“Your Highness and Princess Consort are truly a loving couple.” Zhuo Qi smiled as he stepped forward, his gaze falling on Han Yan. “If she weren’t already the Princess Consort…” Before he could finish, his frivolous tone had already displeased Fu Yun Xi.

“No one dares to touch this Prince’s Princess Consort,” he said coolly. “Once they do, it’s death without mercy.”

Irina grabbed Zhuo Qi’s hand: “Brother, let’s go. Since they’re so arrogant, let’s make them submit willingly when they lose, then we can punish them at our leisure.”

Zhuo Qi smiled wickedly: “Indeed.” He winked at Han Yan: “Princess Consort, about what I said before—if you want me to repay your kindness with my body, I will certainly do so.”

Fu Yun Xi’s face darkened further, and Irina called out to Fu Yun Xi: “This Princess keeps her word. Fu Yun Xi, you will become my consort!”

After speaking, the two used their lightness skills to disappear from Han Yan’s sight. Fu Yun Xi coldly watched the direction they departed in, not pursuing them. He noticed that Han Yan beside him was unusually quiet and looked down at her in confusion.

Han Yan’s face was expressionless, but her heart was churning like stormy waves. She slowly asked: “She… is a princess?” An ominous guess arose in her heart.

Fu Yun Xi answered: “Western Rong Princess, Irina.”

Han Yan’s palms grew cold.

In her previous life, Fu Yun Xi had married this Western Rong Princess. At that time, Fu Yun Xi had been gravely ill, and only the princess had a way to save him. When Irina and her envoys arrived in Da Zong, she had married into the Prince Xuan Qing Manor under the pretext of bringing good fortune. The Emperor, who had doted on his blood brother since childhood, had no choice then and couldn’t care about much else when Irina had a solution. Who knew that after half a year of marriage, Fu Yun Xi’s illness gradually improved? People said it was the good fortune brought by the Western Rong Princess.

In her previous life, Han Yan had never met this princess. Though she had suspected her identity moments ago, she had merely thought her some young lady who admired Fu Yun Xi. She hadn’t expected that final declaration—what seemed like just a petulant cry had actually made Han Yan’s breath catch!

This Western Rong Princess had appeared again!

She had been careless. The path in this life had been relatively smooth so far, and she had forgotten about the potential crisis ahead. She had become the Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing but had forgotten there was still a Western Rong Princess!

Fu Yun Xi noticed her silence since hearing the title “Western Rong Princess,” her expression changing unpredictably. She was usually composed, but at this moment, he seemed to sense a faint panic in her heart. After a pause, he reached out and patted Han Yan’s head: “Don’t be afraid.”

Han Yan laughed bitterly inside. She wasn’t afraid of this Western Rong Princess. But if things followed the course of her previous life, Fu Yun Xi would soon fall gravely ill, and her marriage to him would face complications. What illness… did he contract? Thinking of how such a magnificent person would gradually become haggard and thin, Han Yan couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart. If he truly unfortunately fell ill, and only the Western Rong Princess could save him, even the Emperor would likely personally decree their marriage.

And her? Would she be willing to hand Fu Yun Xi over to someone else, watching another become his Princess Consort?

Han Yan’s gaze became somewhat melancholic.

Perhaps sensing her change in mood, Fu Yun Xi led the horse over, indicating he would take her back to the manor. Both were silent throughout the journey. Leaning against the warm chest behind her, feeling Fu Yun Xi’s warm breath near her ear, her heart stirred, and she said: “Your Highness must be cautious at all times.”

Fu Yun Xi didn’t understand why she would say this, but after a moment of silence, he responded with an “Mm.” Then Han Yan continued: “Even those close cannot be fully trusted. Food and drink should not be left to others.”

If Fu Yun Xi’s grave illness had been caused by the Western Rong Princess, naturally she could have cured it. Han Yan thought, that if they wanted to avoid his falling ill, they would need to avoid the possibilities that could lead to it. Food was the easiest way to be poisoned—if they were careful, perhaps they could prevent what happened in the future.

Schemes and plots she could dodge, plan for in advance, counter, or return to enemies without a ripple. But life, death, age, and illness were predestined tribulations of the mortal world—unavoidable and unknowable.

Fu Yun Xi didn’t respond to her words, only asking: “What’s wrong with you?”

Han Yan’s behavior had been too unusual throughout their journey, making even him suspicious. This should have been her first time meeting Irina, but when she learned Irina was the Western Rong Princess, her shocked expression suggested something had happened. Did she… know Irina?

How could a sheltered young lady from a noble family have any connection to the Western Rong Princess? Not to mention the great distance between the two countries—even though he had only met Irina once on the battlefield. Han Yan had never left the capital, and Irina had never come to Da Zong before. Few people had even heard the title “Western Rong Princess.” Yet Han Yan’s expression told him she knew Irina.

He couldn’t help but want to investigate. Han Yan appeared no different from other capital city ladies, except for her alarming composure and calmness, and cunning beyond her years. The closer one got to her, the more mysterious she became. Sometimes, he even felt that the look in her eyes was like that of someone who had seen it all, quietly watching old events unfold again.

Irina didn’t know Han Yan, but Han Yan knew Irina. Fu Yun Xi understood that Han Yan wasn’t someone who did meaningless things. Everything she did carried a strong purpose. Often, a step that seemed inexplicable was paving the way for the next move. So, what secret existed between her and Irina?

Han Yan noticed his probing gaze and smiled to cover it up: “It’s just that now Western Rong people have infiltrated Da Zong, surely you as a prince are also in danger. It’s best to be careful in everything.”

“That man is the Western Rong Prince,” Fu Yun Xi said.

Han Yan started: “You mean Zhuo Qi?” After speaking, she realized her slip—by calling out that man’s name, Fu Yun Xi would know she was already acquainted with him. She explained: “He was the assassin who broke into the Zhuang manor that night.”

Fu Yun Xi said: “Stay away from him in the future.”

Han Yan nodded: “Why have Western Rong people infiltrated Da Zong?” If they were ordinary Western Rong people, that would be one thing, but why had the prince and princess of such noble status come? One couldn’t help but question their intentions.

“Western Rong is currently in civil unrest,” Fu Yun Xi’s expression was stern. “They’ve fled to Da Zong both to escape assassination and because of the war between our countries.”

Han Yan frowned. The current ruler of Western Rong was a man called Tu Er Mu. Could it be that he and Zhuo Qi were fighting for the throne, and Zhuo Qi was being hunted on Tu Er Mu’s orders? The assassins would indeed be more restrained in Da Zong, no wonder they had fled here. Han Yan recalled the wounds on Zhuo Qi that night and began to understand. But another question arose—that day the government had clearly stated someone was trying to assassinate the Emperor.