"No, let's wait. We can't go in yet. My people are too few. If we're discovered, you won't be able to get out."
Knowing she was anxious, he explained that the situation didn't permit entry right now.
"Eldest Brother, you've read the Divine Maiden's handbook, you don't believe it, do you?"
"Heh! Only a fool would believe it. Didn't you see Lingxi's 'Consecration of the Gods' ritual? There was no movement, and she ended up falling and injuring herself, acting like a clown putting on a show. Fortunately, the common people weren't allowed to enter, otherwise, the royal family would truly be disgraced."
"That's because she isn't the true Divine Maiden, and the handbook you read isn't complete. The handbook was already severely damaged during the previous dynasty's turmoil, with only a few fragments remaining. Furthermore, the true Divine Maiden possesses inherited consciousness and doesn't need to learn what the handbook records."
The First Prince looked at Lingyao intently. She was draped in a large white fox fur coat, exuding an air of dignity and nobility, as beautiful as a celestial being from a painting, seated gracefully on a soft stool.
Her luminous, flowing eyes sparkled like the brightest gems, dazzlingly beautiful. She bore a striking resemblance to the Divine Maiden depicted in the portrait within the secret chamber.
His mind felt somewhat hazy. This imperial sister had blossomed further. If she was once a shy, ethereal rose, she was now a radiant, sun-like, and fiery peony.
Across the entire Jing Kingdom, one could not find another person as stunning and transcendent.
Perhaps it was this very appearance that led to her selection as the Divine Maiden?
However—
The dragon in this room was very warm, yet she feared the cold so much, her body still so sensitive to it. Back at the Phoenix Palace, it was spring all year round, with layers of green plants and flowers filling the floors even in the dead of winter.
This place truly couldn't compare.
"Tsk! Don't tell me you're the Divine Maiden. With your frail appearance, you're not even as good as Lingxi!"
The First Prince didn't believe her. Speaking with the earnest tone of an elder, he said, "Lingyao, I know you're eager to save Father Emperor, but you, a weak woman, can't help with this. Stop overthinking. Even if you are the Divine Maiden, you're just a tool to be manipulated, utterly useless. Give Eldest Brother a little more time, and Eldest Brother will eventually be able to take you in."
"*Slam!*"
The teacup before the First Prince floated in the air and then, as if held by an unseen hand, was violently smashed to the ground.
He leaped up as if startled, "What was that?"
His gaze instantly turned sharp and menacing. His body moved like a sword towards the door. He opened it to find his trusted confidant standing guard straight outside.
"Did anyone come by just now?"
"Reporting to Master, no one," the confidant quickly bowed and reported.
What was going on?
The First Prince returned to the room with a grave expression.
"Eldest Brother, would you like some tea?"
Lingyao's eyes shimmered with a ripple, whether from the candlelight or some other reason, a faint red glow seemed to flicker within them.
The First Prince rubbed his eyes, about to look closer, when he saw her raise her arm, performing the graceful and pleasing action of pouring tea.
Then, a shocking scene unfolded.
The teapot on the table flew up and, as if alive, began pouring water into the teacups itself.
It was precisely in sync with Lingyao's movements!
Then, with a casual wave of her hand, the teacups, filled to seven-tenths capacity, flew to the petrified First Prince.
He was stunned, his entire body numb. He ungracefully dropped to his knees to examine, waving his hands in an attempt to find the invisible threads controlling the teacups.
However, there was nothing.
"Is this... an illusion?" he asked, his voice dry.
Don't blame him for being ignorant; he had lived this long and had never witnessed such a peculiar event.
The teacups flew back to the table. A gust of wind rushed towards him, and the First Prince's left cheek was struck hard by a slap.
"Eldest Brother, does it hurt?" Lingyao asked with a smile.
It hurt...
So, this was not an illusion.
So, the Divine Maiden was real, and Lingyao was the Divine Maiden?
"My power is very weak. Only after consecrating the altar can I become stronger. Eldest Brother, you've read the handbook, you should know that impersonating the Divine Maiden to consecrate the altar will result in backlash. Therefore, Lingxi is destined not to live long. But there's something else you might not know: not only will the impersonator suffer backlash, but the entire Jing Kingdom will face divine punishment. In these past few days, signs should have already begun appearing across the Jing Kingdom: earthquakes, avalanches, fire dragons, frequent plagues."
"Did you think I was talking nonsense when I said I would make Jing Kingdom bury itself with me? I'm sorry, that was true!"
"Let me... let me have a moment," the First Prince waved his hand, sitting back down on the stool with his feet dragging.
Yes, everything she said was correct. Disasters had been occurring frequently across the land, urgent reports piled up on the imperial desk, and the court officials argued incessantly every day. Strangely, the usually diligent Father Emperor was exceptionally irritable, and the empire was now facing internal and external crises, teetering on the brink.
He couldn't help but examine Lingyao before him again.
Indeed, looking at her now, her appearance was not that of an ordinary mortal. She was enveloped in an aura of an immortal, untouched by the mundane world.
She truly resembled the posture and temperament of the Divine Maiden in the portrait.
Just moments ago, he had mocked others for being foolish, but now he realized he was the fool.
In the middle of the night, Lingyao, who was pregnant, felt a dull ache in her waist and was growing impatient.
"Eldest Brother, I cannot wait any longer. I dreamt that Father Emperor's condition is very poor. Please make arrangements to take me to the Du Sheng Tower as soon as possible."
"Du Sheng Tower? Why the Du Sheng Tower? Isn't it the palace?"
"The Du Sheng Tower has a secret passage to the palace."
The First Prince, in his shock, looked at Lingyao with a complex expression. She was indeed Father Emperor's most beloved daughter, knowing such secrets. Moreover, she revealed them to him so openly?
Did she trust him this much?
"Eldest Brother, what are you spacing out for! Go back and make arrangements quickly. I'm tired and want to sleep."
What was wrong with his brain tonight?
"Mm, okay, okay."
The First Prince stumbled out of the door in a daze. The cold wind outside immediately cleared his head. He slapped his own face again, and it truly hurt!
It was all real!
Lingyao was the Divine Maiden, she possessed magic, and she knew the secret passage into the palace.
His months of painstaking planning were surpassed by Lingyao, who had only returned a few days ago. Should he be happy or dejected?
However, he had to admit that with her, it was like the clouds parting to reveal the sun; he saw hope.
"A'wu, you heard that, right? My imperial sister is the Divine Maiden."
The Divine Maiden, the Divine Maiden!
My goodness, why did he feel a sense of ascension?
"Yes, Master. We have nothing to fear now. Let's clear the path for the Divine Maiden with all our might!" A'wu said excitedly.
"Yes, clear the path!"
His irritable mood, caused by that fellow named Lu for days, suddenly brightened.
Stupid fool, did he really think the royal family had no one? Did a mere mortal dare to contend with him? If Father Emperor was truly harmed by him, let's see how his sister and he would deal with that old scoundrel!
The First Prince was invigorated, his earlier gloom vanishing as if he had taken a tonic. He strode away with A'wu, their heads held high.
They didn't notice a refined man lurking in the shadows behind them, staring fiercely at their retreating backs, wishing he could rush out and tear them to shreds.
He had suspected that the Ghost King Sect's Bu had defected to the First Prince, and it was true!
She had been offered to the First Prince! She had become a woman in his secondary residence!
Originally, she belonged to him, taken from his hands!
Shameless!