Her second senior brother took her to catch pheasants and mentioned to her that all three of his senior brothers were orphans and had no parents.

She asked then, "Were you also picked up from a mass grave?"

He said, "It's pretty much the same, mountains of corpses and seas of blood."

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood?

Jiang Qingwan felt a chill run down her spine.

Is it a battlefield?

The great war between the Sui and Zhou dynasties?

Aoho's voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness, I'm standing guard outside. Please call me if you need anything."

Jiang Qingwan snapped out of her daze and called her into the room.

"Qinghui, I asked you to look up Su Weichuan's information. Did you find anything?"

Qing Sui paused for a moment before saying, "I haven't picked up the documents yet, but I came to Qingfeng Village with you. I'll go take a look when I get back to the capital. Why did you suddenly mention Su Weichuan? Is the matter at Qingfeng Village related to Su Weichuan?"

Jiang Qingwan shook her head.

"No, I was just asking."

Just then, Lian'er came in carrying a steaming bowl of noodles. Upon seeing Qing Sui, she immediately smiled and said, "I made an extra bowl. I'll bring it to you later. Eat more, because if any enemies invade, my young lady will have to rely on you."

She put the bowls and chopsticks down and asked another question.

"Has Li Dou not returned?"

Qinghui said, "He insisted on going into battle with others, and I couldn't stop him."

Lian'er stamped her foot, a look of worry flashing across her face.

"This greenhorn thinks he can kill the enemy just because he has some strength. He has no experience at all. I hope something bad happens to him."

She had barely finished speaking.

Suddenly, a loud "boom" was heard.

The three immediately went out of the room, only to see a burst of fire explode in the direction of the city gate.

Jiang Qingwan and Qing Sui both frowned.

"gunpowder!"