At the entrance of the Gu Family manor. After Ji Xuanyuan finished negotiating with Gu Qingwan inside the imperial carriage, the horses and chariots came to a steady halt.
The night was as dark as ink, and the lanterns of the Gu residence swayed gently in the wind. The Crown Prince rose, and Gu Qingwan stood up as well, clutching the purple sandalwood box as if it were a rare treasure.
Once inside the Gu residence, Gu Qingwan bowed respectfully, her voice soft:
“Thank you for escorting me, Your Highness. Qingwan takes her leave.”
Ji Xuanyuan gave a slight nod:
“Rest well, Fairy Gu. I look forward to your performance during the Medicine King Valley Trial.”
Gu Qingwan nodded firmly:
“Rest assured, Your Highness. Qingwan will give her utmost.”
With that, Gu Qingwan walked briskly toward her private chamber.
Seeing this, the Gu Family Matron, who had followed the Crown Prince’s carriage back, was astonished.
Taking advantage of the Crown Prince heading to the West Courtyard, the Matron quickly sent a sound transmission to her daughter:
[Wan’er, what did you two discuss inside the carriage?]
[Why do you seem to have improved your relationship with the Crown Prince after coming out?]
[That wooden box you’re holding—could it be the Classic of Longing and Love???]
Already back in her private chamber, Gu Qingwan did not hide the truth:
[Yes, Mother! The Crown Prince valued my status as a Saintess Candidate of Medicine King Valley and wished to use this to build a good relationship.]
Learning that the Crown Prince was proactively seeking a connection, the Matron raised her brows:
[Oh! What did I tell you before?]
[The Crown Prince is magnanimous and won’t hold grudges against a little girl like you.]
[If I hadn’t insisted you get on the carriage, you wouldn’t have landed such a great opportunity!]
Gu Qingwan rolled her eyes:
[Yes, yes, yes! Mother is right!]
Inside, she thought: ‘Isn’t the Crown Prince just a few years older than me and a few sizes bigger in the chest? What’s so great about that?’
Still, this time she truly had to thank the Crown Prince for the generous gift!
Opening the box, Gu Qingwan looked at the cultivation manual inside, swallowed, and wasted no more time:
[I’m going into seclusion for a while. Please don’t let any servants disturb me, Mother.]
With that, she activated a magic formation in her room, cutting off the connection with her mother.
The Gu Family Matron was a bit frustrated, but more pleased than anything.
Given the current situation, as long as her daughter became the Saintess, she would have the backing of both Medicine King Valley and the Immortal Dynasty, ensuring only better development for the family.
With this in mind, she hurriedly arranged accommodations for General Yin and her soldiers, who had arrived with an imperial edict.
West Courtyard of the Gu Family.
Ji Xuanyuan sat alone on the bed.
The scent of agarwood filled the enclosed space, blending with the cool night breeze and seeping into her lungs.
She closed her eyes, tapping her fingers absently on the phoenix patterns carved into the armrest.
The first night without her junior brother by her side, Ji Xuanyuan felt an intense loneliness, and her cultivation speed plummeted.
After such rapid progress in recent days, she was no longer satisfied with cultivating alone.
Ji Xuanyuan couldn’t help but think of using the excuse of “presiding over the Divine Hunt Grand Ceremony” to legitimately move into the Chu Clan’s branch residence.
Especially since she had already obtained Gu Qingwan’s permission. Later, if she wanted to drain her junior brother dry again, she could simply explain the agreement between the two women.
Thump, thump!
Just as she made up her mind, she heard a knock. Sensing with her divine sense, she said:
“General Yin, what is it? Come in and speak.”
Yin Shiniang received the order, entered, and knelt on one knee:
“Your Highness, there is something I’m not sure if I should say.”
Ji Xuanyuan activated the magic formation in the room before asking:
“What is it? Speak!”
Yin Shiniang clasped her fists:
“Your Highness, I inspected the security inside and outside the Gu residence—it is severely lacking. If Your Highness continues to stay here, there may be risks. I believe you should move to the City Lord’s Mansion.”
Move?
Ji Xuanyuan’s phoenix eyes lit up, and she said directly:
“Hmm! I should indeed move. But not to the City Lord’s Mansion.”
Yin Shiniang was puzzled:
“Not the City Lord’s Mansion? Then where?”
Ji Xuanyuan’s vermilion lips moved slightly:
“The Chu Family.”
