After that, she would have to return to Chentang Guan to stand guard. This child would likely be born on the border. Thinking of Heizha, Ji Xuanyuan let out a sigh even now. Faced with the Crown Prince’s inquiry, General Yin smiled wryly, but the time wasn’t right, so she couldn’t say much.
“Ha! To be honest… I’ve been pregnant for ten months now. Once the God Hunt is over, please ascend the imperial carriage!”
“Your Highness need not worry. This general is thick-skinned and tough; it’s no trouble. It’s getting late.”
Ji Xuanyuan gave a slight nod and said no more, then turned and walked toward the imperial carriage.
As she reached the carriage, she suddenly stopped, turned her head to look at Gu Qingwan, who was leaving with the Gu Family Matron, and her gaze flickered.
“Fairy Gu.”
Her voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone present.
Gu Qingwan was startled. She looked up and met Ji Xuanyuan’s deep, dark eyes, and her heart inexplicably tightened.
Ji Xuanyuan raised her jade-like hand in an inviting gesture:
“I have recently acquired a cultivation technique and would like to share it with you, Fairy. I wonder if Fairy Gu would be willing to come up into the carriage for a chat?”
At these words, another stir ran through the crowd.
The Crown Prince publicly inviting a candidate for the Medicine King Valley Saintess to ride together in the imperial carriage—this was a clear show of goodwill! And a recruitment!
What had this Fairy Gu done to deserve such favor???
Gu Qingwan’s lips twitched violently.
Everyone who participated in the auction knew that during this Divine Grade Auction, the Crown Prince had not made many bids. Among the items she won was the very Scripture of Longing and Love that Gu Qingwan had wanted most. And now the Crown Prince was inviting her to appreciate it together?
This was blatant showing off!!!
Taunting her like that right in her face—wasn’t this too much?
There was no need to humiliate someone like this!
Gu Qingwan was furious but dared not speak her mind, muttering inwardly:
Could it be that Her Highness the Crown Prince is getting back at me for helping A-Yuan with his medicinal bath this morning before leaving?
Fine, fine! So this is where you’ve been waiting for me, huh?
I’m not taking the bait!
Gu Qingwan immediately curtsied to decline:
Before she could finish, the Gu Family Matron pulled her back: “I’m sorry! Your Highness, this humble girl is feeling unwell today…”
“Wan’er!”
The matron sent a sound transmission directly:
[This morning you went against the Crown Prince like that; being invited by Her Highness is only fitting.]
[Hurry! Later, when you get in the carriage, just apologize and make amends to Her Highness.]
[Everyone says the Crown Prince is magnanimous and won’t bother with someone like you.]
[Otherwise, after she ascends the throne, if she gives our Gu family a hard time, that won’t be good.]
Gu Qingwan argued back gloomily:
[Mother, if the Crown Prince is truly that magnanimous, even if I don’t give face, she wouldn’t take it out on our Gu family.]
[Besides, soon I’ll be heading to the Medicine King Valley Trial. If I fail, I won’t come back.]
[Presumably, by then Her Highness the Crown Prince won’t bother getting angry over a dead person, right?]
She put on an air of a dead pig not fearing scalding water.
The matron was speechless: [You… ah…]
It wasn’t that Gu Qingwan wasn’t wary of the Crown Prince; she was simply still fuming over having the technique snatched away. And if she did become the Medicine King Valley Saintess, she wouldn’t fear the Crown Prince either.
Just as the matron was at a loss, Ji Xuanyuan had already keenly caught Gu Qingwan’s change in expression, guessed her thoughts, and said openly:
“Don’t worry, Fairy Gu. I am inviting you into the carriage with no ill intentions whatsoever. You can rest assured. Or do you think I am a narrow-minded person?”
After saying this, she couldn’t help but puff out her chest, showing everyone her bosom, which was even more capacious than Gu Qingwan’s.
