Сhаi Jing nоddеd, her gaze fаlling uрon Hаn Yan. "Hоw is уоur Рlum Вlоssom Thоrn coming along?"
Han Yаn shоok hеr heаd in shаmе. "Still vеry сlumsу. Тhis studеnt is dull-wittеd."
She hаd no martial аrts fоundatiоn to begin with. Althоugh Chai Jing hаd chosеn thе еаsiеst tесhnique for hеr, thе Plum Вlоssоm Thоrn, Hаn Yаn still struggled with it. Desрitе cаrrying the thorn with hеr daily for рrасticе, when it camе tо сruciаl mоmеnts, hеr mоvеments rеmаined uttеrly сhaotiс.
Chаi Jing frоwnеd, her vоiсе turning sоmewhat cоld. "Your body is too wеak; you аre not suitеd for mаrtiаl arts. Yеt you refuse to learn strengthening and bone-forging techniques. Martial arts cannot be mastered overnight. What exactly do you wish to learn?"
Han Yan took a deep breath and said, "I want to learn from you, Master, how to kill."
Chai Jing was clearly taken aback by her words, momentarily stunned. Previously, when Han Yan practiced martial arts, she had avoided techniques that required long-term training. But the essence of martial arts lies in perseverance. Her eagerness for quick results did not seem like the actions of someone who genuinely loved martial arts.
"Why?" she asked.
Han Yan sighed. "Killing is merely for self-preservation. I am well aware of my own limitations. Since I cannot master those techniques, I only wish to learn moves for self-defense." She looked up and smiled at Chai Jing. "One doesn't need martial arts to kill, right?"
Chai Jing's expression shifted slightly. "You want to learn assassination?"
"If Master is willing to teach." Her demeanor was respectful, not at all like she was joking.
"I'll teach you to use hidden weapons first." After a long silence, Chai Jing finally spoke.
Han Yan softly expressed her thanks.
Chai Jing was a good master. Though her temperament was somewhat peculiar, she taught Han Yan with utmost dedication. Grateful to her, Han Yan said upon parting, "If Master ever has need of Han Yan in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
Upon hearing this, Chai Jing's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she ultimately swallowed her words. She merely turned her back and gave a faint "Mm." Ji Lan seemed displeased, but Han Yan shook her head with a smile.
Chai Jing, too, had her secrets.
When they returned to the Zhuang residence, a row of purple-clad, sword-bearing guards stood at the entrance. Han Yan felt suspicious. Besides the guards, there were several exceptionally luxurious sedan chairs, indicating the visit of a distinguished guest. Han Yan had only mentioned visiting Deng Chan when she went out today and hadn't expected to find so many guards upon her return. Ji Lan walked up to the gate and slipped a piece of broken silver into the hand of a servant standing there, smiling as she asked, "Brother, what's going on?"
The servant recognized Ji Lan. He weighed the silver in his hand and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, leaned close to Ji Lan's ear and whispered, "They are Prince Wei's men. The Second Miss was rescued today by Prince Wei's subordinates. Now, Prince Wei and the master are talking in the main hall. The Second Miss is truly fortunate."
After listening, Ji Lan smiled and returned to Han Yan, relaying everything the servant had said. Han Yan frowned. Prince Wei's arrival was quite timely. Could it be that Madam Zhou had sought help from Prince Wei? But how could Madam Zhou possess such influence? However, with Prince Wei's intervention, the rumors circulating in the streets would not dare to spread too openly.
"Let's go in," Han Yan decided, striding through the gate.
In the main hall, Prince Wei and Zhuang Shiyang sat on opposite sides of the central seats. Zhuang Shiyang's face was full of gratitude. "Regarding Yu'er's matter, we are deeply indebted to Your Highness for your assistance. The Zhuang family truly does not know how to express our thanks."Prince Wei narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since we are good friends, there is no need for thanks. However, it seems the second young lady of your household was quite frightened and needs proper rest."
