Chapter 351: Curiosity Killed the Cat

The collective New Year's Eve dinner dispersed after Qiao Mai's trick ended; the Old Emperor kept Qiao Mai's family, didn't change location, and started chatting about daily life on the great hall.

"On the second day of the new year you aren't visiting relatives, are you?"

"Not visiting."

"Then shall I, with the Empress, Jia Mei, and the Eleventh Prince, go over as guests?"

"Sure."

"The Old Daoist also wishes to go, may I?"

The Old Daoist emerged from a corner; the Old Emperor was a bit embarrassed, "Qingfeng, have you rested?"

"The Old Daoist only needs a brief Meditation to restore all Exquisite Qi and spirit."

Qiao Mai stared at Qingfeng with a cold face, "Wang Jiaru's Old Servant's cultivation is not easy, don't let a momentary greedy thought lead you astray and lose your Dao heart."

After a short while, the Old Daoist opened his eyes, saw that Qiao Mai was fine, then closed his eyes again, continuously chanting incantations, and finally pointed his two fingers at Qiao Mai.

The Empress, Jia Mei, and the Eleventh Prince were bewildered and couldn't figure it out, and finally blamed the Old Daoist for it.

It was the only lively gathering of the year; despite the chaos, Qiao Mai said nothing.

"It should be her Beast pet; the Old Daoist has read historical records on this, Beast pets come in many types, hers might be a Demon Beast."

She was extremely angry today; the Old Daoist's mind is perhaps too hasty, now he wants, besides himself, to obtain the Space Treasure.

"No, it's just like a dream, so magical; to have such a strange encounter makes one feel this life hasn't been lived in vain."

Unexpectedly, this year the Little Prince of the Shun Qin Wangfu actually came to pay New Year's visits with Jiaru.

On the first day of the new year, the masters of Jixiang Yuan gathered in the front Keting; in previous years no one came to the house for New Year visits.

Qiao Mai pursed her lips, "Your cultivation is so low, yet you still want to seize my stuff; watch, I won't spare you."

After eating and drinking, they left taking a lot of things, just like a maiden returning home.

"It was the Old Daoist's fault, shouldn't have had a momentary greedy thought, sigh~"

"Indeed, he had a momentary greedy thought, wanted to claim it as his, thought it was easy, didn't expect to hit my iron plate; now do you understand?"

"Then what about the Demon Qi you mentioned?"

Qingfeng was startled, looked her up and down, then bowed to Qiao Mai.

"Come on."

"No, when my soul entered her body, she had just died; there was no soul snatching."

Oh, that's not right, there's also Space; she never took him inside.

"This lady's body is tainted with Demon Qi,"

The Old Emperor hurriedly ordered the palace staff to help the Old Daoist back to Qingfeng Hall.

Qiao Mai was too lazy to waste words with him, "Old man, just say my princess is a demon outright."

The family all stared at her; Ling'er and Hai Chuan didn't understand, assuming the Old Daoist wanted to harm their mother, talking nonsense.

"Madam, it feels like I'm inside a mythic book, utterly incredible."

"To hell with your great-grandfather, I also want to leave, violates Heavenly Union? This damned thing is the heavens teasing me, bringing me here; what are you, some kind of thing? And you let me leave?"

The old lady was startled, then sighed, "In the end, it's all for profit."

She lay down beside him, gently patting his cheek, "Curiosity killed the cat; from now on I won't speak, you'd better not ask, asking only leaves lingering sorrow."

"Then tell us what's going on? Anyway we've lived here for years, and he never came."

This year is different: Wang Zongsheng's family, Lu Ruyi's family, the Eleventh Prince, and Jia Mei will also come.

"Yes, and the cultivation is high, killing me like ants."

The old master gave her a cold stare, "You don't even understand this, truly getting more confused with age,"

"Can't sleep, too excited, too agitated."

But Yuan Jiaqi seemed to understand something, though he didn't say much.

"Then you say she wants to snatch your treasure?"

Qiao Mai approached the Old Daoist, pressed his brow, and only after a moment withdrew her hand.

"You are not a demon; you are a soul that has occupied someone's body, violating Heavenly Union; you should leave this body early."

