at a young age, she was chased by a group of people, and her loved ones died one by one before her eyes. Her mother had to stay behind to deal with the attackers. Cui Lin cried out for her "mother" but couldn't grasp anything. Li Ni looked disdainful, but he didn't stop his actions, helping Cui Lin up and feeding her medicine. He did it smoothly, as if he had become the husband taking care of his wife. When Cui Lin woke up, she thought Li Ni was trying to harm her and attempted to injure him with a hidden weapon. Li Ni, without blinking an eye, dodged the projectile and continued to apply the medicine to Cui Lin's wound. Cui Lin felt a warm feeling in her heart, allowing Li Ni to apply the herbs to her injury.

During the night, the two finally sat down for an intimate conversation. Cui Lin openly expressed her regret for not being able to save the elderly couple. When she was a child, she had grown up on the border. One day, all the men in the city went to fight, and another group of enemies took advantage of the situation to attack the city. The women in the city, including Cui Lin, donned armor and picked up spears to defend their homes. Cui Lin's mother instructed her to crawl out of the well and escape, while she stayed behind to fight alongside the other women until the very end. When Cui Lin and her father returned to the city, they saw the corpses of those women hanging from the city walls, and blood flowing down the walls. From that moment on, Cui Lin remembered her mother's words: only by staying alive could she save more people.

As they journeyed, Cui Lin and Li Ni saw an increasing number of refugees, and they felt a deep sense of unease. They heard that the Western Army had been defeated, and Guo Zhi had once again occupied Wangzhou. The people couldn't help but lament, "In prosperity, the people suffer; in decline, the people suffer." Upon hearing these words, Li Ni didn't say much, but his face clearly showed his anxiety and worry. He bought candied fruits to please Cui Lin, hoping to capture Wangzhou together.

The lord of Wangzhou, Han Li, was a cunning and two-faced man who had long defied the imperial orders, colluding with the traitor Sun Jing. Han Li controlled only Wangzhou and Jianzhou, but these two cities were vital water routes for the transportation of grain and troops. Jianzhou was only about two hundred miles away from Wangzhou, and a fast horse could reach it in one night. The governor of Jianzhou recognized only the official seal, not the bearer, so as long as they captured Wangzhou and seized Han Li's seal, both cities would be in their hands.

Moreover, Han Li had recently had a son, and a celebration was approaching. They decided to use this opportunity to prepare a grand gift for him. The primary task was to infiltrate the celebration. Li Ni learned that Han Li's residence had recently hired a wet nurse, who had a blood sister known as Lady Xu. Lady Xu was known for setting up a stall to sell tofu and soy milk. So, they disguised themselves as a married couple and approached Lady Xu to gather information.

Cui Lin had hidden something in her belly and pretended to be pregnant, while Li Ni bought a piece of fine cloth. With this setup, they sat down at Lady Xu's soy milk stall. Cui Lin first praised Lady Xu's skills, drawing her attention. Lady Xu indeed noticed Cui Lin's belly and the cloth on the table, and she offered some advice as an experienced person. Cui Lin, sweet-tongued and clever, quickly became close to Lady Xu and extracted a lot of information. Han Li's grandson had recently suffered from an illness that hadn't completely healed yet. So, Han's residence was certain to have a doctor visiting soon. Coincidentally, Cui Lin had some knowledge of medicine.

On the day of the celebration, Li Ni and Cui Lin, as planned, infiltrated Han Li's mansion and abducted Han Li's grandson, threatening to exchange him for the real tiger tally. Han Li's advisor, Lv Chengzhi, speculated that the Western Army had recently suffered defeat at Wangzhou and was now close to BIngzhou. The son of the Cui family's Cui Gongzi was leading a large army nearby. At this moment, both families were eyeing Bingzhou, and either could be the mastermind behind the abduction of the grandson. Puzzled, Han Li decided to go for the exchange with a fake tiger tally.

His secret guards had been observing inside and outside the forest for a whole day but saw no one come to claim the tiger tally. Just when Han Li was puzzled, a call for "fire" resounded. Li Ni and Cui Lin took advantage of the chaos to climb over the walls and investigate the whereabouts of the real tiger tally. However, the courtyard was full of traps, and a slight mistake could be fatal. Neither of them was rash, so they quickly retreated to strategize. After much discussion, they decided to pose as trusted aides of Cui Gongzi and negotiate with Han Li.

Han Li rushed off to fight the fire, not realizing that his grandson had been secretly returned at some point. He finally understood that the other side intended to lure him away to steal the real tiger tally. Fortunately, the south courtyard was heavily guarded, and without a force of hundreds or thousands of people, it was impossible to break in. Later, Li Ni and Cui Lin, posing as Cui's army, arrived and offered a hefty sum to borrow a path through the south courtyard. Han Li was a greedy man by nature, but considering the tense situation, he had to be cautious. Learning that the messenger who had come to negotiate was indeed from the Cui army, specifically Cui Gongzi's trusted confidante, the famous "Lockbox Woman," Han Li had an idea. However, they seemed to have mistaken Li Ni's identity and, astonishingly, took him for Cui Gongzi.

Seeing Han Li's elaborate greeting, both Cui Lin and Li Ni were perplexed, but they had to play along with Han Li's plan and continued to impersonate Cui Gongzi. In the evening, Sun Jing sent gold and jewelry and a team of guards under the pretext of protecting Han Li. Han Li, who already resented Sun Jing, planned to use this opportunity to break free of Sun Jing's control with the help of the "Cui Gongzi" they had provided. Li Ni and Cui Lin had foreseen Han Li's plan and decided to outwit him.

With remarkable coordination, they searched every corner of the room and sealed off all potential sources of leakage. However, there was suddenly movement on the roof. Li Ni acted swiftly, wrapping his arms around Cui Lin and covering them both with a red cloth as they slipped into the bathtub. Surrounded by smoke and concealed by the red cloth, anyone attempting to eavesdrop, no matter how keen their sight or hearing, would not be able to discern what Cui Lin and Li Ni were doing or saying. Learning of the situation in the room, Han Li couldn't help but burst into laughter, stating that Cui Gongzi was truly exceptional for engaging in such playful antics in such circumstances.

Once they were free from disturbance, Li Ni and Cui Lin lay down on the bed to rest. Li Ni suddenly realized that he didn't know the true identity of the woman beside him, knowing only that she was the confidante of Cui Gongzi. Cui Lin was reluctant to reveal her real name but, faced with Li Ni's persistent questions, finally uttered "Ah Jin." Li Ni knew this was not her real name and decided to give her a name himself, calling her "Ah Dao" or "Ah Zhen."

Cui Lin, belatedly, realized that Li Ni had been teasing her about her role as a pregnant woman and angrily pressed a silver needle against his neck. However, Li Ni was unusually earnest, stating that this journey was dangerous, and if he were to die without knowing her name, it would be a great pity. Cui Lin felt a bit touched and turned away from Li Ni. Later, she slowly revealed her real name, "Ah Ying," which was the pet name her mother had given her. Li Ni gently called out the name "Ah Ying" and gradually fell into a deep sleep.

Concubine Xiao, taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, quietly entered the room of the former prince's consort, Lady Jiang, to inquire about the well-being of her unborn child. Seeing that Lady Jiang was safe, Concubine Xiao quickly departed.

After returning to the military camp, Cui Lin quickly led the army to attack Bingzhou. The defending forces in Bingzhou were defeated in a single battle, with some retreating to Jinzhou and the rest surrendering. Han Li saw that the situation was unfavorable and managed to escape with the protection of his guards. However, Cui Lin had already ordered her troops to search for Han Li and close the city gates. She made it clear that they must capture Han Li before the Zhenxi Army could do so. At the same time, the old Bao from the Zhenxi Army was also searching for Han Li's whereabouts.

Outside the house was in chaos, but Gu Wanniang, the daughter of Gu Xiang, remained calm and continued her embroidery work. Gu Xiang had six daughters and thought that Gu Wanniang was neither intelligent nor skilled, so she listened to her third daughter's advice and sent her to Bingzhou. Just as she was thinking, there was a sudden urgent sound of footsteps outside the house. Han Li appeared before her eyes, seeking refuge. Gu Wanniang, a strong-willed woman, mocked Han Li for intruding into a women's chamber in broad daylight. Han Li seemed to pose a threat to Gu Wanniang, but at that moment, Li Ni pushed the door open.

In his haste, Han Li pushed Gu Wanniang aside and fled on his own. Seeing Xie Zhanger chasing after him, Li Ni quickly leaped to save Gu Wanniang from falling off the balcony. Coincidentally, Cui Lin arrived in time and witnessed the scene. Despite some displeasure, Cui Lin was willing to concede Bingzhou. However, she wasn't about to give up this strategic stronghold so easily. Even before the city was breached, she had ordered the removal of the city's food and supplies.

The Zhenxi Army realized their mistake and quickly confronted the Cui family's troops. The two sides engaged in a heated argument that escalated into a fight. Meanwhile, Liu Chengfeng and Cui Lin remained unfazed by the commotion and calmly enjoyed the snacks in front of them. When a bit of snack ended up on Cui Lin's lips, Liu Chengfeng adeptly stepped forward to wipe it away. This scene did not go unnoticed by Li Ni, and an unexplained anger welled up in his heart. He blurted out, "Stop!" and the entire hall fell silent. It was this exclamation that made Liu Chengfeng notice the hairpin in Li Ni's hair, which Cui Lin had claimed was lost.

Li Ni, feeling bored, recalled Liu Chengfeng's actions with Cui Lin earlier, and he felt quite uncomfortable. Just then, he heard a soft sound of footsteps outside the door and couldn't help but wonder if Cui Lin had come to find him. He quickly got up to open the door. However, when he opened the door, the smile on his face instantly disappeared, and his joy disappeared from his eyes. Gu Wanniang thanked Li Ni and offered to contribute the Gu family's resources, but she had one request—to accompany the army to the capital. Li Ni naturally disagreed because it was against the rules and he couldn't look after female relatives. But unable to resist Gu Wanniang's earnest request, Li Ni reluctantly agreed to let her join the army disguised as a man.

To appease the city's residents, a lantern festival was held that night. Li Ni invited Cui Lin and they went out together to enjoy the evening. Lanterns illuminated the night, and Cui Lin and Li Ni sat in a small boat, admiring the beautiful scenery. Li Ni told Cui Lin that he had grown up in the capital and had often ridden alone to Leyou Plain since he learned how to ride. Leyou Plain was a famous scenic spot in the capital, located on high ground, offering a panoramic view of the entire city. Cui Lin couldn't help but recite a poem: "Myriads of trees and cicadas, a rainbow across the river, a western wind on Leyou Plain. Xihe bathes in the Yu spring, not allowing the slanting sun to move east." But what Li Ni had in mind was a different poem. Before he could speak, Cui Lin preempted him and recited the poem he had in mind.

Ever since taking control of the imperial city, Lady Wei regarded herself as the rightful queen. However, the former Crown Princess, Xiao Fei, had always been the object of Sun Jing's affections when he was younger, which made her feel belittled by Xiao Fei. But she couldn't bear this humiliation and started to oppose Xiao Fei in every possible way, determined to assert her authority in front of her. However, Xiao Fei, relying on Sun Jing's favor, paid no attention to her. At this time, Sun Jing had not yet ascended to the throne, and in theory, Xiao Fei's status was higher than hers. So, Lady Wei found Xiao Fei even more disagreeable and contemplated sending her away.

Admiring the river lanterns, they were unaware the small boat was leaking, so they had to get off, looking disheveled to dry their outer garments. The smell of roasting firewood reminded Cui Lin of her mother; during her childhood, her mother used to roast sweet potatoes by the fire. Thinking about it made Cui Lin's stomach growl. Li Ni suggested they grab a bite to eat. The dumplings at the shop were delicious, but surprisingly there were few customers. Cui Lin couldn't help but inquire about it. The shopkeeper helplessly mentioned that everyone had gone to witness the execution of Han Li. On hearing this, both Li Ni and Cui Lin looked somewhat guilty.

Meanwhile, some people emerged from the crowd claiming to save Han Li. Chaos ensued as people scattered. However, Li Ni and Cui Lin remained unfazed and continued their leisurely date. As they leisurely walked back, they noticed many washing away bloodstains from the pavilion. Huang Youdao was extremely pleased, claiming to have obtained Han Li's military token. But just when he wanted to hand it to Li Ni, he couldn't find it. Liu Chengfeng, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile, revealing the truth behind the praying mantis catching the cicada, with the oriole behind.

Knowing that Cui Lin stole the token, the Zhenxi Army was irritated. They pointed at Cui Lin, questioning her actions, reminding her she was the concubine of the Crown Prince, supposed to elope with the Seventeenth Lord. Yet, she was now seen with another man, aiding him in obtaining the military token. When Cui Lin denied it, someone suggested it was just a lover's quarrel, not something to escalate this much. Liu Chengfeng, agitated, rebuked the mountain bandits, questioning Li Ni's intentions. Li Ni, seemingly enjoying the spectacle, waited for Cui Lin to explain herself. Cui Lin hurriedly explained to Liu Chengfeng that it was all a misunderstanding.

Upon entering, Li Ni noticed a pair of wrist guards and thought they were specially made by Cui Lin. Excitedly, he put them on and rushed to find Cui Lin. But Li Ni's arrogance led Cui Lin to believe he was flaunting what she had given him without acknowledging it. This angered her, so she lied, claiming she was actually the mistress of Master Cui. Li Ni felt thunderstruck, standing there bewildered. Little did he know, this was another trap set by Cui Lin.

Cui Lin knew Li Ni's feelings and, to capture Han Li and Jinzhou, she deliberately disrupted Li Ni's thoughts, seizing the opportunity during negotiations. Her scheme worked as Li Ni was preoccupied with her earlier words, forgetting the ongoing negotiations. He spent the entire day pondering, unable to comprehend. Consequently, he decided to sneak into Cui Lin's room at night to return the hairpin. But as the words reached his lips, he couldn't say them, firmly reinserting the hairpin into his own hair. Then, he implored Cui Lin to use the influence of the Cui family army in the capital to help rescue his father. Just then, Liu Chengfeng knocked on Cui Lin's door. Cui Lin, in a hurry, stuffed Li Ni under the covers, then hastily opened the door and sent off Liu Chengfeng.

That day, Li Ni arranged a grand feast for Liu Chengfeng, intending to uncover Cui Lin's true identity and seek assistance from the Cui family army. Although seeing the hairpin on Li Ni's head made Liu Chengfeng uncomfortable, he managed to stay composed. Coupled with Cui Lin's timely realization, Tao Zi promptly led Liu Chengfeng away, preventing Li Ni from catching onto anything incriminating.

Since offending Lady Wei the last time, Xiao Fei's attendant, Shen Niang, was sent to guard the imperial tomb. Actually, it was Xiao Fei's plan to send away the pregnant Jiang. But she never expected Sun Jing to take the initiative and kill Shen Niang and her group. When the news reached Xiao Fei, the ashes of Shen Niang and Jiang had already been callously scattered. Xiao Fei shook with anger and frustration, furious at Sun Jing's duplicity and ruthless actions, regretting her inability to preserve the bloodline of the former Crown Prince. She couldn't help but think about her child and wonder if he had grown taller. At that moment, General Yunchang, Han Chang, was leading Li Xuanze forward.

Luoyang City has high walls, easy to defend, and difficult to attack. Besides, there's a tricky character named Fuyuanr. Although he is a non-Han general, he is a former comrade of Sun Jing and has remained loyal to him. Additionally, if they attack the city and fail, they will be vulnerable to attacks from the Cui Family's Army. So, Pei Yuan believes that attacking the city is the worst option. However, Li Ni thinks that since the Duke of Zhengguo, Sun Jing's trusted general, is overseeing the defense of Luoyang, they can exploit his inexperience and the existing conflict with Fuyuanr. While discussing this, a messenger from Luoyang City arrives, and it turns out to be Fuyuanr himself.

Fuyuanr is straightforward and, upon seeing the child of an old acquaintance, he forgets about the war and engages in small talk. He is puzzled as to why the Western Garrison isn't taking control of Jianzhou as well. Li Ni explains that the Western Garrison lacks the resources of the Cui Family's Army, so they need to trade Jianzhou for supplies. They both openly discuss their current plans. Fuyuanr suggests a collaboration to break the Cui Family's Army. After some contemplation, Li Ni agrees to the partnership.

A few days later, Li Ni personally leads an attack on the Cui Family's Army at Luoyang City, engaging in combat with the masked Cui Junior. Meanwhile, Fuyuanr stands atop the city walls, watching the intense battle with satisfaction. However, he is unaware that the battle is a ruse orchestrated by the Cui Family's Army and the Western Garrison. Li Ni and "Cui Junior" slowly approach each other, and the two sides are evenly matched. Eventually, Li Ni gains the upper hand and removes the mask, revealing that "Cui Junior" is actually Ayi. Before they can exchange words, a volley of arrows suddenly targets Cui Lin. Li Ni saves her, but the attackers appear unfamiliar, leaving them both suspicious.

Later, a report arrives, stating that the Western Garrison has repelled the Cui Family's Army and injured their leader. However, Li Ni is also wounded. The Duke of Zhengguo is delighted upon hearing this news and plans to take advantage of the situation. But Fuyuanr stops him, stating that he must honor his agreement with Li Ni. Luoyang is strategically important, and putting both the capital and Sun Jing in danger would be unwise if the Cui Family's Army and the Western Garrison join forces to attack or besiege the city. Fuyuanr took a risk by cooperating with Li Ni to send the Western Garrison away.

