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:iChzPTjjtFTVXEfjEbMSKGoCviawDG

LejQhLPHYYtJYBX

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

xSTlQrMHdDpidxZ

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

fYksxXOuhTSDuov

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

eulFAIbzMIOnrCL

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

lfpxyYAILdYjEDX

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

XkVTtDoJeKtsKzU

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

eUdtLznyuyRRKpW

“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.”tUOYQkuDfwmxgRSVaYtWatoOLEXXkd

pmuvvCBhFAMSmzu

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

igkkXwDbRwnlmrR

Lu Wu and Shi Yi nodded and left.RtiMYzUVXSNTkeFBSQitCZpXdCgPwc

fTLfjJlbEKTNkfv

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

apCmNEfDxqEvrZT

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

KOFYPSknouTvaQg

“Next, there will be some excitement.”HZpDucmmWiCgBWWUmAaDCqvcJlOQfM

HwTycYujMfysXej

…KfKKJszaBAYcxkQFYWJqpneLgDaVrY

jClDGljCRRhmOgh

As expected, North Di’s activities increased.klsHGIGhoKHJTsjrvsvRcPJTUGRmNU

SwwLHsASSDlSMiL

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

WDhITVgmmLNSIKq

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

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

yEstqMZBsBrEMED

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

fzWEyTkEpSZetDP

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.”LkyKZpUnJVnjkkXhIsLpHVqCETEnlU

dhYfyJHORdYuFVa

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!”iIOaEjnFpbQopWkpLZkJltXHBCgfiP

MNPKMhPltGWCGzE

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

OsuJrLPMwkWYkWj

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

bJdAhMYGuAqzBuP

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

DGDymSMsoYLrPYZ

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

pWpupcQUsQfOlUz

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

pCTqWNGFBriXVHc

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

PkBeEkQkEuWMdBo

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.”MSaOLqgrRsapzzlMgmxSccxRXjaFOA

EssaXtzpLsYvysr

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

DBVcwaeCdAdaGYy

A bunch of North Border Hounds playing desert soccer…MePJNgyQaJxhdTsKHKeTuAIUxeHSrK

fzAkyYLABvJUdnR

He eagerly rubbed his hands, “Agreed!”fTUOoOHrbrTinrafJJIHtDthTKzfOj

ozAksyqNbYOzKNG

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

XmSbSSpWScoibCs

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

ysPXrhPsGprLRVZ

He groggily sat up, feeling dazed:IEUlECdHFwlmsxitOyEtlZlhCtYLyC

KRtKAFCgBeMtbGa

…Who is using nunchucks again?gEgaScGtZDUuQDiNbPRfoddzaqsYbS

CTUDTXihvPDPIaP

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

JYMMlndMpWQLOAf

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

FmoJavHlwOCqEPa

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

RrXSZoQhJcuWERI

“Remember to watch our game after breakfast!”hcpsGbRIGKmVlnpRGBhDVjegtqgDCc

QjcstLhjXaSwZwp

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

zaXOSunVbmXEyzx

“…”IoRAlXDyogyAavCBzwlMHMGLqCiwXj

ycYdiKwveFYsonO

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

XvpvGVpFZpbRpuA

The cuju game was held on the training field.uUFLEpnWrYUKsGnWFNNBBfLRjhuTFG

wOOBhHQpOVjSkzE

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

bUAzhDWdOXAgqcO

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

GVrNCjNgRHVgoKB

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.OWtMcHhmduqYBjEOFSvqjCFjcebhrx

OCMkMFaDmTFbWVy

“………”lFgTkQSBMtJWIgSLZyoTgWmtcCYlQx

nGprOIEnhNZLdbv

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

JCCUwXpHOHQjczH

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

NIZvvXjXdvPqHkv

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

PFmGrQufudlACzp

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

EraOkHErANkefMK

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

ibklrEzPQyFluEF

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

OMMYCyNeJoYgtwV

The daytime in the Northern Border was exceptionally scorching.AAxwWfLcIynWZutdfGXYisSeFmcbTz

DCsFiPEcMMgmqCJ

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.HoOzMVywESsNkizBMcuBJJMIgVPygm

QBrvFPHadavYZOI

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

QdRYQvFOXEHyTUg

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

kHaMezggrGoUsyD

Is there such a good thing?cybtqGLKYUcferyvqAjdNdGTstRkYK

FSivHvlSMWWtLcU

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

xKboMKGVlKkSHJj

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:PKivXAcgShLnEroMfpCUNyOfkoNarx

flDRfFaIxUucltX

“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.”icDGFRGgMierWJZLkawcZpIQrdJNGt

gNIEESBBMDTKKOJ

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

oCaAPWZVKgHUogw

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

wbeYMQhhMEctprA

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?”YLytdbkvPugKjGUQktnCHfQAPpdwFs

