Chapter 26: The Little Princess of the Jiang Dynasty

The following day.

Jiang Jiu’s birthday banquet was held with great ceremony by King Jiang and Queen Jiang.

This time, the queen did not send out invitations; anyone who brought a gift and gave sincere congratulations would receive a return gift. The seats in the palace were limited, so every tavern and restaurant in the city was reserved, celebrating together with the people.

“Lord Zuo Shi has arrived!”

“Prime Minister Liu and his beloved daughter have arrived!”

…

The noble ladies of the imperial city were all dressed to perfection, gathering together with the Shen family at the forefront to offer their congratulations, exchanging pleasantries.

“Prime Minister Shen and his beloved daughter have arrived!”

Shen Yue Ru followed behind Shen Zhao, avoiding Jiang Jiu’s gaze, her hands hidden within her sleeves.

[Master, Shen Yue Ru’s hand seems…]

That Shen Zhao was truly stubborn and unyielding.

Jiang Jiu did not approach Shen Yue Ru either.

The other noble ladies observed the situation. The position of imperial consort was apparently not decided yet, and they secretly criticized Shen Yue Ru in their hearts.

Jiang Jiu had taken her seat early and did not notice the trace of desolation in Shen Yue Ru’s eyes.

She disliked conflict and competition, yet was isolated by everyone. She had no good friends, no siblings, and her childhood consisted only of practicing the zither and learning chess. Her life was planned by Shen Zhao, making her the so-called foremost talented lady, but no one ever saw the loneliness in her heart.

She had made mistakes, but fortunately they were compensated for.

That little girl with double buns barged into her dim life, giving her what she longed for. She never imagined that being praised for her dexterous skills could be such a happy and fulfilling thing. Even her culinary talent, never appreciated by her father, was finally supported.

Recently, many things had happened in the imperial city. She vaguely felt that there might be a rift between herself and the little girl. The imperial city was always turbulent. She was unwilling to let the only ray of light in her life extinguish; she would protect her!

Most of the guests had taken their seats.

Jiang Jiu leaned close to Jiang Ling’s ear and whispered a few words.

Jiang Ling stood up, glanced at Jiang Jiu, and walked toward Shen Yue Ru:

“Miss Shen, Xiao Jiu says that on her birthday today, your presence makes her very unhappy. She kindly asks that you return home.”

Jiang Ling made a gesture inviting her to leave.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Jiu to say such words, since the two had gotten along well before, but he always obeyed Jiang Jiu—what she said, he would do.

Shen Yue Ru stood before Jiang Ling, her expression unchanged, bowed to Jiang Jiu:

“If the princess does not wish me to sit in the front, I shall move to the back.”

With her maid Cui Er, she walked alone to the rear seats.

The noble ladies at the scene covered their mouths with handkerchiefs, quietly laughing.

They had thought Shen Yue Ru was the Jiang family’s chosen imperial consort, but in the end, it was merely a rumor spread by her own family.

Ah, one less competitor, and a talented lady at that—ha! A false talented lady!

Shen Yue Ru sat quietly at the back, other families’ illegitimate daughters teasing her. She pretended not to notice, but wept inwardly—the little girl was angry.

King Jiang entered with Queen Jiang, the hall rose to their feet, and instantly fell silent.

When King Jiang and Queen Jiang were seated, everyone sat down together.

A royal banquet was always a matter of formality.

Eunuch Liu came to read the guest list of gifts.

“One Deep-Sea Pearl from the Su family!”

A servant stepped forward, displaying a jade-white pearl the size of a teacup. Perhaps due to the sunlight, it did not glow. Jiang Jiu was not very interested, King Jiang offered polite thanks and rewarded some gold and silver.

“One Phoenix Feather from the Liu family!”

The hall instantly became lively. The Phoenix Feather, as the name implied, was a feather from a phoenix—perhaps left behind by a true phoenix thousands of years ago. No one knew where the Liu family acquired it.

