I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 74

“I will surely swear by my life to protect her safety.”

In front of the Golden Sparrow Palace of the Zhai Kingdom, the Empress of Zhai sat in command, followed by several imperial daughters.

Luo Li and Ming Lai faced the crowd, unable to gain any advantage for a time.

Unwilling to return empty-handed, Luo Li said to Jiang Yuxiu, “Third Imperial Daughter, Princess Anxu is currently in the hands of the Sovereign. Are you not the one who cares for her most? The Sovereign is willing to invite you to the Qintai Palace for a meeting. I wonder if you are willing?”

“Desist from your trickery!” The eldest imperial daughter, Jiang Yuning, swept her long robes and said, “That Jiang Yiqing has openly committed treason and rescued prisoners. Our Zhai Kingdom can no longer tolerate her!”

She looked at Jiang Yuxiu and said, “Third Imperial Daughter, if you persist in being as obstinate as she is, I will certainly be unable to forgive you!”

“Wasn’t all of this by your design, Imperial Sister?” Jiang Yuxiu laughed coldly and said, “If you hadn’t sent Yiqing to the battlefield without my knowledge, would she have fallen for Wanqi Yanjing’s scheme? That Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade is a filthy object of inescapable sentiment. It was placed on Yiqing by Wanqi Yanjing using sorcery; all of her actions were beyond her control. I hope Mother Empress will show understanding!”

Empress Jiang Xinchao heard this and looked at Jiang Yuxiu, asking, “You say that Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade was placed on Princess Anxu by Wanqi Yanjing. What is the meaning of this?”

Jiang Yuxiu bowed to her and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I went to the Library Pavilion and searched day and night, finally finding the records of this object in the ancient texts. Within the Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade lies the ancestral power of the Qin Kingdom; it is a divine object that controls the karma of love and fate. Anyone who touches it will inevitably have their mind clouded and their emotions led by their will. It is no wonder my younger sister fell into the trap of this object and was spirited away by that Wanqi Yanjing! Tracing back to the root, Yiqing should never have been sent to the battlefield. Was this not a calamity brought upon her for no reason?”

“However, Mother Empress had already captured Wanqi Yanjing alive. It is a fact that Jiang Yiqing associated with that scum of the Qin Kingdom and released her. This act absolutely cannot be condoned!”

“I heard the report from the Elders of the Mind-Washing Pool that Jiang Yiqing received the recognition of the ancestors while in the pool and once repelled Wanqi Yanjing with the Golden Soul Jade Needle. It seems her intention was not treason, but the effect of that Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade is truly too bizarre,” the Empress said. “Therefore, the merits and faults offset each other. People of the Demon Sect, you should immediately release Princess Anxu. As for the seizure of this Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade, it is the lesson Wanqi Yanjing deserves for trespassing into the palace.”

“Princess Anxu is now the Sovereign’s plaything. Release? How can she be released?” Ming Lai sneered.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxiu’s eyes nearly split with rage as she said, “Wanqi Yanjing actually dares to do such a thing!!! I will never forgive her!”

“Then we must ask the Third Imperial Daughter to come with us on this trip,” Luo Li smiled.

“Yuxiu, you cannot go,” the Empress said decisively. “Although Princess Anxu’s current situation is difficult, Wanqi Yanjing’s magic is extraordinary, and now she uses the power of the Demon Sect. You are likely not her match. I do not want to see you throw your life away in vain. The matter of rescuing Princess Anxu must be considered further.”

“Your Majesty.” Jiang Yuxiu looked at the Empress, her eyes trembling. “Do you realize that she is my only imperial sister?”

“Your imperial sister is my biological daughter,” the Empress said, unable to hide her fury. “Do you understand that Princess Anxu is not related to you by blood?!”

“…” In this cold imperial family, Jiang Yuxiu had never felt true concern from a relative. For her, that pure familial love came from Jiang Yiqing. Therefore, no matter what was said, no matter the price, she would surely swear by her life to protect her safety.

“Reporting to the Sovereign, the Empress of Zhai refuses to surrender the Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade. We were incompetent and could not take it from them by force.”

“This matter shall be discussed later,” Wanqi Yanjing asked. “As for that Jiang Yuxiu, is she really not coming to find her dear sister?”

“She promised us she would come, however, the Empress has people following her closely; she cannot extricate herself for the time being.” Luo Li glanced at the bed behind the curtain and said, “I have a matter, though I do not know if I should speak of it.”

“Speak freely.”

“Jiang Yuxiu has been kneeling for days in front of the Star Gazing Terrace where the State Preceptor of Zhai resides, praying for the Preceptor to come forth and lend her a hand.”

“The State Preceptor of Zhai?” Wanqi Yanjing recalled for a moment, appearing to have some impression. “Are you talking about that woman who descended to the mortal realm to cultivate and never returned to the heavens?”

“Precisely. It is Jiang Xian.”

“If she comes out, she indeed would be a worthy opponent for me. Jiang Yuxiu actually went so far as to do that?”

Is she not an imperial daughter? Among the imperial daughters of the world, who is not full of themselves? To kneel before a State Preceptor for one person and not rise for days—this is indeed something not everyone can do.

“It seems your imperial sister is truly devoted to you.” Wanqi Yanjing felt inexplicably jealous and reached out to grab the jade-like body on the bed, only to find it empty.

Jiang Yiqing drew back the curtain and walked out barefoot. Looking at them, she said, “Wanqi Yanjing, it was my fault for taking the Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade first, but I was schemed against; none of it was my intention. I think, after being here with you in this false pretense for so long, I no longer owe you anything.”

In the moments of their intimacy over these days, Wanqi Yanjing truly felt for a second that she would stay here forever. But seeing those pale eyes devoid of emotion, she knew she was mistaken.

