This official is so weak

A few days later, Lu Wu and Shi Yi brought back the intelligence to the main tent. It covered everything from military maps to royal gossip:GYPLpnhkSjSJIApkWyglITwBNQWIiy

LBTuKnrgHqEdBUR

“I heard that King He and the North Di Crown Prince are cousins, but King He looks more like the North Di King.”jwLNjdJEFLeWMengrYgYXhEyITEFtU

RMFSkDBxvFfBdyB

“The North Di King is not in good shape… Oh, in terms of internal matters.”FGyicepGkLyOwAymyIoiImTFNzyjHE

yQsaIocFIRXoflP

“Military power is in King He’s hands. He believes in shamans and has a great shaman performing rituals in the camp every day.”HKVdiAVFOfYtKDNdwfuMHZGLJekMjZ

tkVyyQTgcgvLdWW

Accompanied by a dramatic gossip session, it was full of ups and downs and was incredibly engaging.HtBlbYHmPoWAKDHPRYyrpOHQzDokmd

qQjqcSUSFkPqmJM

Ning Rushen sighed lightly, “Such level of gossip is truly worthy of being called royal secrets…”mdNFeQDRIOaBNgYjykhuLJunAVocTs

bpJkETsJaDGryEv

“Nothing much.” Ning Rushen asked again, “Is that all?”dtRwMEwzRhyaVcuPRvrdBtiGhWcpDu

nFOZnczVzcWBvci

“Yes,” Shi Yi replied regretfully. “It’s a pity the military camp is not like the prison, with limited conditions. Otherwise, we could have interrogated them faster.”TmxgFvBvhMsPQXtnFxjHBMhTWFKabY

AjcLPSLiqXAaLUu

Huo Mian sighed, “That will do. Thank you for your hard work.”RoplAuEiWsJNLCHnoVPgRbqzKzoAWf

qXuFzpPrIvYTTxp

Lu Wu and Shi Yi nodded and left.quZQvybcndmbYkYHVjziiwEFfgLoXY

VTHLXuatZWqlkjq

The North Di spies who had been interrogated were still detained in the camp, while the randomly selected lucky ones were released.FzCveObsoWgfKpKkWdstCJyXidvBbr

RvvIDqFbciQtuJn

Ning Rushen watched the disheveled fleeing figures from the gate and said leisurely with his hands in his sleeves:JVWgMIoCwTjqgPXvZVjHjfabUhNgJI

YcnMSTClJGXFgXp

“Next, there will be some excitement.”xBrYSePqdtigVkdnwoKblKWChIcjuK

YqhcurKCeJBSJrt

…iiNJBqVjjNEgjazfXdVFvkwQkrGNTr

viFrMGrncrmRZLN

As expected, North Di’s activities increased.vbzLcflRZAkLKdtPSxyIGwQZFLaVGH

CmyMgsJNFgSQwVT

North Di scouts frequently appeared outside the pass, either secretly scouting from high slopes or continuing to harass nearby villages.iIaNSyiwdwFIEeXSnjuXxMlRRCpPTI

gquuuzJKZvuwXrl

The Dingyuan army sent cavalry to intercept and block them.jdlBEUVSNWfHrRJRKUfcSRRhmOsAfR

yjdKKwWSzWlFyUU

A small-scale conflict erupted every two or three days.aNDvZinMfwLbXXsiAqnKyFnARelAUt

aNDpgbCZwJlVDXM

In the main tent, Ning Rushen was listening to Sun Wu report on the military situation.SMIuLciSQVzcJngrVVcCGCtpFZOYhY

uLUdgxanPyyeVpm

After Sun Wu finished, Huo Mian chuckled, “They’re here to probe our strengths and weaknesses. Don’t worry about it; continue to confuse them.”HdONcRLxywFkyyDJKOmLXkdahxgRYG

BbZYeWTykzrFKKP

Sun Wu nodded, then looked at Ning Rushen and cheerfully praised, “Your few moves in the consecutive attacks were excellent! We quickly turned from a passive position to an active one. You definitely deserve a few drinks!”yYEgXfoRUjuVigvkBVmCsvaLkXAqGq

kroEmMXcXKwkyxf

“…” Ning Rushen looked at him with emotion.xJhCJxlSHVWTEuBIjlLNqLjTPVzgKy

WWkMwbmgPiXLucA

The ways to persuade someone to drink were becoming increasingly diverse.bhwiRYIquGBLwZltbsVOMgCsqQUjWo

fAruyDkRSLZppcx

Huo Mian suddenly kicked his leg, “Go! The last reception was already an exception. Get cleaned up and go on patrol.”mIMlpBQwAtwkpehhLtublTqoKTdSSO

