ome and prepare for the banquet hosted by the envoys from the Western Regions. It would be held on the eighth day of the next month, just half a month away. With no one to disturb her, Feng Lingxi liv..."Queen."

Sun Cheng knocked on the door and came in, followed by a group of soldiers behind him. Upon learning that the Fourth Princess had summoned them, each one was invigorated.

"You're just in time, I have something to discuss with you."

Feng Lingxi finished speaking, took out a map, and began to discuss with them.

Dugu Cheng and Huangfu Qingyun accompanied Wan'er for several days, trying all sorts of ways to make her and her mother get along. For some reason, it just wouldn't work. Wan'er would sleep with Dugu Cheng, but once Feng Lingxi came, she would cry incessantly. No one could console her, unless Feng Lingxi left, then she would stop talking.

Thus, Feng Lingxi and Dugu Cheng slept separately.

"Wan'er wasn't like this before, I don't know why she's excluding me like this."

Huangfu Qingyun frowned, "It's only been a few months since we separated, I really can't understand why"

If it weren't for Xi'er and Dugu City believing in him, he would really think that he was the one who corrupted Wan'er.

This girl is really strong, no matter how you coax her she just won't budge.

Feng Lingxi took Sun Cheng out, and Wan'er, who was playing in the courtyard, saw Feng Lingxi come out. She glanced at her and then went back to playing. Feng Lingxi didn't even glance at Wan'er this time. When she got to Du Gucheng, she said to them, "I'm going out for a bit to take care of something. You guys stay here and keep her company."

"Xier, I'll go with you."

Huangfu Qingyun spoke, but Feng Lingxi rejected him.

"No need, I can handle the Yao clan myself."

Feng Lingxi looked at Dugu City, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

"Let Ye Xi accompany you."

Feng Lingxi nodded, taking them away from the county government office. Wan'er stopped and watched Feng Lingxi leave, her eyes wide with longing as she watched her back.

"Now that she ignores you, you must be hurting too, right"

Duke Gucheng squatted beside Wan'er, watching the little girl gaze at Xi'er's departing figure. Wan'er retracted her gaze and opened her arms, "Father, hug."

He's saying more and more words now, in just over a month he'll be a year old, and he's walking steadily. But his temper is too strong.

Dugu Cheng held Wan'er in his arms and got up. Wan'er snuggled into Dugu Cheng's embrace and yawned, falling asleep soon after.

"This Wan'er's personality and Xi'er are really the same, neither of them is willing to bow their heads."

The Shunfei was quite helpless. This Wan'er was good in every way, but her temper, it truly wasn't pleasant.

Although Xi'er kept her with Huangfu Qingyun for a while, it was all to protect her. But this child actually held a grudge.

“Mother, Wan’er is still young. We should spend more time and effort teaching her. It's our duty to her.”

Dugu Cheng lowered his head and looked at Wan'er, his eyes full of heartache.

"Take her to bed, and tell Xi'er not to think so much. When the child is older, she will understand her mother's hard work."

"Your servant understands."

Dugu Cheng entrusted Wan'er to the wet nurse, his eyes full of worry.

"Xier seems to have been very busy these days. Do you know what she's busy with"

Huangpu Qingyun saw the helplessness in Dugu City's eyes. These past few days had truly worn him out. This Xi'er and Wan'er, both were people he owed. Xi'er was still able to reason, but this Wan'er, a child, was too serious.

"She's still investigating the explosives. Sun Cheng went down the mountain, what he did specifically, this king does not know."

I've been circling around Wan'er these days and haven't really asked Xi'er about anything.

Huangpu Qingyun looked at Dugu City, "In a few days I'll be going back. This time when I go back, I'm getting married."

獨孤城 hearing that Huangfu Qingyun was going to get married, was very surprised.

"An arranged marriage"

Huangfu Qingyun nodded, a bitter smile on his face. “I’ve been putting it off for quite some time now. My parents have been urging me relentlessly and have arranged for me to marry Qiao Shuyue, the daughter of the Prime Minister. She is said to be gentle and virtuous.”

"Do you like her"

Huangfu Qingyun did not answer, his intentions had never changed. He liked Xi'er, but he knew there could be no future for them.

"At that time, Xi'er and I will definitely go to drink wedding wine."

Don't tell her.

Huangfu Qingyun looked at Dugu Cheng, "If Xi'er knew that I was marrying a woman I didn't love, she wouldn't let me get married. She would think that I was marrying Qiao Shuyue because of her, and I don't want her to feel guilty."

"Ke'er will know later, she will still feel guilty." Dugu City sank his voice, "Although I know you have always liked Ke'er, I was very happy to hear that you were going to get married, but I still hope you can think it through. Marrying a woman who doesn't love you, for the rest of your life, will harm yourself and others."

Huangfu Qingyun's body trembled, looking at Dugu City with a complicated expression.

"I know you always have Xi'er in your heart, but I also believe that you will definitely meet another woman who can make you let go of Xi'er."

Huangpu Qingyun swallowed nervously, and remained silent for a long while.

"This king has said his piece. Now think it over carefully."

Dugu Cheng patted him on the shoulder, and Huangfu Qingyun sat there, lost in thought.

"Have a drink with me"

Dugu Cheng poured him a cup of wine, watching Huangpu Qingyun's face clouded with worry. All he could repay him with was this, for any further debt, Xi'er would be impossible to give him.

Feng Lingxi led Sun Cheng and others to the back mountain of Linxi County. According to the map she had drawn before, they found the mountain where Sun Cheng said there was gunpowder hidden, at the location in the back mountain.

This mountain isn't too far from the entrance of the valley, and a bridge over the river at the back of the mountains takes you there in about half an hour.

The location is very secluded, in a thicket of bushes. It would be difficult to find if it weren't for Sun Cheng and her going there together.

"Your Highness, shall we begin the mining"

Sun Cheng saw the Queen crouching down to check and hurriedly asked.

Feng Lingxi glanced around and said, "You take people to check the nearby area and see how far away it is. We need to confirm how much gunpowder there is in this mountain."

Ye Xi followed Feng Lingxi, watching the movements of the princess and others. Curious, she asked, "Your Highness, are you going to make gunpowder"

"Saltpeter is used for more than just gunpowder."

Ye Xi's face was full of curiosity. Feng Lingxi, seeing his curious gaze, began to explain the other uses of saltpeter. Ye Xi listened, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"My queen, you are truly amazing. You know everything."

Feng Lingxi smiled, but it was just some simple things from her time.

She came here to check the saltpeter, mainly wanting to block it here and then gradually mark all the big and small mountains around Linxi County, wherever there was saltpeter. Only after a thorough investigation could she keep an eye on those with ulterior motives who were eyeing explosives.

Feng Lingxi was busy, and the sky had already darkened.

Sun Cheng had already marked the location of all the saltpeter. There wasn't too much or too little here; if it were used to make explosives, it would be enough for the amount they had found in the mountains before.

Feng Ling, after marking it, took them back to the county office.

Back at the county magistrate's office, the room was once again pitch black. Ever since Wan'er had agreed to sleep with Dugu City, every time she came in, the room was shrouded in darkness.

Little Li lit the candle and, seeing the Queen's weary face, stepped forward to knead her shoulders.

"Your Highness, I've brought you some food."n legs How are you still hungry""Not enough."Feng Lingxi looked at Du Gucheng, touching her belly, feeling wronged beyond words."There's still some food here. Let's eat."Windling held a basin in her a...