Chapter 431: The Mystery of Origins

Yun Zhi woke up.

She sat alone in the courtyard, head raised, watching the clouds roll and unfold, holding the same posture for a long time.

When Ye Qingran entered, she saw her. Compared to before, her demeanor had changed greatly.

"Awake?"

Ye Qingran paused at the doorway for a moment before speaking.

Yun Zhi heard the voice, turned toward the door, and upon seeing Ye Qingran, her expression grew complex.

The events of this period are fresh in her memory.

For a moment she did not know how to face Ye Qingran.

Rising slowly, Yun Zhi pressed her lips together and after a long pause said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"You don't need to apologize to me; you are also a victim." Ye Qingran said while stepping into the courtyard.

A hint of gloom appeared in Yun Zhi's eyes.

Indeed, she too is a victim.

Her past memories have fully returned; as for the implanted memories, though sealed, the things she did because of them remain vivid.

Ye Qingran sat opposite Yun Zhi, poured herself a cup of tea, and asked, "Are you from the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou?"

Upon hearing the words "Nan Yin Zhou Yunfu," Yun Zhi involuntarily trembled all over.

After a while, she nodded.

"Yes."

"My true name is Yun Tinglan, a branch of the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou."

Yun Tinglan?

Ye Qingran's eyes flashed.

Indeed!

She had not guessed wrong. Yun Zhi is indeed from the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou.

"Then why did you stay in Yun Gu Cun for five years? Also, do you know who implanted those memories?"

Ye Qingran asked.

"I know."

Yun Zhi lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the dark shade that flickered in her eyes.

How could she not know?

"Who?"

The person who implanted Yun Zhi's memories and the one who wants to kill her are very likely the same!

"Yun Lan!"

Yun Zhi gritted her teeth and said.

The moment she spoke that name, intense hatred surfaced in her eyes.

"Yun Lan?"

Ye Qingran raised her eyebrows high.

Ye Qingran is not unfamiliar with the name Yun Lan.

Upon learning that Ye Huanhuan's backing is the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou, she immediately sent people to investigate the Yunfu's situation.

This Yun Lan is a prominent figure of the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou.

Or rather, this person enjoys great fame throughout Nan Yin Zhou.

"If I remember correctly, Yun Lan is from the Yunfu's direct line; why would she go to such lengths to target you?"

Yun Lan curled her lips with a mocking arc, "She is indeed the Yunfu's direct daughter, but she is extremely jealous and selfish. She cannot tolerate any other woman in the Yun family vying for favor, even if she is merely a insignificant branch. Any woman who stands out even slightly will be suppressed by her. For she wishes to be the unique princess of the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou!"

Ye Qingran understood.

Besides her unparalleled beauty and outstanding talent, what leaves the deepest impression about Yun Lan is that she is the sole female in the direct line of the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou.

The Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou prospers, with males predominating, especially in the past century where females have become increasingly rare.

Thus, every female of the Yunfu's direct line gathers countless affections onto herself.

Now the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou has become so exaggerated that only Yun Lan remains as its woman!

She is the rightful princess of Nan Yin Zhou!

People also habitually call her princess.

Ye Qingran found it amusing.

How could the princess of Nan Yin Zhou harbor murderous intent toward her?

Could it be that her existence threatens the princess's status?

"Why did Yun Lan force me to kill you? And why would killing you cause my death?"

Yun Zhi stared at Ye Qingran, examining her closely, using her gaze to trace her brows and eyes.

"Have you noticed that we actually look somewhat alike?"

Yun Zhi suddenly asked this.

Ye Qingran nodded. Upon first seeing Yun Zhi, she had that thought.

"Have you ever considered that you might also be from the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou?"

Yun Zhi's words made Ye Qingran's heart jolt sharply.

She had not entirely dismissed this possibility, but it still felt illusory and vague.

"Why say that? I have investigated the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou and found no bloodline left outside."

This is also why she knows her mother's surname is Yun, yet does not overly link her to the Yunfu of Nan Yin Zhou.

Hehe~

Yun Zhi smiled.

"Let me tell you a secret. Actually, twenty years ago, Nan Yin Zhou's Yunfu had a prodigiously talented and stunningly beautiful young lady who vanished."

Ye Qingran's complexion changed, and a "thud" sounded in her heart.

For some reason, she instinctively thought of her mother, Yun Sui Feng.

She asked impatiently, "What was her name?"

Yun Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Yun Ling."

Yun Ling?

Not Yun Sui Feng?

Ye Qingran's heart sank.

But Yun Zhi seemed to sink into her thoughts, gazing ahead as if her eyes pierced the mottled past, returning to many years ago.

"I was only a few years old then. She was ten years older than me. In her teenage years, she was already astonishingly beautiful, like a celestial being. She should have been the princess adored by countless people. Compared to her, what could that woman Yun Lan possibly be?"

Yun Zhi's smile was laced with sarcasm, "Back then, Yun Lan was nothing but an ugly duckling! If Yun Ling hadn't vanished, Yun Lan would have spent her whole life living in Yun Ling's shadow, dim and dull!"

"At that time, everyone on Nan Yin Zhou knew that the Yunfu had produced a genius who combined wisdom and beauty. She possessed the immensely noble Yunfu Zhiji bloodline and was a once‑in‑a‑millennium ethereal divine body, envying countless people. Yet such a person suddenly disappeared one day. No one knew where she went or what befell her. In any case, after that, the Yunfu suffered a massive blow. The family head fell into decline and sealed all information. So, almost no one knows about this incident."

So that's how it is!

Ye Qingran, after hearing that, felt a hidden shock in her heart.

Then, could her mother, Yun Sui Feng, be the missing Yun Ling?

If so, why would she abandon everything of the Yunfu, change her name to come to the barren East Frontier, and even marry the scum‑like Ye Yu?

"So, you suspect I'm a descendant of Yun Ling?"

Ye Qingran glanced at Yun Zhi and gave a faint smile.

Yun Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Yes!"

"Although the time is so distant that I can no longer recall clearly, your appearance does bear some resemblance to hers!"

"People can look alike; that's no big deal," Ye Qingran said indifferently.

Yun Zhi shook her head, "You must have realized that if you kill me, you will die, right?"

Ye Qingran stared at her, silent.

"The bloodline of Yunfu people carries a curse. Any mutual killing incurs the price of life. Even an accomplice cannot escape retribution. With that said, do you still doubt your own lineage?"

Yun Zhi appeared calm, but her heart was actually roiled with turbulent waves.

She never imagined that the prodigiously talented and stunningly beautiful Yunfu miss of those days had not truly vanished, and had even left her bloodline in this world.

And her descendant now stood before her.

She was curious how a revelation that Ye Qingran was the continuation of Yun Ling's bloodline would cause a stir among the Yunfu.

However, Yun Lan would not allow such a thing to happen.

Hearing Yun Zhi say that, Ye Qingran recalled that earlier, Yun Lan clearly had the ability to kill her outright, yet she hadn't, instead dealing with her in a very indirect manner.

It turned out she feared that excessive interference would kill herself.

Thus, she rescued Ye Huanhuan, helped her strengthen, and then returned to confront her.

It must be said, Yun Lan went to great lengths to kill her.