Вut hоw сould a уоung girl likе hеr аlways manаgе to staу one stер аhеаd? Тhat was rаther strange. Now, hearing Наn Yan usе intuition аs аn ехplаnаtiоn, hе сouldn't hеlp but feel sоmеwhat сonvinced. Нowevеr, Yang Qi wouldn't fullу аgrее with Наn Yаn based оn just this оne stаtеmеnt. So, hе said, "Sо whаt? How саn yоu prove it?"
Нan Yan loоkеd аt him and suddеnly smiled. "Thеn, Еldеr Yang, hоw аbоut wе mаkе a bеt?"
"Whаt kind of bеt?" Yang Qi аsked.
"Let's sеt the bеt fоr thrеe dауs frоm nоw. In three daуs, there will be a heаvy rainstorm in thе caрital," shе sаid.
Yang Qi wаs taken aback for a moment, then let out a somewhat disdainful laugh. "You're being too reckless with your words, young lady. Who can predict the affairs of Heaven? Especially something three days away. Don't just speak impulsively."
Han Yan looked at him with confidence. "I've said it before—my intuition has always been accurate. So, Elder Yang, let's meet again in three days."
Yang Qi stared at her confident demeanor. Han Yan didn't seem to be lying, but predicting something three days in advance was truly hard to believe. Although he felt somewhat swayed, Yang Qi still said, "I hope you won't be crying in three days, young lady."
"We'll see in three days," Han Yan said, bowing to him. "I'll take my leave for today." She had known things wouldn't go smoothly today, but fortunately, Yang Qi's attitude was no longer as firm as it had been at the start. As long as there was hope, everything was manageable. Han Yan turned away, thinking that at least in three days, she wouldn't return disappointed.
Yang Qi, however, watched the retreating figures of Han Yan and the other two, lost in thought. He knew Fu Yunxi—in fact, they were quite familiar. He was also puzzled by Fu Yunxi bringing back the Western Rong princess, Irina. This didn't seem like something Fu Yunxi would do. Fu Yunxi was certainly not the type to be swayed by feminine charms; otherwise, back on the battlefield, he wouldn't have ignored Irina's advances. Compared to Irina, Yang Qi preferred Han Yan. This girl was clever and lacked the arrogance often seen in other women. She appeared innocent on the surface but was actually very composed. She and Fu Yunxi seemed quite well-matched. Who would have thought... Ah, Yang Qi sighed. The affairs of the young were beyond an old man like him. But if what Han Yan said about the Western Rong people having a conspiracy was true, that would be a different matter. Still, would it really rain in three days?
As they walked out of Shunchang Martial Arts Hall, Ji Lan couldn't help but ask, "Miss, will there really be a heavy rainstorm in three days?"Han Yan smiled slightly, "That's hard to say." Of course it would rain. Han Yan remembered clearly—in her previous life, on the fourth day after her coming-of-age ceremony, the capital was hit by a heavy rainstorm that even triggered a flood. Many of the capital's residents were displaced. At that time, Prince Wei's Mansion had specially sent someone to inquire about Han Yan's well-being. Back then, Han Yan had been deeply moved, thinking that Wei Rufeng truly cared for her. At the time, she had wholeheartedly trusted Wei Rufeng, but who could have known things would turn out the way they did later? Looking back now, the events of her previous life involving Wei Rufeng seemed so distant. Yet now, Han Yan found herself facing the same situation as before. She didn't want to live another life as foolishly as she had in her previous one, only realizing the truth at the moment of death. In this life, she must take the initiative. If she truly trusted Fu Yunxi, figuring out what was really going on was the most important thing, wasn't it?
Shu Hong asked, "Miss, where should we go now?"
Han Yan thought for a moment, "Let's just wander around."
At this moment, Han Yan truly didn't know where to go. She didn't want to return to the Zhuang residence, and at the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion, Irina was constantly provoking her—out of sight, out of mind. But in this vast capital, she really didn't know where else she could go. Should she go find Deng Chan? She didn't want to face Madam Deng's sympathetic gaze. It really was a headache.
Shu Hong seemed to sense Han Yan's low spirits, but walking on the streets, there was always the risk of being recognized by acquaintances, which could be troublesome. After a moment of confident thought, Shu Hong suggested, "If Miss is feeling unhappy, would you like to take a walk on the hill in the eastern part of the city?"
She remembered that when Han Yan was young, whenever she felt wronged, she would run to the hill in the eastern part of the city and cry her heart out. Although she hadn't gone there again in recent years, the hill was still a very quiet and peaceful place. Han Yan's eyes immediately lit up, "Good idea."
Since Fu Yunxi had left, Chai Jing had also disappeared, and Han Yan had stopped going to the hill to practice martial arts. In fact, living in the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion made it inconvenient for her to do so. Now that Shu Hong mentioned it, Han Yan thought it might be a good idea to visit the hill. It was quiet and secluded, and with her mind unsettled by Fu Yunxi's sudden return, calming her thoughts there would be very beneficial.
Without further ado, the three of them set off for the hill.
This was Han Yan's first visit to the hill in the eastern part of the city in a year. The scenery remained unchanged from before. The last time she had come here, Fu Yunxi had accompanied her. It was here that she had first encountered Irina. At that time, Fu Yunxi had defended her and treated Irina coldly, but now their positions seemed reversed. Although she knew there might be some hidden reason behind it, thinking about it still made Han Yan feel deeply sad.
She simply sat down by the lake. The clear water perfectly reflected Han Yan's entire figure. She reached out her hand and gestured, and the Han Yan in the water mirrored her movement. Han Yan couldn't help but smile. Ji Lan and Shu Hong stood at a distance, thinking that Han Yan had been wronged and might need to cry hard to vent her emotions. Proud and self-respecting as she was, Han Yan naturally wouldn't want others to see her in a vulnerable state, so they kept their distance.Han Yan pulled out the hairpin from her hair—it was the Lantian fishtail hairpin that Fu Yunxi had given her, carved so vividly it truly resembled a real fish. She looked at her hairstyle, still two round bun-like knots. Yesterday’s coming-of-age ceremony had ultimately not been completed, and she had stubbornly insisted on keeping her hair in these buns. She didn’t even know what she was clinging to.
She had anticipated that in her previous life, Fu Yunxi would eventually marry Irina, but she never expected this life to unfold exactly the same way. Could it truly be unchangeable? Yet... Han Yan still remembered that when Fu Yunxi returned from the war, he had been severely injured. This time, however, he was unharmed. This didn’t make sense—what had gone wrong?
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly saw a handsome face appear on the clear surface of the lake, smiling at her. Han Yan was startled and nearly tumbled into the water. The man reacted swiftly, grabbing her arm. Her body involuntarily leaned toward him, and she almost fell entirely into his embrace. The hairpin in her hand slipped and fell into the lake.
The man thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of Han Yan in his arms, one hand firmly holding her waist. "Little girl, why are you so affectionate today? Seeing me and throwing yourself into my arms."
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