Gu Xi nodded in acknowledgment before being helped onto the palanquin by Tao Yao.
The palanquin gradually moved away.
It wasn’t until they turned a corner and disappeared from sight that the Celestial Beast finally tore its longing gaze away from its male lead, the Light of the Heavenly Dao. It said to Gu Xi, [Did you see that? So polite! Even injured, he still bowed deeply to you! He was beaten until he bled so much, yet he didn’t utter a sound. Truly worthy of being my male lead.]
Gu Xi spoke slowly, as if casually mentioning what she had eaten today: [Indeed, he’s quite good. I’ve taken a liking to him. He’s mine now.]
In the Void Space, the Celestial Beast was so startled that it fell flat on its bottom, letting out a shocked cry.
[What did you say?!!]
[I get it now! Someone like you, a black sesame glutinous rice ball type, must be drawn to someone as pure and innocent as him, right?]
[Let me tell you, don’t you dare act recklessly! That’s the male lead, the Light of the Heavenly Dao! And this world probably has a female lead—the male lead belongs to her!]
Gu Xi closed her eyes to rest: [No matter. Whether there’s a female lead or not isn’t important. When it’s time to leave, I’ll just take him to the Netherworld to be my Underworld Queen.]
[You, you, you!!! You really are…] The Celestial Beast pointed at Gu Xi, unable to find the right words for a long time.
The Little Beast plopped down on the ground: [What exactly do you see in him? Love at first sight? I think you’re just attracted to his looks!]
Gu Xi opened her eyes and leisurely propped her chin on her hand: [My Divine Soul stirred, and my heartbeat quickened along with it. I suppose this is what mortals call love at first sight.]
She didn’t know—she had no memories.
She didn’t even know what it felt like to like someone, but after so many cycles of reincarnation, he was the only one who had ever stirred her Divine Soul.
No matter what, he was hers now.
When the time came, she would take him back to the Netherworld. Whether he was willing or not didn’t matter. She was the Underworld King, and she had never been one to reason with others. Forcing a man to be with her was nothing out of the ordinary.
The Celestial Beast was dumbfounded. As if remembering something, it spoke again: [By the way, why was the male lead bullied like that? Do you know his identity?]
Gu Xi glanced at it, her eyes faintly tinged with disdain.
[A system that knows nothing and has to ask its Host about everything—you’re the first of your kind.]
The Little Beast stretched out its tiny claws, somewhat indignant: [A Host who doesn’t care who the female lead is and wants to forcibly take the male lead—you’re also the first of your kind. We’re two of a kind, equally matched.]
Gu Xi: [Then tell me, who is the female lead?]
Celestial Beast: [I don’t know.]
Gu Xi: [Then why bother saying anything at all!]
Celestial Beast: …
For a moment, both the person and the beast fell silent.
Only then did Gu Xi lean back in the palanquin, casually lifting her gaze as she explained Jun Qi’s identity to it.
[According to the original host’s memories, this Minor Realm is divided among three kingdoms: Chu, Jun, and Liang. Two years ago, the Jun Kingdom was defeated in the Zuonan Campaign and had to compensate the Chu Kingdom with a large amount of gold, silver, jewels, silk, and horses. They also sent Jun Qi as a hostage to the Chu Kingdom’s imperial palace.]
[However, at that time, the original host’s mother had just passed away, and the original host later suffered from chronic poor health, rarely leaving the Moon Embracing Palace. The two of them never crossed paths, so today was their first meeting.]
[In the original host’s memories, there was no recollection of Jun Qi’s appearance, but judging by how he was bullied by Chu Ting and Chu Luo earlier, along with his somewhat tattered clothing, it’s easy to imagine his situation in the Chu Kingdom’s imperial palace. In the entire palace, only Jun Qi fits that description.]
The Celestial Beast shook its little head: [Is Jun Qi the only prince in the Jun Kingdom’s palace? Why was he specifically sent here as a hostage?]
Gu Xi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: [Regarding Jun Qi’s background, the original host did hear the palace maids mention it. Combined with my own thoughts, I can probably piece together what happened.]
