Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 51

In the two weeks following the theft of the antidote, Hu Yingying never reappeared.

Gu Sheng took one pill daily from the pink porcelain bottle. After another two weeks, she switched to the dark red porcelain bottle. By then, the Fragrant Bloom poison in her system had been almost completely neutralized.

As for the wounds left by the Bone-Eroding Spikes, thanks to the medicine Chen Yidong delivered daily, they had healed more than halfway.

One day, Hu Li lay on a recliner in the courtyard, basking in the sun, and asked Gu Sheng, “How did you know to take the Fragrant Bloom antidote like that?”

In the original story, Gu Sheng had little interaction with the Fox Clan, let alone knowledge of the Fragrant Bloom poison. Hu Li couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Gu Sheng closed her eyes, feigning sleep. Hearing Hu Li’s question, she slowly opened them, shielding her eyes with a palm leaf fan, and replied casually, “I accidentally ingested it once before. Someone taught me how to neutralize the poison.”

When Gu Sheng first came to live with the Fox Clan as a child, Little Hu Li had taken her to play in the Secret Chamber on the third floor of the Bamboo Tower.

That day, they were playing hide-and-seek. To avoid being found by Little Hu Li, Gu Sheng had hidden in a shelf within the Secret Chamber for an entire day.

At the time, Gu Sheng hadn’t yet achieved bigu (grain avoidance) and was starving. She ate a few small pills she found on a shelf, thinking they were candy. She didn’t give it a second thought as she popped them into her mouth.

But as she kept eating, her stomach suddenly seized with excruciating pain. She bolted from the Secret Chamber and collided with Little Hu Li, who had just finished searching over a dozen other chambers.

Having learned secret Fox Clan techniques from the Former Fox King, Little Hu Li quickly checked Gu Sheng’s pulse and realized she had been poisoned by Fragrant Bloom.

Fragrant Bloom was a secret medicine refined from the Fire Radiance Flower, the sacred flower of the Fox Clan. While not highly toxic in small doses, consuming large quantities at once or accumulating it over time would allow the poison to seep into the bone marrow, eventually claiming a person’s life.

That day, Gu Sheng had eaten too much, triggering the reaction.

Fortunately, Little Hu Li knew how to detoxify the poison and taught Gu Sheng the method, saving her life.

“Did you used to live with the Fox Clan?” Hu Li asked, hearing about Gu Sheng’s accidental consumption of Fragrant Bloom.

Gu Sheng nodded. “After my mother died, Elder Shen fell gravely ill. With no one to care for me, my father sent me to live with the Fox Clan.”

*******

Hu Li pondered, recalling the book Tianyan Sect’s Untold Stories that Lecher had given her. She suddenly realized that the gossip he’d written about the sect might not be entirely baseless rumors.

[Does anyone know what kind of relationship Gu Sheng’s (scumbag dad) had with the Fox Clan’s Former King?]

[No idea. I’ve scoured the original novel, but found nothing.]

[Could Sheng-sheng and the Fox Spirit be half-siblings?!]

[Don’t be ridiculous. Li Li is a purebred Fox Clan member; she couldn’t possibly have human blood.]

[You can’t be so sure.]

[Fake incest, mmm~]

*******

Gu Sheng waved away the comments with her fan. “Don’t worry,” she said. “The Former Fox King wouldn’t have given that hypocrite the time of day.”

And it wasn’t just the Former Fox King. Even Qi Shiyi herself wouldn’t have looked twice at that hypocritical Gu Jinghe.

Hu Li murmured, “So he really is a (scumbag dad)?”

The fox ears in Gu Sheng’s hair twitched slightly as she overheard Hu Li’s words. She was about to retort, “That hypocrite doesn’t deserve to be called a father,” when Hu Yingying’s voice suddenly descended from above, interrupting her.

“Li Li dear,” Hu Yingying called out, “I accidentally twisted my back yesterday, so I’m afraid I’ll have to entrust tomorrow’s prayer ceremony to you.”

******

The blessing ceremony, the concluding rite of the Spring Arrival Festival, was held annually by the Fox King. Accompanied by the entire Fox Clan, she would beseech the heavens for favorable weather and abundant harvests in the coming year.

In previous years, entrusting this vital ceremony to the Fox Clan Young Highness had signaled the Fox King’s intention to abdicate in favor of her heir the following year.

However, given Hu Yingying’s insatiable thirst for power, it seemed highly unlikely she would willingly relinquish her authority to Gu Sheng.

