At this point, Xiao Jin understood that further words were useless.
After all, the eyes of the masses were sharp; they would only believe what they saw for themselves.
No matter how much others tried to defend, it would ultimately be in vain.
Xiao Jin could only sit in the wheelchair, silently accepting the true or false compliments from the courtiers.
Once the formalities were over, the ministers who participated in the ceremony gradually boarded their carriages and returned home.
Seeing that most people had left, Xiao Jin finally obtained a moment of peace, although her head still throbbed a little.It seemed that her aunt had made up her mind to push her into that position.
Xiao Jin took a deep breath, unable to understand what was commendable about herself, a useless youth in her twenties who only managed the rights to read novels and play games without restrictions on gaming addiction.
She just wanted to go home.
Something like being an emperor should be left to the professionals.
She couldn’t bear it and had no interest in it.
Chu Shao stood by, noticing that Xiao Jin was slightly irritated at the moment, and asked softly, “Your Highness, are you tired? Shall I accompany you back to your room?”
Xiao Jin looked up at Chu Shao, gazing into those smiling eyes. Her inner thoughts calmed down a lot.
Or perhaps, when there was someone by her side, with smiling eyes, gentle laughter, and reflections of her own face, even if a great disaster was about to befall, she wouldn’t be too afraid.
Xiao Jin knew that a genuine smile couldn’t be faked.
Perhaps Chu Shao herself didn’t even know, but Xiao Jin knew, and she knew she could trust Chu Shao.
In this unfamiliar world, she really wanted to hold Chu Shao’s hand and draw some support from it. But for now, she still had something she had to do.
Recalling the scene when the ground shook just now, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but sigh.
She had never seen Xiao Shuang in such a miserable state.
Except for the fragments of memories, the princess in red had once braved a heavy rain and ran towards the study.
Apart from that, there had never been such a moment.
With this in mind, Xiao Jin shook her head and said, “Shao’er, you should go back to your room and rest. There’s still something unresolved that I need to attend to.”
“Your Highness, who is this matter related to?”Chu Shao’s tone remained gentle, but her smile seemed a little forced, like an ink painting being rolled up before the ink had dried.
Xiao Jin paused for a moment and answered honestly, “It’s related to my aunt.”
…
Before the officials dispersed, Xiao Shuang had already left the altar.
Xiao Jin speculated that her aunt probably thought everything was settled and there was no need to stay.
On the way to Xiao Shuang’s chamber, Xiao Jin wanted to confirm another guess, so she called Ye Juege to push the wheelchair and accompany her.
The journey was not far, and lotus flowers were blooming beautifully on the surface of the temple’s pond, which was a delightful sight.
Xiao Jin waved her hand to signal Ye Juege to stop and walked to the front of the lotus pond. She casually picked a branch that was protruding from the railing and admired it in her hand.
Ye Juege carefully supported the wheelchair and couldn’t help but smile. “Does Your Highness intend to bring this lotus branch back for Princess to see?”
After having her fill, Xiao Jin placed the lotus on her knee and shook her head. “I was just reminded of a legend related to Buddhism.”
Ye Juege was slightly stunned, realizing that Xiao Jin might have more to say. She lowered her gaze respectfully and said, “I would like to hear more, Your Highness.”
“It is rumored that when Shakyamuni was born, a lotus as large as a wheel grew in the palace’s pond, which was an auspicious sign from heaven. Not only that, it also attracted flocks of birds and blooming flowers in all seasons.”
“That is indeed a well-known legend.” Ye Juege was slightly puzzled by Xiao Jin’s mention of this legend. Her highness never liked reading books, let alone Buddhist scriptures. Why would she suddenly bring it up now?
Xiao Jin nodded, but her tone suddenly changed. “In that case, Master Shi Ming is also connected to my aunt. Ye Juege, don’t you think so?”
Ye Juege was stunned again, and her heart couldn’t help but beat faster.
Xiao Jin noticed this and felt that she might have stumbled upon something real.
Ever since absorbing the light from the Wentianye, Xiao Jin’s senses had become much sharper. At this moment, she could even clearly sense the changes in Ye Juege’s breath and heartbeat.
After confirming her speculation, Xiao Jin suppressed her initial intention of just teasing Ye Juege. She raised her head and glanced at the other person indifferently. “Is there something you find inconvenient to tell me? You can say it now.”
“When did Your Highness find out?” Ye Juege’s voice was strained.
“Just now,” Xiao Jin answered without any hesitation.
Ye Juege was somewhat shocked, instantly realizing that she had fallen into a trap.
Without giving her time to react, Xiao Jin continued, “I don’t believe in supernatural phenomena, so naturally, I don’t think the pearl appeared out of thin air. Moreover, if it were just an ordinary pearl, it would be fine, but it happens to have a thousand-petal lotus engraved on it.”
“Although I have always been ignorant, I still know that lotus flowers in the mortal world have no more than ten petals. Only those monks who practice Buddhism would believe that lotus flowers in the Pure Land can have a thousand petals. Therefore, that pearl must be something from the Dali Temple and a very significant treasure at that.”
