Chapter 162: Xue’er’s Longing
“…”
Luo Xue looked deeply at Nangong Mian and didn’t reply.
Nangong Mian wasn’t embarrassed, but just touched her nose and said,
“Okay, saying it’s the best was a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s definitely much better than this drop, I guarantee!”
“But what use do I have for it?” Luo Xue shrugged. “I haven’t even started cultivating yet.”
“Oh, right…”
Nangong Mian shrank back slightly.
She almost forgot that Princess Xue had been frail and sickly since childhood and had only recently recovered.
In that condition, let alone cultivating, even daily life was a struggle.
“I was just curious.”
Luo Xue stood up and left, and Nangong Mian quickly followed, continuing to browse the exhibition hall with her.
Nangong Mian was still comparing prices; as long as the price was high enough, it didn’t matter what it was.
Luo Xue stopped before a set of Hundred Solutions to Formations, seemingly written by an ancient formation master, even the material it was written on looked ancient.
Most of the books in the imperial palace were kept in the imperial study. If Luo Xue wanted to borrow them, the Immortal Emperor probably wouldn’t refuse, but they weren’t hers.
“You’re actually interested in formations?” Nangong Mian was surprised. “But not many people use formations anymore…”
“Well… what do you mean, not many people?”
Luo Xue paused, seemingly discovering a difference between this world and the caged world.
“Well, it’s said that in ancient times, formations were very popular, but now, most have been lost.” Nangong Mian counted on her fingers. “Of the four arts of formations, talismans, puppetry, and refining, only ‘refining’ remains, that is, alchemy and artifact refining.”
“…”
Luo Xue was silent for a moment.
The four arts were all commonly practiced in the nine provinces and four domains.
But in the Ancient Demon Lands, they were lost…
“Xue, if you’re interested in these, you’ve come to the right person.” Nangong Mian started boasting again. “I’m a professional in secret realms, I’ve been to countless ancient secret realms, and I know a bit about these lost three arts.”
“Many mechanisms in ancient secret realms are based on the principles of formations, talismans, and puppetry. If I wasn’t proficient in these, how could I navigate them so easily…”
Nangong Mian wasn’t exaggerating. Her understanding of the three arts was considered quite extensive in the Great Thousand Worlds.
It was precisely because of this that she could plunder the various secret realms, making the other geniuses suffer.
It was a pity that she encountered Luo Xue… who came from a world where the four arts were all complete, and because of Senior Sister Li, she had even systematically studied some of them.
Luo Xue smiled as she listened to Nangong Mian’s experiences, clapping to make her happy, then stopped her before she could start another round of boasting.
“Sister Mian, save it for next time.”
Through Nangong Mian’s boasting, Luo Xue already had a good understanding of this world’s mastery of the three arts.
It wasn’t even at the beginner level, just some fragmented techniques…
Perhaps because of the differences in cultivation techniques, or perhaps because of their physiques, even with guidance books like Hundred Solutions to Formations, no one in the Ancient Demon Lands could construct a complete formation.
“Oh… okay!”
Nangong Mian, surprisingly obedient, followed Luo Xue, completely under the little princess’s control.
Luo Xue thought for a moment, then took the Hundred Solutions to Formations, considering it compensation from the Tianlie Auction House.
Nangong Mian was puzzled. She looked at the price and muttered,
“Xue, this is very cheap… just a few spirit stones, it’s too little as compensation!”
“Do I lack spirit stones?” Luo Xue raised an eyebrow.
“…That’s true.”
Nangong Mian thought carefully, then scratched the back of her head.
It was so itchy, it felt like her brain was growing.
Just as Nangong Mian was about to choose the most valuable compensation in her mind, Vivienne suddenly appeared, hurrying over.
Seeing the Hundred Solutions to Formations in Luo Xue’s hand, she said in surprise,
“You… chose this?”
Vivienne also knew that the Hundred Solutions to Formations was indeed one of the least valuable items in the exhibition hall.
“This is enough.” Luo Xue said softly.
“If… you say so.”
Vivienne swallowed her words. After all, she was the little princess, it was normal for her to choose only what she was interested in.
Then, she looked at Nangong Mian and bowed slightly.
“Miss Mian, I just reported this matter to the manager, and he feels that the compensation isn’t enough. He would like to invite you to participate in today’s daily auction. If you see anything you like, just bid, and the Tianlie Auction House will pay.”
Vivienne had clearly underestimated the Tianlie Auction House’s regard for the Nangong clan. Even if she was just a minor member, they didn’t want to offend her.
The items in the exhibition hall, although valuable, were still far inferior to those in the daily auction.
“No restrictions?”
Nangong Mian’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Naturally, just one…”
Vivienne smiled wryly. Having dealt with Nangong Mian many times, she knew her personality and wasn’t surprised by her words.
Then, Vivienne looked at Luo Xue, hesitation in her expression.
However, before Vivienne could speak, Luo Xue said,
“I’m fine, I really like this Hundred Solutions to Formations, this is enough.”
Vivienne looked at Luo Xue gratefully. She knew that Luo Xue’s identity couldn’t be casually revealed, so she hadn’t mentioned her to the manager, and there was no corresponding special treatment.
If Luo Xue had asked for something, she would have had to pay for it out of her own pocket.
Even as a top auctioneer, Vivienne was just an employee, and her savings couldn’t compare to those of the wealthy and powerful.
Not everyone wanted to curry favor with the little princess. The affairs of the imperial family… Vivienne, naturally cautious, didn’t want to get involved.
“Since this miss likes it, I’ll personally give you a few formation models as well. Don’t worry, they’re just worthless trinkets.”
Vivienne smiled gently and gestured.
“This way, please.”
…
Xue’er tiptoed through the palace, looking at the familiar surroundings, a faint smile on her lips.
