You Were Supposed to Simulate Fate, But You Ended Up Running Away With All the Heroines

But Luo Jinlan wasn’t actually angry because of something Strategist Ji said. After all, the military affairs in Yan had been handed over to Strategist Ji and the others for years, and Luo Jinlan hadn’t meddled in them at all.

So why was she upset?

She was mad at how eagerly Strategist Ji wanted to follow Lu Ping back to Luoyang!

He’d sworn loyalty to the Yan Marquis, yet with just a few courteous words from Lu Ping, he was ready to leave?

Luo Jinlan huffed, “If Strategist Ji thinks so little of the Yan Marquis Manor, you might as well leave with him. Why say it in front of me?”

It was obviously a petty retort from a young girl.

But Lu Ping took the opportunity to chime in, “How could I dare accept someone who has angered the Yan Marquis?”

Strategist Ji was completely bewildered.

‘Just a moment ago, wasn’t I the favored one?’

‘How did things go wrong after just one drink?

“Yan Marquis…”

Fortunately, Strategist Ji was quick on his feet and immediately tried to defend himself.

But Luo Jinlan’s temper flared, and she didn’t want to hear another word. She pointed to the door and said, “Get out!”

Lu Ping glanced around and signaled to a few people, who quickly rose and escorted Strategist Ji out. The others, sensing the tension, found excuses to leave as well, not wanting to be Luo Jinlan’s next target for venting her frustration.

Lu Ping poured himself a drink and said, “Alright, they’re all gone now. No need to stay angry.”

Luo Jinlan turned her head away, still fuming. “They’ve left, but I’m still mad, and you are saying I’m not allowed to be?”

“Fine, you stay mad, and I’ll keep talking. We won’t get in each other’s way.”

Lu Ping spoke leisurely, “I didn’t really intend to poach anyone from the Yan Marquis Manor. I just sensed that Strategist Ji was quite ambitious and was worried that he might take advantage of you one day. So I decided to test him, and it turns out he really is an ungrateful person.”

At some point, Luo Jinlan had moved closer, almost pressing against Lu Ping. “What did you say?”

Lu Ping instinctively leaned back, trying to put some distance between them. “I said I was just testing him, not actually trying to recruit…”

“Not that. You said you were worried I might be taken advantage of?”

Luo Jinlan’s expression was serious, as if this was the part that really mattered to her.

Lu Ping was puzzled. “Huh?”

The anger on Luo Jinlan’s face suddenly vanished, replaced with a smug look. She said, pretending to be nonchalant, “What does it matter to you if I get taken advantage of? Mind your own business!”

“Right, right, the Yan Marquis is correct. It was presumptuous of me.”

Lu Ping shook his head, preparing to leave.

But a pair of soft, warm hands grabbed him, and Luo Jinlan, slightly flustered, said, “I wasn’t trying to make you leave. Don’t misunderstand. It’s just that no one has cared about me like this in a long time, and I couldn’t put down my pride… Please don’t take it to heart, okay?”

Lu Ping stopped in his tracks. Rationality told him to stay.

After all, she was the Yan Marquis and a princess, and given what she’d just said, it would be too much to not give her some face.

“However, I still have a few things I need to tell you, Yan Marquis.”

Through observation, Lu Ping had already placed Luo Jinlan in the “safe zone.”

That meant Luo Jinlan lacked ambition and didn’t have the capability to support any ambition even if she had it. She was just a brainless, temperamental young girl.

But while such a naive girl might not have ill intentions, she was easily manipulated.

Lu Ping decided to give her another warning to prevent any future trouble that could make things difficult for him and the Han Marquis.

Luo Jinlan nodded eagerly. “It’s just the two of us here. Say whatever you want.”

‘What was with the eager look in this girl’s eyes?’

‘Could it be that she had a strange fondness for being lectured?’

Lu Ping cleared his throat. “Earlier, I mentioned the powerful minister of the previous dynasty. The Yan Marquis misunderstood. I wasn’t being ambitious or trying to emulate that Zong Bang. I was merely trying to warn you about the dangers of a powerful in-law.”

“Dangers of a powerful in-law? You mean my uncle?”

Fortunately, this naive girl wasn’t entirely foolish.

As soon as Lu Ping mentioned “powerful in-law,” Luo Jinlan immediately thought of her uncle, Li Wenfu.

“Yan Marquis, think about it. Before I entered the court, didn’t Li Wenfu almost have the entire court under his control?”

Luo Jinlan shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never inquired about court matters, and besides…”

“Besides what?”

Luo Jinlan hesitated for a moment before quietly saying, “Besides, isn’t it you who’s in control now?”

Lu Ping almost jumped up. “You—you—you…”

You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want!

Lu Ping immediately regretted it.

‘Why did I bring this up with Luo Jinlan?’

‘What should I say next?’

Seeing that Lu Ping had suddenly fallen silent, Luo Jinlan nudged him. “Keep going. Weren’t you going to give me a few reminders? You’ve only given one so far.”

Lu Ping had lost all desire to continue the conversation.

‘Here I am, pouring my heart out to remind you, and you suspect me instead?’

But Luo Jinlan’s insistence left him no choice but to continue.

However, he decided to change tactics.

“I was ordered by the emperor to secretly investigate Li Wenfu. I’ve already gathered quite a bit of evidence proving his intention to usurp power. To be honest, this rebellion was orchestrated by Li Wenfu in collusion with the Di barbarians to disrupt the borders, forcing me to divert my attention from the court.”

Luo Jinlan nodded, but her expression showed she still didn’t fully grasp the situation. “So, why are you telling me all this?”

Lu Ping wanted to flip the table.

But he was too well-mannered, so he kept his temper in check.

“If he succeeds, and the three regions under the Yan Marquis’s control are taken by the Di people, then…”

Lu Ping figured she’d understand by now.

Sure enough, upon hearing that her territory could be seized by the Di barbarians, Luo Jinlan immediately stood up and headed for the door.

“Where are you going, Yan Marquis?”

Luo Jinlan replied, “You’re right. It’s too dangerous here. I’m going to pack my things and return to the capital, where it’s safe.”

Lu Ping was exasperated. “Does the Yan Marquis know that leaving for the capital without an imperial decree is tantamount to treason?”

Luo Jinlan froze in place. “Then what should I do?”

“The rebellion was going on, and you didn’t leave. Now that it’s been quelled, why would you want to flee?” Lu Ping asked in confusion.

Luo Jinlan blinked. “Didn’t you say my uncle was plotting to seize power and disrupt the borders?”

“No, no, no.”

Lu Ping couldn’t keep up with Luo Jinlan’s thought process and cautiously asked, “Yan Marquis, do you believe that Li Wenfu is planning a rebellion?”

Luo Jinlan replied, “Didn’t you say you were ordered by my father to secretly investigate him and that you’ve already gathered evidence?”

“Oh, right.”

‘When I hinted, she didn’t understand. But when I spun a lie, she believed it?’

‘If I’d known, I would’ve just lied from the start.’

Luo Jinlan still looked panicked. “As you said, even though the rebellion has been quelled, who knows if my uncle will plan another one? The few soldiers I have left can’t withstand the Di barbarians. So why don’t you help me think of a way to return to the capital to lay low?”

“Lay low?”

Lu Ping asked, “Yan Marquis, are you planning to abandon Yan?”