A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Jin's eyes as she looked at Wei Qingran. "Lady Wei, speak freely if you have something to say."
Wei Qingran suddenly knelt and performed a deep bow before Jiang Jin. "Ge Feng is faring well. Please, Lord, grant your protection to A Li and Master Meng. I, your humble servant, am willing to use this broken body to do anything for you."
The smile in Jiang Jin's eyes faded as she gazed down at Wei Qingran prostrated on the ground.
Wei Qingran’s meaning was clear—her beauty could be used as a tool. Simply put, she was offering to employ a honey trap when necessary.
After a long silence, Jiang Jin let out a soft sigh.
"Though I currently hold only three counties, I tell you this solemnly: if I one day ascend to the pinnacle, my dynasty will be the most resolute dynasty of all!"
Her voice rang with determination. "As a woman striving for the realm, I will never exploit any woman through such demeaning methods to gain advantage. I will only use the blade in my hand, and the blood of our enemies, to reclaim our Han lands, inch by inch!"
Wei Qingran felt a thunderous roar in her mind. She widened her beautiful eyes and looked up at Jiang Jin.
Jiang Jin met her gaze, her eyes unwavering. "If you become my subject, I will do my utmost to protect you. But likewise, I expect you to abide by my rules."
Wei Qingran parted her lips slightly, her eyes reddening. "Is it... really that simple?"
"It is exactly that simple," Jiang Jin said without hesitation.
Wei Qingran pressed her forehead to the ground again, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Lord. To be your subject is my fortune!"
She had always believed that one must give in order to receive.
The realm was shattered. For over a year in Zhou County, surrounded by wolves on every side, she had lived in constant dread, her greatest fear being the defilement of her daughter.
Only after fleeing to Ge Feng did she discover how different this place was.
Here there were disciplined armies, formidable weapons, bountiful harvests, and a gradually perfected system unlike anything she had known before.
If she had a choice in the past, she would have opted for Si Prefecture—simply because it held the most resources and could therefore hold out the longest.
But now, she thought differently. If there was anyone in this world who could reclaim Yan State from the Barbaric Yi, that person could only be Jiang Jin!
She wanted her daughter and Meng Chong to enjoy Jiang Jin's protection. That meant she had to offer something in return.
But she, a frail woman, possessed nothing but her beauty. If using her withered form could secure a safe haven for her daughter, she would accept it willingly.
As for Jiang Jin being A Li's sister, and naturally having affection for her younger sibling—she neither believed in it nor dared to presume.
The most heartless of all are imperial families. Even if they shared the same mother, how many had turned into bitter enemies? All the more so when they were not born of the same womb.
Besides, Jiang Jin had not used her title of Princess. That meant she had no intention of leveraging her identity as a Yan State princess to seize the realm. Why, then, would she care about reputation or past bonds?
Jiang Jin sighed. "Don't overthink it. Since you’ve decided to stay in Ge Feng, devote yourself to learning simplified characters. Your starting point is higher than commoners'. Who's to say you cannot achieve something as a woman?"
Wei Qingran bit her lip. She knew that Lady Liu had become a physician, and Lady Feng was managing an entire industrial zone. Both had become Jiang Jin's right hands.
What could she do?
Could she too, like them, live honorably by her own hands?
Jiang Jin continued, "Between me and Tenth Sister, there is after all a bond of blood. As long as you do not break the rules, I will grant you some appropriate conveniences. If you have any needs, you may come to me."
As Wei Qingran walked out of the county office and looked at the warm yellow sunlight outside, her heart suddenly settled.
Jiang Li tugged at her clothes and asked, “What did you and Sixth Sister talk about?”
Wei Qingran looked down at her daughter. After half a month in Ge Feng, her face had filled out a bit, looking plump and adorable. She couldn’t help but pinch Jiang Li’s cheek. “When adults talk, children shouldn’t pry.”
