Chapter 487: What If They Have Ill Intentions?

Chapter 487: Chapter 487: What If They Have Ill Intentions?

Mr. Xiu Mu saw that everyone present was awed by their treasure.

The smile on his lips deepened.

"Just as you said, Princess Funing, our two countries were once at war, a most unpleasant affair. However, the Great Sun King especially admires your talents. A blessed girl such as yourself may not appear even once in a hundred years. Thus, we have come to offer our most precious treasure in hopes of winning Your Highness’s favor."

Seeing her brother’s reaction, Shen Ningning guessed that the jewel was likely genuine.

’But would Changliu Country really be so kind?’

Xu Jingxi had always been wise and resourceful.

He nonchalantly walked to Shen Ningning’s side and addressed Mr. Xiu Mu, his voice raised. "Even if you give us this gift, my sister has nothing to offer in return. If your intentions are sincere, leave the item and you may go."

Hearing this, Mr. Xiu Mu chuckled. "That was my intention all along. All of you are being far too tense."

With that, he had his guards leave the box behind, with the Heaven Suppressing Pearl still inside.

True to his word, Mr. Xiu Mu then left with his men.

Xie Suzhi gave a meaningful look, and a Hidden Guard immediately followed them to see where they were going.

Shen Ningning didn’t stop him. Only after the envoys had gone did she approach to examine the blood-colored bead.

Held up to the sunlight, it seemed to glow with a brilliant, iridescent light from within.

As it happened, the Divine Doctor Sima Han was present, so Shen Ningning immediately handed the object to him for examination.

After a moment, the Divine Doctor nodded. "It is indeed a fine treasure. However, this old man has only heard that the Heaven Suppressing Pearl can prolong life. Can it also treat head ailments?"

Xie Mingxu had clashed with Changliu Country many times, so he was quite familiar with the legends surrounding this pearl.

"Prolonging life is just one of its least remarkable effects. It is said that the Old Heavenly King of Changliu Country is nearly ninety yet suffers from no ailments. That’s why the locals believe the pearl possesses divine power, capable of dispelling any disease."

Shen Ningning sank into thought.

Xie Suzhi walked over to his daughter’s side.

"Ningning, have you seen the Crown Prince today?"

Shen Ningning nodded. The question reminded her, and she glanced around.

Neither Mo Lingwei nor the Emperor had arrived yet.

Just then, Chen Shaobei rushed in from outside. "Princess, His Highness is unable to come."

It turned out Mo Lingwei’s headache had flared up again just as he was about to leave.

Chen Shaobei bowed his head slightly. "The Emperor asks you not to worry. He said it won’t be too late to visit the Crown Prince in the palace after the banquet."

In the past, whenever Mo Lingwei’s condition acted up and Shen Ningning wasn’t around, the Emperor had no choice but to order the imperial guard, clad in armor and carrying shields, to lock Mo Lingwei inside Zichen Palace.

On several occasions, by the time Shen Ningning rushed over, Mo Lingwei had already beaten himself bloody within the room.

When his head was splitting with pain, he would fly into a frenzy, not recognizing anyone and even harming himself, seemingly without feeling any pain.

Shen Ningning immediately sent Sima Han into the palace with the Heaven Suppressing Pearl to inform the Emperor of everything.

"If we try it and he recovers, it will prove that this pearl really works."

Chen Shaobei hurried into the palace with Sima Han and the Heaven Suppressing Pearl.

A short while later, the Hidden Guard Xie Suzhi had dispatched returned.

"My Lord, the envoys from Changliu Country have taken lodging at an inn in the city. It looks as if they plan to stay for a few days."

Xie Suzhi considered this with a grim expression. "Don’t drive them out just yet. We still have to wait and see if the Heaven Suppressing Pearl is actually effective."

"Yes."

The auspicious hour arrived, and the hairpin ceremony proceeded as planned. Shen Ningning dutifully completed all the rites, from offering incense to paying respects to her ancestors.

As the banquet drew to a close, the guests began to depart in twos and threes.

Shen Ningning sat before a bronze mirror, letting Wanchun and Muchun help her change her clothes.

Her attire for the day was too ornate and cumbersome. She wanted to go to the palace to see Mo Lingwei, so she intended to change into a simpler outfit.

However, Liang Yici burst into the room at that moment.

Wanchun and Muchun were startled.

Muchun frowned. "Princess Rongshu, is there something you need?"

Liang Yici stared at Shen Ningning’s delicate, beautiful reflection in the mirror, a hint of anger in her eyes.

