“I’ve heard from Zi Shi that Hanmei and the county military chief’s troops were embroiled in a conflict. I believe it started because your soldier mistook Hanmei for Xie Qian?”

He felt abashed as he confessed, vaguely stating the reason behind it all.

She said bluntly, “However your junior heard from my father that Aunty Xie died from hemorrhage during childbirth.”

Yang Jian replied sternly, “How can a junior like you be familiar with the previous generations’ gratitude and disputes?”

Neither did he believe that Xie Qian was such a person. How could he seek glory at the expense of selling out his wife?

When Wang Huiyun had entered the former emperor’s harem, Xie Qian had been dead for one year, his body decomposed until only his bones were left.

A widow who remarried, who could stop her?

How could Xie Qian, who had already been dead for one year, reappear to force his wife on the emperor?

Wasn’t that ridiculous?

But Li Yun’s appearance proved that Xie Qian had not died. In the last 20 years, he’d roamed and wandered around, causing him to waver in his beliefs.

Jiang Pengji said, “Your junior once heard my nanny telling me a bedtime story. She said the earth has souls with none to depend on, they exist as lonely souls floating in the abyss. Their hearts were filled with vileness and they were jealous of those alive. They missed the flourishing human realm, thus they would often lay in wait beside those about to pass on. They seized the opportunity in the split second when the dying person hovered between life and death to possess their body and escape into the mortal realm… This story is far from reality, but both Buddhism and Taoism believe that humans have souls… How does the county military chief feel about this?”

Yang Jian listened until his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “These are but ridiculous stories full of evil beings.”

“This is indeed an intriguing story, but had you heard the news before Aunty Xie delivering her child? How did the world judge her? From what your junior knows, she and my late mother were given the title of Langya’s dual pearls. They possessed outstanding talent and intelligence, their beauty was exceptional, and they were the best spouses in the world… they could remember everything they saw, even if it was the classics and historical annals, they knew them by heart…” The Wang Huiyun that Jiang Pengji knew was partially investigated information and the rest had been told to her by Liu She. “She was such an exceptionally intelligent woman. If Xie Qian had any evil intentions, would the county military general perceive her to be following her husband’s biding or seeking help from her maiden family? The Xies from Qiongning were indeed intimidating, but were the Wangs from Langya pushovers?”

Wang Huiyun was considered Langya Wang’s family’s most outstanding, noble lady. She was their pride, the face they showed off to the world.

In the end?

The daughter of the Wang family had given herself to the ruthless former emperor, then she’d offered herself upon the emperor’s bed, eventually acting in cahoots with Prince Changshou.

The three brothers of the imperial family, she had slept with them all. Weren’t her sexual urges too demanding?

Even if Xie Qian did not care about his reputation, and Wang Huiyun was willing to give it all up, the Wang family of Langya wouldn’t sit back and do nothing.

“It is impossible for someone to change their personality suddenly. Aunty Xie did not experience any setbacks except for childbirth. The midwife attested that she had a hemorrhage after she gave birth. There was no way she could be revived. Except she did not die, she awoke with a different personality and temperament… Xie Qian suspected some devil was involved, but unfortunately, the other party discovered it and secretly inflicted harm on him… I heard these details from my father…”

Yang Jian knitted his brows. Based on her explanation, except for some mysterious forces, logic could not explain this.

“Why are you telling me this?”

Jiang Pengji’s eyes turned stern. “Hanmei also deeply respects his teacher. He loves his teacher’s wife who he has never seen. Because Xie Qian has never clarified this matter, solely based on what my father said, Hanmei isn’t certain of his blood relationship to Xie Qian. Nevertheless, his teacher will always be a teacher. He is indebted to his teacher as a father, even if he was only a disciple for one day. There is no difference. Regardless of what the truth is, Xie Qian’s and Wang Huiyun’s reputations are utterly irredeemable and Hanmei won’t be pleased. Your junior is of lowly status and cannot help Hanmei much… I am telling the county military chief this in hopes that you will control your subordinates’ mouths before the truth is revealed or before we ascertain it from Xie Qian himself. Don’t let them blow this out of proportion based on rumors!”

