Chapter 164: The Empress’s Plan, The Mystery of Princess Xue’s Birth
Luo Xue was always sensitive to auras, so when she entered the room, a faint, unfamiliar scent caught her attention.
It couldn’t be from a new maid, because the maids’ auras were all very similar.
Luo Xue glanced at the etiquette official, who just lowered her head silently, seemingly unaware.
“…”
Luo Xue didn’t believe that the etiquette official, who was much stronger than her, couldn’t detect this faint, unfamiliar aura. The only explanation was that she was deliberately concealing it.
Just who had been in her room…
Luo Xue hid her suspicion and turned to the etiquette official.
“Madam, I’ll rest for a while. Please wake me up for dinner.”
“Your Highness, please rest. This old servant will be waiting outside.”
The etiquette official replied respectfully, her demeanor impeccable.
Luo Xue smiled faintly and closed the door.
After the door closed, her expression turned serious.
She walked to the bed, sniffed the air, and sensed carefully.
“It’s a mortal woman… could there be a mortal in the palace?”
Luo Xue’s expression was filled with surprise. Even the weakest palace maid was at the Spirit Condensation Realm, let alone the other palace guards.
It was hard to imagine someone who hadn’t even embarked on the path of immortality staying within the imperial palace.
…However, there were exceptions.
Like Luo Xue herself, she appeared to be a mortal, and only a mortal with her status could stay in the palace.
But…
“There can’t be two princesses, can there?” Luo Xue touched her chin. “I’ve never heard of having an older or younger sister of the same age…”
Putting this matter aside for now, Luo Xue took out some formation materials she had bought outside the palace from her storage ring. They were common items, not difficult to find.
She just wanted to test whether the decline of formations was due to the environment of this world, or the people themselves.
Although the Hundred Solutions to Formations wasn’t very detailed, the formation models it described seemed correct, so Luo Xue began constructing a formation based on the book.
A moment later, a small spirit-gathering formation was complete. Luo Xue hadn’t used any of her cultivation, relying solely on her understanding of formations.
But after the formation was set up, it possessed the spirit-gathering ability of a Spirit Condensation cultivator.
As the formation was activated, the surrounding spiritual energy was slightly disturbed and gathered within the small formation.
The formation operated successfully. The Dao of formations was feasible in the Ancient Demon Lands.
“If that’s the case, why can’t the people here use formations…”
In the Ancient Demon Lands, even those with the deepest understanding of formations could only exert the power of Foundation Establishment. It was because they couldn’t advance further, not because the upper limit of formations in this world was Foundation Establishment.
Based on Luo Xue’s current situation, if she had enough knowledge of formations and could act freely, constructing a Core Formation level formation wouldn’t be a problem.
Luo Xue couldn’t figure out the reason, but she quickly conducted another experiment.
Talismans.
Talismans and Dao inscriptions looked similar, but they were fundamentally different.
Dao inscriptions were extensions of innate Dao patterns, able to exert specific effects, like the return token.
While talismans were techniques and abilities, constructed with spiritual power and sealed within specific materials, essentially one-time-use spells.
However, the cost of creating talismans was high, so they were usually used in emergencies.
There was no shortage of talisman materials in the Ancient Demon Lands. Luo Xue, following the instructions in the Compendium of Talismans, sealed a Spirit Condensation level sword beam within a talisman.
Then, she activated the talisman, and a Spirit Condensation level sword beam was silently released, directly piercing the palace wall.
It was easily successful.
For Luo Xue, inscribing talismans was as easy as drinking water, completely different from the examples in the Compendium of Talismans.
As long as she knew the technique or ability, she could inscribe it into a talisman.
“It’s a pity that even within the Imperial Capital, there isn’t much information about puppetry.”
Luo Xue sighed. Of the three arts, she knew the most about puppetry.
After all, it was Senior Sister Li’s favorite thing, and during their time in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Luo Xue had been forced to learn quite a bit.
With enough materials, Luo Xue could also create puppets with strength comparable to her own.
“Since there are no other options for now, focusing on formations isn’t a bad idea.” Luo Xue pondered for a moment and made her decision.
Talismans weren’t very useful for now. Usually, only high-level talismans were used, like when she, at the Innate and Spirit Condensation Realms, used Foundation Establishment talismans to exert power far beyond her own.
Talismans of the same level weren’t very effective, after all, she could already use techniques and abilities of the same level, and crafting talismans required additional materials.
More importantly…
Luo Xue knew that she was still inferior to Senior Sister Li in this aspect. Senior Sister Li could master all four arts in a short time. Luo Xue didn’t have that kind of talent.
“I suddenly miss Senior Sister Li and Nangong Mengxiang…”
Luo Xue sighed. She missed her time in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the villainous trio being chased by everyone…
Well, it was mainly because life in the palace was too boring and peaceful. Luo Xue couldn’t stand it anymore.
Unfortunately, the etiquette official was watching her closely. Even if Luo Xue wanted to leave the palace, she needed the token.
“I’ve memorized the Dao inscriptions on the token, but recreating it with a formation will still take some time.” Luo Xue rubbed her temples. “If Senior Sister Li were here, she could probably do it in less than a quarter of an hour…”
She still had many questions, such as the matters of the Nangong clan and the caged world, the “Luo Xue” in the southern barbarian lands, and the mysterious mortal who had snuck into her room…
As for the last point, Luo Xue had some ideas about how to find this person, but it would take some time to prepare her room.
“Hopefully, Madam really doesn’t understand formations…”
…
In the simple courtyard, the Empress still leaned on her recliner, her eyes half-closed, her gaze on the bare branches, waiting for the buds to bloom.
