The courtyard of the Northern Border Outpost looked like a very expensive mistake.
Snow had melted in patches where Feng Yuehuang's flames had touched the ground. Broken carts from Sun Wei's fake merchant caravan lay scattered like bad financial decisions, and the bodies of assassins were already being cleaned away by the guards.
Peaceful.
In a very violent way.
And right in the centre of it all—
Hu Mei stood with her arms crossed, smiling like a fox who had already stolen the chicken and was now asking for dessert.
"A kiss."
She repeated it calmly.
"As my reward."
The silence around us became so heavy it could probably be sold as a weapon.
Yue Lian was suddenly fascinated by military paperwork.
Lin Xue had entered that special state where she was physically present but spiritually somewhere else.
Fa Yun was definitely praying.
Mo Jianli looked like he had just discovered entertainment.
And Feng Yuehuang—
dangerously quiet.
I looked at Hu Mei.
She looked back.
Completely serious.
Of course she was.
I rubbed my forehead.
"Can I pay in spirit stones?"
"No."
"Extra beast meat?"
"No."
"A smaller emotional reward?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Also no."
Terrible negotiator.
I sighed.
"You really planned this, didn't you?"
Hu Mei stepped closer, violet eyes sparkling.
"Master promised rewards for good work."
Fair.
Painfully fair.
She leaned in slightly.
"And I worked very hard."
Also true.
She had captured the traitor, pulled information from him, and turned the courtyard into psychological warfare art.
Honestly—
She deserved something.
The problem was that every woman in the room was now watching like this was a life-and-death political summit.
Which, somehow, it was.
I straightened my cloak.
Fine.
A sovereign must honour contracts.
I stepped closer.
Hu Mei smiled wider.
Behind me, I could physically feel Feng Yuehuang reconsidering my life expectancy.
Wonderful.
I looked at Hu Mei and lowered my voice.
"One kiss."
She nodded.
"One kiss."
"After that, no dramatic blackmail for at least three days."
She considered it.
"Two days."
"Deal."
I leaned forward—
and lightly kissed her forehead.
Soft.
Quick.
Safe.
Professional.
Absolutely the coward's route.
Hu Mei blinked.
Then narrowed her eyes.
"Master."
I coughed.
"Yes?"
"That was the same trick Phoenix got."
Ah.
Details.
Very dangerous details.
Before I could invent a legal defence, Feng Yuehuang spoke from behind me.
"Then perhaps fairness has been maintained."
I turned.
She stood by the courtyard gate, arms crossed, golden eyes calm and absolutely enjoying my suffering.
Traitor.
Hu Mei pouted dramatically.
"I have been politically outplayed."
Mo Jianli laughed so hard he nearly dropped his blade.
Even Lin Xue looked like she might smile.
Almost.
Maybe.
Rare event.
I escaped before Hu Mei could file an emotional appeal and returned to the command hall.
Because unlike romance—
Kingdoms, unfortunately, required paperwork.
Maps covered the table.
Recovered trade records from Sun Wei.
Village reports.
Military supply lists.
Tax records.
Truly horrifying things.
Yue Lian followed me inside, thankfully returning the world to sanity.
"The names Sun Wei gave us have been confirmed."
She pointed to three marked villages.
"These elders were taking silver from the Third Prince."
I nodded.
Expected.
Hungry people sold loyalty cheaply.
That was why I needed to make sure my people could afford principles.
I looked at the list.
"Arrest the guilty ones quietly."
Yue Lian blinked.
"Not publicly?"
I shook my head.
"No."
She waited.
I pointed toward the villages.
"If I punish them loudly, the people remember fear."
Then toward the food reports.
"If I replace corruption with food and stability, they remember gratitude."
Understanding appeared in her eyes.
Good.
Ruling through fear built enemies.
Ruling through results built nations.
I continued.
"Confiscate the bribe silver."
She nodded.
"And use it to buy winter medicine for the villagers."
For the first time, Yue Lian smiled faintly.
"As expected of Your Highness."
Good.
Competent praise.
Far more useful than ministers.
Before we could continue, a soldier rushed inside.
He dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness!"
I looked up.
"Yes?"
His voice shook slightly.
"A noble convoy has arrived from Frostwood Village."
Interesting.
"Noble?"
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"Lord Xue himself has come."
Ah.
Xue Ning's father.
The governor of the northern villages.
That was important.
Very important.
If I gained his open support, the rebellion would no longer be whispers in the snow.
It would become legitimacy.
I stood immediately.
"Prepare the hall."
Yue Lian nodded and left.
As I adjusted my robe, Xue Ning entered quietly.
White fur cloak.
Silver hair.
Cold elegance.
Still dangerous to my peace of mind.
Her blue eyes met mine.
"My father rarely leaves Frostwood."
I smiled.
"Then I assume this is either very good news…"
I stepped closer.
"…or I am about to be judged as a future son-in-law."
For the first time—
She looked visibly flustered.
Excellent.
Victory.
"That is not funny."
"It is a little funny."
She sighed softly.
Then her voice lowered.
"He is difficult."
I nodded.
"So am I."
That finally made her smile.
Small.
Beautiful.
Dangerous in a completely different way.
Outside, the horns of arrival echoed through the outpost.
A governor had come.
Politics was arriving.
Again.
Honestly, this kingdom-building thing needed fewer princesses and more naps.
Unfortunately—
Fate seemed to disagree.
I looked toward the gate.
Lord Xue was here.
And with him—
the next step toward turning rebellion into a real kingdom.