How difficult it is for a woman to be in the army, Lu Qingwan had both experience and imagination.
However, "Since that's the case, why have you now revealed your true nature?
Don't you still need the prestige you painstakingly built up now that you are no longer in the army?"
Li Su shook her head repeatedly, still smiling, "I have to thank the Princess Consort for that!
Because of your appearance, neither the Xuanjia Army soldiers nor the court officials of Daqian and Daqin look down on women as they did before.
Especially the Xuanjia Army soldiers, they show enough respect to subordinates, Ruyue, and even Manchun.
Subordinates no longer need to deliberately pretend to be fierce to maintain that fragile prestige."
Ruyue nodded in agreement, "It's true.
I haven't paid much attention to the Xuanjia Army soldiers and Daqian officials, but this time in Daqin, the officials in Zhongzhou are indeed less contemptuous of women.
Thinking back, the Princess Consort has raised the status of all women with her own efforts!"
No matter the time or space, it is not easy for women to win respect in an all-male environment.
Lu Qingwan unknowingly changed the status and treatment of many women, and Ruyue belatedly showed her admiring eyes.
Lu Qingwan felt a little flattered by such eyes.
"Princess Consort, we have arrived at Medicine King Valley!"
As Ying Er reported, the small talk among the women in the carriage was interrupted.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Lu Qingwan appeared dignified and graceful.
She stepped out of the carriage slowly and ordered expressionlessly, "Wake them up and go directly to Medicine King Pavilion.
Set up defenses immediately. Let everyone who comes in, but if even one escapes, do not blame me for being ruthless."
Medicine King Valley, once a paradise where spring lasted all year round, would today be the battlefield for her first head-on confrontation with Liu Hanyan.
As soon as she finished speaking, a familiar orange figure appeared in sight.
The baby-faced Cheng Yi hurried over, "Cheng Yi greets the Saintess, and welcomes the Saintess's return."
A year later, seeing Cheng Yi again, she still had that soft, doll-like face.
She looked so well-behaved and soft that people could not bear to say a harsh word to her.
Lu Qingwan calmly accepted the bow and, putting on a Saintess's airs, nodded, "Has the Palace Master arrived?"
When she learned that Liu Hanyan was still alive, Liu Xunran had Xue Hongyi send a message, wanting to see her, but she refused.
Later, when she learned that Liu Hanyan had no intention of recognizing her and even wanted to help Nie Wuming deal with her, she proposed to see Liu Xunran, but it was delayed until now for various reasons.
Lu Qingwan sincerely sighed that it was really not easy for the grandfather and granddaughter to meet.
She continued to walk as she spoke, and Cheng Yi naturally followed, "My master heard that the Saintess was returning and set off immediately.
However, since the Saintess has already returned, why didn't you go back to the Reincarnation Palace directly?
The Guiyun Pavilion where you and the son-in-law used to live is still kept for you, doesn't the Saintess like it there?"
"It's not yet certain who will live there. I'll talk to the Palace Master about it later."
Cheng Yi thought of the recent rumors and did not dare to say more, following Lu Qingwan into Medicine King Pavilion.
Lu Qingwan didn't know what Liu Xunran was thinking. After Liu Ruyan died, Medicine King Valley became ownerless. He didn't appoint a new Valley Master to inherit Medicine King Valley's mantle, but he maintained this place well.
It looked much the same as when Lu Qingwan visited a year ago.
As she entered and exited Medicine King Pavilion, Lu Qingwan saw the figure standing with his hands behind his back.
Wearing purple clothes and with black hair, he had sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. More than a year had passed, but no trace of time had left any mark on his naturally favored face.
Lu Qingwan walked in leisurely, waved her hand, and left Li Su outside the door.
Seeing this, Cheng Yi also tacitly did not follow in.
Lu Qingwan walked in slowly, bowed to Liu Xunran, and said calmly, "Are you well?"
Liu Xunran appeared exceptionally indifferent, but his eyes had been following Lu Qingwan's every step. Seeing her attitude, which was not much warmer than a year ago, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
He also knew that if the problem was not resolved, forcing her to get close and pretend to be intimate would only push Lu Qingwan further away.
Therefore, she spoke with an almost blunt and shocking frankness.
"I know what you're going to do, but you can't touch her for now."
Lu Qingwan's eyes suddenly opened, "Why?"
She had come back this time precisely to confront Liu Hanyan and openly secure the position of Saintess for herself.
For so long since the news of Liu Hanyan's survival had spread, the Reincarnation Palace had not made any move. She thought Liu Xunran knew about Liu Hanyan's actions and was disappointed in her.
Unexpectedly, the first thing she heard upon meeting him was this warning.
Lu Qingwan was instantly filled with rage. She had thought about it on the way here.
If Liu Hanyan was truly stubborn, she would spare her life out of consideration for the help Liu Xunran and the people of Reincarnation Palace had given her.
But it was fundamentally different for her to spare Liu Hanyan's life and for Liu Xunran to tell her not to touch Liu Hanyan.
The thought that she would have to hand over everything she had hard-won just because Liu Hanyan was her biological mother, and that she would have to endure her attacks and insults without retaliating, made her furious.
Liu Xunran had been closely monitoring Lu Qingwan's activities outside, and he naturally knew about the difficult days she and Si Fengwu had endured to repay the life-saving grace of Emperor Jing You and the former Empress Dowager of Daqian.
How could he bear to let Lu Qingwan suffer such indignity at Liu Hanyan's hands inexplicably?
He quickly explained, "She is not your mother."
"Impossible."
Lu Qingwan said without hesitation, "I have investigated, and she is indeed Liu Hanyan, your biological daughter, and also my biological mother. This cannot be wrong."
She had personally conducted the paternity test, so how could there be any mistake?
Liu Xunran gazed at her intently, and amidst Lu Qingwan's growing impatience, he spoke, "In a sense, she is like you; she is Liu Hanyan, and she is also not Liu Hanyan."
Normally, Lu Qingwan was most impatient with such ambiguous words, but she understood Liu Xunran's words almost immediately.
Fearing that she had misunderstood, Lu Qingwan specifically confirmed, "What do you mean by 'like me'?"
"The person who is about to come here, her body is Liu Hanyan's, but her soul is not."
Liu Xunran was also worried that Liu Hanyan would use her body to harm Lu Qingwan, so he did not hide anything.
Lu Qingwan was so shocked that she stammered, "You, you already knew I wasn't the real Lu Qingwan?"
"No, you are Lu Qingwan, Liu Hanyan's daughter, my granddaughter."
Liu Xunran said seriously, "The so-called borrowing a corpse to return a soul is merely taking a shortcut in reincarnation.
Since you have entered this body, you are her, and she is you."
It was exactly the same as what Si Fengwu had told her when she first transmigrated!
Lu Qingwan was both moved and puzzled, "If that's the case, why are you so lenient towards me?"