Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1014 - 629: Control of City Defense

Chapter 1014: Chapter 629: Control of City Defense

Xu Yuan thought Li Junwu’s reaction was quite normal.

The seduction yesterday was merely for the continuation of the family lineage. Since it had to benefit someone anyway, why not let his brother have some fun?

Li Junwu’s thoughts were probably just that straightforward... right?

Just kidding.

Xu Yuan knew in his heart that his conclusion was really just shooting the arrow first and drawing the target afterward.

Earlier, rather than wanting to confirm whether Li Junwu liked him, he instead wanted to confirm that she didn’t like him.

He would thus look for evidence to support the idea that Li Junwu was simply his good buddy.

Preconceived notions led the search for answers, and any discrepancies would be conveniently ignored.

As for why he acted this way...

Listening to the howling wind caused by the moving carriage outside, a trace of melancholy flashed in Xu Yuan’s gaze.

A question answered at the wrong time—no matter how correct—would only lead to a mistaken outcome in the end.

In this extraordinary feudal dynasty, the ideal of one person, one lifetime, one partner—like his father’s—was rare. Wealthy families generally followed the norm of multiple wives or husbands.

Xu Yuan had always embraced the "childish people choose; I want it all" mentality, but the problem was that Li Junwu was different.

Emotions are an exceedingly complex thing. Though influenced by one’s physical state, subjective factors still dominate.

Xu Yuan admitted he liked his buddy’s body.

After all, Li Junwu was beautiful—big-chested, narrow-waisted, and long-legged. Otherwise, he wouldn’t willingly take advantage of her. Yet, on a psychological level, he barely viewed her as a woman.

One’s perceptions of a person aren’t formed overnight but accumulate over time.

A good buddy isn’t the same as a childhood tomboy friend. Her unapologetic lesbian persona had already etched itself into his bones.

Occasional teasing was exciting, but if Li Junwu suddenly revealed that she had been pretending all along, Xu Yuan wouldn’t be able to mentally shift gears so quickly.

Pretending to be gay to chase women—that routine Xu Yuan had seen in his past life. But who pretends to be gay only to end up being bent themselves?

It felt like your childhood friend suddenly underwent a gender swap and then confessed they liked you, wanting an intimate connection...

The sense of taboo was inexplicable, yet it was undeniably hard to hold back.

So rather than finding out the truth now, it was better to feign ignorance, taking time to see if he could shift his mindset first.

At that moment, Xu Yuan subconsciously glanced at the person beside him.

Li Junwu didn’t avoid his gaze at all. Noticing it, she turned her head.

As their eyes met for an instant, Li Junwu’s brows slightly furrowed as she spoke with dissatisfaction:

"Being overly sentimental isn’t a good habit. Speak your mind or let it out already."

Feeling the atmosphere returning to normal, Xu Yuan exhaled slightly, smiling:

"Did I say anything? I’m about to talk business now."

"Business? Matters of Zhenxi Prefecture’s offspring?"

"Tch, are you going to harp on this endlessly?"

"Weren’t you worried that I’d have other feelings toward you?"

As she spoke, Li Junwu pointed to her own cheek, her tone dripping with mockery: "Besides, someone just gave me a slap. Forgotten so soon?"

"....."

Realizing he was in the wrong, Xu Yuan lowered his voice:

"Then hit me back, why don’t you."

Li Junwu rolled her eyes at him, letting out a soft hum:

"Aren’t you a bit old for this? How childish can you be?"

Hearing her familiar tone, Xu Yuan chuckled:

"They say men never stop being boys. Haven’t heard of that saying? Hmm... maybe not. Fine, let’s not dwell on this nonsense. Li Junwu, how much longer until we reach Zhenxi Government Office from here?"

Upon hearing this, Li Junwu glanced deeply at him, then turned to look out the carriage window. After observing for ten or so breaths, she softly replied:

"The government office is on Pingxi Street; should be about fifteen minutes or so."

"That quick?" Xu Yuan sounded a bit surprised.

Their residential area was mostly populated by ordinary people, located on the outskirts of Zhenxi Prefecture City. Yet it was only a thirty-minute round trip to the government office in the city center.

Li Junwu rolled her eyes slightly and said:

"Are you using Di’an City’s standards for comparison? Zhenxi Prefecture City was originally built as a fortress. No matter how much it’s been expanded, it’s still just a fortress."

Xu Yuan shook his head and replied in a calm tone:

"I meant Northern Border City. Your Zhenxi Prefecture City is much smaller than the northern stronghold."

Upon hearing this, Li Junwu’s brows knitted instantly:

"Northern Border City is built in the plains between two mountain ridges. My Zhenxi Prefecture City, however, is situated right on a cliff edge."

My Zhenxi Prefecture City...

Xu Yuan’s expression looked amused as he said casually:

"If this is your Prefecture City, why does the Commandery Princess herself shy away from showing her face, forced to stay in some shabby inn?"

"..." Li Junwu opened her mouth to speak but finally just let out a "tch."

Xu Yuan exhaled softly and said in a serious tone:

"So, you mean there’s not a single person in Zhenxi Prefecture City you can trust?"

Li Junwu remained silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, her tone tinged with sorrow:

"As I’ve said before, my father has always wanted to retire and live a quiet life, never intending for me to take over Zhenxi Prefecture. Last year, I coaxed and cajoled my way into the army, but he’s kept me out of decision-making entirely, saying I need to take things one step at a time."

After listening, Xu Yuan offered a gentle consolation:

"The Marquis of Zhenxi has his reasons. Commanding an army isn’t like other tasks; even Li Qingyan rose step by step from being a Qu Chang."

