Achieving a Happy Ending with the Best Friend I Saved [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 8

“Is that what she said?”

A raspy, aging voice echoed through the empty hall.

The confidant knelt on the ground and confirmed it, her heart still simmering with indignation. What kind of person behaves like that?

The light in Mei Si’s cloudy eyes shifted between anger and amusement before finally settling into a contemptuous laugh.

She descended the steps and placed her hand on the confidant’s head, stroking it gently—yet with a sense of total absolute control. She said leisurely, “Mei Thirty-Seven, learn from this. Do not dwell on temporary gains or losses.”

“But…”

“Does she truly believe that once the matter is settled, she will still be of any use to me?”

“You mean…” The confidant’s eyes brightened.

Mei Si’s expression turned icy.

“Whatever she has taken, she will have to return twofold when the time comes.” She walked back to her high seat and leaned back slightly; she was not as young as she used to be and felt a bit weary. “It is a pity for my treasures, though, having to pass through the hands of someone so unworthy. Hmph, she had better not break them.”

Under constant surveillance, Sang Ruo and Rong Ji performed a grand show of cooperation.

Now that their alliance was “out in the open,” they no longer had to hide or sneak around when working together; they could walk side-by-side.

The System: 【This wave of maneuvers, I shall call it ‘Inception: Spy Edition’!】

On her way back, Sang Ruo passed a pawn shop and immediately sold the treasures she had squeezed out of Mei Si. Because the sale was rushed, the price was lower than their actual value, but Sang Ruo did not care.

In her hands, these things were just dead weight; it was better to trade them for cash that could actually be useful. She immediately handed the money over to her subordinates to grease the wheels of other social connections.

Additionally, during this excursion, she encountered the Young City Lord riding his horse recklessly through the streets, nearly trampling several people.

Under the System’s strong insistence, Sang Ruo flicked a small stone, knocking a pedestrian who had no time to dodge out of the way, thereby preventing a casualty. Had she struck the horse instead, everyone present might have suffered the Young City Lord’s wrath.

After the Young City Lord departed, he left a trail of chaos in his wake.

The shaken people looked on with numbness before returning to their business. Clearly, this was not the first time such a thing had happened.

The System, being a righteous and warm-hearted AI, was fuming: 【Abducting women, injuring people with horses, whipping others for sport… this Young City Lord is a menace. Is there no justice in this world?】

Sang Ruo replied, “This is a place where justice simply does not exist.”

The Young City Lord was backed by the City Lord’s Manor. As long as the Manor stood, he could continue to be unscrupulous, treating others as if they were not even human.

Speaking of the City Lord’s Manor, a major event was approaching.

The citizens of Ganmu City enjoyed long lifespans, but the price was that reproduction was exceptionally difficult. The City Lord’s wife had recently been blessed with a daughter—the second child after the Young City Lord. The City Lord was overjoyed and prepared a grand banquet for the baby’s hundred-day celebration, inviting the High Priest to attend and offer a blessing for the newborn.

Mei Si made a special trip to Rong Ji’s quarters for this: “You must go.”

At that moment, Rong Ji was arranging flowers, sitting on a plush cushion with a floral branch in her hand. Hearing this, she did not even look up, saying coldly.

“Aside from sacrificial ceremonies, the High Priest is supposed to guard the Divine Court and is not allowed to leave. That is what you told me. Now, for the sake of a child from the City Lord’s Manor, you want to break the rules? Do you not find that absurd?”

Mei Si looked at her and suddenly leaned down, softening her voice as if offering a compromise—or perhaps a warning. “I know you harbor resentment toward the City Lord’s Manor because of that incident. But so much time has passed; you should move on.”

Rong Ji looked down at the floor, her thoughts unreadable.

Seeing her stubbornness, Mei Si’s remaining patience evaporated. She stood up, flicking her sleeves with a cold sneer. “The City Lord’s Manor is powerful; you must go! Oh, and that little attendant of yours… Lan Nineteen, was it? She does not need to go. Let her stay with me for a while; Mei Thirty-Seven wants to learn flower arrangement from her.”

