Chapter Five: The Purpose

The sword moved with the body, the body followed the will.

Xiao Yunci’s posture was as graceful as a startled swan, his swordsmanship flowing like a dragon in flight—each move decisive and lethal.

Song Xirui watched secretly from behind the phoenix tree, feeling utterly delighted.

“Who’s there!”

Xiao Yunci’s keen hearing caught the sound; he flicked his wrist, sending the long sword flying.

Startled, Song Xirui quickly dropped to the ground. The gleaming blade shattered her hairpin and lodged into the wall.

Her three thousand strands of black hair scattered; still shaken, she barely had time to react before a bony hand clamped around her neck.

“General, spare me!” she begged desperately, fearing he might kill her on the spot.

Xiao Yunci’s cold gaze fell upon her, his long eyes glinting with icy intent.

“It’s you.”

Breathing hard, Song Xirui stammered, “You recognize me, General?”

“Didn’t we just meet last night at the Scholar’s Mansion?”

He released her, drawing his sword and flicking the dust from its tip.

“You trespassed into the General’s residence—that is a capital offense.”

His piercing eyes burned like lightning, dark depths swirling with fierce wrath.

Feeling immense pressure, Song Xirui suddenly regretted having entangled herself with this great general.

She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves.

“General, I have come today to treat your illness.”

Xiao Yunci narrowed his eyes, clearly surprised.

“The Scholar’s wife, and yet you possess such skills?”

Song Xirui smiled faintly and withdrew a slip of paper from her sleeve, handing it to him.

“This is a prescription I have sought for you, General—it can cure your ailment.”

At her words, Xiao Yunci’s expression turned colder. In his eyes, Song Xirui was likely trying to cozy up for Su Yun’s career.

He did not look at the paper, his tone growing grave: “My illness has confounded even the palace’s imperial physicians. Are you more skilled than the royal doctors?”

Song Xirui detected the sarcasm but maintained her calm smile.

“Your condition concerns your life. The remedy is not found in medical texts but within the court itself.”

Xiao Yunci’s gaze sharpened as he reassessed her.

“In that case, I am willing to listen.”

Song Xirui pursed her lips and spoke confidently.

“You, General, are devoted to the court, defending the northern barbarians beyond the pass with great merit. But now the emperor ages, and the crown prince is narrow-minded. You likely feign illness to avoid the prince’s suspicion, lying low in your residence.”

Xiao Yunci looked astonished—she had read his thoughts clearly.

“Go on.”

“Your forbearance is wise, but circumstances have changed. The third prince, unwilling to concede the throne to the crown prince, is rallying supporters to seize power. If I am correct, the crown prince has sent envoys to sway you against the third prince, hasn’t he?”

She had even anticipated this.

Xiao Yunci’s surprise gradually turned to caution.

“General, since the crown prince sends emissaries, the third prince’s agents surely arrive soon. If you engage in factional struggles and lose, it will be ruin. But if you stay neutral, the crown prince will not tolerate you.”

At this, Xiao Yunci snorted coldly.

“Miss Song, so you are the third prince’s envoy. I advise you to leave—this general has no interest in the succession struggle.”

“Wrong.”

Song Xirui smiled mysteriously, pushing the paper forward again.

“I come to aid you, General, for neither prince but for you and me. You should first examine this ‘prescription.’”

Xiao Yunci studied her long and finally bent his head to read.

“Vice Minister Shen Canghai, Chief Justice Lu Bairan, Minister of Revenue Li Cunyi, Marquis of Weiyuan Tan Jiang, Left Vice Minister of Personnel Xu You...”

After a pause, he sneered.

“Miss Song, surely you don’t expect me to sway these men? I command troops and make the royal family uneasy—if I form factions, I risk disaster. Are you helping me or harming me?”

His eyes were icy and profound, like a tiger choosing its prey.

“You are loyal, yet cannot withstand others’ hidden malice. Retreating step by step is unwise. Better to control two factions so they dare not provoke you. Moreover...”

Song Xirui met his gaze fearlessly, as if confronting the self who had been slaughtered.

“Besides, haven’t you already begun recruiting factions?”

Xiao Yunci’s expression shifted subtly as he crossed his sword across her neck.

Yet he harbored a desperate hope; he had secretly contacted some ministers, but this matter was highly confidential. How did she know?

“Whose agent are you, daring to investigate me?”

In that life-and-death moment, Song Xirui appeared calm, but sweat drenched her back.

“General, I mean no harm. If I had ill intent, I’d be a servant of the crown prince right now.”

Xiao Yunci’s face darkened like still water, thoughts churning.

Indeed, the crown prince was suspicious. If this woman served him, the general’s household might already be in turmoil.

If she were with the third prince, she could use this to threaten him...

Calming himself, Xiao Yunci withdrew his sword and took the paper, speaking coldly.

“The prescription is fine, but if the ingredients are scarce, it is useless.”

He had tried, but those ministers refused to risk it.

Before he finished, Song Xirui spoke earnestly.

“I have a way to turn these ministers into your men. When that time comes, the court will see your fierce power—and even the crown prince won’t dare touch you.”

Xiao Yunci suddenly raised his eyes, filled with inquiry.

“With such effort, what do you want?”

Song Xirui parted her red lips and finally revealed her purpose.

“I want you to destroy the Su family and help me obtain a divorce.”