In Fengyang Palace, Lady Yang led a group of palace attendants, awaiting their mistress’s next move. With eyes lowered and minds focused, they observed her actions from the periphery of their vision, careful not to overstep.
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light streaked past, startling Lady Yang.
Out of thin air, an extraordinarily beautiful gown appeared! It was breathtaking—even its intricate adornments could not diminish its allure.
Those with keen eyes could also see that not a single loose thread was visible. After all, even the most skilled embroiderer could not avoid such imperfections.
Seamless as the heavens!
This thought occurred to everyone who witnessed it.
Ling Xiao excitedly unfolded the prop, satisfied to discover its extraordinary “Intelligence-Lowering” function. One moment it boosted charm by 20 points, the next it exuded an icy elegance, and it even had scene-specific effects.
“Heavens, Host, this prop could sell for at least thirty thousand System Points. Trust me, this System has connections—it’ll fetch a great price.”
18888 was overwhelmed with delight, calling out “Host” as sweetly as could be.
“Oh,” Ling Xiao also looked pleased, a delicate and exquisite smile blooming on her face, sweet as a doll wrapped in honey.
18888 kept urging her to act as a middleman and sell the prop, but Ling Xiao ignored it completely.
As soon as she got her hands on this prop, another brilliant script formed in her mind!
………………
In Xingqing Palace, atop a sandalwood writing desk, an incense burner shaped like a beast’s head emitted wisps of smoke, casting an enigmatic expression over the Emperor’s face.
“Minister Wang, what do you make of today’s events?”
Below, Prime Minister Wang Yi stroked his beard and spoke with a furrowed brow. “The reappearance of Taizu’s deceased daughter—whether it bodes well or ill for the imperial family and Great Jin remains uncertain.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty, forgive my candor, but even this old minister was thoroughly frightened earlier. After all, it’s an underworld apparition. Despite years of studying the sages’ teachings, I still cannot fully grasp such mysteries.”
Minister of Works Song Ren chimed in, his expression still tinged with lingering fear.
“Who could have imagined that Ghost-Gods would truly appear? And to think it’s the departed soul of a noblewoman from the Li family… Alas.”
Li Yue pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed deeply. Holding supreme authority in his grasp, he had not felt such helplessness in a long time.
“Why is Your Majesty troubled? This humble subject has yet to offer congratulations,” Minister of State Xu Yan declared with a hearty laugh.
Ghosts have appeared, and yet he offers congratulations?
The assembled ministers were perplexed, but this was, after all, a gathering of shrewd minds.
After a moment, Wang Yi’s eyes lit up. “Indeed, Your Majesty. The arrival of the Ghost-God also brings news of the Underworld Dynasty.
The living may disregard Your Majesty’s authority, but what if they knew that even in death, they would be subject to the dynasty’s rule?”
“Moreover, the Ghost-God that descended shares a bloodline with the imperial family. Remember, bones may break, but the sinews remain connected. Your Majesty would even address that one as ‘Aunt’!”
Growing animated, Wang Yi stood up, his expression fervent.
As a feudal dynasty, Great Jin was in its ascendancy, and it naturally faced opposition.
Noble families, powerful magnates, barbarians beyond the borders—Li Yue confronted not only a flourishing and splendid empire but also the crises lurking beneath its surface.
Who could say that the arrival of Ghost-Gods would not present a brand-new opportunity?
The Emperor slowly straightened his posture, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Seeing this, Xu Yan shot a fierce glare at his old rival, grinding his teeth so loudly that even Song Ren beside him could hear.
Damn it! He hadn’t had the chance to speak before that old fox stole the spotlight!
Wang Yi sat back down comfortably, took a sip of tea, and discreetly slipped off his shoes beneath the table to relax his toes.
Hah, you don’t even know the principle of striking first to gain the upper hand, yet you still put on airs before His Majesty! Let this old man teach you a lesson.
This is precisely why I am the Prime Minister, and you are merely the Minister of Works.
As expected by both the ruler and his subjects, after the banquet concluded, the lights in the mansions of many officials burned through the night.
Those who traveled to certain places in the dark with lanterns in hand never ceased.
