At the end of summer and the start of autumn, the plants were beginning to wither, but along the official road, small flowers still bloomed out of season. These were the farewell gift promised to her by the Elder.
Mu Zhaoran leaned against the window and watched the colorful flowers passing by, feeling her resolve slowly firm up.
As the convoy left the city outskirts, the flowers became fewer, the crowds waving goodbye thinned, and it gradually grew quiet. The formation on the carriage activated, streams of light flickered through the window gaps, and the carriage suddenly sped up. The wind rushing past the windows carried only the sound of wheels and horse hooves.
Mu Zhaoran had been woken very early for the sacrificial ceremony, and just now she had been punished twice by the system. Both her body and mind were exhausted. Even though everyone in and around the carriage made her uneasy, she could not stay awake and dozed off briefly.
Only when she slept did Ye Lizhi dare to cautiously raise her eyes and observe her.
Sleeping, the Saintess let go of all her sharp edges. Her lowered eyelashes cast two soft shadows under her eyes, her pale face gradually regaining a rosy glow. Her skin was like jade or snow, glowing like pearls reflecting the sunset. A strand of her black hair hung down along her cheek, the ends resting on the luxurious fabric of her clothing.
Watching her, Ye Lizhi could not help but think of a precious jewel once given to her father, carefully stored in a lacquered box with mother-of-pearl inlay. Everyone who handled it had to do so with utmost care, protecting it from any harm.
The Saintess, dressed in exquisite robes and jewels, seemed just like that precious jewel—something Ye Lizhi had never been allowed to closely admire. She could only hide in a corner and watch its brilliance when the box was opened.
Just as before, Ye Lizhi could only hear the name of the Princess from Ye Lingyan’s mouth. One was a noble princess, destined to rule the temple; the other was a shameful illegitimate child. The difference between them was like clouds and mud. Ye Lizhi did not understand why Mu Zhaoran had suddenly called her to come along.
The Saintess looked so disdainful of her. Sometimes, Ye Lizhi even felt Mu Zhaoran hated her more than Ye Lingyan did.
Although she did not know what she had done to be disliked, she had long been used to being hated for no reason.
At first, Mu Zhaoran slept deeply, but later her dreams became restless. She dreamed she had failed to trap Ye Lizhi, was bound with immortal ropes and dragged onto the Tiandao Palace’s execution platform, tormented by twelve soul-devouring methods, her golden core crushed, her cultivation revoked.
Then she dreamed of being thrown into the Gu Ding, her heart gnawed by thousands of insects, while Ye Lizhi stood above, watching her suffer and beg.
Waking from the panic, her face was wet, unable to tell if it was sweat or tears, or what was real.
Only when Ye Lizhi carefully held a tea bowl and offered it to her through a handkerchief did she speak hesitantly:“Your Highness, did you have a nightmare?”
Mu Zhaoran suddenly looked at her. The lingering pain and hatred from her dream almost spilled out of her dark eyes. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably. She raised her sleeve to cover her face, grabbed Ye Lizhi’s hand, and shouted,“Get out! Get off the carriage! I don’t want to see you!”
The tea bowl tumbled and broke into two, soaking the carpet.
Ye Lizhi lowered her head, bowed, carefully picked up the broken pieces, and obediently left the carriage.
The Saintess’s carriage stopped, and the entire convoy paused. Ye Lingyan’s attendants, following behind, had been keeping an eye on the Saintess. Seeing Ye Lizhi being sent off, they immediately reported to their mistress.
Ye Lingyan opened her window with a smirk:“Call her back here.”
As Ye Lizhi was about to get off, an attendant from the general’s household hurried over to guide her, and the spiritual attendants next to the Saintess waited. Seeing no movement from inside the carriage, they agreed.
Ye Lingyan leaned against the window. When Ye Lizhi arrived, she mocked her eagerly:“I knew the Saintess couldn’t stand you for long.”
Ye Lizhi was used to her cold sarcasm and said nothing.
Ye Lingyan snorted and continued:“Since you’ve been sent off the carriage, I’ll be kind and have father send two people to take you back. Just stay in the household properly.”
Ye Lizhi bit her lip and raised her head to explain:“The Saintess only told me to get off; she didn’t say I could leave. I can’t act on my own—I need her permission.”
Ye Lingyan’s smile turned cold.“Using the Saintess’s name to pressure me?”
Ye Lizhi lowered her head and, in her usual submissive manner, said softly:“I don’t dare.”
The Saintess’s carriage started moving again, and the convoy continued. Ye Lingyan, touching the tassels hanging on the window, suddenly brightened and said in rare generosity:“Fine. Since that’s the case, if you want to come along, follow me.”
Ye Lizhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As she was about to bow, Ye Lingyan shouted:“No one is allowed to carry you. Let’s see how your two legs can keep up with four spirit horses. Oh, and run fast—if the Saintess suddenly wants to hear you sing and can’t find you, she’ll be angry.”
“If the Saintess gets angry, the consequences will be severe.”
Ye Lingyan said this, proudly closed the window, and the carriage moved off.
Hooves kicked up dust, and Ye Lizhi dodged left and right, squinting against the dust, almost being trampled. After the dust cleared, the convoy was already far ahead. She rubbed her eyes and hurried to catch up.
From the southern border to Zhongzhou Yujing, it was an immense distance. The carriage had a fast-travel formation, and the guards rode swift spirit horses. Ye Lizhi had no cultivation; no matter how fast she ran, she could never catch up. Soon, even the dust from the horses’ hooves was gone.
She could only follow the tracks left by the carriage and horses.
Near sunset, the convoy climbed mountains and passed through three cities, arriving at a courier station to rest overnight.
