“Miss…” Ji Lan wanted to say more, but Han Yan waved her hand: “Let’s not talk about this. We need to go out.”
“Go out?” Shu Hong asked: “Where to?”
“Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy,” Han Yan said, lowering her brows.
Fu Yun Xi’s actions since his return were highly suspicious, but no one in the Xuan Qing Prince Manor would tell her why. The only person Han Yan knew who understood court affairs, held no hostility toward her, and might tell her the truth was Yang Qi, the former martial arts champion and owner of Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy. Though Yang Qi no longer held an official position, as a veteran who had spent his life in military service, he would naturally stay informed about battlefield matters. He might have noticed something unusual about this war. Han Yan had run out of options – going out might be the only way to understand the situation fully.
“Shu Hong, we’d better slip out quietly. Go find us some clothes,” she said. Indeed, if she went out now as “Zhuang Han Yan,” she might be exposed before reaching Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy. This matter couldn’t be publicized – they needed to be extremely careful.
The moment she stepped out of the Xuan Qing Prince Manor, Han Yan felt as if she were in a different world. She had entered this gate because Fu Yun Xi wanted to protect her, but now she was leaving because soon, Fu Yun Xi would expel her. Life was full of changes – when she had been immersed in gratitude, who could have predicted this would happen?
Shu Hong and Ji Lan carefully watched their surroundings. They all wore veils to conceal their faces. Shu Hong hired a carriage, and the three headed toward Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy.
Since Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy had begun accepting female students, women often visited. Therefore, though the three were dressed as women, they didn’t draw much attention. With their veils, people merely assumed they were ladies from strict families being cautious – nothing more.
For Han Yan, Yang Qi had initially accepted her proposal to establish Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy, which had restrained Official Chen’s family and consequently changed Noble Consort Chen’s future life. Han Yan was very grateful to him, but from another perspective, Yang Qi had also gained fame and what he wanted from this transaction, so their positions should be equal. However, since Yang Qi was Zhuang Han Ming’s master and her elder, she naturally should show him more respect.
When they arrived at Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy, Little Li saw three strange women and asked uncertainly: “What brings you here, ladies?”
Han Yan smiled slightly: “Please tell Master Yang that Zhuang Han Yan has come to visit.”
Little Li knew of Han Yan and was somewhat surprised. The news that the Xuan Qing Princess Consort would soon be dismissed had spread throughout the capital, yet this woman dared to leave the Prince’s Manor at such a time to visit Shun Chang Martial Arts Academy. Wasn’t she afraid of people’s gossiping glances? Why was her gaze so calm, without a trace of sadness? Yang Qi often praised Zhuang Han Yan, saying she was different from ordinary noble ladies. Little Li had previously only thought the young lady’s smile was gentle, but maintaining such composure in these circumstances earned his admiration.
“Please follow me, Miss,” he set aside his other thoughts and respectfully bowed to Han Yan before leading the way.
When they saw Yang Qi, he was sitting alone at a table playing chess. Though he was a military man who didn’t understand much about the refined arts, his chess skills were excellent because chess followed the same principles as warfare. Chess not only cultivated inner calm but also taught many useful battlefield strategies.
Seeing Han Yan enter, Yang Qi looked up: “Girl, in your current situation, you still have the mind to come see this old man?” Though his words seemed half-joking and somewhat unsympathetic, looking closer, one could see his gaze carried rare worry and concern for Han Yan. Han Yan felt warmth in her heart and smiled slightly: “If I don’t come to see you, Elder, the situation remains the same. Perhaps thinking of other solutions might lead to a way out, don’t you think?”
She hadn’t directly answered Yang Qi’s question, but her words carried a remarkably open resilience. At such a time, instead of hiding away and avoiding trouble, she was actively seeking solutions. Yang Qi, having fought battles all his life, deeply admired people who could face difficulties head-on. His tone softened: “Girl, why have you come to see this old man today?”
Having dealt with Han Yan several times, Yang Qi knew that this young woman, though appearing gentle and approachable, was extremely shrewd. Her risking gossip to come to see him today must mean he could help her somehow – but how exactly could he help?
Han Yan smiled slightly: “Everyone says Da Zong won the war against Western Rong. Living in seclusion, I naturally don’t know the details, but you’re different, Elder. You must know about the battlefield situation. Today, I’ve come asking Elder to clear up my doubts.”
Yang Qi was startled: “Why are you inquiring about battlefield matters?” His expression changed slightly: “This matter – forgive this old man’s inability to help.”
Han Yan’s intention was very clear – she not only wanted to know all the details of this war but also wanted Yang Qi to analyze and explain all the suspicious points about the battlefield. But Han Yan was just a woman – how could women casually discuss state affairs? This was disrespectful. He also wondered why Han Yan was inquiring about battlefield matters.
Han Yan looked at him: “Elder knows that I’m about to become a dismissed wife. The Western Rong Princess is using her status to force me out, and I have no choice but to seek Elder’s help.” Seeing Yang Qi’s still suspicious gaze, Han Yan continued: “Actually, I have my reasons for asking about battlefield matters. I believe the Prince’s actions are inevitably connected to this war, or rather, there’s something strange about this war – the Western Rong people have a plot.”
“A plot?” Yang Qi looked at her dubiously: “What do you mean?”
“Intuition,” Han Yan said.
Yang Qi laughed heartily as if hearing an amusing joke: “Girl, battlefield matters can’t be judged by intuition. This isn’t a young lady’s game. Making such light conclusions about plots won’t do.”
Han Yan smiled slightly: “Doesn’t Elder Yang know that my intuition has always been accurate? You must have heard about some of my past affairs.” She looked at Yang Qi slyly, her tone becoming mysterious: “Let me tell Elder Yang a secret – my intuition has never failed.”
Yang Qi was stunned and looked up at Han Yan. Since becoming the Xuan Qing Princess Consort, her past had inevitably become a topic of discussion, and for a time, the capital was filled with talk about this young princess consort.
Yang Qi had naturally heard some stories about Han Yan, such as how after her father’s new concubine arrived, she targeted Han Yan repeatedly, but Han Yan easily resolved each crisis. Initially, people thought this young lady was either calculating or lucky, but examining each incident carefully revealed that her responses were almost flawless, and she could easily use her opponents’ weaknesses to counter them.
If it were merely scheming, this wouldn’t make sense. Han Yan’s actions seemed more like she already knew her opponents’ every move, calmly waiting for them to think they had set up their trap before turning the tables on them.