Tao Zi brings a meal to Cui Lin but is then asked to fetch poison by her. Although she doesn't fully understand, Tao Zi complies. After Tao Zi leaves, Li Ni playfully walks out, teasing Cui Lin about killing him to silence him. Cui Lin questions why he is not resting in his own tent after being injured. Li Ni approaches Cui Lin and confesses that he knows she isn't a concubine of Cui Junior. A flirtatious atmosphere builds, but Tao Zi returns at an inopportune moment, and Li Ni sighs and leaves.

On this day, as agreed, the Western Garrison takes the food supplies offered by Luoyang City and departs. However, upon reaching the mountains, the column stops. Li Ni had foreseen that the ambitious Duke of Zhengguo would not give up easily and would likely launch a surprise attack from the supplies. He hatches a plan to capture the Duke of Zhengguo to pressure Fuyuanr to open the city gates. Fuyuanr, however, adamantly refuses to open the gates and decides to shoot arrows at the Duke of Zhengguo himself. Li Ni anticipated this and, from a distance, shot an arrow that struck Fuyuanr's arrow, saving the Duke of Zhengguo. Unbeknownst to him, Sun Jing had long planned to eliminate the Duke of Zhengguo.

Meanwhile, Sun Jing sends forces to attack Yingzhou, using a divide-and-conquer strategy to force the Cui Family's Army to abandon Luoyang City. With the Cui Family's Army out of the picture, the Western Garrison is no longer a significant threat. Cui Lin is troubled upon hearing this news. She fears that it may be too late to return to Yingzhou but hopes to find a way by passing through Wangzhou. Simultaneously, Li Ni guesses Cui Lin's intentions but doesn't intend to yield. He waits for the Cui Family's Army to come for negotiations.

That night, Li Ni and Cui Lin meet in a small courtyard to discuss their ideals. They make a wager, using their bargaining chips of passing through Wangzhou and rescuing Prince Liang. They agree that Cui Lin will count from one to ten, and if Li Ni opens his eyes during that time, he loses. Li Ni is skeptical but closes his eyes, curious about what Cui Lin is up to. As a light breeze stirs, a faint floral scent wafts by. Li Ni obediently closes his eyes and starts counting. Suddenly, he feels a warm sensation at the corner of his mouth. In disbelief yet with satisfaction, he opens his eyes and sees Cui Lin's face close by. She retreats slowly, looking innocently at Li Ni as if nothing had happened. However, Li Ni's heart is racing. Cui Lin wins the wager.

Li Ni accepts his defeat but hopes that the Cui Family's Army will help him rescue his father. Cui Lin suggests that they could discuss it if they work together to take Luoyang City. Li Ni is confident about capturing Luoyang City, but he worries that after doing so, his father, who is in the capital, will be viewed with suspicion by Sun Jing. Cui Lin suggests a solution, advising that it might be better to put him in a precarious situation and then save him.

That night, the Duke of Zhengguo's private soldiers, after deliberation, decide to avenge their leader and open the gates of Luoyang City. With the cooperation of the Cui Family's Army and the Western Garrison, they defeat Fuyuanr. Although they were on different sides, Fuyuanr put up a valiant fight, sacrificing himself for his country. Both Cui Lin and Li Ni can't help but admire him.

Li Ni brought some pastries and happily offered Cui Lin a taste, mentioning that they were just sent by Miss Gu. Cui Lin couldn't help feeling jealous and asked if Miss Gu sent them specifically for him. Li Ni quickly denied it, stating that others had them too, and he simply remembered that she liked them and brought them to her. Cui Lin was satisfied with his response, and a smile returned to her face. Li Ni moved closer to Cui Lin, staring straight into her eyes as if he wanted to savor every bit of her.

This scene did not go unnoticed by Liu Chengfeng, who felt a surge of jealousy. He immediately decided to break camp and head for Yingzhou. When Li Ni learned of this news, the Cui Family's Army had already packed up and left. He hurriedly went to find Cui Lin to bid her farewell. At the riverside, Li Ni picked up a stone and skipped it across the calm river, creating ripples. Seeing Cui Lin's keen interest, Li Ni grabbed her hand and showed her how to do it. As they watched the stone create ripples in the water, Cui Lin couldn't help but dance with joy. They naturally locked eyes, their gazes filled with reluctance.

Cui Lin's elder brother, Cui Li, was an ambitious person who always felt superior to his younger brother. He took the opportunity to approach Li Ni, planning to attack Cui Lin's group together with him. Li Ni frowned upon hearing this news and quickly sent a letter to warn Cui Lin to be careful of Cui Li. Upon receiving the letter, Cui Lin promptly assigned additional personnel to protect Liu Chengfeng. Afterward, she wrote a reply letter for Tao Zi to deliver.

On a clear day, with a gentle breeze and pleasant weather, Cui Lin rode a white horse across fragrant grasslands to a flowery meadow on the hill where Li Ni was already waiting. They lay side by side, gazing at the sky, and although they didn't say much, their love blossomed freely. Before long, drops of rain began to fall from the sky. Li Ni led Cui Lin to a nearby courtyard, where they sat around a fire, brewed tea, and talked about many things. However, it didn't take long for Li Ni's stomach to growl. So, they decided to cook dinner together.

Li Ni asked Cui Lin if she was willing to return to Laolangguan with him. Cui Lin pondered for a moment and asked Li Ni if, with his current status, he could leave everything behind and return to the border to live the way he used to. Li Ni turned away and didn't answer, perhaps even he was unsure of the answer. So, he changed the subject and shared his past with Cui Lin.

Due to the unfavorable circumstances of his birth, Li Ni was not favored by Lord Liang from the day he was born. In the entire royal household, only Princess Dong showed him any care. His two elder brothers, who were both Princess Dong's children, took advantage of Lord Liang's favoritism and often bullied Li Ni. Those two brothers were Princess Dong's own children, and she not only treated Li Ni kindly but also took good care of his birth mother, her own servant. That's why Li Ni didn't bear any grudge against them. Later, when Princess Dong passed away, Li Ni felt that the capital was no longer interesting and decided to find a way to leave the royal residence and go to Laolangguan. On the day of his departure, his two elder brothers were quite happy, but Li Ni's nursemaid shed tears, showing great reluctance.

Cui Lin was raised as if she were a boy from a young age, studying and practicing martial arts, no different from the other boys, and even excelling. So, when she got injured, she would isolate herself in her room, secretly applying medicine and persevering in her martial training. Hearing this, Li Ni looked at Cui Lin with a lot of tenderness in his eyes. He thought that if he had met Cui Lin earlier, they could have trained together, studied together, and enjoyed leisurely moments like this. But such moments were fleeting, and as the heavy rain began to clear, it was time to part ways. They stood on opposite riverbanks, making promises that they would one day wander and explore together when the world was at peace.

Upon learning that his younger brother, the Duke of Zhengguo, had been captured, Lady Wei of Wei State became very angry and went to Concubine Xiao's residence to vent her frustration. When she saw that Concubine Xiao did not resist, Lady Wei took the opportunity to threaten her with a gold hairpin at her neck. Just then, Sun Jing arrived in the nick of time. Concubine Xiao quickly covered her chest, looking frightened and shocked. Seeing Concubine Xiao in such a state, Sun Jing felt a mix of heartache and anger. He ordered the arrest of Lady Wei. Sun Jing approached Concubine Xiao to comfort her and couldn't help but feel regret. If only he had run away with Concubine Xiao back then, they wouldn't have missed so many years together. Concubine Xiao admitted that she understood his reasons for breaking their promise back then, so she cherished their time together even more now.

Cui Li, under the pretext of colluding with the Zhenxi Army, attempted to capture Cui Lin. Just then, Liu Chengfeng arrived in time. Cui Li tried to claim credit to Liu Chengfeng, stating that she had eliminated a traitor from the Cui family army. However, Liu Chengfeng bluntly stated that the so-called evidence in Cui Li's hands was actually written by Tao Zi. All of this was their plan to uncover the real dissidents within the army. In this way, Cui Li was stripped of military power.

In order to distract Li Ni, Sun Jing deliberately released the encirclement of Li Ni's two brothers, allowing them to fight each other and ultimately reaping the benefits. However, he did not expect Li Ni to willingly cede Luoyang City to his two brothers, using a clever strategy to attack Mount Yu Pass. Mount Yu Pass was strategically located, extending north to the Wei River, south to the Qin Mountains, east into the Central Plains, and west into Guanzhong. It controlled the vital passageways to Western Changjing and Luoyang, making it a crucial military target. Seizing Mount Yu Pass was equivalent to grasping the throat of Western Changjing, allowing easy access to the city.

Thus, both the Zhenxi Army and the Cui family army simultaneously withdrew to different locations. Last night, Cui Lin spent the night in the suburbs, gazing at the moonlit sky, and it seemed as if she could pluck the stars with her hands. A few days ago, she bought dried fruits on Zhuque Street in Dongdu, and their taste was excellent, resembling delicate craftsmanship when chewed. They could accompany the long night, and she invited others to enjoy them together. Li Ni sat by the river, carefully reading the letter sent by Cui Lin, delighted by the ordinary details between the lines, feeling content.

Afterwards, Li Ni also wrote a letter to Cui Lin, expressing that he had also purchased some dried fruits, and the taste was even better when enjoyed with preserved fruits. On the other side, following Li Ni's suggestion, Cui Lin tasted them and couldn't help but nod in agreement. Another night, Li Ni sent some osmanthus flowers, anticipating enjoying them together with Cui Lin in the future. Cui Lin, under the moonlight, carefully counted the osmanthus flowers in her hand, savoring their fragrance. The scent was intoxicating.

Mount Yu Pass was a formidable fortress, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Li Ni led his army in a fierce battle for six days, with Pei Yuan at the forefront of the soldiers, finally breaking through Mount Yu Pass. After regrouping, Li Ni deliberately sent a letter to his two brothers in Luoyang, inviting them to join forces in besieging Western Changjing. However, his intention was not genuine cooperation but a reverse strategy to prevent them from causing trouble by deploying their troops recklessly. As expected, when the two brothers received the letter, they were disdainful and thought Li Ni wanted to use their influence to help him succeed, so they naturally refused. However, they believed Cui Li's words and planned to cooperate with her.

An envoy from Western Changjing arrived, demanding that the Zhenxi Army withdraw from Mount Yu Pass within three days, or else the Prince's mansion would be razed to the ground. This was already within Li Ni's expectations. Additionally, Li Ni predicted that Sun Jing had sent similar letters to Luoyang City. Indeed, his two brothers decided to lead their troops out of Luoyang, showing filial piety. In this way, the Zhenxi Army was caught in a dilemma, either handing over Mount Yu Pass that they had fought so hard to win or facing the accusation of being unfilial.

While pondering over this, Gu Wanniang suddenly approached, volunteering to go to Western Changjing and negotiate with Sun Jing to rescue Lord Liang. Many old aristocratic families in the capital secretly supported the country, but due to Sun Jing's power, they dared not speak out. Therefore, Gu Wanniang planned to use the Zhenxi Army's name to secretly contact those loyal old officials in the capital, bribe the elderly in the palace, and perhaps have a chance to rescue Lord Liang. However, this move was dangerous, and Li Ni did not agree.

On the other hand, Li Ni's letter had already reached the Xiao Clan's palace. Although not explicitly stated, Xiao Shi could discern that Li Ni wanted to cooperate with her. Therefore, Xiao Shi instructed people to follow the arrangements mentioned in the letter and move the orchids under the window.

Yingzhou suddenly received news that Cui Yi had fallen ill. Cui Lin was very anxious and planned to lead a light cavalry with Liu Chengfeng to rush to the rescue. However, it turned out to be a trap set by Cui Li. When the light cavalry reached halfway, Cui Li's army, with concealed faces, suddenly ambushed them. Caught off guard, they suffered heavy losses. Liu Chengfeng was injured and fell, Chen Xing, a close aide, died trying to save him, and Cui Lin was struck in the chest by an arrow. In the midst of the crisis, Li Ni, who received the news in time, arrived. He charged into the arrow rain and rescued Cui Lin. Seeing Li Ni, Cui Lin seemed to grasp a ray of light, as if she wanted to say something to him, but words failed her.

Back at the military camp, Tao Zi hurriedly prepared to remove the arrowhead for Cui Lin. Cui Lin, in pain, was sweating profusely, and the sweat, mixed with blood, slowly flowed down, condensing inside and outside the armor. Cui Lin felt as if she were trapped in mud, unable to move and unable to speak. Tao Zi focused and, with a dagger, tried to remove the arrowhead. Li Ni placed his hand in Cui Lin's mouth, letting her bite him to prevent herself from biting her tongue in pain.

Sun Jing summoned Lord Liang to the hall, throwing the letter sent by Li Ni in front of him. Lord Liang, trembling, opened the letter and saw Li Ni disregarding his own life, making wild claims about attacking the capital and declaring himself emperor. Enraged, he foamed at the mouth and fainted on the spot. Meanwhile, Xiao Shi seized the opportunity to send someone to inform the Queen of Wei, claiming that Li Ni had brought the head of the Duke of Zheng. Furious, the Queen of Wei found the unconscious Lord Liang and, in a fit of anger, strangled him to death. When Sun Jing arrived, Lord Liang's body was stiff, devoid of breath. Helpless, he ordered the news to be blocked and had Lord Liang secretly burned on the outskirts.

That night, palace servants were preparing to burn Lord Liang's body when someone suggested that the place was too eerie, and it would be better to divide the spoils and leave quickly. Without much thought, the palace servants took the money and left. Later, the body of Lord Liang was discovered to be missing. When Lord Liang woke up, he saw Li Ni kneeling by his bedside. Trembling with anger, he still remembered the unfilial letter and cursed Li Ni for gambling with his life.

Li Ni couldn't defend himself, knowing that whatever he did, he would never gain his father's favor. He got up and left, wandering aimlessly, coincidentally encountering Gu Wanniang. Wanting to win Li Ni's favor, Gu Wanniang offered to take care of Lord Liang's illness. Knowing his father's temper and fearing that Gu Wanniang might be wronged, Li Ni declined her kindness. Later, Li Ni came to Cui Lin's room, squatting by her bedside and gradually falling asleep.

When Cui Lin woke up, she saw Li Ni sleeping beside her. Enduring the pain, she gently pulled up the blanket to prevent Li Ni from catching a cold. Li Ni slowly woke up, teasing Cui Lin about wanting to steal a kiss from him. Cui Lin, provoked by his words, turned her head away and ignored him. Cui Lin, pondering over the ambush, found it very suspicious and became deeply worried about the situation in Yingzhou. However, Li Ni advised her not to act rashly given her current condition, as it would not only fail to save Yingzhou but also jeopardize her own life. Cui Lin, understanding the reason, stabilized her emotions and focused on recovery.

Learning that Cui Lin rarely ate after taking medicine since childhood, and that Tao Zi often brought honey to fill her stomach, Li Ni quickly went out to find some honey. Seeing him in a disheveled state, Pei Yuan couldn't help but advise him. As the current commander of the Zhenxi Army, he needed to think twice before acting, especially in establishing close ties with the Cui family army. However, Li Ni turned a deaf ear and even began to contemplate the relationship between Cui Lin and Liu Chengfeng.

Cui Lin kindly went to visit Liu Chengfeng, but he insisted on dragging his ailing body to rush to Yingzhou. On one hand, he worried about the safety of Yingzhou, and on the other, he feared Li Ni's intentions. Despite Cui Lin's reassurance that Li Ni and the Zhenxi Army would not harm the Cui family army, especially considering Liu Chengfeng's severe injuries, it was not suitable for him to travel. Upon hearing this, Liu Chengfeng felt an unnamed anger, accusing Cui Lin of being enchanted by Li Ni, neglecting the safety of Yingzhou. Unwilling to argue, Cui Lin advised him to rest and then took her leave.

While Tao Zi was preparing medicine for Cui Lin, Li Ni swiftly entered through the window, bringing specially made pancakes for her. Knowing that Cui Lin couldn't eat meat at the moment and that the pancakes were too dry, Li Ni thoughtfully prepared honey. He instructed her that if the medicine tasted bitter, she could use the honey to alleviate the bitterness. Delighted, Cui Lin couldn't help but dip her fingers into the honey and tasted it, nodding in satisfaction.

Cui Lin inquired about Li Ni's plans on how to attack West Changjing. Li Ni pondered for a moment and honestly admitted that he was currently at a loss. Cui Lin believed he wasn't lying and suggested a good plan, but it required his help to rescue Yingzhou. Li Ni, looking deeply into Cui Lin's eyes, readily agreed, stating that even if she had a thousand requests, he would still agree.

Cui Lin informed Liu Chengfeng about this plan, but he was so enraged that he coughed up blood and adamantly refused to agree. Helpless, Cui Lin had no choice but to let him rest and make plans later. On the other side, Li Ni faced difficulties too. Upon learning that Li Ni planned to disguise himself with Cui Lin to infiltrate West Changjing, Pei Yuan angrily scolded Li Ni, accusing him of being enchanted by the He family woman. However, Li Ni wasn't there to discuss; he was there to inform. Pei Yuan, knowing Li Ni's personality, had to ask about his plans after infiltrating the capital. However, Li Ni was indifferent, claiming he had a plan and, if he couldn't escape unharmed, he would use it as an excuse to attack the capital. Hearing this, Pei Yuan became even angrier but was truly helpless.

