As they were talking, Shen Changge had already put on his clothes and got off the bed. He snatched the sword from Nangong Chi's hand, drew it out of its sheath, and aimed it at Nangong Chi himself.

"Your Majesty, don't blame me for being ruthless. I've been living an uneasy life under the shadow of others, and I also want to experience the feeling of being superior to ten thousand people." Shen Changge and Tuoba Xiao stood side by side, raising their swords high and slashing towards the neck of Nangong Chi.

"Ah!" Perhaps due to excessive pre-sleep worries, Nangong Chi once again fell into that dream and became lucid at the moment of beheading.

He found someone lying next to him and instinctively bounced up.

The chilling sensation in the neck felt too real, as if it had truly happened before.

His heart pounded fiercely, reverberating within his chest.

Shen Changge was also disturbed from her sleep by his movements. Being constantly stationed at the border, his sleep was even shallower than that of Nangong Chi. When he heard Nangong Chi's rapid breathing, he thought something big had happened and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, Chonglin?"

Shen Changge was preparing to get out of bed and light a lamp when suddenly the person beside him sprang up and grabbed his neck.

Shen Changge could have resisted, but he stopped when he realized who he was.

In the tranquil silence, Nangong Chi was pinned down by Nangong Chihua, who resembled a wild beast, with a pair of hands tightly gripping his own neck like iron clamps.

Kill him, kill him.

Nangong Chi couldn't help but think.

As long as I kill him, that dream will never happen again.

He could easily sit securely on the dragon throne, and if needed, promote a few young talents to replace Shen Changge's position.

The slender and smooth neck under his fingertips made it difficult for him to recall the scene when he was entangled with this person in a life-and-death struggle.

Nangong Chi loves him, and there is no doubt about it.

Nangong Chi couldn't stand him being with other people, and he couldn't stand his growing influence.

He sensed a threat.

If Shan Changge was not a general, it would be even better. I could just bring him into the palace, make him a consort or even an empress, and ensure that he would not meet anyone except myself.

There's no need to worry that he will kill himself.

There was no light in the room, so Shen Changge couldn't see Nangong Chi's expression.

He speculated that this person had a nightmare, waiting for him to recover.

Nangong Chi slowly released the hand that was choking his neck. Shen Changge hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath when she felt his large palm shifting, lifting the hem of her sleeping gown.

"Chonglin... No, there is morning court today," Shen Changge declined.

Nangong Chi's words, perhaps he would still be able to get up after finishing. As for myself, it's not certain.

"I grant you the permission for your leave."

After finishing speaking, Nangong Chi directly spread open Shen Changge's legs and violated him.

"Mmm..." Shen Changge felt uncomfortable and couldn't help but frown.

Perhaps it was just a nightmare that scared me.

Shen Changge bit down on Nangong Chi's shoulder, relaxing her body.

Prime Minister Xu was assassinated.

The Marquis, Mr. Xusheng Yuan, is already fifty years old and had served Emperor Nangong Huang.

Xu Shengyuan is a person of strong will and integrity, refusing to associate with corrupt individuals. He was once falsely accused by despicable people and unjustly imprisoned.

After Nan Gongchi ascended to the throne, he cleared his name and reinstated his official position, which made Xu Shengyuan extremely grateful. Xu Shengyuan regarded Nan Gongchi as a wise ruler and was willing to devote everything for him.

Xu Shengyuan is knowledgeable and always able to propose practical governance strategies when Nan Gongchi is in a bind. As a result, Nan Gongchi has always valued him highly.

If General Shen is considered the best military officer in the Zhou Kingdom, then Prime Minister Xu is undoubtedly the finest civil servant in the Zhou Kingdom. With one being skilled in warfare and the other in academics, they complement each other and serve as the left and right hand of Nangong Chi.

But now, Xu Shengyuan has fallen victim to an assassination attempt by bandits. The weapon was laced with poison, and with one slash, it sent him into an eternal slumber.

While instructing the Ministry of Personnel to draft regulations and select a new prime minister, Nangong Chi also arranged for the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds and handle the matters after the passing of Minister Xu.

With one arm injured, Nangong Chi's mood was not too good.

Just as he was feeling emotionally burdened and preparing to find Shen Changge to confide in, he suddenly remembered that person was no longer in the palace.

Ever since that night when he made a move against Shen Changge, that person has taken a sick leave, claiming that he needs to rest for a few days.

Nangong Chi caused him pain, and feeling guilty in his heart, he did not resist.

But now it's already the third day, and he still hasn't shown up. This made Nangong Chi somewhat surprised.

He stacked up the memorials and finished reviewing them during the afternoon. Then he found a reason and left the palace gates.

He changed into his regular attire. Just as he sat down in the sedan chair leaving the palace, someone quickly followed and jumped onto the carriage, then knelt in front of him.

The man spoke in a sharp and thin voice, saying, "Your Majesty, your subject pays his respects."

This person is his trusted eunuch and one of his closest confidants, Su Shengzhou.

"General Shen's current movements," Nangong Chi casually remarked while toying with the jade thumb ring in his hand.

Su Shengzhou replied in a low voice, "General Shen stayed at the General's Mansion for two days. He left the palace early this morning and is currently in a private residence in the southeast corner of the capital city. I have already sent someone to guard the place."

"Just go straight."

"Chirp." Su Shengzhou got off the carriage and sat down in the coachman's seat. He picked up the horse whip and lashed it onto the horse's belly.

The horse, in pain, immediately pulled the carriage and ran off.

Shen Changge came out today, not for anything else, but just to see someone.

The paragraph you provided, '北夷王子拓跋逍', translates to English as 'Prince Tuoba Xiao of the Northern Yi.'

