Chapter 146: Picking Flowers (Combined, seeking monthly votes)

"Good child~"

Raising her hand to stroke Li Qiushui's jet-black hair, Ran Guifei sighed with deep emotion:

"You child have never liked to open up to others since you were small; apart from that Shi Xue, you've had almost no other friends. I've been worried for such a long time."

"It's a relief that now, someone is able to walk into your heart."

Li Qiushui did not dodge, but instead let Ran Guifei gently stroke her hair.

Her relationship with the siblings Li Lingling and Li Fengyao was not good, but that did not mean her relationship with their mother was the same.

Although the outside world was unaware, the few elders in the palace knew that while Li Qiushui and Ran Guifei shared no blood ties, they were closer than mother and daughter.

When Li Qiushui was young, after her mother passed away early, she was not subjected to all sorts of difficulties, but was instead taken in by Ran Guifei.

Ran Yeting treated Li Qiushui as her own, taking the initiative to provide her with all the care she should have received in her youth.

From this perspective, Ran Guifei filled the role of a mother in Li Qiushui's life, preventing her personality from becoming even more extreme.

Of course, Ran Guifei also caused some negative influence on Li Qiushui.

That year, when Ran Guifei took a sword to the Ran Family to hack off heads, Li Qiushui, who was already sensible, was a firsthand witness.

She deeply branded that scene into her mind, and three months later, she made her grand vow to "kill all unfaithful men" before the Qian Mirror.

Was there a connection between the two?

Perhaps, there was some.

As for outsiders not knowing the relationship between these two, it was mainly because of Li Qiushui's active avoidance of suspicion after reaching adulthood.

Although she had never publicly stated anything, her attitude had already made others understand.

Li Qiushui actively keeping her distance from Li Lingling after growing up was also because she did not want them to get into trouble by being associated with her.

This was Li Qiushui's way of protecting Li Lingling and the others.

Upon learning of this, Ran Guifei did not deliberately stop her.

Although the method was not clever enough, having the heart to do so was already enough.

The reason Ran Yeting had taken the initiative to offer an olive branch to Li Qiushui back then was simply because she thought of an old friend when she saw her.

Both were illegitimate daughters of the Emperor living outside the palace, both had mothers who passed away early, and both were born with the Heavenly Sword Spirit Body.

Fate could be so similar.

Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps out of sympathy, at that time, Ran Yeting simply wanted to give that little girl a completely different life.

The tragedy of her own fourth sister should not happen again.

At that time, Ran Yeting had not thought of anything else at all, nor did she expect this child to compete for the imperial throne in the future.

Empress Zhao calculated everything and placed countless pressures on the Eldest Prince, but in the end, she only forced him into a dead end, achieving nothing.

In the end, she could even only rely on a child adopted from someone else to continue competing for favor.

Yet Li Qiushui relied on her own strength to walk step by step to where she was today.

Man proposes, God disposes; one may plant flowers with intent, but they may not bloom, while one may plant a willow without intent, and it grows into shade.

One can only say that, in the end, the world is impermanent, and children and grandchildren have their own fortunes.

Besides, the judgment of the Ran Family had always been very good.

Children must always grow up; one can help with their lives, but one cannot interfere too much.

And now, it was time for the child to seek an answer.

Picking up the white fox and gently placing it on the lap of Li Qiushui, who had been eyeing it greedily for a long time, Ran Yeting sighed:

"You child, you've been like this since you were small. You clearly like something immensely, but you don't like to open your mouth to ask for it, insisting on relying on yourself to strive for it."

"How exactly was this overly strong personality of yours formed? I didn't mistreat you back then~"

The corners of her mouth twitched; Li Qiushui looked at the white fox that was being passed back and forth yet still fast asleep, and shook her head with a faint smile.

"Your Highness treated me impeccably back then; it is just that my nature is such."

Ran Yeting pursed her lips and said indifferently:

"That's fine too, you're so grown up anyway... Let me think, who could that lucky man you've taken a fancy to be~?"

"I guess, it's that boy from the Divine Path Sect, right?"

Ren Yidao.

Taking a deep breath, Li Qiushui decided not to escape anymore; she did not refute, but instead said softly:

"Your Highness, I still can't quite figure out my own thoughts; I can't understand what he really means to me."

"Compared to the imperial throne, he is indeed not that important, but... if I were to give him up completely, I feel some reluctance."

Although it was unlikely, if all those accidents were meticulously designed by Ren Yidao, then he had already succeeded.

Fate plays tricks on people; after one accident after another, he successfully walked into my heart and occupied a not-so-small position.

But, is this feeling truly love?

She had always arrived at an answer during Questioning the Heart in the Qian Mirror, but she still could not truly make up her mind.

"Hehe."

Her cheek was poked gently; Li Qiushui turned her head in a daze and saw Ran Guifei's gentle gaze.

