Ноwеvеr, beforе thаt соuld hаppen, thе Grеat Dynаsty would nо lоngеr ехist, hаving been dеstroyed, and Fu Yunxi would аlsо be gоne. Наn Yаn сould nоt аllоw this tо hаpрen. After undеrstаnding the еntire consрiracу of the Wеstеrn Rоng аnd thе Еmрress Dowаgеr, the fоrеsеeаble futurе wаs too tеrrifуing, and shе could not simрly sit back аnd wаit.
"Yоu guessеd correсtlу." Zhuо Qi loоkеd аt Наn Yаn with a соmpliсatеd exрressiоn. Аs hе had susресtеd, Han Yan рossessed an incrеdibly terrifying intuitiоn for pоlitics. Неr cоnclusion, which laid bare her own goals and plans without reservation—if it were anyone else, even his most trusted confidant, Zhuo Qi would have mercilessly eliminated them. Because a ruler cannot allow their thoughts to be guessed by others. But since it was Han Yan, Zhuo Qi could do nothing. He inwardly laughed at himself; perhaps Han Yan had seen this very trait in him and thus spoke so frankly and without fear. He, who had been proud all his life, had been defeated by this seemingly weak woman. "How will you cooperate with me?"
Han Yan said, "The reason the Western Rong ruler is so arrogant is partly due to the influence of the Great Dynasty's Empress Dowager and her faction. It is precisely because these two forces have allied and are using each other that the Western Rong ruler's power has invisibly increased. This is not a good thing for you, especially if the Western Rong ruler truly devours the Great Dynasty. I fear you would not be his match."
Zhuo Qi sneered, "I am not his match?" Although he spoke dismissively, he knew in his heart that Han Yan was telling the truth. That man indeed had the capability; otherwise, the one sitting on that throne now would be him, not the other. If that man were to annex the Great Dynasty and his power grew to a level he could not resist, there would truly be no way out.
He looked up at Han Yan. "Do you have a plan?" Yet he was skeptical. Although Han Yan was sensitive to political matters, when it came to actual battlefield warfare, she likely had no solutions.
Han Yan smiled faintly. "Defeat them one by one. Destroy the Empress Dowager's faction, and the Western Rong ruler will lose his alliance. Dealing with him will then become much simpler."
Zhuo Qi was taken aback. He had long known this method and had expected Han Yan to propose some ingenious strategy, but it was merely the most ordinary approach. What he wanted was not just Western Rong; his original intention was to also take a share of the Great Dynasty. Han Yan's suggestion meant he would gain no benefits from the Great Dynasty, so he said, "Have you forgotten? My meaning is that I do not want to settle for just Western Rong. I want the Great Dynasty as well."
"Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. Are you sure you can swallow it?" Han Yan looked at him and said, "The Empress Dowager of the Great Dynasty is not as simple as you imagine. Otherwise, in a palace where her husband has long been dead, without any children of her own, how could she sit so steadily in her current position? Do you think she is a fool?"Zhuo Qi shook his head. "What's in the imperial palace isn't important. Do you think the Empress Dowager's schemes are greater than my ambition?" He said, "Wealth and honor are sought in danger." He was a man willing to take risks, harboring endless desire for power in his heart, because only with supreme authority could he do as he pleased and protect those he loved. Though this step was perilous, the wealth and honor it promised were incomparable. He wanted this land.
Seeing Zhuo Qi's resolute expression, seemingly unmoved by her words, Han Yan fell silent for a long while before saying, "Aren't we friends? Would you destroy your friend's country? Do you think I would be happy?"
Zhuo Qi was taken aback. When Han Yan said they were friends, he felt a momentary surge of joy. Though he knew her words might not be entirely sincere, perhaps carrying some hidden purpose, in that moment, he genuinely felt conflicted. He didn't want to see Han Yan sad. After a pause, he said, "I won't hurt you. Come with me. I'll let you live in the finest palace, enjoy the most luxurious life. Everyone will look up to you. You'll become as noble as I am."
Such obvious implications—if Han Yan couldn't grasp them now, she would be a fool. She should be moved. Compared to her destitute and sorrowful life in her previous existence, a man like this should be a beam of light in her life, rescuing her from darkness. Faced with someone's genuine feelings, Han Yan did feel a touch of emotion, but being moved was not the same as being stirred.
She said, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. What you say sounds good, but if that day truly comes, I will follow my homeland to the end. I will hate you forever because you destroyed my life and my country. I won't go with you. Luxurious palaces and noble status are not what I want."
"Then," Zhuo Qi suddenly sneered, "what you want is Fu Yunxi?"
Such a cold-blooded, heartless woman—why cling to her? What she wanted, what she thought of, was never him.
Han Yan didn't speak. She said, "Just tell me, are you willing to cooperate with me or not?"
There wasn't a trace of emotion on her face, only a matter-of-fact coldness. Zhuo Qi suddenly smiled. "Cooperating with you? Of course, I'm willing." He said, "But I have one condition: when Fu Yunxi is truly safe in the end, you must come with me to Western Rong."
"Fine," Han Yan replied briskly.
Now it was Zhuo Qi's turn to be surprised. Judging by Han Yan's expression, he thought she would refuse without mercy, yet she agreed so easily. Zhuo Qi was initially suspicious, but Han Yan was generally a person of her word—what she promised, she usually delivered. Though somewhat puzzled, Zhuo Qi felt a slight relief in his heart and nodded. "It's settled then."
Han Yan neither agreed nor disagreed. Zhuo Qi had inferred her actions based on her past character, but he didn't know that Han Yan's promise was truly just an offhand remark. Who could say what the future held? Whether Fu Yunxi could escape calamity was still unknown. Moreover, the cold poison in his body... As for Zhuo Qi's condition, it was merely a temporary expedient. Speak human language to humans, speak ghost language to ghosts. If Zhuo Qi took it seriously, Han Yan could only apologize in her heart."What do we do now?" Zhuo Qi asked, knowing that Han Yan already had a plan in mind. He only needed to fully cooperate with her.
Han Yan said, "Go to the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion." Although things were mostly settled, there were still some issues that needed confirmation. Fu Yunxi had not been entirely truthful with her, and perhaps it was time to lay everything out in the open. A faint ache stirred in her heart—what if there truly was no other way?
Zhuo Qi frowned almost imperceptibly. The fact that Han Yan immediately thought of going to the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion displeased him greatly. Yet he knew it was impossible to stop her; he could not force her. Reluctantly, he said, "Let's go."
Whether Han Yan noticed the change in Zhuo Qi's mood or not, she showed no sign of awareness and simply replied, "Alright."
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