When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 58.2

Qin Ji understood her hint. He stood up and cupped his hands. “Mother, don’t worry. Your son has already arranged music and dance. Everyone will soon enjoy a performance they have never seen before.”

Those who attended were the backbone ministers of Qin. They had seen everything, and ordinary music and dance would not impress them. They were originally bored, but Qin Ji’s words piqued their interest. Prime Minister Li Yu smiled, “Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince says so, this old official must certainly enjoy it.”

He raised his cup to Qin Ji. Qin Ji clinked his cup against his in a subtle motion, the relationship between ruler and subject being very harmonious.

Ever since receiving the System’s message, Jiang Yan had been searching for anyone who might be the target. After scanning the room, not a single person fit the description.

So, she placed her hopes on the singers and dancers, trying to focus her attention on every possible person. Her eyes were strained, and she still hadn’t identified the target.

“Yan’er, when did you become so interested in music and dance?” Qin Ji’s voice sounded by her ear. Jiang Yan turned around and smiled at him, replying, “Occasionally admiring beautiful things can also make me more beautiful.”

Qin Ji smiled faintly, then moved all his own delicious snacks to Jiang Yan’s table until there was no room left.

Jiang Yan was speechless. She tasted a little of each, and although they were delicious, her mind was preoccupied, and she had no heart to appreciate the food.

“Everyone, next is the highlight of today: the ‘Robe of Feathers and Dance of the Startling Swan’ from Southern Yue, performed by the dancers of Changle Workshop.”

After Qin Ji spoke, the space in the hall froze for two seconds. The expressions on the faces of the officials, concubines, princes, and princesses were all a little complex.

Southern Yue was destroyed ten years ago and had become a forbidden topic. They hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to bring it up at his birthday banquet. Wasn’t he afraid of angering the Emperor?

Qin Ji was clearly not afraid, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to find these dancers to practice such a difficult dance.

The ‘Robe of Feathers and Dance of the Startling Swan’ was created by the Saintess of Southern Yue and was extremely difficult. Even before the country was destroyed, perhaps fewer than ten people could perform it completely. Ten years had passed, and those who had flowed into Qin when Southern Yue fell had probably long forgotten it.

Qin Ji had only accidentally learned that someone still knew it, which was why he came up with this plan. One reason was to revive the style of the dance, and the second was to please the King of Qin.

Although the King of Qin outwardly hated for Southern Yue to be mentioned, he missed the late Consort more than anyone. This was also another way of commemorating her.

The dancers entered, eight in total, wearing pink, light-gauze, wide-sleeved dresses and matching masks. The lead dancer had a graceful figure and seductive eyebrows and eyes that were visible. When she bowed to the King of Qin, unlike the others who kept their heads down, she looked straight at him, the enchantment in her eyes fully displayed.

Qin Ji’s eyes deepened. He held his cup and said nothing, his entire aura different from a moment ago.

The dance began, and Jiang Yan was completely drawn in, forgetting what she was supposed to be doing.

Everyone present also exclaimed over and over again. It was indeed the peerless dance that stunned the four states, “fluttering like a startled swan, graceful as a swimming dragon.”

Just as everyone was immersed in the performance, a sudden change occurred. A dancer who had been accompanying the lead, seemingly ordinary, suddenly flew toward the King of Qin, a cold, flashing dagger in her hand.

The lead dancer saw this and rushed forward to shield the King of Qin. The accompanying dancer looked surprised and retreated before the guards arrived.

Qin Ji’s first action was to check the lead dancer’s injury, while simultaneously ordering the guards to capture the assassin. The timid ones were already huddled together in fear. The assassin rushed past Jiang Yan, and Jiang Yan somehow felt a little familiar with her.

The otherwise pleasant birthday banquet was thrown into chaos. The King of Qin was enraged and ordered the Crown Prince to thoroughly investigate. He, himself, took the dancer back with him. Jiang Yan had no carriage to ride in and could only walk back painstakingly.

Her clothes were heavy and restrictive. As soon as she entered the room, she took off her outer robe. The further she walked inside, the more she felt something was wrong. Jiang Yan stopped Su Yi, who was behind her.