"You, oh you, you're stuck in a dead end again, aren't you? What other answer do you want to get from me? Haven't you already figured it out?"

"The fact that you came to me for clarification is precisely because you care so much, isn't it?"

Because she cared, she felt pain.

That was why she felt angry when seeing Ren Yidao in private contact with Li Fengyao, and why she felt embarrassed when seeing Li Long calling him brother.

If she truly did not care, Li Qiushui would not mind those things at all and would only treat them as passing clouds.

Ran Yeting withdrew the finger poking her cheek and said indifferently:

"Never mind whether it's true love or not, just try it out first and see."

Wouldn't it be fine to just get it done for him?

In short, get it through first, and you'll be able to think it through later.

"If you want it, go fight for it."

"If you want to give up, then give up."

"No one has the right to gossip; if someone is wagging their tongue..."

She stopped here, looking at Li Qiushui, letting her finish the next sentence.

Li Qiushui felt a bit helpless, but still obediently recited Ran Yeting's catchphrase:

"... then just chop his head off."

"That's right~ Hehe, you child have been clever since you were small."

Ran Yeting was quite satisfied with her own persuasion.

She didn't care one way or the other.

She had met the child Ren Yidao a few times before and had some understanding of him.

Although his Qi was actively concealed, making it hard to see clearly.

But just looking at the Qi leaking out, he was already a heaven-gifted talent who could contend with the heroes of the world in the future.

Ran Yeting treated Li Qiushui as her own, and now she was holding onto the mentality that a grown daughter cannot be kept, wanting her to be a little braver.

Moreover, from the previous meeting with Ren Yidao, his relationship with Ling'er was also quite good; he could be considered one of their own.

The most critical point was that although Ling'er respected him, she had no girlish feelings for him, as her whole heart was placed on that Senior Sister.

As long as the two daughters had no conflict, other things didn't matter to her at all.

"Sigh."

Li Lingling leaned against the railing, looking melancholically at the pedestrians coming and going on the long street.

"So worried."

The young girl, who had finally gathered the courage to step out of her room, couldn't help but run out after staying at home for a while.

She found a restaurant in the inner city at random, asked for a private room facing the street, and started to stare blankly.

Yang Wusheng wore a bamboo hat and stood bowed not far behind her, not daring to interject a single word.

Since waking up today, Her Highness had been in such a state of sentimental melancholy, as if she had grown up a lot overnight.

But as for what exactly happened, Yang Wusheng knew nothing at all.

This servant knows nothing, and this servant dares not ask anything.

Don't know, not clear, not curious.

Having been in the palace for so many years, he still possessed the basic qualities one should have.

Don't ask what shouldn't be asked, don't say what shouldn't be said.

And don't report everything to Imperial Concubine Ran; if it turned out to be a false alarm in the end, he would be the one in trouble.

In short, it's better to observe for a while; if there really is a problem, then talk about it.

"Hee hee."

"Why is my little sister worrying here? Has your heart been broken by a man?"

!!?

The sudden laughter made Yang Wusheng's spirit tense up immediately, and he shouted urgently:

"Your Highness, watch out!"

Chih.

A short blade sank into his back, the tip of the knife protruding from his chest.

!!?

"Cough, cough..."

The blade did not pierce any vital points; instead, it deliberately avoided the tendons and bones, passing through the gaps.

But the purple-tinted knife tip and the weakness of his body being drained of strength proved the ruthlessness of the person who struck.

The blade was poisoned!

"Your... Highness..."

Run!

Kneeling down powerlessly, Yang Wusheng wanted to raise his hand to pull out the blade, but as soon as his hand was raised, it was directly and fiercely stepped onto the ground.

"Hehe, we can't let you ruin our good deed."

Looking upward with difficulty, the last thing Yang Wusheng saw before closing his eyes was the bright flower on that person's chest.

Flower?

Wanhua Valley...

The blade was ruthlessly pulled out from behind, and the completely powerless Yang Wusheng slammed heavily backward.

Thud.

Li Lingling turned her head, looked at the fallen Yang Wusheng and the two villains who had suddenly appeared in the private room, and she frowned.

Without panic or anger, she first glanced at Yang Wusheng's chest, which was still heaving, confirming he was not dead, and then spoke indifferently:

"Who are you?"

The uninvited guests were two women draped in black-purple robes; although the color of the robes was dark, the level of exposure was not low at all, looking bewitching and evil.

The two had decent faces, and pinned to their chests was a fresh, dripping red flower, which seemed to have been picked not long ago.

"She is even asking who we are?"

Upon discovering Li Lingling's unexpected calmness, the two first exchanged a glance, then both burst into loud laughter.

"What a calm little sister, big sister is liking you more and more!"

"It doesn't matter who big sisters are; don't be afraid, you will soon become one of us too."

One of them restrained her laughter, took a step toward Li Lingling, circled around her to look her up and down, and clicked her tongue in wonder:

"With such natural talent, to actually not be cherished by anyone, it is simply a bright pearl covered in dust."