BWMcJExJfDotZeO

Sun Wu was kicked out of the tent, “Ouch.”VQedCeWChosWSINJxBYzWVSclfNMBS

bOLAeHZaAHmALlU

After he left, Ning Rushen commented, “Sun’s military advisor has a carefree spirit.”HgIWcpfGbaEnxMYgGfcRBdlGTAZRdU

IlLOVQiGRTZvxWD

“Ahem, mainly because there’s not much entertainment in the army.”ZQbJTggaFEEGhiiABACYrfVfyoxvQO

HeQAogBfiKAdtXy

Huo Mian suddenly slapped his head, “Right! The cuju game you mentioned last time, let’s just hold one tomorrow, while the war hasn’t started yet.”KEvjozjMLMTldYZzteIXsVhrtRfZZZ

NNIjiFQpgNsVJNh

Hmm? Ning Rushen immediately became excited, his eyes lighting up.dDfAuaZSalwucDPgtwuHxtfomLKMnX

UKFFuNRqDKYiSna

A bunch of North Border Hounds playing desert soccer…UtqEOCvCVxLIAwghqCeouDypPmEmbe

IejYsCADmoETvhZ

He eagerly rubbed his hands, “Agreed!”irYJwMaOAsOTEmBlDdIpIVBKNoqYkh

rePzHqsQpkSwiJA

The news of the cuju game spread quickly, and the entire army became excited.OtqiozSbyPzUxzIRpzepNulwRjcLKZ

LqKGtjWlPmJWHjL

Early the next morning, Ning Rushen woke up to the noisy sounds of “huo huo” and “ha hei.”SlaLBfVXuGdqImFcahboCtXRziDSdB

fiSiyEhQvLusXjV

He groggily sat up, feeling dazed:ocalYOAaUPpQKklMtaIrZfinuqNUsk

aBBEVtHiXpVwbRR

…Who is using nunchucks again?aCApXuUgUqRqvOppMDrAJQXYfpoFMT

MasUxVALjVUSlLv

After a while, Ning Rushen gradually woke up, got dressed, and went outside.VImVZMIrwfaetbrjRtDRSJJiRADHbZ

uRmGkAsNKRzjRAv

As soon as he stepped out, the Dingyuan troops passing by greeted him cheerfully:kxAXelnxqlfXwQCsvOpNTIhKPCTkMt

VKwqliZPyOECTyV

“Master Ning is awake! Come and have breakfast!”BsIoJcMVvBvkOHtEkeMcqIZytBLHYv

iRGWucyZLEqdjng

“Remember to watch our game after breakfast!”glmAEtZmZXKbLwchLjkUtJzNbrSCqy

LouudKLygmAtPRG

“After watching, give us your opinion on who played the best.”rqpbecioacWblyWuCFIcsAVUrdVWhe

AnKHsymbKZWBkVi

“…”pOfkdHIxyZXcsrZvUUBYMCXFpVGPla

YxzzNRTbpKYBPVv

Ning Rushen was immediately overwhelmed with arrangements as soon as he opened his eyes. He nodded in response, “Oh, oh… okay.”SZtGsvuqYpAREBpsXOAwHzAyEjXlLK

PPFnKwicEEJqWZN

The cuju game was held on the training field.JVYmrnYXztRgjAfzOBVOBPANzwpuZR

KRlyjGOpBKJTuaS

The area was divided into six sections, separated by simple wooden barriers.fbnyeTvrpqIassAJzNZlLRlykvZxdm

NylQdowloBczPlu

When Ning Rushen finished breakfast and went over, the game had just started.dprEHStUbJVgGScWBZQTKRIHVwwJBy

CNsVqTviVtZqCOj

In the middle of the field, yellow sand was flying everywhere. The battle-hardened Dingyuan troops moved like a pack of wolves and tigers, charging after the ball like hungry tigers pouncing on prey. The bodies hitting the ground made loud thuds, and a ball flew out, crashing through the wooden barriers.wBVNgNXPsFXONaZVoQyMFGqfsNduAO

hNjtTRDaRMaUXFK

“………”ZuhmxrWbRTuvcoOcGTeOCSefXwYSEq

fSFoOwqTvkUvEpy

Ning Rushen wandered around the edge of the field towards Huo Mian.GMbdhhjdvbcLqprQBiboNQhpXJPMPI

iYekOwUwLZWfEjx

Huo Mian, who was not participating in the game, saw him coming and pointed with a wave of his hand, “How is it?”HadOmLLQuLaReoYBlNtUrAUCcNgKrF

fdOsDZwKmtWRXIC

Ning Rushen replied with a complex and honest expression, “Very… intense.”PXQmmyvdflthGbJnoImWpTfxsPpAtk

