"...Guess what? Today's the big day—my sword's finally getting forged! I was hoping you'd come and cheer me on. But hey, if you've got stuff to do, I won't hold you back! Go, go!" Grace teased, a playful glint in her eye.
Evan Xiao paused for a moment, then said to the people behind him, "You all go ahead and follow the original plan. I’ll catch up with you later."
Only then did Grace notice the people standing behind Evan.
She was suited up in gleaming military armor, radiating power and authority—the very picture of a battlefield goddess, both fierce and stunning.
She was Sophie Shang, the Left General—famous for her icy composure and razor-sharp command. Her reputation for being untouchable was well-earned.
In her past life, when the Vermilion Bird Kingdom fell, Sophie Shang had ousted Evan Xiao and claimed the title of Grand General for herself.
It was Sophie who handed all kinds of so-called evidence to Gu Xingyun, accusing Grace of a scandalous affair with Emperor Tuoba Hong—an accusation that doomed both her and her son...
Those so-called 'proofs'—half-truths mixed with lies—were twisted into ironclad evidence of her supposed affair with Tuoba Hong, leaving her no way to clear her name.
To this day, Grace still couldn’t figure out what had driven Sophie Shang to betray her so cruelly.
Maybe it was on Zhuo Wan’er’s orders?
......
Grace looked at Sophie Shang for a moment, then asked Evan Xiao, "General, who is she?"
"She is General Shang."
"So you're General Shang!" Grace smiled. "They say you're a heroine among women. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved!"
Sophie Shang glanced at her coolly, her gaze indifferent and cold, as if she were looking at an ant that had accidentally crawled in front of her.
Then she looked at Evan Xiao, her eyes full of unwavering loyalty. "Alright. Don't worry."
Evan Xiao nodded slightly and said to Grace, "Come on, let's go watch the forging of your sword together."
Grace's eyes sparkled. "Really? You're not just saying that, are you?"
Evan Xiao nodded, swung up onto his horse, and led her away by the reins.
Watching their backs as they rode off side by side, Sophie Shang's expression flickered slightly.
His Highness actually got close to a human.
She could almost foresee Grace Zhu meeting a terrible end.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Sophie Shang's lips as she waved her hand. "Let's go!"
Louis Lin and Steward Qin bowed respectfully, handed her another Silver Dragon Horse, then mounted their own horses and followed her into the distance.
Grace glanced back.
She happened to see Louis Lin and Steward Qin following Sophie Shang away.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She had always thought Sophie Shang was Sophie Shang, and Evan Xiao was Evan Xiao.
But now, seeing Louis Lin and Quentin Chin actually working for her...
Were they closer than she'd thought?
She glanced at Evan Xiao and asked, "What are you and General Shang planning to do?"
"Military business."
"I see..." Military business. The perfect excuse to deflect any probing.
After all, military matters couldn't be leaked to anyone.
Grace switched topics, "So, is it back yet?"
By 'it,' she naturally meant the dragon.
"...We've already discovered his whereabouts."
In fact, they're heading out to rescue Leon Zane.
It's just that it takes planning, so there's no rush.
That's why he still has time to accompany her to see her sword.
"It's all thanks to your guidance that we found him," Evan Xiao added.
"Huh? Really?"
No way, right?
Evan Xiao shot her a look—one so smoldering it could set the air on fire. "The more I see, the more I realize I've struck gold with you."
That glance was pure trouble—enough to make her heart skip a beat.
Grace's heart fluttered, and she completely forgot to mention she couldn't actually tell fortunes...
When they arrived at Lucky Star, Grace was surprised to find her father was there too.
Seeing Evan Xiao, he chuckled and asked in a slightly odd tone, "General, you're here to admire swords too?"
Evan Xiao nodded. "Prime Minister, I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not!" Prime Minister Zhu replied. "A sword like this is a once-in-a-century treasure. Only those who truly understand it should appreciate it!"