Chapter 509: Mutual Investigation

This is the Spirit-Transforming Pill; after taking it, it will activate the spirit power source within the body, and what is cultivated is not inner strength but a new kind of energy called spirit power.

In Da Ning, the process of absorbing spirit power is very slow, much slower than absorbing inner strength.

In the later stages, one still needs to go to Zhongzhou to advance.

If you cultivate inner strength, you can stay in Da Ning forever, Yue Yue; no matter which you choose, Mother supports you.

She looked at the girl before her, and let her decide her own life.

The daughter has grown up and can decide everything for herself.

"Mother, I want to be like you, like my brother; Mother, I don't want to be separated from you, ever." Ning Yue Xue always remembered that, because she was young, when Mother went to the battlefield, she left her at the Wang Fu.

But after being separated for over four years, she really missed Mother.

If she cultivated spirit power, would she then be able to stay by Mother's side?

Seeing the hope in the little girl's eyes, Jiang Yun Chu rubbed her hair and said, "Yue Yue, no one can accompany you forever."

"But great strength can give you more choices."

She didn't know when, but she would have to set out for Zhongzhou; she wouldn't promise what she couldn't do.

Perhaps it was cruel, but she didn't want to deceive.

Ning Yue Xue nodded and said, "It's fine, Mother; just go forward boldly, and Yue Yue will strive to keep up with your steps."

When she had the ability, she could travel together with Mother.

Then she could stay by Mother's side.

Jiang Yun Chu rubbed the girl's hair and then nodded.

At the Yongan Prince's Manor, after the Princess Consort returned, she seemed to enter a dazed state, walking as if she might trip and fall at any moment.

After the Yongan Prince returned to the Wang Fu, he hurried over and asked, "What's wrong? Did you suffer injustice on this trip to the Regent Prince's Manor?"

When he spoke, his tone showed no fluctuation.

However, his eyes carried a hint of sharpness.

The Princess Consort hadn't left the Wang Fu in years; today she had just returned from the Regent Prince's Manor, and her condition was poor. Moreover, he had already inquired and found no one on the road, so it must be related to the Regent Prince's Manor.

"No!" the Princess Consort looked at the Yongan Prince, smiling as she shook her head.

The Yongan Prince looked at his own lady and said, "What happened? Why do you have such a heavy heart?"

The Princess Consort thought for a moment, then had the attendants all withdraw.

"I saw a person today whose eyes were very like my son's."

"Also, the way she smiles is very like Guoguo's."

"You say, could it be..."

The Yongan Princess Consort gave a bitter laugh, then shook her head: "Impossible; our son never married before he died, so how could there be such a grown daughter?"

Before the Yongan Prince could say anything, the Princess Consort herself denied it.

She was just missing her son.

The Yongan Prince stared, also recalling that round little girl, and said, "Don't overthink it; there are many people who look alike in this world; I'll have someone look into it."

When the Princess Consort heard the first sentence, she nodded.

But when she heard the second sentence, she suddenly lifted her head and said, "You suspect too."

They understood each other even better than themselves; if the Prince didn't suspect, they couldn't possibly investigate.

"I met that little girl once when she was young."

"People have investigated before and found nothing, so I gave up thinking about it."

"But you also think she looks alike now, so let's investigate again." The Yongan Prince said nothing else, merely comforting the Princess Consort.

"Regardless, we must maintain good relations with the Regent Prince's Manor and can also consult the Regent's Consort—could we have another granddaughter, right?"

The Princess Consort's health has always been poor; after her son's death, it deteriorated day by day, and he also feared stirring up her painful memories, which would harm her spirit and body.

The Yongan Princess Consort nodded, but still added softly, "Investigation is investigation; if the Regent Prince's Manor interferes, we'll call it off."

"I don't want to make Yue Yue dislike me; just now I've come back and I miss that little girl a bit." The Princess Consort thought of Ning Yue Xue's appearance, of her sitting obediently to one side, always with a light smile.

Those who looked at her felt their hearts soften.

No matter her background, she did not want to harm this little girl.

"Alright, I understand." The Yongan Prince then left.

Both sides' forces were investigating, but the directions of their investigations were completely different.

Three days later, it was still Jiang Yun Chu who first obtained the investigation materials; looking at everything that had happened at the Yongan Prince's Manor, and also the corresponding birthmark totem behind Yue Yue, she formed a suspicion.

"Zi Su, have Miss come over for a moment." Since she had results, she had never thought of hiding anything.

The sky had already darkened; moonlight poured down, covering the ground in a sheet of silvery white.

Ning Yue Xue was reading when she heard Zi Su's report and asked, "Mother, is something wrong with you? Has something happened at the Rhyme Courtyard?"

"Can older brother come over?"

She anxiously ran over, a tiny bead of sweat already on the tip of her nose.

Zi Su shook her head; she didn't know exactly what had happened.

"Miss, the master isn't unwell, and the Rhyme Courtyard is fine; I only summoned you here." Zi Su, breathless, answered bluntly.

Ning Yue Xue's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

"I was scared to death, thinking Mother had something happen." She patted her chest and slowed her steps.

Still, compared to her usual pace, it was much faster, for she didn't want to keep Mother waiting.

"Yue Yue, come to Mother's study." Hearing the commotion outside, Jiang Yun Chu shouted directly from the study.

"Yes."

Ning Yue Xue first responded with an acknowledgment, then reviewed recent events, feeling she hadn't done anything wrong.

You know, Mother's Study is off-limits to anyone.

Even Zi Su, the older sister, is not allowed.

Every time Mother is in the Study, there are some major matters to announce.

"Mother."

Ning Yue Xue walked into the Study and closed the door.

Jiang Yun Chu waved, gesturing for Ning Yue Xue to sit in a chair to the side; she also held the investigation documents and sat beside Yue Yue.

"These are the investigation documents; please have a look." Jiang Yun Chu handed the documents to her.

The more Ning Yue Xue read, the redder her eye rims became; by the time she finished, she could no longer hold back the tears, which pattered onto her hand and shattered into eight pieces.

"Mother, do you no longer want me?"

That timid, small voice carried a hint of unease and grievance.

She cared nothing for the title of Eldest Miss of the Regent Prince's Manor; she wanted no home, she wanted nothing at all—she only wanted her own mother, and her mother could be only one person: Jiang Yun Chu.