Only she could discipline those under her. It was alright if outsiders told them off, but bullying her people was not allowed.

Yang Jian understood. He did not mind Jiang Pengji’s rude behavior.

Both left that secluded area. Li Yun and the rest, including Yang Jian’s troops, waited outside anxiously. When they saw the two men appear, the crowd moved towards them immediately.

“Please go back, I will visit another time to seek advice from the county military chief.”

She did not appear joyous, and she wasn’t downcast, but she looked rather disappointed. Perhaps she’d suffered a setback.

On the road back, Li Yun and Dian Yan obediently followed behind with lowered heads, one big and one small, like kids who had done something naughty.

“The matter is settled. Next time, minimize interactions with those on County Military Chief Yang’s side.”

Yang Jian himself had spoken. Jiang Pengji would not bring trouble to herself.

“Yes, we will follow our lord’s orders.”

Feng Zhen sensed the depressing atmosphere and coughed twice. “My lord, I sounded the man out. After some hesitation, he has agreed.”

Jiang Pengji didn’t respond.

Speaking of which, she’d joined the crowd to watch Yang Jian teach Li Yun a lesson, then pulled Yang Jian aside to duel with him. How long had it been since then?

How had Feng Zhen, this fellow, spotted their target and mingled with him? Moreover, how had he even managed to convince him to change loyalties?

Jiang Pengji also admired Feng Zhen. She lowered her voice on purpose to say, “I am still wrapping my head around how to possess Wanzhou, but you are already thinking of how to conquer the rivers.”

“Preparations should be made in advance to prevent any untoward situation,” Feng Zhen remarked shamelessly.

As their technology to construct ships was outdated, if they engaged in water combat and encountered troops adept at water battles, they were most likely going to be at a disadvantage.

A large proportion of Dongqing’s land was inland. There were also areas accessible via rivers.

If their future enemies took a risk by attacking them from the rivers, how would they fight in that kind of battle?

Rather than make last-minute preparations, it was better to prepare in advance.

It wasn’t easy for Feng Zhen to meet a genius at water combat. They’d need a plan to kidnap him over to their side unless they were willing to risk another talent scout discovering this prodigy.

“It’s true… Preparing before disaster strikes is indeed a good practice.”

She recalled Dongqing’s Great Universal Geographical Map. If she coveted the territory of Cangzhou, which belonged to the Meng family, she would have to face the potential dangers of water combat.

Cangzhou’s terrain was unique, something that a militant would surely vie for. It was easy to defend but tumultuous to attack. If they retreated, they had a natural stronghold to depend on. If they chose to attack, they could make use of the complicated rivers and water bodies. It’d be difficult for an average army to overcome them. Moreover, this was the location that linked Dongqing and the other two counties. It was the key location in the country. There were three natural strongholds, Hanchang Mountain Pass, Zhanjiang Mountain Pass, and Yumen Mountain Pass. If she intended to expand the territory outwards, to get a share of lands from other counties, Cangzhou could not be avoided.

If they started training their troops for water combat now, they could put them to use in the future.

A non-swimmer in water was inferior to an incompetent soldier on land. A mere 3,000 elite troops adept at water combat could exterminate an enemy force with 10 times their number!

“If that is so, does my lord have a reward for me?”

“Of course I will reward you. Let’s make things clear, there are no wines and beauties here… Speak up, what would you like as a reward?”

Feng Zhen didn’t answer immediately.

He thought to himself, “My lord, there is a strong scent of alcohol emitting from your body, yet you claim to drink ‘no wine.’ You must have drunk it all yourself.”

After a while, he opened his mouth sullenly. “I haven’t thought through it. Leave it here first.”

She laughed involuntarily; Feng Zhen’s aggrieved expression was so entertaining.

The talent Feng Zhen poached did not follow them over. Jiang Pengji didn’t even know how that man looked.

Yang Jian was depressed about his defeat, yet a group of his troops thought he was the victor. That almost caused him to suffer internal injuries.