In Xue Huaiyi's mansion, he had the servants set up a table full of food, as lavish as a New Year's Eve dinner.

Once the dishes were all on the table, he dismissed the servants. At this moment, it was just the two of us.

The general drank and ate while chatting with me:

"Among women, you truly display extraordinary courage and insight. But if you want to use me as a pawn for your revenge, courage alone is not enough. I can't have a wife who is fearless but clueless. Show me your other abilities. Show me everything."

In other words, the general believed that only someone who excelled in both literary and martial arts could be his wife. He had already acknowledged my courage and boldness earlier, so now it was time for me to showcase my wisdom.

But I never received any education in poetry, calligraphy, or painting. Needlework and cooking couldn't be considered as wisdom. This posed a challenge for me.

Suddenly, I had a brilliant idea. I realized that I am someone who has been reborn, and I knew what had happened in the past two years. In other words, my exceptional wisdom was nothing more than prophetic foreknowledge.

"There will be war in the northern border at the end of the year..."

As a man of the military, the general immediately became interested when I mentioned war. He even put down his chopsticks:

"Tell me more."

Using my memories of the battle against the Xiongnu, I confidently discussed various topics with him, ranging from national diplomacy and troop deployment to weather changes and river redirections. I spoke fluently and he listened attentively.

Although he didn't praise me directly, I could tell from his expression that he admired me.

"Can we cooperate? You help me seek revenge, and I'll help you rise in rank."

He only chuckled and remained silent.

"You should eat," General Xue urged me kindly as I hadn't touched my chopsticks. However, I had a hidden motive for not eating.

"General, I don't mean to offend. It's just a strange habit I developed at home. I'm afraid it might ruin your appetite," I explained.

Upon hearing this, General Xue became even more curious about me. He gestured for me to do as I pleased and not to worry about him.

At this moment, I took out a small bag from my pocket and carefully tested each dish with a silver needle. If the needle didn't turn black, it meant the food wasn't poisoned.

General Xue couldn't help but marvel at my caution:

"What have you experienced in the Shen family to make you so cautious?"

"My birth mother was killed when she was in labor, and I was left as an illegitimate daughter in the Shen family. I had no one to rely on. Being cautious and careful is how I managed to survive until now."

I never cared whether others sympathized with me or not because no one could truly understand my pain. I casually put away the silver needle and began to enjoy the meal.

As evening approached, General Xue personally escorted me back to the Shen family's residence.

He said that one meal was enough to see my true intentions, and it would damage a lady's reputation to stay outside the mansion overnight. Marrying a woman with a bad reputation would bring him trouble.

I was afraid he would change his mind and break our agreement after sending me away, so I had to seal the deal.

"Alright, I, Xue Huaiyi, swear to marry Shen Anqing."