Chapter 214: A Warrior May Be Killed, Not Humiliated

"It probably won't be that bad; even if we offend the Princess, she isn't Yuan Jiaqi's superior, nor an official, and has no right to kill anyone. This matter must go through the Emperor, so it depends on how our Sovereign acts."

Wang Jiaru's Old Servant wiped away tears, "If anything happens to them—any mishap—I won't go anywhere; I'll stay at home and guard this house and the children for them."

"Why are you crying? Your fate hasn't even taken a first stroke yet."

"Most likely they'll punish us."

"We'll talk about it when the time comes."

While the two elders were sighing in distress, Yuan Jiaqi settled Chuan'er; Chuan'er opened his sharp, impish eyes, looking remarkably mature.

"Father, you finally made it through; did Mother give you permission to sleep in her room?"

Yuan Jiaqi patted his little head and said, "Sleep with your brother tonight; don't be like a pig—sleep lightly."

"Got it, Father. You don't need to worry about me; just take care of yourself."

Yuan Jiaqi, emboldened by the wine, spilled his thoughts, like a slighted child returning to confide in family.

"Xiao Qing?"

"My lady, I'm not trying to oppose imperial authority; I just can't stand that Princess. She has no shame—she's a fine young woman, should marry an unmarried lad, yet she set her sights on a married man with a child. Would you say her conduct is bad?"

She had already thought about it while drinking: to settle this, force can't be used. She isn't afraid, but afterward we couldn't live calmly.

If we want things as peaceful as before, we'll have to resort to celestial items—pills!

In the pill formula she learned, there is a Third Grade Pill called Forget Dust Pill, which differs from Forget Emotion Pill.

She pressed their Sleep Acupoint, expressionless, and stuffed a Forget Dust Pill into each of their mouths.

Xiao Qing pursed her lips in disdain, "I couldn't speak before, but I know everything. The place you live in is the smallest star among planets; you don't realize that in the vast starry sky, some planets are ten or a hundred times larger than Earth."

"What are you busy with?"

"The problem is she wants to break us up, which won't do. I kept holding back because she's a Princess; it's better that I didn't scold her."

Xiao Qing managed her domain quite well, naming it Maimai Residence. She replaced the surrounding shelves with antique‑style display racks, stocked with modern items, some pills she had refined, and various things she had acquired on the Platform.

She used a barter method, exchanging twenty other Third Grade Pills for twenty Forget Dust Pills, only paying a small handling fee.

"It's not just that. I like you, my lady; I love you. In this life I must have you; no one can separate us, no one can harm you. In my husband's heart, you are as beautiful as a Fairy."

He was too nervous; his speech became a bit stuttered.

"Come, I'll help you back to the room to sleep; you drank quite a bit today."

She was generous, but Yuan Jiaqi, being from ancient times, found the words vague and overly blunt; couldn't the lady be a bit more subtle?

"Your husband will obey you, my lady."

He placed his own ritual offering on Qiao Mai's kang, then tidied up, and thinking of the night, his impulse became uncontrollable.

The couple exchanged cups, and after a while Yuan Jiaqi's legs grew weak.

Following this thread of spiritual awareness, she headed to an inn fifty li south and found herself and her subordinates.

"If you hadn't scolded her, I wouldn't have said those things today. Some matters you should handle more tactfully; otherwise I wouldn't leave any room at all."

"But outside there is the scent of earthly fireworks, that's the smell I like."

Qiao Mai chatted with Xiao Qing in the Space for a while, then changed into Night Clothes and emerged from the Space.

"Hmm, here, I toast you. Today, for my fearless struggle against death and imperial authority."

"Chuan'er also benefited from your kindness; my father and I are willing to repay with our lives. Please, my lady, don't abandon us."

From the doorway, she saw Yuehong and the other clearing the table; Ling'er was still playing on the floor. After reminding them, she slammed the door shut.

Yuehong and Yuexia, to create conditions for the two, carried Ling'er to the old lady's side.

Qiao Mai shook her head helplessly, as if she were some ferocious beast—does she still need wine to steel her courage?

"No need to be nervous; move in first to adjust. We won't do anything; once you're accustomed, we'll perform the marital rites."

"If we brake at the cliff, it's still acceptable."

The fellow was sleeping soundly, snoring softly; outside it was already quiet. She had already planted a thread of spiritual awareness onto the Princess.

Qiao Mai reached into the void, and a large Strawberry appeared in her hand; she took it and ate it.

Qiao Mai closed her eyes, checked the Space, "Level Seven?"

Qiao Mai looked at his drifting gaze, realizing his tolerance was low; he was speaking drunkenly now.

"I'm almost catching up to Earth, where I used to live?"

Once on the kang, he flopped headfirst, then slept with his legs in the air, snoring loudly.

She tucked the Jade Bottle against her chest, glanced at the time—it was still early—so she stepped out of the house.

"Are you tired?"

"Yes, a bit!"

"Of course. It's nourished by Spiritual Energy, large and sweet; eating it is good for the body, master. You are now a cultivator; stop constantly eating outside food—too many impurities!"

"Master, I'm not tired. I am a Space Spirit; I don't need to cultivate like the peasants outside—it's done with thought, harvested by thought."

Qiao Mai pinched a chopstick of vegetables for him, "Here, it's so late and you haven't eaten; you're hungry, right?"

She glanced at Yuan Jiaqi and vanished into the Space.

"What if they threaten us with Chuan'er?"

"Just farming,"

Yuan Jiaqi swayed unsteadily to his feet, then flopped back down, his face flushed.

After taking Forget Emotion Pill, the Seven Emotions and Six Desires vanish; the pill causes one to forget a span of memory—cultivators forget events within a year, ordinary people forget events from two to three years ago. The higher the pill's grade, the more and longer the forgetting.

She has the formula but no pills; she needs to forge a batch, and time is tight, so she sat at the computer and searched the Platform.

"My lady, I'm a bit nervous, I've drunk a lot, trying to use the wine to steel my courage. Sorry, I— I—"

To restore memory, it takes at least seven or eight years; by then, even if she awakens, that much time has passed—who would believe what she says?

"Cultivate well; when the chance comes, you can tear the void and go outside to see."

Yes, now there are three hundred million mu of land, oh.

Hmm, the food in the space is much tastier than the outside.

Indeed, I took off his shoes, removed his outer coat, and dragged him inside.

She decided to let this Princess taste the Pill; what a bargain for her.

Yuan Jiaqi, red‑faced, performed a bow and went to the back courtyard, while Qiao Mai was cooking in the Xiaochufang at that moment.

Wow, what a pity I'm not an astronaut; I can only listen to you.

She already made me a retired wife, and I'm still being courteous; a warrior may die but not be ashamed. I, Yuan, am a man who stands tall and firm.

"Master, I'm here," Xiao Qing flashed into her front.

On the table in the Yuanzi, there were four dishes and a pot of Wine, all the Yuan Family liked to eat.

"Is it because you can't stand her that you said those words?"

"Anyway, I don't have such lofty aspirations; a life of peace and happiness is enough."

She can't eat alone; everyone must eat together—twelve guards, two Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, one old woman, and this Princess—wasting a full sixteen Pill on her.

These things can't be bought with silver; what a pity. Qiao Mai gently twisted the Princess's cheek with some sympathy.

Even the golden branches and jade leaves have rough skin; ancient skincare techniques are useless, and even some facial cleansing stuff can't keep up.

Like ice skin and snow‑white complexion, even that is covered up by their backwardness.

(End of chapter)