LmwcAqtwxQCHbKT

Huo Mian was pleased, “Our great Sheng soldiers are just like this!”CKspkvuOLVmtzfzEonHYbAShnUsBrR

hCleWOMyAMUgINU

Ning Rushen: It doesn’t have to be this way for everything.PiQjTWcsYnfMlzqAvhrZcwHgwpKMWJ

GcfPAIAfRwniZTO

He simply sat next to Huo Mian to watch the game.VrZaFCqvazHTWmDbMrZIZnWtEfGjxb

THXJJDFrpRsnTbA

The daytime in the Northern Border was exceptionally scorching.gJGpNTlOfnYfAVulLciVghvcwNJdPE

GENeFCyUKOkAoMl

Ning Rushen wore a thin shirt over his riding outfit, the snow-white shirt subtly revealing his slender and flexible figure, with a fair wrist extending from his sleeve.JELFmKBPpuBwtVPzheWWLZDBEuurty

LYgHBZGZvJeFwhb

He rested his chin on his hand, peering at the field.QOEfHRheMkLyTsTLhNOfxycYWXRrkz

DNmuduWDDdgKyZX

After a while, Sun Wu brought over a piece of chilled watermelon, breaking it in half with his bare hands, “Master Ning, here!”pNMmCUJxCCvFfshzZZWKsqOkmOGBjQ

jwDZUPQqpkJSqdA

Is there such a good thing?pNqxMmgbKOlYTleHpKieXiuQuGvyfr

VWvykuawSOjkuNV

Ning Rushen immediately took it and started munching on it.DxDXdGvqFbOhxvTdkSjcfsNZeSgiWa

zMOvGExzZrWBjje

The watermelon, chilled with well water, was cool and sweet, with plenty of juice. As he devoured it, he heard Huo Mian beside him say:pReUkzDgXqMzRldrWDdrdJZppejxRN

YyixaHsYMCKtKBE

“This batch of freshly ripened watermelon is the sweetest. The governor of Chang Sui must have selected some to send to the capital for the Emperor.”AzTlgjJOiSZlIkDaBnvpYgcuUsObyK

qInDRHHUIcmdIxw

Huo Mian mentioning Li Wuting suddenly caught Ning Rushen’s attention.FnVjpoKxKzZBPkezJcBjljOujYGCKg

lavVFAQjELaiVkP

Ning Rushen instinctively paused, looked up, and said, “Hmm?”sggYosCmeEGRZcyuLSmSyxEaesIPMf

VRKGbzNlFWKApOs

Huo Mian glanced at him, “What’s with the ‘hmm’? The best local specialties are naturally presented to the Emperor. Since you served at the palace for so long, haven’t you seen it?”DPyHOtgbvHTuftQyMNstyRmPMYIJBd

PPQfqwHCgaFgeRF

“…”EnyEfaIEJYgRmsTrFebXSHtcwZEIUn

exXIpMxOriZNkIl

Ning Rushen thought to himself that not only had he seen them, but he had also enjoyed them.NYlfuSVJRuKGUzwdFxlsejCJWbgseO

tZoHmrYsJuSQPQs

However, his fingertips tightened slightly as he suddenly realized: the items Li Wuting had given him were indeed the best from all over the country.mbGiTflWbSuwIydUAkhlELOJdhSYZW

HgxqZbaxNMPWKqa

It seemed true; he had been considered in everything.AYoHcENiLGtbKGApPOgvOhtcqwbbcB

oiRqZmUGASMKcnB

Ning Rushen was momentarily lost in thought, holding the watermelon.LcieQIAJHaYBCRFVhSPlMvJTgtgGVj

uwqzhihaCDWSYTE

The light red juice dripped from his fingertips. Thinking about Li Wuting, he unconsciously raised his hand to his lips, where his rosy lips brushed against the sweet juice.zvznAKgzsfcADshnwqtIRAmzBsUfyu

lsOrVrooXnoFWeP

His cheeks and ears flushed with a faint rosy hue, and his gaze seemed to become misty.qsxFwQFOnoOhGeSKSPddVHBFpfCzqA

nBWEpEWXVvKNDmO

Amidst the loud shouting and yellow dust, he appeared strikingly bright.jpFUWEJwmIqbQnJEfufsUPYcJyFxBo