“Su Yi, fetch a basin of water. I need to wash my face.”

Su Yi had just stepped a foot in but retreated upon hearing her words. The door closed, and only Jiang Yan was left in the hall. She sat down at the table and slowly said, “Come out. No one is coming for you. It’s just me here.”

After a long wait, no one emerged. Jiang Yan thought she had been mistaken and walked to the bedside, slowly pulling back the sheer curtain.

In the blink of an eye, a gleaming dagger was held horizontally against her neck. She instinctively held her breath and turned to look at the masked woman.

“I can give you whatever you want. Don’t take my life. If you harm me, you won’t be able to escape either. Mutual destruction is truly unnecessary.”

The masked woman remained silent, her eyes cold and sinister. She pressed the dagger forward. Jiang Yan’s neck felt a sharp pain, and blood flowed.

“It really is unnecessary. I live deep in the palace and know nothing of your hatred. Even if you kill me, it won’t help. What’s more, I…”

“Thud!”

Before Jiang Yan could finish, the masked woman collapsed. Only then did Jiang Yan notice that an arrow was stuck in her abdomen, and she had countless sword wounds on her body, covered in blood, with no part of her unharmed.

Jiang Yan touched her neck and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She had almost perished just now. Fortunately, she was a child of destiny.

[Target has appeared. Please capture Bai Li Qi and eliminate her blackening value.]

Jiang Yan: “!!!”

The female assassin who tried to kill her was the person she needed to capture?

“What is her current blackening value?”

[It is currently 100%. Host, go for it! Gan ba de!]

Go for your head! She hadn’t even met this woman. Why should she receive such a difficult task!

Jiang Yan let out a silent roar, successfully scaring Oscar away. It snuck away, not forgetting to toss the plot outline to Jiang Yan.

Bai Li Qi, Princess of Southern Yue. Ten years ago, the country fell, and she was taken away by an old eunuch in the palace, living under a false name until now. The old eunuch had always protected her, also asking her to let go of her hatred and live as an ordinary person, because with her strength, revenge was impossible.

But Bai Li Qi only agreed on the surface, never letting go of the hatred in her heart; instead, it grew deeper with time. After the old eunuch died, she came alone to the capital of Qin, joined Changle Workshop, and infiltrated the Crown Prince’s birthday performance troupe. She had originally planned with Wan Si Rong to assassinate the King of Qin, but Wan Si Rong defected at the critical moment, disrupting all plans.

Wan Si Rong? That must be the lead dancer. But why did she suddenly defect? Could she be greedy for wealth and glory, using this method to stay in the palace?

Jiang Yan thought about it and felt that this possibility was not zero.

If that was the case, Bai Li Qi was a little pitiful, already alone, and then betrayed by her best sister.

If she hadn’t run into her, she would probably be doomed.

Just as Jiang Yan was pondering how to get the person into her bed, Su Yi pushed the door open.

“Princess, the warm water is ready. Please come and wash.” As soon as she spoke, she suddenly cried out in surprise, “Princess, are you alright?!” Then Jiang Yan and Bai Li Qi were exposed to her sight.

The mistress and servant stared at each other. Jiang Yan touched the wound on her neck and said to her, “This matter is known only to you and me. Absolutely no third person can know. Do you understand?”

Su Yi nodded blankly. After a few seconds, she came to her senses and whispered to Jiang Yan, “Is this the assassin?!”

Jiang Yan nodded, then lifted Bai Li Qi by the waist. “Lend a hand and help me get her onto the bed.”

After placing Bai Li Qi on the bed, Jiang Yan picked up the dagger on the floor and positioned it over the place where Bai Li Qi was wounded by the arrow, finding that she couldn’t bring herself to cut.

“Su Yi, do you know anyone who is a good doctor and also trustworthy?”

Despite being a Princess, Qin Yan actually knew fewer people than Su Yi.

Su Yi looked at Bai Li Qi on the bed with a complicated expression. After a while, she said, “Yes, I do, but why are you saving this assassin, Princess? Wouldn’t it be better to hand her over to His Majesty or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for handling?”

