Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 439: Mysterious Background...

Si Yao was sent to Beiyue for a marriage alliance. With no ongoing conflicts between Beiyue and Nanjin, their mutual exchanges were quite normal.

Moreover, Emperor Xuanwu had passed away, and the new emperor was soon to ascend the throne, so it was reasonable for envoys from neighboring kingdoms to visit.

However, this time, Beiyue had surprisingly sent their Great General, Ye Xiuhan!

Mu Yan lightly rubbed his fingers. Was it Ye Xiuhan himself who wanted to come, or was it the Beiyue Emperor’s intention?

Mu Yan remembered that in the valleys along the border of the two kingdoms, Zhan Lan and Ye Xiuhan had once fought off a pack of wolves together, and Zhan Lan even helped bandage his wounds.

The two were opposing forces, yet perhaps a subtle sense of mutual admiration existed between them.

"Prince?" Wang Meng bowed and asked for instructions.

Mu Yan snapped out of his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Fine, the Ministry of Rites will receive them according to the usual protocols."

"Understood!"

...

On the way back to the Regent Prince Mansion.

Mu Yan sat inside the carriage, listening to Vermilion Bird relay information gathered from Tingyu Tower.

"Master, Beiyue currently has two Great Generals. One is Ye Xiuhan, twenty-four years old. As a child, he was adopted by a military officer of Beiyue. After the officer’s death, Ye Xiuhan took great care of his adoptive mother and younger sister. However, once Ye Xiuhan joined the army, the former Second Prince of Beiyue—now the Emperor—imprisoned his adoptive mother and sister, using them to coerce Ye Xiuhan into absolute loyalty."

"So, it seems there’s quite a story behind Ye Xiuhan’s background." Mu Yan furrowed his brow and asked, "What about the other general?"

"The other is Old General Gu Xiang, fifty years old. He’s too upright in his demeanor and cannot tolerate the lavish debauchery of the Beiyue Emperor, which has led to him being sidelined."

"I see." Mu Yan pondered for a moment.

"Master, here’s a letter from Moye." Vermilion Bird handed a letter to Mu Yan.

After reading its contents, Mu Yan handed the letter back to Vermilion Bird, who then took out a fire lighter and burned it.

Back at home, Mu Yan found Zhan Lan practicing calligraphy. He stood behind her and leaned closer, saying, "My lady’s handwriting is becoming more beautiful by the day."

Zhan Lan curved her lips into a smile. "That’s thanks to my husband’s fine teaching."

Mu Yan sat beside her, gazing into her eyes. "Lan’er, the dagger that injured the Crown Prince contained poison. He may not survive past the next year."

Zhan Lan nodded. "Si Jun is indeed ruthless."

"I’ve handed him over to the Xingtian Department. If my lady has any thoughts of tormenting him, feel free to do so," Mu Yan propped his hand against the desk, his tone playful. "If you finish him off, consider it my gift to you." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Zhan Lan lightly lifted Mu Yan’s chin with her fingers. "Mu Yan, you married a heartless and vicious woman. Aren’t you afraid?"

Mu Yan grasped her fingers and kissed them lightly. "Your husband is equally cold and ruthless. We’re a match made in heaven."

Zhan Lan smiled faintly. "You really do know how to be likable, don’t you?"

Mu Yan chuckled warmly, but his expression grew serious as he said, "Si Yao and Ye Xiuhan are leading a hundred-person delegation to Ding’an City."

Zhan Lan narrowed her eyes. "Si Yao is Emperor Xuanwu’s most beloved daughter. Her return after her father’s death makes sense."

Mu Yan asked, "And what about Ye Xiuhan? Do you think his purpose here goes beyond merely protecting Si Yao?"

Zhan Lan fell into deep thought. In her previous life, Si Yao did not marry the Beiyue Emperor, and Ye Xiuhan died on the battlefield.

Thus, she had no way of knowing Ye Xiuhan’s intentions for this visit.