The city gate officer watched the pigeons flying through the air, puzzled. There hadn’t been any alarm bells today, yet it felt as if something major was about to happen.
Ling Xiao, who was entrusted with high hopes, remained completely unaware, hugging 18888 as she slept soundly. “First, I’ll conserve my energy.”
Lady Yang received questioning glances from her subordinates and found herself at a loss. The Grand Princess’s sleeping posture… was rather unrestrained.
As palace attendants, they had the duty to offer guidance, but who would dare to boldly instruct her on how to sleep?
Who knows if they might end up being dragged down to hell!
After some thought, she stepped forward to lower the bed curtain embroidered with a hundred herbs and extinguished the tallow candles in the hall one by one.
The main hall instantly grew dim. Leaving a cup of warm water by the bedside, Lady Yang quietly led the others away.
Ling Xiao smiled silently and turned over.
The days of being waited on were quite enjoyable. It wasn’t until the System could no longer bear it and urged her that Ling Xiao finally began to implement her plan.
………………
In recent days, undercurrents surged within the Great Jin court, as various forces eagerly began to exert their influence, mostly concerning Ling Xiao.
The Emperor made a token effort to block them but ultimately allowed them to approach Ling Xiao.
Soon, rumors spread that the suddenly appearing Grand Princess of Qin was actually a fraud, having deceived the court officials and His Majesty only through the use of sorcery.
The rumors grew increasingly intense. After all, although many had witnessed it, they were still a tiny minority compared to the entire population of Great Jin.
Without seeing it with their own eyes, most people remained skeptical.
“Host, what should we do? Are we going to be exposed?”
18888 was so anxious it felt like climbing onto the roof to tear off the tiles, but Ling Xiao remained as unhurried as ever.
Taking a sip of the newly offered Qingxi Yunwu tea, she tapped the table. “The Emperor isn’t worried, yet the eunuchs are anxious. What’s there to fear? Wait for me to take them on…”
Before she could finish her words, Lady Yang cautiously appeared, quickly glancing at her mistress.
At such a young age, she already displayed extraordinary beauty—crystal-clear, flawless skin and features that were perfectly proportioned in every way.
Yet, despite such perfection, in Lady Yang’s eyes, it carried a sense of horror.
Having served in the palace for so many years, she had seen countless beauties, and even rare ones were not uncommon. But none were as “perfect” as Ling Xiao.
Surely, she wasn’t human!
Images flashed through her mind—peeling off the finest human skin, searching for the most suitable features to piece together, and then…
Lady Yang grew even more reverent and reported in a low voice that His Majesty had invited Ling Xiao to a banquet the following day.
Ling Xiao, who inexplicably saw the drastic change in the expression of the person before her…
“Go tell my dear nephew that I miss him too. I’ll be there shortly.”
A little girl, pulling out a vibrant string for cat’s cradle, didn’t even look up, fully immersed in the task as she spoke casually.
As Lady Yang withdrew, another voice followed. “Oh, and my dear nephew must prepare a gift for me. Otherwise, inviting me so casually might make me angry.”
The poor Lady Yang didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, meekly agreeing.
Upon receiving the message, Li Yue let out a bitter laugh and dismissed the messenger. The Emperor’s paranoia led him to wonder:
Had his aunt already seen through his schemes? Was this her warning to him?
Wang Yi keenly sensed the Emperor’s unease and promptly reassured him, “Your Majesty, someone must take the lead in testing the Grand Princess.
The underworld is a complete blank to us, and there are even claims that past emperors… well, have been invited by the Grand Princess to be reincarnated. Yet we cannot verify the truth, shrouded as we are in layers of mist. For the sake of the nation, Your Majesty has endured much hardship.”
Li Yue let out a noncommittal grunt, thinking, It’s not you who has to tread on dangerous ground.
He also understood the necessity of the test, for what Wang Yi left unsaid was that someone needed to demonstrate the consequences of angering the Ghost-God.
Otherwise, the rumors wouldn’t have spread so swiftly and so viciously!
He rose, hands tucked into his sleeves, pacing back and forth. What could he possibly give his aunt to please her? Jewelry, gems, gold and silver, incense…
Alas, how could such mundane things appeal to a Ghost-God?