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Kapitel 29

The scholar smiled and advised, "Your Highness, perhaps things aren't so bad after all..."

The Prince of Nanling looked at him, frowning in confusion.

...

Six months later, the old lady of Yuchi Manor passed away. In the first month of the following year, Yuchi Manor sent an envoy to the Prince of Nanling's residence to discuss allowing the four daughters to return to their rightful place in the royal family. That year, the prince surprisingly agreed to the matter.

A month later, the grand procession of the Prince of Nanling arrived at the territory of Yuchi Manor.

Di Xiu and others were waiting at the Shili Pavilion outside the manor, as ordered.

With the old lady's passing and the power struggles within the manor in full swing, the situation was tense. The four hall masters were also beginning to choose their sides. And to send the fourth young lady back at this crucial moment... it was truly a reckless move.

He frowned, his heart filled with worries. Just then, the carriages of the Prince of Nanling arrived. He stepped forward to greet them, about to bow, when he noticed a familiar face among the maids beside the carriage.

She was still as bright and beautiful as he remembered, sincere and innocent. At this moment, she was looking at him with a smug and mischievous gaze. Disguised as someone else? He was slightly surprised, then found it somewhat amusing. Nonsense… well, that's right, she didn't want to come in the first place, so this kind of nonsense was understandable.

He didn't want to expose her, so he pretended to know nothing and let her be. He suppressed his smile and was about to lead the way when he saw someone approaching from afar. It was Li Qiong, the head of Buyan Hall.

Could this man surnamed Li be planning to assist the Fourth Miss? He frowned slightly, displeased. She was an outsider to begin with; how could he allow her to be dragged into the power struggle… He made up his mind, raised his eyes to look at the man approaching from afar, his gaze filled with icy killing intent.

She didn't want to be the fourth young lady of the Yuchi family—this was the only wish he could fulfill for her.

Extra · 2

When I first met Princess Qingyun, it was March. The spring rain was as soft as silk, and the breeze was gentle and warm. In the garden of the Prince of Nanling's mansion, plum blossoms were in full bloom, vying for beauty and creating a breathtaking scene. However, compared to the sea of flowers in Plum Valley, it still paled in comparison.

As I approached Princess Qingyun's bedroom, the delicate fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, refreshing and invigorating. When the door opened, I realized that all my assumptions along the way had been wrong.

The Prince of Nanling's Mansion and Plum Valley have always been on good terms. However, the only evaluation of the Prince of Nanling from my master's words was: crude and arrogant. I have also met the Prince; although he possesses a heroic spirit, his speech and behavior do indeed have a rude and frivolous air. Thinking about it this way, his daughter must have inherited some of her father's temperament.

However, the woman who appeared before me at that moment amazed me.

She was only eighteen or nineteen years old, half-reclining on the bed. She wore a light blue silk robe and a white feather cloak, which made her appear even more elegant and refined. Her hand rested gently on her protruding belly, her expression showing a hint of weariness. She looked up at me, her eyes clear and bright, with a resolute determination that was mesmerizing.

"I presume you are from Meigu?" she said, her voice gentle and pleasant.

I clasped my hands in greeting and replied with a smile, "I am Mei Ziqi, and I greet the Princess."

“You don’t need to be so polite,” she said with a smile. “If I’m not mistaken, you are the seventh disciple of Meigu Sanren. I have also had the honor of meeting my master, who is indeed a reclusive master, worthy of my admiration.”

If Master heard these words, he would be very pleased. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Since your surname is Mei and you are slightly older than me, may I address you as 'Brother Mei'?" she asked.

"I'd rather obey than be overly respectful," I replied, agreeing.

“Brother Mei should already know about my situation, right? I’ll have to trouble you tonight.” She nodded slightly and said.

I know about her story, of course. Not only me, but everyone in the martial arts world and the imperial court has heard of it. A year ago, she met Yuchi Siguang, the master of Yuchi Manor, at the Lantern Festival in the capital. They fell in love at first sight and secretly pledged their lives to each other, which was quite a beautiful story. However, she divorced her husband after only half a year of marriage into the Yuchi family. The reason for this remains unknown.

This wasn't a major issue, but the troublesome part was that the Yuchi family kept a celestial fox, and the current celestial fox master, Yuchi Linghui, was extremely dissatisfied with this unconventional princess. Especially since the princess was already pregnant when she divorced. Although the child was of the Yuchi family bloodline, the Nanling Prince's Mansion had no intention of returning it. With the child's birth imminent, strange things had been happening in the Nanling Prince's Mansion for days, leading everyone to suspect it was the work of the celestial fox's magic. That's why they went to Plum Valley to ask their master for help. Coincidentally, their master was in seclusion, and my several idle fellow disciples were not in the valley, so this task fell to me.

