Making Ning Hongye call me husband?

Hearing the poem, Ma Wencai's face flushed red with excitement, and he couldn't help but tremble all over.

"Who in the world... doesn't know you?"

He savored this line repeatedly, his entire being igniting.

Fire in his eyes, light in his heart.

His father was the richest man in Cangzhou, a magnate, but only the common folk of Cangzhou had heard of him.

For a merchant to become known throughout the land, what kind of powerful backing would he need?

The Ninth Young Master said this, could it be that he wanted to...

A bold thought flashed through Ma Wencai's mind.

So that's how it is!

No wonder the Ninth Young Master had never been famous before; he harbored such grand ambitions, unwilling to be subservient, and wanted to seize the throne!

"Your Highness, I never expected you to trust me so much! This humble servant is willing to go through fire and water for your 'succession' endeavor, sparing no effort!"

Ma Wencai's eyes were red, looking like a scholar ready to die for his confidant.

"Huh? Don't spout nonsense, when did I say I wanted to seize the throne?"

Xiao Yang was bewildered and quickly denied it.

"Your Highness, I was careless! This matter must be kept secret until the great undertaking is complete!"

Ma Wencai gave a "I understand" expression.

This completely stumped Xiao Yang!

No, no... what on earth have you been imagining?

"Young Master, we've arrived at the Prince's Estate!"

Just then, the coachman's voice rang out.

"Brother Ma, let's stop here for today. I'm heading back!" Xiao Yang got out of the carriage.

Ma Wencai also got out to see him off, bowing deeply and not straightening up until Xiao Yang had entered the estate.

In fact, Xiao Yang didn't take this follower on a whim; he had given it considerable thought.

Firstly, he was desperately short of money right now.

The monthly stipend from the Prince's Estate was a mere drop in the bucket.

And the treasures returned by the System were too precious to sell. Ma Wencai could serve as his "money bag."

Secondly, Ma Wencai came from a merchant family and was not the legitimate eldest son, so he wasn't favored.

Therefore, his loyalty was unquestionable, and he certainly hadn't been bought off by the other princes.

Adding flowers to an already blooming plant was never as valuable as sending charcoal in the snow.

His simple gesture might be a life-changing decision for Ma Wencai.

At the entrance of the Prince's Estate.

"Young Master, His Highness has already returned to the estate, why haven't you gotten up yet?" the coachman asked curiously.

Only then did Ma Wencai straighten up, feeling a blazing fire ignite within him.

Many years later.

Ma Wencai, now the "Richest Man in Great Xia, Red-topped Merchant, and First-Class Marquis," would still be moved to tears of old age when recalling his first meeting with the Great Emperor that night...

Know that a young man's soaring ambition once vowed to be the foremost in the world!

On the other side.

Xiao Yang returned to the Prince's Estate but did not go to his own residence. Instead, he went to the separate courtyard where Ning Hongye lived and knocked on the door.

"Miss Ning, are you resting?" Xiao Yang asked.

"It's so late, what is it?"

A cold voice came from inside the room.

"I chanced upon a copy of Yue Wu's Art of War. But I'm just a commoner and don't lead troops, so why don't I give it to you!" Xiao Yang said.

"Come in!" Ning Hongye said calmly.

Xiao Yang pushed the door open and saw that she was not wearing the Asura Mask, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty and grace. However, she looked travel-worn, with a bit of dust clinging to her.

"Miss Ning, did you just go out?" Xiao Yang asked curiously.

Where would she go so late at night?

"Military secret!"

Ning Hongye kept her lips sealed.

She would never admit that she had secretly gone to the Lanting Poetry Gathering...

Nor would she admit that she witnessed Xiao Yang's astonishing performance, rejected Yan Ruyu, and was about to give that timeless masterpiece to his fiancée!

At this moment, Xiao Yang noticed her strange expression but didn't think much of it. He took out the military treatise from his embrace and handed it to her.

"It's a rare edition?!"

Ning Hongye flipped through a few pages, greatly surprised, and then asked, "This military treatise is very precious. It must have been hard to obtain, right?"

"No trouble, no trouble at all! It was just a small effort!" Xiao Yang quickly replied.

On one hand, he had only recited dozens of ancient poems from his previous life. It was easy, costing him at most a bit of effort.

On the other hand, he was afraid that Ning Hongye would feel indebted to him and refuse to accept it.

How else would the System's reward be triggered?

However, Ning Hongye misunderstood.

She had been present that night and personally witnessed Xiao Yang's "Hundred Poems in a Drinking Bout."

She believed Xiao Yang was already a man of profound knowledge and great ambition, who had been lying low for years with a grand plan.

But for her, he had not hesitated to reveal his talents ahead of schedule...

"He actually went this far for me?"

An unprecedented emotion stirred within Ning Hongye's heart.

But she was a proud and stubborn woman, unwilling to easily express her feelings.

[Ding! Ning Hongye's Favorability +5, Total 30]

At this moment, a System notification also chimed in Xiao Yang's ear.

Strange!

She had never gained favorability points after receiving gifts before. Why did she start now?

Xiao Yang found it strange, but since things were going well, he decided to strike while the iron was hot!

"Miss Ning, I have another treasure here that I'd like to give you as well!"

He pulled out the amulet that Yan Ruyu had gifted him from his pocket and began to introduce it.

"This is an amulet blessed by the abbot of Tianlong Temple. It calms the mind and repels Malevolent Spirits. It's perfect for you!" Xiao Yang said.

Unexpectedly, Ning Hongye frowned slightly upon seeing the gift.

She didn't accept it and instead changed the subject: "By the way, Xiao Yang, the Prince sent someone to inform us today that the engagement banquet is set for the 8th of next month! The Imperial family will also send an imperial envoy to attend!"

"Miss Ning, we are about to get married. Why don't we stop using our surnames? You can call me Husband, or Xiao Lang?"

Xiao Yang asked with anticipation.

Although he had met Yan Ruyu, the pinnacle of "pure and alluring," he still felt Ning Hongye was even more beautiful, especially with the added charm of her being a female general!

He wondered what it would feel like if she softly called him "Husband"!

However, Ning Hongye's pretty face turned grim. She suddenly picked up the amulet and sniffed it.

"Why does this amulet smell of a woman's perfume?" she asked knowingly.

Xiao Yang was startled and quickly denied it: "No way, you must be mistaken! Um... it's getting late, I should be going!"

Saying that, he hurried away.

But as soon as he left the courtyard, the System's notification chimed in his ear again.

[Ding! Ning Hongye's Favorability -5, Total 25]

What was going on?

This favorability could actually decrease? All his previous efforts were for nothing!

System bro, you can't play me like this!

Xiao Yang was speechless, not knowing where he had offended Ning Hongye.

Sigh...

A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. Her mood changes faster than flipping a book!

"A man's mouth is a deceiving ghost!"

Inside the courtyard, Ning Hongye picked up the amulet and shook her head.

But she suddenly remembered how forward Yan Ruyu had been at the poetry gathering, practically throwing herself at him...

Yet Xiao Yang had rejected her time and time again.

Ning Hongye couldn't help but feel her heart race. She softly called out in the direction Xiao Yang had left, her pretty face flushed:

"Xiao... Xiao Lang..."