Unlike Max Mo's reaction, Charles Yin blurted out, "Zara..."
Madam... Zara... Zara Yun!
The moment Cici appeared, both Charles Yin and Max Mo instinctively called out the name of Zara Yun, the legendary female general of the Yun Family from the early Qing Dynasty, renowned for her brilliance and heroic spirit.
When Cici heard their voices, a strange emotion flickered in her eyes.
The other members of the national team were completely stunned!
This was totally the vibe of the Qing royal family, wasn't it?!
It was like a living, breathing example straight out of a textbook, wasn't it?!
Every gesture and every smile was flawless!
Even the consultants who came with the national team couldn't find a single flaw!
And these consultants were all renowned experts in Chinese studies!
They wished they could record this scene and take it back for their students to see, so they'd know what true royal elegance looks like.
Cici walked over gracefully, waving her handkerchief, and greeted everyone with a formal bow.
After the bow, she sat elegantly by the tea table, her armored fingers poised as she calmly lit incense and brewed tea.
Someone on the side began to play the zither.
Fragrant smoke curled, music floated in the air, and the beauty brewed tea.
The audience was utterly mesmerized by the scene before them.
Even the national team members, usually so proud, realized that their own tea skills were pale and lacking compared to Cici's.
After seeing Miss Cecilia Grant's skills, they finally understood that the highest level of tea brewing isn't just about technique—it's about one's state of mind.
Without the right mindset, even the most practiced skills are nothing but third-rate.
Cici understood this perfectly, which is why she spent the past few days at home, honing her own mindset.
If you're going to do it, do it right.
Charles Yin and Max Mo stared at Cici, both suddenly feeling lost and dazed.
These two usually calm men now had a hint of urgency in their eyes.
They couldn't even explain why they were so suddenly emotional.
The moment Cici stepped out, it was as if something inside their minds shattered.
It felt like something had broken free from its restraints...
The other national team members and consultants left by car to check into their designated hotel.
But Max Mo stayed behind, choosing to live up on the mountain.
At night, neither Charles Yin nor Max Mo could sleep, tossing and turning in bed.
Their minds kept replaying the image of Cici in her cheongsam, stepping out of that room.
Charles Yin was a bit better off; he just felt a wave of heartache.
But for Max Mo, the feeling was much stronger. He kept thinking he'd seen this scene before—it was so familiar...
But this was clearly the present day, and Cici wasn't Manchu.
Cici was a pure-blooded Han, her ancestors always lived in the Central Plains. So why did he have this strange illusion?
It was as if she was born to wear Manchu clothing.
With this bizarre intuition lingering, Max Mo finally drifted off to sleep.
In a hazy dream, Max Mo found himself in a vast, desolate world—yellow sand everywhere, the air thick with the scent of blood.
Just as Max Mo tried to figure out where he was, the distant sound of pounding hooves echoed across the land.
It was like watching a 5D movie—he could feel every pulse-pounding thrill up close.
A man who looked almost exactly like him, dressed in armor, rode a chestnut steed. A huge banner behind him bore the character: Shuai.
On the other side, another wave of hoofbeats thundered as a woman in red battle armor led her troops forward. The banner behind her bore the word: Yun.
Max Mo stared so hard he nearly stumbled and fell!
The woman on horseback looked exactly like Cici Grant! But her wild, commanding aura was so different from Cici's usual demeanor.
"Your Highness, are you serious?" The woman on horseback, her eyes full of confidence and pride, declared, "I, Zara Yun, am willing to face you in battle! But can Prince Shawn really make that decision himself?"
"General Zara, even as a woman you can ride into battle. Has the Han people run out of warriors?" Prince Shawn tightened his reins. "We Manchus are born heroes on horseback, and we admire Han intellect. General Zara, you may be brilliant among the Han, but to attack with your weakness against our strength—isn't that unlike the Yun Family's way?"
"Looks like Prince Shawn is a bit too confident. If you want to know who'll win, let's fight and see!" Zara Yun laughed boldly, her eyes shining, making Prince Shawn involuntarily blink.
"Fine, today I'll fight you one-on-one! If you can beat me, we'll retreat thirty miles!" Prince Shawn's blue eyes darkened. "Careful, General Zara!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Shawn snapped his reins and charged toward Zara Yun.
Almost at the same time, Zara Yun squeezed her horse's flanks and charged straight at Prince Shawn.
In the instant their horses crossed, their weapons clashed fiercely in midair.
