Jiang Xingyan furrowed her brows.
“Scaremongering.”
Huo Ci felt a bitter taste at the root of his tongue. There was no time for sorrow; he just wanted to explain every pro and con to her, breaking it all down clearly.
“Ah Yan, please listen to me carefully.
Not long after the previous emperor ascended the throne, the former Great Xia sovereign passed away suddenly in the second year of Tianyuan.
Because Crown Prince Shangguan Hanshan was still young at the time, his eight elder brothers grew restless and dissatisfied, each unwilling to submit to the other. Incited by their own factions, they eventually rebelled.
They forged an imperial decree, claiming the Crown Prince was morally deficient and that the late sovereign had intended to depose him but passed away before he could appoint a new heir.
The sovereign’s death was so suspicious, they claimed it must have been the Crown Prince’s attempt to murder his father and seize the throne. They declared he could not be tolerated and sought to eliminate him completely.
It was the Crown Prince’s loyal servants who escorted him as he fled everywhere, after which he seemingly vanished from Great Xia.
This was the event known as the Struggle of the Nine Princes.
It was also the most turbulent period in Great Xia’s history.
By the eighth year of Tianyuan, after years of infighting, the eight princes had severely weakened each other.
Shangguan Hanshan suddenly returned to the country. In a single night, he beheaded his eight elder brothers and hung their heads on the palace gates, thereafter ascending the throne.
Legend has it that Shangguan Hanshan commands a mysterious, ghost-like shadow guard corps. They can take the head of a commanding general from amidst ten thousand troops as easily as reaching into a bag.
Terrified, everyone bowed in submission.
Only then did he reclaim everything that was originally rightfully his.”
Jiang Xingyan listened, stunned.
The eighth year of Tianyuan…
But her mother had already passed away in the seventh year of Tianyuan.
“Great Xia was in ruins at that time, with everything in need of revival, utterly desolate.
It was only because a centipede does not topple even when dead that it didn’t show immediate signs of collapse.
Shangguan Hanshan took only six years to restore the nation’s glory, making it even more powerful than before.
Yet to this day, he has never taken a wife, and his harem remains empty.
Shangguan Luoyue is an adopted daughter he picked up from the roadside in the ninth year of Tianyuan.
Though not his flesh and blood, she is the only offspring he acknowledges and is highly likely to succeed him as sovereign in the future.
But she occupies your position, Ah Yan. She enjoys the honors and favors that should have been yours.
Ultimately, her status is illegitimate and unjustified.
Once you are found by the Great Xia sovereign, all the wealth, glory, and supreme power she possesses now will vanish like a mirage.
Do you think she would just sit idly by and hand it all over to you?!”
Clang!
It was as if a giant bell had been struck hard within Jiang Xingyan’s heart.
The clear, resonant sound of the bell reverberated into the distance.
It swept away the hatred that had blinded her eyes.
That was the entire nation of Great Xia!
For the sake of ten cities, the Iron Citadel was willing to throw their lives away just to see her dead.
Let alone Great Xia, which holds the power to unify the Northern Luzhou continent.
Yun Chunfeng naturally understood the crux of the matter, but he didn’t think Shangguan Luoyue, a mere adopted daughter, could possess such formidable capability.
“While that may be true, staying vigilant is enough. There’s really no need to act as if facing a great enemy.”
“It won’t be that simple.”
Huo Ci wasn’t angered by this dismissive attitude. Instead, he calmed his emotions further, analyzing the opponent’s potential tactics coldly.
“What if that horsewhip today had struck Shangguan Luoyue’s face?
Given Shangguan Hanshan’s obsession with Ah Yan’s mother, he would certainly demand an explanation from Western Zhou.
If she then stirs trouble from within, the two nations would inevitably go to war.
Northern Luo would seize the opportunity and surely send troops.
At that point, Western Zhou would be caught between two fronts, precarious and unstable.
Shangguan Luoyue would only need to secretly communicate with His Majesty, offering to withdraw troops in exchange for Ah Yan’s head.
She might even raise the stakes: not only withdraw but also assist Western Zhou in destroying Northern Luo.
Need I say more? Everyone knows what our Emperor would choose.
And this is merely one of the methods she could employ.”
Yun Chunfeng frowned. “No matter what method she uses, I can always divine it.”
Huo Ci sighed helplessly. “One can be a thief for a thousand days, but who can guard against a thief for a thousand days?
If Ah Yan and I were swapped back, it would be different. Ah Yan could take Little Ya and flee far away.
But now, with so many constraints, we must be doubly careful.”
Honestly, Huo Ci’s military acumen was truly exceptional.
He could always maintain the clearest thinking, no matter the situation.
Well, except when in front of his mother.
Mention of Little Ya made Jiang Xingyan suddenly tense.
Whatever came, let it come for her. Just don’t target Little Ya.
“Let’s return to the military camp.”
——-
“Weird Auntie, don’t touch Mother’s books.”
Once again, Little Ya had caught Yu Jiaojiao.
Frustrated beyond measure, Yu Jiaojiao peeled a fake mask from her face and threw it on the ground.
The originally simple, stout village woman now sported a charming face with bright eyes and white teeth, as fresh and lovely as a lotus flower emerging from water—the contrast was utterly absurd.
She stomped over to Little Ya with an imposing air.
Scared, Qiu Yan hugged Little Ya tightly.
“Lady Knight Jiaojiao, Little Ya is just a child. Please don’t be angry with her.”
Yu Jiaojiao was frantic. “A child?!
Have you ever seen a child who can catch me nine times in a row?
What about my dignity?!
Come on, tell me, how do you manage to find me every single time?
I’ve trained under my master for over ten years since childhood. I can’t let my livelihood be ruined by a little kid like you!”
Qiu Yan wanted to laugh but was afraid of further provoking the lady knight.
It was really hard to hold back.
Little Ya giggled joyfully.
She reached out her small hand and grabbed the coarse hemp clothing Yu Jiaojiao wore as a disguise for a lowly servant woman.
“Weird Auntie, smells nice.”
Yu Jiaojiao’s face flushed bright red instantly.
When her master applied the chastity mark on her, he told her that from then on, her body would carry a faint, unique fragrance.
Ordinary people couldn’t smell it.
Only those of utmost purity and innocence could detect it.
Her master said whoever could smell the fragrance was her destined fate.
Her senior brother could. She never expected this little child could too.
Could she be her destined goddaughter?
Yu Jiaojiao tentatively reached out her hands. “Let Auntie hold you?”
Surprisingly unafraid of strangers, Little Ya immediately reached out to be picked up.
Qiu Yan stared in shock, her eyes wide.
Looking at the two-year-old toddler in her arms, Yu Jiaojiao suddenly had a brilliant idea.
Who said taking something had to be an inanimate object?
Wouldn’t taking a living, breathing child out be even more impressive?
She curled up the corner of her mouth.
Let me give General Huo a little shock to behold!