Ye Xiuhan was a Great General of Beiyue; Zhan Lan remembered that he seemed to be an orphan.

From his striking appearance and commanding presence, he did not resemble someone from humble beginnings—his origins remained a mystery...

She only knew bits and pieces.

"Lan’er, what are you thinking?" Mu Yan gently touched her cheek.

Zhan Lan snapped out of her thoughts, smiling lightly. "Ye Xiuhan shouldn’t have any hidden agendas. After all, you said it’s just a hundred-person delegation. Besides, Beiyue and Nanjin are at peace now. Even if a Great General like him dares to come alone, what would we have to fear?"

Mu Yan frowned slightly. "I can’t shake the feeling that his mission isn’t simple."

Zhan Lan held his hand. "Mu Yan, are you feeling overly fatigued lately? The weather is getting colder, and your cold syndrome..."

Ever since Alchemist Qi and Granny Qi, along with Xiao Luobai, left for Beiyue, Mu Yan’s cold syndrome had been intermittently flaring up again.

Mu Yan’s warm gaze fell upon her like sunlight as he reassured her. "Lan’er, don’t worry. I’ll take care of myself."

Zhan Lan let out a breath of relief, and Mu Yan pulled her into his arms, breathing in the fragrance of her hair. "Lan’er, have you been drinking medicinal broths lately?"

Zhan Lan feigned composure. "It’s just an old ailment left from the war. I’ll recover with some rest."

Mu Yan scoffed coldly. "Thinking about it, I really feel like giving Ye Xiuhan a beating..."

Zhan Lan mused, "Ye Xiuhan didn’t gain much from me either. He’s covered in scars himself..."

She recalled the time in the valley when Ye Xiuhan shielded her from a wolf attack, losing a piece of flesh from his arm in the process.

She remembered her previous life, where their opposing allegiances left no room for anything but mutual animosity, leading them to constantly seek each other’s downfall.

In that life, during the final battle between Beiyue and Nanjin, despite being evenly matched, why had Ye Xiuhan not evaded her arrow, allowing her to end his life?

Unfortunately, the reason would remain unknown.

Perhaps Ye Xiuhan had truly grown weary of it all.

"Lan’er, are you thinking about Ye Xiuhan?" Mu Yan gently lifted Zhan Lan’s chin with his fingers.

Zhan Lan shook her head. "Why would I think about him?"

Mu Yan said discontentedly, "But your face clearly says you’re thinking about Ye Xiuhan."

Zhan Lan pinched Mu Yan’s cheek. "Alright, I was just thinking about the wars. The times Ye Xiuhan and I wanted each other dead were countless, so the impression runs deep. Mu Yan, surely you’re not jealous over this?"

Mu Yan nodded and, full of possessiveness, pulled her into an embrace. "Lan’er’s mind should have no other man but me."

Zhan Lan softened her tone as though coaxing a child, "Alright, I only have you in my heart..."

Mu Yan smiled with satisfaction, pressing his ear against her chest, listening to her increasingly intense heartbeat as he nodded approvingly.

His finger rested against Zhan Lan’s heart. "Lan’er, this place belongs only to me. Forever, alright?"

"That depends on how you behave. If you change, I’ll kick you away with one swift move!" Zhan Lan raised her chin proudly.

Mu Yan wrapped a single arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace, his tone dominant and forceful. "Mengmeng, tell me, what kind of behavior do you want? Is it possible that I wouldn’t satisfy you as your Prince?"

Zhan Lan’s cheeks flushed as she hastily pushed him away. "You’re about to..."

Mu Yan leaned closer to her, his voice low and teasingly intimate. "Mengmeng, why are you blushing? I’m merely asking how you’d like me to behave."

Zhan Lan felt her ears tingling as she instinctively leaned away. Mu Yan smirked and said, "Married for so long, Mengmeng, how are you still so shy? Shall we try something more exciting tonight, hmm?"