For the ten million Spirit Stones offered by Ji Xuanyuan, even Chu Yuan himself was a bit stunned. He had thought the Crown Princess’s mention of “benefits” was just talk, but she actually followed through. In this regard, Chu Yuan’s impression of the red-haired beauty before him shifted slightly.
After taking the storage bag, he cupped his hands respectfully:
“Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. I appreciate your care over these past days!”
With that, he carefully cradled the young dragon in his arms and followed Chu Zhenshan and the others toward the door.
On the way, the young dragon, Gu Su Die, poked her head out from Chu Yuan’s shoulder, her dark golden eyes winking triumphantly at the Crown Princess, as if to say:
‘Poor woman! With me here, you’ll never keep my cook in this lifetime!!!’
Faced with the young dragon’s provocation, Ji Xuanyuan’s brow furrowed tighter.
Even though it was just a temporary parting, her heart felt as if a dragon’s claw had clenched it tightly, aching so much she could barely breathe.
She didn’t want Chu Yuan to leave, nor did she want him monopolized by a dragon that had just been born.
But Ji Xuanyuan could find no reason to keep him.
At this moment, her junior brother was not her guest elder, nor her subordinate—at best, he was just a collaborator.
Moreover, Chu Yuan’s true identity was the Holy Son of the Chu Clan, the one she had once run through with her sword.
What right did she have to keep him?
Though she understood all this, Ji Xuanyuan still instinctively reached out a hand to stop him as she watched his retreating figure.
“City Lord Fang, you should leave too! I wish to be alone!”
Fang Henian sensed the Crown Princess’s abnormality and asked in confusion, “Your Highness?”
“City Lord Fang, you should leave too! I wish to be alone!”
Fang Henian wanted to say something, but ultimately replied:
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As the door closed completely, the room was empty save for Ji Xuanyuan.
The candlelight from the auction hall slanted in through the window, falling harshly bright at the door.
She glanced at where her junior brother had stood, right within her reach, but now it was like her heart—empty.
Ji Xuanyuan felt a chill, her full chest seeming covered in ice that wouldn’t melt.
Staring at her own empty palm, she stood there in silence for a long time.
At the same time.
In a room across the way, Chu Yunlan and Ji Yumeng had witnessed everything.
In truth, once the auction began, the defensive formations of each room had been activated.
However, one of the two maids brought by the Great Elder of the Chu Clan was an informant planted by Chu Yunlan among the Chu Clan branch.
Through the maid’s perspective, both he and the Second Princess had clearly observed everything that had happened in the Crown Princess’s room moments ago.
Chu Yunlan was already accustomed to the Crown Princess’s focus on that waste.
But Ji Yumeng was seeing it for the first time, murmuring softly:
“What kind of charm does this Chu Yuan have? To make my sister so utterly lost?”
Seeing that the Second Princess had also taken an interest in that waste, Chu Yunlan couldn’t help but roll his eyes:
“Second Princess, that guy is no simpleton. Don’t go getting yourself dragged into this too!”
For Chu Yunlan, now that the Second Princess held his fatal secret, he had no choice but to face the identity of the fake young master. Compared to romantic entanglements, how to secure his position as Holy Son, and even Holy Lord, was his top priority.
Besides, the idea of “betting on both sides” from before was still feasible for him now, he believed.
After all, from an objective perspective:
Grand Princess Ji Xuanyuan was still the most suitable candidate for Crown Prince.
If the Second Princess failed to govern effectively, Ji Xuanyuan would have to return and take over.
Of course, that also depended on how Empress Wu Yue viewed the usurpation.
If the Empress directly condemned the Grand Princess to death, then his little scheme would be for nothing.
Regardless, for now, Chu Yunlan could only subordinate himself to the Second Princess.
Hearing Chu Yunlan’s warning, Ji Yumeng smiled faintly:
“Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Yunlan! Next up is the Divine Hunt Grand Ceremony. I’ve already ordered the civil officials to advise Her Majesty to decree that the Crown Princess preside over the Divine Hunt.”