I've only heard rumors about the Celestial Fox. But I've heard that it's a fox spirit that has cultivated for a thousand years, capable of communicating with heaven and earth, changing men and women, and possessing boundless magical power. I'm quite interested in having a go at it.

Now, setting up a demon-subduing formation is naturally the most appropriate course of action.

Thinking of this, I looked at the furnishings in the room. To my astonishment, there was already an array set up in the room. Although the layout was still somewhat lacking, and the vital points were not set up properly, it was still somewhat effective. I couldn't help but smile and ask, "Did the princess set up the array in the room?"

She nodded and sighed softly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Mei."

"Not at all," I said, then suddenly realized. The Heavenly Fox's troubles didn't start overnight. This princess has been fighting the Heavenly Fox like this all along? How could she, a frail woman, and heavily pregnant, manage to do this...? I glanced at her again. Her expression was calm and peaceful, and the determination in her eyes now seemed to carry an extraordinary heroic spirit, no less than any man's.

Suddenly, she frowned and groaned softly. A midwife rushed forward to examine her and then said, "The princess is about to give birth."

The maids were all startled and hurried upon hearing this.

I lowered my head and bowed, saying, "I shall take my leave now."

"Thank you for your trouble," she said in a weak voice.

As I was leaving, I turned back and glanced at her. Her face was pale, and she was slightly sweaty. A woman in labor should be in excruciating pain, but she gently stroked her belly and smiled tenderly.

I never knew that a woman could be so breathtakingly beautiful.

That night, I set up a demon-subduing formation outside her bedroom and silently guarded her. By the fourth watch, the child still hadn't been born. Everyone in the palace was in chaos, even the usually arrogant and domineering prince was sweating profusely, pacing back and forth outside the door, his mind unsettled.

Actually, I'm not worried. I know that good people are always protected by heaven. She and her child will surely be safe and sound, and live a happy life.

Just then, a white light flew in, heading straight for the dormitory. I watched with a smile as it was repelled by the array. Then, I leisurely got up and chased after it.

The white light left the Prince of Nanling's mansion and arrived at a grove of trees. It stopped in the woods and gradually transformed into the shape of a fox.

"Are you from Plum Valley?" the fox asked me.

I smiled and nodded, then clasped my hands in greeting, saying, "I am Mei Ziqi. You must be Tianhu."

The fox laughed, "The people of Plum Valley truly live up to their reputation. I came here today to take back the Yuchi family's child, but it seems impossible now. So be it."

I couldn't help but ask it, "You are not a demon; you have cultivated for a thousand years and attained immortality. Why do you obey mortals and do these lowly things?"

The fox chuckled and sighed, replying, "It's all my fault for being careless back then, which led to my being detained by the Yuchi family and losing my freedom."

"If that's the case, Meigu can certainly lend you a hand."

“Thank you for your kindness. But the ‘Oath of Spiritual Blood’ that the Yuchi family has placed on me is no small matter. Even with Mei Gu’s great power, I’m afraid he will find it difficult to deal with. Let nature take its course,” the fox said. “Perhaps one day, someone will restore my freedom… Until we meet again.”

"Until we meet again." Before I could finish speaking, it had already turned back into white light and disappeared without a trace.

I smiled helplessly and turned back. Just then, I suddenly noticed someone standing next to me, and it seemed like they had been standing there for a long time.

He was a man in his mid-twenties, handsome and imposing. The fact that he could stand behind me for so long suggested he was quite skilled. I couldn't help but smile and ask, "Brother, do you need something from me?"

He nodded, clasped his hands in a fist and said to me, "Thank you."

I was a little confused, so I could only ask with a smile, "What is it that you are thanking me for, brother?"

He didn't answer, but took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to me, saying, "Please give this letter to Princess Qingyun."

I took the letter, increasingly puzzled. After thinking for a moment, I said, "Since you have a favor to ask of me, at least give me your name."

He had already turned to leave, but when I asked him that, he stopped and said calmly, "Yuchi Siguang."

I was taken aback, and before I could ask him anything, he had already leaped away and disappeared into the night. I looked down at the letter in my hand, and a sudden feeling of melancholy washed over me.

When I returned to the Prince of Nanling's residence, it was already dawn. As soon as the maids in the residence saw me return, they rushed forward and told me with joy that the princess had given birth to a baby girl, and that both mother and daughter were well.

For some reason, I felt a surge of joy at that moment. I entered the princess's bedroom, where a large group of people were gathered, each with a beaming smile on their face.

She was still reclining on the couch, cradling a baby girl in her arms. Her smile remained gentle. Now, that gentleness carried a radiant glow, making her incredibly charming.

When she saw me, she smiled and called out, "Brother Mei."