“Oh? You want to go back and find that imperial sister of yours?” Wanqi Yanjing asked, “Do you really think you can go back?”

“Whether I can go back or not is for me to decide.” Hearing the name Jiang Xian, Jiang Yiqing already had a suspicion in her heart, thinking that she and Wanqi Yanjing were not a good match anyway.

It was merely a tryst of wild mandarin ducks; in this vast female-dominated world, there was no need to dwell on it.

“You dare?!” Wanqi Yanjing reached out to cast a spell to restrain her.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yiqing was faster. Using a teleportation technique she bought from the system, she turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished on the spot.

Jiang Yiqing teleported to the side of the Star Gazing Terrace.

She saw the thousand-plus steps of the staircase. Her imperial sister was kneeling at the midpoint; for every fifteen minutes she knelt, she moved up one step. Her skirt was covered in dust, and her face was weathered, but her eyes, upon seeing her, were as bright as the stars.

“Yiqing?!” Jiang Yuxiu cried out in surprise.

“Imperial Sister…” Jiang Yiqing cried aggrievedly. She couldn’t help but throw herself into Jiang Yuxiu’s arms, and Jiang Yuxiu held her tightly.

“Yiqing, I know you’ve suffered. It’s all my fault. I didn’t take good care of you,” Jiang Yuxiu coaxed her softly.

“No, it’s Yiqing’s fault. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you and brought trouble to you. Why are you suffering like this by kneeling here? Look, I’ve come back safely. Let’s go home.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxiu firmly refused her, saying, “Yiqing, you are under the influence of that Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade. Only the State Preceptor can help you cleanse the filth. If the Preceptor is unwilling, I will kneel here and not rise.”

“Imperial Sister, you really… for someone like me, it’s simply not worth it,” Jiang Yiqing said painfully.

That Wanqi Yanjing only knew how to humiliate her, while her imperial sister only knew how to cherish her. And what was shameful was that she had actually been bewildered by Wanqi Yanjing.

She had caused her sister’s position to waver; if things went poorly, it might even implicate her. Jiang Yiqing felt deeply ashamed of herself.

“Nonsense.” Jiang Yuxiu interrupted her sternly and said, “How could you not be worth it? You are my closest sister.”

She reached out and touched Jiang Yiqing’s tear-stained cheek, feeling deeply that she had suffered a lot. Her voice softened again: “I should also blame my own uselessness, otherwise I would certainly cut out Wanqi Yanjing’s heart and liver.”

“…” Jiang Yiqing’s face stiffened, thinking to herself that those two should probably never face each other, or she would be the one to suffer.

“Imperial Sister, if you insist on seeing the State Preceptor, I will kneel with you. You are doing this for me; I cannot leave you here to suffer alone.” As Jiang Yiqing spoke, she also knelt down beside her.

“Yiqing…” This time it was Jiang Yuxiu’s turn to feel pained. However, she was certain that the Great One would likely not leave them ignored. She said, “Very well. If you are fortunate enough to become her disciple, I will be much more at ease.”

The two knelt side by side on the steps. Just as they were about to kowtow, a white light flashed from within the Star Gazing Terrace, stopping their movements.

“The power of the Zhai Kingdom’s ancestors? This truly shortens my lifespan a bit.” Jiang Xian sighed faintly inside the hall and stood up.

“Forget it. I have stayed alone for too long and it has become somewhat boring. I shall meet… the juniors once more.”

While Jiang Yiqing and Jiang Yuxiu were in a daze, they heard a soft and beautiful voice coming from the Star Gazing Terrace—

“Young ladies, please rise. I am willing to meet you. Please come up to talk.”

Jiang Yuxiu showed a look of joy and was about to get up. Jiang Yiqing supported her, letting her rise slowly, and bought healing medicine for the knees from the mall, fearing that Jiang Yuxiu’s knees might be uncomfortable after such long kneeling.

“Many thanks to the State Preceptor,” the two said in unison.

Upon entering the Star Gazing Terrace, Jiang Yiqing saw fairy-like palace attendants preparing tea and food. Jiang Xian herself was a peerless beauty in a cold white gauze, possessing an incredible sense of being a dream one could touch.

Noticing her looking, Jiang Xian asked, “Has the Princess met me somewhere before?…”

In a dream. Fearing this might be a slip of the tongue, Jiang Yiqing hurriedly said, “You seem familiar, hence my rudeness.”

Jiang Xian smiled: “No matter.”

“The sisterly bond between the Third Imperial Daughter and the Princess moves me. Now that the Princess has returned, what else would you like me to help with? Feel free to speak.”

“I ask the State Preceptor to cleanse the filth from my younger sister. If you do not find it presumptuous, she is willing to study under your tutelage.” Having said that, Jiang Yuxiu asked Jiang Yiqing, “Yiqing, are you willing to follow the State Preceptor in cultivation? The State Preceptor has great divine powers; even without spiritual roots, she can teach you many immortal arts.”

“Yiqing is most willing. Everything is at the State Preceptor’s disposal.” Jiang Yiqing looked at Jiang Xian respectfully and said.

Jiang Yiqing began to doubt whether the things in the dream were false. How could such a beautiful person be entangled with someone like Wanqi Yanjing?

“Apprenticeship is out of the question,” Jiang Xian said. “Cultivating by my side to broaden her horizons is something I can do.”

“You are too modest,” Jiang Yuxiu said. “Since you have agreed, I am relieved. As for the influence the Heterogeneous Bone Flowing Flower Jade has had on Yiqing, can it be removed?”

Jiang Xian looked at Jiang Yiqing’s expression and said, “The Princess is a person of firm will, but worldly ties are hard to unravel. It must be determined if she can truly find it in her heart to sever them.”