TGPSAC – Chapter 42

“You’re here.”

Yu Jiuzhou took a sip of tea. Her tone was faint, but if one listened closely, a tremor could be heard in her voice.

What Chi Wan had just said was inexplicably dramatic, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

And Chi Wan’s appearance was truly stunning. Her features were exquisite, gentle, and lovely. Her fair skin caught the eye, and her clear gaze, which seemed to hold a hint of accusation, made her look rather pitiful and endearing.

With such outstanding looks, she was exceptionally eye-catching even among so many other beauties, standing out like a crane among chickens.

Dressed in a white gown, she had an ethereal air. A beauty like this would surely cause countless people to vie for her.

Yu Jiuzhou sized Chi Wan up impassively. It was the same body and the same face, but the old Chi Wan had left a very bad impression. Even with her good looks, she was disliked.

The Chi Wan of today was completely different. Every frown and smile was full of charm, and her transcendent aura was enough to make anyone, whether Kun Ze or Qian Yuan, fall for her.

Chi Wan sat down directly opposite Yu Jiuzhou, suppressing the urge to complain aggrievedly. “Does Your Highness know that this subject just swam up from the frigid river water?”

Seeing her pathetic look, Yu Jiuzhou frowned. “Why?”

Chi Wan recounted her encounter with Lin Qianduo and explained her concerns. After jumping into the river, she had also run into four assassins in black.

“This subject fought a hundred and eighty rounds with the assassins in the river before finally dealing with them and bringing them up.”

A flicker of concern had just risen in Yu Jiuzhou’s heart, but hearing her deliberate exaggeration, she shot her a look that said, speak properly.

“Alright,” Chi Wan curved her lips and said obediently, “I had Chun Gui fish them out.”

Beside them, Chun Gui nodded. “Four assassins were indeed fished out.”

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t ask about the assassins, turning instead to Chi Wan. “Are you cold?”

Hearing her ask so earnestly, Chi Wan felt a little embarrassed. “I’m alright.”

“Bring the Fuma a hand warmer,” Yu Jiuzhou ordered.

Then, before Chi Wan could refuse, she said in a low voice, “I have not gone out for so long, yet they still come to disturb me.”

“Interrogate them. No matter who it is, make them pay it back to me double.”

Chun Gui’s expression turned serious, a departure from her usual self. “Yes,” she replied gravely.

On the boat, dozens of beauties from the Music Academy were still dancing. Chi Wan propped up her chin and counted them one by one. Sixty-three in total.

Tsk, watching so many beauties dance all by herself.

Thinking about how she had been fighting assassins in the cold river while Yu Jiuzhou was on the boat watching beauties dance, Chi Wan’s heart soured once more.

“Your Highness must be very fond of these sisters. Unlike me, who only knows how to make Your Highness unhappy.”

She had to admit, speaking in such a coyly provocative way was quite fun. Chi Wan’s mood instantly brightened.

Make her unhappy? When did that happen?

Yu Jiuzhou frowned. She felt an urge to explain in response to her words, yet she didn’t know why she should. So, she once again exercised her authority as the Grand Princess. “Be quiet.”

“Look, this subject only said a few more words, and Your Highness is already acting like this. If this is your attitude, you might as well just ignore me. It makes me seem like I’m being unreasonable.”

Chi Wan felt as if her brain had been damaged from soaking in the cold water. She was finally letting loose in front of Yu Jiuzhou, and for a moment, it was hard to tell if she was Sister Lin or Sister Chi.

Yu Jiuzhou glanced at the pastries on the table, trying to decide which one would be best to shut her mouth completely.

“Yes, this subject is not as pretty or as talented as these sisters, so I am disdained by Your Highness. And now Your Highness ignores me. It’s true, with so many sisters to accompany you, how could you possibly be lonely with just me?”

The more Chi Wan spoke, the happier she became. Though her expression was melancholic, how could Yu Jiuzhou not hear the excitement in her tone? She was clearly just stirring up trouble.

This person was nothing like her other subordinates. No matter how familiar they were, they were always respectful. There was a clear distinction between ruler and subject. She was the ruler, and loneliness was her constant companion. Everyone had to revere her, to keep their distance from her.

She was the lofty ruler. Who would dare to cause a scene in front of her?

This Chi Wan character seemed to be acting drunk.

Yu Jiuzhou looked at the cup in front of Chi Wan and saw her pick up the wine pot to pour another.

So, Chi Wan had been drinking wine ever since she sat down?

