Upon hearing that they were going to Songyuan, Xiong Xiaoyi's shoulders slumped. "Then we'll have to find someone else to go."
Now that Yun Lie is in charge of the construction of the new city, most of the affairs of the Linchuan Army have fallen on Xiong Xiaoyi's shoulders. Even during the rest period when he has nothing to do, in order to avoid any unexpected situations at the front line, he can only wander around this village at most and dare not go too far.
After handing the letter to Xiong Xiaoyi, Luo Cuiwei stood under the eaves and called out to Gao Zhan. She received a reply that the city defense matter had been discussed to the end. She then called Gao Zhan and left the courtyard together, rushing to the land where her family was building their house.
She didn't even have time to speak to Yun Lie from beginning to end, which made Yun Lie so angry that he almost ground his teeth to powder.
****
After discussing some details with the blueprints at the construction site, the sun was already setting. Luo Cuiwei breathed a long sigh of relief, both tired and gratified, before slowing down and walking back side by side with Gao Zhan.
Having decided to make his mark in Linchuan, Gao Zhan, though currently without official rank or position, is practically a member of the Zhaowang Mansion. Furthermore, having received a warning from Yun Lie upon his arrival, he now acts with more restraint in front of Luo Cuiwei.
Although the two walked side by side, they maintained a proper distance, neither too distant nor too intimate.
Luo Cuiwei was quite satisfied with this situation and felt much more at ease chatting with him.
"I've noticed you've all been overwhelmed these past few days. What's the problem you've encountered?"
She herself had been so busy these past few days that she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow at night, and she had no energy to care about Yun Lie's affairs anymore.
Mentioning this, Gao Zhan's face immediately clouded over, and he sighed deeply, "It's still about city defense. His Highness means that we should spend as little money as possible, yet still ensure the best possible defense..."
Although Gao Zhan was not the kind of extravagant playboy, he was, after all, the most favored young master of the Duke of He's mansion. He had never really suffered any grievances in matters of money since childhood. He only knew that if things were done well, he would naturally spare no expense in throwing money at them.
In his mind, Yun Lie was, after all, a prince who had been granted a title and established his own residence at a young age, and now he was the first prince to be enfeoffed. Therefore, he did not know how tight the treasury of the Prince Zhao's residence was.
Luo Cuiwei understood that Yun Lie was afraid of not having enough money, which was why he made such a demanding request. In her opinion, the Zhaowang Mansion's current resources were still too meager. If Yun Lie really acted like a prince and spent lavishly, she would be the first to jump up and beat her husband flat.
However, Shanghuzhijia has always been a force to be reckoned with, and of course she could not be honest with Gao Zhan about her family's predicament.
So she smiled and steered the conversation to a new topic, "Do you know about Tuanshan Village in Yizhou?"
On Tuanshan Mountain, on the southwestern border of Dajin, there is a military garrison that existed hundreds of years ago at the beginning of the nation's founding. A military garrison was stationed there, initially combining military and civilian functions, both cultivating land for self-sufficiency and defending the border against enemies. For nearly a hundred years, it remained unknown to the outside world.
Until Emperor Tongxi, Yun Anlan, staged a military coup, the Tuanshan garrison, led by Prince Ding, Li Chongyan, first fought a bloody battle to keep the foreign enemy, Jia Rong, out of the country's borders. Then, they made a long-distance raid on Yuanzhou and wiped out Prince Ping, Li Chongheng's troops who were besieging Emperor Tongxi, leaving a glorious and magnificent mark on the history of the Great Jin War.
“Although the Tuanshan Garrison was disbanded and incorporated into the government army fifty years ago, who would forget the Tuanshan Garrison’s reputation?” Gao Zhan turned his head to look at Luo Cuiwei in confusion, wondering why she would suddenly bring this up.