It was at that moment that I suddenly realized I had arrived too late…

I walked to the bedside, took out the letter from my pocket, and handed it to her, casually telling her, "I just met someone who asked me to give you this letter."

After reading the letter, she frowned slightly and said loudly, "Bring me my pen and cinnabar."

The maidservant obeyed and brought the two items.

She laid the letter on her lap and began to write.

Only then did I see that the letter contained only four characters—Yuchi Huaiyue. She circled the character "Huai" with vermilion and changed it to "Ming," then folded the letter and handed it to the maid beside her, saying, "Send this letter back to Yuchi Manor at top speed."

The maid put away the letter and nodded in agreement.

I felt the same helplessness I had felt earlier. Indeed, that marital entanglement wasn't as simple as everyone said. I sighed softly, about to take my leave, when she spoke up, smiling, "If it weren't for Brother Mei tonight, my son and I would probably be in grave danger. As for the reward..."

"Your Highness is too kind." I glanced at the baby and smiled. "Nothing else is needed. Let me hold the child."

She smiled and nodded, then handed the baby in her arms to me.

The newborn baby was so soft and fragile that it filled me with a sense of unease. I was afraid that the slightest pressure would hurt her. Her eyes were still closed, and her tiny fists gently punched my face. I don't know why I laughed, but I just couldn't help it. I gently pinched her cheek and called out, "Mingyue."

At this moment, the princess spoke up and said to me, "Brother Mei, since you feel a connection with this child, why not take her as your disciple?"

I was a little surprised to hear her say that.

She smiled and said, "To be honest, elder brother, I've always wanted to become a disciple of Plum Valley, but unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Prince of Nanling angrily exclaimed, "No way! How can my granddaughter become a disciple of Plum Valley! I won't allow it!"

Upon hearing this, she frowned, as if she were about to get angry.

I could only smooth things over by saying, "I am unworthy of such a title. I dare not accept the title of teacher. However, I am quite adept at teaching reading and writing. If Your Highness does not mind, please allow me to be Miss Mingyue's tutor."

Upon hearing this, the prince's smile widened. "Excellent, excellent, that's perfect!"

The princess said no more, "That's fine, but it's a pity for Brother Mei."

I looked at the child in my arms and shook my head. "I'm not wronged."

From that day on, I was no longer "Brother Mei". Everyone in the Prince's mansion addressed me as "Sir". Although it felt awkward, it wasn't so bad.

Time flies, and the child grew up. Every year, the Yuchi Manor sent people to beg the Prince to let her be recognized as part of his family. But the Prince and the Princess still harbored resentment and refused to agree. I felt that many grievances should eventually be resolved. When Mingyue came of age, I persuaded the Prince and the Princess. Although it was only a two-month stay each year, I believe the father would be gratified.

Two years later, my master consulted the oracle and said that the Heavenly Fox seal was weakening. I had also heard about the fierce power struggle within Yuchi Manor, but I feared that Mingyue was too young to handle it. That year, I accompanied him to the manor to ensure everything went smoothly.

Tired from riding, I shared a carriage with Mingyue. We enjoyed the scenery and chatted along the way, which was quite pleasant. When we arrived at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside Yuchi Village, someone was already waiting for us.

Mingyue's face darkened. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, saying with displeasure, "It's him again."

I couldn't help but wonder, "Him? Who is he?"

"He is my father's confidant, the steward of Yuchi Manor. He is despicable, ruthless, two-faced, and cold-blooded..." Mingyue said indignantly, her brows furrowed.

I couldn't help but chuckle. This child, though pampered, was always well-mannered, kind, and amiable; how could she suddenly utter such harsh words? I glanced out the window; it was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in fine clothes and fur, with a handsome appearance. He looked somewhat familiar. Thinking carefully, I recalled that several years ago, Mingyue had been kidnapped. That kidnapper—wasn't that him?

I asked her with a smile, "He seems so handsome and talented, how could he be despicable, ruthless, two-faced, and cold-blooded?"

Mingyue said, "That's what everyone says."

He's just parroting what others say... I touched my forehead, feeling a little sorry for the kid.

When we arrived at Yuchi Manor, I alighted from the carriage and was about to stretch my limbs when I suddenly felt a gaze fixed on me, sending chills down my spine. I turned around and saw the man in brocade robes frowning, his face full of displeasure.

Our eyes met, and he looked slightly surprised, quickly avoiding my gaze.

I found it increasingly intriguing. His gaze just now was full of hostility, but even more so, it was filled with jealousy.

Hmm... It's not proper for men and women to be intimate; I really shouldn't ride in the same car as a girl.

After thinking for a moment, I decided to help Mingyue out of the car myself, take her hand, and say with a smile, "Mingyue, let's go and rest."