This body belonged to a drunkard, so it should have a high tolerance for alcohol. But perhaps because Chi Wan had transmigrated, the body had become exactly like her own from her past life. While she wasn’t a one-cup-knockout, two cups was her absolute limit.

Unless she used her internal energy to force out the alcohol. But Chi Wan hadn’t yet realized her own condition. She felt that her mind was perfectly clear and that she wasn’t drunk at all.

Yu Jiuzhou waved her hand, dismissing the dancers.

Chi Wan blinked with regret. “Why did you send them away? It’s the first time I’ve seen so many beautiful sisters dancing before me.”

So did she want to watch, or not?

Yu Jiuzhou stared at her for a long while before finally speaking. “Chi Wan, you’ve had too much to drink.”

“I’m not drunk. This is clearly a beverage. It’s so sweet.” In any case, Chi Wan couldn’t taste any alcohol.

It was a sweet wine, very sweet, with an even lighter alcohol taste than sweet fermented rice wine. How could she be drunk?

Yu Jiuzhou remembered that the original scoundrel loved wine and gambling and was used to drinking. Could it be that when a different person inhabited the body, their constitution changed as well?

“Someone, take away the sweet wine and serve the Fuma tea.”

At Yu Jiuzhou’s command, someone immediately came over and removed all the sweet wine, leaving only the pastries. Another person served tea.

Chi Wan stared wistfully as the person carried away the sweet wine. It was so delicious, sweet but not cloying, and she hadn’t had nearly enough.

“Your Highness…”

Before she could finish, Yu Jiuzhou cut her off. “No more drinking.”

Chi Wan muttered under her breath, “When I run away, I’ll drink every day.”

“What?” Yu Jiuzhou didn’t hear clearly.

She quickly shook her head and picked up her teacup. “Tea, tea is good.”

A short while later, Chun Gui returned to report. “Of the four assassins, two committed suicide. The remaining two refuse to talk no matter what. The secret guards used their methods, and one of them confessed he is one of Prince Zhongshan’s men. The other claims to be one of Prince Ying’s.”

Yu Jiuzhou narrowed her eyes. Was it a frame-up, or the truth? It was undoubtedly one of the three princes.

Besides those three, there was no one else. Prince Bao’an was indeed in a difficult position at this time, but he wasn’t completely without power.

In Chi Wan’s words, the author had designed him as a brainless charmer, a second Liu Bei, who pretended to be courteous to the worthy and virtuous, appearing wise and upright, only to get arrogant once he gained power.

At this stage, Prince Bao’an’s charmer attribute hadn’t fully manifested, but he had already captivated some people. He was just good at hiding it, playing the part of the fisherman who profits while the snipe and the clam grapple.

Yu Jiuzhou quickly made a decision. “If we don’t know who it is, then they will all pay a price.”

If she couldn’t find out who was responsible, then she wouldn’t bother investigating.

Chun Gui asked, “Should we continue to interrogate the two remaining assassins?”

“Kill them.”

“Yes.”

When Chi Wan heard Yu Jiuzhou say the words “kill them,” she broke out in a cold sweat. For a moment, she couldn’t help but think of her own fate.

“Your Highness, please have some tea.”

She remembered her mission to serve Yu Jiuzhou and change her opinion of her, so she poured Yu Jiuzhou a cup of tea.

She didn’t even notice the tea overflowing from the cup.

Yu Jiuzhou reached out and held her wrist. “It’s spilling.”

“Oh, oh, oh.” Chi Wan quickly put down the teapot and gave her what she thought was a charming smile.

Looking at her silly grin, Yu Jiuzhou sighed and stood up, preparing to walk out onto the deck.

The sky outside had turned completely dark, and the entire river was lit with lanterns, creating a beautiful sight.

Seeing that Yu Jiuzhou was about to leave the cabin, Chi Wan staggered to her feet and grabbed her arm. “Don’t go.”

“Worried about me?” Yu Jiuzhou turned back. Seeing her unsteady steps, a smile touched the corner of her lips.

Chi Wan nodded obediently. “There are assassins.”

There might still be assassins outside. If there were archers with crossbows, it would be troublesome.

Yu Jiuzhou was silent for a moment, then relented. “Then I will sit by the window.”

The window was fine. She could see outside, and the view was decent.

The two sat facing each other. A maid placed a low table, about half a meter long and wide, between them. Beside it, she placed a stove. On the stove’s iron grill were warm tea, oranges, and chestnuts.

Chi Wan sat cross-legged, covering her feet with her cloak. She recalled the touch from just now; