The System's voice was like a basin of ice water poured over her head, its chill penetrating deep into her bones, instantly dragging her back into the hellish torment of the Gu cauldron.
Mu Zhaoran felt as if the mark of sin on her soul were burning, threatening to incinerate her seething resentment into ashes, forcing her to swallow it back down.
Her body swayed, her soul agonizing in the flames, yet under the blazing sun, she couldn't stop trembling. Unwillingly, she curled her shaking fingers back into the wide sleeves of her robe, forcing herself to slow her breathing and calm her racing heart.
The person before her, seeing her pale face and pained expression, took a step closer, reaching out to support her, her face full of concern: "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Mu Zhaoran abruptly avoided her hand, steadying her swaying body. Only then did her dizzy vision clear enough to see the appearance of the person before her.
It wasn't Ye Lizhi.
It was Ye Lingyan.
From behind came Ye Rong's exasperated reprimand, his voice deep: "Yan'er, didn't the General's Mansion already prepare a carriage for your journey? Can't you see what kind of occasion this is? How can you act so recklessly?"
Though it was a reprimand, the doting in his words was unmistakable, rendering the scolding rather weightless.
Naturally unafraid, Ye Lingyan pouted and muttered softly: "I already made arrangements privately with Your Highness to ride together to Tiandao Palace. We could talk along the way. Father, you should look at yourself right now, scowling and glaring, you've frightened Her Highness."
Ye Rong shifted his gaze, his eyes returning to Mu Zhaoran. The probing look in his eyes hadn't fully faded as he clasped his fists and said: "His Majesty repeatedly instructed me to escort the Yaoguang Saintess out of the city. I was merely anxious for a moment. Please forgive me, Saintess."
Mu Zhaoran's feverish mind cooled inch by inch, barely managing to suppress her exposed emotions back into her heart. She raised a hand to lightly touch her forehead, looking back at him, and said: "I'm fine. It's just that I was under the sun on the altar for too long earlier, and I feel a bit dizzy."
Ye Rong, being a military man, even while doting on his daughter, had forced Ye Lingyan to train in martial arts, unlike her delicate and fragile self.
He glanced up at the not-too-intense sun in the sky, feeling rather dismissive. Raising his hand, he gestured: "In that case, the hour is growing late. Saintess, do not delay. Let us depart quickly."
Mu Zhaoran did not comply with his instruction. From what the System had said, Ye Lizhi must also be here. She took a few steps to the side, her gaze passing over the father and daughter of the Ye family, looking beyond the crowd.
Curious, Ye Lingyan followed her gaze, turning to look as well, and asked: "Your Highness, who are you looking for?"
Mu Zhaoran ignored her, her eyes scanning the crowd back and forth until, in the procession seeing Ye Lingyan off from the General's Mansion, she spotted the figure standing at the very back, head bowed.
The current Ye Lizhi was dressed plainly, without hairpins or ornaments, less presentable even than the maids beside Ye Lingyan. She stood timidly behind the crowd, like a faded shadow, utterly inconspicuous.
In her past life, Mu Zhaoran had been close to Ye Lingyan; the two were childhood friends who grew up together. She often heard the name "Ye Lizhi" from Ye Lingyan's lips.
However, when Ye Lingyan spoke of this half-sister of hers, her words were mostly filled with disgust and contempt.
Because Ye Lizhi's mother held no official status, she was merely a plaything offered to Ye Rong by a local official during his military campaign, intended to curry favor and provide amusement. Unexpectedly, this union resulted in such an ill-fated offspring.
General Ye did not favor this daughter born of a lowly mother, yet he could not allow his own bloodline to wander outside. Thus, he brought her back to the general's mansion. Although he permitted her to bear his surname, he never publicly acknowledged her identity.
Ye Lizhi's situation in the general's mansion was, as one might imagine, precarious.
Mu Zhaoran, now the center of attention, allowed her gaze to linger on Ye Lizhi for only a moment before numerous eyes followed, settling upon Ye Lizhi.
Suddenly becoming the focus of everyone's attention, Ye Lizhi was like a startled bird, pitifully raising her eyes only to immediately lower her head again. She stood there, restless and uneasy, unsure whether to stay or leave.