Jiang Yan thought, You wouldn’t understand. If I hand her over, what about my mission?

“Don’t ask so many questions. If we waste any more time, she’ll die.”

And then your Princess will also die! Ugh!

Su Yi rarely contradicted her mistress’s decisions. Although she was confused, she followed Jiang Yan’s instructions and invited her aunt, an imperial female physician at the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

Su Chang examined Bai Li Qi, then used a knife to remove the arrow. She then treated and bandaged the other wounds. She took her medicine box to prescribe medicine and called Su Yi out to talk. The aunt and niece spoke for about a quarter of an hour before finishing.

Su Yi came in and stood bowed beside Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan said faintly, “Has the female physician left?”

Su Yi nodded.

“She must have asked you to persuade me to hand over the assassin, or maybe even told you to leave the palace yourself?”

Su Yi remained silent. Jiang Yan knew she had guessed correctly.

After all, harboring an assassin was a capital crime. Even if she was the King of Qin’s favorite daughter and the Crown Prince’s most spoiled sister, she couldn’t do whatever she wanted.

If the matter were exposed, it could implicate everyone in Zhaoyang Hall.

“If you want to leave the palace, I can let you go. You are almost of age to leave the palace anyway. Asking for an imperial decree from Mother Empress shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Su Yi knelt down in front of Jiang Yan with a “plop,” her attitude firm. “Princess, no matter what, I will not leave you. Unless you tell me to leave, I will never leave the palace, even if I die!”

Jiang Yan sighed, pulled her up, and said helplessly, “Why must you do this?”

Su Yi smiled, her eyes flickering with an emotion that Jiang Yan couldn’t decipher. “This servant feels happy as long as she is by the Princess’s side. Princess, you cannot abandon me.”

Jiang Yan didn’t know what to say. She looked at Bai Li Qi on the bed and said to Su Yi, “It’s getting late. Go and rest first. I’ll watch over her here.”

“Princess, what are you saying? How can you watch while I sleep? It should be you sleeping while I watch.”

After another argument, the two decided to watch together to see if Bai Li Qi would develop a fever in the middle of the night.

Fortunately, Bai Li Qi had a strong will to live. She was unconscious all night, with no fever or delirium, and her breathing was light.

Having stayed up all night, Jiang Yan was feeling a bit worn out. Just as she was thinking about whether she should go rest, Bai Li Qi woke up.

She opened a pair of very distinctive eyes, with inner hooks and outer flicks, resembling fox eyes but not quite. When she stared at someone with her cold gaze, there was always a feeling of being captured by something.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yan was the one being stared at.

To avoid misunderstanding, she quickly explained, “Don’t worry, no one here will catch you. You can safely stay here. Your wounds haven’t healed yet. I personally suggest you lie down first, otherwise, the wounds might tear open again.”

Bai Li Qi still looked at her coldly, saying nothing. She reached up and touched her face. She seemed relieved to find her mask was still on.

“Don’t worry, your mask has been on. I absolutely won’t peek until you allow me to.”

Actually, I already peeked, but only a quick glance, and I didn’t see much.

After Jiang Yan spoke, Bai Li Qi gave her a cold side-eye and struggled to get out of bed.

Jiang Yan immediately pressed her down, and regardless of her icy gaze, she forcefully tucked her back under the covers.

“No, you can’t go out. This place is too close to my Father’s bedchamber and the Hall of Diligent Governance. If you go out looking like this, you will surely die. Even if you want to leave, you must wait until your injuries are healed.”

Bai Li Qi frowned, staring intensely at Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan felt a chill on her neck and instinctively pulled back her head.

I’m doing this for her own good. Why is she looking at me like that? It’s kind of scary.

Su Yi couldn’t stand Bai Li Qi’s attitude and immediately retorted, “I advise you not to be ungrateful. My Princess was merciful enough to save you, inviting an imperial physician and treating your wounds. Now, for your safety, she’s keeping you in Zhaoyang Hall. Stop taking advantage and acting arrogant, as if we owe you something.”

