Chapter 2: Mutual Manipulations

Ying Capital, after burning for a day and night in a great fire, finally saw half of its city wall collapse under the thick smoke.

It was already deep into the night, and the Yan army had set up camp in the hills to rest. Everyone assumed that the emperor had long retired to his tent, but no one knew that Song Yue had secretly slipped away, and this time, she hadn't even brought Li Deshun with her. No one knew her whereabouts.

With silver notes in her pocket, Song Yue felt completely at ease. She rode back to Ying Capital, directly entering the city through the collapsed section of the wall. The entire route was deserted, with no people to be seen. When Ji Wuchao plundered Ying Capital, he spared the lives of the surrendering citizens, only taking gold, silver, and other valuables. As a result, aside from the senseless fire, the rest of the city was largely unharmed, and it was certain that some residents were staying indoors, hiding.

Since she personally arranged the guards, Song Yue was able to easily avoid all the Yan soldiers without raising any suspicion.

First, Song Yue washed off her makeup, tied her hair back again, and quickly entered an empty clothing shop. She stood in front of a copper mirror and looked at herself. Her eyes, like water, held a faint coldness and seemed to see through people's hearts. Her eyebrows, shaped like willow leaves, complemented her face, which resembled a lotus in full bloom. Though she was a remarkable beauty, her movements added an air of grace and elegance, lacking the bold and commanding presence of a ruler.

Ji Wuchao's makeup skills… she rated them a 666. After all, no girl should be underestimated.

With no one around, she carefully closed the broken door, then wandered around the shop. She grabbed a light green dress and changed into it. By the time she stepped out, she had transformed into a bright, radiant woman. For this particular mission, she had deliberately made herself look older, turning from a young girl into a young woman.

[I've only heard of women trying to make themselves look younger, never one who deliberately tries to look older. What kind of host did I end up with…]

"After all, I'm going to pick up my son, I need to look the part," Song Yue's eyes, usually full of a soft smile, narrowed slightly as if she had just thought of something. "This fire seemed a bit too strange. It burned a lot of things we could have taken. Our teammates can't be this foolish... Do you think my godson did it on purpose?"

Ji Wuchao might have thought that the fire was just a coincidence caused by the chaos, since the Chu royal family was either killed or committed suicide—everyone was dead, so there was no suspicion of arson. As for the common people intentionally setting the fire, no one would think too deeply about a greater conspiracy. But now, knowing that Xuan Sibei was alive, it was clear that the person who died must have been a substitute. Upon further reflection, it seemed rather odd.

[Ugh, she hasn't even acknowledged it yet, and you're already calling him so familiarly.]

"I think it's very likely," Song Yue muttered, stroking her chin and ignoring the system's sarcastic comment. "Only the Chu people would want to stop us from taking the resources. Ordinary citizens wouldn't have that kind of hatred. They'd rather burn those things than let us take them, but the Chu royal family… they'd rather destroy it than let the enemy get it. That's definitely t

he little guy's style."

By the city walls of Ying City, in the ruins left behind by the fire, after the guards had left following the sounds of others, a teenager slowly emerged from behind a slanted fallen pillar. Though he had changed into the plainest coarse linen shirt, it still couldn't hide the pride in his demeanor. With each step he took, it seemed as if he was exerting all his strength, his innate nobility emanating with every movement.

His eyes were cold and emotionless, his anger reaching its peak, yet he gave nothing away. Still, being young, a glimpse of something could still be seen in the depths of his gaze.

"Do you know why I ordered the fire?" He slowly walked into the smoke, his figure gradually fading away.

"Better to destroy those treasures than to let them fill the treasury of Yan. Not only that, but it can conceal one's movements and help you leave the city—Your Highness is truly wise."

At this point, there was almost no visible flame left, only lingering smoke. Ying City, surrounded by several mountain ranges, rarely had wind, so the smoke hung around for a long time. There was no danger from the fire anymore, but the smoke still obscured vision. The broken section of the city wall wasn't large and didn't attract much attention, and passing through it led to a mountain forest. The path was easy to follow, and with the prince's abilities, he shouldn't have to worry about wolves or tigers on the mountain. He should be safe now.

When Xuan Sibei stepped out from the broken section of the wall, he suddenly felt a faint internal presence nearby. His gaze quickly shifted, but he saw nothing. He lowered his eyelids, secretly scolding himself for being overly cautious, and his figure drifted into the forest.

Taking advantage of the smoke and the cover of the leaves, Song Yue lay still on a tree, barely moving. She cautiously peeked out from behind the tree, quickly glancing at the ground and having a conversation with the system in her mind: I knew it, this kid is very sly. He's already planned this, and the fire was definitely his doing. Do you know why I'm so sure? It's the classic political intrigue setup! The seemingly simple truth often hides a deeper conspiracy!

