Chapter 28

Seeking a Chance of Survival

Nan Yi suddenly woke up, truly coming to her senses. She touched her neck, finding nothing unusual, and looked beneath her—still in the cold, waterlogged tub, with no trace of blood.

It was only then that Nan Yi realized it had all been a nightmare.

But if nothing had happened, didn’t that mean Xie Queshan had spared her? Nan Yi looked at the bruises on her body, deep in thought... Actually, the black-clad men from last night hadn’t been too rough with her.

Perhaps, Xie Queshan had just wanted to punish her? Nan Yi speculated randomly, but gradually, she became more certain that she had narrowly escaped disaster.

She got up and changed clothes. After some thought, she decided to go find Xie Sui’an.

Xie Sui’an was under house arrest in her room, lying on the bed, looking utterly defeated.

“Sixth Sister.”

Hearing Nan Yi’s voice, Xie Sui’an immediately scrambled to get up from the bed.

She had already argued to the point of exhaustion with her own mother the night before. She had spoken to Lu Jinxi about national affairs, but Lu Jinxi had told her she had become too bold. She had talked about her uncle’s high moral character, but Lu Jinxi had said that as a young woman, she shouldn’t be so unruly, or she wouldn’t be able to marry in the future.

Nan Yi suddenly woke up, realizing she was truly awake. She touched her neck, feeling no abnormalities, and looked beneath her—still in the cold water of the tub, with no blood in sight.

Only then did Nan Yi realize that it had all been a nightmare.

But if nothing had happened, didn’t that mean Xie Queshan had spared her? Nan Yi looked at the bruises on her body, deep in thought... Actually, the black-clad men from last night hadn’t been too harsh with her.

Perhaps Xie Queshan had only wanted to punish her? Nan Yi speculated, but gradually, she became more certain that she had narrowly escaped disaster.

She got up and changed her clothes. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to go find Xie Sui’an.

Xie Sui’an, who had been under house arrest, was lying on the bed, looking utterly defeated.

“Sixth Sister.”

Hearing Nan Yi’s voice, Xie Sui’an immediately scrambled out of bed.

She had already had an exhausting argument with her own mother the night before. She had tried to discuss national affairs with Lu Jinxi, but Lu Jinxi told her that she had grown too bold. She had spoken of her uncle’s noble character, but Lu Jinxi said that as a young woman, if she didn’t behave properly, she might never marry.

It was really hard to communicate with someone who was so out of touch.

But now that Nan Yi had arrived, Xie Sui’an perked up, urgently grabbing Nan Yi’s hand.

“Sister-in-law, the situation outside is getting really bad.”

Nan Yi often felt that, compared to Xie Queshan’s calm demeanor, Xie Sui’an’s emotions were too easily read on her face, and her thinking was rather narrow. Sometimes, it gave off the feeling of playing house. However, her martial skills were superb, and her heart was utterly sincere. Even if the entire Li Du Prefecture turned into a battlefield, one wouldn’t doubt that Xie Sui’an would be the first to charge in on horseback, sword in hand.

“Little Six, don’t panic. Tell me everything in detail,” Nan Yi said, trying to get more information. Although Xie Sui’an was confined to her room, she likely still had access to information.

“Wanyan Jun—the one who entered the city yesterday with Princess Lingfu—he is the younger brother of Han Xianwang, the prime minister of Daqi. He is considered Han Xianwang’s most trusted confidant. He came to Li Du Prefecture to negotiate about the Shipyard Division. Let me explain: the Qiqi forces have taken control of Li Du Prefecture, but they’re trying to win us over by using a softer approach. Their goal is the Shipyard Division.”

“They want the dragon-bone ships?”

“Yes.”

Now, Nan Yi understood. The forces from Gusha were playing the bad cop, using brutal methods to pressure Li Du Prefecture, causing public outrage. Scholars were denouncing them, and workers in the Shipyard Division had gone on strike, refusing to build ships. The relationship between the Han and the Qi had deteriorated to its worst point.

At this time, Wanyan Jun entered the city as the good cop. By offering small favors, he made the Qi seem generous and magnanimous, and with Princess Lingfu by his side, it was even easier to win people’s hearts.

Meanwhile, her uncle was a pawn in the Qi’s hands. Torturing him could stir up anger among the people, but sparing him would make them feel grateful. By going back and forth like this, the Qi would easily gain conditions favorable to them.

Xie Sui’an spoke gravely, “So, we must rescue Uncle, or else the Shipyard Division will be under the Qi’s control, and in the end, they will be forced to compromise and build ships for them.”

“Little Six, how do you know all this while being confined to your room?”

“Sister-in-law, do you remember the courtesan you saw at the Flower Morning Pavilion banquet? Her name is Chang Yan, and she’s my contact in the Bingshu Division. All this information was passed to me through her. I can’t trust others, but I’m sure Chang Yan isn’t a traitor. She can help us with our mission.”

