The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Live Off Her - Chapter 29

“What?” Wei Wan’er seemed distracted. Her foot slipped, and she nearly twisted her ankle.

Lian Liejin quickly caught her and asked with concern, “Senior Sister, are you feeling unwell? I heard you returned from a bitterly cold region. Could you have caught a chill?”

“Guan Xie, you and the Seventh Princess… Will you still return to the Stellar Medicine Sect?”

Lian Liejin laughed in surprise. “Senior Sister, the Stellar Medicine Sect is where I grew up. Master and all my senior and junior brothers and sisters are here. How could I possibly not return? Besides, Guanxie Residence still needs me.”

“How has married life in Changyong been for you and the princess?” Wei Wan’er asked with some difficulty.

“Well… so-so, I suppose.” As Lian Liejin recalled everything that had happened between her and Gao Jingxi, something stirred faintly in her heart. “Her Highness is rather different from what I imagined.”

“How is she different?”

Lian Liejin merely smiled without answering, even after a long while. Wei Wan’er sighed inwardly. “Are you no longer willing to tell Senior Sister?”

“That’s not it.” Lian Liejin hurriedly explained, “I simply don’t know where to begin. The Seventh Princess is an interesting person.”

Alarm bells rang loudly in Wei Wan’er’s heart, but she did not know what to do. She could only forcefully change the subject. “Little Radish told me you intend to move Guanxie Residence’s headquarters to Changyong.”

“Mm. That way, I can keep an eye on the business while living in Changyong.”

The two left the blue-tiled courtyard and followed a covered corridor to the Snow Cottage. A thick blanket of snow covered its roof. Candles burned inside throughout the year, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.

After entering, they knelt on cushions. Water heated over an antique bronze pear-blossom stove beside them. Lian Liejin skillfully rinsed the pot, warmed the cups, added the leaves, and washed the tea. Before long, the fragrance of hot tea curled through the room.

Wei Wan’er could not help feeling uneasy. Her tightly clenched hand relaxed, only to clench again. “Guan Xie, I discovered traces of shadow-power fluctuations in Jinbei City. If we continue farther north, we may find signs that other members of the Shadow Clan are still alive.”

“Isn’t Jinbei City the capital of an enemy kingdom? Senior Sister, that was far too dangerous. Besides, I’ve read the records Mother left behind. Members of the Shadow Clan had no permanent home and traveled throughout the world.” Lian Liejin refilled both their cups and said casually, “Many of those are merely traces left behind in the past. They don’t necessarily prove that other clan members are still alive.”

Wei Wan’er lowered her head in disappointment. “Guan Xie, now that you’ve descended the mountain, the risk of discovery has increased greatly. Senior Sister hopes you’ll return and allow us to search for your people on your behalf.”

“Senior Sister, why must you involve yourself? If others learn that you’re searching for traces of the Shadow Clan, that alone is punishable by death. Mother once wanted to find a way to restore the Shadow Clan, but she failed to fulfill that wish before she died.”

“And what about you? I’m willing to fulfill your mother’s wish together with you.”

Lian Liejin rose and shook her head. Standing with her back to Wei Wan’er and her hands clasped behind her, she said, “Mother’s wish is not mine… In truth, when shadow is born, the stars emerge. The stars may one day reach their end, but shadow is born without limit. According to the records, shadow power existed before stellar power appeared.”

Wei Wan’er had clearly never heard this before. She asked in astonishment, “You suspect that shadow and the stars are actually twins?”

Lian Liejin looked out the window and sighed deeply, unwilling to elaborate. “Senior Sister, that is merely my speculation. Perhaps… everything has already been ordained. Mother lived an extraordinary life. Although she never fulfilled her wish, she died without regret. I’ve always had doubts about her death, but the Shadow Clan is not the only thing I intend to investigate.”

This was the first time Wei Wan’er had heard Lian Liejin speak about her mother. “Guan Xie, I never knew your feelings for your mother ran so deep.”

“I was young then, but I remember everything clearly.” Lian Liejin recalled that she had been an orphan before transmigrating. After coming to this world, she had finally gained parents and experienced a mother’s love.

“Mother was both beautiful and gentle. After everyone in the residence learned that I couldn’t cultivate stellar power, she was the only one still willing to speak to me and play with me. Although we had only five years together, those years were truly filled with happiness.”

“Come to think of it, all the children in the Duke of Yan’s Residence called me a monster. Even Father initially refused to acknowledge me.” Lian Liejin stood with her back straight and gazed into the distance as though remembering the past. “It was Mother who suggested sending me to the Stellar Medicine Sect.” Her engagement to Gao Jingxi had also been arranged by her mother before her death.

“My family once received your mother’s kindness. Doing everything I can for her is also my wish. So, Guan Xie, you cannot stop me.” Wei Wan’er could almost picture a gentle, beautiful woman holding little Lian Liejin’s hand as they flew kites and pasted paper over windows inside the high-walled residence.

A strange light appeared in her eyes as she leaned forward. “Guan Xie, will you return to Jinbei City with me? Just the two of us.”

Seeing Lian Liejin’s conflicted and hesitant expression, Wei Wan’er did not press her. She simply took a wood shaving from a Cloud Concealment tree out of her sleeve, placed it on the table, and said calmly,

“The only piece of Cloud Concealment wood capable of perfectly storing shadow power was used to make your mask. This time, shavings from the same wood appeared again in Jinbei City. If we continue investigating, we will certainly uncover some clues.”

“No, Eldest Senior Sister. I have other matters to handle now. Besides, as I just said, Mother’s wish is not mine. She never forced it upon me, and I will not force it upon myself.”

