When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 60.1

Baili Qi could not restrain herself when she saw Wan Si Rong, but Jiang Yan stopped her before she could charge forward. Jiang Yan forced a professional smile and said to the face that bore an uncanny resemblance to her mother, “I must trouble Your Ladyship. Please go ahead; I will follow shortly.”

She needed to first caution Baili Qi, or she would be putting her own life at risk.

Wan Si Rong smiled, looked at Baili Qi again before leaving, her eyes holding a complex, fleeting emotion.

Once Wan Si Rong was far away, Jiang Yan turned to Baili Qi. The harsh words she intended to say caught in her throat.

She had meant to scold her severely, but upon meeting Baili Qi’s broken and ice-cold gaze, she could not utter a single word.

It was rash, yes, but she was genuinely pitiful—separated from her home for so many years, used by others, and betrayed by her close sister. Anyone would be deeply miserable, and seeing the person who betrayed her, how could she hold back?

“Given your current state, I don’t think you should come with me to Yuxiu Palace. You should go back first.”

Baili Qi stood still, looked up at Jiang Yan, her eyes shining with determination. Jiang Yan stared back, saying nothing, waiting for Baili Qi to convey her thoughts.

After a moment of silence, Baili Qi took Jiang Yan’s hand and wrote on it: “Take me with you. I won’t cause you trouble.”

Jiang Yan did not believe her, especially when she spoke with such a deeply resentful expression; the credibility was virtually zero.

Cause trouble? No. She’d go straight for the killing blow. Who could handle that?

“Then you must hand over all your weapons, every last one, or I won’t take you.”

Baili Qi was a fascinating person: although mute, she had expressive eyes, and Jiang Yan could easily guess what she was thinking just by looking at them. The other thing was that she always had strange, tiny weapons hidden on her, no one knew where.

Jiang Yan was perplexed. She had already checked Baili Qi while treating her injuries, yet she could still pull out weapons at will. Should I find an opportunity to check her again?

Thinking this, Jiang Yan glanced at the aloof beauty in front of her, wearing a veil, and immediately dismissed the idea.

It was too dangerous; it might cost her life.

Baili Qi hesitated for a moment, then handed her weapons over to Jiang Yan. There were seven or eight types of fragmented pieces in total, making Jiang Yan gasp, before she handed the items to Su Yi and told her to return first.

“Princess, this servant wants to go to Yuxiu Palace too,” Su Yi said reluctantly, wrapping the small concealed weapons in a handkerchief, giving Baili Qi a look of dissatisfaction.

“You handle these things first, then come find me. It won’t take long, okay, be a good girl.”

Jiang Yan began to exercise her charm again, stroking Su Yi’s cheek and coaxing her with her beauty.

A blush rose on Su Yi’s face, and she pouted, “Alright then, Princess, you go first, and your servant will follow shortly.”

“My Su Yi is the best. This Princess likes you most.” After saying this, Jiang Yan took Baili Qi and headed toward Yuxiu Palace, while Su Yi returned to Zhaoyang Palace.

Yuxiu Palace was closest to the Emperor’s Hall of Diligent Government. It was a renovated old palace, and King Qin himself had changed the name and bestowed it upon his new Consort.

The old palace was originally the residence of Consort Mei and had been vacant for ten years.

Jiang Yan hadn’t thought anything amiss before. After all, the person had been dead for ten years, and the living couldn’t dwell on memories forever. It seemed reasonable to bestow the palace on Wan Si Rong, the favored consort. However, she no longer thought this, especially after seeing the consort’s true face.

She was now more inclined to believe that Wan Si Rong had deliberately used Baili Qi as a stepping stone to achieve her goal of becoming the favored consort.

Just based on that face, the Emperor would show her affection. Now, with the added merit of saving the Emperor, wasn’t she destined for exclusive favor? But Baili Qi was the one who suffered, a little mute girl who couldn’t even make a sound when she cried.

Being used from the very beginning was harder to accept than a sudden betrayal, wasn’t it?

You think she’s genuinely good to you, but you’re just a stepping stone, and your life is insignificant as long as she achieves her goal.

Jiang Yan was preoccupied with her thoughts and arrived at Yuxiu Palace before she knew it. After the eunuch announced them, the two walked in. King Qin was indeed sitting at his desk reading memorials, with Wan Si Rong grinding ink for him. At first glance, it gave off a sense of quiet tranquility.

“Your subject pays respects to Royal Father and Consort Rong.”

Wan Si Rong looked up at her and smiled, bowing slightly to remind King Qin, “Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess is here.”

King Qin raised his head and waved, “Yaner, come here.”

Jiang Yan obediently walked over and stopped less than a step away from King Qin. “Did Royal Father summon your subject to give instructions?”

“Must I have a reason to summon you? How long has it been since you last came to see me, the lonely King?” King Qin’s tone carried a hint of resentment, a slight deviation from the usual majestic air of the sovereign.