She even wanted to reach out and touch her, but Li Lingling dodged it.

Furrowing her brows tightly, a dignified aura radiated from Li Lingling, showing not the slightest sign of someone who had already ventured deep into a dangerous place.

Li Lingling had no reason to be worried.

She was the Twelfth Princess of Beigan, and this place... was Wentian City.

"Wanhua Valley has some nerve, daring to commit crimes and evil deeds in Wentian; are you not worried about being discovered?"

Li Lingling could not understand what the disciples of this Wanhua Valley were thinking; they actually intended to kidnap a Princess in Wentian?

Had they lost their minds?

But facing her questioning, the two Wanhua Valley female cultivators exchanged a glance, then let out a snicker.

They laughed until they were trembling like flowers, unable to even straighten their backs.

"Hahahaha! You already know we are from Wanhua Valley, and you still ask such a question? What a truly naive little sister!"

"So what if you know? Could it be that Beigan would dare to do anything? They wouldn't dare~"

"Besides, we haven't done anything yet, have we?"

One of them lifted her long boot and stepped onto Yang Wusheng's wound, pressing out trickles of black blood.

Unable to continue the pretense due to the excruciating pain, and seeing that there was no opportunity to act, Yang Wusheng opened his eyes wide in anger and roared hoarsely:

"Cough! Cough, cough... run..."

Your Highness, run quickly!

"You talk too much."

Thump.

The back of his head was kicked hard by a heel, and this time Yang Wusheng truly fell into a complete coma.

"Look, he didn't die, so it doesn't count as a big deal."

While disdainfully wiping the bloodstains off her heel onto Yang Wusheng's body, she smiled at Li Lingling:

"As for you, you are joining our valley voluntarily, what is the problem with that? Look, isn't this a happy ending for everyone?"

"Little sister, come with big sisters. Such good aptitude of yours is being wasted; you are already at this age and have only just barely entered the path."

"Big sisters are very heartbroken seeing this; we cannot bear to see such a good talent being trampled on by others again."

The two's emotions were genuine, as if they were truly indignant on behalf of Li Lingling's buried potential, and they spoke sincerely:

"Believe big sisters, as long as you reach the sect, with your talent, the Elders will directly arrange a few top-tier Cauldrons for you."

Cauldrons?

"Once you refine them all into cauldron dregs, your strength will be far greater than it is now."

"When that time comes, why bother worrying for others here?"

Realizing what the Cauldrons they spoke of actually were, Li Lingling's brows furrowed even deeper; she retreated half a step in disgust and said in a deep voice:

"I already have a sect! I will not join you, please go back!"

After saying so much and still being rejected, the expressions of the two changed slightly.

One moved her lips, still trying to persuade her:

"So what if you have a sect? How can such a sect that wastes natural gifts compare to us?"

"Instead of wasting time in that kind of place, why not cultivate with us?"

The other one became impatient, completely tore off her disguise, and snorted coldly:

"Tsk, Junior Sister, why are you still wasting words with her!?"

"I wanted to build a good relationship with you in advance, who knew you would be so unappreciative... Fine, then don't blame me for being impolite."

She grabbed toward Li Lingling with one hand, preparing to take her away directly.

But just before touching Li Lingling, her shoulder was lightly patted by someone, and a light laugh came from behind her.

"Oh? So my Divine Path Sect is that pathetic! Two Immortals, could you tell me more?"

"I am willing to hear the details."

!!?

Turning her head abruptly, she saw that a strange young man had appeared silently beside her Junior Sister.

"Who are you! Daring to ruin the good deeds of our Wanhua Valley?"

The situation was extremely bizarre; she instinctively wanted to stay away from this man first, but unexpectedly, she could not break free!

She suddenly discovered that she could not move at all!?

And Ren Yidao, looking at the Wanhua Valley female cultivator who was shocked and angry and wanting to stay away from him, was full of regret.

He shook his head unhurriedly and sighed lightly:

"What a pity."

After speaking, Ren Yidao slowly moved the hand resting on her shoulder and gently placed it on the top of her head.

"A poem says, the Immortal strokes my head..."

Pop.

"Cun Jin Duan Chang Sheng."

Untainted by a single trace of worldly aura, he slowly plucked a beautiful woman's head directly from her neck.

It was just as if he had casually plucked a wildflower from the roadside.

Amidst the spraying blood, the youth regretfully glanced at the face of the Girl Star, who had not yet realized what had happened, and tossed it casually into the arms of another person.

He said:

"Since she would rather die than say more to me, then it had better be your turn."

He plucked the red flower from the chest of the headless female corpse and sniffed it in front of his nose.

Lightly sniffing the scent of blood stained upon the flower, he looked toward the other Wanhua Valley Girl Star, who had fallen into complete stupor, and asked with a smile:

"You wouldn't be unwilling to open your mouth too, would you?"