To smoothly enter West Changjing, Li Ni specifically sought out Gu Wanniang, asking her for a token. Gu Wanniang volunteered to go to the capital with the token instead of just sending it. Li Ni hesitated, but seeing Gu Wanniang so determined, he reluctantly agreed to let her pretend to be his sister. Old Bao, upon learning of this, hurriedly reminded Li Ni that it would be better for Gu Wanniang to pretend to be Cui Lin's sister. So, the group disguised as a family of merchants headed to West Changjing. On the way, they coincidentally encountered Sun Jing's soldiers robbing a mother and daughter of their food. The group drew their swords to help and saved the unfortunate mother and daughter.

Upon returning to the capital, Gu Wanniang quickly visited her father, Gu Xiang, to deliver a message from Li Ni. The once silent and inconspicuous daughter, who used to hide in the corners, now spoke fluently about the current situation, surprising Gu Xiang. Understanding the current circumstances, he agreed to meet with Li Ni. However, as an important official, Gu Xiang couldn't meet outsiders directly, especially the leader of the Zhenxi Army. The next step would be to figure out how to shake off Sun Jing's surveillance.

Li Ni brought Cui Lin to the Sauce Garden, sitting under a tree and sharing his past with her. When he was young, whenever he felt wronged or was punished by his father, he would sneak out of the mansion and come here to relieve his sorrows. Standing on a tree, looking at the high sky, white clouds, and birds chirping, especially in the summer when cicadas shed their shells here, leaving behind empty cicada shells, he would pick up those shells and draw them with ink, creating an imitation of a real cicada. Whenever his older brother bullied him, he would use this shell to scare him away when he returned home. However, every time he returned home, he would be beaten by his father again.

Under the arrangement of Gu Wanniang and Li Ni, Gu Xiang finally managed to break free. Li Ni got straight to the point, hoping that Gu Xiang could establish contact with the old courtiers, collaborate with the Zhenxi Army, and recapture West Changjing. Gu Xiang frankly stated that since the loss of Luoyang City, Sun Jing had been monitoring the old courtiers and aristocratic families closely. Although it couldn't be guaranteed that the old courtiers would lend a hand, at least it would cause chaos in the court. At that time, the opportunity to attack West Changjing would be imminent. After contemplating for a moment, Gu Xiang agreed to Li Ni's proposal.

Upon learning that their father was still alive, Li Ni's two older brothers tried to show their filial piety. When Li Ni was away from Mount Guan, they immediately brought him back. Under the care of his two sons, Lord Liang once again lived a leisurely life. A new idea took root in his mind – he wanted to overthrow Sun Jing, ascend to the throne in Luoyang, and proclaim himself emperor. In the blink of an eye, Lord Liang's edict spread throughout West Changjing. Sun Jing, upon hearing the news, was infuriated almost to the point of madness. To consolidate his position, he ordered the execution of those who issued the edicts and closely monitored the old courtiers and aristocratic families in the palace to prevent them from plotting.

This incident threw the entire West Changjing into chaos. Sun Jing's soldiers combed the streets all day, leaving no corner unchecked. Cui Lin and Li Ni took refuge in a courtyard, but before they could stabilize, the soldiers found their neighbors. In this critical moment, an old woman suddenly appeared. To their surprise, it was the elderly woman they had saved on the road. Therefore, Li Ni's group temporarily stayed at the old woman's house until they could find a way to leave the city under the cover of darkness.

However, the longer they waited, the greater the danger. Cui Lin thought of a plan – the old woman's daughter was about to get married, and since the neighbors hadn't seen her husband-to-be, they could disguise themselves as the girl and her husband, citing the wedding as a reason to leave the city. The only concern was that it might damage the girl's reputation and upset her future husband. Seeing this, the old woman quickly offered to help, suggesting that she would secretly send her daughter away to marry her future husband later. So, everyone put on wedding attire, made a festive exit from the city, and encountered Sun Jing's soldiers on the way, who were busy inspecting every corner of the streets.

Under Tao Zi's meticulous care, Liu Chengfeng finally recovered. However, he showed no gratitude and planned to collude with Sun Jing to take over Mount Guan. Meanwhile, Tao Zi rushed to West Changjing to join Cui Lin. Hearing Cui Lin always saying that dried fruits and nuts tasted excellent together, Tao Zi specially prepared a bag to give to Xie Zhanger. Seeing this, Old Bao couldn't help but make a joke. However, Xie Zhanger, with his wooden head, didn't understand Tao Zi's intentions. Annoyed, Tao Zi turned and left. Seeing this, Old Bao urged Xie Zhanger to catch up. Even if Xie Zhanger caught up with Tao Zi, he didn't know what to say, and in the end, he upset Tao Zi again.

On the other side, Concubine Xiao finally received news from her grandson, and her anxious heart was finally put at ease. However, Sun Jing suddenly mobilized a team of soldiers, and Concubine Xiao had no idea what he intended to do. If he went to reclaim Luoyang, it would be acceptable, but she feared that his target was Mount Guan.

Cui Lin, Li Ni, and the others traveled a considerable distance without knowing it. Finally, they encountered the scattered Cui family army that Sun Jing's forces had dispersed. Both Li Ni and Cui Lin felt uneasy and suspected that this group of soldiers wasn't genuinely scattered. After a brief rest, the group set out again, only to unexpectedly encounter the battered Zhenxi Army. Seeing their comrades covered in blood, Li Ni's face was filled with disbelief. Upon Cui Lin's approach, the soldiers were even more furious, claiming they would kill her for revenge. After some questioning, Li Ni learned that the Cui family army had colluded with Sun Jing and taken Mount Guan, killing the Zhenxi Army. Li Ni's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he had to suspect that going to West Changjing was Cui Lin's plan, aimed at diverting him.

Cui Lin was also shocked and didn't know what had happened. She just hoped Li Ni would believe her. Beside him, Pei Yuan couldn't help but remind Li Ni not to trust Cui Lin anymore. From their confrontation until now, she had told too many lies. Faced with Li Ni's questioning, Cui Lin felt disheartened. She admitted that when they first met, she did have ulterior motives, but this time, she truly didn't deceive him, and she had no intention of taking the lives of the Zhenxi Army. Seeing Li Ni still unwilling to believe her, Cui Lin decided to leave. However, Li Ni's sword had already blocked her way.

Li Ni, in a moment of impulsiveness and disbelief in himself, saw Cui Lin wanting to leave without explaining anything further. However, Li Ni caught up with her, pointing his sword at Cui Lin. The armies of Zhenxi and the Cui family became angry, engaging in duels. Li Ni, enraged, cut Cui Lin's neck with his sword, drawing blood. Feeling uneasy, he quickly withdrew the sword, instructing Cui Lin and her army to leave. Cui Lin glared at him before departing with her forces.

The two divisions of the Cui family's army finally merged, and Liu Chengfeng, pleased, inquired about Cui Lin's well-being. However, Cui Lin accused him of conspiring with Sun Jing to take over Mount Feng, disregarding Zhenxi's alliance and refusing to consult with her. Upset, she left without saying much.

With Mount Feng lost, Zhenxi's only option was to head towards Luoyang. Concerned that Li Ni's elder brother might become suspicious of their situation, Li Ni believed the two elder brothers were not to be feared. He anticipated that as long as Pei Xian led the rear army of Zhenxi, they wouldn't dare make any rash moves. To everyone's surprise, Li Jun and Li Lai sent supplies, prompting Li Ni to accept and plan to regroup before heading to Luoyang.

On the other side, Li Jun and Li Lai, upon learning that Li Ni accepted the supplies, believed he would eventually surrender. They intended to blame him for Mount Feng's loss, taking away his military authority. Li Ni, no longer a thorn in their side, became the next target for the two brothers. Since their previous attempt to ambush Cui Lin failed, they planned to try again and frame Li Ni. They hastily sent a letter urging him to return to Luoyang.

Soon, news of Sun Jing's failure in the southern campaign spread. Despite Sun Jing's orders to keep the information confidential, it quickly leaked. Li Ni and Cui Lin thought it might be Sun Jing's strategy to lure out hidden enemies. Seizing the opportunity, they decided to turn the tables.

Upon learning of the Li brothers' plan to ambush the Cui family's army, Lao Bao asked Li Ni if he wanted to save them. Li Ni decisively refused. However, he changed direction and arrived near their ambush site. With a swift stroke, a blade flew into the wooden stakes, creating a shower of wood chips that obscured Cui Lin's vision. The chips burned her face as she tried to defend herself against the assailant.

Li Ni, on horseback, aimed his bow and arrow at the attacker threatening Cui Lin. Seizing the advantage, Cui Lin fought back. Suddenly, another assailant rose and attacked Cui Lin. Lao Bao noticed in time, pushing Cui Lin aside and taking the blow himself. After eliminating the attackers, Cui Lin looked distraught as she watched Liu Chengfeng fall. When Li Ni arrived, she accused him of intentionally arriving late, to which he unexpectedly admitted.

Subsequently, Li Ni took advantage of the situation, sending a letter to Cui Yi, using Ayin as leverage, intending to attack Xichang Jing together. Despite Cui Yi's anger, he reluctantly agreed, but with a condition: Zhenxi's army had to capture Cui Li alive.

Cui Lin locked herself in her room, grinding stones daily because she had promised Liu Chengfeng to craft a set of chess pieces for him. She couldn't help but reminisce about the past when she was being chased. Liu Chengfeng saved her, giving her hope on that desperate night. He accompanied her as she grew up, sacrificing his own identity as a son of the Cui family to let her live freely and pursue her interests. Now, he sacrificed himself for her.

Pei Yuan repeatedly warned Li Ni not to get too close to Cui Lin. However, Li Ni's heart couldn't resist the desire to be near her and check on her. One day, he opened the door to find Cui Lin still grinding stones, her hands now bleeding. He hurriedly stopped her. Cui Lin, frustrated, confessed that she had been deceiving him all along and her true affections lay with Liu Chengfeng.

Li Ni asked Cui Lin if it was because he wronged her and hurt her heart that she said these things. Cui Lin, with a cold laugh, questioned why she should be heartbroken and accused Li Ni of being deceived. She admitted to deceiving him all along and never having any feelings for him. However, Li Ni's feelings for Cui Lin were genuine, regardless of whether her affection for Liu Chengfeng was true or not.

During the night, unable to sleep, Cui Lin vaguely saw a shadow on her bed. Turning around, she saw Li Ni holding a mouse made of leaves, singing a lullaby by the candlelight. Cui Lin ignored him, but Li Ni sighed deeply, revealing that he brought some honey for her. Seeing her still angry, Li Ni approached and placed the little mouse near her pillow, advising her not to go to sleep with anger for the sake of her health.

After leaving the room, Li Ni couldn't bear to look back. Seeing no response from Cui Lin, he thought she accepted his small gift. However, Cui Lin suddenly threw the mouse out and, after a moment, decided it wasn't enough, getting up to pick up the mouse and burn it before throwing it out again. Li Ni's heart seemed to have been thrown out too, carefully picking up the burnt mouse and extinguishing the flames.

After declaring himself emperor in Luoyang, Lord Liang treated himself as the ruler of a nation. He wanted to confer the title of Qinzhou King on Li Ni and appointed him as the Commander-in-Chief to recapture Xichang Jing. This put Li Ni in a difficult position, with no clear choice. After some consideration, Li Ni decided to accept the challenging task, using it as an opportunity to create chaos in Xichang Jing. He spread rumors about Sun Jing's failure in the southern campaign and falsely claimed that Sun Jing intended to poison the wells. The rumors caused an uproar, and Sun Jing was furious, ordering the arrest of those spreading false information.

On a leisurely day by the river, Li Ni received news from Pei Yuan that Cui Yi, despite agreeing to join forces against Xichang Jing, was slow in arriving, potentially missing the opportunity. Li Ni remained unperturbed, understanding Cui Yi's reluctance and expecting him to take action. Indeed, that night, Cui Lin sent Tao Zi to express her desire for fish. Li Ni cleverly cooked fish for her, and the next day, Tao Zi complained about the poor quality of Zhenxi's medicinal herbs, prompting Xie Zhanger to buy better herbs from town for her. Without much thought, Xie Zhanger planned to visit each shop with Tao Zi's prescription. Li Ni glanced at the prescription, seemingly understanding something but chose not to intervene.

For several consecutive days, Li Ni personally picked fresh flowers and placed them outside Cui Lin's door. Each time, he received no response. After a long time, Cui Lin finally opened the door and picked up the flowers. Tao Zi couldn't help but speak up for Li Ni, urging Cui Lin to talk to him. Cui Lin frankly admitted that she knew Cui Li was behind the incident, but she couldn't blame others. However, Li Ni was different. After a while, Xie Zhanger came with a message, stating that Tao Zi had finally convinced Cui Lin, and she agreed to meet Li Ni.

Tao Zi and Xie Zhanger specially prepared a table of delicious dishes for Cui Lin and Li Ni, urging them to have a good conversation under the moonlight. The gentle evening breeze made Cui Lin feel a bit chilly. Seeing her lightly rubbing her arms, Li Ni immediately understood and rushed forward to warm her hands. However, Cui Lin pushed him away and even attempted to use hidden weapons against him. Xie Zhanger, witnessing the scene, wanted to investigate but was stopped by Tao Zi, who claimed it was just a lovers' quarrel and should be ignored. With that, Tao Zi forcefully dragged Xie Zhanger away.

Li Ni couldn't help but feel a bit sad. Cui Lin was willing to grind her hands to make a chess set for Liu Chengfeng, but it seemed she had never done anything like that for him. Cui Lin then took out a pair of wrist guards, mentioning that she started making them back in Tongguan, intending to give them to him. However, she later discovered that he was an ungrateful and indifferent person. Li Ni couldn't help but smile, willing to endure Cui Lin's scolding a thousand times as long as she spoke to him.

Anxiously, Li Ni put on the wrist guards and eagerly sat next to Cui Lin. He cleverly acted spoiled, claiming that he couldn't fasten one himself, thus wasting Cui Lin's thoughtful gesture. Cui Lin, helpless, turned around to help him wear the wrist guard. Li Ni gazed affectionately at Cui Lin, fearing she might disappear in the next moment. However, taking advantage of his distraction, Cui Lin used a hidden weapon to make him faint. Before leaving, she helped Li Ni back to his room and gently kissed the corner of his mouth.

Under the cover of night, Tao Zi and Cui Lin quickly boarded a boat. As the sky brightened, Cui Lin found the silent boatman quite strange. Upon closer inspection, she realized the boatman was still wearing the wrist guards she had made. Frustrated, she realized Li Ni had played a trick on her again. What astonished her even more was that Li Ni knew her true identity — the only daughter of Lord Cui Yi. Finally understanding, Cui Lin realized that Li Ni had been keeping her here to use her as leverage to force her father to go to war. She couldn't help but remind Li Ni not to confront her father directly in the future, or else he might face her father's whip.

Lord Cui Yi headed to Luoyang, using Li's father-son duo to demand Li Ni's immediate release of Cui Lin. Previously curious about Cui Lin's father, Li Ni's expectations were spot on — Cui Yi and Cui Lin were almost identical. Cui Lin smiled faintly, describing her father as hospitable and suggesting Li Ni would find him very pleasant. Perplexed, Li Ni asked if Cui Lin resembled her father more or her mother, but Cui Lin ignored him, stating she wouldn't be swayed by sweet words and wouldn't forget being imprisoned by him. Gradually, Li Ni became melancholic, knowing that Cui Lin would soon leave.

On the eve of their separation, Li Ni and Cui Lin decided to bet on who could silently slip out of the courtyard. Li Ni lost the first round. They then rode their horses to Leyou Yuan. Unable to resist, Cui Lin asked Li Ni what kind of ruler he thought the world needed. Li Ni openly stated that after peace was restored, he would retrieve the imperial grandson, persuade his father to abdicate, and then elope with Cui Lin. Cui Lin, somewhat absent-minded, later smiled. She knew Li Ni's words weren't true, and such a scenario was impossible. Still, she was happy that Li Ni kept her in his heart. The two embraced on the romantic Leyou Yuan, savoring the warmth of the moment.

Cui Lin told Li Ni that when she was young, Liu Chengfeng saved her. Since her parents had passed away, her father adopted her as his daughter. Her mother's health was fragile, and after ten years of marriage without bearing a child, her father, then a frontier general, was pressured by the court. To conceal her identity, her father had Liu Chengfeng use her name in the military camp.

Sitting on Leyou Yuan, they talked about the past, discussed the future, and unknowingly, the sky grew darker. In the moonlight, Li Ni raised his wine glass, toasting to the moon while Cui Lin slept beside him. Seeing that Cui Lin didn't wake up for a long time, Li Ni teased her, saying he would kiss her. Still, Cui Lin remained motionless, and Li Ni dared to kiss her. The next day, Li Ni woke up and found the hairpin still on his head, while his pendant was now hanging on Cui Lin's waist.

Li Ni personally escorted Cui Lin back to the Cui family's army, once again proposing to cooperate in attacking West Changjing with Cui Yi. Looking at the hairpin on Li Ni's head, Cui Yi furrowed his brows, drew his sword, and aimed it at Li Ni's head. Li Ni, however, remained fearless, calmly watching Cui Yi's next move. Tao Zi, on the other hand, was extremely anxious, fearing that Cui Yi would kill Li Ni and Xie Zhanger together. Cui Lin had to reassure her that her father wouldn't kill them.