Although Gu Qingwan had a fine figure, she was clearly several sizes smaller than the Crown Prince.
Instantly, Gu Qingwan’s expression grew even worse.
But then again—
Since the Crown Prince had given such a guarantee, to refuse again would be to spit in the face of kindness.
Gu Qingwan didn’t want her family to suffer because of her, so she had to say:
“Since Your Highness puts it that way, Qingwan will not decline!”
With that, she took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked toward the imperial carriage.
Inside the carriage, the decor was simple yet elegant, without lacking nobility.
The soft couch was covered with white fox fur; on the small table, aloeswood incense burned to calm the mind; in the corner sat a red sandalwood box.
Ji Xuanyuan sat upright in the main seat. After Gu Qingwan entered, the carriage door closed, shutting out the sight and sound of the outside world.
“Sit.”
Ji Xuanyuan gestured.
Gu Qingwan took a seat to the side, her back straight as a ramrod, hands folded on her lap, her posture respectful but barely concealing her tension.
She was no stranger to grand occasions, but facing this legendary, decisive Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, she felt like a young rabbit before a hawk—instinctively oppressed.
Ji Xuanyuan did not rush to speak. Instead, she reached out and picked up the red sandalwood box. With a gentle flick of her finger, the lid sprang open. Inside lay a jade slip glowing with faint gold, its cover carved with five ancient seal-script characters: “Scripture of Longing and Love.”
Gu Qingwan frowned, unable to resist a sarcastic remark: “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
Ji Xuanyuan did not beat around the bush and said directly:
“Don’t misunderstand, Fairy Gu. I had this cultivation technique specially auctioned for you.”
Huh???
Gu Qingwan was stunned, taking a moment to find her voice:
“Your Highness had it auctioned… for me? Why?!”
Ji Xuanyuan replied with a smile:
“Young Master Yuan has already told me about you, Fairy Gu. The Medicine King Valley Trial is imminent, and since you yearned for it so much just now, I thought I might lend you a hand.”
As she spoke, she pushed the wooden box toward Gu Qingwan, tapping the lid lightly with her fingertip:
“Consider this Scripture of Longing and Love a small favor from me.”
Staring at the box before her, Gu Qingwan’s throat tightened.
Of course, she understood the weight of this technique. If she could learn it, she was confident she could increase her chances of success by three-tenths.
As the saying goes, no such thing as a free lunch. But precisely because she understood, she became even more wary.
It was as if Ji Xuanyuan had seen through her thoughts. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, revealing a faint smile. That smile didn’t reach her eyes, yet for some reason, it was hard to refuse.
She picked up a tea cup, gently blew on the froth, and said:
“Fairy Gu need not worry. I simply feel that we are fated to get along.”
Fated? Gu Qingwan was silent: We’ve only met a few times—how is that fated? Not to mention, aren’t we rivals in love? The Crown Prince must have ulterior motives!
Gu Qingwan’s mind raced, trying to find a flaw in the Crown Prince’s words.
But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find one.
Ji Xuanyuan’s words were too natural, so natural that it seemed like she was just casually helping a “fated” friend.
Gu Qingwan suddenly thought of Chu Yuan. If the Crown Prince had taken a liking to A-Yuan and wanted to use this to eliminate her, it all made sense.
But A-Yuan was just a “waste” from a branch of the Chu Clan, not even touching the main line. How could the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty fancy her A-Yuan?
On this point, Gu Qingwan didn’t want to beat around the bush. She directly raised her doubts:
“Your Highness, this gift is worth four million. I, Gu Qingwan, truly feel unworthy to receive it. To put it bluntly, are you trying to get me to leave A-Yuan?”
Seeing her directness, Ji Xuanyuan’s smile didn’t fade:
“Hehehe! I guessed you’d misunderstand, Fairy Gu, and it seems I was right!”
Misunderstanding?
Gu Qingwan was puzzled: “Your Highness, what do you mean? Why not take this opportunity to explain clearly?”