Chapter 32
“Uh… Your Highness is right…”
A trace of helplessness flashed through Lin Wanqiu’s eyes, completely baffled by what Xiao Minghuang was thinking.
If she cared about that little maid, why would she say such things to her? If she didn’t care, why did she speak so sincerely and eloquently to Ye Ruoshui that night, as if every word was genuine?
As she pondered this, she noticed something being handed to her and instinctively took it.
It was a brocade box, its four corners adorned with gold trim, and a piece of jade in the center, making it look extraordinarily special.
Lin Wanqiu looked up at Xiao Minghuang, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
“Your Highness?”
Xiao Minghuang’s lips curved slightly, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.
“Open it and see.”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu’s heart raced, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Was Her Highness giving her a gift?
Could this be a token of affection?
She opened the brocade box, and a rich medicinal aroma surged out, instantly permeating the entire courtyard.
Inside the brocade box lay a brown pill, emitting a faint halo. Just a single whiff of it gave the illusion of one’s cultivation improving.
Of course, this was merely an illusion. A mere Profound-grade pill couldn’t possibly possess such miraculous effects.
Lin Wanqiu recognized it immediately. It was the same pill the Chen Family had presented last night, attempting to coerce her into marriage—the Mending Pill.
At this moment, Lin Wanqiu’s expression was complex, her eyes filled with emotions that words could hardly describe.
“Did Your Highness destroy the Chen Family and seek this pill… all for me?”
Naturally, she couldn’t voice this thought aloud, but what other possibility could there be?
Seeing Lin Wanqiu lost in thought as she gazed at the pill, Xiao Minghuang gently reminded her:
“Wanqiu, take the pill.”
“This… isn’t appropriate, is it?”
Lin Wanqiu felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, she and Xiao Minghuang had only known each other for a few days, yet the latter was willing to gift her such a precious pill.
Just how much did Her Highness like her?
Xiao Minghuang smiled:
“What’s inappropriate between us? Take it quickly. This pill should help with your blocked meridians. Don’t you want to improve your strength?”
“Improve my strength…”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu was momentarily stunned before she came to her senses.
Her meridians had been blocked since birth, preventing her from breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm. In contrast, Xiao Minghuang was a prodigy, possessing talent that could rival the Spirit Seed Realm.
With Xiao Minghuang’s talent, it wouldn’t be long before she left Lin Wanqiu far behind.
Even if Xiao Minghuang still cared for her then, what right would she, a mere Body Tempering cultivator, have to stand by her side?
At this thought, Lin Wanqiu’s nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes, nearly spilling over.
Seeing her hesitate to take the pill, her eyes brimming with tears, Xiao Minghuang was puzzled. But standing beside her?
Moreover, Spirit Seed cultivators lived for thousands of years, while Body Tempering cultivators barely reached a hundred. Xiao Minghuang couldn’t bear to see a beautiful girl in distress, so she quickly wrapped her arm around Lin Wanqiu’s shoulder and comforted her softly:
“Wanqiu, what’s troubling you? I’m here for you, and I’ll definitely help. Don’t be afraid! No matter what difficulties we face, we’ll face them together!”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu was even more moved and burst into tears, burying her face in Xiao Minghuang’s chest as she sobbed openly.
She had lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father, never having experienced the care of an older woman.
Now, Xiao Minghuang’s tenderness felt like that of a mother.
“Wuwuwu…”
Xiao Minghuang’s eyes were filled with confusion, completely unable to understand why Lin Wanqiu had suddenly become so heartbroken.
She simply gently stroked Lin Wanqiu’s back, saying nothing.
After a while, Lin Wanqiu finally pulled away from Xiao Minghuang’s embrace, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her tear-streaked eyes.
Seeing her return to normal, Xiao Minghuang teased:
“Hmm…”
“Has Wanqiu cried enough?”
Lin Wanqiu lowered her head slightly, her voice choked as she responded. She didn’t dare to look directly into Xiao Minghuang’s eyes but inadvertently noticed a damp spot on the latter’s chest.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes.
“Your Highness, let me help you take off your clothes?”
“???”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang widened her eyes in sudden surprise.
“What are you doing? Why are you asking me to take off my clothes?”
Seeing Xiao Minghuang’s expression, Lin Wanqiu immediately realized she must have misunderstood and quickly explained:
“Your Highness’s clothes are dirty. I wanted to take them off, wash them, and then return them to you.”
Xiao Minghuang looked down as instructed and indeed noticed a damp stain on her chest, likely from Lin Wanqiu’s tears.
“Alright then.”
Xiao Minghuang nodded and followed Lin Wanqiu into the room.
Next, Lin Wanqiu helped her remove her outer garment, revealing a thin, snow-white undergarment. In the brightly lit room, one could faintly glimpse the delicate skin beneath.
Lin Wanqiu placed the medicinal pill on the table, took Xiao Minghuang’s outer garment, and went into the inner room. Moments later, she returned with a brand-new dress.
She spread the garment open with both arms. It was a fiery red dress with golden threads embroidered along the edges and a phoenix spreading its wings in the center. The sleeves and hem were adorned with moon-white cloud patterns, and the rest of the dress was embellished with various intricate designs, making it look exceptionally exquisite.
“How does Your Highness find this one?”
Xiao Minghuang wasn’t deeply versed in fashion and didn’t have particular preferences. She usually wore whatever Ye Ruoshui gave her.
Now, Lin Wanqiu had presented her with a completely different style of dress, offering a fresh experience.
“It’s fine.”
With Xiao Minghuang’s consent, Lin Wanqiu, beaming with joy, helped her change into the dress.
In no time, Xiao Minghuang was dressed.
Lin Wanqiu brought over a full-length mirror.
Standing before the mirror, Xiao Minghuang saw a young girl dressed in red and white, her hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin as fair as snow, radiant and charming, exuding the allure and grace of a young maiden.
Initially, Xiao Minghuang had also been struck by her own beauty, often marveling at how stunning she was.
But after seeing it so often, she grew accustomed and found her appearance rather ordinary, losing interest.
However, today, with a change of clothes, it truly felt like she had transformed into a different person, giving off a completely new vibe.
“It seems I should change my clothes more often from now on.”
A slight smile tugged at the corners of Xiao Minghuang’s mouth, and she nodded in approval.
When she turned back to look at Lin Wanqiu,
she saw the other gazing at her with a look of infatuation, as if she might leap forward at any moment and rush into her heart.
“Ahem!”
A sudden cough snapped Lin Wanqiu out of her reverie, admiring Xiao Minghuang’s breathtaking beauty, causing her cheeks to flush.
Of course, this couldn’t be entirely blamed on Lin Wanqiu. After all, before this, Xiao Minghuang had always given off an air of elegance and grace, noble and transcendent, like an empress reigning above the common folk.
But with a change of clothes, she now gave off a completely different impression, as if she had transformed from a lofty empress into a newly blossomed, charming young maiden.
How could one not be utterly astonished by such a change?
Regardless of what others might think, at least Lin Wanqiu was thoroughly captivated.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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