From Cold Palace Princess to Celestial Empress Ch. 133
In Ye Ruoshui’s mind, the intricate and dazzling patterns gradually dissipated, but the techniques of refining elixirs were deeply imprinted in her memory.
The voice of the black-robed figure sounded again.
“The great Dao is simple, understanding one leads to understanding all. If you can master this method, the future is promising.”
As this voice fell, it felt as if a shackle in Ye Ruoshui’s heart was broken, and she suddenly felt enlightened.
“The great Dao is simple… understanding one leads to understanding all…”
Ye Ruoshui murmured, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth. These words were like a sudden enlightenment, and many things she had only partially understood before became clear in an instant.
Some principles seem obvious to everyone, but truly comprehending them requires an incredibly long journey. Some people spend their entire lives without truly understanding them thoroughly.
The black-robed figure’s demonstration of the Dao of Alchemy for Ye Ruoshui greatly shortened this process, allowing her to grasp the essence in just a moment.
“Senior, I understand.”
Xiao Minghuang, who had been watching Ye Ruoshui’s transformation the entire time, showed a look of relief upon hearing this.
Although she didn’t know exactly what benefits Ye Ruoshui had gained from the inheritance, she could tell from her demeanor that it must be a tremendous opportunity.
Ye Ruoshui looked up, full of confidence, and smiled brightly:
“Your Highness, I think I can try refining an Earth Grade elixir now.”
“Earth Grade elixir?”
Hearing these words, Xiao Minghuang was stunned, momentarily unable to react.
Then, a look of astonishment appeared in her eyes.
Earth Grade elixir!
That was an extremely precious existence throughout the entire Southern Region.
Although she had previously taken several Heaven Grade elixirs, which made Earth Grade elixirs seem less impressive in comparison.
But.
Her Heaven Grade elixirs were compensations from the system.
If Ye Ruoshui could refine an Earth Grade elixir, that would be a true testament to her extraordinary talent.
After all, Ye Ruoshui’s current cultivation level was only at the Spring Realm.
The two were not on the same level!
Facing Xiao Minghuang’s astonishment, Ye Ruoshui nodded with a smile.
“That senior taught me a supreme method, leading directly above the King level. This is a path of transcendence; through alchemy alone, one can aspire to immortality.”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang felt both relieved and a hint of loss, though she herself didn’t notice it.
The once fragile little girl had finally found her own path and could walk it steadily.
But if Ye Ruoshui could grow independently, would she still like and depend on her as before?
This emotion was buried deep in her eyes, obscure and unclear.
But often, the one who knows you best is not yourself, but others.
Or rather, the closest person.
Ye Ruoshui clearly sensed the change in Xiao Minghuang’s emotions.
She gently stood on her tiptoes and softly kissed the corner of Xiao Minghuang’s mouth.
“Your Highness, this inheritance was given to me by you. I will treasure it forever, and the elixirs I refine will only be given to you.”
“If it weren’t for Your Highness, Ruoshui would have perished in the famine long ago.”
“Ruoshui has always remembered Your Highness’s kindness. Your Highness is Ruoshui’s sky, Ruoshui’s entire world. Please, don’t look at me with such eyes anymore, okay?”
Ye Ruoshui’s pupils were filled with deep affection, tinged with a hint of restraint and apprehension.
Her desire to grow stronger, to cultivate elixirs, was largely for the sake of Her Highness.
If Her Highness felt sorrow because of this…
Then perhaps, the path of alchemy was not worth pursuing!
These words were Ye Ruoshui’s heartfelt confession, and as Xiao Minghuang listened, sweetness filled her heart.
She reached out and embraced Ye Ruoshui, pulling her into her arms.
“Ruoshui…”
“Your Highness…”
Ye Ruoshui closed her eyes, feeling a moist sensation in her eye sockets. She allowed the tears to slide down her cheeks, holding Xiao Minghuang tightly, savoring her presence.
“I love you…”
Xiao Minghuang whispered these words into Ye Ruoshui’s ear, her voice brimming with deep affection.
Upon hearing these three words, Ye Ruoshui’s eyes instantly opened, and a crystal-clear tear rolled down her cheek.
This was the first time she had heard Her Highness express her love, and such deep affection felt incredibly beautiful.
She had waited for these three words for a very, very long time.
Ye Ruoshui’s lips trembled, wanting to say something, yet she dared not speak, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Before this, she too had been plagued by apprehension.
The heart-stopping moments outside Beiyang City.
The first confession within the princess’s residence.