Prince Shawn had always looked down on the Han, especially on horseback. He'd been a natural-born warrior among the Manchus since childhood.
He planned to win quickly, to cut down the enemy leader and crush the rebels' spirit.
But the moment their weapons met, Prince Shawn realized he'd been wrong!
That petite, alluring woman had a fighting spirit and skill that matched his own!
With a flick, thrust, and pull of her spear, Zara Yun instantly closed the distance between them.
"Looks like the Manchus aren't all that!" Zara Yun laughed boldly. "Who says there are no Han heroes on horseback? Prince Shawn, you'd better watch out!"
Provoked by Zara Yun, Prince Shawn stopped holding back and swung his weapon fiercely at her head.
This chapter isn't over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!
But Zara Yun's waist was incredibly flexible; she leaned back, her weapon catching and redirecting Prince Shawn's blow with effortless force, instantly neutralizing his attack and countering with the other end of her spear, striking at his side.
Prince Shawn, with his battle experience, twisted his strong body and grabbed Zara Yun's weapon with one hand as she struck.
Zara Yun's attack had run its course, so she had to retreat quickly.
The moment Zara Yun retreated, Prince Shawn's weapon followed, its blade grazing her cheek and slicing off her veil!
Zara Yun glanced at her cheek—one strand of hair had been severed by the blade and fell along with her veil.
Prince Shawn sheathed his weapon, but when his blue eyes met Zara Yun's, he froze.
He never expected that the woman who'd caused him so much trouble would be so... breathtakingly beautiful.
So Han women could be this delicate and stunning.
She was nothing like the rough women of the grasslands—her features were as beautiful as a painting, charming and alluring.
Even though Zara Yun was full of heroic spirit, her fair skin, high forehead, and refined features still made her a classic beauty.
Zara Yun glared at her fallen veil, about to admit defeat, when Prince Shawn unexpectedly declared, "I lost! I'll keep my promise and retreat thirty miles. But next time we meet, it'll be a fight to the death!"
Zara Yun's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she stared at Prince Shawn.
Prince Shawn flicked his reins, used his weapon to pick up Zara Yun's fallen veil, grabbed it, and led his troops away at speed.
Zara Yun stood there in a daze, unable to recover for a long time.
She'd clearly lost, so why did he...
Back in the Qing army camp, Prince Shawn had taken off his armor and sat in the main tent, holding the veil he'd knocked loose, with a strand of Zara Yun's hair still clinging to it.
Almost without thinking, Prince Shawn sniffed the veil, which still carried a trace of the girl's fragrance.
Prince Shawn's heart pounded like a drum.
In that moment, Prince Shawn knew he was doomed.
He'd fallen in love with that dazzling Han woman on horseback.
After that, several battles broke out between the two sides, each suffering losses.
What started as a fleeting crush, after repeated clashes, became a deep obsession—Prince Shawn could no longer let go of the Han woman.
On this day, both sides met again for battle as agreed.
Prince Shuo looked at the woman before him, the one he loved and hated, his usual calm replaced as he spoke: "I'm afraid this will be our final battle. In three days, a hundred thousand troops will arrive to crush the rebels in this region. General Yun, you only have ten thousand men. How can you possibly stand against the iron cavalry of the Qing?"
Yun Zixiao's eyes darkened. "Even if we lose, we must never retreat!"
"General Yun may not care about your own life, but do you not worry about your soldiers' lives? General Yun, the outcome is already decided—struggling further is useless. I can spare you, but others may not." Prince Shuo continued, "I don't wish to harm you, so..."
Yun Zixiao looked up at Prince Shuo, wondering why he was so talkative today.
If you want to fight, then fight! What's with all this pointless chatter?
Prince Shuo gazed at Yun Zixiao's stunning face, unable to stop himself from blurting out, "If you agree to marry me, I promise your ten thousand soldiers will survive!"
Yun Zixiao was stunned, then burst out laughing, her spear pointing at Prince Shuo. "Marry you? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard! We are mortal enemies—you Manchu invaders killed my father and brothers, insulted my sisters. How could I ever marry a butcher like you?"
Prince Shuo watched Yun Zixiao without a trace of emotion. "Then are you really going to watch your soldiers die with you?"
"War always brings death. I, Yun Zixiao, stand upright and will never be taken prisoner! If you want to kill me, do it—enough with the nonsense!" Yun Zixiao's brows arched sharply, her eyes full of murderous intent. "I already have a man I love. Please, Prince Shuo, never mention this again!"
What? She already has someone she loves? Who is it—who?