Jiang Yan turned her head, pinched Su Yi’s cheek, and said, “Su Yi, go and get something to eat. I hardly ate anything yesterday. Your Princess is almost starving.”

Su Yi knew the Princess was deliberately sending her away, wanting her not to make things difficult for the assassin. Thinking this way, she felt even more aggrieved, and her hostility towards Bai Li Qi increased.

After Su Yi left, Jiang Yan pulled a stool over and sat by the window, intending to have a good talk with Bai Li Qi.

The best option was for Bai Li Qi to recover her injuries, and then Jiang Yan would find an opportunity to send her away. However, she couldn’t guarantee whether she would attempt another assassination. She was the one who saved her this time, but next time would be hard to say.

It would be better to keep the person by her side and watch her constantly.

“I saved you, so I am your benefactor. I don’t need you to pledge yourself to me. You can stay in my palace as a maid. I’ll let you go after three years. How about that?”

Bai Li Qi still didn’t speak. Her eyes were a little warmer than before, giving a “I’ll just watch you perform quietly” vibe.

Jiang Yan didn’t mind and continued talking to herself, “I don’t care what hatred you have for my Father, but you must repay my kindness. Not repaying it means you disregard the rules of the jianghu.”

Bai Li Qi still didn’t speak, looking sideways at Jiang Yan. Her eyes held indifference but also confusion, as if she hadn’t expected Jiang Yan to say that.

Jiang Yan guessed that she might not want to talk to her, so she changed her approach.

“I’ll put it this way: if you don’t agree, you’ll be arrested by the guards as soon as you step out of my Zhaoyang Hall. If you’re lucky, you’ll be sent to my Crown Prince Brother, and he might let you die whole. If you’re unlucky…” She paused deliberately to scare Bai Li Qi, but the other party showed no change in expression, instead making her look like a fool.

Jiang Yan pouted and stopped trying to create suspense.

“If you run into my Father, you might have to endure all eighty-one tortures of the Qin State. By then, you’ll be unable to live or die. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Bai Li Qi looked at her calmly, as if she had heard her words and yet hadn’t.

Jiang Yan felt a sense of frustration, as if she were a mere clown in front of the other person. No matter how much she jumped around, the other person remained unmoved.

[You’ve been babbling for so long, what do you expect her to reply? She’s mute!]

Jiang Yan: “…”

“You are truly a little genius. You didn’t tell me such important information until now!”

[Didn’t you force me to forget to say it? Now that you know, I’ll continue to go into isolation. Bye-bye.]

Jiang Yan always wanted to kill this lazy System, but she couldn’t reach it, so she had to put up with it while despising it.

Once she accumulated enough points, she would definitely switch to a smart, well-behaved, and obedient loli-voice System.

Oscar: You’re dreaming!

“Alright, I’ll rephrase the question. If you agree to what I just said, just blink your eyes.”

Bai Li Qi kept her eyes open and simply didn’t blink.

Jiang Yan hardened her heart and threatened, “Since you won’t obey, I have no choice but to hand you over to the guards and let you go to the prison to enjoy those eighty-one tortures.”

Bai Li Qi frowned, her eyes shooting out a cold glint. Jiang Yan pretended not to see it.

“So I’m asking you one more time: Do you want to be my maid? If you do, blink.”

The two stared at each other for more than a quarter of an hour. Finally, Bai Li Qi compromised and blinked her eyes.

“Good. This is your voluntary choice. I didn’t force you.”

Jiang Yan finished speaking and began to undress, taking off her middle garment until only her undergarments remained. Bai Li Qi’s expression changed instantly. Just as she was about to get up, Jiang Yan pressed her down with one hand, simultaneously pushing her to the inner side of the bed. Jiang Yan lay down on the outside.

“Do you know the first thing you must do as my maid? It’s warming the bed. Seeing as you are injured, I won’t make you warm my feet. Just don’t bother me.”

There were indeed maids in the palace specifically for warming the bed and feet, but Jiang Yan always found it strange and hadn’t allowed them onto her bed since she transmigrated. Bai Li Qi was the first woman to lie in her bed.

