Chapter 103: The Most Innocent Little Wan

Fragments of memories swirled and reassembled in her mind. When they finally formed a complete picture, she realized it was something she was born to endure. In the pitch-black night, Dai Yuheng told her, “Xiao Wan is dead. The funeral is tomorrow.”

The quilt slipped from her hands onto the floor. She turned her head in a daze, staring blankly at Dai Yuheng. “Is it true?”

Dai Yuheng sighed, frustrated by her slow reaction. “It’s true.”

Kai Ming’s sharp eyes instantly sharpened. “Then why waste time with useless talk? You should have told me earlier!”

Dai Yuheng swallowed a breath, feeling the blame unfairly cast on him. “Isn’t this your own business? It’s your memory that’s failing.”

“Are there horses?” She sprang up and swept past him like the wind. “Surely you didn’t come alone?”

“…We need to send a signal.”

She looked at him with surprise. “You’re brave, coming alone to find me? Aren’t you afraid I’d take advantage of the opportunity or something?”

Dai Yuheng shook his head slightly and smiled. “Commander Kai Ming and Dayin are different. They harbor no ill will, so I don’t need to be overly cautious.” Seeing her eyes widen, he quickly stopped her from saying anything foolish. “Actually, I’ve always felt guilty about this matter. Although it was my father’s intention, I cannot completely absolve myself. I’ve been looking for a chance to apologize to the commander.”

His words were skillfully crafted, expressing regret while shifting the blame onto Dai Huang.

Kai Ming, however, was unmoved. She laughed bitterly and said, “If apologies worked, why would we need the police?” She then burst into laughter herself, recalling the most popular school drama last year, where the male lead’s cockiest line fit perfectly here.

Dai Yuheng opened his mouth, utterly baffled. The great joke on him had turned into an atmosphere-killer.

“Stop dawdling and send the signal,” she said impatiently.

Now he felt like the fool. Dai Yuheng shook his head and followed her out of the courtyard gates.

Just as they stepped outside, his eyes caught a shadow lurking in the corner, watching her unnoticed. He moved toward it.

“Young master,” a black-clad figure with a covered face lowered their voice.

“Speak quickly!” He frowned. “What about the men from the Northern Palace?”

“Following your orders from last night, we have been cautious. The two men from the Northern Palace have not suspected anything. Should we escort them back to the country?”

“Of course not,” Dai Yuheng said coldly. “Find an opportunity to strike halfway through—make it clean and quick!”

The black-clad man looked momentarily confused. “Ah?”

Dai Yuheng’s tone turned sharper. “Ying Huo is ambitious and highly respected in the military. We cannot let him return to the Northern Palace—it would be like nurturing a tiger that will bring disaster. If he hadn’t compromised with me, no one could get close to him. Give the orders carefully: be cautious and strike precisely!”

“Yes!” the black-clad man acknowledged.

“Wait.” Dai Yuheng suddenly remembered something and called him back. “Bring two horses.”

“Yes.” The man agreed. “My horses are just behind.”

Spurring the horse forward, Kai Ming, usually unskilled at riding, now galloped swiftly up the slope. Dai Yuheng, an expert rider, found himself unable to catch up.

As they neared Dayin’s territory, Dai Yuheng pulled the reins abruptly, watching her dash into the thick, leafy woods like a gust of wind. A faint smile curled at his lips as he turned his horse and rode away.

---

With Xiao Wan’s death, even if Dayin and Kai Ming did not become mortal enemies, there was no chance they would unite again.

Soldiers holding guns blocked her path, shouting, “How dare you! Don’t you see the general is here?”

Kai Ming sneered. “Dismissed, what kind of general are you?” She cracked the reins and leapt over the soldiers, horse and all.

The soldiers shouted in alarm and dodged. Her heart pounded wildly—who knew she still had such horsemanship? A whistle startled her mount into a gallop. Leaning far back, she nearly fell off.

Still shaken, the restless horse carried her into the forest. After a few steps, more soldiers appeared, facing her like she was an enemy.

Her eyes caught the figure in the center, turned away from her—a black coiffure, a neck as white as snow, dressed in flowing white robes, the breeze lifting the fabric like a spirit.

No matter how graceful and stunning this figure was, Kai Ming had no desire to admire. Her eyes lit up as she shouted, “Dayin!”

The figure slowly moved after hearing her call. Dayin turned, his profile cold and stern. “Kai Ming.”