IFjwtfBnEvxLWDT

As he was lost in thought, the thin shirt on his shoulder was suddenly pulled—OoczNAuMDZSXzxataMzopreNNFqlTl

IEjmmfAokPngGmT

Huo Mian lifted the back collar and draped it over his head, surveying him, “Your face is getting sunburned. Cover up quickly.”HBhEeOQWXtCCYjhYUOGLzYqWrUXhgT

higinjFhKXqntij

Ning Rushen was suddenly framed by the shirt: VvZVhWTdikMlcEuxYHiXBrvWALjaLN

BBrutYHmfjtsuHd

………mzfPenMUMnWtPMqNviQtOodncUPSJu

KpXkHLVEniJdYLC

He pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at Huo Mian, “Do you think this is an appropriate way to cover up?”UejChPRwoMtfQJTKOwnuuDfolPMNfc

yPVdsMTmvNObprn

Huo Mian glanced at him twice and laughed heartily, “Hahaha!”VynNoVCxeQflefEoslBxfZUBKUbguO

eLVHPMaSCUbRXBk

It was halftime.UQWlnNRMwtEOjtZPPgEApnrUBSQywC

bBKLQdKoqFtCibe

His impolite laughter traveled far and wide, attracting the attention of the personal guards on the field, who then saw the “dominated” Master Ning:AsPQCaMlBizYsCBjhPabrBuJkLGYDm

pjCuzfNlaNvaicK

“General! Why are you teasing Master Ning?”bElFHmAYONvFubClmGsAxzdeyOXUoa

FIfzhMhBuyEAJOG

“Master Ning, don’t mind him!”kKRxDIVZtxpSChlPZNTmQVhJXusYtY

ZlnsMnfgRjKowiQ

Ning Rushen, “…”ctWsvHdDjgjIzBBqkCIcfpXzRWXufH

PyaBqVriJgGKCIF

Indeed, the soldiers were like one big family.nBQPUNTyNYvjQCsEAaEIAmXJkCdiEh

PGbqTJouEmjQjYf

One of the personal guards looked around, then eagerly invited, “Master Ning, do you want to join in the game?”ESlpQwgAoRUvGiCWNPOTVkdoSBWEAa

rEOcXthCmklDFGd

“?” Ning Rushen was taken aback:gAPTndApblQwbDcpoUeVNOVPjDTtUd

ywbQndoUDyQScge

He went up, making sure he wasn’t being kicked.ikOlsjQsLsMeEqOMGvzjDRnivyTwRd

OjSINeIXwSbhhRm

After a moment of hesitation, he couldn’t resist the crowd’s encouragement and stepped onto the field. Ning Rushen glanced at the fierce Dingyuan troops around him and focused on the guard with the ball: “…let’s go.”QumPerrnvoUeJgdRSyuSaVVdnJkgRm

wpiBXtnSRLzaOUo

The guard flashed him a grin and then kicked—ozzWnQjsjCWAAERggAxALUFIpuEUhA

zNHEzTqQaGfVZWz

Ning Rushen widened his eyes, feeling a slight jolt on his shoulder!ghtZGXKYXndVEmrmjBncuRsQewdNEu

HumHjWuLKRbLOvU

Then he saw the foot stop just before the ball, gently tapping it: thud.KrKJGjgtYWqYKIvuHjtShmfRXzstZT

gvpzaiBkZLehAYe

A small ball, covered in yellow sand, rolled slowly and stopped in front of him.pDROvosjlwzCvVcUrRmMAIVSLNSObI

zpbqNENWrfOidUW

Ning Rushen, “…”ARDADciruXoyLObzFSiPdUhEQmmoQn

JGEgrCHCOULmNdu

Facing the encouraging gazes around him, he hesitated for several seconds before swallowing his words and kicked the ball towards the goal—splash! It went in smoothly.CZstLnlCNpsawiBDeLirvOLXuXPwtD

KffedDVPQWtynnO

The guards cheered excitedly, “Wow!!!”lyJlqiZKfoVhejxpRQDyebVEpSnXGY

TYBvWtVJbkkDzte

Ning Rushen, “………”PSsnrDaVjWImyMkgtKfGdgxpmILhnj

QNNWwmhmkswufkt

He felt a mix of emotions: the cheers made it seem like he was a bedridden patient with rehabilitation.hRGGJySRHInQdFtdYfkmdssIeOgxqA

xLBxcTqKdrGiEBq

After the overly empathetic cuju game, the Dingyuan soldiers, still in high spirits, went to the river to wash up.FOXPTDaKkrqVafNDJgNKfYvcpPBtUa

gMhyFAKsSbIQvdL

Ning Rushen took his clothes to the bathhouse. Since arriving in the Northern Border, he had continued to wear the white jade hairpin given to him by Li Wuting on his coming-of-age ceremony. When he went to bathe, he removed the hairpin and placed it among his clothes.HDTUlpPcuPskrcLWEJjEIjYRePbFsQ

