Without showing аnу сhаngе in exprеssiоn, Han Yаn steerеd thе соnvеrsаtion towаrd Heaven. She did not wаnt hеr identitу to bе disсоvеred; if аnуоnе lеarnеd of her rebirth, shе hаd no idеa how much trоuble it would bring hеr. Even thе slightеst susрiсiоn wаs unаccерtablе.
Uроn heаring this, Yang Qi саrefully sсrutinizеd Hаn Yan. Seeing hеr looking up аt him with а smаll faсe and a simрlе, kind smilе, he sighеd аgаin, "Реrhаps уоu truly аre fаvored bу Hеаvеn." This littlе girl аррeared оrdinary, yet she сarried a hiddеn clevеrness аbоut her. Нe had only casually mentioned it earlier, and she had come up with this explanation to dispel his thoughts. Yang Qi understood that Han Yan did not want others to look at her as if she were a monster. After all, the ability to foresee the future might not be a good thing for a person, especially after such a disaster. In the future, people might look at Han Yan with strange eyes, thinking she was some kind of ill-omened person. But framing it as being favored by Heaven was different. Others would say this girl might be naturally blessed, favored by an immortal who had come specifically to guide her. The same thing, phrased differently, could lead to entirely different outcomes. However, Han Yan had clearly chosen the more advantageous explanation. Such quick-wittedness was truly admirable.
"Thank you for your praise, Elder. So, do you now believe everything I said?"
By using the word "everything," she indicated that she wanted Yang Qi to believe not only the fact of the flood disaster but also the possibility of the Western Rong's treacherous intentions.
"What harm is there in believing you this once?" Yang Qi replied after a long pause.
"Thank you, Elder Yang." Han Yan smiled slightly.
Ji Lan and Shu Hong exchanged a glance and, understanding the situation, quietly left the room. It was not until dusk that they saw Han Yan emerge from the house.
When Han Yan walked out, her expression was not good, and Yang Qi was the same, perhaps even worse than Han Yan. Han Yan bowed to Yang Qi, "Thank you, Elder Yang, for enlightening me."
Yang Qi snorted coldly, "Just don't tell anyone else."
Han Yan nodded, "Naturally." Without looking back, she took her leave.
After the carriage had traveled for a long time, Ji Lan finally couldn't help but ask, "Miss, what did Lord Yang say?"
Leaning against the carriage door, Han Yan fell into deep thought. From Yang Qi's words, she learned that in this war with the Western Rong, the Great Dynasty had initially held the upper hand. In truth, the Western Rong were not weak in manpower or resources, and those nomadic people from the grasslands carried a terrifying ferocity in their bones, making them highly lethal on the battlefield. However, they were much weaker in marching and battle formations. Their ruler was likely someone who only knew how to use brute force, and in many battles, Fu Yunxi had easily resolved the situation with clever strategies. But as the war neared its end, the Great Dynasty's soldiers suddenly began to suffer defeat after defeat.
Han Yan could not hide her shock at the time. Logically, this should have been the moment when morale was highest and the enemy's defenses were easiest to breach. How could they be retreating step by step? Could it be that the Western Rong had some ultimate trick up their sleeve?Yang Qi shook his head, his expression turning grave. The problem did not lie with the Western Rong people but within the Great Dynasty’s own army. No one knew what had happened to the Great Dynasty’s soldiers, but their morale had suddenly plummeted. One night, the granary was even set on fire. Without food on the battlefield, they were plunged into an absolute disadvantage. Day by day, the situation worsened. It was said that the Western Rong princess, Irina, had secretly sent food to Fu Yunxi. At this point, Yang Qi deliberately paused to observe Han Yan’s expression. Seeing that she remained utterly calm, he felt somewhat surprised.
In the end, the Great Dynasty still won this war. How exactly they achieved victory remained unknown to anyone, but everyone speculated whether there was something amiss. A war that could have ended swiftly had been prolonged due to the inexplicable decline in the Great Dynasty soldiers’ morale. Even Fu Yunxi, known for his decisive and ruthless nature, fought an extremely difficult battle in the final confrontation. His victory came at the cost of losing many of his own soldiers. Such a victory could hardly be considered a true triumph. So what had happened to the seemingly invincible Fu Yunxi? Moreover, why did the Western Rong people not pursue the retreating forces but instead surrender? What conspiracy lay hidden in this?
Han Yan and Yang Qi talked at length, exchanging their views. It was only then that Han Yan realized the former martial champion was not merely a titleholder. Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but he was also well-versed in the art of war, able to pinpoint critical issues on the battlefield with sharp insight. During their conversation, Yang Qi was equally astonished by Han Yan’s intelligence. It was often said that women, no matter how clever, only excelled in poetry and literature, but Han Yan defied this notion. Whether it was matters of the battlefield or the power dynamics within the imperial court, she could offer insights and even debate with Yang Qi. Her ability to draw inferences from one example was astonishingly good. Yang Qi couldn’t help but marvel: how could a young woman raised in the inner chambers possess such profound understanding? If she were a man, she would have long become a prince or general.
Yang Qi only knew that Han Yan was sensitive to these matters and naturally gifted, but he did not realize that even affairs of the imperial court were something Han Yan had to understand and inquire about, as they directly affected her life and survival. Choosing which faction to align with determined the kind of life she would lead in the future. One wrong step, and she would lose everything.
Seeing Han Yan lost in thought, Ji Lan quickly spoke up to remind her, “Miss?”
Only then did Han Yan snap back to reality. She briefly recounted what Yang Qi had told her to Ji Lan and Shu Hong. Although they were also puzzled, matters of the imperial court were beyond their ability to assist, and they could not offer Han Yan any strategies. Both looked at her apologetically.
Han Yan, however, did not mind. It was just that the questions raised by Yang Qi were also doubts in her own mind, and now she was unsure how to investigate the underlying issues.
The carriage entered an alley—deep, long, and usually deserted. Now, with the late hour, there was not a soul in sight. As soon as Han Yan entered the alley, she sensed something amiss. This feeling came from nowhere, yet strangely, it simply arose. The unease quickly grew, and Han Yan decisively ordered the coachman, “Turn back! We’ll take another route!”She spoke quickly and urgently, and the coachman didn't catch her words clearly at first. He abruptly reined in the horses, causing the carriage to jolt to a sudden stop. The coachman asked, "What?"
Both Ji Lan and Shu Hong looked at Han Yan with confusion, unable to understand why she would suddenly suggest taking another route back when they had always taken this path without issue. Han Yan furrowed her brows tightly. Although she had lied to Yang Qi about her intuition being accurate, when a premonition felt this strong, it was best to trust it.
Unfortunately, before she could react further, she heard three sharp "swish" sounds. More than a dozen masked figures in black suddenly leaped down from all sides, surrounding the carriage.
Han Yan was startled, her mind still racing for a solution, when she saw the dozen or so masked figures flash their blades and charge toward the people inside the carriage.
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