The soldiers seemed to take a cue, stepping forward with swords drawn.

Dayin turned fully to face her, voice sharp. “Everyone, withdraw outside the forest. No one enters without my order!”

The soldiers obeyed, sheathing their weapons. Dayin paused, then added, “Also, not a single bird is allowed in.”

“Yes, sir!” The soldiers marched out in perfect formation.

Kai Ming dismounted and approached step by step, eyes full of inquiry and confusion. Dayin met her gaze calmly.

Her eyes flicked to the small grave behind him, a white funeral banner fluttering in the wind. Her expression changed dramatically.

Dayin noticed and said coolly, “You came to see Xiao Wan, didn’t you?”

“What happened to Xiao Wan?” Kai Ming advanced slowly, glaring fiercely. “Xiao—”

“It was an accident.” His voice floated softly.

“An accident?” Kai Ming bared her teeth. “How can you call it that? How can you be a mother? If you couldn’t protect Xiao Wan, why did you take her in?”

“That’s my business,” Dayin replied lightly. “Besides, it was with Xuan’s consent.”

“Xuan consented to what?” Kai Ming stepped forward and slammed her fist onto Xiao Wan’s tombstone, shouting in hatred, “Did he consent to you trampling on Xiao Wan’s life?”

“Kai Ming.” Dayin turned to face her directly. “You have no right to interfere in our affairs—whether it concerns Xiao Wan or Xuan.”

“What did you say?!” Kai Ming’s face twisted with rage, nearly lunging at her. “My husband, my child—you dare say I have no right to care?”

Dayin stepped back two paces to avoid her sudden outburst. “Indeed. Since it has come to this, I might as well be frank. Xiao Wan is not my biological child.”

“What?” Kai Ming’s anger turned to bitter laughter. “How fickle you are, General. Alive, she was your daughter; dead, you deny her?”

Dayin’s expression remained unchanged. “Listen carefully, Kai Ming. Xiao Wan is truly not my daughter.”

---

Kai Ming looked at her coldly, reaching for her neck. The jade pendant was gone—she recalled that half of the jade piece had been taken and kept in her inner pocket after she learned it belonged to Dayin. She pulled it out and casually tossed it to her.

Dayin deftly caught it midair.

“And this? How do you explain it?” Kai Ming asked coldly. “If she’s not your daughter, why was this token hung around Xiao Wan’s neck?”

Dayin stared silently at the pendant in her palm, her gaze flickering. “This... actually means nothing. Xiao Wan was, from beginning to end, only a substitute…”

“A substitute? Whose substitute?” Kai Ming’s icy voice carried a hint of surprise.

“A substitute, of course,” Dayin smiled bitterly. “For my own child.”

Kai Ming frowned deeply, puzzled. “Could you be more explicit?”

Dayin clenched the pendant tightly. “It’s a long story…”

“Then make it short and tell me what matters.”

Dayin shot her a glance, seemingly annoyed by the command but not willing to argue. She turned toward Xiao Wan’s cold tombstone and spoke slowly, “In truth, Xiao Wan was the most innocent and pitiable child in this entire affair…”

Her eyes moved to Kai Ming, then suddenly shifted the topic. “Kai Ming, how well do you know Xuan?”

Kai Ming made a questioning sound, not understanding why Dayin was changing the subject or why Xuan was suddenly mentioned.

“There’s a reason I ask,” Dayin said calmly. “Do you know that Xuan is not as gentle as he appears? Haven’t you seen his other side?”

Kai Ming furrowed her brows, unable to decipher Dayin’s intentions.

Dayin smiled coldly and looked into the distance, lost in memory. “The first time I saw Xuan was by the border road of the Eastern Palace. He was sitting right at the boundary marker, dejected, lost, completely devoid of fighting spirit. I noticed him immediately—not because he was by the boundary marker, nor because his despair aroused my sympathy, but because…” Dayin paused. Kai Ming watched tensely, wondering what surprising reason she would give.

“Because he was drenched in blood from head to toe…”

“Completely as if he had just been pulled from a pool of blood. The blood pooled at his feet, winding toward my horse’s hooves…” Dayin sighed softly and raised her chin. “I wondered how badly he must have been wounded to be covered in such blood.”

Kai Ming gasped inwardly; she had never imagined Xuan like this.

“I clearly walked past him but couldn’t help turning back. I asked if he wanted to joinI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.