Jiang Yan quickly explained, “Your subject was frightened by the events at Crown Prince Brother’s birthday banquet and has been feeling unwell. It was not intentional that I didn’t come to see Royal Father.”

King Qin put down his brush, stood up, walked to Jiang Yan, and took her hand, saying earnestly, “I know you resent me, that’s why you haven’t come to see me. If I hadn’t summoned you, how long would you have planned to hold a grudge against me?”

Jiang Yan truly didn’t mean that, but since she was being forced to admit it, she couldn’t refute him and had to play along.

“Even if Royal Father hadn’t summoned me, your subject was planning to come see you. It’s just that Royal Father was a little quicker than me.”

A sweet smile was on her face, her eyes curved, displaying the charming naivety of a young girl to the fullest. King Qin already felt guilty, and seeing her like this deepened his remorse.

“Rong’er, you two may leave first.”

Wan Si Rong bowed and excused herself, taking Baili Qi with her. Jiang Yan was a little worried: if Baili Qi and Wan Si Rong were alone, would they fight?

King Qin pulled Jiang Yan to sit down, his eyes filled with deep longing. “In the blink of an eye, you are already sixteen. Time flies quickly.”

Jiang Yan felt what he really wanted to say was, Your Imperial Mother passed away ten years ago. Time flies quickly.

“Yaner, I bestowed your Imperial Mother’s private chamber upon Consort Rong. Are you very angry?”

Jiang Yan didn’t actually care that much. After all, the person had been dead for ten years, and the living must look forward. She just couldn’t accept that an imposter was living in her mother’s palace.

With a face identical to her mother’s, and occupying the favor that should have belonged to her mother, she felt deeply uneasy.

“Royal Father, Imperial Mother has been gone for a long time. You can’t live in memory forever. Things are fine the way they are now.”

King Qin felt much better hearing his daughter say this, and a smile appeared on his face. “Yaner, you’ve grown up.”

Yes, she had grown up, and thus saw through the cold realities of life, knowing that ‘one lifetime, one love’ was merely a fantasy, and no matter how deep the love was then, it would gradually fade with time.

The man before her was the Emperor, the master of the three palaces and six courtyards. If he wished, he could embrace all the beauties in the land. Yet, he had only taken five consorts in all these years. Compared to a heartless man, this was already good, wasn’t it?

Jiang Yan lowered her head, the corner of her lips curving into a slight, self-mocking arc.

Wan Si Rong and Baili Qi stood side by side on the steps in front of the courtyard, looking at the plum tree blossoming in the yard. One had cold, murderous eyes, while the other was calm and placid, as if merely enjoying the view with a friend.

“Is the Ninth Princess good to you?” Wan Si Rong’s voice was faint, light enough to be scattered by the wind.

Baili Qi kept her eyes straight ahead, not sparing her a glance.

After a long while, Wan Si Rong sighed and said, “Xiao Qi, I have my own plan, which I cannot tell you for now, but I have absolutely not betrayed you.”

Baili Qi seemed touched. She slowly turned to look at Wan Si Rong, her eyes filled with suspicion and sharpness.

“You only need to know this much. I will take care of the rest. If the Ninth Princess treats you well, you should stay with her.”

Just as Wan Si Rong finished speaking, two palace maids approached. She immediately controlled the emotion in her eyes and walked naturally to the plum tree, shaking off the accumulated snow.

Plum trees, Consort Mei… she disliked them all.

Thinking this, her eyes deepened, and the corner of her lips held a cold smile.

Baili Qi stood motionless on the steps, watching Wan Si Rong from afar, feeling she was very much a stranger. They had eaten and slept together for three or four years, and she thought she was the one who understood her best, but now it seemed her idea was too naive.

Wan Si Rong did everything according to her own plan, unlike Baili Qi, who only knew how to rush in with a flash of blind courage. If Wan Si Rong hadn’t defected at the critical moment and dealt her a heavy blow, perhaps she would have continued to trust this “sister” who had given her the only warmth she knew in a foreign land.

When Jiang Yan emerged from the hall, her cold face subconsciously brightened when she saw Baili Qi. She smiled and said, “Let’s go back. It’s too cold outside.” And your wound isn’t healed.

The two walked up to Wan Si Rong, paid their cursory respects, and then quickly left.

Jiang Yan was the Emperor’s favorite daughter, so she didn’t need to feign politeness toward anyone. Seeing Wan Si Rong’s face, a clone of her mother’s, filled Jiang Yan with disgust, and she was not about to be courteous.

Baili Qi followed behind Jiang Yan, clearly sensing that she was in a bad mood, and even the previous smile had been strained.

If she was unhappy, why did she force herself to smile for her? She was a princess and could act as she pleased.

Baili Qi reached out, but instantly pulled her hand back when it touched Jiang Yan’s sleeve, pretending nothing had happened.

“Did you have something you wanted to say to me?” Jiang Yan turned to look at her, her eyes calm.