And now, hearing Her Highness speak these three words herself.
She didn’t care about titles, nor did she care if Her Highness liked others.
As long as Her Highness loved her when she was by her side.
That was enough.
After all, from a very young age, she had possessed very little.
As she grew older, obtaining even a little of what she desired was enough to satisfy her.
She only wished to hold onto what she had, not daring to be greedy for more.
“Your Highness, Ruoshui loves you too…”
Ye Ruoshui choked back her sobs, slowly uttering these words. Her voice was soft and delicate, yet resolute.
“Mmm…”
Xiao Minghuang responded gently, her heart beating so fast it felt as though she might suffocate.
“Ruoshui, don’t be afraid. Big sister only wants you to do what you love, to live happily. That’s enough. Leave everything else to big sister.”
Xiao Minghuang gently stroked Ye Ruoshui’s hair, her tone filled with tenderness.
“Thank you, Your Highness…”
Ye Ruoshui felt the warmth of Her Highness’s care, a surge of warmth rising in her heart, though she didn’t voice it.
Despite Her Highness’s reassurances, she remained determined in her heart to quickly refine an Earth-grade elixir, to repay Her Highness’s love.
She didn’t want to be just a decorative vase by Her Highness’s side. Such a person didn’t deserve Her Highness’s love.
And so, the two embraced for a long time.
Unaware of how much time had passed.
The sky gradually darkened, and the moon rose above the treetops.
“Your Highness, it’s already evening…”
Ye Ruoshui’s face was flushed, with tear stains at the corners of her eyes. She gently nudged Xiao Minghuang.
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang smiled:
“Yes, it’s late. We should rest now.”
“Mm.”
Upon hearing Xiao Minghuang’s words, Ye Ruoshui’s cheeks turned crimson, and she shyly lowered her head.
Xiao Minghuang chuckled softly and scooped her up in her arms.
Ye Ruoshui let out a soft gasp but didn’t struggle. Instead, she nestled obediently in Xiao Minghuang’s embrace.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
In Xiao Minghuang’s room, the flickering candlelight cast the silhouettes of the two, creating an especially intimate atmosphere.
Ye Ruoshui lay on the bed, gazing at the scenery outside the window, her eyes shimmering with a hazy glow.
Though they had been intimate countless times, each moment of closeness felt like the first.
It was precisely this first-time-like shyness of Ye Ruoshui that made Xiao Minghuang adore her even more. A flame ignited in her heart as she gently covered Ye Ruoshui’s soft and delicate body…
This night.
Was slow, and long.
…
The next morning.
As the rising sun crossed the horizon and the first rays of sunlight illuminated the earth, Xiao Minghuang slowly opened her eyes.
Almost the moment she woke up, she felt the warmth and softness in her arms, along with the faint scent of oranges.
Xiao Minghuang turned her gaze to Ye Ruoshui in her arms, looking at her sweet sleeping face, her eyes filled with tender affection.
Ye Ruoshui was deeply asleep and hadn’t been disturbed by her.
Xiao Minghuang smiled softly, leaned down to leave a gentle kiss on her forehead, then dressed and left the room.
As time passed, there were only two months left before the secret realm opened. She planned to use this time to travel across the Great Xia territory, checking for any missed opportunities.
Moreover, since Ye Ruoshui had mentioned she could now refine Earth-grade pills, this journey could also be an opportunity to search for some high-grade spiritual herbs, which might aid her in pill refining.
She didn’t leave immediately but first went to find Lin Wanqiu.
Thinking of this, Xiao Minghuang set off at once.
When she arrived at the main hall, she found that Lin Wanqiu wasn’t alone.
There were also two young men sitting respectfully on either side.
“Fifth Prince, Sixth Prince, both of you are young geniuses. To serve as mere guards in the Princess’s residence seems too much of a waste of your talents, doesn’t it?”
Lin Wanqiu sat behind the desk, glancing at the two nervous men, and spoke indifferently.
“Miss Lin, we are unworthy, but we wish to follow the Princess, serve her loyally, and have no regrets. Please, Miss Lin, grant us this wish!”
The two of them bowed deeply, their respect reaching the utmost.
Looking at the two men who were so reverent, Lin Wanqiu also felt a headache coming on.
Ever since the banquet at the Prince of Wu’an’s residence, the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince had frequently visited the Princess’s residence.
Before the grand competition, they could be turned away with the excuse that the Princess was focusing on her preparations and had no time for visitors. But now, a month had passed since the competition ended, and the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince had been coming to seek an audience almost every two days.