PEVzPtKOyIDhxPN

“…”lkmVeJMPPWKDHEaLPJiecPUkVbssuC

jyOOmlnOvEvWuQd

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

nwSUhWUejuOFXDb

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.QYOMDBduaRgZoqEqirdctTeTuMAGqO

XgKaZYpwsTqnyNN

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

GyXoStrRamAjcRP

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

QnfsJqKmtQqVRwA

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.gtPlUxtIhIwuERiVmhuTULKUOqCvYK

WmyFeHsYQQsQFCB

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

HfrlNsWqOdMiyvQ

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

qWUKXOECmKXQMlB

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

skrEUGtgqJJRlBk

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

kLcZXsvVDzfOgFG

Ning Rushen was suddenly framed by the shirt: hwGnJNnXUCNvlrRReVcERgNBiGemCk

yYFmofJSNrbAeaA

………ycxPracCdrTSjBmGtXwFcnLuaLxMQp

rOABftwyqszoqUW

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

ufBbzZlcSHGtYGI

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

iStZBqhdBBEBBOl

It was halftime.CVRzzfiHfJzwOvTLHumRWnmZxRGsrv

NUGLCfHIhlhwKbo

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

gdQbxEVZFvueZZT

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

kQiVcqZLWesjqwo

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

bcohvQDSIenSOpm

Ning Rushen, “…”tDUSjvaQvaUMBWMLwGXiUywvGqOzuU

PXqcgvVBKlfTdbz

Indeed, the soldiers were like one big family.oZmIEVWNixfETwXQURZTSGDpwKdHwF

kGCahuaVGNLIHSU

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

pbBGBDewlsCVPMW

“?” Ning Rushen was taken aback:IMOpZjLItLHWQobJhcHHHcyiGUIisH

vTwyZYaMpuqlGlJ

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

ojuouAezVCidzRc

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.”xSXDYuPoxIOmdtKrxRQOLYDwJExfFb

JVEQzabeyLCBkDi

The guard flashed him a grin and then kicked—ihwsddpbGJMhecMnEbDzwELocbBYBj

YlrnNJjiyKOfsnb

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

gYITJKfUwmMZpsA

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

mZPlJJyuxAJslWd

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

AeoCunSNEoEccmf

Ning Rushen, “…”tAFGqkXNRtimrmcLryKCliVMAfsYST

QATaMoGDaemBZjT

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.VXovKoafhUqALNsxxXIxYngmykSXQG

lbLBVfjbjPlPhfH

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

xOMtfZRoCoKQRoP

Ning Rushen, “………”edKevNcLsWXCJUYscejbIIaDFNgmnl

xcvZlKlxQNOSFnm

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

tIrTSHbSVkqRGPF

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

JlSiZWTsoXKbGSO

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.ooAaaCsUtfJaEzolStfqVykKJYXVRM

rNaWQwmHmHtHpaP

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

NXUmJfWDePJnrkf

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

lbgtbSzTzbLEjZH

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!OTwIzmQIZxhSKccbaHjsGqeuTrHBnI

SigeqxukxNJaykp

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

uNvIExDAjMwfaRH

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

WdkCwuMzkOIohIC

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.jEuHPzdGsuBCqXnoKMsyFqKnpzDYVm

BuRbHnNVpQtpAKI

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

bnmwHscbKdaGQdQ

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

UMtybddbAClKadE

His heart raced…!nYhKCENKHjponUuxjmwTQFCNGngVUD

YvHLTTCjGipGrSV

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

CQviIafoEnBosqI

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

CPytOlpgBMjAUsv

Li Wuting’s handwriting, why…sWQuruSjDKCXpuTzrDjVsCXpDaGMcO

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Did he carve it himself?rUurIyIKauUUwRFkfOjicYALjRXvxN

UAoPYmMEknxdlpJ

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.GJzrXghfCRcQrTjrWqdIOQzFcnDdKp

FdZiyIpfkAnRpAx

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

VjeoYHpkOcGzSjB

Lu Wu: “Master.”cZbUdzbozzHDrMSQQYKtNloRQBHfhc

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

qCuINNynpiLKJOT

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

DCbXCUoWInHzaKj

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

AZVBGhtmRNHFKqA

“?” Lu Wu glanced around cautiously.nADlzZTGAnqlyHHkVQuCIcYPOygFGJ

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

VitgkiGiXTBLtMq

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

aOoJzIoglbzCclx