Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Little Princess of the Jiang Dynasty

The Shen family.

A deep, secluded mansion—cold and desolate. Black-clad guards blended seamlessly into their surroundings, keeping the courtyard under strict watch; not even a fly could enter and leave unscathed.

Amidst this bleak backdrop, beauty could not be confined.

Shen Yueyu was under house arrest by her own father, Shen Zhao. She had food and drink, and was no longer forced to do anything she didn’t wish to; aside from her wan complexion, she was much the same as usual.

A young lady from the imperial city disappearing for a day or two was hardly a matter of consequence. In fact, a noblewoman occasionally staying at home would avoid any gossip.

Shen Zhao no longer concealed his ambitions, and even brought his partners to Shen Yueyu’s courtyard to discuss their plans.

Perhaps out of a last shred of reason, Shen Zhao hoped his daughter would cease resisting him. When he toppled the Jiang dynasty’s rule, his daughter would become the princess of the realm.

He spoke with such fervor that it seemed he already sat upon the dragon throne, looking down over all.

Shen Yueyu let his words pass through one ear and out the other. She wasn’t so foolish as to mistake right for wrong; every time Shen Zhao tried to indoctrinate her, she remained indifferent, occasionally retorting, and he could do nothing about it.

She found herself wondering how Xiao Jiu was faring outside—without snacks, would she be able to adjust?

—“Achoo!”

Jiang Jiu rubbed her nose with her right index finger; it kept itching unexpectedly.

[Master, one thought, two curses—most likely someone is thinking about you~]

Jiang Jiu ignored the system’s self-amused chatter.

The plaque above the entrance bore the words ‘Palace of the Imperial Diviner’ in bold, flowing script.

The gatekeepers recognized her as the Ninth Princess and did not bar her way. Having prepared in advance, they squeezed smiles onto their faces, as if their wrinkles had multiplied.

“Greetings, Princess! Please, come in!”

Jiang Jiu was caught off guard, startled and awkwardly smiling in return.

“Ha, haha, hello, hello…”

[These people in the Diviner’s Palace seem a bit off. The way they jump out at people—who would dare come here!]

The system’s remark was spot-on.

Under constant scrutiny, Jiang Jiu made her way to the rear courtyard where the Imperial Diviner often lingered.

This… this was not as she had imagined.

A lush grove of purple bamboo, an ancient zither set amidst the greenery, a single incense burner, and at the end of the path, a bamboo house—elegant and understated, yet distinct.

Jiang Jiu followed the path to the zither, gently stroking its strings. The notes responded to her fingertips, leaping forth one by one.

“The zither is exquisite, but alas, I have never learned to play.”

A slender, well-defined hand reached from behind, clasping hers upon the instrument—dragging, gliding, plucking, and hooking—while the other hand rested on the body of the zither.

The notes tinkled like mountain springs; a complete melody unfolded beneath their hands.

“What is this melody?”

“Hua.”

“Hm?”

“This piece is called Hua.”

As the low voice spoke, she could feel the resonance from his chest behind her.

Jiang Jiu withdrew her hand, a surge of spiritual energy flowed forth; as the mask fell with a soft thud, the Diviner’s true face was revealed.

She rose and turned around, taken aback for a moment, then quickly composed herself.

“Long time no see.”

“Not so long, Princess—or should I say, Chong Li?”

Chong Li smiled with pursed lips.

Her suspicions confirmed, Jiang Jiu gazed at Chong Li’s familiar features and let out a genuine laugh.

Recent events weighed heavily on her; the system was little more than a decoration, everything depended on her own efforts. Rather than engaging in wits with these people, she’d rather just slay a monster outright.

“What’s your take on the case Jiang Ling has taken on lately?”

Seeing Jiang Jiu unfazed by his appearance, Chong Li sat on a stone bench at the side.

“From my calculations, Shen Zhao is merely a stepping stone. The true mastermind is likely connected to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. That place holds a rare treasure, which explains why your artifact spirit’s senses are blocked.”

Jiang Jiu propped her chin with her right hand, piecing together recent events bit by bit.

Shen Zhao wanted to join forces with the Pavilion’s hidden master to overthrow the Jiang dynasty. Yet, the Pavilion’s master saw Shen Zhao only as a disposable pawn. Given the origin of the golden silkworm threads, it was almost certain the Pavilion’s master was a remnant of Ziliao.

Therefore, rather than alerting the enemy, it was better to remain unchanged and let things unfold naturally.

“By the way, where did you get that lotus petal?”

“Did your artifact spirit not tell you?”

[Little rascal, did you ever mention it?]

Faced with the question, the system feigned death in its internal space, unwilling to admit any lapse in its duties.

Ah, to be saddled with such an occasionally reliable system—life as a lotus was not easy.

“That petal is Jiang dynasty’s heirloom treasure, passed down from a hundred years ago.”

“Meow~”

Hmm? From deep within the purple bamboo grove came a feline cry. A ball of white fur emerged, its heterochromatic eyes radiating nobility.

Jiang Jiu instantly recalled the day she shattered the flowerbed—wasn’t it this very creature?

The furry little thing was pure white, its coat soft and sleek. Stepping delicately, it approached Chong Li’s leg, rubbed against him, then cast a proud glance at Jiang Jiu before turning away.

“Is this… your cat?”

“Beautiful, isn’t it? I’ve raised it since it was young.”

But Jiang Jiu’s question wasn’t about its looks, she was clearly—

“You’re overthinking. Like you, I bear a mission—to protect you. But I am different; I can see into the futures of many, yet yours remains opaque to me.”

“Lotus, have you ever considered that one day you might sacrifice yourself for these myriad worlds?”

Jiang Jiu fell silent. Sacrifice herself for three thousand worlds?

Though she was unattached, after surviving a lightning strike, she was already half a step into the underworld and cherished her life deeply.

“No matter. You cannot answer now. In time, when you understand, you will tell me.”

As she was escorted out of the Diviner’s Palace, her mind remained muddled, as if filled with glue.

Mission?

Like Chong Li, she had been entrusted with a purpose. Yet to this day, she didn’t know where she had come from, nor where she would go after completing the main god’s task. Better to live in the present.

Still, she felt fortunate that someone as clear-minded and insightful as Chong Li, who could read the hearts of thousands, claimed to be her ally.

Her previous world’s mission had gone smoothly, and Chong Li had probably lent his aid more than once. Now, he had followed her again.

Upon returning to the palace, Jiang Jiu went directly to Xixia Palace to find Jiang Ling and Jiang Che, summarizing her thoughts. Though it was only speculation, her conviction was compelling.

Unable to rest easy, Jiang Jiu wandered back and forth on the path to Fengyi Palace, ultimately returning to Tangli Hall.

Naturally, the fewer who knew about this matter, the better. There are no airtight walls, and in a place as mixed as the palace, who could say if spies were lurking?

Under Jiang Ling and Jiang Che’s subtle guidance, the daily food and security for King Jiang and Queen Jiang had doubled their usual protection.