After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Pei Jiaoran came out of the Censorate and went straight to the Ministry of Revenue without even going back to the Secretariat. Needless to say, the court provided the military expenses for Shen Ce. With Hui Yi money as a base, it could ease some of the pressure. The vassal soldiers went out to fight. According to the results of the discussion in the Political Affairs Hall, the court would pay 70% and the vassal would pay 30% to pay for the food and military pay.

Holding the seal of the Jianghuai Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner, Pei Jiaoran directly asked the officials of the Ministry of Revenue to take her handwritten letter and wooden wedge to the Taifu Temple to get the salt profits from Jianghuai to pay for military expenses. Together with Wu Lingjia, the two spent almost the entire day on tedious procedures and various transportation matters.

Even though the two of them don't have to do errands personally, they still have to keep an eye on everything and sign various documents.

After waiting for the military funds to be completely moved from the Taifu Temple and delivered to the Right God of War, it was already late at night the next day. Wrapped in a cloak, he walked along Chengtianmen Street, with the defense pavilion in front of him leading the way.

Looking around, the government offices were still brightly lit.

Wu Lingjia, who was traveling with him, said in a deep voice: "I don't know how long this battle will last."

"No matter how long it takes, we have to fight." Pei Jiaoran put his hands into his sleeves and looked at the patrolling Jinwu Guards in front of him. "I have already chosen a candidate for the military envoy this time."

"Since you have a candidate, I won't ask any questions. But didn't Li Xiujing come back this time? We don't know how long he will be gone." Wu Lingjia said with a smile.

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran smiled, "It doesn't matter whether we meet or not. Neither he nor I are the kind of people who indulge in love. Since we both have our own things to do, there's no need to meet in person."

It was dark outside the Suzaku Gate, and it was quite quiet. The Jinwu Guards in charge of curfew were riding horses on the road. When they saw the two of them, they took the initiative to step aside and bowed politely.

After bidding farewell to Wu Lingjia, Pei Jiaoran handed the fish token to the guard at the gate of the square and rode back to his house in Chongyi Square.

The house was pitch dark.

After standing at the door for a long time, Pei Jiaoran sighed softly and opened the door to go in.

Without lighting a candle, Pei Jiaoran groped around in the room by the moonlight. Looking around, he saw a sword on the low couch by the window, and a set of armor next to it.

With a silent smile, Pei Jiaoran slowly walked to the clothes rack, took off his clothes slowly and hung them up, stepped barefoot on the carpet, and walked into the bathroom.

In the darkness, inside the bed in the inner room, a line of sight followed her figure and stopped at the screen at the door. Someone stood up from the bed and tiptoed to the screen.

The moonlight penetrated through the window screen and poured onto her. The person behind the screen laughed very softly. He walked around the screen and stretched out his arms. His arms just touched her waist and back, trying to hold her tightly in his arms.

A sharp light flashed in the darkness, and the person in his arms suddenly turned around. The end of the hairpin, which was emitting a cold light, pressed against her throat.

With a smile on his face, Pei Jiaoran gently stroked Li Xiujing's protruding Adam's apple with the golden hairpin in his hand, "Don't make a sound next time. Who knows, it might be a dagger that stabs you. Erlang, do you understand~"

The ending tone was deliberately prolonged, and her eyes were full of tenderness and affection.

The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, and at this moment Li Xiujing felt that he couldn't help his emotions and desires. He simply hugged Pei Jiaoran tightly and let the tail of the hairpin stick to his neck.

"Prime Minister Pei...Secretary of State..."

Li Xiujing whispered in her ear.

"Hmm?" Pei Jiaoran responded vaguely.

His neck tilted back slightly, and the golden hairpin in Pei Jiaoran's hand left his neck, but he snatched it away with his backhand and threw it back casually.

There was a thick carpet outside the bathroom, and the golden hairpin made only a dull sound when it fell to the ground.

The heat lingered around her ears and lingered on her neck. It had been a long time since she heard him call her like this, and Pei Jiaoran smiled. She responded softly to his voice and hooked her legs around his waist. Their wet lips touched gently, and their bodies gradually burned in the mutual moistening of their lips.

The low panting in the darkness seemed to drown out the sound of the wind, and the screen behind them fell to the ground. He held her against the desk, their bodies pressed tightly together.

"There are documents from the Secretariat on it." Pei Jiaoran said in a deep voice.

"Either you bear it, or I'll shake it off." Li Xiujing raised his head and looked at her with a smile, "Okay?"

With a blank look at Li Xiujing, Pei Jiaoran stretched out her hand and pushed all the documents on the desk down. She pushed him away with all her strength.

"Hmm... So cunning." Li Xiujing raised his eyes and glared at her. He sneered and started a new round of attacking the city.

Under Li Xiujing's relentless pressure, a thin mist brewed between Pei Jiaoran's eyebrows, which eventually turned into a pool of spring water. Along with the sharp edge and danger hidden in his bones, it was stripped away, and finally spread out from the lush forest like ice and snow melting in spring.

Although he was eager to get what he wanted, it also brought him long-lost joy. Every time there was a storm, he was happy.

"I have already selected the candidate for your military envoy for this expedition." Taking advantage of the time he paused, Pei Jiaoran opened his eyes and said slowly.

At this moment, there were beads of sweat on his nose and blush on her face. It seemed that they were reminding the two of them where they should be more immersed at this moment.

"Yes. I trust the person you arranged." Li Xiujing chased after him, "But the military academy in the northwest is also a place of trouble. I just hope that person can be smarter. It would be best if it is you."

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran sneered, "Me? I look down on a mere military envoy."

Seeing the clarity in her eyes, as if she had never been involved in the love and sin world, Li Xiujing smiled helplessly.

The storm that had temporarily left came again, landing in the center. Pei Jiaoran couldn't help but sigh.

Li Xiujing whispered in her ear, "Jia Jia, please don't forget me."

Gazing at the affectionate eyes of the person in front of him, Pei Jiaoran nodded.

The clouds and rain stopped, and after a quick wash, they lay side by side on the bed.

Li Xiujing held Pei Jiaoran in his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. He whispered, "What are you going to do with the military funds this time?"

"Just as written in the imperial edict. The court pays 70% and the vassal states pay 30%. This is the concession the court can make." Pei Jiaoran moved closer to Li Xiujing's arms, "Don't worry. With me here, you don't have to worry about anything."

"I understand. It's late, go to sleep."

The two of them snuggled together, warmth flowing. This long-lost moment of hugging made people particularly greedy.

The sound of street drums rang out, and Li Xiujing slowly opened his eyes. He turned around and looked at Pei Jiaoran who was still sleeping soundly. Although he was reluctant to leave her, he had to go.

He gently kissed Pei Jiaoran on the forehead as a solemn farewell, and quietly picked up the clothes scattered on the ground and put them on one by one.

The body was covered with shining armor, and he was holding a helmet. Li Xiujing held the door with his hand, turned his head to look at the figure who had been hidden behind the heavy curtains, smiled slightly, and pushed the door open to go out.

They both have their own new journeys to take, and their separation now is just to make the future smoother.