After a moment’s reflection, Gu Sheng realized Hu Yingying likely harbored ulterior motives.

Still, she couldn’t yet discern Hu Yingying’s true intentions.

“Your Majesty,” Gu Sheng said, rising from her reclining chair to decline the task, “the blessing ceremony is no ordinary matter. You must consider this carefully.”

Hu Yingying, clutching her waist, waved her hand dismissively. “Li Li, my dear, I’ve already made up my mind. Just accept it. Look at you. You’re not getting any younger. It’s time for your aunt to step aside and let a worthy successor take the throne.”

Aunt. Gu Sheng inwardly scoffed at Hu Yingying’s hypocrisy, but outwardly replied, “Your Majesty, Li Li is barely twenty-one. I haven’t yet.”

*******

Gu Sheng didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence before Hu Yingying cut her off again. “Oh, Li Li, it’s just a blessing ceremony. Nothing to worry about. I’ve arranged everything perfectly. Just show up at Xihua Pool tomorrow.”

With a flash, Hu Yingying vanished.

Gu Sheng: ……

Hu Li stepped behind Gu Sheng and looked up, asking, “Do you think something will go wrong?”

Gu Sheng glared at the spot where Hu Yingying had disappeared, then glanced at the crowd of onlookers. “It would be stranger if nothing went wrong,” she murmured.

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on the Little Rainbow Dragon coiled in her hand and turned to enter the Bamboo House.

Hu Li followed, intending to go inside as well, but just as she was about to step over the threshold, Chen Yidong, who had been coming to play chess with her at the same time every day, called out to stop her.

Hu Li took a deep breath, her foot hovering over the threshold for a moment before she chose to go play chess with Chen Yidong.

Gu Sheng really knows how to manage these wild kids.

******

[They call it chess, but it’s really just like when I used to trick my younger siblings into playing by themselves when I wanted to go play alone.]

[But my siblings didn’t get any rewards. Sheng-sheng, on the other hand, offered the prize of solitude.]

[Sheng-sheng’s reward for the Mobile Device was solitude, but what she’ll give Li Li is anyone’s guess.]

[Mobile Device… you guys really know how to come up with nicknames.]

[The nickname doesn’t matter. What matters is the extra reward.]

[Online request for a children’s car.]

Hu Li: ……

********

The next day, as dawn broke, the area around Xihua Pool was already teeming with people.

In the center of the pool stood a flower-shaped circular platform. Atop it rested the Fire Radiance Mirror, a mirror half a head taller than a person, its surface entwined with vines.

Beneath the mirror, intricate grooves patterned the platform’s surface, their designs, upon closer inspection, also resembling vines.

The first step of the blessing ceremony was to activate the Spring Birth Array hidden beneath Xihua Pool using the Fire Radiance Mirror on the platform.

This year, the person chosen to activate the Spring Birth Array was Gu Sheng.

Hu Yingying, accompanied by several Fox Clan Elders and Hu Li, stood on the platform. Their gazes converged, all focused on Gu Sheng, who stood before the Fire Radiance Mirror.

The method for activating the Spring Birth Array was simple: sprinkle the Soul Blood of the Fox Clan Royalty onto the mirror, allowing it to seep into the grooves on the platform, thereby summoning the Fire Radiance Flowers from the depths of Xihua Pool.

However, Gu Sheng’s soul had no connection whatsoever to the Fox Clan Royalty. Therefore, it was utterly impossible for her to activate the Spring Birth Array.

*******

Gu Sheng understood this perfectly. Her hand clenched tightly beneath her sleeve as she glared coldly at Hu Yingying, finally grasping her true motive.

Hu Yingying likely suspected her already.

Or rather, Hu Yingying harbored murderous intent toward the Remnant Soul named Hu Li, the one who had possessed Hu Li.

That was why Hu Yingying had deliberately set this trap, forcing Gu Sheng to stand before the Fire Radiance Mirror, exposing to the entire Fox Clan that she was not the true Fox Clan Young Highness, but an outsider who had taken over Hu Li’s body.

An outsider whom the entire Fox Clan should execute.

Gu Sheng sneered, meeting Hu Yingying’s smug gaze reflected in the mirror. She’s calculated everything, but she’s overlooked one crucial detail.

From her sleeve, Gu Sheng retrieved the Red Jade Hairpin she had requested from Hu Li earlier when they ascended the circular platform. Turning her back to the crowd, she slowly pressed the hairpin’s sharp point against her palm.

