The support of the people is the foundation of an emperor's reign.
To secure the throne, Xiao Jingan was willing to abandon tens of thousands of his people and vast territories on the western borders. If this news were to spread, his reign would be over.
Xie Shixuan nodded. "That's one reason."
Lu Qingwan blinked. "Then what are the other reasons?"
"Naturally, it's my half-sister. She is gentle, kind, knows how to win people over, and knows how to play weak. Unlike me, men tremble in their boots just by seeing me..."
Xie Shixuan smiled sarcastically. "Moreover, the western lands have been severely depleted by this defeat and will not have the resources for war for at least another decade. But no one can be sure if Da Qian will continue to attack the western lands.
Xiao Jingan has always preferred to nip all threats in the bud.
At that time, Marquis Zhaolie was already severely injured. Your country, to protect him, deliberately spread the news of his death, and Xiao Jingan believed it.
At that time, in his heart, the only threat to the western lands and his throne was the Regent. If he could use me to kill the Regent, he could rest easy."
All three of them were aware of the nature of the poison Xie Shixuan had been afflicted with.
If Xie Shixuan's consort had been anyone else, anyone without her medical skills, she would not have discovered the poison. And if Feng Xiwu had not refused the arranged marriage because of her, Xiao Jingan's scheme would have succeeded.
Lu Qingwan was angry and resentful, but more than that, she was confused.
"General Xie, you don't seem like the type to be blinded by love. It's unlikely you would obey Xiao Jingan's command, even after being betrayed by that scumbag. If he ordered you to marry, you'd go through with it.
You hold military power and command respect in the court. Even if your martial arts were lost, you should still have the ability to protect yourself.
Why did you agree to marry him?"
Lu Qingwan hadn't thought much of it, it was just a casual remark. However, upon hearing her words, Xie Shixuan's expression changed drastically.
Her once healthy complexion turned sallow, and she hunched in her chair as if recalling something utterly terrifying.
Lu Qingwan was about to say they could stop talking if she didn't want to, but Xie Shixuan had already spoken.
"Xie Shiyu poisoned all the women in the mansion. If I refused to marry, all the women of my Xie clan, except for her and her mother, would be made into military prostitutes.
That poison is disgusting. If they didn't take the antidote, even if they were sent to the military brothels, people would see them and assume they were naturally promiscuous and willingly engaged in lewd acts..."
Lu Qingwan could hardly believe that there were people in this world more wicked than Lu Siwan and her mother.
"All the men of my Xie clan died on the battlefield, leaving only a group of women. I couldn't abandon them, so I agreed to their proposal and came here for the marriage.
But that beast Xiao Jingan, fearing that I would join forces with the Regent after the marriage and pose a greater threat to him and the western lands.
He secretly had Xie Shiyu bribe my close personal guards to drug my food and dissipate all my internal energy.
Then, he captured four female soldiers I was closest to and, in front of my eyes, let those bloodthirsty imperial guards torment them day and night.
I wanted to close my eyes and cover my ears, to block out the sounds.
But he ordered people to forcibly hold my hands, pry open my eyes, and force me to watch as my four closest sisters were brutally raped to death. They were worse off than eyes at the time of their death!"
Xie Shixuan's every word dripped with blood. Just recalling it made her eyes red and her lips almost bleed from biting them.
It was hard to imagine how she had endured all of that at the time.
"I want them dead!"
At that moment, Xie Shixuan was no longer the magnificent Princess Fengfeng she appeared to be before people. She was like an enraged beast, filled with the desire to devour everything, but due to her severe injuries, she could do nothing.
Lu Qingwan took out a silver needle and decisively inserted it into her Queyin acupoint, flicking it lightly. Xie Shixuan's eyes finally regained clarity.
"Fetch me a cup of hot water," Lu Qingwan commanded without looking up. Li Su quickly rushed to pour tea.
Xie Shixuan slowly regained her senses, looking at the silver needles on her body, and murmured, "Thank you."
Lu Qingwan shook her head. "It's just a small favor. Are you alright?"
The implied question was whether she could continue the conversation.
Xie Shixuan vigorously rubbed her face. "I'm fine. I've never told anyone these things before. Speaking them out makes me feel much better."
Lu Qingwan offered no comment on her experience.
"You said earlier that you wanted them dead. Was that a moment of anger, or were you serious?"
There was a significant difference between the two, and Lu Qingwan didn't want to get involved in internal political affairs out of momentary softness of heart.
"Serious," Xie Shixuan replied without hesitation. "I want Xiao Jingan and Xie Shiyu dead."
Feng Xiwu finally deigned to speak. "You are the General of Zhenguo of the western lands, yet you tell me you want the Emperor of the western lands and the future imperial consort dead. After saying so much, what is your purpose?"
Feng Xiwu looked at Xie Shixuan with cold indifference. Her experience was indeed tragic, and based on his understanding of Xiao Jingan, this was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
However, if Xie Shixuan intended to use him and Lu Qingwan to achieve her own goals, he wouldn't hesitate to be even more ruthless to this already tragic female general.
Fortunately, Xie Shixuan was indeed a smart person. She didn't even attempt to test Feng Xiwu's limits from the beginning, but instead, offered her sincere invitation for cooperation from the outset.
"My purpose is simple. I do not wish to be married off. I hope the Regent can speak on my behalf to His Majesty. As long as I am not married off, I am willing to be a hostage."
Fearing that Feng Xiwu might misunderstand, she added, "Of course, during this time, I will maintain contact with the western lands, but I will never harm Da Qian's interests. If Your Highness does not believe me, you can monitor me at any time."
"This is so troublesome. Why do you think I will agree to you?"
"Because I believe that, like me, your ultimate goal is the integrity of your respective territories and the peace of your people."
At this moment, Xie Shixuan displayed a trace of a female general's demeanor. "My intentions, and those of the person I choose, are at least aligned with Your Highness's. As for Xiao Jingan, I'm sure Your Highness knows what kind of petty person he is.
I believe Your Highness will make the wisest decision in choosing whom to cooperate with."
Confident and composed, she held her own even in the presence of Feng Xiwu, the renowned God of War.
Lu Qingwan was almost impressed by the self-assured Xie Shixuan.
However, after completing the necessary communication with Xie Shixuan, she obediently played the role of an ignorant young wife and did not utter another word until Xie Shixuan left.
Feng Xiwu pinched her cheek. "What are you thinking about so intently that you didn't even hear me call you?"
"I was just thinking, a woman who was so cruelly wronged by her fiancé. She traveled to a foreign land and placed her bet on a man she barely knew. Is this female general smart, or foolish?!"