She held onto the wall as she walked, her bare feet making no sound on the floor.
How much longer could she live…
Could she, before her death, replace herself and become the most beloved daughter of her father, Mother Concubine, and Mother?
Xue’er looked forward to it, but she wouldn’t see that day.
She had always known that there was a girl in the palace with the same hair color as her, about the same age, but they had never met.
The few times she had seen the girl from the window, the girl was always sitting alone on the snow-covered grass, looking up at the stars.
Xue’er also wanted to see the stars, but she couldn’t go outside, let alone sit on the grass.
Because she was born with a serious illness, frail and weak.
Curing this illness was actually very simple, just strengthen her divine beast bloodline.
Unfortunately, Xue’er’s biological mother, Imperial Concubine Min, possessed the extremely rare Snow Maiden bloodline. There wasn’t even a third person with this bloodline in the entire Great Thousand Worlds, not even that white-haired girl, so strengthening her bloodline was impossible.
Xue’er couldn’t even remember how much medicine she had taken, but her body continued to weaken.
At first, it was just weakness when walking, then even lying down became difficult, her skin turning an unhealthy pale, making her look like a ghost.
She was dying, but she didn’t want her father and Mother Concubine to be sad because of her.
Therefore, when the Empress proposed using that girl to replace her as Princess Xue, Xue’er agreed without hesitation.
In her eyes, that lonely girl must also yearn to be loved, right?
If she gave her all her love… she would surely be happy.
With this thought, Xue’er, the real Princess Xue, hid herself.
And that girl, after being manipulated by the Empress, had most of her memories sealed and her appearance changed, finally becoming Princess Xue, continuing Xue’er’s life.
“It seems… she’s doing even better than me. Mother Concubine also likes her very much.”
Xue’er gently pushed open the door and entered the bedroom, a faint, elegant fragrance lingering in the air, the scent she had left behind.
Perhaps it was a final burst of energy before her death, but Xue’er felt stronger these days, even able to walk around by herself without assistance.
Perhaps… her time was truly running out…
A hint of longing flashed through Xue’er’s eyes. She wasn’t ready to face death, but it was inevitable.
She tiptoed to the bed, her fingers touching the bedding, imagining another version of herself.
From now on, she was Princess Xue.
“Who’s there!”
Just then, a deep, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, startling Xue’er, and she quickly retracted her hand.
She looked back in panic and saw a pale figure standing at the door, a terrifying gaze piercing through her.
“How… was I discovered?”
Xue’er’s heart tightened. Hadn’t Father cast a spell to make her invisible to everyone? How could a servant see through it?
No, wait, that person seemed to be…
“Your Highness?” The etiquette official, seeing the snow-white figure in the room, frowned slightly. “Why are you back so soon? Could it be that Xiao Mian…”
No, that wasn’t right.
The etiquette official’s pupils constricted. This princess… felt different.
The princess she had interacted with before seemed more resolute, more shrewd.
And this one…
Was as fragile as water.
“Madam…”
Xue’er lowered her head and said.
The etiquette official had become Princess Xue’s etiquette instructor after the identity switch.
Before that, she had always served the Empress, having only met Xue’er a few times, but their interactions hadn’t been as frequent as with the current Princess Xue.
“You…”
The etiquette official opened her mouth, then noticed the traces of the Immortal Emperor’s spell on Xue’er.
…It seemed she had stumbled upon something she shouldn’t have.
The etiquette official quickly averted her gaze and muttered,
“Ah… there’s no one here. This old servant was mistaken, I thought Her Highness had returned, I’m getting old and muddled…”
With that, she left the room, her hands behind her back, her body hunched.
This was the only way she could escape this situation…
“Hmm?” Xue’er blinked. “I… wasn’t discovered?”
She walked to the door and watched the old woman’s receding figure, seemingly not noticing her presence, and finally relaxed.
“It seems Father’s spell is quite effective… cough…”
As if having been out for too long, Xue’er suddenly felt weak and could only support herself against the wall, slowly walking towards her hidden palace.
As Xue’er left, the etiquette official silently appeared where she had been standing, looking at her receding figure with a grave expression.
She hesitated whether to report this matter to the Empress, but after thinking about it, this might be the Empress’s arrangement.
…But now, regardless of which Princess Xue was the real one, she could only treat them both as real.
“The imperial family… is like this.” The etiquette official sighed. “I’m worried that one day, I’ll learn something I shouldn’t know…”
Perhaps even her status as the Empress’s personal maid wouldn’t be enough to protect her in these murky waters.
…
Upon entering the auction house, Luo Xue’s vision widened.
Only then did she realize that the Tianlie Auction House’s interior space was probably half again as large as she had estimated.
After all, the auction hall was the most important part of the entire auction house. The exhibition hall only displayed relatively rare items that weren’t valuable enough for auction.
And the items that could be auctioned here, even on a daily basis, would be considered worthy of a large-scale auction outside the Imperial Capital.
The Imperial Capital was truly prosperous, even in the fifteenth ring.
Vivienne led the two to a VIP room, dismissed the maids inside, and personally served Luo Xue and Nangong Mian.
Having a top auctioneer do this was partly because she was familiar with Nangong Mian, and partly to show the Tianlie Auction House’s respect for the Nangong clan.
Of course, the most important reason was…
To prevent Nangong Mian from making outrageous bids.
The prices she called out, the Tianlie Auction House had to actually pay the sellers…
If Nangong Mian bid a million for an item worth 100,000 spirit stones, the Tianlie Auction House would have to bear the loss.
From Vivienne’s understanding of Nangong Mian, she was completely capable of doing such a thing.
Luo Xue was also a bit interested. If there was something she wanted at the auction, she could bid on it. She wasn’t short on money.
Leave a Reply