“The Liu family is really offering such treasures so their daughter can become the imperial consort…”

In recent years, the royal family refrained from extravagance and rarely held banquets. The matter of selecting a consort was never mentioned by King Jiang in court. With Jiang Jiu’s birthday banquet, ambitious families would naturally take their chances.

Jiang Jiu scoffed. If she didn’t have her little rascal, she might have been fooled. It was nothing but a tail feather from a golden pheasant, disguised with spiritual magic. Besides, true phoenixes had vanished for thousands of years; even if such a feather remained, it would have long since faded.

“The Shen family, this—” Eunuch Liu glanced at King Jiang, gathered his courage:

“The Shen family, three boxes of Hibiscus Jade Dew Cakes!”

The other families laughed aloud, thinking the Shen family would present something extraordinary, only to find it was just three boxes of pastries.

Shen Zhao’s gaze became grim and fierce, directed at the back seats.

Shen Yue Ru lowered her head.

Yes, she had secretly switched the gift. Originally, Shen Zhao had prepared King Jiang’s favorite Jade Creek tea, but she had replaced it with Hibiscus Jade Dew Cakes.

She thought, since Xiao Jiu loved food, she surely would not care for tea leaves.

King Jiang looked at the three boxes of Jade Dew Cakes and smiled, “Minister Shen is thoughtful. I’ve had a craving for sweets recently, and these cakes are just to my liking. Xiao Jiu, may I take these pastries?”

Jiang Jiu had wanted to say she didn’t care for them, but with her father expressing such delight, she couldn’t lose her temper and waved her hand, continuing to eat crystalline grapes.

Shen Yue Ru felt a pang of sorrow.

The gift list continued, and aside from the Hibiscus Jade Dew Cakes, not one item pleased King Jiang or Jiang Jiu.

Some guests offered insincere praise to Shen Zhao, who responded with a forced smile.

Several noble ladies competed to perform dances, and King Jiang allowed it.

“Your Majesty, the Grandmaster has arrived,” Eunuch Liu whispered beside King Jiang.

“Hurry, hurry—invite the Grandmaster up!”

Eunuch Liu responded.

“The Grandmaster has arrived!”

The Lin family’s legitimate daughter, who was performing, was interrupted and left the stage.

Everyone looked expectantly toward the entrance.

Clad in white more dazzling than snow, still wearing that mask, his brows and eyes cold and aloof.

Jiang Jiu’s interest was piqued.

Servants brought out a soft couch, placed it to King Jiang’s right, equal in height, showing the king’s respect.

“All my ministers know the queen is a spiritual cultivator. When Xiao Jiu was born, the Grandmaster prophesied that she would also become one. Some days ago, the Grandmaster sent word to me that Xiao Jiu’s talent was about to awaken. I especially chose today to serve as her apprenticeship ceremony. Does anyone have any objections?”

After murmuring among themselves and glancing at King Jiang’s expression, no one dared disagree.

“Grandmaster, please!”

Jiang Jiu stepped forward, tilting her head to look at the Grandmaster.

He straightened her, as if he had done this countless times before.

A deep voice sounded:

“Don’t move.”

Jiang Jiu froze in place. The voice was so familiar.

Before she could think further, a stream of pure spiritual energy seeped into her dantian and lungs from her back.

Jiang Jiu closed her eyes, carefully feeling the spiritual resonance.

It was pure, full of vitality, like buds sprouting and flowers blooming, as if she were immersed in water, becoming one with it, wrapped and enveloped.

The Grandmaster took a box from a nearby attendant, opened it, and a beam of white light shone onto Jiang Jiu. Black lotus petals rose from the box, stopping at her forehead.

Unlike before, a gentle spiritual force spread from her forehead through her whole body. The white light gradually faded, and the lotus petals vanished.

Jiang Jiu felt a burning sensation in her chest, unaware of the faint black lotus mark that appeared below her collarbone and then disappeared.

A phrase echoed in Jiang Jiu’s mind:

“Come to the Grandmaster’s residence in the coming days—I will be there.”

When she returned to herself, the person who had been behind her was already gone.

She touched her forehead—there was another lotus petal.