Chu Xinlan breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that Murong Chao was telling her: you can report to your sovereign, but she won’t listen.
Murong Chao not opposing was enough; who listened to whom was a matter between mother and daughter.
Chu Xinlan took out the Communication Stone, not avoiding Murong Chao’s presence. “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess wishes to consolidate her time outside into a whole.”
She reported honestly—whatever arrangements you two decide between mother and daughter are your affair, unrelated to me.
In the distant Chiyue Kingdom, within the imperial study, Empress Murong Yue saw the Communication Stone she had been holding glow. She raised her hand to cast a Barrier, preventing others from hearing, before listening to the stone’s message.
Upon hearing Chu Xinlan’s words, Murong Yue’s lips curved slightly. As expected.
“Listen to Chao Chao. Tell her that the day of her Coming-of-age Ceremony is also the day she returns.”
Hearing the clear, cold voice carrying the unique aura of authority from the Communication Stone, Murong Chao’s eyelids twitched. Was this voice her mother, the Empress of Chiyue Kingdom?
She agreed so easily?
Her decision had two reasons. First, although the life-threatening calamity at sixteen had passed, she inexplicably felt she could not return before sixteen.
Now, nine days remained until her birthday.
Though her Divination Art was not strong, her instinctive premonitions were accurate. Thus, she wanted to wait until her sixteenth birthday to return.
Second, she still had something to do. If she returned now, she would not be able to leave before her coming-of-age, which would delay matters.
Though she would not return regardless of whether her empress mother agreed, she was still surprised by this easy consent. Was it also due to ancestral tradition?
Chu Xinlan was also surprised, eyebrows furrowing. The sovereign actually agreed to the Crown Princess returning on her coming-of-age day. In her memory, the Empress had never compromised with anyone.
But what about the Crown Princess’s safety?
Before she could ask, the Empress of Chiyue’s voice came again. “The Bloodline Stone is also Chao Chao’s Hidden Guard Corps token. Once she inputs Spiritual Energy, it activates. No matter where she is, the Hidden Guard will appear beside her at the fastest speed. The Hidden Guard have sworn Soul Oaths of loyalty to her, obeying and serving only her.”
A dark glint flashed in Chu Xinlan’s eyes. The sovereign indeed strategized meticulously—she had long anticipated how the Crown Princess would decide.
Thus, she no longer worried about the Crown Princess’s safety. The Murong Imperial Clan’s Hidden Guard Corps ranked first among empires on the Yagu Continent.
Only now did she learn that this Bloodline Stone had such a function.
She glanced at the black stone placed on the table beside the rocking chair. When the Empress first gave it to her, the stone was inconspicuous—if thrown on the ground, no one would glance at it.
Yet, holding this stone from Chiyue Kingdom to Fengyun Kingdom to find the Crown Princess, she witnessed its marvel firsthand.
Whenever she held the stone and focused her thoughts on finding Murong Chao, the stone would glow. If she walked the right path, it flashed intermittently; if she walked wrong, it showed no light. This was why she could swiftly find the Crown Princess, hidden so well.
But this stone remained bright beside the Crown Princess.
Chu Xinlan rose and bowed respectfully. “Your servant awaits the Crown Princess in Chiyue. Your Crown Princess’s Coming-of-age Ceremony is the only grand celebration since Your Majesty’s wedding.”
This statement was speaking favorably for the Chiyue Empress, telling Murong Chao that during the sixteen years you were absent, Chiyue never held any celebratory activities.
Murong Chao did not open her eyes. “Qingdai, Shujin, escort Chu Xiang out.”
The two responded and walked over. “Chu Xiang, please.”
Chu Xinlan glanced at Qingdai, then looked at Qi Shujin, nodded, and rose to walk out.
Murong Chao glanced at the Bloodline Stone, picked it up. Once in her hand, the stone no longer glowed, yet she sensed a gentle force emanating from it.
She was curious about what material the Bloodline Stone was made of. It seemed her knowledge was still too limited.
Xie Shikun paced back and forth in the front courtyard; he had no right to enter the rear courtyard. Precisely because of this, he was even more curious about the outcome.
Not long after, he saw Qingdai and Shujin escorting Chu Xiang out together.
“Lan Aunt.” Xie Shikun approached her.
Chu Xinlan looked at Xie Shikun. Qi Shujin was clearly the Crown Princess’s person, but Xie Shikun was not. How could this young man not seize such a rare opportunity?
Although the Chu and Xie families were old friends, some words could not be spoken, especially concerning Xie Shikun, who was not a rule-following person.
Chu Xinlan nodded. “After returning, come to our house to visit.”
Xie Shikun’s eyes flickered, naturally smiling as he said, “Alright, Lan Aunt, take care on your way back.”
He was quite aware of his own worth. Just as his own family could not change him and abandoned him to grow wild, the Chu family did not welcome this playboy either. Privately, they instructed their children to maintain surface-level civility with him, not to engage too deeply, fearing he would influence them.
Indeed, the Chu family possessed talents like Chu Xuanhe, so their descendants naturally disdained associating with playboys like him.
This was also the main reason why he treated Qi Shujin better and closer than his own brothers.
Qi Shujin understood him, respected him; they were brothers and confidants.
Therefore, he also maintained surface-level civility with these people. He certainly wouldn’t take Chu Xinlan’s polite words seriously.
He accompanied Qingdai and Qi Shujin to escort Chu Xinlan outside the gate.
Qi Shujin and Qingdai returned to the rear courtyard. Since Murong Chao was returning to Chiyue, she must have tasks to assign them.
Not just Chiyue Kingdom, but across the entire continent, no one was unaware of the Crown Princess’s birthday. After all, on that day, a strong purple-golden light descended over the Chiyue Imperial City, and then the Crown Princess was born.
Born with an extraordinary phenomenon, becoming a nation’s Reserve Sovereign from birth—such a person was unique across the continent.
“We leave here tomorrow morning, each on our own.” Murong Chao still did not open her eyes.
“Yes.” Qingdai and Qi Shujin responded simultaneously.
Murong Chao glanced at them and added, “Shujin assist Qingdai in moving Spiderweb to Chiyue Kingdom, gather all information about Murong Su, especially those close to her.”
Spiderweb was the name she gave to the organization she established for gathering information. Its original intent was to make her information network increasingly powerful, like a spiderweb, capable of reaching everywhere.
Qi Shujin was somewhat surprised inwardly. What was this Spiderweb? However, based on the latter part of the statement, it should be an information-gathering organization.
He did not ask further. Since he was tasked to assist Qingdai, Qingdai would explain clearly to him.
“Yes.” The two responded again.
Murong Chao waved her hand, dismissing them.
Qingdai thought to herself, her master would leave early tomorrow morning, and she and Qi Shujin wouldn’t stay much longer either. The Spiderweb was moving to the Chiyue Kingdom; she just needed to arrange things properly, so she would also leave tomorrow.
This was Chen Qingyang’s courtyard, but the secret passage from the Third Prince’s residence to here was designed by her master. Her master had said that once Chen Qingyang left, the passage should be destroyed.
Chen Qingyang had left, and Chu Xiang had arrived. She hadn’t had time to destroy the passage yet, so she should do it now.