Now that you're reborn, who would still keep a mistress for their scumbag husband?

Lu Changting ran over almost as soon as she saw Dou Miaojin, calling her "sister-in-law". The wife of the Earl of Yiyang took a breath and regretted responding to the marriage proposal from the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.

Everyone in the capital knew that the Duke of Dingguo was going to marry a concubine, and every mistress of the powerful and aristocratic family was disdainful of it. Seeing Lu Changting so close to Dou Miaojin, Madam Liu couldn't help but wonder what Lu Changting's virtues were like.

Liu Jing helped his mother get out of the car and frowned as he stood by.

Dou Jinzhao smiled and said, "I didn't expect to meet Madam Liu here. Please go first!"

The wife of the Earl of Yiyang breathed a sigh of relief. She liked Dou Jinzhao's knowledge and taste very much. Dou Jinzhao's words denied that the two families had agreed to come together. As for the marriage, they would talk about it later if they could reach an agreement. If they couldn't, it would not affect either party in any way.

The two walked in side by side. Noticing that the people behind them had not caught up, Madam Liu said, "I have always been straightforward in my words. I heard that the emperor issued an order to grant the Duke of Dingguo a marriage with your sister, or to marry a concubine? Isn't this ridiculous?"

Dou Jinzhao smiled and said, "Thunder and rain are all grace from the emperor. The palace has given us an order, so we have no choice but to follow it."

"Madam Dou, I'm a very straightforward person. To be honest, marrying a concubine is really against etiquette. I don't know what tricks your sister used, but I see that Miss Lu and your sister have a very close relationship. Could it be that Madam Dou is quite in favor of marrying a concubine?"

Dou Jinzhao understood the meaning of the music by listening to the strings, "Young Master Liu is a handsome man. I heard that he is highly praised by the teacher in the Imperial College. I wonder if there is a girl who is attracted to him?"

Madam Liu sighed, knowing that Dou Jinzhao must be in a very difficult situation, and she sympathized with him. She said, "Madam, you are too kind. This child is young and weak, and his studies are his main concern. His grandmother asked a great monk to read his fortune two years ago, and he said that he can only be married when he is over 18 years old. Otherwise, it will not work even if he is married. He has not thought about it yet."

The marriage is over!

Dou Jinzhao understood, "We still have to listen to the elders."

When they reached the main hall, Dou Jinzhao paused and said, "I'll go to the side room first. Madam, please do as you please!"

Having said this, there is no need to go on.

Dou Jinzhao waited until Madam Liu and her son went in before she, accompanied by her maids, walked to the back mountain of Daxiangguo Temple. There was a forest of steles there. Someone had practiced sword there before, leaving many marks on the steles, from which one could feel the sword spirit. Every time she came, she would stay there for some time.

After standing in the stele forest for less than an hour, Dou Jinzhao heard people walking towards him while talking. One of the voices said, "The Southern Chen has already set up its formation. Ever since the prince conquered Southern Shu and killed Meng Zhixiang, Southern Chen has panicked and has been trying to attack us every other day. They still have evil intentions towards Southern Shu."

Another familiar voice said, "Although Nanshu is located in the mountains, it is known as the Land of Abundance and is rich in products. In the past twenty years, there was no war in Nanshu, and the people were able to eat and wear warm clothes. The two kings of the Meng family liked to plunder the people, and there is still a saying about the treasure map. Xiao Shengyuan has the ambition to unify the north and the south. He wants to occupy Nanshu, and using this as a springboard is a good strategy."

"I don't know who the emperor will send to Shu to defend against the enemy this time. I heard that the Ministry of War is gathering war horses from various horse farms in preparation for war. Southern Shu is located in the west and has always been the territory of the Duke Dingguo Mansion. If the prince can take this opportunity to go to war, Southern Shu can return to the prince's control."

"I don't have such an idea. If I had, when my father asked me to withdraw my troops from Shu, I had a hundred ways to disobey his order. Although Southern Chen is the enemy of Northern Qi, Xiao Shengyuan is short-sighted and narrow-minded, and he will never be able to achieve anything."

"Your Highness, do you still think that the Khitans are our greatest threat?"

"Yes, the Khitans are also a nation of horsemen, but they are much more powerful than the Xiliang. I have always believed that the Khitans are a vicious wolf lurking in the north of Northern Qi. Sooner or later, they will move south. And what Northern Qi lacks is good war horses."

