The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

"Third Yan is shot!"

"What? Is it the son of the Generalissimo, Third Yan?"

"Yes! It's said that he was pursuing the fleeing soldiers of the Jin Kingdom and was hit by a surprise arrow from the enemy."

"Crash!"

At the counter of the wine shop, Jiang Xinyan’s freshly brewed wine spilled all over the floor. The shards of the shattered wine bottle scratched her embroidered shoes.

The cold wine seeped through the shoe surface, wetting the socks, but Jiang Xinyan was oblivious. She stood there in a daze, walking toward the men who were talking: "What did you just say?"

Those men had only heard some rumors and were gossiping among themselves. How could they dare to spread them around?

"N-Nothing..."

"Let's go, let's go..."

Even if it were true, this was a military secret. If they admitted knowing, it would only lead to the discovery of which soldier had leaked the information by writing an unauthorized letter home.

"Miss, please don’t worry. Second Lieutenant Meng Qingyu... isn't he still on his marriage leave in the capital? We could go ask him."

Although they served under different generals, they should still share information, right?

Jiang Xinyan clenched her fists: "You’re right. I can’t panic... I’ll go ask Meng Qingyu."

She left the wine she had bought for her father and, taking a carriage, went straight to the Meng household.

When Xi Que heard that Third Miss Jiang was here, she quickly put down her brush, instructing a maid to prepare water to clean the ink stains from her face.

Jiang Xinyan naturally couldn’t visit Meng Qingyu directly, so she had to go through his wife, Xi Que.

"Third Miss, are you looking for Qingyu?"

Xi Que bluntly said, "Qingyu just met someone from the Grand General’s household. It seems he rushed off to the General’s mansion in a hurry. S-Say..."

Before she could finish, Jiang Xinyan lifted her skirts and ran: "Hurry, to the Grand General’s mansion."

Her heart raced, sensing a premonition that Third Yan was in trouble.

No, no, no…

She shook her head, pushing away the feeling of panic, placing a hand on her chest: "Jiang Xinyan, stay calm. The more critical the moment, the calmer you must be. Think of what Mother and Sister always say. Third Yan himself said he would return before autumn to get married."

Have faith in him. You must have faith in him.

While snow fell by the cliffs, the capital was already nearing summer. May's pagoda trees were in full bloom, their yellow-green petals clustered tightly together, and the fragrant blossoms infused the market streets with a refreshing fragrance that soothed people's hearts.

In the Imperial Garden, many flowers were at their peak. The weather was pleasant, and the retired imperial concubines had grown accustomed to strolling through the garden to admire the flowers and sip tea.

Since they no longer vied for the Emperor’s favor, they found contentment in everything.

They ate well, felt healthy, and enjoyed life.

"Isn’t Third Yan the Empress’s sister's fiancé? What will happen to the Empress’s sister if… if something happens to him?"

"Exactly! The Empress has been kind to us; we can’t forget her benevolence. Is there anything we can do to help her?"

"We’re just a few women, out of favor, what can we possibly do?"

"Why not ask and see?"

At the corner of the corridor, the Empress’s procession approached. The widow concubines stepped forward: "We pay our respects to the Empress."

Jiang Xinyue had just finished reading a letter from the border when her palanquin was halted. She looked at them curiously: "What is this about?"

Although unfamiliar faces, they addressed themselves as concubines, so they must be from the “pension home” for retired imperial consorts.

"Empress…"

A blush-cheeked concubine stepped forward: "We’ve heard that the border situation is tense. We’d like… to contribute in our own small way."

Tensions were indeed high at the frontier, but the imperial treasury was well-stocked. It wasn't yet time for the concubines to donate money or supplies.

"And how do you wish to contribute?"

She assumed they meant donating a few jewels or personal savings, which she allowed without hesitation.

But upon returning to Kunning Palace, the sight of boxes filled with medicine and winter clothing truly opened her eyes.

In wars, injuries were inevitable, and medicine was as crucial as food.

"Shuang Jiang, arrange for a block of ice to be stored in the Internal Affairs Department for each of the ladies in the Quiet Peace Palace. Also, send a basket of lychees to them."

Since it wasn’t yet the peak of summer, using ice now was wasteful. It was better to store it in the Internal Affairs Department for later use when the heat was most intense.

"Xiao Xiangzi, send someone to inform the Jiang household, lest my sister hears any rumors and worries."

Her younger sister was always thoughtful, but her melancholic nature bordered on that of Lin Daiyu.

Unexpectedly, this time, Jiang Xinyan took matters into her own hands and went directly to the Grand General’s mansion to inquire.

The Grand General had already returned to the border, while Princess Wei Shu, who had just given birth to a granddaughter for the General’s household, was still recovering at home.

"The arrow was laced with poison. It was the Jin Kingdom's Northern Prince Helian Ying. He wanted to use our hands to eliminate Helian Chi and then assassinate Shi Ruojun before returning to the Jin Kingdom to claim he had avenged the last emperor and empress, thus inheriting the throne."

After hearing Meng Qingyu’s explanation, the General’s wife sighed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t Shi Ruojun who led the ambush that day—it was her son, Third Yan.

Helian Ying had to settle for shooting Third Yan.

Little did he know that at that distance, the sound of his bow had already been heard, let alone his arrow.

Those standing in front of him couldn’t possibly have been unaware.

Combined with the fact that the military advisor had been shot, even a fool could deduce what had happened.

So Helian Ying was captured.

In the dungeon, Helian Ying’s body was half dangling from an iron chain, the other half submerged in water.

"Northern Prince Helian Ying, infiltrating our army to assassinate our military advisor. The Jin Kingdom has transgressed beyond our limits. Under the command of General Shi, we will annihilate your Jin Kingdom. What do you think of this charge?"

Outside the water dungeon, the appearance of a face Helian Ying despised deeply loomed into view.

His ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍human skin mask had been torn off by Bai Tingting, revealing a face similar yet more mature to that of Helian Chi.

With a faint curl of his lips, contempt overshadowed the pain from his injuries: "Well played, Third Yan. You lured me into a trap, didn’t you?"

"Don’t speak so harshly."

Third Yan held a small carving knife, nodding at the guards beside him. Two guards understood, pulling Helian Ying out of the dungeon and binding him to a wooden stake resembling a human form.

"Wuma Jianli… or rather, Ye Qiang’er of the Great Yan. Our Empress promised her revenge.”

Helian Ying seemed not to have heard of this person, his expression blank as he frowned at Third Yan: "What are you talking about?"

The sharp blade sliced across Helian Ying’s shoulder blade, the flesh parting, causing Helian Ying to break out in cold sweat.

"But it was you who sent Wuma Jianli’s brother to the Eastern Prince for torture back then."

Helian Ying groaned: "In victory, the king; in defeat, the pawn. Do with me as you will."

He had long since forgotten about the fate of a mere slave.