In the transition from late summer to early autumn, the plants and trees already showed signs of decline, yet along the official road, one could still see scattered flowers blooming out of season—a farewell gift promised to her by the Grand Elder.
Mu Zhaoran leaned against the window, watching the various small flowers flash by through the gap in the window, her mind gradually growing resolute.
As the convoy left the outskirts of the capital, the scattered flowers along the roadside grew fewer, and the crowds seeing them off gradually thinned. The outside world grew quiet, and the magic array on the imperial carriage activated. Streams of light flashed continuously through the window gaps, and the speed of the carriage suddenly increased. Amidst the wind rushing past the windows, only the sounds of wheels turning and horses' hooves remained.
Mu Zhaoran had been dragged out of bed early in the morning to perform the sacrificial rites, and she had just suffered two consecutive sanctions from the System. It could be said that she was both physically and mentally exhausted. Even though the people inside and outside the carriage made her uneasy, she still couldn't hold on and dozed off for a moment.
Only after she fell asleep did Ye Lizhi dare to cautiously lift her eyes to observe her.
The sleeping Saintess had withdrawn all her sharp, outward thorns. Her lowered eyelashes cast two ink-like shadows beneath her eyelids, and her previously pale complexion gradually took on a rosy hue. Her skin, as fair as jade and snow, resembled a pearl reflecting the glow of the evening sunset. A strand of her jet-black hair clung to her cheek, its end winding and pooling atop the luxurious fabric of her robes.
Looking at her, Ye Lizhi couldn't help but recall a precious pearl that someone had once gifted to her father. It was kept in an exquisite lacquer box inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and everyone who handled it had to hold it with utmost care, never allowing it to endure the slightest hardship.
Brocade robes and jade attire, kingfisher feathers and bright hairpins—all ought to serve as foils for the precious pearl.
Ye Lizhi had never been qualified to admire the precious pearl up close. In the past, she could only hide in a corner and catch a glimpse of the radiance the pearl emitted when the lacquer box was opened.
Just as before, she could only hear the name of Her Highness the Princess from Ye Lingyan's mouth whenever she flaunted it to her.
One was the esteemed princess of Nanrong, the future master of the Sacred Hall; the other was merely a bastard child seen as a disgrace. Two people as different as clouds and mud—Ye Lizhi couldn't understand why Mu Zhaoran had suddenly called her into the carriage to attend her.
She seemed to despise her so much. At times, Ye Lizhi could even sense that Her Highness loathed her more than Ye Lingyan did.
Though she didn't know what she had ever done to provoke such hatred, she had grown accustomed to being detested without reason.
At first, Mu Zhaoran slept deeply, but soon she was plagued by chaotic dreams. In one moment, she dreamed of failing to frame Ye Lizhi, being bound with immortal-binding ropes and dragged onto the execution platform of Tiandao Palace, subjected to twelve Spirit-devouring Seals that shattered her golden core and abolished her cultivation level.
In another moment, she dreamed of being pushed into a Gu cauldron, enduring the agony of ten thousand insects devouring her heart and drilling into her bones, while Ye Lizhi stood on the viewing platform, looking down from above, savoring her pleas of pain and mercy.
When she jolted awake from her terror, her face was streaked with moisture—she couldn't tell whether it was sweat or tears, nor could she distinguish which side was reality.
Only when Ye Lizhi, holding a bowl of tea water through a handkerchief, cautiously and ingratiatingly offered it to her and hesitantly asked, "Did Your Highness have a nightmare?" did Mu Zhaoran abruptly lift her gaze to glare at her.
The lingering pain and hatred from her dreams nearly overflowed from her pitch-black pupils. Trembling uncontrollably, she raised her sleeve to cover her face, slapped away Ye Lizhi's hand, and snapped, "Get out! Get out of the carriage! I don't want to see you!"
The teacup clattered to the floor, splitting in two and soaking the velvet carpet.
Ye Lizhi lowered her eyes, kowtowed in a bow, carefully gathered the broken porcelain pieces, and obediently withdrew from the carriage.
Once the Holy Maiden’s imperial carriage came to a halt, the entire procession paused temporarily. The general’s mansion’s carriage procession followed behind the Holy Maiden’s carriage, and Ye Lingyan’s attendants had been closely monitoring the Holy Maiden’s carriage. Seeing Ye Lizhi being driven out, they immediately turned to report to their mistress.
Ye Lingyan pushed open the carriage window and curled her lips into a smile. “Bring her to me.”
Just as Ye Lizhi stepped down from the carriage, a servant from the general’s mansion hurried forward to summon her away. The spirit servant accompanying the Holy Maiden’s carriage waited for a moment and, seeing no movement from inside the Holy Maiden’s carriage, nodded in agreement.