Baili Qi had not intended to acknowledge her, but after thinking it over, she shook her head, giving her a response.

Jiang Yan considered this progress. The corner of her lips curved into a slight smile, giving her full approval for her behavior just now.

“You did very well just now. If you continue to restrain yourself, I’ll be able to take you to more places.”

Always staying in Zhaoyang Palace would make anyone bored. As long as Baili Qi didn’t suddenly charge off to ‘kill someone,’ they could go out for walks often.

Baili Qi looked at her smile, and her heart skipped a few beats. Something entirely foreign to her was taking root.

Upon returning to Zhaoyang Palace, Jiang Yan immediately took off her clothes. The court dress was truly too restrictive, cinching her 1 chi 8.7 cun waist down to 1 chi 6 cun. Moreover, it was incredibly heavy. If she wore it a few more times, she might stop growing taller.

A brazier was burning in the hall, so it wasn’t hot but not cold either. Jiang Yan, clad only in her undergarments, scurried about, while Su Yi frantically followed her, trying to cover her with a robe, acting like a nanny.

“Su Yi, your Princess here is perfectly healthy, so don’t worry about me. Wouldn’t it be better to take a nap?”

Su Yi firmly refused, “No, this servant must always follow the Princess. This is my duty.”

Jiang Yan was helpless with her highly professional maid, so she obediently put on the robe and playfully tweaked Su Yi’s nose.

“You, if you continue like this, you’ll turn into an old woman.”

Su Yi smiled sweetly, “Even if I turn into an old woman, this servant will always accompany the Princess.”

Baili Qi sat nearby, watching the two mistress and servant interact, feeling a little uncomfortable. She couldn’t pinpoint why she was uncomfortable; she just found it an eyesore.

Yes, a complete eyesore.

The Princess of Qin State has a terribly messy private life, seducing everyone, and her conduct is indecent!

Thinking this, her face darkened. When Jiang Yan looked over, Baili Qi glared at her and turned her gaze elsewhere.

Jiang Yan: ??? What did I do wrong this time?

A snowfall came in the evening. Jiang Yan and Su Yi sat by the brazier roasting sweet potatoes, and Baili Qi watched from the side, her attention unconsciously drawn in.

“Princess, I heard that the Crown Prince is going to marry a Crown Princess. He’s already starting preparations.”

“So what if he’s marrying? He’s getting on in years; it’s about time he married a Crown Princess.” Otherwise, he’d keep making moves she couldn’t understand, and trying to guess them was exhausting.

“I heard from Little Six that the Crown Prince suggested to His Majesty that they should find a consort for you.” Su Yi spoke with indignation, her voice rising quite a bit.

Jiang Yan was startled, and the sweet potato in her hand dropped to the ground. “What?! Is that true?!”

“I don’t know for sure, but this servant heard it from Little Six. His master is a trusted eunuch by the Crown Prince’s side, so what he says might not be baseless.”

Jiang Yan realized it made sense. Qin Ying was half a year older than her and would soon be married. Qin Xu was also engaged. It seemed she was the only one yet to be betrothed.

But what did this have to do with Qin Ji? Why was he meddling in her affairs?!

The more she thought, the angrier she became. Jiang Yan wanted to throw the brazier at Qin Ji’s head.

She thought he was a doting older brother, but it turned out he was a dark, controlling devil.

Who did he want to marry her off to?

Qin Ji had many followers. The top scholar and the second-place graduate in the recent imperial examinations were both under his wing. Looking at it this way, he had probably planned it out long ago.

With such a meticulous mind and flawless execution, who could ever beat him?

Jiang Yan gradually calmed down, picked up the sweet potato from the ground, blew on it, peeled it, and began to eat.

Eat, drink, and be merry today; worry about tomorrow tomorrow. She would deal with future problems later. She should at least enjoy the sweet, soft, waxy sweet potato today.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Su Yi stopped adding to her anxiety and picked up a roasted sweet potato, blowing on it while peeling it.

Jiang Yan took two bites and suddenly remembered there was another person in the room. Baili Qi couldn’t speak, so she often forgot about her.

“Do you want some?” she asked, holding up the sweet potato she had bitten into.

Baili Qi hadn’t been interested in it, but for some reason, when Jiang Yan offered her the one she’d taken a bite of, she instinctively reached out her hand.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to suggest a new one, Baili Qi took a bite from the sweet potato in her hand. She ate while looking at Jiang Yan, her eyes sparkling. Most importantly, she had removed her veil.

That face was several degrees more beautiful than any other beauty she had ever seen. Jiang Yan finally understood why she always felt a mysterious attraction to her—her beautiful woman radar was activated. With such a stunning beauty sleeping next to her every day, why would she need anything else?

“You… you ate the one I bit.”

She stuttered the words out, and Baili Qi, holding Jiang Yan’s hand, took another bite, indicating that she didn’t mind.

Su Yi was about to scold her, but when she saw Baili Qi’s face, the words caught in her throat, and she stared blankly for a long moment.