Ye Lingyan raised her eyebrows and glared fiercely at the attendants of the general's mansion, displeased. "On such an auspicious day, why has she been allowed to come out? What bad luck! Be careful not to bring misfortune upon Her Highness. Hurry and drive her away!"
As soon as she finished speaking, several attendants turned and strode toward Ye Lizhi, dragging and pushing her away from the scene.
Despite having that troublesome transformation system, Mu Zhaoran had not yet figured out how to get along affectionately with the person she had fought against her entire previous life. She remained indifferent to Ye Lizhi's plight, even feeling a sense of satisfaction at seeing her once again isolated and helpless in such an abject situation.
Ye Rong also turned a blind eye to the scene, merely reminding Ye Lingyan to be mindful of the occasion and not to cause a commotion that would invite ridicule. Then, with a stern tone, he urged Mu Zhaoran once more, "Holy Maiden, the hour is growing late. Please board the carriage."
Mu Zhaoran took one last look at her father and mother, turned around, stepped onto the footrest, and ascended into the imperial carriage. As she settled onto the soft couch inside the compartment, the System's voice inappropriately sounded in her ears once more.
System: "Now issuing the first transformation task: Due to the host's numerous obstructions in the previous life, the female lead repeatedly encountered dangers on her way to the Tiandao Palace, resulting in a constitution weakened by illness. In this life, please assist the female lead in successfully entering Tiandu City to atone for the sins of the past."
Mu Zhaoran: "…"
She raised her eyes to look at Ye Lingyan, who was following behind her and about to board the carriage as well, and reluctantly said, "Step down and summon Ye Lizhi for me."
Ye Lingyan was so startled she nearly missed her step, causing the beaded curtain on the carriage to rattle noisily. Doubting her own ears, she asked in confusion, "Ye Lizhi? We are about to depart. Why would Your Highness summon Ye Lizhi? Someone as lowly as her is hardly worthy of an audience with Your Highness."
Mu Zhaoran, having yet to fully understand the ins and outs of the "System," had no choice but to follow its task for now. With a cold expression, she looked past Ye Lingyan directly at Ye Rong outside the carriage and said, "General Ye, the journey will be dull. I wish for an extra person to keep me company for amusement. Surely that is not an issue?"
Ye Rong narrowed his tiger-like eyes, his scrutiny unreserved. "The Yaoguang Saintess has always been close with Yan'er. Since when have you also had ties with Lizhi?"
Mu Zhaoran lifted her chin, putting on an unreasonable air as she said, "I've heard Ah Yan mention her too many times, I've long wanted to meet her. I heard her mother was once a famous songstress in her day, so her voice must be quite good too. Wouldn't that be perfect for passing the time on the journey? If the general isn't willing, I'll go ask Father to issue an edict ordering her to accompany me."
Seeing her actually make as if to lift her skirts and step down from the carriage, Ye Rong waved his hand. "Such a trivial matter hardly requires His Majesty's golden words." He turned and gave a meaningful glance to the personal guard beside him, who accepted the order and hurried off in the direction Ye Lizhi had left.
Ye Lingyan jumped down from the carriage in displeasure, moving close to her father to complain, "Father, are you really going to let her come with us? What if she starts talking nonsense, saying I stole her…"
Ye Rong shot her a warning look, cutting off her words, then let out a contemptuous snort through his nose, lowering his voice. "She wouldn't dare."
Moments later, Ye Lizhi was brought back before the carriage. Upon hearing that Her Highness the Princess wanted her to board the carriage as a companion, she wore an expression of genuine fear and trepidation. Only when reminded did she remember to prostrate herself in gratitude. As she stepped onto the carriage using the footstool, her knees trembled with weakness.
Ye Lingyan snorted coldly, still wanting to follow and board the carriage, but Mu Zhaoran dismissed her back with the excuse that "it's too crowded."
In full view of everyone, she had been driven off the carriage by Mu Zhaoran twice in a row, utterly humiliated. Her cheeks flushed red with anger, unable to understand how her once-intimate bosom friend from yesterday could suddenly turn her back today. She would rather summon the most despised lowly maid to attend her than share the carriage with her.