Nan Yi nodded. So the courtesan was indeed from the Bingshu Division—her earlier guess had been right. Knowing that Xie Sui’an had reliable support outside, she felt a little more at ease.

She had to help Xie Sui’an rescue her uncle, so that Xie Sui’an would be free to assist her.

Nan Yi pulled Xie Sui’an to the desk and asked her to grind ink. Using her memory, Nan Yi quickly drew half of the city defense map.

Her talent lay in her photographic memory—despite having only glimpsed it briefly last night, she had remembered every detail.

Though Nan Yi’s drawing skills were clumsy, Xie Sui’an, being very familiar with Li Du Prefecture, could quickly understand what Nan Yi was sketching.

Xie Sui’an was stunned. “Sister-in-law, how did you get the city defense map?”

“There’s still the other half. I’ll find a way to steal it from Xie Queshan. But after this task is done, I’ll need Little Six to help me with something.”

“Whatever you ask, sister-in-law.”

“Li Du Prefecture isn’t a place I intended to stay. I didn’t expect Brother Xie to suddenly pass away, and all my plans were thrown into disarray. I’m actually from the Bingshu Division in Jinling, and I need to return there. But right now, I’m trapped in the Xie family...”

Nan Yi had thought long and hard before deciding to go to Jinling.

She had once been bold and eager to head north to find Zhang Yuehui, but after all the setbacks, she now understood that with her limited strength, she couldn’t fight against the world.

She needed to find a safe place to settle first and then slowly search for Zhang Yuehui. And the new imperial court’s location, Jinling, was undoubtedly the safest place right now.

Xie Sui’an thought for a moment before replying confidently, “That’s not difficult. The Xie family is all women now. As long as we avoid Xie Queshan’s eyes, I can handle it.”

“Also, no one can know about my true identity, including Chang Yan.”

In the afternoon, Nan Yi went to knock on Xie Queshan’s door.

To avoid triggering any murderous intentions, this time she entered through the front door. She needed the Xie family to see her go to find Xie Queshan. If she died, it would be clear that Xie Queshan was behind it.

Xie Queshan opened the door, and the afternoon sunlight spilled over him. He didn’t invite Nan Yi in, nor did he rush to speak. He simply looked at her.

Seeing his expression, even though he hadn’t said a word, Nan Yi felt more certain of her strange intuition—he wouldn’t kill her.

Nan Yi took a deep breath and went straight to the point, saying, “Show me the city defense map, and I’ll let you beat me up again. Tonight, I won’t run.”

Despite knowing her every move, Xie Queshan was momentarily taken aback. He looked her up and down.

“Why?”

“People in the Bingshu Division are very good at hiding. They use various identities to disguise themselves as ordinary citizens in Li Du Prefecture. It just so happens that Little Six said that the Bingshu Division’s informants are planning to rescue Uncle, so I need to help them steal the city defense map. That way, they can begin their operation quickly. Doesn’t that help you force them out and capture them all?”

Nan Yi spoke with such conviction, her face full of loyalty.

Xie Queshan smiled. “Are you trying to teach me how to do things?”

Nan Yi hesitated for a moment, her tone weakening. “I didn’t mean to... I was just worried you wouldn’t trust me, so I rushed to show my loyalty.”

“If I didn’t trust you, how would I have let you live this long?”

Ha, he probably never trusted her at all. He just had confidence that her tricks couldn’t harm him. He was the kind of person who enjoyed playing with others, seeing them squirm, like a madman.

He forced a smile. “Thank you for your trust! Since you trust me, does that mean you won’t beat me now and will just show me the city defense map?”

“Are you asking me to be your accomplice?”

...No matter how it was phrased, it didn’t sound right. What exactly did he want?

Nan Yi forced a smile. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Xie Queshan, with a serious expression, replied, “Sneaking a look is your personal action. If you get caught, you’ll have to accept the punishment. Otherwise, I’ll become your accomplice, which will cause me trouble.”

Nan Yi gritted her teeth. “So, tonight, at the usual place?”

Xie Queshan smiled as if basking in spring sunshine and nodded.

That night, all was silent.

Nan Yi, alone, made her way to the familiar alley. She appeared somewhat bulky, with thick padding wrapped around her chest, back, knees, and arms, all to lessen the impact when she was beaten.

However, no one was in the alley. Nan Yi waited and waited, beginning to feel confused. Could it be that Xie Queshan was just playing with her?

Suddenly, a sound like something cutting through the air came from the darkness. Nan Yi quickly looked up in alarm as an arrow whizzed past her ear, embedding itself into the ground.

Nan Yi widened her eyes and quickly pressed herself against the wall, just in time for a barrage of arrows to rain down on the alley.

This wasn’t about a beating—this was an attempt on her life!

If you are unjust, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Without hesitation, Nan Yi turned and fled.

The padding all over her body greatly restricted her movement, and she had no choice but to discard the cumbersome layers as she ran.

...It was another night of the cat-and-mouse game, only now the stakes had escalated.