"This time, I heard that Duke Dingguo had brought 500 good stallions from Xiliang, so the emperor praised Duke Dingguo highly. These 500 stallions have been distributed to various horse farms. Within three years, the number of war horses in our dynasty will increase significantly. This is really a great achievement!"

There was a lot of envy in his words.

But I heard this familiar voice saying, "Cao Zhen, if the court asks you to go to war this time, you'd better..."

Before he could finish his words, Cao Zhen was startled. Just as he was about to draw his sword, he was held down by someone. The two men looked at each other with Dou Jinzhao. Dou Jinzhao's gaze lightly swept across the prince's face and fell on Cao Zhen. It turned out to be Marquis Jingchuan.

"You are……"

Before Cao Zhen finished speaking, Dou Jinzhao had already bowed, "Your Highness Prince Zhuang, Marquis Jingchuan!"

Prince Zhuang Ling Qingchen was the fourth prince. He raised his hand to signal Dou Jinzhao to excuse himself from the formalities. "Why is the wife of Duke Dingguo here?"

The four looked at each other and then turned away.

"I came to Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense today and took a walk. I just happened to walk here. I'm glad I didn't disturb His Royal Highness Prince Zhuang and Marquis Jingchuan!" After saying that, she nodded sideways and led the maid forward.

King Zhuang stood there, following her back for a long time. Cao Zhen muttered something before he came to his senses and continued walking forward with Cao Zhen.

"Mrs. Dou is so pitiful. After only one year of marriage, Duke Dingguo actually wants to marry a second wife, her twin sister. What kind of taste is this? Just because the twins look different?"

King Zhuang paused and asked with a sidelong glance, "Are you free?"

"what?"

"Why are you gossiping about this? Why are you talking about this like a woman in the market? Did you remember everything I just said?"

"What? It's about the war in Southern Shu, and not going to war for the time being? The key is, if the court issues an order, what can I do? Military orders are as heavy as a mountain, can I disobey them?"

"If you go on a campaign, you must be mindful of the horses. There are problems with the horses that Lu Changyuan brought back from Weizhou."

Cao Zhen suddenly woke up, "Your Highness, do you find it strange? Just now, the wife of Duke Dingguo was standing here. Why did we only notice her when we approached?"

Although his martial arts skills are not very high, King Zhuang is by no means an ordinary person.

Ling Qingchen smiled, a little ruffian-like, "I noticed."

"Ah? But she and Duke Dingguo are husband and wife. Is it appropriate for her to listen to what we say?"

"I don't know!" Ling Qingchen lowered his eyes, hiding the helplessness and bitterness in his eyes.

The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers on the back mountain have already faded, and the leaves of the plum trees have all fallen off. Young buds have sprouted among the branches, and light yellow can be seen at the tips.

Luoxia appeared out of nowhere and said, "Master, Yunqing just sent a message that all 500 stallions from Xiliang have entered Changliu Horse Farm. Lao Wan has controlled the horse plague, and some of the stallions that could not be cured have been burned and buried, leaving no future troubles.

The horse plague has already started at Xin's Horse Farm in Weizhou. The news will be passed on in about ten days. Master Yunqing asked the master, "Do you have any other instructions?"

"Let Lao Wan contact the people on King Zhuang's side and let them prepare for the horse plague. Also, let them copy a copy of the treatment prescriptions and prevention methods and send them to King Zhuang. The northern front cannot be affected in any way." Dou Jinzhao ordered.

"Yes!"

In the side room of Daxiangguo Temple, Dou Miaojin and Lu Changting were resting. They were talking on the couch in front of the window. Dou Miaojin was giving Lu Changting advice based on her memories of her past life. "The Yiyang Marquis' Mansion had made military achievements with the current emperor, but what does it have to do with Liu Jing? Liu Jing himself has no ability. I think when a woman gets married, she should either marry someone she likes or marry a great hero."

Lu Changting was distressed. "I don't have anyone I like, and I don't know who the great hero is. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, there is only Ling Qingchen who is as young as my brother and has made great military achievements. But he was not born from the Queen's womb, so it is impossible for him and I to be together."

"You saw Liu Jing today, are you willing to marry him? He's such an unknown person! If you really want to marry a great hero, there is a candidate. Although he is not a great hero now, he will be one soon!"