"Why would you believe a word those people from Changliu Country said? How could you dare give the Crown Prince something they brought? The people of Changliu are treacherous! Who knows what malicious intentions they’re hiding? What if the pearl is poisoned?"

Shen Ningning set down the tassel hairpin in her hand.

She turned to look at Liang Yici, her limpid black eyes perfectly calm.

"I’m sure of my decision. Besides, I have to let him try it."

Liang Yici harbored an overwhelming hatred for Changliu Country.

’She had always considered Shen Ningning to be a sensible girl. Why was she being so foolish this time?’

Shen Ningning stood up. She didn’t care what Liang Yici thought of her, but she felt she needed to explain.

"The Divine Doctor said that every time his headaches strike, it drains his life force. If this goes on, he will not live a long life."

"Am I supposed to just stand by and watch him die, doing nothing?"

Liang Yici faltered.

"That’s not what I meant! But how can you possibly trust those people from Changliu Country?"

Shen Ningning turned to look out the window. Twilight had faded, and the deep blue of the night sky was beginning to creep in.

"As I said, I’m sure of my decision."

’Her Immortal Realm could cure any poison, yet it was powerless against the aftereffects of Mo Lingwei’s condition.’

’Could this be what the books her mother left behind meant by "for everything, there is a counter"?’

Resigned, Liang Yici left.

Hurrying down the corridor, her mind was elsewhere, and she bumped into someone before she could react.

"Oof!" she cried out in pain, clutching her shoulder.

The other person had already steadied himself. A cool, detached voice asked, "Are you alright, Commandery Princess?"

Liang Yici looked up and saw it was Xu Jingxi.

She was still annoyed. "I’m fine."

Watching her hurry away while clutching her shoulder, Xu Jingxi stood beneath a corridor lantern, his posture as straight and elegant as a pine tree.

He watched her retreating figure for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

*

「At the inn.」

Mr. Xiu Mu sat across from another man, brewing tea over a small stove, looking completely at ease.

The man was the same guard who had stood behind him earlier that day.

Unlike the other people of Changliu Country, he was just over twenty, with a pair of round, lion-like eyes.

"Third Prince, please try this new tea. It’s a brew unique to Cangyun Country. You won’t find tea leaves this rich and fragrant back in our Changliu Country."

Mr. Xiu Mu said with a chuckle, raising his teacup.

He took a sip, and as the fragrance filled his mouth, he raised his eyebrows in delight.

However, the man he addressed as the Third Prince remained motionless.

"Mr. Xiu Mu, you are a Heavenly Master, and more than that, my royal father’s strategist and chief advisor. I followed you all this way to Cangyun Country, only for you to make me hide my identity and hand over our most precious Heaven Suppressing Pearl to save their Crown Prince. Why? Have you truly forgotten the blood feud between Cangyun Country and us?"

The Third Prince’s voice was ice-cold.

When he had seen Xie Mingxu earlier that day, he could barely restrain himself from attacking him on the spot.

And when he saw Shen Ningning, his expression had been even more frigid.

That pair of siblings—one provided the gunpowder, and the other used it to kill hundreds of thousands of Changliu’s soldiers.

Mr. Xiu Mu chuckled, a sharp glint in his eyes. "On the contrary, Your Highness. I hate Cangyun Country even more than you do."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because there is an old saying in Cangyun Country: if you want an enemy to lower their guard, first you must become their friend. The Heaven Suppressing Pearl was by no means a free gift. Just you watch. The moment the Crown Prince’s condition improves will be our first step toward befriending Princess Funing."

The Third Prince, Tuo Ye, frowned deeply.

An image of Shen Ningning’s fair, luminous face flashed through his mind.

’She was beautiful, yes, but was the price of befriending her not far too steep?’

As if reading his mind, Mr. Xiu Mu chuckled and gestured for him to drink his tea.

"Your Highness, let’s not forget our purpose in coming here. We are searching for your sister. At the same time, the Great Sun King himself has said that if you can marry Princess Funing and bring her home, the throne of Changliu Country will one day be yours."

Tuo Ye sneered. "I don’t like her!"

Mr. Xiu Mu shook his head. "As long as she is valuable, she is worth the effort. Third Prince, the Great Sun King instructed you to learn from me. For now, just let me handle the arrangements. I guarantee this trip will not have been in vain."

Tuo Ye thought for a moment, then, with a heavy brow, downed the tea in a single gulp.