While Bai Hanyun conversed with the Yang Mirror, Feng Xiyan noticed her sudden silence and the changes in her expression. Guessing what was happening, he chose not to disturb her.
After Bai Hanyun finished scolding the Yang Mirror in her heart and imagined how she was going to beat it, she looked up to see Feng Xiyan watching her.
Smiling at him, she explained, "It’s the Yang Mirror. He suddenly woke up, and we talked for a while."
Nodding at her explanation, Feng Xiyan hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Have you asked when he can send you back to your world?" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁
Bai Hanyun was surprised by his accurate guess. She sighed and replied, "The Yang Mirror said he needs to sleep for a while. I guess he hasn’t recovered his energy yet."
Then she grinned and added, "Looks like I will be staying here for a while. Feng Xiyan, please take care of me."
Hearing this, Feng Xiyan’s gloomy expression melted into happiness. Suppressing the happiness in his heart, he smiled and softly said, "Mhm. You can stay with me as long as you like."
’I’d be even happier if you could stay by my side forever,’ he added silently in his heart.
Hearing that, Bai Hanyun’s mood improved. She nodded and said happily, "Then I won’t be polite with you."
While the two of them were chatting, Xiao Cui returned with a group of maidservants carrying trays filled with food.
After the maidservants placed the dishes on the round table, Xiao Cui said, "Young Master, Miss Bai, please enjoy your meal. This servant will wait outside. Please call me if you need anything."
Bai Hanyun nodded at her with a smile. "Thank you, Xiao Cui."
Xiao Cui smiled back, curtsied, and left the room.
Once she was gone, Bai Hanyun picked up her chopsticks and began placing food into Feng Xiyan’s bowl.
Watching her busily filling his bowl, Feng Xiyan looked at Bai Hanyun with tender eyes. After a brief silence, he suddenly said, "Miss Bai, I will leave for Xiquan City in two days."
The moment his words fell, Bai Hanyun’s chopsticks froze in mid-air. She slowly retracted her hand and set them down.
Looking at him, she asked, "Are you going to take over the city?"
Feng Xiyan nodded and explained, "Xiquan City is the closest city to us. It belongs to County Princess Quan, the adopted daughter of the Wen Clan, who works for them as a spy on the western border."
"Since we have already decided to go against the imperial court, this hidden danger must be eliminated as soon as possible."
Listening to his explanation, Bai Hanyun nodded thoughtfully.
After a moment of thought, she said, "Taking over a city isn’t easy. Without a legitimate excuse, you will be branded a traitor, and your future plans will become very difficult to carry out."
"In my world’s history, the difference between a hero and a traitor is vast. If you act with a legitimate excuse, you can gain the support of the people, making it easier to oppose the imperial court."
"But the moment you are branded a traitor, you won’t only be fighting the imperial court; you will also need to guard against the common people. In the end, you might end up fighting against the entire world."
Feng Xiyan was quite surprised by Bai Hanyun’s detailed analysis.
Looking at her with admiration, he said, "Miss Bai, I never knew you could see the situation of this matter so clearly. Since you live in a peaceful world, I thought you wouldn’t accept what I’m about to do."
Letting out a sigh, Bai Hanyun gazed at the heavy rain outside and whispered, "My world isn’t peaceful. The only reason I can live peacefully is because my nation is peaceful. And the reason my country is peaceful is that others are carrying that burden for me and for countless others."
Turning back to Feng Xiyan, she smiled and added, "For me, soldiers and everyone who works hard on the frontlines, whether to protect a nation or to create a peaceful one, are people worthy of my respect."
She picked up a piece of meat, placed it into his bowl, and said softly, "Including you."
Seeing that he was staring at her in surprise, Bai Hanyun chuckled.
"Besides, what is the use of corrupted governments and officials? Since the foundation of a nation is its people, if those people cannot provide a good life for the common people, it’s just right to change them. What you are going to do is just follow the will of Heaven."
Staring at her, Feng Xiyan could hear his own heartbeat. For a soldier like him, Bai Hanyun’s words were the greatest reward. Though she wasn’t from the Yu Empire, her words lit a fire in his heart.
Clenching his chopsticks, he took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "Thank you, Miss Bai."
Bai Hanyun didn’t understand why he suddenly thanked her, so she simply smiled and added more food to his bowl, saying happily, "Mhm, eat more."
After they finished their meal, Bai Hanyun wiped her lips and calmly said, "Feng Xiyan, I want to go with you to Xiquan City."
Hearing what she said, Feng Xiyan’s first reaction was to refuse. "Miss Bai, we are going to war. The sword has no eyes, and it’s far too dangerous for you to follow me."
But Bai Hanyun had already expected his rejection.
Calmly, she looked at him and said, "Feng Xiyan, I told you before. I can only sleep when you are around. Now that you are going to Xiquan City, I don’t feel safe anymore. You are the only one I can fully trust in this world."
Her words left Feng Xiyan both flattered and conflicted.
Seeing his frown, Bai Hanyun grabbed his hand, shook it gently, and said coquettishly, "Please~ Let me go with you, alright? I promise I will listen to you. If you tell me to go west, I won’t dare go east."
Leaning closer, she shook his hand again and added, "Elder Brother Xiyan, please~ I beg you~"
The moment Feng Xiyan heard her call him "Elder Brother" so intimately, his mind went blank, and his lips parted slightly.