After a long time, Cui Lin brought a meal to Cui Yi's tent, showing no concern for Li Ni's fate. Cui Yi was puzzled by the indifference of his beloved daughter, who had just given Li Ni her mother's keepsake. Cui Lin explained to her father that she initially thought only she, from the Li family, could bring peace to the world. However, since meeting Li Ni, she had to change her attitude. Despite Li Ni appearing carefree, he had a meticulous mind and a pure heart. If he became the ruler, he could ensure peace in the realm. Hearing his daughter praise Li Ni like this, Cui Yi couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly, he turned cold, claiming that he had already killed Li Ni. Surprisingly, Cui Lin was not anxious and stated that her father wouldn't kill Li Ni at this moment—at least he would wait until they captured West Changjing before breaking ties. Cui Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter, appreciating his daughter's understanding of him. Then, he opened a large box nearby. Li Ni was bound, gagged, and squeezed inside the box. Seeing Cui Lin, he couldn't help but reveal a look of sorrow. Cui Lin was overjoyed, thinking her father was agreeing to Li Ni's proposal to attack West Changjing together.

On the day of their parting, Li Ni personally made a small scarecrow and gave it to Cui Lin, asking her to take it out whenever she missed him. Cui Lin was delighted, holding up the figurine and comparing it to Li Ni, realizing they did look alike. However, this sweet moment was brief, and soon they had to part ways again, heading down different paths. Just a few steps away, Li Ni couldn't bear to leave. He shouted loudly, proclaiming that when peace was restored, he would marry Cui Lin. As if this statement wasn't firm enough, he repeated several times that he would come to propose. Cui Lin smiled happily, looking forward to the day Li Ni would come to propose.

Having just escaped from the brink of death, Liu Chengfeng rushed to the Cui family's military camp. However, as soon as he arrived, he saw Li Ni and Cui Lin deeply in love. Overwhelmed with emotions, he suddenly spat out blood. His loyal subordinate, Ashu, informed him of a legendary medicine in Jieshuo, which, when consumed, could restore a person to their former state. However, seeking medicine from Jieshuo, a sworn enemy of the Cui family, would be considered betrayal. Liu Chengfeng, now in a confused state of mind, driven by jealousy and fear, only wished to survive, hoping that by doing so, he could win back Cui Lin's affection.

With the collaboration of the Zhenxi Army and the Cui family's forces attacking the city and the citizens rioting for food, discontent with Sun Jing's brutal rule, West Changjing quickly became like fish on a chopping board, its fate sealed. Facing the crisis, Sun Jing had no choice but to personally go into battle. Before leaving, he specifically bid farewell to Concubine Xiao. Seeing Concubine Xiao's frailty, he felt distressed, softly comforting her to rest well and wait for his triumphant return. Gently, Concubine Xiao lifted Sun Jing's face, tears streaming down, and kissed his lips.

Dark clouds pressed upon the city, intending to crush it, and the armor shone like gold scales in the sunlight. The Zhenxi Army and the Cui family's forces approached the city, fully prepared, vowing to capture Sun Jing's head and restore the rightful order. Sun Jing resisted stubbornly, fighting like a trapped beast. Little did he know, that kiss from Concubine Xiao had already sealed his fate. One moment he was dictating the world, and the next moment, Sun Jing coughed up blood and fell unconscious to the ground.

Upon learning that Li Ni had successfully captured West Changjing, Li's father and son in Luoyang were delighted. Lord Liang even directly adorned himself in the ceremonial robes of ascension, standing in front of the mirror to admire his regal appearance. Li Jun and Li Lai asked their father how they should reward Li Ni. Unexpectedly, Lord Liang believed that capturing West Changjing for himself was only natural, let alone rewarding or even conferring the title of Crown Prince.

Looking at the towering palace, Li Ni couldn't help but recall the year when he was sixteen, bidding farewell to the late emperor and embarking on the journey to Laoslan Pass. At that time, he made a mistake, angering the late emperor, who refused to see him. Instead, a messenger was sent, instructing him to behave and not tarnish the reputation of the Li family. Little did anyone expect that this mischievous child would, in the end, reclaim West Changjing.

After regrouping, Li Ni hurried to find Cui Lin, hoping she could persuade Tao Zi to treat Concubine Xiao. Learning of Concubine Xiao's righteous act, Cui Lin admired her and naturally agreed to Li Ni's request. With the careful care of Tao Zi and Cui Lin, Concubine Xiao finally woke up. She was delighted by Sun Jing's defeat but also saddened by it. Everyone knew she was the former Crown Princess, but no one cared that she was a living, feeling person. Only with Sun Jing did Concubine Xiao feel alive. However, because she was the former Crown Princess, she had to betray her true love.

Li Ni persuaded his father to welcome back the Crown Prince and appoint him as the heir. Lord Liang was displeased but had to use the excuse of further consideration. However, Li Ni continued, emphasizing that the Crown Prince's ascension was a rightful matter. In the end, Lord Liang simply dismissed Li Ni, telling him not to enter the palace casually. Li Ni stopped talking and returned home to rest, closing his doors to visitors, enjoying a carefree time with Cui Lin.

Li Ni covered his face with a book and lay leisurely in the courtyard. Suddenly, a hand reached out towards him. Although he couldn't see the person, the scent was familiar. Before the other's hand could touch him, Li Ni got up and firmly held Cui Lin's hand, pulling her into his embrace. With a smile in her eyes, Cui Lin pushed away Li Ni's approaching lips. With nothing else to do, the two went out to the streets, bought some gifts, and gave them to Concubine Xiao.

On the other side, seeing the new emperor's indifference towards the meritorious Li Ni, Gu Xiang immediately guessed that there was a schemer by his side. To stabilize the court, it was urgent to find a way to make Li Ni the Crown Prince. However, according to the current situation, it was necessary to legitimize Li Ni's birth mother, Liu Shi, before officially supporting him as the Crown Prince. But the new emperor insisted on posthumously conferring the title of Empress on the birth mother of Li Jun and Li Lai and making Li Ni's birth mother a concubine. For a while, the court was in turmoil, and many thought the decision was inappropriate.

Seeing the ministers standing up for Li Ni, the new emperor became even more furious. In front of everyone, he bluntly stated that Liu Shi's humble background was not worthy of being an empress. Hearing this, Li Ni finally couldn't sit still, stating that since his birth mother had a humble background, he would voluntarily renounce his title and go to Laoslan Pass. Hearing this, the courtiers were shocked. However, the new emperor seemed to have found an opportunity and hastily drove Li Ni away, afraid he might change his mind in the next moment.

Although the new emperor tried to drive away Li Ni, he was indeed a crucial figure in the court. After some reconciliation, the new emperor could only order Li Ni to reflect on his actions at home. While feeling sad, Li Ni had become accustomed to his father's neglect and his brother's hostility. He simply enjoyed drinking with his brothers at home, considering himself stationed at Laoslan Pass.

Seeing Li Ni acting so carefree, Pei Yuan was furious and scolded him. Li Ni had to summon him, revealing his plan. Although Sun Jing was currently unconscious due to poisoning in Dongguan, he would eventually wake up. The army he sent to Baiyue was already on its way back. If the army met them at Dongguan, it would be troublesome. Therefore, the best solution was for Pei Xian to send Pei Yuan to Changzhou to intercept the army heading to Dongguan. But before that, Li Ni had a more important task for Pei Yuan—to deliver a letter and a box of snacks to Cui Lin in Luoyang.

Gu Wanniang searched throughout the capital to find anyone who had seen Concubine Liu, and she personally embroidered an image of Concubine Liu to give to Li Ni. Li Ni initially wanted to avoid too much involvement with Gu Wanniang, but when he saw the lifelike portrait in front of him, he accepted the gift. Subsequently, Gu Wanniang took the opportunity to hint to Li Ni that only with supreme power could he preserve Concubine Liu's reputation and let it last forever. Li Ni understood her implicit message, paused for a moment, but chose not to respond. Gu Wanniang, aware that saying more might upset Li Ni, quickly stood up and took her leave.

Initially, Concubine Xiao promised Li Ni that if he helped retrieve the Crown Prince, she would assist him in capturing West Changjing. For this, Concubine Xiao spared no effort, even using herself as bait. However, the results were not as expected, as Sun Jing was only in a coma. Feeling she had broken her promise to Li Ni, especially with the new emperor ascending the throne and the court being unstable, she quickly ordered someone to send a letter to General Han, asking him to slow down and protect the Crown Prince.

Pei Yuan, receiving the imperial edict, prepared to go to Changzhou. However, Prince Xin, at this moment, interfered and insisted on going together. Surprisingly, the new emperor agreed. Knowing Prince Xin's ambitious nature but lacking both courage and strategy, it would undoubtedly cost the lives of the Town West Army if he went. Helpless, Li Ni had to give up pleading for his birth mother and took the initiative to apologize. In this way, the ceremony for the late emperor could proceed. At that time, Prince Xin would go as the legitimate eldest son, leaving no time to focus on Changzhou. As Li Ni anticipated, the new emperor was pleased with his initiative to apologize and immediately ordered him to go to Changzhou, conferring the title of consort on his birth mother.

After learning about the situation in the capital, Cui Lin hurriedly slipped into Li Ni's residence. Li Ni, deeply aware that his father disliked him, initially thought it was because he blamed himself for his mother's death, thinking his father cared even a little about her. However, he now discovered that his father seemed completely indifferent to his mother's death. Seventeen years old and once full of vigor, he had entered West Changjing, achieved peace in the world, but now, he frowned with a heavy heart. Cui Lin felt heartbroken for him, gently hugging Li Ni and wiping away the tears on his face.

At night, the wind was gentle, and the moonlight was enchanting. Li Ni and Cui Lin sat by the lake, enjoying the beautiful night scenery. Li Ni expressed that he only wanted Cui Lin and not the world. However, Cui Lin told him that even if he didn't want the world, those in the world wouldn't let him go. Li Ni didn't want to think too much and leaned his head on Cui Lin's shoulder. Cui Lin, lost in thought, lowered her head and gently kissed him.

The next day, waking up well past noon, Li Ni had a splitting headache. He only remembered getting drunk in the courtyard last night and seemed to have had a beautiful dream. Lao Bao, seeing his flushed face, guessed that he must have dreamt about Cui Lin. Lao Bao even bluntly said that they had clearly drunk together last night, and Li Ni had even chased him away when they were having fun. Li Ni felt lost, quietly saying, "Yes." Just as he had accepted that last night was just a dream, Xie Zhanger suddenly sat down and revealed that Tao Zi had visited yesterday. Li Ni was pleasantly surprised; it turned out that everything from last night was real. He quickly mounted his horse and caught up with Tao Zi at a teahouse on the outskirts of the city.

Although Prince Xin was no longer fixated on Changzhou, to consolidate his military power, he only allowed Pei Yuan to take thirty percent of the troops and did not send any reinforcements. Pei Yuan repeatedly appealed for reinforcements but was rejected. This time, not only did the capital not send reinforcements, but it also asked Pei Yuan to actively confront the enemy. After learning of the news, Li Ni could only request help from the Cui family army. In the end, the Cui family army did extend a helping hand, but they stationed their troops inside Changzhou City. The three Li father and sons were extremely anxious, fearing that Liang would seize control of the world. Helpless, the new emperor could only issue an edict, ordering Li Ni to personally go to Changzhou.

Seeing the increasing strength of the Cui family army, the new emperor became anxious and issued an edict for Li Ni to go to Changzhou. However, Li Ni claimed illness and refused to accept the edict, with messengers sent by the new emperor repeatedly failing to persuade him. Taking advantage of the situation, Li Jun suggested severe punishment for Li Ni's insubordination. The new emperor, displaying calmness at this moment, argued that if Li Ni were punished, would they then allow him to lead the troops? Li Jun, dissatisfied with this response, faced Li Lai's attempt at consolation, only to be met with ridicule.

Later, Li Lai returned to the royal court and volunteered to persuade Li Ni. The new emperor was pleased, stating that Li Jun was impulsive, and he couldn't rely on him. On the other hand, the second son could understand his intentions. Li Lai persuaded Li Ni, mentioning that his actions had already been criticized by their father. Furthermore, their father had decreed that he should resume the position of Grand Marshal, taking charge of the military affairs of the Town West Army and immediately leading the troops to support Changzhou.

Seeing that Li Ni still didn't speak, Li Lai slowly bent down, claiming that he wanted to apologize on behalf of their father. Li Ni quickly stopped him, feeling troubled as he believed this would put him in a disloyal and unfilial position. Subsequently, he pretended to reluctantly accept, proposing a condition that the imperial court must not withhold military provisions if he accepted the order to lead the troops. Li Lai readily agreed, and Li Ni accepted the imperial edict.

By coincidence, Liu Chengfeng was saved by the leader of the Jieshuo tribe, Uluo, and had been recovering on the grasslands. After his recovery, he led a group of men and quietly approached Changzhou with the intention of settling the score with Li Ni. On this day, he infiltrated Changzhou City, lured Cui Lin into a deep alley, and had the Jieshuo troops poison her. Fortunately, Tao Zi arrived in time, saving Cui Lin from a life-threatening situation. Upon receiving the news, Li Ni hurried to Changzhou City and personally brought sweet soup to surprise Cui Lin.

Upon seeing Li Ni, Cui Lin was pleasantly surprised, and her whole demeanor brightened. She even teased Li Ni, complaining about the bitterness of the medicine. Li Ni decided to taste it, but Cui Lin was worried that the medicine might have some toxicity. Frowning, Li Ni clutched his stomach in pain. Concerned, Cui Lin examined the situation. However, Li Ni suddenly stood up, grabbed her hand, and kissed her deeply. Just as the atmosphere was heating up, a sudden noise came from outside. Sensing trouble, Cui Lin urged Li Ni to leave quickly. Unfortunately, it was too late, and Cui Yi had already brought people in.

Cui Yi wasted no time and immediately locked Li Ni in a water dungeon, imposing a travel ban on Cui Lin. Worried, Cui Lin had Tao Zi whistle to summon Xie Zhanger. However, after whistling all night, there was still no sign of Xie Zhanger. Just as the two were about to give up, a guard suddenly walked in. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Xie Zhanger. Xie Zhanger was also helpless, as the security in the Cui residence was strict, and it took considerable effort to infiltrate. Later, Cui Lin changed into a guard's uniform and personally went to the dungeon to release Li Ni. Awkwardly, as soon as they left the dungeon, they bumped into Cui Yi.

Cui Yi deeply understood his daughter's feelings and knew that Li Ni was someone trustworthy. Therefore, he proposed to Li Ni that if he gave up the attempt to seize Changzhou, married into the Cui family, took over the Cui family army, he would betroth Ayin to him. However, Li Ni resolutely refused, stating that such disloyal and unjust actions were beyond his capability. Cui Yi also admired the young man's loyalty and righteousness, but he had to enforce punishment for intruding into the Cui residence. Thus, under the scorching sun, Li Ni knelt in front of Cui Yi, enduring the whip striking his back.

When Cui Lin woke up, she saw Li Ni sleeping by the desk. Hastily, she went forward to quietly drape a coat over him. Li Ni felt pain on his back when he woke up. He suppressed the pain on his face, joking and playing with Cui Lin. Seeing him still acting so casually, Cui Lin couldn't help but give him a slap. Li Ni winced in pain, and only then did Cui Lin realize that he had received severe lashes.

The night was dark, and the wind howled, causing the leaves to rustle in a terrifying manner. Cui Li was bound to a tree, unable to move. Finally, someone arrived, and he planned to bribe them to release him. However, to his astonishment, the one who kidnapped him was actually "Cui Lin." Liu Chengfeng had the Jieshuo people feed poison to Cui Li, turning him into his puppet. Due to the deep-seated enmity between the Cui family and Jieshuo, Cui Li recognized the poison. It was then that he realized the person claiming to be "Cui Lin" was not his sister but Liu Chengfeng.

At times, Cui Yi would ponder whether it was a mistake to raise his daughter as a boy and present her to the court as a boy. Therefore, he felt guilty towards Cui Lin, always worrying about explaining to his deceased wife in the afterlife. He wanted to find a husband for Cui Lin, relieving her from such struggles. Regarding Li Ni, he was satisfied, but their social status seemed like an insurmountable barrier. While contemplating this, someone reported that they had seen Cui Li in the woods.

Without informing Cui Lin, Cui Yi led a group of men to the woods and unexpectedly encountered Liu Chengfeng. Cui Li cooperated with Liu Chengfeng, pretending to be a hostage, and shifted all blame for Liu Chengfeng's fall into the water onto Li Ni. Cui Yi, not wanting to hear Liu Chengfeng's nonsense, took out his bow and arrow, pointing it directly at Liu Chengfeng and his direction. Recalling his childhood, when Cui Yi taught him and Cui Lin how to successfully escape from being kidnapped, Liu Chengfeng lightly turned his head, evading the arrows. The arrows flew past Liu Chengfeng's ear and plunged deeply into Cui Li's throat. Only then did Cui Li realize that Liu Chengfeng's promise to spare him was all a lie. As he neared death, he wanted to tell Cui Yi about Liu Chengfeng's true identity, but he was already gasping for breath and soon breathed his last.

After Liu Chengfeng's recovery, Cui Yi informed him that he intended to restore his identity and no longer let him be a shadow of Cui Lin. He even planned to find a suitable wife for him through a matchmaker. This was meant as a kind gesture from Cui Yi, but in Liu Chengfeng's eyes, it turned into grating words. He pretended to appreciate Cui Yi but secretly resented him for not allowing Cui Lin to marry him. Later, he brought a bowl of sweet soup, seemingly thanking Cui Yi, and watched as Cui Yi drank it all.

