Chapter 153: A Win-Win Situation

The young man seemed to relish Chu Junhan’s admiring gaze, tilting his chin proudly and feigning profundity. “If you ask me, it’s still Emperor Qiu Ling of Qiande who understands things. On the day he ascended the throne, he even honored me as a distinguished guest.”

Chu Junhan felt as if her jaw might drop. Over the years, although her focus had been on dealing with Liao, she had heard some news of other nations. But who was her eldest brother? A man unscrupulous in achieving his ends, yet he had... actually captured the coveted Ninth Prince—and then let him escape?

And her third brother? Among the many princes, he was the one who had claimed the throne. Yet such a man would treat the son of a mere merchant as an honored guest?

After a long pause, Chu Junhan finally came back to herself and asked in disbelief, “So these two scoundrels both know you?”

Wei Ziyuan suppressed a smile, his eyes crescent-shaped. “A general as charming as you, if you were to favor me a little, perhaps I could recall and answer truthfully.”

“You...” Chu Junhan raised her delicate hand, about to slap the boy, but thinking of the power behind him, she restrained her anger, forcing a smile. “Young Master Ziyuan, so young yet with merchant ventures spanning the world, you are truly a dragon among men.”

Wei Ziyuan lifted his chin and stood up, hands clasped behind his back, his face smug. “Zhang Meng had seen me but did not know who I was, so he imprisoned me.”

“What about Qiu Canghai?”

“Qiu Canghai?” The boy smiled wryly. “Speaking of Qiu Ling, one must admire him. In a place as tangled as Qiande, where the powerful and the corrupt mingle, he still managed to ascend the throne. Honestly, I merely gave him a little push.”

“The Ninth Prince really has some cunning!” Chu Junhan felt her head spin. She had never imagined that her most guarded rival was actually placed on the throne by this brat before her eyes!

“You flatter me!” The boy smiled faintly.

“So you’re close with Qiu Ling?” Chu Junhan stepped back, inching toward the gleaming sword, a flash of lethal intent in her eyes.

Wei Ziyuan frowned slightly. He had seen the murderous glint in the girl’s eyes—it was the third time she had tried to kill him.

“Not... really.”

“What do you mean by that?” Chu Junhan crept silently to the sword, her back turned, gripping its hilt.

“Ahem...” Wei Ziyuan’s mouth twitched. “Although Qiu Ling honored me as a distinguished guest upon his ascension, I didn’t go myself. I sent one of my men instead. He firmly believes that man is still living in comfort in the Qiande Imperial Palace...”

After speaking, he cautiously studied the girl, ready to bolt at any moment.

In the flickering candlelight, she snorted coldly, drew her sword, and pointed it at Wei Ziyuan. “Living in comfort? I don’t believe you can’t see that’s house arrest. With your Ninth Prince’s merchant skills, rescuing someone would be a breeze. To just let Qiu Ling keep him under lock and key—that’s not like you. Tell me, why did you leave him by Qiu Ling’s side?”

Wei Ziyuan shrank back timidly. “Whatever the general intends for me, that is what I intend.”

“Wei Ziyuan! Let me tell you, playing weak won’t work on me anymore. If you can’t convince me, I will fight you to the death today. Don’t even think about stepping out of my general’s mansion!”

Chu Junhan gripped her sword firmly, her eyes bloodthirsty.

“Ahem...” The boy cleared his throat, his fear vanishing instantly, replaced by sharp determination. “I said before, whatever the general wants from me, I will do. How about a win-win?”