Rong Ji’s eyes snapped up instantly.

Mei Si turned to leave. “I will send someone to fetch you tomorrow.”

The courtyard was empty and silent. A long moment after Mei Si left, Rong Ji snapped back to reality. The delicate white petals in her hand had been crushed, leaving only a mangled core.

She murmured, “Indeed, seven years have passed, and you are still forcing me.”

Seven years ago, I was powerless to resist. But now, I will no longer be controlled by you.

The next day.

A cloud carriage pulled by five divine deer stopped at the entrance of the City Lord’s Manor. A tall Divine Attendant stood by the carriage and pulled back the curtain.

The High Priest was assisted out of the carriage by the attendant. Today, she wore solemn sacrificial robes covered in a layer of thin gauze and a mask carved with intricate silver patterns. She looked noble, carrying a touch of divinity—like a snow lotus blooming on a high mountain, far beyond anyone’s reach.

“Be careful.”

The voice beneath the attendant’s mask was cool and pleasant, with a slight magnetic quality that made one’s ears tingle.

The High Priest gave a slight nod.

This attendant was none other than Sang Ruo. Since Lan Nineteen had been detained by Mei Si, Rong Ji had no trustworthy person by her side for the banquet. Sang Ruo had suggested she disguise herself as an attendant. Mei Si, eager for them to develop their “relationship,” had turned a blind eye to the arrangement.

Banquets were always filled with the same boring pleasantries. Fortunately, Sang Ruo was playing the role of an attendant and did not have to socialize.

One powerful figure after another came to speak with Rong Ji, only to be dismissed coldly. Sang Ruo watched silently from the sidelines, noticing that Rong Ji seemed to be in a bad mood today and was especially frigid toward anyone from the City Lord’s Manor.

Surrounded by a crowd, Rong Ji was truly the representative of the gods at this moment—the center of attention, aloof and proud like a celestial maiden. It made one want to bring her down to earth and give her a bit more humanity.

Clearly, Sang Ruo was not the only one thinking this.

The male lead, Helian Yun, as one of the two “brave warriors,” had also been invited to this hundred-day banquet.

He had been doing well lately under Mei Si’s secret protection. A few days ago, Rong Ji had also made contact with him, and they had reached a “cooperation” under Mei Si’s surveillance. Naturally, Helian Yun had no idea Rong Ji was merely acting; he thought she was genuinely seeking his help. He had been deeply moved and continued to follow Mei Si’s orders while feeling a heavy sense of guilt.

The System said: 【I feel guilty, but I won’t actually do anything helpful. I’m just playing the field.】

Sang Ruo: “Your sarcasm is on point today. Keep it coming.”

Helian Yun watched Rong Ji from a distance for a while before stepping forward with a familiar air, holding a paper-wrapped package of pastries. “You have been standing for so long; you must be tired. Would you like some snacks?”

As soon as he spoke, the small area around them fell into a dead silence. No one had ever dared to speak to the High Priest with such a lack of decorum.

The High Priest was the mouthpiece of the gods, a person close to divinity and far removed from commoners like them. On what grounds did this man act so familiar? It was an absolute insult.

Some looked on in shock, others sneered, and many waited to see him made a fool of. All eyes converged on them.

Helian Yun sensed these gazes. As someone who had seen much of the world, he did not care; he waited with total confidence for the High Priest’s reply.

People like the High Priest, who were born trapped in a specific identity, usually craved different treatment. Because of her vast knowledge, she might not mind this small “offense” and might instead find it sincere or interesting. Furthermore, they had private contact and shared secrets.

As long as the High Priest responded, in front of such a large banquet, her name would be linked with his from then on.

The High Priest looked down at the pastries.

Helian Yun’s eyes seemed to be full of her as he waited silently. One breath passed, then two.

The scene fell into an awkward silence. A bead of sweat rolled down Helian Yun’s forehead.

The System: 【Oho. Trying to pick up girls without reading the room. With so many people around and her special position, how could she possibly give you a response?】

Sang Ruo looked at this “pretty boy,” her gaze critically scanning every inch of him. He was handsome, but his aura made him seem a bit too soft. He looked devoted and not at all like a womanizer, but who could have guessed this man had over a hundred female confidants?