“Guan Xie.” Wei Wan’er’s voice was so gentle it seemed almost liquid. “Ever since you turned sixteen, the two of us often traveled together. We’ve been separated so suddenly these past few months. Are you truly unwilling to accompany me to Jinbei City?”

At that moment, a familiar subtle fragrance carrying moist warmth entered Lian Liejin’s nose with perfect accuracy.

“That hardly seems appropriate. Liejin still needs to return home with me.” Gao Jingxi suddenly pushed open the door, placing particular emphasis on the word “home.”

The Seventh Princess’s hair was slightly damp, likely from the falling snow.

Seeing this, Lian Liejin frowned, pulled her into the room, and handed her a cup of hot tea. Reproach entered her voice. “Your Highness, why didn’t you use an umbrella when it’s snowing?”

“Since when does this princess personally hold an umbrella? I told you that if you took too long, I would come and find you myself.”

Lian Liejin nearly fell from her seat. Ancient nobles truly expected to be served in every possible way. Gao Jingxi had remembered to brush snow from Lian Liejin yesterday, yet she refused to hold an umbrella for herself.

Besides, Lian Liejin and Eldest Senior Sister had been speaking for less than one shichen.

“Princess Sister, eavesdropping outside a door is hardly the conduct of a gentleman,” Wei Wan’er said with a smile, merely shaking out her sleeves without becoming angry.

“It is perfectly natural for me to come and find my own Princess Consort.” Gao Jingxi took the opportunity to lean against Lian Liejin and straighten her hair. “Liejin, I really want to return to our home. It’s so cold here.”

“Princess Sister, if Wan’er remembers correctly, Changyong is colder than Qingyue Mountain. Your words seem somewhat contradictory.”

“Still, Qingyue Mountain has a damp cold, while Changyong merely has lower temperatures. It also depends on whether the heating is adequate. Thinking about it, we really should install underfloor heating throughout the Stellar Medicine Sect.” Lian Liejin slipped Gao Jingxi’s hand inside her sleeve to warm it, then pulled a small agate abacus from her robes and began calculating rapidly. “A rough estimate puts the cost of installing it at around one thousand taels of silver. There will also be losses during transportation up the mountain.”

Wei Wan’er and Gao Jingxi: “…”

Was money truly the important point?

The expressions of both women beside her became unpleasant. Lian Liejin finally sensed the stagnant atmosphere and hurriedly tucked the tiny abacus back into her robes. While continuing to warm Gao Jingxi’s hand, she coughed twice and said solemnly,

“Your Highness, please remain calm. We will depart for Changyong tomorrow.” After pausing, she added, “Senior Sister, do you know whether every Immortal Powder tree was destroyed?”

Wei Wan’er had just swallowed a mouthful of hot tea. She took a deep breath before answering, “Grandmaster ordered every Immortal Powder tree to be burned. No one was permitted to preserve any living plants.”

Lian Liejin and Gao Jingxi exchanged a glance before answering in unison, “Immortal Powder has appeared on the market again.”

“Guan Xie, are you suspecting the sect?” Wei Wan’er finished her tea and said firmly, “That is impossible. The Stellar Medicine Sect would never commit such a harmful act. Naturally, Guanxie Residence is also innocent. I will order the other disciples to investigate every medicinal product thoroughly. We will also send people to inspect the land we own in other prefectures and counties.”

Gao Jingxi shrugged. “I have already ordered an investigation. I believe the truth will soon come to light.”

“I hope Senior Sister will investigate this thoroughly. The Stellar Medicine Sect could also use some proper reorganization.” Lian Liejin extinguished the stove and washed the teapot. “Let’s go. I’m starving. I want some chicken legs.”

Wei Wan’er watched their well-matched figures from behind. In the end, she swallowed her words and released an extremely faint sigh.

Since Lian Liejin had eaten nothing that morning, Junior Sister Zhao specially prepared several of her favorite dishes and delivered them to the blue-tiled courtyard.

She happened to encounter Lian Liejin, Gao Jingxi, and Wei Wan’er returning together. Junior Sister Zhao had not expected to meet Eldest Senior Sister. She hurriedly lowered her head and pretended not to see anything, intending to deliver the food to the room and escape as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, things did not go as she hoped.

Walking behind Lian Liejin and Gao Jingxi, Wei Wan’er controlled her gaze and tried to look elsewhere rather than continue paying attention to Guan Xie. The moment she did, however, she spotted Junior Sister Zhao, who loved wearing green.

“Junior Sister Zhao, are you delivering food to Guan Xie?” Wei Wan’er called gently, stopping the woman who had nearly buried her head inside the crook of her arm. “While I was away, did you take proper care of Guan Xie?”

A chill ran down Junior Sister Zhao’s back, and her entire body stiffened. She slowly turned around, lowered her head, and called “Eldest Senior Sister” several times before answering at a snail’s pace, “Yes. Everything Guan Xie ate came from the Complete Medicinal Cuisine Collection you wrote.”

“Is that so?” Wei Wan’er walked over and accepted the food box from her. “Both of you have dark circles beneath your eyes and bloodshot gazes. What exactly were you doing last night?”

At Eldest Senior Sister’s interrogation, both Lian Liejin and Junior Sister Zhao immediately became nervous. Eldest Senior Sister had never approved of them playing mahjong, much less staying awake throughout the night.

If she discovered the truth, Wei Wan’er would confiscate every mahjong set. The hidden mahjong parlor they had worked so hard to establish would be completely shut down again.

“Last night… Last night, we…” Junior Sister Zhao looked left and right with her moist almond-shaped eyes. When she noticed Lian Liejin and Gao Jingxi’s interlocked hands, her bell-like laughter immediately rang out. “Little Radish and I came to make trouble in Senior Sister Guan Xie and Her Highness’s bridal chamber. Isn’t that right, Senior Sister Guan Xie?”