The massive gates of the General's Manor slowly creaked open. Both sides of the long street were packed with commoners looking for gossip and spies from various factions.
Several crates of betrothal gifts, tied with red silk ribbons, were carried into the manor. Although they met the standard for a Prince, the gifts felt somewhat bleak due to the desolate reputation of the "Zhanchuan" fiefdom. Xiao Zhan sat in his wheelchair, wrapped in a thick fox-fur cloak. Even under the midday sun, the lingering aura of sickness on his brow would not dissipate.
"Cough, cough-cough..."
Xiao Zhan pressed a handkerchief to his lips, coughing violently. A sickly flush rose to his pale face, making him look as if he might be swept away by the next gust of wind.
Hidden behind screen walls and tea house windows, spies secretly noted: Prince Zhan's breath is weak; he is no longer a threat.
The Main Hall of the General's Manor.
Crimson Nine wore a simple, light green dress, having shed the cold arrogance of her combat gear. She stood in the hall with lowered eyes, perfectly portraying a grief-stricken orphan girl of a fallen military family, forced to accept her fate.
"Long live the Prince." Crimson Nine gave a formal bow, her voice cold and clear. She took a step closer, her brow furrowing as she looked at him. "We haven't met in days. Why does Your Highness's condition seem even more severe?"
Xiao Zhan lifted his eyes to look at his "fiancée," his gaze blurred and weak.
"Ning'er..." He reached out a trembling hand as if to steady her, but abruptly pulled it back mid-air, doubling over in another fit of coughing. "This broken body of mine... has burdened you."
"Your Highness speaks too heavily." Crimson Nine stepped forward, seemingly concerned as she supported his arm.
The moment their skin touched, the tactical bracer on Crimson Nine's left wrist subtly pressed against Xiao Zhan's pulse point.
[System Prompt: Target is performing deep respiratory regulation, manually suppressing heart rate.]
[Scan Results: Internal energy flow is extremely powerful; muscle tension is at peak status.]
[Conclusion: Acting Score 99.9%. Target is a high-level dangerous individual.]
Crimson Nine's lip twitched imperceptibly. This man was so committed to playing a dying man that he was more "professional" than she was as a special agent.
"Your Highness, you mustn't stop your 'medication'," Crimson Nine whispered, using a frequency only the two of them could hear as she leaned toward his ear.
Xiao Zhan felt those cold fingers touch and then release his pulse. A fleeting flash of amusement crossed his eyes. He leaned most of his weight onto Crimson Nine's shoulder, acting like a frail husband who might faint at any moment, and whispered back:
"This 'medicine' you offer, Ning'er... I intend to drink it for the rest of my life."
At that moment, a female official from the Palace stepped forward, holding an exquisite jade box. Her tone was stiff.
"Prince Zhan, the State Preceptor, Xing Chen, sends his regards. The Preceptor says Zhanchuan is bitter and cold, so he bestows a 'Thousand-Year Snow Mountain Ginseng' to wish the Prince and Consort... a long life together until their hair turns white."
Crimson Nine glanced at the jade box, and a bright red warning instantly flashed across her retina:
[System Alert: Strong bio-marker enzymes and radioactive trace toxins detected.]
[Component Analysis: Phosphorescent scale powder (for tracking), Pheromone inducer.]
[Consequence: Long-term exposure will lead to immune system collapse. Target can be precisely located by 'Guiding Butterflies' within a ten-mile radius.]
"Give my thanks... to the Preceptor," Xiao Zhan nodded weakly, signaling Shadow Blade to take the gift. A flicker of cold mockery swept through the depths of his eyes.
The betrothal ceremony ended amidst an atmosphere of hidden agendas. The manor gates slammed shut once more.
Crimson Nine abruptly pushed Xiao Zhan away, brushing her shoulder with a look of disgust. "Your Highness, next time, act all you want, but don't actually cough spit onto my clothes."
Xiao Zhan wiped the corner of his mouth with elegance. Where was the sickly weakness now? He stood tall and steady, dusting off his robes, his phoenix eyes arching slightly.
"I didn't want to, but if the act isn't perfect, it would be hard to satisfy the Preceptor. However, this ginseng... how do you plan to handle it?"
Crimson Nine let out a cold laugh. "This ginseng is coated with 'Thousand-Mile Tracking Powder.' The Preceptor has a grand hand indeed—he wants to poison us slowly while installing a GPS on our bodies."
Xiao Zhan's gaze sharpened. "GPS? You mean... he can find us using this?"
Crimson Nine explained in terms an ancient person could understand: "It means this thing is like an invisible ghost hand. No matter where we run, the Preceptor can use it to find us."
Xiao Zhan understood immediately. "Guiding Butterflies? That old fox Xing Chen is a master of such arts."
Crimson Nine looked at him for a few seconds before speaking with sudden, sharp decisiveness. "Since we are already tied to the same boat, instead of letting you guess, I'll lay my cards on the table."
She looked directly into Xiao Zhan's eyes. Her voice was cold as ice, carrying a resolve that did not belong to this world.
"The real Chu Zhaoning died that night, drinking poison amidst the humiliation of the broken engagement."
Xiao Zhan's fingers tightened on the armrest of his wheelchair. His pupils contracted sharply.
"Standing before you now is a soul from a thousand years in the future." Crimson Nine walked to the window, her silhouette lonely yet proud. "In my world, I had no name. I only had a code name—Crimson Nine. I was a Special Agent."
"Special Agent...?" Xiao Zhan repeated the strange word, his mind in a state of upheaval.
"An agent is a blade hidden in the dark," Crimson Nine turned around, looking down at him. "We undergo inhuman training. We master assassination, reconnaissance, psychological warfare, and advanced medical arts. I do not live for myself; I was born for the mission. My real name... is Shen Ning."
Xiao Zhan stared at her, trying to find a trace of his old Junior Sister in those familiar eyes, but he only saw a calm and wisdom as vast as an abyss. He finally understood why her rhetoric was so precise and why her skills were so bizarre.
"Shen... Ning..." Xiao Zhan slowly tasted the two words. His expression shifted from shock to a state of extreme excitement. "So, you approached me... also for a 'mission'?"
"No. For survival." Crimson Nine pointed to the bracer on her left wrist. "I took over this body, so I will seek justice for the Chu family. Xiao Zhan, you have the status; I have the ability. If we team up to flip this chessboard, you won't lose."
Xiao Zhan suddenly burst into laughter—a laugh tinged with madness and an unprecedented sense of anticipation. He strode over to Crimson Nine, his gaze burning as he locked onto her.
"Shen Ning... Crimson Nine... No matter who you are, since you dare to show your hand to me, I shall accept this grand gamble!"
He leaned in close, his voice low and predatory. "I originally had little interest in the throne of Great Qi. But now, with a 'Blade from a Thousand Years in the Future' by my side, I'd like to see just how far we can take this game!"