Previously, had Helian Yun used these same tactics to earn an “interesting” evaluation from Rong Ji?

Her eyes darkened as she murmured, “Could he do it in private?”

The System did not know how the topic had jumped there: 【Why couldn’t he in private? After all, everyone has the freedom to pursue someone.】

Then it heard Sang Ruo give a cold, quiet laugh.

The System: 【?】

It watched as its host took a step forward, blocking the High Priest. Her voice was icy as she addressed Helian Yun: “I must ask the young gentleman to show some self-respect and stop harassing our Lady.”

Then, shifting her tone, she looked toward the host of the banquet and said with righteous indignation: “Lord City Lord, why have you let just any random stray in here?”

The City Lord glanced at the High Priest. She said nothing, which was clearly a sign of silent approval.

The City Lord felt a surge of irritation. He had invited the High Priest to his daughter’s hundred-day banquet for two reasons: first, to secure a blessing and gain prestige, and second, to take the opportunity to build a good relationship with her. Although he was powerful, in a city like Ganmu where the gods were held in the highest regard, he still had to be wary of the Divine Court.

But what was this man doing? Not only was he trying to upstage the host, but he was using the banquet as a stepping stone and ruining the celebratory atmosphere! What bad luck! Would the High Priest develop a negative opinion of the City Lord’s Manor because of this?

The crowd looked at Helian Yun, whispering and occasionally breaking into laughter.

The City Lord, his head aching with anger, called his men over: “Take him away! I do not want to see him ever again!”

As for whether Helian Yun would be mistreated after being taken away, that was not his concern.

Helian Yun was in a daze as he was led off, feeling as though the situation were surreal. He glared fixedly at Sang Ruo. It was this person.

If not for this person interfering, he would have at most been a bit embarrassed and laughed at in secret. But now, he was being kicked out directly by the City Lord! Both his dignity and his reputation were shredded! Moreover, the City Lord’s Manor was notorious among the commoners for being difficult to deal with!

Watching this, the System sighed at the irony of karma: 【A foundation built on living off women falls apart the moment the women are no longer willing to be used.】

“He got what he deserved,” Sang Ruo sneered.

The hundred-day banquet officially began. The infant daughter was carried out by a wet nurse. The High Priest dipped a willow branch into “rootless water” and gently brushed it across the baby’s forehead.

At that exact moment, the baby suddenly stopped crying. She opened her eyes, her clear pupils staring at the High Priest’s mask for a moment before she let out a giggling laugh.

The onlookers were amazed, offering their congratulations to the City Lord, saying his daughter was truly intelligent. This was the first time since the founding of Ganmu City that a High Priest had blessed a commoner, so no one knew if this was a common occurrence, but on such a joyous occasion, an omen like this was certainly a cause for celebration!

The City Lord was also extremely happy.

With the blessing complete, the High Priest cited exhaustion as an excuse to rest in a room prepared by the City Lord, instructing Sang Ruo to remain at the banquet to keep watch.

Sang Ruo watched her departing figure, lost in thought. Something is not right.

Taking advantage of a moment to “get some fresh air,” Sang Ruo produced a small paper cutout. She infused it with a wisp of demonic energy, creating a puppet to take her place at the banquet.

She then followed the trail of demonic energy she had quietly left on the High Priest.

The location was quite far away, deep within the inner quarters of the City Lord’s Manor.

She stood before a door. There were no lamps lit inside; it was pitch black.

Sang Ruo pushed the door open softly and stepped inside, only to be met by the wind of a coming punch. Her instincts acted faster than her mind, and she blocked the strike, quickly trading several blows with the intruder.

However, the more they fought, the more familiar the opponent’s movements became.

Her strikes grew hesitant, and the opponent quickly found an opening. The door was kicked shut with a bang, returning to its closed state, and Sang Ruo was pinned against it, a hand clamped over her mouth.

“Mmph…”

The spaces between this person’s fingers were filled with the scent of camellias.

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