Ye Lingyan leaned against the carriage window and, as soon as Ye Lizhi approached, eagerly taunted, “I told you His Highness was just acting on a whim. He wouldn’t be able to tolerate you for long.”
Ye Lizhi was long accustomed to her sarcastic remarks and merely listened in silence.
Ye Lingyan snorted with a laugh and continued, “Since you’ve been driven out, I’ll be kind enough to have Father send two people to escort you back first. You should just stay quietly at the mansion.”
Ye Lizhi bit her lip, raised her head, and attempted to explain, “His Highness only ordered me to leave the carriage, not to return. I dare not make such a decision on my own. I must seek His Highness’s permission first.”
The smile on Ye Lingyan’s face instantly turned cold. “Are you using His Highness’s name to pressure me?”
Ye Lizhi lowered her head, once again adopting a submissive demeanor, and whispered, “I wouldn’t dare.”
The Holy Maiden’s imperial carriage began moving again, and the procession resumed its journey. Ye Lingyan stroked the tassels hanging by the carriage window, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she surprisingly relented. “Fine, if that’s the case, you may follow along if you wish.”
Ye Lizhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to bow when she heard Ye Lingyan raise her voice and command, “No one is allowed to give her a ride. I want to see how your two legs can keep up with the four-legged spirit horses. Oh, and you’d better run fast. If His Highness suddenly wants to hear you sing again but can’t find you, he’ll be angry.”
“And if His Highness gets angry, the consequences will be severe.”
After saying this, Ye Lingyan smugly closed the window and ordered the carriage procession to depart.
Hooves kicked up dust, and Ye Lizhi dodged left and right, her eyes stinging from the smoke and nearly trampled by the horses. Once the dust settled, the procession had already traveled a great distance. She rubbed her eyes and hurried forward to catch up.
The journey from the Southern Realm to the Jade Capital in the Central Continent spanned thousands of miles. The imperial carriage was engraved with a swift-moving magic array, and the guards rode spirit horses capable of traveling ten thousand miles in a day. Ye Lizhi had no cultivation level to speak of; even if she ran herself breathless, she couldn’t keep up with the procession. Soon, even the dust kicked up by the horses’ hooves vanished from sight.
She could only follow the tracks left by the carriages and horses as she pressed onward.
As sunset approached, the carriage procession crossed mountains and valleys, passing through three cities before arriving at a relay station to rest for the night.
This was an official relay station, prepared long in advance to receive the Holy Maiden’s esteemed presence. The buildings had been expanded, forming a complex of interconnected structures resembling a palace nestled in the mountains and forests. Lanterns hung between the pavilions, illuminating the interior and exterior brightly. Everything was meticulously cleaned, with not a single fallen leaf on the ground and no idle bystanders in sight.
Yet, compared to the Nanrong royal palace, this relay station was still rather humble.
Mu Zhaoran reluctantly entered the post station under the enthusiastic welcome of the station official. Their party had just arrived, and the carriages and horses still needed to be settled. The surroundings were noisy, so Mu Zhaoran went upstairs first to rest in her room.
The room arranged for her by the post station was quite spacious, divided into inner and outer chambers. The outer room had a sitting couch, and on the table were some sliced fruits and pastries. The room was scented with osmanthus incense.
After all the attendants had settled in and the station official ordered the preparation of meals, Mu Zhaoran leisurely descended from upstairs to the main hall.
After Mu Zhaoran took her seat, Ye Rong followed, then the Sacred Hall spirit servant accompanying Mu Zhaoran, and finally Ye Lingyan. The other attendants were seated at the outer edges.
Facing Ye Rong—the face of the future regicide and usurper—Mu Zhaoran had no appetite at all. She only took a few bites before putting down her chopsticks. Lifting her eyes to glance around, she suddenly remembered there should be one more person.
"Where is Ye Lizhi? Where has she run off to?" Mu Zhaoran said displeased. "Call her to see me."
Noticing everyone's gazes turning toward Ye Lingyan, Mu Zhaoran also shifted her eyes to her.
Ye Lingyan had long prepared her explanation and replied calmly, "Your Highness doesn't know, but her temper is quite peculiar. After you drove her out of the carriage earlier, she got angry and insisted on going home. I tried to persuade her for a long time, but it was no use."
She stole a glance at Ye Rong and whispered, "She's not like ordinary servants or maids. If she doesn't want to, I wouldn't dare tie her up…"
Upon hearing this, Ye Rong's face turned ashen. He slammed his palm heavily on the table, causing the bowls and dishes to tremble, and angrily said, "Well, her courage grows bigger by the day! She dares to defy the Holy Maiden's orders. When we return, I'll break her legs!"
Mu Zhaoran coldly watched the father and daughter perform their duet. In this matter, she felt somewhat inclined to go along with the flow. After all, this time it was the Ye family who didn't want Ye Lizhi to go, not her obstructing her.