Zhuang Shiyang nodded in agreement, but when he turned, he saw Han Yan enter with Ji Lan and Shu Hong. She stood at the doorway and bowed to him. "Han Yan greets Father."
Zhuang Shiyang, who was usually stern and unsmiling toward her, unexpectedly gave her a kind smile today. "Yan'er, you're back. Quickly pay your respects to Prince Wei and the young master."
Upon entering the hall, Han Yan had already noticed Wei Rufeng standing to the side, which struck her as odd. Seeing Zhuang Shiyang's unusually warm attitude only deepened her suspicion. Nonetheless, she maintained a smile and bowed to the two men. "This humble girl greets Lord Prince Wei and Young Master Wei."
Prince Wei laughed heartily. "Yan'er, there's no need for such formality. Your father and I are good friends, so you and Rufeng are of the same generation. It's been so long since I last saw you—you've grown into such a young lady." He spoke with nostalgia. "I remember holding you at your full-month celebration. In the blink of an eye, more than a decade has passed. Time truly waits for no one."
Han Yan listened as he deliberately tried to draw closer to the Zhuang household, even using the informal "I." Hearing him repeatedly call her "Yan'er" as if they were intimately acquainted only deepened her disdain.
Noticing Han Yan's indifferent demeanor, Prince Wei had a thought and turned to Wei Rufeng. "Actually, it was Rufeng who rescued your second young lady from the bandits. I was inside the carriage at the time and unaware of what was happening outside. Rufeng happened to hear someone calling for help. At first, he thought it was a young lady from some household, but later learned from the girl herself that she was your second young lady. What a coincidence."
Han Yan smiled, feigning innocence. "It seems those bandits didn't actually harm my sister much. After a full day, Sister Yu Shan still had the strength to call for help."
At these words, Prince Wei's expression turned slightly awkward. It was Wei Rufeng who spoke up. "It was merely a coincidence. I, too, find it puzzling. The second young lady is so delicate and frail—how could she have been abducted by bandits? Truly malicious intentions."
Was he implying she had malicious intentions? Han Yan remained unmoved, even finding it somewhat amusing. Thinking this, she actually laughed out loud. "In that case, I presume those bandits have been captured. May I trouble the young master to send them to the authorities for thorough interrogation? We must certainly seek justice for Sister Yu Shan."
It was like punching cotton—Wei Rufeng's sarcasm had no effect on Han Yan. When he glanced back, she was smiling as she gazed at the room's heating stove, not even sparing him a glance. A flicker of displeasure crossed Wei Rufeng's gentle, jade-like face. From the beginning until now, Han Yan had not once looked at him. In all his life, when had he ever been so ignored? This stirred some resentment in him toward Han Yan. Coupled with her mocking him in front of everyone the previous day, Wei Rufeng had even detected a hint of disgust toward him in Han Yan's eyes.
This greatly wounded his pride. The more he was ignored, the more he wanted Han Yan to notice him. Yet this peculiar young girl truly had no regard for him.
Prince Wei, ever the old fox, immediately sensed the undercurrents between Han Yan and Wei Rufeng. His smile deepened. "Regarding the matter of the second young lady, Rufeng will certainly give the Zhuang household an explanation. After all, we are all one family."Han Yan furrowed his brow, convinced there was something he didn't know. Seeing Zhuang Shiyang's ambiguous smile, an idea gradually formed in his mind.
Zhuang Shiyang, however, said, "Today, Prince Wei personally brought Yu'er back. Why not stay and join us for lunch?"
He had assumed Prince Wei would certainly refuse, but to his surprise, Prince Wei agreed without hesitation. Han Yan pondered this: Prince Wei was a high-ranking court official, with no need to curry favor with a mere third-rank official like Zhuang Shiyang. Yet everything today clearly indicated that, whether intentionally or not, Prince Wei was accommodating Zhuang Shiyang in this alliance. Could it be that Zhuang Shiyang held some important bargaining chip?
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