Subsequently, Li Ni came to discuss the Changzhou matter with Cui Yi, stating that he didn't intend to confront the Cui family army with force. Just as Li Ni spoke, Cui Yi suddenly spat out blood. Startled, Li Ni widened his eyes and hurriedly approached to check the situation. However, by the time he reached him, Cui Yi had fainted. Quickly, Liu Chengfeng ordered his men to surround Li Ni, claiming to avenge Cui Yi. Fortunately, Cui Lin arrived in time and stopped Liu Chengfeng. However, Liu Chengfeng insisted on killing Li Ni. Helpless, Cui Lin had to draw her sword and threaten. Disheartened, Liu Chengfeng ordered his men to release Li Ni.

Afterwards, Liu Chengfeng lied to Cui Lin, claiming that Cui Yi wanted him to marry her. Initially puzzled, Cui Lin thought it over and seemed to understand something. She asked Liu Chengfeng if her father had really said those words. Liu Chengfeng was confident and approached Cui Lin, asking if she was willing to marry him. Cui Lin's gaze turned cold as she asserted that her father would never say such things. Moreover, the vengeance against her father that Liu Chengfeng spoke of was just a deception. She questioned Liu Chengfeng if he was the one who poisoned her father. She couldn't comprehend why her father, who had treated him as a son and her as a sister since childhood, would be targeted with such cruelty.

Worried that time was of the essence, Liu Chengfeng hastily prepared for the wedding. Regardless of Cui Lin's response, he intended to marry her. To convince everyone, he even moved the unconscious Cui Yi to the courtyard, pretending to pay filial respects and offer him wine. Unexpectedly, Cui Yi suddenly opened his eyes and firmly grasped Liu Chengfeng's hand.

When Cui Lin woke up, all the generals were very happy. However, regarding the order to capture Young Master Cui, everyone was confused. Liu Chengfeng's conspiracy was exposed, and he, in his anger, didn't care about the father-son relationship and ordered the public execution of Cui Lin. Cui Lin, having experienced numerous battles, was not someone these inexperienced soldiers could easily capture. However, Liu Chengfeng ordered his subordinate Ashu to launch a surprise attack directly on Cui Lin. In the critical moment, Cui Lin arrived in time. Later, Li Ni also arrived.

During the fight, Cui Lin identified the soldiers following Liu Chengfeng's orders and learned that they were sworn enemies of the Cui family from Jieshuo. Infuriated, Cui Lin's attacks became more ruthless. Liu Chengfeng, showing no remorse, turned the tables and accused Cui Lin of never treating him as a true son and exploiting the so-called father-son relationship. Enraged, Cui Lin publicly declared that Captain He by his side was his true child. Gaining confidence, he pointed accusingly at Liu Chengfeng, stating that he had always acted in the military as Cui Lin. Today, by bringing in external enemies, Liu Chengfeng had forfeited the right to be his son, leaving Cui Lin with only a daughter.

With a command from Cui Lin, they tried to capture the traitor. Unexpectedly, Liu Chengfeng had brought many Jieshuo people, and if anything happened to him, the entire Cui residence would be buried. Cui Lin was infuriated, but Cui Lin informed him that Li Ni had set up an ambush outside the city. Liu Chengfeng and the Jieshuo people fell into the trap, but unfortunately, due to the potent poison from Jieshuo, they managed to escape. When Lao Bao delivered this news to Li Ni, he regretted not bringing back Liu Chengfeng's head himself.

After the situation calmed down a bit, Cui Lin learned from Li Ni that a few days ago, he and Tao Zi had infiltrated the Cui residence to investigate his father's illness. Later, Tao Zi had administered the right medicine and secretly treated his father. Cui Lin felt both fortunate and resentful at Liu Chengfeng's betrayal.

Meanwhile, the new emperor learned that Cui Lin only had a daughter and felt relieved, thinking that the Cui family wouldn't pose a threat in the future. However, to use the Cui family's army for himself, he planned to adopt a son from the Cui family. Empress Lu found this inappropriate and suggested asking Cui Lin if he was willing to have his daughter become a princess in the imperial city.

When Cui Lin's health improved, Li Ni went to find him again to discuss unfinished matters. Li Ni pointed out that the Cui family army's occupation of Changzhou was criticized by the court, and they had to be wary of Sun Jing. Moreover, Changzhou was far from Luoyang, Weiyang, Jianzhou, Bingshou, and even Pingliang Yingzhou. Being entangled in these places, the Cui family army might not be worth the trouble. However, if they exchanged Weiyang for Luoyang and Changzhou, the Cui family army might legitimately control military power. The court could then decree that Cui Lin manage the affairs of Pingliang and Weiyang. After some consideration, Cui Lin agreed but insisted on not abandoning Luoyang.

Later, Li Ni proposed that Cui Lin and he jointly lead the troops to eradicate Sun Jing at Tong Pass. This way, the court would acknowledge the Cui family's merit in eliminating rebels and stop causing trouble. Cui Lin agreed, but he intended to go personally. Hearing this, Li Ni couldn't help but laugh; Cui Lin had previously told him that he would respond this way. Cui Lin, embarrassed and angry, realized that Li Ni didn't come to discuss but to inform.

General Han, fleeing with the Crown Prince, was unexpectedly found by Sun Jing. Despite their efforts to protect the Crown Prince, they were overwhelmed and defeated. General Han fell into a cliff, and the Crown Prince became a pawn in Sun Jing's hands. Upon learning this, Xiao Shi urgently wrote to Li Ni, asking for help in rescuing the Crown Prince. For personal and public reasons, Li Ni was unwilling to let anything happen to the Crown Prince, so he readily agreed to Xiao Shi's request.

This night, Li Ni led the Cui family army to sneak into Tong Pass through a well, opening the city gate. Knowing he had nowhere to escape, Sun Jing decided to take a gamble, using the Crown Prince as a bargaining chip for negotiation. At dawn, Sun Jing brought the Crown Prince to the city wall, intending to force Li Ni to withdraw from Tong Pass and have the new emperor abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince, restoring the rightful order. However, with the current situation settled, there was no room for changes, and naturally, Li Ni did not agree.

Sun Jing held the Crown Prince by the neck, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, unable to break free. Despite this, the Crown Prince remained defiant, loudly telling Li Ni below that Sun must be killed. Li Ni, feeling reluctant, taunted Sun Jing, using a child as a bargaining chip. However, Sun Jing paid no attention to him, stating that if Li Ni didn't withdraw, he would take action. He drew his sword, pointing it at the Crown Prince's delicate neck. Li Ni hastily intervened, intending to exchange his life for the Crown Prince's.

Sun Jing sneered and surprisingly agreed to Li Ni's terms. Despite everyone's dissuasion, Li Ni raised his sword and approached his own neck. Just then, an arrow flew from somewhere, knocking down the sword in Li Ni's hand. Turning to look, it was Cui Lin, accompanied by a child of similar age to the Crown Prince. Cui Lin informed Li Ni that the one on the city wall was a fake Crown Prince, and the real one was with her. In disbelief, Li Ni looked at Cui Lin, his heart starting to waver. However, seeing Cui Lin's determined gaze, he had no choice but to believe her.

Later, Cui Lin focused on Sun Jing, stating that he was holding a fake Crown Prince. Sun Jing naturally knew that Cui Lin was lying, but the people around him couldn't tell who the real Crown Prince was. In the midst of confusion, Cui Lin gave the order to capture Sun Jing. Taking advantage of the chaos, General Han, who had returned with injuries, rushed to the city wall and rescued the Crown Prince from Sun Jing. Despite Sun Jing's last-ditch resistance, he was outnumbered, and with the poison in his body taking effect, he could only commit suicide on the city wall. Thus, the rebellion led by Sun Jing came to a complete end.

While clearing the battlefield, Cui Lin discovered that the Crown Prince was missing. Understanding the gravity of the situation, she confessed to Li Ni that the one she brought was the fake Crown Prince, and the one in Sun Jing's hands was the real one. Hearing this news, Li Ni became both anxious and desperate, quickly leaving the city to search. Due to the Crown Prince's disappearance, Li Ni unexpectedly had a dispute with Cui Lin. Feeling upset, Cui Lin didn't want to argue further with Li Ni and left.

Caught in a dilemma, Li Ni could only return to Tong Pass to handle affairs. Reviewing the letters that Sun Jing had failed to burn, Li Ni learned that someone in the court had been secretly colluding with Sun Jing. However, the identity of this person was deeply hidden, making it difficult to discern who it might be. Meanwhile, Liu Chengfeng found Li Lai and claimed to have a method to help him take control of the Eastern Palace. Worried about Li Ni threatening his position sooner or later, Li Lai decided to try Liu Chengfeng's method.

To lure Li Ni out, Liu Chengfeng even went so far as to poison Cui Lin. This poison was a secret toxin from Jieshuo, and even Tao Zi couldn't find a solution. Desperate, Tao Zi had no choice but to seek help from Li Ni. However, since Li Ni had almost been poisoned by Tao Zi and Lao Bao not long ago, he initially thought they intentionally claimed that Cui Lin was ill to make him apologize. Late at night, feeling extremely uneasy, he decided to wear night clothes and sneak into the camp of the Cui family army. Just as he was about to change clothes, he was summoned by Lao Bao. It was only at dawn that he managed to knock out Lao Bao and go alone to the camp of the Cui family army.

Unbeknownst to him, while waiting for Li Ni that night, Liu Chengfeng, fearing that Cui Lin had truly perished, secretly administered an antidote to her. So when Li Ni arrived, Cui Lin had already regained consciousness. With Li Ni's arrival, the misunderstandings between them deepened. However, Cui Lin was not one to beat around the bush. Even if she felt disheartened by Li Ni's actions, she wanted to tell him that if given another chance, she would still act the same way because, to her, Li Ni's life was more important than the Crown Prince's.

Cui Lin also told Li Ni that in the past few days, she had been in a daze, always hoping Li Ni would come to see her. Even if he scolded her, she wanted to at least know that he had a place for her in his heart. However, she only saw Li Ni when she woke up today and couldn't help feeling disappointed. Li Ni, in turn, expressed that the reason he was so concerned about the Crown Prince was to fulfill Xiao Shi's request. He didn't want to become a king; he just wanted to return to Laolan Pass with Cui Lin and live an ordinary life, gazing at the vast sky and clouds.

Upon hearing this, Cui Lin became even more helpless, asking Li Ni if he was confident in entrusting the world to the new emperor and his two brothers. Li Ni stuck to his firm belief that once the Crown Prince was found, he would have the new emperor declare him as the heir. Cui Lin questioned Li Ni on how he knew about the Crown Prince's aptitude, whether he would become an incompetent ruler when he grew up, and if he could handle ruling the world. Li Ni remained steadfast, asserting that the Crown Prince was the rightful heir, destined to inherit the throne, and there would be many capable advisors to assist him. Unable to bear it, Cui Lin sneered and asked Li Ni whether his two brothers would let the Crown Prince live to adulthood. Li Ni had never thought about such matters and didn't want to dwell on them; he just wanted peace in the world and to live a simple life with Cui Lin. However, Cui Lin was unwilling to say more.

Li Ni didn't care who the master of this world was; he just wanted to be with Cui Lin and return to Laos Lan Pass to live a carefree life. Cui Lin also longed for this, but she knew deep down that this world ultimately needed a wise ruler, and currently, the most suitable candidate was Li Ni. So, she had to reject Li Ni, giving each other some space. When Li Ni walked away, Cui Lin dared to cry out loud, pouring out all the reluctance and helplessness in her tears.

Soon, the Garrison West Army began to return to the capital. Both civil and military officials suggested preparing a welcoming ceremony for Li Ni, but he decisively refused. The daughters of those high-ranking officials, upon hearing the news of Li Ni's return, secretly went to the streets to catch a glimpse. Gu Xiang informed Gu Wanniang of this and hinted that she shouldn't let others take advantage of the situation. However, Gu Wanniang had her plans. She openly stated that she would visit Li Ni three days later because she was waiting for someone.

On this day, Gu Wanniang, accompanied by Li Ni's wet nurse, visited. Li Ni was delighted to see his wet nurse, feeling grateful to Gu Wanniang. Meanwhile, the new emperor pondered how to reward Cui Yi, but he couldn't come up with a good solution. Li Lai took the opportunity to propose marrying Cui Lin, hoping that Cui Yi might withdraw from Dongdu. The new emperor readily agreed to relieve his urgent concern.

The news quickly reached Luoyang, infuriating Cui Yi but giving Cui Lin an opportunity to turn the tables. She decided to openly write to the new emperor, expressing her willingness to marry a prince but insisting on choosing her own husband. Cui Yi was troubled, openly expressing his disapproval of Li Ni as a match for his daughter. However, Cui Lin argued that instead of deciding whether to marry Li Ni, they should use this opportunity to create chaos, benefiting from the conflict between others.

Indeed, the ministers argued fiercely about whether Cui Lin was suitable to join the imperial family, and the three princes began competing for her. Li Lai continued to act weak, persuading Li Jun to help him marry Cui Lin, promising to assist him in becoming the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, the Garrison West Army speculated that Cui Lin's actions were a subtle confession to Li Ni, urging him to fight for her. However, Li Ni seemed preoccupied and troubled, seemingly not taking this matter to heart.

One day, Old Bao enthusiastically informed Li Ni that Cui Lin wanted to meet him outside the city. However, Li Ni remained cold and even sighed heavily because he knew that if Cui Lin truly wanted to marry him, she wouldn't arrange a private meeting at this time. When he arrived in Leyou Yuan, Li Ni opened the door and asked if Cui Lin was willing to marry him. Cui Lin frankly admitted that she was very willing, but the current situation forced them to hide their feelings. Perplexed, Li Ni couldn't understand why two people who liked each other couldn't be together. Cui Lin sighed lightly, asking Li Ni to go back for now; perhaps, with time, he would understand the reasons. Currently, Li Ni was no longer just the Seventeenth Lang of Laos Lan Pass; he had to become the Crown Prince. Li Ni released Cui Lin's hand and asked if she would marry him once he became the Crown Prince. Helplessly, Cui Lin could only answer yes.

On this day, news of the flooding at the Prince's Mansion came, shocking Li Ni. Upon careful consideration, he found something suspicious about the incident. Li Lai, on the other hand, believed there was a hidden motive and speculated that Prince Xin orchestrated the event to kill his own consort, creating an opportunity to marry a daughter from the Cui family.

The Crown Prince naturally wanted to return to the Western Capital, but the current situation in the capital was unclear, and returning now might be more perilous than auspicious. Therefore, he had to stay outside the city with General Han, waiting for the right moment. Fortunately, this place was remote, and the sounds of reading were heard all day. The Crown Prince was pleased, hoping to read more books here.

Gu Wanniang took her wet nurse to a temple outside the city to pray for blessings. During the worship of the Empress Liu's portrait, Gu Wanniang pretended to accidentally damage a corner of the painting. She then volunteered to repair the image. While repairing it, she deliberately revealed to Li Ni that royal women liked to affix gold to silk clothes, and silk was highly flammable, making it comparable to oil when stacked together. Li Ni seemed to understand something and promptly ordered Pei Yuan to steal some soil from Prince Xin's mansion, revealing numerous small gold beads hidden within.

Following this lead, Pei Yuan continued the investigation and discovered a connection between Prince Xin's mansion and the flooding incident. Li Ni was furious, unable to believe that Li Jun could be so ruthless. In the past, his father and two brothers disliked him, and only his sister-in-law cared for him. Now, for the sake of the Crown Prince position, Li Jun had killed his sister-in-law with his own hands. The next day at court, Li Ni intentionally stayed away, and someone suggested that, with Prince Xin losing his wife, he could seek to marry a daughter from the Cui family. Li Jun feigned sadness while inwardly rejoicing.

At that moment, Li Ni arrived and reported that Prince Xin had drugged his wife and the attendants, filled the room with flammable materials, intentionally set it on fire, and burned Prince Xin's wife and everyone in the mansion alive. The court was in an uproar. With evidence and witnesses, the new emperor was furious and ordered Li Jun to be confined to Prince Xin's mansion. In this way, Li Ni avenged his sister-in-law, but he couldn't feel any joy. He was puzzled by the cutthroat nature of the imperial city, where everyone seemed willing to resort to any means for a little gain, even if it meant killing their closest people. He couldn't help but reminisce about the carefree days in Laos Lan Pass but also had to reconsider what Cui Lin had said.

After learning about Prince Xin's wife, Cui Lin was worried about Li Ni and quietly came to Leyou Yuan. Li Ni told Cui Lin that he couldn't understand how Li Jun, his wife, could be so heartless. Cui Lin comforted him, explaining that the Eastern Palace, being the heir's position, could drive people to madness due to the desire for power. This was why Li Ni had always avoided any ties to the Eastern Palace. From a young age, he knew that the magnificent Eastern Palace, coveted by everyone, was a cage, and he didn't want himself and Cui Lin's future children to live in such a cage. However, now Li Ni had entered the game.

Liu Chengfeng set an ambush, captured Cui Lin, and drugged her, making her unable to move in bed. On the other side, Tao Zi, who couldn't wait for Cui Lin, tried to find her using the bait. Previously, Cui Lin's whereabouts were unknown, and it was Tao Zi who used bait to find her. But this time, the bait didn't work. Tao Zi had no choice but to return to the imperial city and inform Li Ni. Li Ni pondered the details and speculated that Liu Chengfeng had abducted Cui Lin, and they were likely near the border of Dayu and Jieshuo.