Jiang Li stared at Wei Qingran with wide eyes, her eyes reddening.
Wei Qingran paused, seeing the red mark she’d left on her daughter’s cheek. She gently blew on it. “Did Mother pinch you too hard? Does it hurt?”
Jiang Li shook her head. She softly wrapped her arms around Wei Qingran’s hand and leaned her head against her mother’s arm. “Mother hasn’t smiled in such a long time.”
Wei Qingran felt a sting in her nose. She stroked Jiang Li’s hair. “Your Sixth Sister is very kind. We’ll stay in Ge Feng from now on.”
Jiang Li nodded firmly. “I love Ge Feng too. I’m going to study hard, and when I grow up, I’ll pass the imperial exams and help Sixth Sister protect our Han nation’s lands.”
Mother and daughter exchanged a smile. In that moment, the heavy burden on their hearts finally lifted, and they felt nothing but lightness.
As the two strolled through the streets of Ge Feng, the surrounding noise—bustling with life—was nothing but a warmth of human kindness.
While Wei Qingran and her daughter enjoyed their leisurely time together, Meng Chong, waiting at home, grew increasingly worried as they took so long to return. He struggled to get up, shuffling step by step to the courtyard gate and craning his neck to peer outward.
When Wei Qingran and Jiang Li saw Meng Chong standing at the gate with a pale face, they hurried forward to support him.
“Why did you come out?” Wei Qingran and Jiang Li asked as they helped him.
Seeing them back safely, Meng Chong let out a quiet sigh of relief. “It’s nothing. I just saw you hadn’t returned for a while and came out to check.”
After helping Meng Chong back to bed, Wei Qingran said with a hint of reproach, “We were only going to see the Princess. What is there to worry about?”
Jiang Li nodded. “That’s right. Although Sixth Sister is a bit different now, she’s become incredibly impressive.”
Meng Chong found it amusing. He had originally urged the mother and daughter to flee to Ge Feng, but they had somehow dragged him along with them.
Looking at Wei Qingran—slim and delicate—he couldn’t imagine how she had managed it. A hint of sweetness, mixed with a touch of pain, stirred in his heart.
Seeing his expression, Wei Qingran knew what he was thinking. She lowered her head for a long moment before speaking solemnly. “Once your wounds heal, go join the army.”
“Defending our country has always been your dream. Before, you became a palace guard for my sake. Now that your mother and I no longer need your protection, go do what you truly want.”
“With your abilities, you will surely carve out a place for yourself in the military.” Wei Qingran lifted her gaze to the large glass window.
“The Princess—she will surely reclaim our Yan Kingdom’s land. And in the future, she will be a wise ruler.”
Meng Chong was stunned. “You—what are you saying?”
Although he now knew that the Lord of the Jinyang Army was Princess Jinyang, a woman as emperor? He had never considered it. And for now, she only held three counties. Could she truly reclaim the Yan Kingdom?
Wei Qingran looked down into Meng Chong’s eyes. “I believe in her. One day, she will ascend to the highest throne.”
“You—how can you be so sure?” After only one meeting, how could she tell that Princess Jinyang had the makings of an emperor?
Meng Chong found it unbelievable, beyond comprehension.
Wei Qingran didn’t want to argue the point. “When you meet her, you’ll understand.”
Her expression turned grave. “Master Meng, I don’t want to hold you back any longer. You should live for yourself!”
She looked up, forcing back the tears. “I must live for myself now.”
When Lu Ping, Zhao Er, and others had finished disposing of the bodies in the mountain village and led their people back through Zhou County, the local garrison troops blocked their way.
Lu Ping’s heart tightened. He raised his hand, signaling for a halt. The soldiers and civilians behind him immediately stopped, their faces filled with vigilance as they stared at the threatening Qu Zhao army.
[Note: Many readers ask—how does the female lead know so much? It's not that she knows everything; rather, she has reference materials in her space.]