Seven days ago, they had come for the last time and were refused. Lin Wanqiu thought they had given up, but unexpectedly, they had returned today.
She had asked the Princess whether to keep them and received instructions to refuse them.
This was precisely why she felt so troubled.
After all, these two were not just any ordinary individuals.
Not only were they imperial princes, but they also possessed extraordinary talents. Even if they were not seen, they could not be offended, as doing so would only create enemies for Her Highness.
Seeing Lin Wanqiu lost in thought and remaining silent, both the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince grew anxious.
The Sixth Prince, being more straightforward and unable to hold back, spoke up first:
“Miss Lin, my brother and I have been away from the capital for seven days. During our travels, we discovered a great opportunity in the wilderness forest. As long as the Princess is willing to accept us, we will immediately reveal the location of this opportunity to her. What do you think, Miss Lin?”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu slightly furrowed her brows and asked:
“What kind of opportunity is it?”
The Sixth Prince chuckled, brimming with confidence:
“In the wilderness forest, an ancient secret realm is about to open. We accidentally found a token that allows us to enter the realm. The opportunities within are ours for the taking!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang, who had been listening outside the door, was momentarily stunned, recalling the token she had obtained in a small town.
“A secret realm… a token… Could it be…?”
In an instant.
She understood.
The recent news of the secret realm’s imminent opening and the token she had inadvertently obtained must be pointing to the same destination.
Her token was likely the key to entering the secret realm.
However, she had not expected that the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince would also obtain a token.
“These two have quite the fortune.”
Xiao Minghuang’s expression shifted slightly as she summoned their status panels.
After reviewing them, she found no significant changes in their destinies, only that their cultivation levels had each increased by two minor realms.
“It seems it wouldn’t be impossible to keep them.”
Previously, she had been reluctant to keep them due to the influence of the Spirit Sword Sect.
After all, the Sixth Prince was a True Disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect, and any disrespect could lead to endless trouble if the sect pursued the matter.
But after such a long time, there had been no word from the Spirit Sword Sect, suggesting that they did not hold the Sixth Prince in high regard. Otherwise, they would not have remained silent.
As for the Fifth Prince, his background was relatively clean, being a simple wandering cultivator. The only reason she hadn’t accepted him was because he was always with the Sixth Prince. Accepting the Fifth Prince alone while rejecting the Sixth Prince would inevitably lead to accusations of unfairness, which was undesirable.
After some deliberation, Xiao Minghuang made up her mind.
“In that case, you may stay.”
Her voice, clear and serene, carried a sense of detachment that instantly drew the attention of the three in the room.
Lin Wanqiu and the two princes turned their gaze toward the source of the voice and saw Xiao Minghuang stepping inside.
She was dressed in a light red gown, her skin like jade, her hair cascading like a waterfall, her features exquisite, exuding an aura of noble elegance.
Her beauty was breathtaking.
It was as if a fleeting glance from the heavens, distant and unattainable, inspiring awe and reverence, leaving no room for even the slightest hint of impropriety.
“Greetings, Princess!”
“Greetings, Princess!”
The two princes bowed in unison, their respect palpable.
Xiao Minghuang nodded slightly:
“There’s no need for such formalities.”
Now, as the Crown Princess of Great Xia, her status was second only to the Old Ancestor and the Emperor. Although the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince were nominally her elder brothers, their status and position were far inferior to hers. It was only natural for them to pay their respects to her.
Moreover, her cultivation far surpassed theirs.
“Earlier, the Princess mentioned that she is willing to accept us. Is this true?” the Sixth Prince asked excitedly.
Xiao Minghuang smiled faintly and nodded, “Indeed, but I won’t have you doing trivial tasks like holding horses or saddles. I have an army of three thousand iron-armored soldiers who aspire to the Great Dao but are mediocre in martial arts. Would you two be willing to instruct them?”
Hearing this, the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince exchanged glances. Essentially, this job was to be a martial arts instructor for the guards. Among cultivators, anyone with a bit of ambition wouldn’t stoop to such a lowly task.
However.
Being an instructor for Princess Ziwei’s guard was a different matter altogether.
If they could catch the Princess’s eye through this, they might be able to stay by her side in the future. Even a few pointers from her would be immensely beneficial.
Moreover, when they went out in the future, they could proudly announce, “I am the chief martial arts instructor of Princess Ziwei’s three thousand iron-armored guards!”
That wouldn’t be shameful at all!
After all, even a servant of a prime minister holds a seventh-rank official position!
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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