Han Xin pulled his cousin aside away from prying ears. He whispered urgently, "Did you discover who sent this message about Princess Xiu before?"
Han Zhan shook his head slowly but then added cautiously, "The messenger bird didn’t seem to have flown far... I’m starting to suspect there may be a spy among us."
A knot tightened in Han Xin’s chest his mind racing. "Then we need to find out who it is before we reach the capital." Han Zhan nodded his head while glancing at the soldiers they had a hand in training.
This task was not going to be easy because everyone here was loyal to the General or at least they made sure they were. But it seemed a roach had crawled its way in but who could it be?
Han Xin walked away, and this time, he headed towards the carriage. He wanted to talk to her. Once she knew that they were returning to the capital, he was afraid she would run away, so he had to watch her closely. "Your Highness!" he called out his voice steadier than what he felt inside.
Lian appeared at the window moments later with tousled hair framing her cherubic face. She blinked sleepily at him before offering an apologetic smile that made Han Xin feel uncomfortable. It was no secret that this one didn’t like him very much, especially after she called him an ugly bastard, so why was she being so nice?
"She is napping," Lian said softly. "If you want to talk with her... come back in two no... four hours."
Han Xin wanted to ask why it took four hours. He wanted to ask if she was a bear in hibernation but he swallowed his words back and nodded despite the urgency of the situation. Maybe she was avoiding him again and didn’t want to speak to him.
"When she wakes up," he instructed firmly yet gently," Tell her we are returning to the capital immediately."
"Okay!" Lian chirped before disappearing back inside. Han Xin stood there for a while not knowing what he was thinking. He wanted to see with his own eyes if she was really sleeping, but if he barged in, it would be quite inappropriate.
With a sigh, he stepped away from the carriage window reluctantly, but not without taking one last glance. His intense gaze lingered on the curtains that where gently swaying with the breeze.
Lian wasn’t lying; her master was indeed in a deep sleep. He was back in his spiritual space on a stake out for that Divine Emperor who seemed to forget that they existed. He had no idea that his good sister was out of the desert and she was extremely angry.
Weeks ago....
With shaking hands, she penned a message with a secret decipher that only her men would recognise. Four days later a group of mercenaries arrived. Relief surged within her heart until it froze solid when she heard their words, "Our apologies, your Highness. We thought you were with General Han." It was better for them if they didn’t say anything, freewebnøvel.com
"How could you be so useless?" Her voice sliced through the air sharper than any blade as rage ignited within her chest. One mercenary flinched at the venomous accusation. They were all aware of what she was capable of.
"I should have known better!" She hurled accusations and insults with no restraint until her frustration morphed into violent fury. Her fists clenched tightly and she began to beat and kick one of the unfortunate mercenaries. After calming down she pushed her hair back and commanded them to find out from their spy in the general’s camp where Han Xin was.
Mounting her horse, she rode towards the capital with a single-minded determination. Along the way, a messenger brought word about the general. She found out that a woman resembling her was travelling with General Han, seemingly having seduced him. Consumed by rage, she drew forth a sword from one mercenary’s side, and with practised ease, she swung it, striking down the messenger.
"Fools! What am I keeping you here for if you are this useless?!" she screamed in anger. She tilted her head back and took a deep breath before her expression returned to normal.
"If someone dares impersonate me... then I can only kill them with my bare hands. We must beat them to the capital." She tossed the bloodied sword to one of the cowering men and walked over the body of the dead messenger.
Without wasting a moment, she sent a messenger bird to her father, warning him of the imposter from Zhen parading as her. She instructed him to keep this information from General Han, for she wanted the imposter alive. She needed to uncover the sorcery behind this deception and exact her sweet revenge.
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