On the streets inside the capital city of Beili.
Common people had spontaneously gathered on both sides of the road, full of anticipation as they looked toward the direction of the city gate.
Today was the day the Third Prince, Xiao Junyan, returned victorious from the battlefield.
Ever since the age of fifteen, Xiao Junyan had requested to guard the borderlands. Six years had passed since he last returned to the capital.
During this time, he had been brave and skilled in battle, using strategy and wisdom. He had become an unshakable pillar of the frontier—an undefeated “sea-stabilizing needle” of war—causing the rival nation Linyuan to no longer dare to attack recklessly.
Because of his outstanding military achievements, the current emperor had bestowed upon him the title “War King.”
On the streets, everyone eagerly awaited the War King’s return—except for one place.
Lin Yanxi sat at her stall, leisurely cracking sunflower seeds. She showed no excitement or anticipation for the War King’s return.
In fact, she even wished to stay far away from Xiao Junyan.
“The War King has returned!”
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, and the surrounding people immediately became animated. They all knelt on the ground toward the city gate and shouted:
“Welcome back, War King, returning victorious!”
The deafening voices made Lin Yanxi somewhat irritated. She regretted deeply coming out today. Now her stall was surrounded by a sea of kneeling people—she couldn’t even leave if she wanted to.
Strong, powerful hoofbeats echoed from the city gate.
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Xiao Junyan rode in on a black steed, wearing silver-scaled armor. His features were sharp and refined like jade, and his brows carried a solemn, murderous authority.
He looked down on everything, not even glancing at the excited civilians on either side, heading directly toward the palace gate.
As he passed a willow tree, a clear voice suddenly rang in his ears.
【So this is the famous War King Xiao Junyan? He really is quite handsome!】
“Wei Xing, did you hear any sound?” he asked his deputy general, his voice slightly hoarse.
“Reporting to Your Highness, the surrounding people are indeed very enthusiastic!” the deputy replied.
Xiao Junyan’s gaze turned cold as he scanned the surroundings. He shook his head—he was certain that what he had just heard was not an illusion. The voice felt so close, as if it was right beside his ear.
But there was no woman nearby. The crowd on both sides also showed nothing unusual…
Then suddenly, he saw an exception.
His gaze locked onto a petite woman.
When everyone else was kneeling on the ground, only she sat leisurely on a chair, calmly… cracking sunflower seeds.
Such an obvious exception—how could it not attract attention?
At that moment, the voice came again.
【I have to say, after seeing so many men, only this one can really amaze me. What a pity… what a pity…】
The sound was accompanied by faint clicking and sighing, making him even more confused.
A pity? What a pity?
Who was speaking? Was it her?
“Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting in the palace for your report,” Wei Xing reminded him, urging him not to keep the emperor waiting.
Xiao Junyan frowned slightly, about to leave.
Suddenly—
【Sigh, who told him he’s just a villain? He only has about three years left to live. What a pity…】
Xiao Junyan’s brow furrowed tightly, his eyes turning icy cold. He carefully scanned everyone around him, trying to locate the speaker—he would kill them.
The fact that he had been poisoned was a secret. It must never be revealed, or the borderlands would fall into danger.
Wei Xing noticed Xiao Junyan’s abnormal behavior and asked worriedly, “Your Highness? Is something wrong?”
Xiao Junyan withdrew his gaze and lowered his voice. “Has anything about me been leaked?”
Wei Xing’s pupils shrank slightly. He firmly replied, “Your Highness, I swear on my life—your poisoning is known only to you, me, and Divine Doctor Zou. No fourth person knows!”
Xiao Junyan said softly, “Then why…?”
He had heard the voice very clearly. If that was the case, then someone else must know about it. If news of his poisoning reached the rival nation Linyuan, the border would once again be plunged into war.
Therefore—
“Wei Xing, thoroughly investigate everyone around me. If anyone behaves suspiciously, no need to report—execute them directly.”
For the safety of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and the stability of Beili, his poisoning must not be known by anyone else. At least for these three years, he had to ensure Linyuan would not invade again.
Wei Xing was startled but quickly understood the gravity of the situation. “This subordinate obeys!”
Neither of their voices was heard by anyone else.
Meanwhile, Lin Yanxi in the crowd, thinking about keeping her distance from Xiao Junyan, had no idea she had already been placed on his kill list.
After issuing the orders, Xiao Junyan glanced once more at the unusual woman before continuing toward the palace gate.
About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, the streets were once again empty of soldiers, and the crowd that had been welcoming the War King gradually dispersed.
Lin Yanxi finished her last handful of sunflower seeds, looking somewhat uninterested as she prepared to pack up her stall.
Suddenly, a gentle voice came from above her.
“Miss…?”
Lin Yanxi lifted her clear eyes and looked up. It was a plainly dressed woman.
Observing the woman’s face, Lin Yanxi noted she had upright features and a broad forehead—clearly a person with good fortune. However, her “children’s palace” area (physiognomy) appeared dim, suggesting trouble involving her children was likely troubling her.
Following her principle that every customer is a guest, Lin Yanxi quickly tidied her messy stall and scattered sunflower shells, then greeted her with a standard professional smile.
“Madam, what would you like me to divine?”
When she smiled, shallow dimples appeared on both cheeks—very sweet and charming.
“Are your readings really accurate?” the woman asked hesitantly.
“Absolutely guaranteed—no falsehoods!” she replied confidently.
Her certainty made the woman believe her a little more. The woman stammered, “I want you to help me calculate…”
But before she could finish, chaotic noises erupted from a distance.
“She’s over there! That little swindler didn’t run away—get her!”
“Beat that scammer to death!”
“Yes! Beat her!”
“Pay back the money, liar!”
The loud commotion attracted the entire street’s attention.
The people who had just been watching the War King’s return had not gone far. Now they gathered again upon hearing the shouting.
They pointed at Lin Yanxi and the people coming to accuse her with looks of contempt or schadenfreude.
A group of fierce-looking villagers, holding thick wooden sticks and iron tools, rushed forward aggressively.
They reached Lin Yanxi and, without a word, smashed her stall to pieces.
A burly man pointed at her with a stick thicker than his arm.
“You’re a fraud who deceives people and caused my wife’s miscarriage. Today I will make sure you die here!”
The woman who had just come for a reading was so frightened that she froze, standing there stiffly, unsure whether to stay or flee.