[It is said that Jun Qi’s mother was merely a dancer from a brothel. The emperor of the Jun Kingdom was incompetent, with a harem full of women. After favoring Jun Qi’s mother, he quickly forgot about her. Jun Qi had a difficult childhood but worked hard, immersing himself in literature and mastering martial arts.]
[However, in recent years, he became a thorn in the side of his elder brother, the crown prince. The emperor was weak and indulged in pleasures, leaving most of the court’s power in the hands of the crown prince.]
[His elder brother, the crown prince, had always disliked him. After the Jun Kingdom’s defeat in the Zhuonan Campaign, he had Jun Qi’s meridians and martial arts crippled and sent him to the Chu Kingdom as a hostage.]
[Without his martial arts, Jun Qi became a cripple. Coupled with his status as a hostage, his life in the Chu Kingdom’s palace was naturally miserable.]
Gu Xi looked at the Celestial Beast: [And then, didn’t you hear Chu Ting and Chu Luo shouting earlier? They framed Jun Qi for stealing a jade pendant and then beat him up.]
Inside the Void Space, the Celestial Beast held a small handkerchief and began sniffling and crying.
[It’s too tragic, the male lead is too tragic. Despite everything he’s been through, he still maintains a kind heart, treats others with friendliness, and remains optimistic and warm. He truly is a deserving good person.]
As the Little Beast cried, Tao Yao’s voice came from outside the sedan chair.
“Your Highness, we have arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Even after the midday meal was finished, Emperor Chu continued to fuss over Gu Xi with concern.
He showed none of the cruel and cold-blooded demeanor he displayed in front of others, instead appearing as a loving father doting on his daughter.
“Xi’er, come, come, sit beside your father.”
“Your health is fragile. From now on, I will visit you at the Moon Embracing Palace. The wind outside is strong, so you mustn’t come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation anymore. If something were to happen to you again, how could I face your late mother?”
The usually stern emperor, when mentioning the late empress, had a clear pain in his eyes, and his entire face seemed to age several years.
Everyone knew that Emperor Chu and the late empress grew up together. After the late empress passed away, Emperor Chu never appointed another empress. Their only daughter, Princess Yun Xi, was the most beloved by Emperor Chu.
Meeting Emperor Chu’s gaze, Gu Xi’s eyes crinkled with a faint smile, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted. “It’s alright, Father. The imperial physician said my health is improving day by day.”
“I missed you, Father, so I wanted to come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see you.”
Emperor Chu laughed happily.
The entire Hall of Mental Cultivation was filled with warmth and joy. It was at this moment that Consort Rong arrived.
Eunuch Desheng knelt to announce, “Your Majesty, Consort Rong requests an audience outside. She says she misses the princess and Your Majesty.”
Beneath Gu Xi’s eyelashes, something flickered briefly at the corner of her eyes.
She arrived just at the right time.
A remote palace beside the Cold Palace.
The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, looking particularly desolate.
After examining Jun Qi’s injuries, Imperial Physician Liang applied medicine and prescribed several doses of herbal decoctions for him.
He glanced around the dilapidated and bleak interior of the palace, sighed, and looked at Jun Qi’s wounds with great sympathy.
Ah, this hostage from the Jun Kingdom is truly a pitiful soul.
But as an imperial physician, he merely followed orders within the palace. While he could protect himself, he had no means to look after others.
“Take good care of yourself, Young Master Qi.”
On the bed, Jun Qi nodded gently, his tone soft and polite as ever, like a true gentleman.
“Thank you, Imperial Physician Liang.”
Imperial Physician Liang picked up his medical case and slowly withdrew.
The palace doors closed, shutting out all light from outside.
Though it was daytime, the empty hall plunged into boundless darkness, devoid of any illumination.
No one saw that the moment Imperial Physician Liang left, the warm smile on Jun Qi’s lips vanished completely.
Until a black shadow landed silently by Jun Qi’s bedside using qinggong…