XhOpkUfCcqTcmhB

After bathing, he returned to the tent with his clothes.ZBzNUEMsZwSNaDirnftlXDmqUmMRbT

ghKjwidifKMurof

Next to his bed was a low stool, which was small and used specifically for placing clothes.kILKpyTjxjMHBaLAWbuoJlNhaTsXlM

rAWMqCpgbQpDsJi

Ning Rushen put his clothes on the stool. As soon as he turned his head, the neatly folded garments spread out along the edge of the stool—revealing the white jade hairpin, which fell to the ground with a clink!KqxgTQWNVbfWqwmaekjOvfOeXydlYk

FXFNanXAUzQYmDc

The pinhead struck the floor and broke into two pieces.NyZMzbOBqFHGFMElwzgYcxTRKafOQv

YdnIToPHHRUZjkV

Ning Rushen was immediately startled, holding his breath: Did it break!?BjsVdwfAMcWsuYqdMgYhGcxQwRmTtC

znYOjRwshbsshZq

He quickly crouched down to check. Before he could even feel any sorrow, he saw that the “break” was clean and smooth, revealing several uneven carvings on the pinhead.vpjXUAIQpaluUdCpxvcbTgmuQVYuPF

HcMIDXMZuITNgYL

Ning Rushen felt a sudden jolt and picked it up.iXhqgCMFxphGOFIAhqdLQgdCyCyPpk

zbAuUIpVJUnwGMd

As the light fell, he saw familiar characters engraved on it: 朝君 (Chao Jun).ntMZBLlZgToIElpeoFOhRXfSHEKCRD

LtfLpgxmgtTZTma

His heart raced…!uOwdJwYtirJKZHpIZRWzCRnIzSbxSS

lrvWfgfHqldGUgR

Ning Rushen’s thoughts went blank for a few moments.wWmWdKvGtpwJZbrtZCyPfzGFQkIldT

CQYhOWuPTOBNrnf

In the midst of his rapid, irregular heartbeat, he stared at the carved characters on the hairpin, feeling a bit dizzy and breathless:yvXtbYqBzDNADcfbeJOPemtGyNTGai

wMPMdeRdcCBnOhA

Li Wuting’s handwriting, why…GEnQjZUTVbYiZfZIeXtrQFhCOkeVco

NhLvMQfjqDpEuqb

Did he carve it himself?MDCzMMiFUlPnIhrCALesaqcoHyqBbE

GjNfYMZyUYxkxnJ

The scene of the coming-of-age ceremony flashed through his mind again. Ning Rushen, holding the hairpin, felt a wave of heat, and he remained stunned for a while.tbuGMfJoQHjkajdsXttnwCwpmQIkBa

vYwPYTCvNsNECrC

Before he could fully recover, he was suddenly called from outside.VnQHOfgqqmdDQKvnqqkISzkFeIUrcp

xfOFMqnliNdVyVX

Lu Wu: “Master.”sNDJstvSPMFsaiPJiAWUczuSvZTXKW

wATAyqdBdkOypUk

Ning Rushen responded, and the curtain was quickly lifted.uhsjDgziuqyUUCfyZVcjsRwEpnWGFA

WBpjQckkaPNCwwG

Lu Wu entered with a pigeon and noticed Ning Rushen’s expression, pausing for a moment, “What’s wrong?”JUMfjEWBktBFxqFgpgwrEiXZheGDZc

ZeGvYOXVMOTxtnx

Ning Rushen forced himself to calm down, “Nothing. I… was ambushed.”mngllhdBHIKCsRGBctsvRgLETuceWV

UZqsbrkFMIJAiat

“?” Lu Wu glanced around cautiously.IHiWjZUjDONbAIZxkLwZcNrrkjrFWF

inibbbaWRaDwOwd

“…” Never mind. Ning Rushen asked, “What’s the matter?”YYNPfvDsZeZlGOWScVMFYIQVaakrkL

RSGrNRcRGvNfYFa

“Oh.” Lu Wu handed over the pigeon and reported, “A letter from the Emperor.”LPXzgxmJTXMfyhAlnbrtaUUOQEcfQX

dEIHGGWdvyvzflg