But as soon as she thought this, the sin mark on her soul flickered a warning.
Damn sin mark, damn Ye Lizhi—what a nuisance!
Feeling utterly stifled, Mu Zhaoran gritted her teeth and said, "Send someone to find her immediately. You must bring her back to me."
Ye Lingyan had truly believed earlier that it was because she mentioned Ye Lizhi too many times in front of Mu Zhaoran that the princess suddenly took a whim upon seeing Ye Lizhi and called her to accompany her.
Having grown up with the princess since childhood, she understood her temperament well—her interests always came quickly and faded even faster.
Unexpectedly, this time, she seemed so fixated on Ye Lizhi. Ye Lingyan felt rather resentful and indignant, unable to understand. "Why must Your Highness have her accompany you? Even if you want someone to relieve boredom, can't I do it? We used to…"
Mu Zhaoran impatiently cut off her insincere flattery. "No, I want her! General Ye, at the foot of the Altar, you personally promised me. Surely you won't go back on your word now?"
With countless eyes watching him both inside and outside the room, Ye Rong fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "This general always keeps his word. The Holy Maiden should rest well. I will send someone to find her and bring her back."
Mu Zhaoran nodded. As if struck by a thought, a glint flashed beneath her eyelashes, and she feigned concern. "If she's alone and wandering in the wilderness, it could be dangerous. I'd trouble the general to search for her personally. It would be best to find her sooner rather than later."
Ye Rong gave her a deep look, also somewhat wanting to probe what schemes this suddenly changed-tempered little princess was brewing in her mind. He rose compliantly, lifting his saber to hang at his waist. "Very well, I shall heed the Holy Maiden's words."
Ye Lingyan secretly stamped her foot in frustration. After Mu Zhaoran had someone attend to her as she rinsed her mouth and went back upstairs to rest, Ye Lingyan hurriedly chased out of the room, following beside her father, repeating urgently, "Father, are you really going to find her and bring her back? Why not take this chance, find her, and drive her back to the manor to be locked away?"
Ye Rong snorted coldly. "Lizhi is still your sister, after all. Aren't you afraid she might be in danger, leaving her out in the wild mountains?"
"That lowly servant girl, what kind of sister is she…" Ye Lingyan muttered, but fell silent under her father's displeased glare. She thought resentfully, Father is so protective of that wretch now. Let's see if he dares say that in front of Mother.
Seeing Ye Rong select a group of men and prepare to turn back to search, she anxiously tugged at her father's sleeve. "Father! You know how I obtained my Yanjin Order. If she tags along and something slips out, what then? That thing you searched high and low for but couldn't find—it actually ended up with her…"
"Enough!" Ye Rong cut her off. Seeing her aggrieved expression, he softened his tone slightly and glanced up toward the second floor of the post station. "Just focus on the task I've assigned you. Don't worry about the rest; I will handle it."
Since her father still needed her help with matters, it guaranteed she could smoothly enter Tiandao Palace alongside the Holy Maiden.
Reassured, Ye Lingyan released her grip and stepped back, watching as her father mounted his horse and led a team of men, lanterns in hand, galloping into the night.
On the second floor of the post station, through a slightly opened crack in the window, Mu Zhaoran watched the receding lantern lights, a murderous intent stirring within her.
However, this General Ye had pacified bandits for Nanrong, securing the borders and amassing great merit, with many followers. Even her royal father could not kill him without just cause.
Though she could not deal with him openly, what if this general were to meet with an unfortunate accident while searching for his daughter?
Mu Zhaoran narrowed her eyes, the upturned corners of her eyes glinting with a sinister smile in the faint candlelight. Her beauty was undeniable, yet at this moment, she truly resembled a serpent or scorpion baring its fangs, unsettling and perplexing.
She lightly raised her delicate hand, closed the window crack, and turned, intending to summon the spirit servants of the Sacred Hall for consultation. But after careful consideration, she abandoned the idea—since it was to be an accident, she must not involve the Sacred Hall's spirit servants, leaving any trace behind.
She could not even use the magical artifacts prepared for her by the Sacred Hall elders or the techniques they had taught her. There must be not the slightest chance for Ye Rong's impending accident to be linked back to her; otherwise, her royal father would face great difficulty.
How truly troublesome.
Mu Zhaoran frowned slightly, her fingertips gently teasing the candle flame. Staring at the flickering light for a moment, an idea formed in her mind. She murmured silently, "Yanluo, I should thank you…"
Yet in her previous life, she had been blinded, as if possessed, obsessively infatuated with Yun Xiaoyang, never seeing anyone else.
By the time the shadow over her heart dispersed, she had already caused his death.
Zhaoran: This is how a wicked villain schemes in the shadows, hehehe—