Beside her stood the etiquette official, her head lowered, silent.
“Wan’er, how long have you been with me?” The Empress asked slowly.
“It has been over fifty thousand years.” The etiquette official replied respectfully. “Your Majesty’s kindness, taking me into the Nangong clan, even personally giving me a name… this old servant will never forget Your Majesty’s grace.”
“You… already know about her, don’t you?”
The Empress suddenly changed the subject.
The etiquette official naturally knew who the Empress was referring to. She had come to the courtyard for this matter.
She wasn’t seeking the truth, but an answer.
An answer that would put her mind at ease.
After days of contemplation and struggle, she had finally taken this step.
The Empress slowly sat up, looked at the etiquette official, and said softly,
“Stubborn, just as stubborn as before, but this stubbornness will harm you.”
“…”
The etiquette official didn’t speak, just lowered her head even further.
“Remember the day of Xue’er’s coming-of-age ceremony? Dugu Di didn’t go, but I did… why do you think that is?”
The etiquette official’s pupils constricted, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
“This old servant… understands.”
Because the Princess Xue who was present at the banquet that day, the one she had been attending to, was fake.
The reason the Immortal Emperor hadn’t attended his most beloved daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony was that he was with the real little princess, the white-haired girl who had secretly entered the bedroom a few days ago.
“No, you don’t understand.” The Empress shook her head. “There is no ‘fake’ Princess Xue, only the ‘previous Princess Xue,’ and the ‘current Princess Xue’.”
The etiquette official was stunned, not understanding what the Empress meant.
“Concubine Min is one of the few descendants of the Snow Maiden clan, you probably didn’t know that, right?” The Empress said slowly.
The etiquette official frowned slightly, then a look of shock appeared on her face.
“You’re saying… Princess Xue’s illness, is actually…”
The Empress didn’t answer, tacitly confirming the etiquette official’s words.
The descendants of the Snow Maiden clan were few… because most of them suffered from a disease called “Snow Maiden Syndrome.”
Those afflicted would gradually lose control of their limbs, eventually becoming completely paralyzed. The only way to cure this strange illness was to strengthen their Snow Maiden bloodline, to achieve a balance between their bloodline power and their bodies.
Concubine Min was a different case. Her bloodline was so thin that she didn’t even develop the illness, so she survived.
Unfortunately, her daughter with the Immortal Emperor, Princess Xue, due to a slight bloodline atavism, was born with a ticking clock.
“The previous Princess Xue… is almost at her end.” The Empress said faintly. “From now on, there’s only the ‘current Princess Xue’.”
The etiquette official’s expression was complicated. Only now did she understand why the Empress had finally accepted the little princess.
The Empress had almost never paid attention to the previous princes and princesses, let alone shown any special care.
The etiquette official had thought that the Empress sending her to personally teach the little princess court etiquette was a sign of reconciliation with the Immortal Emperor, but she hadn’t expected this…
Honestly, after these days of interaction, the etiquette official had developed a fondness for the current Princess Xue. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked the Empress’s wrath by coming here to seek answers.
“Your Majesty, how… did she come to the palace?” The etiquette official asked slowly.
“Sixteen years ago, on the day Princess Xue was born, a palace maid brought her back from the wilderness outside the Imperial Capital. But even I couldn’t find her biological parents.”
The Empress said, “The maid who brought her back died of a serious illness not long after, leaving her alone in the palace.”
The Empress didn’t continue the story about this Princess Xue.
Because she only needed to confirm that Luo Xue could become Princess Xue, that was enough. There was no need to know too much.
However, the etiquette official, who knew the inner workings of the palace very well, understood that someone like Luo Xue… usually wouldn’t have an easy life.
Besides the imperial family’s palaces, there were also many places where servants lived in the Immortal Dynasty’s palace.
And many palace maids were trained from a young age. These places weren’t very strict, and a few children could easily be hidden there without anyone noticing.
Luo Xue was very likely among them, but because of her special identity, she was probably bullied.
But strangely… this current Princess Xue, her behavior these past few days had been very well-mannered, only her ignorance of court etiquette was a problem.
However… the etiquette official still had some doubts, and she couldn’t help but ask,
“But why would His Majesty rather have a… ‘current Princess Xue’ replace his own daughter, than reveal this matter…”
The Empress’s gaze suddenly turned dangerous, and the etiquette official immediately realized she had asked the wrong question and quickly lowered her head.
“This old servant knows her mistake!”
“Heh… it’s nothing I can’t talk about,” the Empress chuckled coldly, “Dugu Di just doesn’t want others to know that Concubine Min is a descendant of the Snow Maiden clan…”
“This is his weakness. In the end, both mother and daughter were just used…”
If not for her Snow Maiden bloodline, why would the Immortal Emperor marry a woman with ordinary looks, a thin bloodline close to a mortal’s, and no family background as an imperial concubine?
Her only mistake was developing inappropriate feelings for her daughter, not being ruthless enough.
The etiquette official’s face turned pale. She seemed to have heard something she shouldn’t have…
She knew that knowing too much about the imperial family’s affairs could easily lead to trouble…
“How could I let him have his way?” A charming smile appeared on the Empress’s lips, her eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement in her gaze. “Besides, I quite like this little girl…”
A human.
A pure human without any demonic bloodline.
Just where did she come from…
The Empress, recalling an ancient legend of the Nangong clan, her smile widened.
In this game of chess between her and the Immortal Emperor, both sides had hidden moves and trump cards.
And now, she was just holding her pieces, hadn’t made her move yet.
The outcome was still unknown.
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