At noon, three tables were set; everyone ate to satisfaction, even the Shun Prince ate this full for the first time, thanks to Jiaru's influence.

He seemed to have another unasked question: cultivation. He only knew she was practicing, not that she was cultivating; if he kept probing, none of her privacy would remain.

This surprised the old lady, but since they treated her as a junior and came sincerely, the old lady was also quite pleased.

Thus the old master and the old lady were both present; it's been a long time since such liveliness.

"I, the Emperor, am idle and will go see you."

The Old Emperor, upon seeing, hurriedly said, "Mother-in-law, show mercy; he is my close friend, spare his life for my sake."

"As long as you understand in your heart, that's enough."

"Mother-in-law, are you really?"

The old master and the old lady saw off the guests before returning to the courtyard; the two sat down to rest and discussed the Shun Prince matter.

Yuan Jiaqi, at this moment, sat face-to-face with Qiao Mai, "Madam, aren't you her?"

"I told you so, hm, but now it's fine; Jiaru now has a backing, so she won't have to worry about being mistreated there anymore."

Even the Eleventh Prince, Jia Mei arrived, and she was no different.

"I have a Space, do you understand what Space is?"

"May we still have a day to meet again."

The Old Emperor hurried to Qingfeng Hall, looking at the Daoist lying on the bed resting.

Qiao Mai struck his neck with a palm; Yuan Jiaqi fainted, she covered him with a blanket and let out a gentle sigh.

"Your cultivation is so high, aren't you still her opponent?"

"If you understand, that's fine. Anything else that needs explaining?"

"Scared?"

"My Daoist heart is already broken; after nursing my wounds here with my old friend, I will return to the mountain. Once I go, we may never meet again."

She glared at the Old Daoist, "Since you have merit among the living, I will spare your life. Greed will bring you lifelong error; your cultivation in this life ends here."

She sat for only a while, then took her leave and left.

"Otherwise? Ling'er is the future Empress. If they don't befriend the new Crown Prince, then who will they befriend?"

The Old Daoist looked at her, "You… you are a Cultivator?"

The Emperor emerged from Qingfeng Hall, returned to his own sleeping chambers, and barely slept that night.

The Old Daoist brandished Buddha Dust, flung it at her a few times, then muttered incantations, and Qiao Mai stood there motionless.

"She is a Cultivator?"

Yuan Jiaqi shook his head, and Qiao Mai explained, "To give an analogy, it's as if I have a house that can walk, I shrink it and carry it on my person; inside it can hold many things."

"Jia Mei marrying here is one reason; Ling'er marrying the Eleventh Prince is another. The Emperor takes Eleven with him every day; any observant person can see he's grooming the Crown Prince. Understand?"

Qingfeng Daozhang gave a wry smile, "Do you know what she was doing at the end, pressing against my head?"

"Qingfeng, what's wrong with you today?"

"She is searching my memories; this is far beyond what an ordinary immortal can compare to. I, the humble Daoist, have read the sect histories; this is called the Soul Search Technique. After a low‑level search one becomes a fool, yet I remain fine. She is using a high‑level version, but I only know a few minor spells, incomparable to hers."

Yuan Jiaqi's eyes brightened, "The thing that appears with just a wave of your hand—where did it come from?"

She gathered her spirit power, rushed toward the Red Light, collided with it, and the Old Daoist let out a howl, was thrown backward and landed on the ground.

"My heavens, so she has been so low‑key, hiding in Jingcheng for so many years, and turns out she's a Cultivator—remarkable, truly remarkable."

"Her mortal flesh hasn't even been shed, yet she thinks of capturing demons and coveting my treasure. How dare she? Get lost."

"If you don't leave, then I, the humble Daoist, will have to act personally?"

"Yes,"

Qiao Mai prepared many gifts; she gave each person appropriate presents, none were lacking, all were precious items of our nation.

"That's natural. Go to sleep; Ling'er is at home waiting for them to come to pay New Year respects."

"What?"

"You have saved her, and also saved her child?"

"Hmph, long hair but shallow insight."

The old lady glared, "Do you dare say that to Qiao Yatou's face?"

"Hehe, she's different; she's an exception."

"Hmph! Old thing just bullies me."

(End of chapter)