Villain Lady

Yang Xian and Wei Liuying talked for a bit more before they returned back to the small place where the two of them stayed for the past few days.

"Strategist Yang, don't you have better place since you're a noble now?"

"Noble?" Yang Xian thought for a moment then laughed. "Even though I have the rank of a noble because of war achievement, I don't really have the skill and manpower to do what my role gives me. In any case, I know that I don't want to have so many servants serving me."

Wei Liuying blinked her eyes. "But you're a leader."

"I did give order, but the real leader is always His Highness. The role of a right hand is to support him no matter what his decision is," Yang Xian replied. He pushed the door open and entered. "Before we depart, I need to remind you that Prince Ji Sheng's army is not as big as what people said. Our accomplishment is limited because of the army's number."

"Is it because the Emperor is afraid that the military will overthrow him?"

"Yes. You sure know history well."

Wei Liuying gave a halfhearted smile. There were several cases the change of the Emperor was because of military power. Besides, the change in dynasty usually occurred because of the military power that was held by one person too much.

A kingdom can't have too many soldiers under one general or it would spark troubles.

"Prince Ji Sheng's rank is general, right?"

"Yes. His soldiers are only 8,000 or so in total. We have been doing some recruitment and some are lost during our exchange with Xiong Tribe lately, so I haven't known the exact number," Yang Xian explained.

Wei Liuying arched her eyebrows. "That's a large number."

The rank below general was 5,000 men's commander. It was also the most important rank because those who could reach that rank and succeed in battlefield would be able to be promoted to general's rank.

Yang Xian shook his head. "Only in surface it does look big. However, other generals have more than 10,000 soldiers in their hands. As you can see, the Emperor didn't trust His Highness that much."

"I see."

By limiting the number of soldiers in Ji Sheng's hand, the Emperor was also reducing his possibility to obtain the throne no matter how hard Prince Ji Sheng tried to do it. The other generals would have better chance.

"There are a total of three generals at the north. Are their location similar to Prince Ji Sheng?"

"No, they're spread across the vast border with four vital points. Prince Ji Sheng is only responsible for one of the vital points while other generals can defend on the other points. When one general is in trouble, those from the sides will send reinforcement. Aside from generals, there were several smaller independent armies roaming around."

"Independent armies?" Wei Liuying asked back.

Yang Xian nodded. "Some noble families will have their sons sent to the battlefield. Many of them already become a commander at a young age and entrusted an independent army to rake their own achievements and pave their way to become generals. Of course, the number of successful army was small. Most of them could never increase their rank and only roam around at low rank to fight for skirmish battle."

"I see."

By this time, Yang Xian had drawn the map and also the location of the soldiers. Even though it was said that the north had four generals in total including Prince Ji Sheng, she had just realized that their position was a bit too wide. One was near the west while the other was near the east.

It was hard to determine whether they were actually at west or east since they were also very close to the north.

"Han Shi Kingdom's northern border is vast," Wei Liuying commented.

"It's indeed big," Yang Xian agreed. "However, we still can protect the people who lived in the city well."

"is it because of the terrain?"

"More or less. Also, you need to rest, Liu Ying."

"I'm going to rest after you have finished your explanation." Wei Liuying took off her coat and placed it on the side. She stretched her body a bit. "Is it fine for me to roam on the street alone?"

"It's fine."

"Thank you."

"Have some rest."

Wei Liuying waited until Yang Xian had left before she continued to change her clothing and lied on her bed. Tomorrow would be her last day in the capital city. She wondered whether she would miss this place or not.

Probably no.

She hated this hellish place.

…

The next day, Wei Liuying woke up early and slipped away as soon as she had finished her breakfast and her preparation. Yang Xian was busy today because he needed to prepare the horses and carriages for their departure.

It didn't take long for Wei Liuying to arrive by the bookstore again.

"You come back again?" Manager Xin asked with surprise. He was more used with Wei Liuying's rare visit.

Wei Liuying nodded. "How's your health, Manager Xin? I hope you have been well."

"I'm fine." Manager Xin laughed and ushered Wei Liuying to sit down. The third floor was as empty as before because there was not many furniture that Manager Xin placed there. "Are you going to leave soon?"

"Today will be the last day I can visit you, Manager Xin," Wei Liuying replied. "I hope that Wei Family didn't create too much trouble for you."

"Those people can't do anything. Even if they try to overturn the bookstore, they wouldn't find anything." Manager Xin was not worried in the slightest bit. He had already faced with so many officials, how could he not know what he should do when he had to face someone like Wei Hong?

Besides, Wei Liuying was truly not here. There was nothing that they could do to him without evidence either.

"I need a favor from you, Manager Xin."

"Don't speak so formal. What do you need help with?" Manager Xin asked back and patted Wei Liuying's shoulder as if telling her that she should speak freely. He would not mind whatever Wei Liuying asked.

Wei Liuying smiled. "I want to know when Wei Family start to show Wei Liuying."

Show Wei Liuying?

The phrase made Manager Xin's eyes narrowed. He understood that Wei Family had been hiding the matter about Wei Liuying's disappearance for days. However, it never crossed his minds that they would be planning to replace Wei Liuying with another girl.

That just sound….

"Insolent! How dare they faked Wei Liuying like that?" Manager Xin was angry whenever he thought that they would be replacing Wei Liuying with another woman. Her reputation would go down the drain!

On the contrary, Wei Liuying was awfully calm. She chuckled. "Even if they tried to replace me, there are some things that they'll never know. Those small things will surely expose them."

"But that…"

Wei Liuying raised her hands. "Some of the noble ladies have already noticed that my hands are coarse due to the fact that I practiced martial arts. Even with medicine, it can only cover the back and not the front. But when they tried to find my replacement, will they think about it?"

"A woman who can do martial arts?" Manager Xin asked with a weird tone. "It'll be impossible."

Trying to find a woman with her stature and face alone would be difficult. Madam Feng was known as the most beautiful women back in her days. Trying to find someone who could match her would be extremely difficult. Not to mention, Wei Liuying looked similar to both her parents.

How could they find a girl that looked so similar to the two of them?

It would be hard.

Now if they had to add the fact that Wei Liuying practiced martial arts, it was obvious that they would never find one with similar stature. 

Their only option was to wait for some time until they all had forgotten how Wei Liuying used to look like. That way, they would not suspect anything if there was anything different from her.

"Despicable!"

"Isn't it just normal?" Wei Liuying asked back. "I'm sure a lot of women will be lining up, trying to act as Wei Liuying."

Manager Xin frowned. If someone else was trying to use his name, he would be terribly angry. But why Wei Liuying looked so calm as if it has no relation to her.

"Why are you not angry?"

"What's the point of getting angry?" Wei Liuying asked back. "Since they're so kind as to prepare someone to look like me, it means that I can also use it to my advantage, right?"

"You…" Manager Xin wanted to say that it would be too dangerous, but his words stuck in his throat. In the end, he just sighed. "Whatever you planned to do, please be careful, Liuying."

"Yes, Manager Xin."