Chapter Eighteen: The Young Princess of the Jiang Dynasty

“Glug.” “Glug-glug.” “Glug-glug-glug.” Lotus struggled desperately, but her ankle was tightly ensnared by water weeds. Cold water kept surging into her mouth, her vision blurred as her eyes were splashed. She tried to channel spiritual energy from her dantian, only to discover that this body hadn’t even entered the path of cultivation!

No, surely not! She had just arrived—was she going to leave for another world so soon? She didn’t want that!

Splash.

With the sound of someone falling into the water, the weeds around her ankle were shattered by a surge of spiritual energy. A large hand pulled her into a warm embrace and lifted her above the surface.

Lotus gasped for breath, gulping in fresh air, coughing hard to expel the water from her lungs. It took some time before she recovered. “Cough! Cough, cough! Thank you, hero! You saved my life!”

The figure before her wore a snow-white robe, soaked through from rescuing her. Water dripped from the ends of his hair, but his face was concealed by a silver mask.

A gentle warmth radiated from behind her—the stranger was using spiritual energy to warm her body.

“Thank you!”

No response came. Lotus thought, perhaps he was a kind-hearted mute. When she became powerful, she vowed to find a spiritual herb to cure his silence!

Her dress was mostly dried, though her hair remained a mess. She turned, intending to ask her savior to dry his own robe, only to find he had vanished.

She searched around, but the surroundings were empty.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. Two palace maids led a group of guards, rushing to her side.

“Little Princess!”

“Hurry, notify the First and Second Princes! The Little Princess has been found!”

Lotus gazed at the unfamiliar faces and could only rely on her skills—she feigned unconsciousness.

After some commotion, she truly drifted off into sleep.

[Master! Wake up! Night has fallen!]

[Hmm… So sleepy… Just let me sleep a bit longer… Just a while…]

Turning over, she pulled the quilt over her face, burying herself beneath.

[Master! If you don’t wake up, your father and brothers will arrive soon!! You still don’t know anything about this world!!!]

Lotus threw the quilt aside, stared at the bed curtains, clenched her teeth, and angrily kicked the blanket twice.

[You’d better pray you explain quickly, or else go back to the sea of consciousness!]

Wretched little thing felt wronged, but it wouldn’t complain—it would be strong.

This nation was called Jiang. It stood alone in dominance, all other nations submitted beneath it.

Jiang’s ancestors spilled their blood across these lands, trading sacrifice for prosperity and peace.

The world was unified, and generations of Jiang’s martyrs, soldiers, generals, and common folk—all contributed to its glory.

Lotus now inhabited the body of Jiang Nine, the Little Princess of Jiang.

Jiang Nine was born noble, cherished by the King of Jiang, pampered and spoiled, mischievous, nicknamed the Little Tyrant. Her two elder brothers doted on her so excessively that they once tried to let her choose her own sisters-in-law.

[From now on, Master, you are Jiang Nine!]

“Jiang Nine’s drowning—surely it wasn’t an accident.”

[Master is clever! Your father and brothers are almost here, hurry and lie down! I must report the completion of the previous world’s task to the Lord God!]

As the little wretch finished speaking, a handsome young man burst through the door.

“Little Sister! Little Sister!”

Jiang Nine lay on the bed, eyes open, gazing dazedly at the crowd.

“Little Sister?”

She looked so vacant and unlike herself.

“Oh no! Father! Little Sister’s lost her wits! She doesn’t even recognize her brother! Call the imperial physicians at once!”

Jiang Nine shrank back. This brother was a boisterous brute—his voice thundered so loudly her head buzzed.

Another young man peeked in; he carried a scholarly air, gentle as jade. These must be her two brothers.

Damn it, she hadn’t had time to ask the little wretch which was the elder, which the younger!

There once was a little wretch placed before her, and she hadn’t cherished it. If she had another chance, she would get up early! Sob, sob…

The First Prince, Jiang Che, pointed at the second, Jiang Ling:

“Little Sister, do you remember who he is?”

Jiang Nine shook her head.

“And me?” Jiang Che gestured to himself.

She shook her head again.

“This is bad, Brother. It seems Little Sister is truly hurt…”

Jiang Che did not object.

With another rush of footsteps, a man of imposing presence entered, arm in arm with a beauty, his face anxious.

“Father! Mother!” Jiang Che and Jiang Ling saluted in unison.

So this was the King and Queen of Jiang?

They looked so young—if not for the stubble on the King’s chin, he could have passed for a man in his twenties or thirties.

The Queen’s features were identical to Jiang Nine’s; she was simply a miniature version of her mother.

“Nine?”

To avoid suspicion, Jiang Nine decided to feign amnesia.

Her innocent, bewildered demeanor convinced everyone present she had forgotten them all.

After all, she was the Queen’s own daughter, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

The King of Jiang gently patted the Queen’s shoulder in comfort, then moved past his sons to sit at Jiang Nine’s bedside.

“Nine, you are the princess of my Great Jiang. I am your father. She is your mother. They are your elder brothers. We are a family, and I will find a way to restore your memory.”

Jiang Nine nodded as if she understood. The imperial physician, with the King’s permission, stepped forward to feel her pulse.

After a moment, he bowed to the King of Jiang. “Your Majesty, the Little Princess is not seriously harmed. She was submerged too long, caught a chill, and the memory loss is temporary. It will soon pass.”

“That’s good, that’s good. From today, your duty is to nurse her back to health until she recovers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty! I shall personally prepare the medicine!”

“Very well, go.”

Relief washed over the gathered family. Seeing Jiang Nine’s condition, their hearts ached.

Normally, Jiang Nine was attended by maids. This time, the maids had been deliberately sent away. At the pond, where palace staff would usually be present, not a single witness could be found—was this not an attempt on the princess’s life?

Jiang Nine felt guilty—partly because the real Jiang Nine had passed on, partly because the King and Queen, from the moment they entered, shed all regal airs, acting only as loving parents.

Jiang Nine gently tugged at the King’s sleeve.

“Father?”

The King’s eyes widened in delight as he gazed at her.

Her voice was soft and small, but it was the first word she’d spoken since waking.

“Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Nine, we are a family, so you don’t need to fear us. We will always protect you!”

Jiang Ling repeated “yes” three times, his joy obvious.

The Queen wiped away her tears and smiled. Jiang Che stood quietly by, a gentle smile on his lips.

“Father, white clothes, masked face—a mute—he saved me.”

Father and daughter’s connection was uncanny; though Jiang Nine spoke vaguely, the King immediately understood.

“The Grandmaster saved Nine?!”

Within the palace, many wore white, but only one wore a mask—the Grandmaster of Jiang.

But mute? The Grandmaster rarely spoke, but he wasn’t mute!

The Queen parted her lips in surprise; everyone seemed taken aback.

Jiang Nine couldn’t decipher their expressions. “Father, I’m sleepy.”

She wanted some time alone to gather her thoughts.

The King guessed she was exhausted and, after a few more words, everyone left, closing the door behind them.

The Queen left her own trusted maid to care for Jiang Nine; she couldn’t entrust anyone else.