Speaking of Tuoba Xiao, Shen Changge had to admit that he was a formidable opponent.

The two of them fought numerous times on the battlefield. Although Shen Changge had always held the upper hand, Tuoba Xiao could also be considered a battlefield genius: he was adept at inventing various unstoppable and highly practical strategic weapons.

Shen Changge has suffered numerous losses under his command. If Tuoba Xiao were a person from Zhou Kingdom, Shen Changge would surely do everything in his power to recruit him under his leadership. Unfortunately, their positions are different, and it is destined that they can only meet on the battlefield.

On the day before their return to the capital, the two of them had a night conversation during a temporary ceasefire. They discussed their respective demands while drinking. Shen Changge believed that she could hold her liquor, but she was ultimately no match for Tuoba Xiao, a northern barbarian who drank alcohol like water every day. In the end, she was completely intoxicated.

Shen Changge knew that Tuoba Xiao was interested in him, but his heart was already with Nangong Chi. Naturally, he would not respond to Tuoba Xiao's advances.

At that time, he was also thinking about how he could quickly return to the palace to meet the new emperor. In his excitement, he lowered his guard.

Fortunately, nothing happened that night, and when he woke up the next morning, he found himself still wearing his clothes. If Tuoba Xiaozhen had made a move on him, Shen Changge couldn't guarantee that he would be able to endure it.

In addition to getting him drunk, Tuoba Xiao also took away his dagger.

The dagger was the only weapon given to him by Nangong Chi for self-defense, a unique item in the world.

Shen Changge has always attached great importance to Nangong Chi. He keeps everything Nangong Chi gives him carefully. However, he forgot to count them before leaving and only remembered this halfway through the journey.

In order to retrieve his weapon and also to warn Tuoba Xiao, he had no choice but to keep the appointment.

Seeing Shen Changge enter, Tuoba Xiaoren had not yet arrived, but his voice arrived first: "You finally came! I have been longing for you day and night, yearning for you. I have missed you so much. This broken knife is nothing compared to your graceful and charming presence. I'm already tired of looking at it."

Tuoba Xiao walked up, with his high nose and deep-set eyes, he had a touch of exotic charm that set him apart from the men of the Central Plains.

Unfortunately, his good looks meant nothing in the eyes of Shen Changge, who had someone she already loved. He was as insignificant as any other ordinary person she would see on the street.

"If you're tired of looking at it, then give me back the dagger." As Shen Changge stepped into the courtyard, before the words had even settled, something was thrown from the other side - it was his short dagger, the very evidence against him.

"How boring you are! I came all the way to see you, but you don't even bother to ask about me," Tuo Ba Xiao said with exuberance when he saw him, but his words came out full of sourness.

"You, a prince from the Northern Yi, entered our country's borders without prior notice. I haven't immediately thrown you into the celestial dungeons, which can be considered as treating you fairly," he spoke softly, yet loud enough for both of them to hear.

In fact, for Shen Changge, it was quite risky to come and meet Tuoba Xiaoxiao.

The meeting between the general of Zhou Kingdom and the prince of the neighboring country is a troublesome scene in the eyes of anyone who witnesses it.

Just this charge of betraying the country and collaborating with the enemy alone is enough to hang more than a dozen crimes on his head.

"You caught me, then. If I were to die in your hands, I would willingly die," said Tuoba Xiao as he leaned in close, pressing his ear against Shen Changge's, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

[System prompt: The plot of the branch character Tuoba Xiao has been triggered. Currently, Tuoba Xiao's affection value is 60, and regret level is 0.]

Wen Fei called out to Mao Qiu in his mind: "Can he also conquer (the game)?"

Yes, my lord. He is a minor character. As long as you max out his stats, you can also receive rewards, although they will be slightly less than the rewards obtained from the main targets of the strategy.

Understood.

Shen Changge pushed away Tuoba Xiao and said seriously, "I mentioned before that I have no interest in you."

Tuoba Xiaoshun took advantage of the situation and grabbed his hand, pulling him into his arms. He said, "What good can that emperor of your Zhou Kingdom offer you? Whatever he can offer, I can offer it too."

Nan Gongchi had just climbed onto the top of the wall when he saw this scene, and instantly became irritated.

They intentionally spoke in hushed voices, and Nangong Chi couldn't hear what they were discussing. However, seeing them acting this way, hesitant yet eager, and in constant tugging and pulling, the flames of jealousy burned even brighter in Nangong Chi's heart.

I meet with Tuoba Xiao privately, but I don't report it.

Still, he assumed such a posture.

Shen Changge, which side does your heart truly lean towards?

"At the very least, he treats me as his lover, allowing me to be on equal footing with him. Unlike you, who treats me as an object of debauchery." Shen Changge felt that he had gone too far with his behavior today, and withdrew his hand uncomfortably, standing up straight. "He is far from being as frivolous as you are."

"As long as you follow me, I can make you my queen and promise to never marry anyone else for the rest of my life," Tuoba Xiaoxiao said solemnly, as if making a vow to him.

"I already have reverence in my heart, I'm sorry." Shen Changge sighed and reached out to give him a hug. "This is all I can offer you. You are a good person, I can treat you as a rival, as a prince of the Northern Barbarians, but I will not treat you as a lover."

Before Tuoba Xiao returned to hug him, Shen Changge had already let go of his hand.

"You'd better not stay in Zhouguo for too long. Besides, we have different identities, so it's best if we don't meet again in the future."

"The Northern Barbarian diplomatic envoy visited Zhou Kingdom, and I came along with them. I can hold my own in front of others," Tuoba Xiaoxiao said with a slight smile. "You don't need to worry about me, I can handle it."

She did not worry. Shen Changge sneered inwardly.