Luo Cui smiled and said, "Tuanshan has one main village and twenty secondary villages. The main village was built with defense as its primary focus. The main village is the most formidable. It may seem inconspicuous, but it is full of deadly traps. When an enemy invades, no one can escape unscathed."
Gao Zhan's eyes widened suddenly.
“Most importantly,” Luo Cuiwei smiled proudly, “it didn’t cost too much money; it mainly made the most of the terrain, mechanisms, and manpower.”
The golden rays of the setting sun mingled in her hair and fell on her face, making each word she uttered seem tangible, like pearls falling into the sunlight.
"You... went there in person?" Gao Zhan's face showed a hesitant but delighted expression.
“My mother, I mean my biological mother, is the daughter of the Tuanshan Si family,” Luo Cuiwei smiled, her eyes crinkling into two crescent moons. “Although I only visited the village a few times when I was a child, I have the village’s construction plans.”
Her birth mother did not have the chance to see her grow up, leaving behind many seemingly ordinary gifts that, in reality, would surely stir up a storm if they were to appear in the world.
After being shocked for a long time, Gao Zhan took a deep breath and relaxed. "With the construction plan of Tuanshan Village as a reference, the problem of city defense can be easily solved."
"I will find the map and give it to Your Highness later. Then you can adapt it to the local conditions," Luo Cuiwei said with a nonchalant smile.
Gao Zhan nodded his thanks.
The two walked side by side to the village entrance. Suddenly, Gao Zhan remembered something and couldn't help but frown and look at Luo Cuiwei with worry.
"Have you and His Highness had a quarrel these past few days?"
Luo Cuiwei looked back at him in surprise, "How could that be? I'm busy, and he's busy too. We don't even have time to say a few words, so how could we argue?"
"Oh, perhaps I'm overthinking it. These past few days, His Highness seems rather melancholy," Gao Zhan scratched his head, smiling somewhat sheepishly. "Today, I saw you only give instructions to Commander Xiong, then hurriedly call me away without even glancing at him, so I assumed..."
“When I get busy, I become arrogant,” Luo Cui said with a smile, shaking her head and sighing helplessly. “Besides, he always gives in to me, so we never end up arguing.”
Gao Zhan nodded thoughtfully, a smile playing on his lips, and said no more.
Although Gao Zhan had indeed misunderstood, Luo Cuiwei couldn't help but reflect on herself, realizing that she had indeed been somewhat cold towards Yun Lie these past few days.
Yun Lie is a man of his word. He promised a few days ago that he would not touch her for five days, and he truly did not bother her and let her sleep peacefully. They didn't even share a bed.
It can be said that he was very restrained and very trustworthy.
****
That night, after Yun Lie finished bathing and returned to his room, he found that Luo Cuiwei was not asleep as early as she had been in the past few days. Instead, she was lying on her side facing outwards, staring at him with her beautiful eyes wide open.
"Something on your mind?" Yun Lie frowned as he got into bed, only to realize that there was only one quilt again tonight.
"No, no, I'm not worried about anything," Luo Cuiwei lowered her trembling eyelashes and cleared her throat. "Gao Zhan mentioned a few things about city defense on the way here today..."
She then repeated what she had told Gao Zhan, and asked Yun Lie to remind her to bring him the construction plans for Tuanshan Village the next day.
Yun Lie agreed with a hint of delight, but seeing the weariness on her face, he urged her with concern, "Go to sleep, I think you can barely keep your eyes open."
After saying that, she considerately blew out the candle on the bedside table.
In the dim light of the room, a fragrant and soft body snuggled into his arms, and he froze, greatly surprised.
In the past few nights, as if afraid that he would not be able to resist his wild ways, even though the two slept under separate blankets, Luo Cuiwei would hide by the wall and stay far away from him, which almost made him so angry that he vomited blood.
"If you throw yourself into my arms like this, I could easily misunderstand," he chuckled, pulling her slightly trembling body into his arms. "Just kidding, go to sleep."
Tonight is only the fourth night of their agreement; he won't do anything reckless.