[Host, how do you understand this so well...?]

Song Yue: I feel like I've pretty much figured out the patterns of this world. In the warring states, with heroes rising and schemes at every turn, it's a matter of life and death. One day the Chu Kingdom falls, and tomorrow it could be someone else's turn.

As she spoke, she thought about the seemingly stable but internally decaying Yan Kingdom, which gave her a headache. She put on a bitter expression, lightly jumping down from the treetop.

The quiet forest seemed untouched, with trees as thick as a person's embrace scattered around. She estimated Xuan Sibei's direction, quietly taking a small path and waiting at the intersection. Under the moonlight, she feigned a casual look, pretending to be someone in a hurry.

Ji Wuchao possessed some internal strength, and as a time-space correction officer, Song Yue's ability to move stealthily in the grass was essential. Even the clever little boss wasn't fully grown yet, and couldn't compare to someone trained in the time-space management bureau.

[Host, what is this suspicious move? It's too fishy!] The system's voice echoed in her mind.

Song Yue smirked slightly but didn't respond.

Soon, there was movement in the distant grass. She immediately realized someone was approaching and pretended to be surprised, calling out, "Who's there!" Even as she shouted, her feet were already in motion, rushing toward the grass without hesitation.

She deliberately chose a sparse patch of grass at the intersection. At this point, Xuan Sibei wouldn't have time to run anywhere else, and his figure would be too noticeable. If she were him, she would pretend to be innocent and harmless and emerge...

However, all she heard was a "thud" sound. The grass rustled suddenly, and a raggedly dressed boy stumbled forward, collapsing right in front of her. It seemed like he was making a final struggle, furrowing his brows and gripping her ankle, his voice raspy and completely unlike Xuan Sibei's, shouting, "Save... save me."

The unexpected behavior made her raise an eyebrow slightly as she looked down at the boy, covered in dirt and mud. She couldn't help but sneer inwardly. If she hadn't intentionally come here to intercept Xuan Sibei, she probably wouldn't have recognized him at all.

From the quick glance she had earlier from the tree, she could tell that when this boy ran into the woods, he still looked decent. Though he had intentionally torn his clothes and put on a shabby outfit to conceal himself, he was still relatively clean. He must have seen her in the grass and, in just a short time, not only torn his clothes further but also smeared dirt and ash on his face. Even his voice had changed… When it came to alertness, he was probably the sharpest person she'd ever encountered.

As for why he was doing this...

Despite the dirt on his face, the boy's eyes were exceptionally clear and captivating, like those of a small, frightened animal. His gaze made it hard to look away, and one couldn't help but feel a sense of pity.

This pleading look in his eyes... Was it because he saw her wearing Chu clothes?

Song Yue guessed part of the reason, but said nothing. Instead, like an ordinary woman, she feigned surprise and began her performance: "Who... Who are you? Why are you lying by the road?"

"The capital of Ying... is gone. I'm just a little beggar from West Street. I saw them killing, setting fires, looting and plundering," the boy's eyes seemed to speak, like a child who had just witnessed these tragic events, yearning for the warm embrace of a parent. "Please... save me."

Song Yue understood in her heart.

If she were truly a commoner from the Chu Kingdom, after hearing this, she would surely be filled with hatred for the people of Yan. He certainly knew how to read people's hearts, making her sympathize with him while also stirring up hatred for Yan. For an ordinary person, who could have guessed that this beggar they suddenly encountered was actually from the Chu royal family?

Now that she was dressed neatly, it was clear she hadn't been through the flames of war. Moreover, although her clothes weren't extremely expensive, they were certainly not something an average family could afford. Indeed, she now looked like a wealthy merchant, and she wore a gold ring. This boy probably wanted to latch onto her, using her to escape from this land.

"Then..." Song Yue's mind had already begun to form a plan for the future. She pretended to be somewhat hesitant yet sympathetic towards the boy, pressing her lips together and reaching to pat his head. A hint of pity flashed in her eyes. "Fine, I came here because I heard rumors and wanted to save as many people as I could. You're lucky to have escaped this time. Surviving great disaster means there will be

future blessings."

"Did you come here specifically?"

A flash of unusual light briefly flickered in the boy's eyes. He turned his head slightly to avoid her hand, his gaze dimming a little. He spoke a few cold words, giving off a grim impression: "You're not from Chu."

People from Chu wouldn't appear here... This place is too close to Yingdu. Although she doesn't know martial arts and doesn't carry any killing intent, she probably isn't an enemy. However, she must have some other purpose.

In that moment, Song Yue seemed to sense a trace of killing intent.

