Chapter 45: Rising Anxiety

His voice was urgent, and his eyes were already red…

Li Yunli curled her lips into a faint smile and calmly withdrew her fingertips. “But this location is closer, making it easier for the two teams to support each other. Given our current numbers, we are not suited for an extended battle.”

She deliberately avoided continuing the conversation about the past with Yun Chu and instead proposed a new plan after careful consideration, watching his reaction from the corner of her eye.

Yun Chu pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. “That works. The battlefield changes, and adapting to circumstances is the best strategy.”

His response was serious, making it seem as if his previous mention of the past was merely unintentional rather than a deliberate attempt to test her reaction.

Li Yunli quietly exhaled in relief—he had yet to suspect her true identity.

She then turned to Qingnian. “Master, now that you have taken over the disaster relief efforts, please also lift the information blockade Leopard Head Mountain has placed on Yongzhou. I have other arrangements to make.”

Qingnian replied, “Of course. Now that we are aligned with Your Highness, there is no need to continue restricting messages via relay horses. The forces of Leopard Head Mountain can also be utilized by Your Highness when the opportunity arises.”

Li Yunli smiled. “Then, Master, I must trouble you to release General Xiao. I will proceed with Yun Chu, while General Xiao will lead troops to support us from here. The Wurong region will be my responsibility, and Yongzhou will be entrusted to Leopard Head Mountain.”

The group discussed strategy in the pavilion, refining their plans over half an hour until they reached a final agreement.

Li Yunli finished the last sip of her tea.

Qingnian twirled his prayer beads and chuckled, starting a new conversation.

“I have a question for Your Highness. I wonder if you would be willing to answer?”

Li Yunli responded, “Please ask.”

Qingnian studied her and said, “Your Highness does not seem to have a complete memory of the past events?”

Li Yunli’s hand, which was holding the teacup, paused for a brief moment.

At that same instant, Yun Chu also turned to look at her.

Her voice cooled slightly as she set the teacup back onto the table. “Does it matter whether I remember clearly or not? Does it affect what we are doing now?”

She was not afraid of being exposed by Qingnian. Whether she remembered what happened in Yongzhou or not, she had the ability to adapt and handle situations accordingly. This would not impact their cooperation.

Qingnian smiled apologetically. “Forgive me. I only worry for Your Highness’s safety and fear that some crucial matters may not have been explained to you.”

Li Yunli’s tone softened. She admitted, “It’s fine. I indeed do not recall all the details. I only remember the general outline, but that does not change anything. Please, Master, do not be concerned.”

When she had previously asked Qingnian in the South Street whether he knew of a monk named Jingkong, he should have already realized that her memory of past events was incomplete. She had assumed that Buddhist disciples were tight-lipped, but unexpectedly, he had spoken without reservation.

Qingnian chuckled. “Then forgive my offense. Consider me still that wayward monk who never fully entered the Buddhist path. Seeing an old friend, it is difficult to conceal my true self.”

This explanation was hardly fitting for a master monk.

Li Yunli waved her hand dismissively, signaling that she did not mind, and they all parted ways.

—

After returning to the government office, Li Yunli immediately summoned someone to fetch Xiao Linjia, who was immersed in the heated disaster relief efforts.

The general, straightforward and serious in his work, was curious about what urgent matter had arisen. Upon meeting Li Yunli, he learned of the true cause of Yongzhou’s disaster.

Li Yunli unfolded a map of the Weishui River’s topography, which she had obtained from Qingnian, and analyzed it with him. Xiao Linjia fell into a long silence.

As a military general who had spent years on the battlefield, he had never considered the intricate political schemes of the court. If Yongzhou’s disaster had indeed been orchestrated to target the Grand Princess, it completely upended his understanding of power struggles.

With a grave expression, Xiao Linjia accepted Li Yunli’s request and agreed to venture deep into the western borders.

After he departed, her courtyard fell into a rare silence.

She sat quietly for a while before ordering a target to be set up in the yard and having a military bow and crossbow brought over.

In the original novel, the Grand Princess of Great Chu was a top-tier archer, capable of shooting down an enemy general in the chaos of battle. Though she rarely fought on the front lines, her strategic planning determined victories across thousands of miles.

Her military tactics were inherited from King Jin, yet her adaptability in the field surpassed his. If she had not been confined within the capital, she might have been remembered as a legendary female general in history.

Li Yunli weighed the five-foot bow in her hands, nocked an arrow, and pulled the bowstring taut.

Fortunately, she was not entirely unfamiliar with this skill.

She could ride horses and had practiced mounted archery. In her spare time, she frequented archery ranges and had even won a regional championship.

In this regard, she would not easily be exposed.

She narrowed one eye, loosed the arrow, and with a swift “whoosh,” it struck dead center in the red bullseye.

Lowering her bow, she let out a slow breath.

A deep, indescribable anxiety furrowed her brows.

“Is Your Highness feeling uneasy?”

Yun Chu’s voice sounded softly from behind her.

Li Yunli did not turn around. She drew another arrow and pulled the bow. “Why do you ask?”

“When Your Highness was restless in the past, you would often practice archery.” His voice was gentle, undisturbing, yet it revealed something that caught her attention.

“Whoosh—Bang!!”

This shot was forceful, betraying the archer’s hidden emotions.

Li Yunli frowned slightly, lowering her bow. “I used to practice archery when I was restless?”

A strange feeling arose in her heart.

Most people under pressure find ways to relieve stress—swimming, working out, running, indulging in food. Li Yunli had always liked archery; after a day of shooting, her arms would ache, but her mind would feel at peace.

Could it be that the original owner of this body shared the same hobby?

Yun Chu nodded. “Many years ago, during the war against Wurong, Your Highness even destroyed several targets.”

He smiled faintly. In the past, she never fought on the front lines, yet she abhorred bloodshed. Before battles, she would always be tense, so she chose archery over swordplay—contradictory yet endearing.

Perhaps, now that she was once again dealing with Wurong, she had instinctively grown nervous. He reassured her, “This time, we are merely investigating the water systems. We may not even encounter the enemy. With General Xiao’s troops accompanying us, we will not be at a disadvantage. Please rest assured.”

“I am not worried about the Wurong people.”

Li Yunli tightened her grip on the bow.

She couldn’t quite articulate what exactly she was worried about.

This anxiety had taken root the moment Yun Chu told her about reincarnation.

After their conversation yesterday, following Yun Chu’s execution of that Wei soldier, her unease only grew.

Speaking with Qingnian gave her more clarity about her situation, yet instead of easing her mind, it made her even more unsettled.

“The surroundings are still dark. I have yet to find solid ground. How can I not be cautious?”

She could only attribute these negative emotions to this reasoning.

All her concerns about the unknown future stemmed from the fact that she was not entirely safe.

She did not fear challenges—but she sought stability.

Her voice carried such quiet desolation that the atmosphere turned cold.

Yun Chu fell silent.

He understood her worries.

But his own position was too precarious—she might not even fully trust him.

And if she truly did not remember… then what exactly did she know?