After a moment of silence, Ye Juege nodded. “You guessed right. That pearl is the Sacred Heart Lotus Pearl, which has been enshrined in the Dali Temple for a hundred years.”
Hmm, she had never heard of it.
After hearing Ye Juege’s introduction, Xiao Jin felt relieved for some reason. Even though she had read the original work, she couldn’t remember this thing, so it didn’t seem to be a rare treasure.
If it was truly a valuable pearl, it would be a loss to give it away so casually to those cranes.
Then, Ye Juege added, “It is said that this pearl not only attracts immortal cranes but also dispels all poisons and keeps the deceased’s body from decomposing.”
Xiao Jin furrowed her brows slightly. This pearl seemed to have some effect after all.
It seemed like she had been hasty. By giving it away so easily, Master Shì MÃng might end up resenting her.
“Since the pearl has always been with Master Shì MÃng, why didn’t it attract the flock of cranes from the beginning?”
Xiao Jin really didn’t want to say the words “immortal cranes.” After all, if those wild animals were associated with the word “immortal,” as a transmigrator, wouldn’t she be the most extraordinary being?
Now that Xiao Jin was already aware of the situation, Ye Juege no longer concealed the truth. “Because Master Shi Ming wears a Dharma robe. If the pearl is hidden within the robe, protected by the peaceful aura, it naturally won’t attract auspicious phenomena. But if it is placed in the mundane world, it will have nowhere to hide, and the immortal cranes will come searching for the pearl.”
Profound, too profound.
Xiao Jin felt that phenomena like this probably relied not on the pearl itself, but on probability theory.
However, the facts proved that probability theory truly sided with her. She couldn’t tell if it was fortunate or unfortunate.
In any case, it was definitely fortunate for Xiao Shuang.
Xiao Jin recalled the scene of Xiao Shuang rushing towards the altar just now.
Although she knew that Ye Juege was merely someone planted by Princess Zhao Yang since childhood, and she knew that the original host had both her legs given by Ye Juege, she couldn’t help but smile and say, “Since everything is under Aunt’s control, there was no need to put on a show in front of me just now.”
“I, too, am human, and I will be saddened by your deception, Aunt.”
When she said the last sentence, Xiao Jin was even a bit confused about whether she felt sorry for the original host or if she had grown angry after spending so much time with these people.
She was even a bit puzzled as to why she was angry.
Was she angry at them for keeping everything from her, or was she angry at them for making decisions on her behalf?
It didn’t matter.
Xiao Jin rubbed her temples, suspecting that she had gone a bit mad from staying here for too long, feeling so emotionally invested that she started caring about the life and death of others.
In the end, what did the life and death of others have to do with her? She only needed to complete her mission and go home.
Just as Xiao Jin finally managed to establish her image as a selfish and ruthless person, Ye Juege suddenly knelt down, causing her eyebrows to furrow again.
“Your Highness, Juege has followed you for over ten years, but I have simultaneously obeyed you and Princess Zhao Yang. As a servant, if I harbor any other thoughts, even the monarch cannot forgive me, let alone you, who have placed your trust in me.”
“Juege is truly ashamed and, after this matter is settled, will offer my life as an apology!”
Listening to the sound of Ye Juege heavily knocking on the ground, Xiao Jin fell silent, not knowing what to say.
She had never blamed Ye Juege, and she knew that the last time when Ye Juege decided to sever contact with Xiao Shuang, it must have been with the determination to face certain death.
This time, her interaction with Xiao Shuang was only because she thought it would be advantageous for herself, so she silently arranged everything. Even though she knew everything, she still kept it from Xiao Jin.
Little did they know, Xiao Jin hated precisely this point.
She hated it when others, under the guise of acting for her good, planned everything themselves.
They did things that she didn’t want, but because they were putting in their utmost effort for her, she didn’t even have the position to be angry. She could only accept it.
Fortunately, though.
Xiao Jin thought that it was fortunate that she wasn’t the rightful host; otherwise, she wouldn’t know what to do.
It was precisely because she wasn’t the original Xiao Jin that she could say to Ye Juege, “There’s no need to wait until after everything is settled. I’ll go find Aunt for the antidote and clarify things with her later.”
Ye Juege raised her head, and there was a glaring red mark on her forehead.
Her eyes were devoid of tears, but the expression on her face was even more sorrowful than if she were crying.
Her eyes were devoid of tears, yet the expression on her face was even more sorrowful than if she were crying. Xiao Jin was even a bit puzzled; clearly, the person hadn’t cried, so why did her gaze carry such sadness?
This wasn’t the first time she had seen it. In her fragmented memories, she had seen it many times before, but it was the first time she had felt it so vividly and directly.
Ye Juege raised her hand and wiped the blood from her forehead. She spoke softly, “It’s my fault. I’ve always made mistakes, making Your Highness sad and losing Your Highness’s trust. But Princess Zhao Yang, she truly, genuinely cares for you, Your Highness.”