"I know that, but Marquis Wucheng didn’t shy away from involving Wu Yuan in decision-making!"

Li Junwu evidently carried significant grievances toward her father: "Even if she isn’t his biological daughter, Marquis Wucheng has always kept that woman close. And what does my stubborn old man do? He guards his daughter like a thief! Now look at me—I can’t even tell who’s on my side!"

Xu Yuan coughed lightly, redirecting the conversation:

"So you can’t tell, but it’s not like the whole city is full of Mu Family people, right?"

Li Junwu drew in a deep breath, slowly let it out, then nodded slightly:

"Right now, the highest-ranking military and political official in the city is Commander Zhan Xian’an of Zhenxi Army’s Second Town. He’s been with my father for over twenty years, but I don’t know what he’s really like behind closed doors."

Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"That’s enough."

Li Junwu’s gaze sharpened slightly as she cautioned:

"Changtian, I know you probably have the Imperial Envoy Token with you, but Zhenxi Prefecture typically rules through military governance instead of civilian bureaucracy."

Xu Yuan raised his eyes and glanced out the window at the Sky Dome, smiling:

"Even in places ruled through military governance, we still have to go. With so many Saints glaring from outside the city, if we want to hold the defenses, we must utilize all the resources within the city."

Li Junwu lightly pursed her lips, a trace of worry in her eyes, but she ultimately chose to trust the man before her.

Seeing her quiet down, Xu Yuan couldn’t help but ask in a near-playful tone:

"Aren’t you even a bit curious about how I’m planning this?"

"......"

Li Junwu paused for a moment before realizing he was showing off. Still, after letting out a soft hum, she played along:

"Yes, I’m very curious."

Xu Yuan shot her a glance at her dismissive expression and pursed his lips:

"The resources we must use in the city boil down to two things: the City Defense Formation and the stationed garrison. Our trip is to secure control of the City Defense Formation."

After speaking,

He asked softly:

"So—does your family have a hand in tampering with the City Defense Formation?"

"Tampering? How so?"

"The Imperial Family bloodline has first-priority control over the City Defense Formation. Your family has operated in this place for so long; haven’t they altered any of its patterns in secret?"

"I’m not sure about that. My father hasn’t allowed me to touch this... Apologies."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Xu Yuan tilted his head and glanced at her sideways, smiling as he said: "We’ll figure it out by trying. Our goal in visiting the government office now is to see if you, the Commandery Princess, can issue direct commands to the Formation."

Li Junwu’s slender, beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she said in a low voice:

"What’s the rationale? The Formation’s control center is heavily guarded. Zhan Xian’an wouldn’t possibly let us in."

"Who said we’re without rationale?"

Xu Yuan pointed at himself and Li Junwu, lowering his voice as he said:

"The two of us—one representing the Imperial Court and the other representing Zhenxi Prefecture. From both the perspective of law and sentiment, Commander Zhan has no grounds to refuse us."

Li Junwu paused briefly before her beautiful eyes flashed with doubt. Hesitating slightly, she said:

"But... I’m uncertain whether Zhan Xian’an is truly loyal. If he’s already aligned with the Mu Family, wouldn’t we be exposing ourselves too soon?"

Xu Yuan smiled lightly, replying softly:

"That’s why we need the third rationale."

"Third rationale?"

"A senior member of my Black Scale Guards picked up something valuable on the way to Zhenxi Prefecture..."

"Xu Changtian, can’t you just say everything in one go? Must you drip-feed your answers?"

"......"

After a brief silence,

Seeing the woman’s irritated expression, Xu Yuan clicked his tongue before quickly saying:

"Uh... The Mu Family has someone backing them, and I’ve obtained a body double for the legitimate heir of their clan. By now, he should have been escorted to the government office."

"Substitution for the Crown Prince?"

Li Junwu’s eyes faintly widened in surprise but then realized the flaw: "What if nobody actually recognizes him? After all, there are so many intermediaries."

Xu Yuan didn’t seem fazed as he calmly analyzed for her:

"Zhenxi Prefecture is backed by the Imperial Court, established as the Marquis’ domain by Your Majesty’s decree. The Mu Family operates as a merchant sect under Zhenxi. What can they possibly offer to make Commander Zhan betray Zhenxi?"

"Nothing.

"To be blunt, even if the Mu Family somehow usurped Zhenxi Prefecture, what can Zhan gain from switching sides?

"Given the Mu Family’s stature, their reward couldn’t possibly elevate Zhan further up the ladder. Especially after betraying his faction—he couldn’t hope to remain in his current position, let alone rise higher.

"Thus, if Commander Zhan were to defect, he must have direct contact with the force backing the Mu Family."

"...."

Watching her serious expression, Li Junwu’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened for a moment.

Xu Yuan then clapped his hands lightly and asked softly:

"So, Junwu, is there a high-end tavern or brothel near the government office?"

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh?"

Xu Yuan shot her a strange look and replied matter-of-factly:

"I can’t guarantee total success. If we fail, walking into the government office now would be walking into a trap. How can you not see that? And you still want to compare yourself to Li Qingyan?"

Hearing this, Li Junwu seemed visibly flustered:

"Your topic jumped too far; I didn’t catch on!"

After taking a deep breath, she replied softly:

"There are some good taverns, but the brothels are all in East City. By the way, you haven’t explained what we’d do if we fail?"

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, stared at Li Junwu, then smiled:

"Then we’ll formally announce that the Commandery Princess has returned to the city—but only after the Qilin Wolf and Tian Ye enter the city."