Cui Lin told Liu Chengfeng that she would not like him, regardless of Li Ni's presence. In Cui Lin's heart, Liu Chengfeng had always been like a brother, an irreplaceable childhood companion, but he would never be a husband, a lifelong companion. Liu Chengfeng was heartbroken, explaining that he only sought the people of Jieshuo to survive. Only by staying alive could he have a chance with her. However, the situation was irreversible, and Cui Lin would neither like nor forgive Liu Chengfeng.

Upon learning that Cui Lin had gone missing, Cui Yi hastily led a group to rescue her. Knowing he couldn't match Cui Yi's strength, Liu Chengfeng planned to take Cui Lin away, leaving Ah Shu to deal with the situation. On the other hand, Li Ni anticipated Liu Chengfeng's next move and waited on the road. At that moment, Cui Lin was unconscious, lying on a makeshift bed. Seizing the opportunity, Li Ni and his group rushed forward, disrupting Jieshuo's formation and rescuing Cui Lin. Jieshuo's people, unwilling to linger, and recognizing Liu Chengfeng's value, retreated after knocking him unconscious.

When Cui Lin woke up, she saw Li Ni. She could hardly believe it and had to confirm multiple times. Li Ni tightly held her hand, affirming that he had been by her side all along. Cui Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief, recalling that she had seen Li Ni like this before, but it was only in a dream. Li Ni, full of concern, rested Cui Lin's head on his chest and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.

At night, everyone gathered around a bonfire, drinking and eating meat, enjoying themselves. Lao Bao told Li Ni that he and his brothers had previously rescued Lady Qin and her daughter Xiao Xier from Fengying Tower. As they discussed this, they couldn't help but talk excitedly about reuniting when peace returned to the world, taking Lady Qin and Xiao Xier back to Laos Lan Pass. At that time, they could all gather again.

Under the flickering fireflies and countless stars, Cui Lin and Li Ni sat by the river, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Li Ni caught a firefly and placed it in Cui Lin's hand. Cui Lin, looking at the tiny but radiant firefly in her hand, smiled happily. Li Ni asked Cui Lin if she would agree to something if he caught a hundred fireflies for her. Cui Lin was resolute, stating that even if he caught a thousand or ten thousand fireflies, she wouldn't agree to his request. Li Ni hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something to Cui Lin but struggling to find the words. Cui Lin turned her head and gently kissed him.

With Liu Chengfeng's help, Jieshuo captured Baishui Pass, making it extremely dangerous for Dayu. When the new emperor and ministers learned that Liu Chengfeng was Cui Yi's adopted son, they began to suspect the Cui family's allegiance. Only Li Ni could stand against Liu Chengfeng, but Li Ni was currently not in the capital, causing annoyance to the new emperor. On the other hand, after safely escorting Cui Lin back to the Cui family's army, Li Ni hurried back to the capital.

Upon returning to the capital, Li Ni heard that the ban on Li Jun had been lifted, and he was puzzled. He directly asked the new emperor for an explanation. However, the new emperor thought Li Ni was disrespectful and scolded him severely. Later, the new emperor asked Li Ni if he would be willing to withdraw from Jindu as ordered. Unexpectedly, Li Ni decisively refused and volunteered to resign, wanting to return to Laos Lan Pass. The new emperor was furious, ordering him to go back home and reflect.

Seeing Li Ni spending his days in gloominess, Pei Yuan approached to inquire about the situation. Li Ni confessed that he and Cui Lin were fond of each other, but their relationship was strained because of the question of him becoming the Crown Prince. Li Ni knew that neither the new emperor nor his two brothers were the best choices for rulers, but he had promised Xiao Fei to support Taibao. Moreover, if he became the Crown Prince, how could the world allow the Crown Princess to continue controlling military power? How could Cui Yi willingly give up military authority?

Li Ni was sleeping heavily when Lao Bao woke him up, saying that Cui Lin had personally come to meet the new emperor. Li Ni paid no attention and went back to sleep. On the other side, Cui Lin showed no intention of meeting Li Ni. Tao Zi and Xie Zhanger were puzzled. To please Cui Lin, Tao Zi bought dried fruits, falsely claiming that Li Ni had sent them. However, Cui Lin saw through Tao Zi's lie and continued enjoying the feast in front of her.

The matter of Cui Lin meeting the new emperor is still undecided. The Ministry of War claims that the Cui family's army is fighting on the frontlines, and Cui Lin, being considered Cui Yi's son, can represent him to meet the new emperor. However, the Ministry of Rites objects, stating that there is no precedent for this, and the Ministry of Revenue points out that the Cui family's army has not received provisions and military funds from them. Since the deduction from the tax revenues of Pingliang and Weiyang, this confusing account can't be clarified. Currently, even before Cui Lin sets foot in the palace, the six ministries are already in a heated dispute. Li Ni, on the other hand, believes that there have been precedents of women attending court meetings before. Given Cui Lin's mother's heroic status, she should be qualified to meet the emperor.

Gu Wanniang took the initiative to search for records from over sixty years ago, confirming Li Ni's words. From this, she also learned about Li Ni's deep affection for Cui Lin and advised Gu Wanniang to give up. However, Gu Wanniang felt that since there was no conclusion yet, their feelings were genuine. Still, given the uncertainties of life, perhaps she was the most suitable wife for Li Ni. Meanwhile, news of Cui Lin's scheduled audience with the emperor spread quickly, and Cui Lin knew that Li Ni had been running to the Ministry of Rites in the past few days, understanding his concern for her and couldn't help but smile.

On the day Cui Lin attended the court meeting, Li Ni got up early, cleaned himself up, and happily went to court. In the grand hall, Cui Lin represented her father for an audience, stating that during the rebellion of Sun Jing in Duyang and Luoyang, the Cui family's army temporarily took charge. Now that the world is pacified, the Cui family's army intends to immediately withdraw from Luoyang and return it to the court. Hearing this, the new emperor was delighted and planned to host a grand banquet for Cui Lin, both to express his commendation and to allow the capital's young ladies to appreciate her boldness.

On this day, Cui Lin deliberately wore women's clothing. Li Jun wanted to win Cui Lin's favor and always tried to be the first to talk to her. To make it livelier, the empress organized a colorful play. Li Jun took the opportunity to sit next to Cui Lin, trying to impress her. Li Ni, feeling unhappy, but unable to express it, reluctantly asked to go on stage and invited Li Jun as well. Li Jun felt awkward, knowing he was no match for Li Ni. If he agreed, the result could be predicted, but if he refused, he would be labeled as afraid. At this moment, Cui Lin proposed to partner with Li Jun, resolving the situation for him. On the other side, Gu Wanniang also volunteered to team up with Li Ni.

Although it was a four-person competition, gradually, Li Jun and Gu Wanniang became background figures, leaving only Li Ni and Cui Lin on the stage. Cui Lin and Li Ni simultaneously flew to the crossbar, competing for the colored ribbons. However, the two were evenly matched, and after a long time, no winner emerged. Unbeknownst to them, the curtains fell, enclosing them in a circle. Cui Lin took a step forward and lightly kissed Li Ni. Taking advantage of Li Ni's surprised state, Cui Lin then pushed him down, claiming victory. In the grand hall, Cui Lin presented the hairpin given by the empress, giving one to Li Ni and another to Gu Wanniang.

The empress admired Cui Lin's generosity and thoughtfulness, praising her for a long time. As the feast officially began, Li Ni felt restless and stood up to leave. Seeing this, Gu Wanniang also wanted to follow, but her path was blocked. On the other side, Cui Lin, noticing Li Ni standing up, also followed suit. Li Jun wanted to follow as well but was also blocked. Cui Lin thanked Li Ni, but he arrogantly said it was just for the country's sake. Watching Li Ni's serious demeanor, Cui Lin couldn't help but find it amusing.

After the banquet, Li Jun caught up with Cui Lin, wanting to escort her home. Cui Lin agreed and told him that she would go to Cien Temple the next day. Li Jun offered to accompany her, and Cui Lin agreed. This scene was coincidentally witnessed by Li Ni. The next day, Li Jun arrived at Cui Lin's place according to the agreement, only to find out that she had already left early. On the other side, Li Ni couldn't endure the wait and went out to find Cui Lin. Cui Lin was very happy, suggesting that they could forget about their identities and enjoy the day. Li Ni readily agreed, and together they went shopping, played, and went to Leyou Yuan to catch fish and enjoy the scenery.

Wu Luo is a cunning and ruthless person, adept at making the most of everything. Since he has invested so much, he sent people to secretly infiltrate the Central Plains along with Liu Chengfeng, indicating a plot. Cui Yi, aware that a formidable enemy is approaching, promptly dispatched people to investigate and uncover the whereabouts of Jie Shuo's people. On the other side, Liu Chengfeng, with an air of arrogance, paid respects to Li Lai, thanking him for lending troops to help capture Baishui Pass. He also mentioned bringing many Jie Shuo people, available for Li Lai's use. Li Lai inquired about Liu Chengfeng's motives, suspecting an ulterior motive behind his assistance. Liu Chengfeng straightforwardly stated that Li Lai's marriage to Cui Lin is not enough; only with Li Ni's death can they eliminate future troubles. His sole intention is to ensure Li Ni's demise.

As the time came for them to part ways again, Cui Lin couldn't help but ask Li Ni, if one day she did something that made him particularly angry, would he stop liking her. Li Ni initially thought about teasing Cui Lin but realized the sincerity of his feelings for her. Perhaps, in the future, he would continue to like her for a very, very long time. Hearing this, Cui Lin was very pleased and decided to make another bet with him. If she counted to ten and Li Ni still didn't open his eyes, in the future, if they became enemies, she would let him three times, and vice versa.

When Li Ni counted to four, Cui Lin kissed him again, just like last time. However, this time, there was a hint of reluctance and nostalgia. Li Ni slowly opened his eyes, admitting that he was willing to concede the bet. If they became enemies in the future, he would let Cui Lin three times. Afterwards, he kissed her again, gentle and domineering, cherishing the tenderness of the moment. Before leaving, Li Ni gave Cui Lin a small straw man.

Soon, news of the Cui family army's victory at Baishui Pass reached the capital. The new emperor was overjoyed and decided to grant a general amnesty, ordering Li Jun's release. Li Ni was shocked and angered, asserting that the success of the Cui family army had nothing to do with Li Jun. He personally set fire and killed the Princess Xin, but instead of acknowledging this, the new emperor blamed Li Ni, claiming that Li Jun was his brother, and he shouldn't be so unrelenting. The atmosphere became awkward, and Pei Xian stepped forward to submit a memorial, revealing another petition from Cui Yi.

Cui Yi specifically submitted a memorial regarding the matter of establishing a crown prince for the East Palace, requesting Li Ni be appointed as the Crown Prince to secure the foundation of the country. Before Cui Yi could finish reading his memorial, the new emperor became furious. The court was in an uproar, and the tension became palpable. Gu Wanniang was the first to speak up, stating that establishing a crown prince is a significant national matter and entirely appropriate. Many ministers followed suit, expressing agreement with Cui Yi's suggestion. Kneeling on the grand hall, Li Ni felt no joy, only an endless sense of worry and annoyance.

Upon learning of this, Cui Lin was also distressed, guessing that Li Ni would be angry with her and her father over this matter. Indeed, Li Ni visited without an invitation, immediately asking Cui Lin for the pearls he had left with her. When Cui Lin snapped back to reality, she felt as if a sharp sword had slashed through her heart and resentfully returned the pearls to him. Li Ni also returned the hairpin, leaving with a statement of "no debts owed." He secluded himself in the courtyard for the entire day, ignoring everything around him. Unbeknownst to him, danger was quietly approaching at this moment.

On this day, Gu Wanniang and Li Ni's wet nurse made some bamboo shoot buns, expecting Li Ni to come and taste them. However, after waiting for a long time without Li Ni's arrival, and the wet nurse being quite hungry, she picked up a bun and started eating. Suddenly, she collapsed. When the doctor arrived, it was too late to save her. Li Ni, overwhelmed with grief, sat blankly where the wet nurse had been waiting for him. He picked up a bun, wanting to taste it to alleviate his longing, only to find that it had a strange taste. To investigate the true cause of the wet nurse's death, he had to have her coffin opened.

Cui Lin, upon hearing the news, was deeply saddened and worried that Li Ni might be overwhelmed with grief. However, unsure of how to approach him in this situation, she couldn't help but quietly come to the Prince Qin's mansion, just watching from a distance. Li Ni seemed to sense Cui Lin's presence, but he ultimately didn't approach her. Learning that Li Ni rushed to open the coffin for a post-mortem examination, Cui Lin hurriedly instructed Tao Zi to inform Xie Zhanger that if Li Ni rushed out, she must stop him at all costs.

As expected by Cui Lin, when the investigation revealed that Li Jun had bribed the wet nurse's son to sabotage and harm Cui Lin, inadvertently causing the wet nurse's death, Li Ni was furious. He raised his long sword and headed towards the Prince Xin's mansion. Li Jun pleaded innocence, cowering on the ground. Just then, Pei Yuan arrived in time and intercepted Li Ni. Furious and agitated, Li Ni couldn't let the Western Army be in a disadvantageous position because of him. He ruthlessly threw down his sword, and seemingly understanding Li Ni's anger, the sword cut across the back of Li Jun's hand from Li Ni's own.

Tao Zi rushed back and reported the events at the Prince Xin's mansion to Cui Lin. However, she was puzzled about how her mistress learned that Pei Yuan could persuade the currently infuriated Li Ni. In truth, Cui Lin knew well that Li Ni was a person of deep emotions and integrity. At the point of despair, he would spare no effort. However, when it came to Pei Yuan and his fellow soldiers in the Western Army, Li Ni would surely show consideration.

After learning the truth about the wet nurse's death, Gu Wanniang felt some lingering fear. Yet, throughout history, one must endure dangers to achieve wealth and prosperity. How could she distance herself from Li Ni due to potential dangers that had not yet occurred? Gu Xiang greatly admired Gu Wanniang's perspective and appreciated Li Ni's straightforwardness. However, it had to be admitted that this straightforwardness was precisely why Li Ni was easily taken advantage of. Even though it was clear that Li Jun poisoned and schemed, the new emperor favored him, naturally protecting him at all costs. Li Ni's actions today undoubtedly clashed with the new emperor's stance.

Gu Xiang thought that Li Ni should show weakness to the new emperor. After obtaining evidence and testimonials, he should directly kneel before the new emperor, crying without mentioning Li Jun's matter. Perhaps, the new emperor would feel guilty, and when Gu Xiang and other ministers stood up for Li Ni, Li Jun would be firmly held down, making it difficult for him to turn the situation around. However, things had come to this point, and Gu Xiang could only sigh heavily, considering other ways to eliminate the great threat posed by Li Jun.

On this day, Gu Xiang and Pei Xian jointly met the new emperor, requesting the exile of Li Jun. The new emperor was unwilling, even attempting to excuse Li Jun, claiming it was just a dispute between the two brothers. Helpless, Pei Xian could only kneel down, stating that the new emperor's favoritism and miscarriage of justice chilled everyone's hearts. If the new emperor insisted on shielding Li Jun, he would voluntarily leave the capital, taking the Western Army and Li Ni away from right and wrong, preserving their lives. Gu Xiang also suggested that if it came to that, he would resign voluntarily. The new emperor had no choice but to agree to exile Li Jun.

Before departing, the new emperor specifically allowed Li Jun to pay respects to his birth mother. To ensure that Li Jun was not exiled too far, the new emperor also asked Li Ni to accompany him to pay respects to Liu Shi, and then have Li Jun apologize directly to him. However, on this day, which happened to be the day of the wet nurse's burial, Li Ni planned to finish escorting the wet nurse's coffin before going for the ceremony. Li Ni caught up with the funeral procession but felt that something was amiss. Suddenly, a cold light flashed before his eyes. Fortunately, he dodged in time, avoiding injury. Subsequently, Li Ni engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the assailant, knocking him down with a punch. He unintentionally saw a mark on the assailant's neck, realizing that these people were Jie Shuo members. Knowing that he was outnumbered, Li Ni instructed Xie Zhanger to find Pei Yuan quickly.

On the other side, the funeral procession also fell into an ambush by Jie Shuo members. Li Jun hurriedly protected the new emperor, vowing to earn the title of a filial son. However, upon hearing that Li Ni was not in the procession, his true intentions were exposed. He intended to usurp the throne and kill the emperor. Li Lai, like a beast smelling blood, aggressively approached Li Jun, declaring his intention to kill him as a traitor. In the end, Li Jun died by Li Lai's sword. Only in the last moment before his death did Li Jun realize that Li Lai had always been the one benefiting from the chaos.

Li Ni rushed over on a fast horse and, seeing Li Lai in trouble, hurriedly went to help. However, Li Lai took advantage of his distraction, picked up a sharp sword, and thrust it into his body. It seemed like an eternity passed, with only a few Cui family soldiers remaining in the chaotic scene. Li Ni resisted while injured, but ultimately, outnumbered, he could only watch as his brothers, who had fought and lived together, perished. The pouring rain made it hard to distinguish whether the blood on their faces was rainwater or blood. Lao Bao used his body to shield Li Ni and gradually fell silent before his eyes.

Li Ni carefully placed Lao Bao's body, picked up the sword dripping with blood from the ground, and walked forward with a fierce killing intent. Li Lai saw the murderous aura in Li Ni's eyes and was scared, repeatedly retreating, only daring to loudly command Jie Shuo Ren to kill Li Ni. The crowd rushed forward, but still couldn't subdue Li Ni, who had lost his sanity due to hatred. Stumbling towards Li Lai, Li Ni almost fell due to exhaustion and severe injuries.