The station was an official one, long prepared to receive the Saintess. The buildings were expanded, connected in clusters like a palace in the forest, with lanterns hanging between the halls, making everything bright. The rooms were cleaned meticulously, not a single leaf or outsider in sight.
Though still simpler than the Nanrong palace, it was well-prepared.
Under the attentive care of the station officials, Mu Zhaoran reluctantly walked inside. The carriage and horses needed settling, and the surroundings were noisy, so she went upstairs to rest in her room.
Her assigned room was spacious, with inner and outer chambers. The outer chamber had a sitting couch, a table with sliced fruits and snacks, and incense burning, filling the room with the scent of osmanthus.
Once everyone in the convoy was settled and the courier station staff had prepared the meal, Mu Zhaoran slowly descended from the upper floor into the main hall.
After she took her seat, Ye Rong followed, then the temple spiritual attendants who accompanied her, and Ye Lingyan. The rest of the people were seated around the edges.
Facing Ye Rong—the man who one day might betray his king and seize the throne—Mu Zhaoran had no appetite. She ate only a few bites before stopping, then looked around and remembered someone missing.
“Where’s Ye Lizhi? Where did she run off to?” Mu Zhaoran asked, clearly annoyed. “Call her here to see me.”
Seeing everyone’s eyes turn toward Ye Lingyan, Mu Zhaoran also looked at her.
Ye Lingyan had prepared an explanation calmly:“Your Highness, you don’t know—her temper is very stubborn. After you sent her off the carriage earlier, she was angry and insisted on going home. I tried to convince her for a long time, but it didn’t work.”
She glanced secretly at Ye Rong and whispered,“She’s not like ordinary servants. If she doesn’t want to go, I wouldn’t dare bind her…”
Ye Rong’s face turned dark. He slammed his hand on the table, shaking the bowls and plates, and shouted,“Ha! She’s getting bolder! She even dares to disobey the Saintess’s orders. When we get back, I’ll make sure to break her legs!”
Mu Zhaoran watched the father and daughter argue and thought about going along with it. After all, this time it wasn’t her stopping Ye Lizhi—this was the Ye family trying to prevent her from going.
But as soon as she thought that, the cursed mark on her soul flashed, warning her.
Damn mark… damn Ye Lizhi… such a trouble!
Frustrated, Mu Zhaoran gritted her teeth and said,“Send people immediately! She must be brought back to me.”
Ye Lingyan had really thought that because she mentioned Ye Lizhi many times before, the Saintess suddenly took interest in having her accompany her.
She had grown up with the Saintess and knew her temperament—her moods came and went quickly.
She didn’t expect Mu Zhaoran to be so focused on Ye Lizhi this time. Ye Lingyan felt annoyed and asked,“Why must she accompany you? If you just want company, why not me? We used to…”
Mu Zhaoran impatiently cut her off:“No. I want her! General Ye, at the altar, you promised me this. Don’t go back on your word now, right?”
Ye Rong, being watched by countless eyes inside and outside the room, was silent for a moment, then smiled:“A general’s word counts. Saintess, rest well. I’ll send people to find her.”
Mu Zhaoran nodded, then seemed to think of something. Her eyes flickered under her lashes, and she pretended to worry:“If she’s alone in the wild, it could be dangerous. It’s better if the General personally finds her quickly.”
Ye Rong looked at her intently, curious about what this little Saintess was planning. He rose and strapped on his sword.“Very well, Saintess. I’ll do as you say.”
Ye Lingyan stomped her foot in frustration. After Mu Zhaoran rinsed her mouth and went upstairs to rest, she hurried out, following her father. She asked repeatedly,“Father, are you really going to find her? Why not take this chance to catch her and lock her back in the house?”
Ye Rong snorted coldly:“Li Zhi is your sister. If you leave her in the wild, aren’t you worried she might be in danger?”
“She’s that lowly maid—what kind of sister is she…” Ye Lingyan muttered, but quickly shut her mouth when her father gave her a displeased look. In her heart, she thought, Father is protecting that maid now? Let’s see him tell Mother.
Seeing Ye Rong send a team to look for her, Ye Lingyan hurriedly grabbed his sleeve:“Father! You know how my Yan Jin token came to me. If she goes along, what if it’s exposed? The thing you searched everywhere for could end up on her…”
“Silence!” Ye Rong interrupted. Seeing her sulk, he relaxed his tone and looked toward the second floor of the station.“You just focus on the task I gave you. Don’t worry about anything else. I’ll handle it.”
Since her father wanted her to help, it meant she would be able to go with the Saintess and enter Tiandao Palace smoothly.
Ye Lingyan relaxed, let go of his sleeve, and watched as her father mounted his horse, leading the team into the night with lanterns.
On the second floor of the station, through a small window gap, Mu Zhaoran watched the lights fade into the distance. A murderous thought stirred in her heart.
But General Ye had great achievements securing Nanrong and controlling bandits, with many followers. Even her father could not openly kill him without reason.
She couldn’t act openly, but what if an accident happened while he was searching for the girl?
Mu Zhaoran squinted. Her upturned eyes reflected the candlelight with a cruel smile. Her beautiful face now seemed like a venomous snake ready to strike.
She lifted her hand to close the window, planning to summon the temple spiritual attendants to discuss, but reconsidered—if it was to be an accident, she could not involve them and leave any evidence.
She couldn’t use any of the magical tools or spells the temple elders gave her. Nothing that happened to Ye Rong could be traced back to her; otherwise, her father would be in trouble.
What a hassle.
Frowning, Mu Zhaoran toyed with the candle flame, staring at it for a moment, then quietly murmured,“Yanluo, I should really thank you…”
In her previous life, she had been blinded by obsession with Yun Xiaoyang and never noticed anyone else.
By the time she realized the truth, it was too late—she had already caused his death.