The Red Jade Hairpin was an Artifact she had once gifted to Hu Li. The Former Fox King had fused a drop of Hu Li’s Soul Blood into it, claiming this would allow the Artifact to better recognize its master upon Hu Li’s coming of age.

Now, unexpectedly, this Red Jade Hairpin might prove useful in this very moment.

*******

Gu Sheng thought this and was about to use the Red Jade Hairpin to cut her palm.

But in the nick of time, Hu Yingying suddenly stepped forward, snatched the hairpin from her hand, and hurled it to the ground.

Clang! The Red Jade Hairpin shattered into five pieces as it struck the ground.

Gu Sheng’s pupils constricted, stunned.

Hu Li, standing nearby, was equally shocked. She rushed forward to gather the fragments of the hairpin, snapping at Hu Yingying, “Are you out of your mind?!”

Having been standing at Gu Sheng’s side, Hu Li had witnessed Hu Yingying’s subtle movements—it was clear she had deliberately broken the hairpin.

But while Hu Li had seen it, no one else had.

Hu Yingying merely raised an eyebrow at Hu Li’s outburst, scoffing lightly, “I was just talking to Li Li and accidentally knocked the hairpin off. What’s your hurry? It’s just a hairpin, after all. The Fox Clan has plenty. After the blessing ceremony, I’ll give Li Li even more beautiful ones. Problem solved.”

Hu Yingying had been watching the Fire Radiance Mirror intently. When she saw Gu Sheng pull the Red Jade Hairpin from her sleeve, she immediately sensed something was amiss.

Seeing Hu Li and Gu Sheng’s reactions, Hu Yingying became even more convinced that she had done the right thing by smashing the hairpin.

“Li Li, it’s getting late. You should start the blessing ritual now,” Hu Yingying retorted. Then, grabbing Hu Li by the scruff of her neck, she dragged her to within three steps of Gu Sheng and urged Gu Sheng to begin.

Gu Sheng frowned. She didn’t want to reveal her true identity, but Hu Yingying was pressing her relentlessly. After a moment’s hesitation, she reluctantly sprinkled her Soul Blood onto the Fire Radiance Mirror.

When the foreign Soul Blood touched the Fire Radiance Mirror, the mirror trembled slightly, then went completely still.

The Elders on the circular platform exchanged stunned glances before breaking into hushed whispers.

Outside the platform, a chorus of murmurs erupted.

“Why isn’t the Fire Radiance Mirror reacting? Has it been too long? Is the mirror malfunctioning?”

“The Fire Radiance Mirror is a sacred artifact of our Fox Clan. Even if you and I were to break down, it would never fail.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“What else could it be? The problem must lie with the Young Highness.”

Hu Yingying watched the predictable scene unfold, a faint smile playing on her lips. In an instant, her expression hardened as she unleashed her spiritual pressure on Gu Sheng, her voice ringing with authority. “The Fire Radiance Mirror has never erred in a thousand years. This outcome proves you are not of the Fox Clan Royalty.”

With a flick of her wrist, Hu Yingying channeled a wisp of demonic power into the mirror. “Dare to impersonate the Fox Clan Highness? You will pay the price!”

As her words echoed, the vines on the mirror suddenly writhed. Like arrows loosed from a bow, they shot toward Gu Sheng with lethal speed.

Hu Li, standing beside Hu Yingying, watched her heart freeze. Without hesitation, she darted forward, shielding Gu Sheng from the barbed vines.

Two vines pierced Hu Li’s shoulder blades, splattering blood across Gu Sheng’s face.

Gu Sheng’s breath caught in her throat as she clutched the Summoning Talisman in her hand, crushing it into a crumpled ball.

She reached out to help Hu Li, but the moment her fingers brushed the vines, a surge of spiritual pressure erupted from Hu Li’s body, slamming everyone to the ground.

The overwhelming force pinned them down, leaving them barely able to lift their heads to trace the source of the pressure.

There, on the vines piercing Hu Li’s shoulders, Fire Radiance Flowers bloomed—crimson blossoms unfurling like fiery clouds descending from the heavens, spreading in a magnificent, dazzling display.

Behind her, the Fire Radiance Mirror flickered. The dark patterns etched into its base gradually lit up with a crimson glow, until the entire surface illuminated, projecting the sacred seal of the Fire Radiance Flower.

“This… this is the Spring Birth Array activating?” an Elder exclaimed in shock.

Support Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration]