She knew that if she didn't figure out why those people had died sooner, she would meet the same fate.
Once unsuccessful, twice, three times, accidents happened, each time perilous, until she, like those people, appeared on that list.
But she didn't want to die yet, and certainly not in such a muddled way.
Therefore, as the second person besides Lan Tingshuang to notice the group of transmigrators, Xie Shichuan naturally became her target.
Xie Shichuan was unaware that Lu Qingwan's intelligence system had become so powerful that she was almost transparent to it.
However, she knew that Lu Qingwan would not risk coming to Xiliang City to see her without some assurance.
As a test, and to ensure a fair transaction, she cautiously asked, "How can you prove that you can help me see Liu Hanyan?"
"She is now the Empress of Southern Qi. In fact, it's not just me; if you wish, you can see her too."
Lu Qingwan appeared unguarded and said casually, "Of course, whether you can achieve your goal after seeing her is not something I can decide."
This was a seemingly ordinary sentence, but Xie Shichuan was so shocked that she stood up upon hearing it.
"What did you say?
Liu Hanyan is the Empress of Southern Qi. What proof do you have?
Perhaps genuinely shocked, Xie Shichuan's movements were significant enough that Li Su and the others nervously drew their swords.
Lu Qingwan looked bewildered, "What proof is needed for this?
You yourself made a deal with Nie Wuming and the elders of Wuan Palace, and you've been exchanging glances with Liu Hanyan. Do you not even know her identity?
How dare you agree to Nie Wuming's request to disregard the flirtatious exchanges between Northern Wei and the Turks?"
As she spoke, she cast a suspicious glance, "By the way, are you truly the Xie Shichuan I knew back then?"
The Xie Shichuan of the past, though somewhat blinded by hatred, at least had a functioning intellect.
The current Xie Shichuan, who seemed to be outwitting everyone and was incredibly clever, yet handed herself over without even knowing the identity of her enemy, the Empress of Xiliang, was like a different person from the Xie Shichuan of the past.
"Of course, I am still Xie Shichuan. But hearts change. If I were still the same as before, how could I have survived until today?"
Xie Shichuan spoke as if lost in thought, perhaps musing or answering Lu Qingwan's question.
After muttering to herself, she continued, "You want to know why I'm looking for those people, right?
I'm not afraid to tell you: I just want to live, to live with dignity."
This statement completely bewildered Lu Qingwan. "What do you mean? You are already the Empress of Xiliang.
As long as the child in your womb is born, you can kick Xiao Jing'an aside at any time and rule from behind the curtain. Is this not dignified enough? What more do you want?"
Lu Qingwan admitted that her intelligence was not quite keeping up, and that the current situation seemed to be deviating from her original purpose.
Xie Shichuan looked at her with a sarcastic gaze. "Ruling from behind the curtain sounds quite imposing, doesn't it?
But do you still remember that I originally intended to kill Xiao Jing'an?"
Lu Qingwan nodded vigorously. Of course, she remembered. She still remembered the look in Xie Shichuan's eyes, crimson with hatred, as she vowed to kill Xiao Jing'an.
That was why, when she learned that Xie Shichuan had not only failed to kill Xiao Jing'an but had also become his Empress and was carrying his child, she had been so shocked that she doubted her own life.
Yet, even so, she had believed it was merely the result of Xie Shichuan weighing the pros and cons after gaining power.
When she received intelligence that Xie Shichuan was imitating Xie Shiyu in an attempt to find Liu Hanyan, she had even suspected that Xie Shichuan herself might have been transmigrated.
But now, it seemed all her guesses were wrong.
She said no more, choosing to be a quiet listener.
Xie Shichuan, likely having no one else to talk to, began to speak before Lu Qingwan could even ask.
"Back then, I had already killed Xiao Muan. Just a little more, and I could have killed Xiao Jing'an and become the empress myself.
But at that time, I was like possessed. I actually returned to Xiliang City and handed over the throne I had within my grasp to Xiao Jing'an, begging him to keep me by his side.
By the time I regained my senses, I was already his Empress, carrying his child. A six-month-old fetus, impossible to abort."
Xie Shichuan looked at her abdomen with no trace of warmth, only deep disgust.
Lu Qingwan even believed that if there were the slightest possibility, Xie Shichuan would be willing to cut out the child and strangle it.
For a woman to unknowingly conceive a child with the person she most hated and loathed was a great humiliation to Xie Shichuan, a formidable female general.
Thinking of her desperate search for Liu Hanyan, Lu Qingwan's heart formed a certain guess.
"So, you are looking for the person behind Liu Hanyan, believing that your abnormal behavior, doing things against your will, is related to them?"
Xie Shichuan remained silent, but Lu Qingwan knew she had guessed correctly.
"Although I have no right to interfere with your search for Liu Hanyan or the person behind her, and although recent strange events are undeniably linked to Liu Hanyan, there is something I think I should tell you."
Xie Shichuan's gaze was lifeless, like stagnant water, as she asked, "What is it?"
"You must know how desperate Feng Qingheng was to seize the throne.
However, after he ascended the throne, he did almost nothing to consolidate his power.
Furthermore, his memory was tampered with. The moment I mentioned Wuan Palace, he exploded and died."
Xie Shichuan's face changed drastically. Lu Qingwan quickly explained, "Don't worry, I've checked. You are neither infected with ač nor poisoned.
Your previous abnormal behavior was likely due to someone planting a suggestion in your mind, but for some reason, that suggestion is now ineffective.
If you don't mind, perhaps you could tell me about any strange or peculiar occurrences and people you've encountered in the past year? I might be able to determine what's going on."
What Xie Shichuan said aligned with Lu Qingwan's intelligence.
It was confirmed that Xie Shichuan's stance had not changed, at least regarding the killing of Xiao Jing'an, her resolve remained unwavering.
Lu Qingwan simply couldn't understand why she was so certain that her abnormal behavior was related to Liu Hanyan.
Xie Shichuan was not foolish. Having experienced so much in the past year, how could she not detect the probing in Lu Qingwan's words?
"Two years ago, I didn't even know that a place called Wuan Palace existed.
But just a year ago, after I was sent to Daqian as a tribute maiden, Wuan Palace was as if pushed right in front of me.
Nie Mingyang used Wuan Palace to gather intelligence and suppress Nie Wuming.
The people of Wuan Palace manipulated the factional struggles in various royal courts to influence state affairs. Things that seemed extremely hidden, I could uncover with a simple investigation.
Even the people at Wuan Palace's headquarters, I could meet whenever I pleased."
Her expression was as dark as the abyss, but her tone carried a clear aggressiveness.
"Now, are you trying to tell me that the people of Wuan Palace are also responsible for my abnormal behavior, which has led me to this predicament?"