Ah?
Yin Shiniang was stunned, her eyes full of shock.
She opened her mouth, hesitated, but ultimately couldn’t hold back, lowering her voice to a near whisper:
“Your Highness… are you sure you want to do this? The Chu Family is, after all, a force of the Sacred Domain. If you get too close, those old officials at court will likely use it as an excuse again.”
Ji Xuanyuan let out a soft sigh. Of course, she knew what this meant.
The moment she moved into the Chu residence, she would be handing her good sister, Ji Yumeng, another weapon.
However, if someone wants to falsely accuse you, they’ll find a pretext regardless.
By her estimate, after the Divine Hunt Grand Ceremony ended, she would be impeached. In her previous life, she had never even come to Xuanji City, yet the Second Princess had still managed to fabricate charges successfully—let alone now.
If someone became a threat, they had to die. Whether the accused actually planned to usurp power or not, as long as their existence itself became a threat, they had to die. For most rulers, it was better to kill the wrong person than to let them go.
The moment Ji Xuanyuan set foot in Xuanji City, she had already given her political enemies an opening.
If not for the fact that in her previous life, Empress Wuyue had little lifespan left and had already seen through the Second Princess’s tricks, Ji Xuanyuan would never have survived to accomplish her great deeds.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but glance out the window at the night, feeling as if the scattered stars were chess pieces on a board.
And she was the most conspicuous, the most dangerous white piece.
Having lived two lives, Ji Xuanyuan knew well that this tribulation was inevitable—there was no escaping it.
Since she would eventually be stripped of her position as Crown Prince… then before that, she might as well make the most of that identity.
Once she realized this, the smile curling at the corner of her lips gained nine parts of mockery:
“It’s fine. Let those old officials make an issue of it if they will. After all, the Sacred Domain’s foundations and resources are worth the risk.”
Yin Shiniang hesitated:
“Your Highness, this is a grave matter. I beg you to reconsider.”
Ji Xuanyuan waved her hand, her voice unhurried:
“General, you don’t understand. If I get close to the Sacred Domain, they’ll say I want to usurp the throne. If I distance myself from the Sacred Domain, won’t they still say the same?”
“Even if I do nothing, those who dislike me will still find reasons to impeach me. Since that’s the case, why should I tie my own hands?”
Yin Shiniang fell silent.
Finally, she clasped her fists again, her voice low and firm:
“Very well! Rest assured, Your Highness. I will make the arrangements.”
But Ji Xuanyuan shook her head:
“No rush. General Yin, you’ve traveled far. Rest well with the soldiers tonight. We’ll move tomorrow.”
Watching Yin Shiniang leave, Ji Xuanyuan’s gaze unconsciously fell on the bright moon in the night sky.
“Yes!”
The bright moon hung high, its light like water, pouring over the rooftops of Xuanji City, coating the entire city in silver.
Gazing at the clear full moon, she seemed to see the faces of her enemies within it, and she sighed to herself:
‘The moonlight tonight is so beautiful…’
‘Junior brother, I wonder if you’ve returned to the Chu mansion yet?’
The Chu Family Mansion.
Chu Yuan was already lying in the ruined courtyard, recovering using the Returning Yang Posture.
Su Xuanxuan secretly monitored him through divine sense, not forgetting to reinforce the several layers of magic formations around the courtyard.
Although reclaiming the Holy Son early had disrupted her cultivation plan, at least the Holy Son was safe—a silver lining amidst the misfortune.
When she returned to her own room, Su Xuanxuan sensed movement from her Demon Path Alliance token:
[How is it, Daji? Have you made contact with that Shenbao?]
Hearing Grand Elder Ziya’s inquiry, she immediately activated a soundproofing array before activating the token:
[I have! Grand Elder, the Black Dragon has successfully hatched. It’s in my care right now.]
As she spoke, Su Xuanxuan looked down. The dark-colored young dragon was lying on her plush cushion, sleeping soundly.
Grand Elder Ziya hesitated:
[The Black Dragon is with you? Daji… did you take care of that Shenbao?]
Su Xuanxuan shook her head and transmitted via the token:
[No. That Shenbao now coexists with the orphaned Chu heir in the form of a ring spirit elder.]
[After some probing, I believe he can be trusted.]
[I will continue to monitor him.]
[Good. Then I’ll leave the Black Dragon and this Shenbao in your hands, Daji.]