Having an extra person made it feel different, especially an injured woman. Jiang Yan didn’t dare to move her hands or legs. She lay stiffly like a mummy. Fortunately, she had good sleeping habits and could fall asleep under any difficult circumstances.

Listening to the light breathing of the person beside her, Bai Li Qi turned sideways to look at her, her eyes gradually growing colder.

This was the daughter of the King of Qin. The King of Qin was her enemy, so this woman was also her enemy.

Her neck looked slender, and there was a thin, long wound on it, the mark left by her dagger. If she acted, she could easily snap her neck with a light squeeze, with zero effort.

Bai Li Qi reached out and placed her hand on Jiang Yan’s neck. Jiang Yan felt someone touching her. She impatiently pulled the wandering hand into her embrace, turning over and rubbing against it.

“Stop messing around. Go to sleep.”

Bai Li Qi was stunned for a moment and tried to pull her hand back. She tried it, but couldn’t free it at all.

After two attempts, she gave up.

Once my injuries heal, I will definitely kill this insolent woman!

Jiang Yan slept soundly and didn’t notice when Su Yi came in. Su Yi saw Jiang Yan holding Bai Li Qi’s hand and felt very jealous. She stepped forward, trying to remove her hand from Jiang Yan’s embrace, but found that Jiang Yan was holding it tightly, making it impossible.

She glared fiercely at Bai Li Qi, then gently covered Jiang Yan with the quilt, her movements tender, her eyes soft.

Bai Li Qi suddenly remembered what Jiang Yan had said, and her eyes darkened. Her aversion to Jiang Yan intensified.

All the maids have warmed her bed. Did that maid just now also warm her bed?

Sure enough, the Qin royal family is dark and corrupt, completely unfit to be the strongest nation under heaven.

Thinking this, her murderous intent surged again. She forcefully pulled her hand out of Jiang Yan’s grasp, waking Jiang Yan in the process.

The sixteen-year-old girl was bright and charming. Her eyes were hazy with sleep when she first woke up. She just stared at Bai Li Qi. Bai Li Qi inexplicably held her breath, as if afraid of disturbing the young girl.

“What’s wrong? Is your wound hurting again?”

Jiang Yan slowly got up, lifted the quilt, and took a look. Blood had seeped through several of Bai Li Qi’s wounds.

She shook her head, fully waking herself up, and called out Su Yi’s name in a loud voice.

Su Yi ran in, step-step-step. Seeing the sight of the two sleeping in the same bed, she instantly felt indignant again. When she looked at Bai Li Qi, she only used the corner of her eye, her attitude being very obvious.

“Go and invite the female physician Su to come and change her medicine.”

“I think she’s quite tenacious. She even had the energy to flirt with you while you were sleeping, Princess.”

Flirt? Jiang Yan slowly turned her head to look at Bai Li Qi.

Bai Li Qi couldn’t speak, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be wrongly accused. She gave Jiang Yan a cold side-eye, her expression utterly indifferent.

Jiang Yan immediately understood. With this person being so aloof, she was unlikely to do anything so flirtatious. It was more likely that she had been the one flirting.

“Su Yi, don’t always be so hostile towards her. You two will be working together in the future. You’ll be seeing each other all the time. You can’t stay in this state forever, it’s not conducive to the progress of our work.”

Su Yi: “Then who is more important between her and me?”

Jiang Yan: “???” What kind of question is this? Is this how she gets jealous?

Su Yi looked at her with burning eyes, making it impossible for her not to answer. She picked up her clothes and put them on, then pinched Su Yi’s cheek, sighing, “You’re important, you’re important. You are the most important. Is that better?”

Su Yi was finally satisfied. Before leaving, she did not forget to proudly glance at Bai Li Qi.

Jiang Yan got up and washed her face, wondering if she should eat something, so she asked, “Bai Li Qi, what would you like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it.”

A gust of wind brushed past her ear. Before Jiang Yan could even wipe her face dry, Bai Li Qi was behind her, a thin blade clutched in her hand.

She didn’t know where the weapon came from. They had thoroughly searched her when treating her injuries.

“Don’t do anything rash! I am your benefactor…”