Tsk... This boy is too sharp. It's the first time she's encountered such a level of villain. Compared to this boy, the obedient ones are much more charming.

She realized he had become suspicious, but she acted like she didn't notice anything. Smiling gently like an ordinary woman, she calmly lowered her hand and openly admitted, "I'm indeed not from Chu. I'm a merchant, doing small business, traveling between the Seven Kingdoms to earn a little profit and make a living. To be exact, I don't belong to any one country. If we must be particular, I guess you could say I'm from Yan..."

"Hmm?" His gaze remained vigilant, though he hid it very well.

Nearby, there was a rustling sound in the grass, and a wild rabbit quickly darted away.

"In these chaotic times, there are black households everywhere. I often travel between various countries without a fixed residence. I heard there were tensions between Chu and Yan, and there might be a war, so I came to take a look—after all, we're all born from the same parents, and if I can help one person, I will." Song Yue spoke seriously, her gaze fixed on the smoke rising from Ying City. "My parents were from Yan, but they died in the flames of war. I've struggled alone for many years. Now, though I have enough to eat and drink, my heart still feels uneasy. When I heard there might be another war here, I thought I should do something."

[Almost believed you.] A sarcastic remark from the system in her mind.

Song Yue: Don't interrupt my train of thought! This is the key moment to win his heart. Haven't you noticed he's already lowered his guard? We need to use love to guide him, get him on the right path, and help me pave the way for my glorious political future!

[That last part is probably true. You want to train him as your subordinate from a young age. With his abilities, he could help you eliminate obstacles. But I think the difficulty is a bit high. Although Xuan Sibei is young, he's quite determined. In the end, it's hard to say who will end up being deceived.]

Song Yue: With my intelligence, do you think an ancient person could deceive me? You must be underestimating me, the reform official!

She then continued, pulling him close and speaking emotionally, weaving a tale about her fabricated background, including her parents who had innocently died in the war. She told it so convincingly that she almost believed it herself—she wanted him to see the world from someone else's perspective and slowly guide him onto the right path. However, when she looked down at Xuan Sibei, his response wasn't the tearful reaction she had imagined. His eyes, unnervingly clear and harmless, were staring at her without blinking.

At that moment, he seemed like an ordinary adolescent, his gaze devoid of any oddness. The cold and murderous aura he had briefly shown earlier felt like a figment of her imagination.

"..." As expected, he's a strange one.

But she wasn't in a hurry. She had plenty of time to slowly work on him. It would be exhilarating to turn this black lotus villain boss into a loyal dog.

At an angle where he couldn't see, Song Yue slowly revealed a motherly smile. When Xuan Sibei glanced over, she immediately returned to her ordinary, naive, and ignorant expression, rubbing his small hand: "You really are quite bold, sneaking out like that despite the tight defenses... If your parents saw you lying here so miserably, they would have been heartbroken. Thankfully, I was the one who found you..."

Xuan Sibei lowered his gaze slightly, his expression unmoving.

The woman before him wore a pale green garment, with a white veil draped over it. With each step, she moved steadily, yet without any hint of internal energy. Her jet-black hair was simply tied up with a ribbon, showcasing the casualness of a merchant woman. He hadn't paid close attention at first, but now that he had looked at her more, her features appeared even more striking, her face naturally beautiful without any makeup, exuding a softness.

Her demeanor and actions were completely natural, and her attire matched the story she had told. There was no sense of malice, yet he wasn't used to such close proximity, especially when her fingertip gently massaged his palm, like a soft feather brushing over his heart.

Song Yue continued to pretend to casually display her "kindness," making sure to earn his favor without holding back. She spoke incessantly as she led Xuan Sibei on their journey, "Once we cross the mountain, we'll reach the border of the Three Kingdoms—Jiulong Bay. It's a no-man's-land, neither Yan nor Zhao can control it. Once we get there, we'll be safe!"

"Mhm." He responded briefly with a single word, seeming not to enjoy talking much.

The two of them walked for a while, making their way out of the dense forest and into a sparser wooded area. Without the thick trees blocking their view, their line of sight became much clearer. Song Yue suddenly felt that something was off with the surroundings. She looked up and saw only the same sparse trees, but her heart grew wary.

It was still night, and if there were others lying in ambush around them, it could spell trouble. What's more... if Xuan Sibei found out she possessed martial arts, the trust she had carefully built up would shatter.

Wait...

Song Yue lightened her footsteps, her ears alert, listening for any sounds. Ji Wuchao, originally a practitioner of martial arts, though somewhat weak, had solid fundamentals. His natural advantages in physique were evident, and with careful attention, one could pick up on some clues. Her hand in her sleeve instinctively clenched, and the tension in her mind tightened.

Someone had already been hiding in the shadows; she had just realized it too late!