Seeing Li Ni losing strength, Li Lai arrogantly approached. He swung his sword at Li Ni, but it was still blocked. Frustrated, Li Ni moved forward, only to be kicked by Li Lai and fell unconscious. Thinking he had won, Li Lai laughed triumphantly as he approached. However, just as he raised his sword, an arrow flew across his neck. Cui Lin rushed towards Li Ni without hesitation, trying to wake him up. Perhaps hearing Cui Lin's cries, Li Ni slowly opened his eyes, but closed them again after a moment.

The scenes of singing and dancing by the campfire that day, envisioning the future gathering at Lao Lan Pass, the smiles of Lao Bao and the brothers, now turned into painful memories for Li Ni. He was overwhelmed with grief, finding it hard to breathe. Waking up from the nightmare, Li Ni spat out a mouthful of blood. Cui Lin, distressed, gently patted his back, tightly holding his cold hand.

Xie Zhanger also felt guilty, regretting not being faster. If only he had been quicker, perhaps Lao Bao and the others wouldn't have died. Thinking about it, Xie Zhanger felt intense heartache. Tao Zi, seeing this, quickly comforted him, embracing him to provide solace.

In the night, Li Ni suddenly woke up. Supporting his weakened body, he walked to Cui Lin and gently kissed her hand. Then, reluctantly, he stroked Cui Lin's face and quietly left. Sitting in front of the temple, Li Ni picked up a teacup and looked at the clear tea inside, but his hands couldn't stop shaking. He couldn't help but recall the hearty laughter of Lao Bao, the image of him devouring a big cake, his expression when facing Li Ni's endless chatter, and the promise they made to reunite after the war.

The long-standing pain erupted at this moment, turning into crimson blood spewing from Li Ni's mouth. He looked up and saw a familiar figure. Cui Lin sat beside him, consoling him, urging him to live on for the sake of saving more people. She embraced Li Ni, suppressing her sorrow, gently caressing his hand.

After that day, the new emperor couldn't sleep well, feeling a severe pain as if someone might suddenly come out and assassinate him. Now, with only Li Ni as the surviving prince, he was the crown prince no matter what. However, the new emperor shifted the blame, suggesting that Jie Shuo Ren must have drugged Li Jun and Li Lai to make them commit such deeds. Although Pei Xian was frustrated, calling the crimes of Li Jun and Li Lai heinous, he suggested burying them with the dignity of princes. The urgent matter was to crown Li Ni as the crown prince.

The new emperor was somewhat annoyed but had no words to retort. However, he intended to make Cui Lin the crown prince's consort. Hearing this, the courtier was shocked and openly expressed concern that the powerful Cui family might interfere in politics if Cui Lin became the crown prince's consort. Pei Xian wanted to argue, but the foolish new emperor believed the courtier's words, combined with his fear of the Cui family's army, and abandoned the idea of making Cui Lin the crown prince's consort.

Seeing Li Ni sinking into depression day by day, Cui Lin decided to make him a garment tailored to his condition. Li Ni couldn't help but think that he used to be the one who initiated hugs with Cui Lin; she had never hugged him first. Hearing his thoughts, Cui Lin gently embraced Li Ni from behind. Later, she planned to perform a magic trick for Li Ni, secretly placing a hairpin on him to ensure his safety. However, Li Ni noticed Cui Lin's actions and quietly placed his mother's bead on her.

Finally, the two reconciled, embracing tightly.

Accompanied by Cui Lin, Li Ni went to Qingyun Temple to find Concubine Xiao, wanting to discuss the matter of crown prince succession. Concubine Xiao, always clear-headed, understood the current situation, and Li Ni had no choice but to become the crown prince. She couldn't help but recall many years ago when she didn't want to be the crown prince's consort but had to pretend to be happy to move into the Eastern Palace. Life had so many unpleasant things, so it was better to live in the present, adapt to the circumstances, and hope for no regrets in the future. Hearing Concubine Xiao's words, Li Ni's heart felt somewhat relieved.

Later, General Han brought the crown prince to Qingyun Temple, and the mother and son were finally reunited. Afterward, General Han specifically went to thank Li Ni for taking care of the crown prince and Concubine Xiao. Seeing General Han's dignified and loyal demeanor, Cui Lin couldn't help but feel a mixture of anger and admiration. Li Ni, however, felt a complex mix of emotions. He once envisioned himself dominating Lao Lan Pass, making enemies tremble at the sound of his name, but now, he had too many things he had to do.

Both Li Ni and Cui Lin desired peace in the world, with people no longer displaced, civil officials incorruptible, and military officers unafraid of death, so that everyone could live a good life. Now, since no one else would step forward, Li Ni had to take the initiative and shoulder this heavy responsibility. Hearing this, Cui Lin couldn't help but feel relieved. Back in the capital, Li Ni officially became the Crown Prince. The new emperor, however, was troubled, but with no other choice, he had to consider choosing a suitable crown prince consort. The empress took the opportunity to suggest looking at the daughter of the Gu family.

On the day of court, some ministers suggested selecting outstanding ladies from prominent families for the crown prince. Li Ni quickly spoke up, stating that with the ongoing chaos and the world just settling down, it was not the right time to disturb the people by selecting crown prince consorts. The new emperor agreed with Li Ni's words, but he insisted on making the daughter of the Gu family the crown prince consort. Gu Wanniang pretended to be worried and hurriedly refused. Pei Xian was impatient and recommended Cui Lin as the crown prince consort. In the end, the ministers argued incessantly, and the matter was left unresolved.

Now that Li Ni had become the crown prince, it was likely that Cui Lin would become the crown prince consort. Concubine Xiao sighed at the affection between the two but also felt somewhat regretful for Cui Lin. People only knew that the crown prince was the heir, one above ten thousand, and the crown prince consort was the most precious among the internal attendants, second only to the empress. However, few understood the hardships faced by the crown prince consort. The identity of the crown prince consort was both an honor and a constraint.

Li Ni depicted everything he and Cui Lin had experienced, leaving many blank pages for future drawings when they could do it together. Life was long, and they would encounter many interesting things. They would complete one volume and then start the next, flipping through them page by page when they grew old.

In a hurry, Pei Xian found Cui Yi and informed him of the events in the court, urging him to disband the Cui family army soon. Only then would Cui Lin have the chance to become the crown prince consort. Both Cui Yi and Cui Lin knew that whether or not Cui Lin became the crown prince consort, the Cui family army would eventually be disbanded by the court. However, after so many years of life and death with the Cui family army, there was still some reluctance. Cui Lin also suggested to her father that he should take this opportunity to return to Yingzhou, which would benefit both the Cui family and the court. She could stay in the capital, assisting Li Ni on the side.

To avoid displeasing Li Ni, Gu Wanniang deliberately approached him, stating that she didn't want to cause him trouble. If the new emperor insisted on making her the crown prince consort, she was willing to become a nun. Li Ni comforted Gu Wanniang, saying that this matter had nothing to do with her. Moreover, whatever happened, he and Cui Lin would not develop any resentment or suspicion toward each other. Hearing this, Gu Wanniang was slightly stunned but still maintained her dignified composure. After returning home, she discussed this matter with her father. Both of them agreed to secretly plot to separate Li Ni and Cui Lin.

Cui Lin opened the door to her room and found Li Ni casually lying on her bed. Li Ni held Cui Lin's hand, imagining a future with many children between them. While the two were playing around, the new emperor suddenly ordered someone to summon Li Ni. Li Ni gently kissed Cui Lin and reluctantly walked out. In the grand hall, Jie Shuo Ren was brought in, claiming to want to take the head of Cui Yi.

Jie Shuo people, Gali, falsely accused Cui Yi, claiming that he had reached a cooperation with Jie Shuo, and the defeat at Baishuiguan was actually because he suddenly broke the agreement, leading to the loss. Pei Xian on the side was furious, pointing at Gali's head and questioning him why he didn't expose it face to face. Gali actually started flattering the new emperor, claiming that he didn't know the new emperor was so generous at that time and now he understands that Cui Yi's actions were not authorized by the new emperor but were his own initiative.

The new emperor was very satisfied with this explanation. Pei Xian hurriedly stepped forward to remind the new emperor that Cui Yi is a general of Dayu and should not easily believe rumors. Unexpectedly, another minister argued against Pei Xian, claiming that Cui Yi's ambitions were evident, and Gali made it clear. Pei Xian, angry and anxious, argued with the minister. However, he did not expect that the other party was well-prepared to frame Cui Yi, presenting the false accusations convincingly.

Li Ni had a headache and questioned Gali, asking how Cui Yi colluded with Jie Shuo, what they agreed upon that day, and even if it were true, how did Gali know, and if he knew, why didn't Cui Yi kill him to keep him silent. Gali explained one by one, mentioning Liu Chengfeng. Later, the new emperor summoned Liu Chengfeng to confront him. Liu Chengfeng, with wild ambitions, told lies seamlessly and even accused Li Ni, claiming that he didn't believe his words because of personal bias.

Pei Xian was anxious and reminded the new emperor that on the day of the chaos between the two princes, Cui Yi timely arrived and saved the emperor. But before he could finish speaking, Liu Chengfeng excitedly said that if it weren't for conspiring with Jie Shuo, how could Cui Yi arrive so timely. The new emperor was already displeased with Cui Yi and now had a reason to arrest and interrogate him, which pleased him.

Now, if the Cui family's army wants to be safe, they must return to Yingzhou in time. Before Li Ni returned, Cui Lin quickly wrote a letter to her father. Worried about Cui Lin's safety, Li Ni secretly came to her room at night. Knowing that Cui Lin had arranged for guards, his heart was slightly relieved. However, news of the Ministry of Justice's water testing spread. Now that Gali was killed and Liu Chengfeng injured, the new emperor was even more convinced that Cui Yi was trying to cover up. Later, the new emperor quickly ordered Pei Xian to bring back Cui Yi. Shocked, Pei Xian didn't know how to respond. Li Ni, understanding Pei Xian's dilemma, suggested letting Pei Yuan go after Cui Yi.

A minister suddenly stood up, saying to pay special attention to Cui Lin. Li Ni frowned, stating that he was just in Cui Lin's room, so she naturally had no suspicion. The new emperor was furious, accusing Li Ni of shamelessness. Li Ni coldly replied that he had sneaked in through the window. The new emperor became even more angry, gasping for breath while holding the dragon throne. Li Ni, unyielding, insisted on marrying Cui Lin as his wife, declaring her as his only recognized crown princess.

The new emperor was furious and suggested Li Ni kill him and claim the throne. Pei Xian quickly persuaded Li Ni, reminding him not to upset his father, whether as a crown prince or a son. Helpless, Li Ni could only kneel down. Finally, the new emperor accepted the advice of the advisor and ordered Li Ni to personally bring back Cui Yi and investigate the matter thoroughly. While Li Ni was away, the new emperor conspired with the advisor, planning to make a fait accompli. They first appointed Gu Wanniang as a virtuous concubine and, upon Li Ni's return, would quickly elevate her to crown princess.

On the other hand, Cui Lin was extremely anxious. If Li Ni brought her father back to the capital, it would likely be a dangerous situation. If her father had already returned to Yingzhou, it would confirm the charges of treason, leading to inevitable war. She didn't know what her father would choose. A few days later, Cui Yi returned to the capital with Li Ni. After sending Cui Yi to his residence, Li Ni planned to report to the palace. However, he unexpectedly learned that the new emperor had arbitrarily appointed Gu Wanniang as a virtuous concubine and planned to elevate her to crown princess in the future. Li Ni was shocked, and what shocked him even more was that Gu Wanniang's maid suddenly came crying, asking him to save Gu Wanniang. According to her, upon hearing Li Ni's return to the capital, Gu Wanniang sent away her attendants and hung herself alone in her room.

Since Li Ni had some connection with Gu Wanniang, he couldn't just stand by. He had to go and see for himself. Gu Wanniang pretended to be reasonable, claiming that becoming a virtuous concubine was not her voluntary choice. She didn't want to cause discord between him and Cui Lin, so she decided to end it all and not let him be troubled. Li Ni didn't have the mind to speculate on Gu Wanniang's small schemes, so he believed her and persuaded her to live well as a friend in the future.

In a heavy downpour, Li Ni knelt in front of the hall, declaring Cui Yi's innocence. The new emperor was furious and refused to meet him. Li Ni was puzzled. Cui Yi had clearly saved the new emperor's life; how could he persecute such a loyal minister and act so foolishly for the ruler?

Seeing Cui Lin still angry, Li Ni followed her attentively. Unfortunately, Gu Wanniang suddenly came to pay her respects. Li Ni was furious and quickly had her dismissed. However, Cui Lin insisted on inviting Gu Wanniang in and even asked her to embroider a screen for her. Gu Wanniang, surprised by Cui Lin's request, reluctantly agreed. As she was about to leave, Li Ni suddenly stopped her. Expecting a pleasant conversation, she was met with Li Ni's cold urgency, instructing her to quickly finish the embroidery.

Carefully, Li Ni brought hot soup, intending to feed it to the still unconscious Cui Lin. However, she remained asleep, so he gently placed the soup down and sat on the edge of the bed. Watching Cui Lin sleeping peacefully, Li Ni couldn't help but smile. He wanted to caress her face, but at that moment, Cui Lin woke up. Seeing Li Ni sitting beside her, she glanced at him and then turned away to continue sleeping.

After the disbandment of the Cui family's army, Cui Yi often sat by the river fishing, contemplating how to strategize for the future. When a young man approached, he asked for advice on military tactics. The young man's answers were knowledgeable, but there was a tinge of sorrow in his tone, as if he were sighing. Pleased with his response, Cui Yi asked for his name. Upon hearing "Li Ni," Cui Yi was momentarily stunned, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall where he had seen him before. Thus, the two sat by the river fishing together, with Cui Yi sharing stories of his past, his deceased wife, regrets, and glorious achievements.

That night, back at home, Li Ni sat at the table for a long time, perhaps grappling with his own regrets and shame. Seeing Cui Lin preparing to sleep, he thought she might generously let him share the bed. To his disappointment, Cui Lin was only concerned about the cold floor and intended to give him a thick blanket. Declining her kindness, Li Ni felt a bit disheartened. Ignoring him, Cui Lin threw the blanket on the floor, covered herself, and went to sleep.

On another note, Cui Lin received news that Liu Chengfeng had contracted a severe cold in prison and was burned on a makeshift funeral pyre. However, suspecting the circumstances, Cui Lin thought it might be a ploy, and indeed, Liu Chengfeng was alive, planning to continue scheming against Li Ni.

One day, Gu Xiang, under the pretext of visiting her daughter, came to the prince's residence. Indirectly, she inquired from Li Ni why he showed no interest in Gu Wanniang, never spending the night in her room. Li Ni tried to dismiss Gu Xiang, but he had no excuse to avoid Gu Wanniang. Therefore, he spread the word that he would dine in Gu Wanniang's room that night. Unexpectedly, Cui Lin sent a message, stating she never intended to dine with Li Ni, and he was free to go wherever he pleased. Despite the headache this caused Li Ni, the message was already out, and he had to visit Gu Wanniang's room personally. Upon entering, he dismissed the maids and honestly told Gu Wanniang that he had no romantic feelings for her and didn't want to hinder her future. Therefore, he wouldn't mistreat her and would let her leave when she found someone she loved.

Cui Lin and Tao Zi were savoring delicious food in their room, paying no attention to the yet-to-return Li Ni and Xie Zhanger. Unbeknownst to them, Li Ni and Xie Zhanger had been waiting outside, enduring the cold wind for the sake of appearances. After a while, Li Ni, feeling annoyed, entered the room and dismissed everyone. A quarrel erupted between them. Cui Lin wanted to kick Li Ni out, but he shamelessly grabbed a blanket and prepared to sleep on the floor. Unyielding, Cui Lin tried to snatch the blanket, determined to sleep alone.

In the grand Chengluan Hall, Li Ni and Cui Lin found themselves in a tug-of-war over a blanket, neither willing to let go. In the end, Li Ni accidentally fell straight onto Cui Lin. Unperturbed, Cui Lin produced a silver needle from somewhere and attempted to stab him. Li Ni, quick-witted, seized her hand and rolled backward, disarming her of the silver needle. Taking advantage of Cui Lin's distraction, Li Ni impulsively kissed her. Perhaps it was the thick aroma of hotpot that added a touch of ambiguity between them.

Early the next morning, before Li Ni opened his eyes, he felt around beside him. Upon discovering an empty space, he quickly turned around. There, he saw Cui Lin elegantly combing her hair in front of the dressing mirror. Feeling somewhat guilty, he squatted nearby, trying to confirm the pleasure from the previous night with Cui Lin. However, Cui Lin remained indifferent, casually mentioning that it was just a trivial matter. If she were truly pregnant, she would go to her father and make herself the empress dowager. Annoyed, Li Ni, without wearing clothes, hastily ran out.

To find Mu Xianhe, Li Ni and Pei Yuan personally went to Fengying Tower. Knowing Mu Xianhe's preferences, Li Ni prepared some crab-stuffed oranges that successfully attracted him. Meanwhile, Cui Lin got wind of the news that Uluo's younger brother, Uyan, had secretly entered the capital. Both parties arrived at Fengying Tower to investigate. Unexpectedly, Li Ni and Cui Lin almost had a misunderstanding over a sea bass.