Ye Lingyan desperately wanted to ask if she had done something wrong, inadvertently offending the princess, but they had already delayed too long. Ye Rong had already raised his hand, ordering the procession to set off.
Ye Lingyan could only swallow her grievances, her anger boiling over. Yet she still remembered the distinction between ranks and did not vent her resentment on Mu Zhaoran, instead glaring fiercely at Ye Lizhi, who sat with bowed head in the corner, not even daring to raise her eyes.
In the end, Ye Lingyan reluctantly returned to the carriage prepared by the general's estate.
With gongs clearing the way, the imperial carriage slowly began to move.
This princess's carriage was extremely luxurious, and the interior space was quite spacious. The soft couch inside was comfortable enough for one to lie down and rest, with cushioned benches on both sides and an incense burner in the middle. There would have been plenty of room even for several more people.
Mu Zhaoran hadn't allowed Ye Lingyan to board the carriage simply because she didn't want to see her.
She hadn't forgotten how, in her previous life, when the Tiandao Palace had judged her as a deviant from the Heavenly Dao and stripped her of her cultivation level, every single charge listed had come from her dear friend Ye Lingyan.
While Ye Lingyan had advised her, fanned the flames, and stirred up trouble on one hand, she had painstakingly and secretly preserved all evidence of her crimes, finally turning on her fiercely and righteously testifying against her.
The two Ye sisters had even reconciled over this, shaking hands and making peace, while in the end, she alone bore all the blame, becoming the wicked woman in need of reform.
It was also at that time that Mu Zhaoran realized just how resentful Ye Lingyan had been about being subordinate to her, forced to act humble in all matters, flattering and currying favor. Father and daughter harbored the same ambitions and desires.
Mu Zhaoran lifted her hand to draw aside the beaded curtain of the carriage window, gazing at the tall figure riding on horseback at the very front, then turned to look back at the soldiers guarding their journey. She sighed, let the curtain fall, and retreated back onto the soft couch.
Ye Rong held the military power of Nanrong and enjoyed considerable trust from her father. Just from this journey alone, aside from the eight spirit servants arranged by the Sacred Hall elders to accompany her, all the other guards and soldiers were from Ye Rong's command—this alone showed how much her father trusted him.
Among the common people lining the roads to bid farewell, aside from those shouting "Holy Maiden," there were also those calling out General Ye's name. Clearly, his reputation among the populace was indeed not low.
In her previous life, immersed in the sorrow of leaving home, she had been completely unaware of this.
Even though she knew everything in advance in this life, toppling Ye Rong would still be no easy task. Based on her understanding of her father, even if she could send a message warning him of Ye Rong's rebellious intentions, her father would likely dismiss her words as childish nonsense.
After much thought, Mu Zhaoran decided to first send a message to Yao Gu, asking the Sacred Hall elders to relay this information to her father. Perhaps that would make him more alert.
Even if Ye Rong already harbored rebellious thoughts now, he would not dare act rashly. After all, the Heaven-sanctioned Seal in the Sacred Hall had not yet completely lost its divine power and could still protect Nanrong for a few more years. As long as she could cultivate diligently this time, open the gates of Juntian Hall, and bring a new Heaven-sanctioned Seal back to Nanrong, Nanrong would surely avoid the crisis.
Having reasoned this through, Mu Zhaoran finally felt less anxious and had the spare attention to look at the other person sharing the carriage.
Ever since boarding this imperial carriage, Ye Lizhi had been in a state of tense, breathless rigidity, her face flushed red. If possible, she wished she could curl up into an embroidered pattern on the carriage curtains, afraid that even the sound of her breathing might attract Her Highness's attention.
Now, with just a light glance from Mu Zhaoran, she shuddered all over, nervously twisting her sleeves until they were nearly torn.
Seeing her affected manner, Mu Zhaoran felt a surge of inexplicable anger rising within her. She snapped irritably, "Stop pretending. If you were truly this timid and cowardly, how would you have dared to escape the general's mansion alone and run off to Tiandao Palace?"
She had been deceived far too many times by Ye Lizhi's pretenses in her previous life!