“When you were young, you disliked studying and often spoke rudely, challenging your teachers. Princess Zhao Yang would punish you by making you kneel outside the door to reflect.”
“If the sun was too scorching, Princess Zhao Yang would furrow her brow. If the sun wasn’t scorching, Princess Zhao Yang would still furrow her brow. No matter the circumstances, Princess Zhao Yang always felt something was amiss. If the punishment was light, she would always worry that you wouldn’t learn your lesson. If the punishment was heavy, she would fear hurting you.”
“I, as a subordinate, have observed it. I always felt that someone like Princess Zhao Yang wouldn’t be able to bear it if you suffered. It would surely be more painful for her than if the pain were inflicted upon herself a hundredfold.”
Xiao Jin fell silent for a long time.
She wanted to say that she wasn’t the original host, that the real Third Prince Xiao Jin had long been dead, died on the day of her return to the capital.
The cause of death was unknown, but it was known that a white banner hung on the city gate, and Emperor Qi ordered a nationwide mourning.
The supporting characters who lived through three chapters need not be elaborated on. In a few brief sentences, there was no mention of Princess Zhao Yang. Whether it was because the author forgot or because Princess Zhao Yang was in such deep grief that the phoenix carriage couldn’t make it to the capital to offer a cup of wine at Third Prince Xiao Jin’s tomb.
Only Crown Prince Xiao Yu and a steward named Zhang carried the coffin, passing through several cities, but not a single person shed tears for Third Prince Xiao Jin. It seemed that she didn’t have the support of the people, which was reasonable.
Xiao Jin was already familiar with the subsequent plot.
The Crown Prince declined Emperor Qi’s arranged marriage, and the deceased Princess Chu Shao was carried in a wedding sedan and brought into the Fourth Prince’s residence.
Thinking up to this point, Xiao Jin wouldn’t argue anymore. She was just a resentful young woman who loved reading online novels, not Third Prince Xiao Jin herself.
Instead, she felt fortunate that she had transmigrated here; otherwise, if the plot really unfolded like this, she wouldn’t dare to imagine it.
She couldn’t imagine what would happen to Princess Chu Shao and her aunt.
After a long time, Xiao Jin sighed.
Finally accepting her fate for the sake of Princess Chu Shao, she said to Ye Juege, “I understand.”
Then, she pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, lifted her hand, and gently wiped the blood from Ye Juege’s face.
“It’s because I understand that I will go find my aunt. I want to know the true purpose behind all her planning, whether it’s for vengeance from the past or for something else.”
“And also, I want to tell her that there’s no need to hide things from me anymore. I am aware of everything and have the right to know it all.”
…
Dali Temple, inside a side room.
Xiao Shuang sat on the couch, looking at the officials kneeling before her in congratulation.
She didn’t care whether these people returned to show their loyalty or to offer flattery. To her, there was no difference between the two.
“… Congratulations, Princess Zhao Yang. Once Her Highness Prince Yan ascends the throne, you will be able to govern from behind the curtains and assist Her Highness Prince Yan in handling court affairs.”
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Shuang’s expression finally turned serious. She asked in a low voice, “Govern from behind the curtains?”
The minister thought Xiao Shuang was dissatisfied and quickly corrected himself, “I used the wrong term. Princess Zhao Yang, with the power of seven cities, will assist Her Highness Prince Yan in ascending the throne. There is no need for you to govern from behind the curtains. When the new emperor takes the throne, the entire court, both civil and military, will know that you are the true ruler of Qi Country.”
Another minister took the opportunity to agree, “Qin Daren is absolutely right. In the past, Emperor Taizong intended to make you the crown princess. If it weren’t for wicked individuals obstructing and employing every wicked means, you would already be the sovereign ruler of Qi Country. There is no need to support Her Highness Prince Yan as a puppet emperor.”
Xiao Shuang, for some reason, smiled upon hearing certain words. Her usually cold and indifferent countenance softened a bit.
The ministers exchanged glances, emboldened by her response, and praised her extensively.
They continued showering her with compliments until one of the ministers looked up and noticed that Xiao Shuang’s smile had vanished long ago. She was already standing up, scrutinizing them from a superior position.
“Someone said that Emperor Taizong once intended to make me the crown princess, but was thwarted by wicked individuals. Is that true?”
The minister who previously mentioned the matter broke out in a cold sweat, forcing a smile, “Indeed, that is true. I heard that you were just one step away from becoming the crown princess.”
“One step away?” Xiao Shuang seemed to have heard something amusing, causing even the red jade pendant she wore to appease the celestial observance ceremony to tremble with her laughter.
After laughing, she stared at the minister, asking in a low voice, “Do you know, Lord Lu, what happened a year later? Emperor Taizong promoted all those who opposed my becoming the crown princess. And a couple of months later, everyone who supported me was demoted and exiled.”
“To the point where there was no one left by my side who could be of use, and that’s when I recruited you bunch of useless individuals.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator’s note: Can I chop those old geezers’ mouths?!🤨🤬😒
TO BE CONTINUE…
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