Cui Lin has always loved fish, and the sea bass at Fengying Tower was particularly delicious. So, naturally, Li Ni wanted to bring one back for her. However, he learned that there was only one sea bass left, and the customer next to him also intended to take it away. Therefore, Li Ni approached the customer, requesting them to give up the fish. He explained that his cherished wife at home loved it, and if he couldn't bring it back, he would face trouble at home. Unbeknownst to him, the customers in the room were Cui Lin and Tao Zi. Hearing Li Ni's words, Cui Lin couldn't help but chuckle. After a prolonged silence in the room, Li Ni grew suspicious. At that moment, the door suddenly opened, revealing Cui Lin's face.

Recently, Xie Zhanger has been feeling down. Li Ni and Pei Yuan often go out mysteriously, keeping everything secret from him. Tao Zi comforted him, suggesting that he might be upset because he feels he doesn't have Li Ni's trust. Xie Zhanger quickly shook his head, asserting that Li Ni would trust him. With this understanding, he took out a land deed, asking Tao Zi when she would marry him. Tao Zi, feeling a bit shy, casually responded, asking him to wait for her message.

Although he didn't like Gu Wanniang, she was still his good sister. If he didn't visit her room regularly, it might lead to gossip. However, one day, after drinking, Li Ni felt extremely uncomfortable, alternating between feeling hot and cold. Afraid that he might forget where he was in the next second, he hurriedly left. Gu Wanniang was anxious and wanted to detain him, but Li Ni pushed her away. She quickly questioned the maids outside and discovered that she had taken the initiative to add something to his drink. Meanwhile, Li Ni stumbled back to Chengluan Hall and threw Cui Lin, who was in a half-embrace, into a bathtub. Like a wild beast, he greedily sought the tenderness from Cui Lin's body.

On this day, Li Ni brought Cui Yi to an abandoned house, asking Mu Xianhe to perform a trick, allowing him to "see" Madam Cui and easing the regret in his heart.

Inhaling the delicate smoke, Cui Yi "saw" his deceased wife, He Min. Before they could express their feelings, Jie Shuo suddenly appeared and assassinated He Min from behind. Overwhelmed with grief, Cui Yi spat out blood, his eyes then filled with murderous intent. Clenching his fists, he raised a large knife and fiercely attacked Jie Shuo. The knife pierced Jie Shuo's body, and then he disappeared like smoke. The stone in his heart seemed to vanish along with Jie Shuo at that moment. Cui Yi asked the man in front of him who he was. Mu Xianhe sighed lightly and allowed Li Ni and the others to enter.

Learning that his father had regained consciousness, Cui Lin was overjoyed and rushed to visit. It was then that Cui Lin realized Li Ni had been silently making efforts all along. Cui Lin tightly held Li Ni's hand, sincerely grateful to him. Later, Cui Lin told Li Ni that she always felt Liu Chengfeng's death was suspicious, and Uyan, Uluo's younger brother, had sneaked into the capital. Li Ni also became nervous and ordered an investigation into the newcomers to the capital.

A mysterious figure informed Uluo that he had taken care of Liu Chengfeng's matters on his behalf. However, he warned that Liu Chengfeng was not trustworthy and might jeopardize Jie Shuo's plans. Therefore, he came personally to show sincerity. Uluo nodded slightly, indicating his willingness to believe. This mysterious figure was none other than Gu Xiang, who had been lurking in the court for many years. He made a deal with Uluo, promising to help kill the Crown Princess. In return, Uluo would assist in fulfilling Jie Shuo's desires. Uluo laughed heartily and agreed to the arrangement.

Jie Shuo once again invaded the Da Yu border, causing headaches for the new emperor. He decided to entrust the matter to Li Ni. However, as Li Ni was now the crown prince, leading the army himself might not be appropriate. So, he assigned the task to Pei Xian. Seizing the opportunity, Gu Xiang suggested that since Pei Xian was already old, perhaps Pei Yuan could accompany him. Without much consideration, the new emperor accepted the proposal. Busy with the preparations for the expedition, Li Ni returned to his room only at three in the morning. Cui Lin was already asleep, so he silently covered her with a blanket.

Early the next day, the couple visited Cui Yi at Qingyun Pavilion. Seeing him playing with Xuan Ze enthusiastically, they were both pleased. Later, they went to Fengying Tower to host a feast to thank Mu Xianhe. Impressed by the delicious food, Mu Xianhe expressed his gratitude. In high spirits, he performed a magic trick for the newlyweds, creating a beautiful display of fireflies.

The Cui family army had now been gradually disbanded, with only a few hundred remaining in Yingzhou awaiting disbandment. Facing Jie Shuo's invasion, the court unexpectedly sent Pei Xian and Pei Yuan with the Western Garrison to Yingzhou. Strict orders were given, allowing these few hundred Cui family soldiers to disarm and build water channels in Beizhou. It was said that the officials in Beizhou were extremely strict, treating the Cui family soldiers like criminals. Not only did they withhold food, but they also used physical punishment. Unable to endure any longer, the Cui family soldiers elected a vice general named Tan to escape to Xichangjing, hoping to meet Cui Yi or Cui Lin. Hearing about this, Cui Lin was anxious but didn't want to worry her father and trouble Li Ni, so she decided to handle the matter alone.

At night, Li Ni had a sudden impulse to see the picture album. Seeing a drawing of himself kneeling and counting an abacus in it, Li Ni pretended to be angry. Cui Lin explained that just because he wasn't kneeling now didn't mean he wouldn't in the future. She called it being prepared and foresighted. She then tried to jump up to grab the album from Li Ni's hands. Pretending to be annoyed, Li Ni scolded Cui Lin for distorting the truth and threatened to tear the page. Panicking, Cui Lin shouted that it couldn't be torn. While Cui Lin wasn't paying attention, Li Ni swiftly grabbed her waist and kissed her.

The next day, after sending Li Ni to court, Cui Lin, along with Tao Zi, visited the wounded Vice General Tan in Fengying Building. Tan's face was covered in wounds, and upon seeing Cui Lin, he quickly approached, pouring out his grievances. Later, he brought out a box, claiming it contained a joint blood-written letter from the Cui family soldiers in Beizhou. Cui Lin opened the box, and suddenly, several poisoned needles flew out, piercing both Cui Lin and Tao Zi. In an instant, both Cui Lin and Tao Zi collapsed. Slowly approaching, Liu Chengfeng instructed his men to take Cui Lin and Tao Zi away. Subsequently, when Li Ni, unable to find Cui Lin, arrived at Fengying Building, there were only needle marks left, with no sign of Cui Lin and Tao Zi. Realizing something was amiss, Li Ni quickly ordered the Forbidden Army to guard the city gates.

Liu Chengfeng had previously made a pact with Uluo: if he managed to bring Cui Lin out, Uluo would help them escape. As for Tao Zi, he had no choice but to dispose of her in a makeshift grave. Later, he asked Uluo for an antidote. However, with just a moment's sniff, he realized that the antidote was suspicious. Uluo, no longer concealing anything, ordered his men to restrain Liu Chengfeng and ensure they both hit the road with Cui Lin. However, Uluo did not anticipate that Liu Chengfeng had already obtained evidence of his collusion with Gu Xiang, as well as knowledge of his covert operations in Xichangjing. Liu Chengfeng informed Uluo that if he and Cui Lin couldn't leave safely, he would expose all of these details.

Impatient, Uluo had Liu Chengfeng bound and subjected to severe torture, but he adamantly refused to disclose Ah Shu's whereabouts. Seeing Liu Chengfeng's resilience, Uluo decided not to linger and openly stated that if the covert operations were exposed, so be it. He then gave Liu Chengfeng a choice: either he dies, or Cui Lin dies. After contemplating for a moment, Liu Chengfeng chose to personally kill Cui Lin. However, he requested Uluo that if he wanted him to call back Ah Shu, he must ensure Cui Lin's corpse remains intact. Uluo laughed heartily and agreed to Liu Chengfeng's request. Subsequently, Liu Chengfeng took out a pill and slowly fed it to Cui Lin.

Meanwhile, the new emperor learned that Li Ni had deployed all the Forbidden Army and Imperial Guards, sealing off the entire Xichangjing and conducting searches throughout the capital. Panicking, he sought advice from Gu Xiang on how to handle the situation. Gu Xiang did not provide a direct answer but suggested the new emperor ask Li Ni directly. However, Li Ni, currently preoccupied with searching for Cui Lin, had no intention of returning to report. Just as he dismissed the eunuch delivering the imperial decree, Xie Zhanger sent word that someone had seen a young woman in Yizhuang. Li Ni's heart was already in his throat, unwilling to let go of any possibility of finding Cui Lin, and decided to investigate Yizhuang. At that moment, strange noises suddenly emanated from nearby.

He searched for the source of the sound, but found nothing. Later, he witnessed Liu Chengfeng leaping from a window upstairs, calling out the name "Aying." Li Ni hurriedly rushed upstairs and indeed found Cui Lin. He cradled her in his arms, rushing back to the Eastern Palace and summoning a few imperial physicians to examine her. However, they all knelt down, claiming they could no longer detect Cui Lin's pulse, suggesting that she had breathed her last. Li Ni couldn't believe it and involuntarily sank to the ground.

Li Ni carried Cui Lin to Leyouyuan, where they once again enjoyed the breeze together. He recalled the first time they came here, how joyful and carefree they were. He wanted to sing the same ballad, hoping that after the song, Cui Lin would wake up. However, the song, carried away by the breeze, disappeared into nothingness, but Cui Lin remained motionless, without a sound. Tears filled Li Ni's eyes, convincing himself that Cui Lin would wake up. He sang one song after another, but Cui Lin still didn't wake up.

At night, Li Ni, as in the past, grilled a fish, holding Cui Lin by the bonfire. Yet, Cui Lin still did not wake up. Li Ni didn't know what to do to make Cui Lin wake up. He refused to accept that Cui Lin had already passed away, desperately hoping for a miracle. He couldn't help but think that he would rather not be the Crown Prince, staying here quietly with Cui Lin, sitting in the evening breeze, and roasting by the fire.

Cui Lin woke up and gently touched Li Ni's face. Startled, Li Ni looked down at Cui Lin. However, she remained motionless, and everything just now seemed to be a beautiful dream. He gently set Cui Lin down, opened the sketchbook, and vivid memories of the past flooded his mind. Yet, in the end of that story, he couldn't capture Cui Lin's appearance. Overwhelmed with grief, Li Ni held Cui Lin and wept bitterly.

Xie Zhanger found Tao Zi in the chaotic burial grounds, and surprisingly, she still had a faint breath. However, her injuries were severe, and the physician wasn't confident about saving her. Xie Zhanger quickly fetched Tao Zi's medicine box, hoping the physician could find some solution.

Meanwhile, Gu Wanniang falsely complained to the new empress about the death of the Crown Prince's consort, claiming that after the Crown Prince took her away yesterday, there was no news. The new empress, anxious, consoled Gu Wanniang, promising to appoint her as the Crown Prince's consort after dealing with the Crown Prince's funeral. Wu Luo also arrived at the Gu residence and informed him of the events from the previous day. Gu Wanniang worried that their conspiracy with Wu Luo might be exposed, leading to severe consequences. To avoid potential trouble, Gu Wanniang rushed to the imperial court early the next day, urging the new emperor to strip the Crown Prince of his military power and depose him.

Simultaneously, Ashu also arrived at the Eastern Palace, disclosing all the information he knew to Li Ni. Li Ni's face showed no expression, but internally, he wished to kill the entire Gu family for Aying's sake. On that day, he personally dressed up Cui Lin, changed her into battle attire, and carried her coffin into the palace for an audience with the emperor. Gu Wanniang, upon learning of this, hurriedly went to intercept Li Ni.

Unwilling to entangle further with her, Li Ni questioned her about the reason for the Crown Princess's death, asking if she wasn't clear about it. Gu Wanniang pretended to be innocent, lowering her head and claiming ignorance. Li Ni drew his sword and slashed at Gu Wanniang's headdress, then cut across her ear. Sternly, he told Gu Wanniang that he knew she had been anticipating the Crown Princess's death to inherit her position. Regardless, the Crown Princess would always be his wife, whether alive or dead, and he had only one Crown Princess, Cui Lin.

The palace guards reminded Li Ni that without the emperor's order, he couldn't enter the palace, otherwise facing severe consequences. Li Ni didn't respond, and without stopping, he suddenly raised his bow and arrow, aiming at the one who spoke. The procession moved forward, directly into the main hall. Gu Wanniang and Jie Shuo, posing as Forbidden Army soldiers, hurriedly intercepted Li Ni in front of the new emperor, accusing him of plotting rebellion. Li Ni did not beat around the bush and directly accused Gu Wanniang and Jie Shuo of collusion, conspiring with Sun Jing, and being the greatest traitors to Dayu. Gu Wanniang counterattacked, claiming that Li Ni was plotting rebellion to frame her.

The new emperor, in a dilemma, surprisingly chose not to believe his own son but trusted Gu Wanniang's words. Angry and desperate, Li Ni didn't want to linger any longer, so he drew his sword. Both Gu Wanniang and Wu Luo no longer disguised their intentions and advanced to seize the new emperor. It was then that the new emperor realized he had been deceived by Gu Wanniang. Fearful of losing his life, he asked Li Ni to leave quickly. Reluctantly, Li Ni complied, but afraid of death, he agreed to provide horses for Jie Shuo. Wu Luo was delighted, holding the new emperor hostage and heading out of the palace. Seizing the opportunity, Li Ni swiftly pulled out a short sword from his waist and, like a bolt of lightning, threw it at Wu Luo's arm. Unable to dodge, Wu Luo released the new emperor. Seizing the chance, Li Ni pursued and engaged him in a fight. The new emperor and empress took advantage of the chaos to hide on the side.

Wu Luo and Li Ni were evenly matched, and in a one-on-one battle, Li Ni feared he might not be Wu Luo's equal. At that moment, Cui Lin in the coffin suddenly opened her eyes, picked up the sword on her chest, and leaped up, thrusting it fiercely at Wu Luo. Li Ni was pleasantly surprised, and his eyes instantly became moist. Gu Wanniang was also shocked, quickly sneaking away. After dealing with Jie Shuo, the couple acted in harmony, immediately finding Gu Wanniang and killing her on the spot.

Under the careful care of Xie Zhanger and Cui Lin, Tao Zi also woke up, and her body was gradually recovering. Cui Lin told Tao Zi that after that day, it seemed like she had a very long dream. She could hear the sounds of the outside world and feel its temperature but couldn't move at all. It was then that Tao Zi remembered giving a fake death potion to Liu Chengfeng.

Afterward, the empress consoled the new emperor, suggesting that after this incident, he should understand that Li Ni is a filial and good child, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are a devoted couple. The new emperor couldn't help but sigh softly, regretting his past decisions. He then told the empress that he intended to abdicate in favor of Li Ni, a capable person who would surely become a good emperor. The empress was pleased, and they agreed to spend carefree and happy days at the Liushan Palace in the future. On that day, the new emperor specifically called Li Ni to join him in playing with grasshoppers. Seeing Li Ni happily smiling, the new emperor was also pleased.

The evening glow cast a dreamlike veil over the entire Western Changjing. Li Ni and the new emperor sat in front of the main hall, watching the beautiful scenery and reminiscing about the past. The new emperor told Li Ni that he was entrusting him with the country and the world. He admitted that he wasn't a good emperor or a good father, but at least, he had a good son. He also believed that this good son would undoubtedly become a good emperor in the future. Li Ni solemnly accepted, but he wanted to know what his father would do if he didn't want to be the emperor. The new emperor still laughed heartily, saying he only hoped Li Ni would be happy. Even if Li Ni didn't want to be the emperor, he would find a reliable person. By that time, they could compete in grasshopper fights again in Liushan.

In the second year of Tiantai, Emperor Tiantai abdicated in favor of Crown Prince Li Ni, and the era name was changed to Xianglong. The Crown Princess, Cui Lin, was enthroned as the empress. Due to the treasonous conspiracy of the Gu family, the Gu family was exiled to Yashan, and Gu Wanniang, the sister of the Eastern Palace, was demoted to a commoner and expelled from the Eastern Palace. From then on, the chaotic era of Dayu finally came to an end, and the world was at peace, marking the beginning of a new era, known as the Zhongxing. However, due to her deep obsession, Gu Wanniang lost her face and wandered the streets in a deranged state, letting people call her "Crown Princess." When Tao Zi and Xie Zhanger encountered her while strolling, they couldn't help but sigh.

During Cui Lin's pregnancy, Li Ni often went to Leyouyuan to fish and cook soup for her. Watching Cui Lin's belly grow day by day, Li Ni thought about naming the child A Dao if it was a boy and A Zhen if it was a girl. However, he felt that A Zhen would be unfair to his daughter. Cui Lin ignored him, saying he was a man of his word and couldn't back out. Li Ni held Cui Lin's hand, swaying back and forth, playfully coaxing her. Meanwhile, Xuan Ze often wrote letters, reporting his recent achievements. This time, Li Ni read the letter and chatted with Cui Lin for a long time. Suddenly, Cui Lin felt a faint pain in her abdomen; it seemed she was about to give birth. After a busy day and night, Cui Lin finally gave birth to a prince. Li Ni, waiting anxiously outside, hurried in to check on the mother and son.

Ten years into Li Ni's reign, he abdicated in favor of his son, Li Xuanze, and the era name was changed to Shenghe. Later, Li Ni and Cui Lin returned to Laolang Pass, living a simple life, guarding the border as they had wished. During Cui Lin's pregnancy, she gave birth to another daughter, bringing joy to the family. At night, the family of four, along with Tao Zi and Xie Zhanger, came to pay respects at the graves of Lao Bao and others, imagining a long-lasting peace. They all hoped that everyone in the world could find their own Wonderland of Love.

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