Shi Yan sulked on the side.

Yang Xian shrugged and changed the conversation. "Do you think the plan will succeed? I recall you did mention something similar before."

Tapping her chin lightly, Wei Liuying nodded. "It's a plausible plan, but only if two sides are cooperating."

"We plan to make our move when Princess Ji Xiaoli go to the north for the arranged marriage," Prince Ji Sheng said slowly. "It might not be the best option, but it's the only way to stop the war temporarily."

Wei Liuying's eyebrows creased a bit, but she had to admit that Ji Sheng was correct. The Xiong Tribe asked for a marriage agreement to make sure that Han Shi Kingdom would not attack them. Yet at the same time, they also had to abide the rules.

While the marriage agreement was not the best one, the Emperor readily married off his daughter. For noble family, it was extremely common.

"Life in noble family is not easy."

"Indeed."

Yang Xian patted Wei Liuying's shoulder. "You should go and have some rest. I'll call doctor later."

"Thank you."

Wei Liuying walked out of the study and looked back once. There were some sentences left unsaid. No one there wanted the fate that occurred to Princess Ji Xiaoli, but this was the only method to reduce the number of casualties. If not, war will definitely continue at an even more intense rate.

There were always some sacrifices needed.

All they could do was hoped that everything would turn out to be fine in the end.

After Wei Liuying had left, Yang Xian looked at Prince Ji Sheng and crossed his hands. "So, what do you plan to do next, Sheng? I know that you're not going to agree with the plan so easily."

"I already asked permission to make negotiation," Prince Ji Sheng replied. "Imperial Father is not too happy about what I asked, Xian."

"Even if he's not happy, it's not like he'll monitor all of your movements back at north," Shi Yan said with a grin. He played with a book on his hand as he fiddled around. "Besides, I can easily move place with my carriages and goods."

Shi Yan was not exactly affiliated with Han Shi Kingdom. If it was necessary, he didn't find it a big problem to move to the north and centered his trade with Xiong Tribe and many other tribes there. After all, he was familiar with what they needed and had some access to those places as well.

It was easy for him to do the trades as long as he could control the carriages and flow of goods from trades.

Yang Xian shrugged. "Even if the Emperor didn't like the idea, it's better than just relying on the marriage agreement. We all knows that it can only last 3 years at most."

3 years was already an overstatement.

Based on what they watched over at the north, they knew that it would be good enough if the marriage could last for two years. It would be even better if Princess Ji Xiaoli managed to get the prince's heart and pulled him to their side. However, the chance was low.

"You'll be the one to prepare everything, Xian."

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Now you're back to polite again."

"Habits," Yang Xian replied uncaringly. He was used to treat Prince Ji Sheng politely when they were in the capital city because there were more ears here compared to the north.

Shi Yan yawned. "Now that we have decided, can I catch my sleep again? I don't understand why you have to spend so much effort just to erase that girl, I mean Liuying's trace."

Wei Liuying was wounded on the day she escaped. When it was day time, the trace of blood would be very apparent. However, Yang Xian had already ordered some of their men to clean up the traces and also made diversion to make sure that it couldn't be traced to their residence.

All were planned carefully when Prince Ji Sheng was in the palace, doing his part to finish the negotiation.

Yang Xian chuckled. "Don't you think she's worth it, Yan?"

"She's just better than average…" Shi Yan's voice trailed at the end. The memory of his crushing defeat in Wei Liuying's hand floated inside his mind. Even though it pained him to admit it, he had to say that Wei Liuying was amazing.

"See your expression in the mirror. Even you realize that she has something that many others didn't have. As long as she had the talent, just expending a bit of effort is nothing much." Yang Xian turned to look at Ji Sheng. "Am I right, Sheng?"

Prince Ji Sheng looked back. His dark pupil seemed to be capable to see through any layer of guise. He nodded his head. "Yes."

Shi Yan pursed his lips, but he didn't say anything more about it. When he first met with Ji Sheng and Yang Xian, they also have to spend some effort to help him. After all, he could only become a merchant thanks to their help in some matters. If not for them, he might have already died on the street a long time ago with unrecognizable body and his sister would be sold as a slave.

The three of them continued to discuss some other matters before they went their separate ways.

…

Time passed swiftly.

Wei Liuying stayed within the house that Yang Xian showed to her at first. It was originally the place for Yang Xian, but he was too busy to even return back and ended up making another bed in a small room nearby. She was not sure about his work, but she knew that he was a very busy person.

It took Wei Liuying a few days to heal completely. Aside from the wounds on her arm, she was also dead tired after three days of hunting then added with the tense condition where she had to perform series of act. Lack of sleep made her body weaker.

"You're still eating too little," Yang Xian complained when he saw the rest of the food on Wei Liuying's tray.

Wei Liuying pushed it to Yang Xian. "Please help me to finish the food."

"You're eating too little for someone who can use martial arts. You should finish the food," Yang Xian said sternly.

"It's too much for my small body."

"You're indeed smaller than 10 years old, but you're a martial artist."

It took some time before Wei Liuying could eat a few more bites and Yang Xian had to finish the rest. Over the past few days, he was the one who took care of her meal and schedule. The doctor who came over was an old doctor who had been taking care of Prince Ji Sheng for a long time. They could trust him to cure her.

"Can you move your hand around?" Yang Xian asked.

Wei Liuying nodded. "It's already healed."

"Good. Manager Xin will come in a few breaths' time. He's on his way to the residence," Yang Xian.

"Manager Xin will come here?"

"Didn't you tell him that you wish to purchase restaurant from your hard earned money?"

Wei Liuying pursed her lips. She did recall saying that, but she was absolutely sure that she had never told Yang Xian about that. It seemed that he must be asking Manager Xin about the matter when Manager Xin asked to meet with her.

"I did."

"There are several restaurants that are in need of money. If you can convince the owner, they might want to sell their restaurant to you," Yang Xian said with a smile.

Wei Liuying nodded. "I need to see it first."

"Good point."

Just like what Yang Xian said, Manager Xin arrived not long afterwards. He looked at the two of them and cupped his hands. "Good morning, Strategist Yang and Miss Wei."

"Liu."

"Yes?"

"Please call me Young Master Liu from now on," Wei Liuying said. There was only one family with Wei surname in the capital city. She didn't want anyone to recognize her if she used that surname.

Manager Xin understood and smiled. "I understand, Young Master Liu."

"Did you talk with Strategist Yang about my plan?"

"I…" Manager Xin glanced at Yang Xian, but the latter looked away. From the way it looked like, Yang Xian was unwilling to take responsibility from leaking out the information to Wei Liuying. "I don't have any other choice, Young Master Liu."

Wei Liuying didn't even bother to look at Yang Xian. "In that case, I hope that there won't be anyone else who knew about this matter."

"Rest assured, Young Master Liu. No one else will know about this." Manager Xin was tricked by Yang Xian to reveal this piece of news. He was also unwilling at first but had no other choice at the end. "Also, Wei Family come to visit the bookstore to search for you secretly."

"Did they find anything?" Wei Liuying asked.

Manager Xin shook his head. "There's no trace of your whereabouts in the bookstore. I have already burned your previous clothes along with the trash so there's no trace."

"Good work, Manager Xin."

"Thank you for your praise, Young Master Liu."

Wei Liuying looked at the bright sky. "Since the time is still early, shall we go and have a walk, Manager Xin?"