With that, she looked at Chu Yunlan:
“Young Master Yunlan, you know what to do then, don’t you?”
Her eyes held a smile, warm and proper, like peach blossoms budding on the branches in March, revealing no sharp edge.
Yet, Chu Yunlan could detect the condescending scrutiny in her tone.
With his leverage in her hands, Chu Yunlan could only clasp his hands respectfully:
“Rest assured, Second Princess. Mutual benefit works best for both of us. However…”
He paused, shifting his tone:
“This matter is of great importance. Just in case, how about we set a Soul Covenant?”
If Ji Yumeng knew this secret, she held his lifeline. Those three words were his greatest secret and his biggest weakness. Once a Soul Covenant was made, neither party could leak it, and his secret would be safe.
When necessary, he could even exploit loopholes in the covenant’s terms to kill this Second Princess.
“A Soul Covenant?”
At this, Ji Yumeng’s crescent-shaped eyes deepened with more smiles, but a mist rose that Chu Yunlan couldn’t see through.
After a moment, she shook her head:
“No need. Young Master Yunlan and I hit it off at first sight. I trust in your virtue, unless… Young Master is worried that I am the sort to leak secrets?”
“I—”
Chu Yunlan’s expression shifted slightly. He wanted to refute but couldn’t find the words. A Soul Covenant was meant for two parties of equal standing.
But in the Second Princess’s eyes, her counterpart had no standing to negotiate terms with her.
Leaving aside other factors, if her schemes were exposed to the Crown Princess, she would certainly be put on guard and counterattacked.
But Ji Yumeng trusted in her own ability, with the help of Imperial Tutor Wenzhong, and was confident she wouldn’t be killed by her sister. At worst, she would be removed from the center of power.
Such an outcome seemed severe, but she had always been an overlooked child in the palace. Even if exposed, she would only return to square one.
The sky wouldn’t fall, and her life wouldn’t be lost.
Chu Yunlan was different.
Once his fake young master identity was exposed, he would lose everything he had. Who knew how the Holy Lord would punish him?
For this very reason, it became a dirty glove for Ji Yumeng to use and discard when convenient.
Thus, the Second Princess said no more, smoothed her sleeves, and nodded slightly to Chu Yunlan:
“So it’s settled, Young Master Yunlan. At the Divine Hunt Grand Ceremony, I await your good news.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the door.
Watching her departing silhouette, Chu Yunlan gritted his teeth, his expression dark and unpredictable.
Since birth, he had never felt so helpless about a situation!
How did this Second Princess come to know such a secret?
As Chu Yunlan was puzzled, Ji Yumeng, who had reached the door, suddenly stopped.
“Oh, by the way!”
Her voice drifted lightly, like the autumn wind outside the window:
“That waste from your clan you mentioned earlier… what was his full name?”
Chu Yunlan was taken aback:
“You mean Chu Yuan???”
Ji Yumeng murmured softly, the corners of her lips curling slightly:
“Interesting.”
With that, she pushed open the door and walked out, her footsteps fading away, thinking to herself:
‘This Chu Yuan, who can enchant my sister to the point of losing her soul, seems so ordinary. He must have some extraordinary qualities.’
Ji Yumeng grew more curious about just what kind of character he was.
A tale of two flowers, each with its own branch.
After bidding farewell to Ji Xuanyuan, Chu Yuan followed the Great Elder down the corridor.
Chu Zhenshan walked ahead, his steps steady, his expression calm.
Just as they left the Crown Princess’s room, a Sound Transmission fell into his ear:
[Great Elder, find an opportunity for me to be alone with the Holy Son. I have something to say to him.]
Faced with the Fox Venerable’s command, Chu Zhenshan’s steps faltered briefly before he recovered, hiding his curiosity. Su Xuanxuan, disguised as a maid, walked at the back of the group, head bowed and meek, utterly unremarkable.
[Fox Venerable, do you intend to reveal his identity to the Holy Son?]
Her gaze flickered beneath the shadow of her bangs, like a fox lying in wait in the darkness:
[That depends on first confirming the Holy Son’s identity.]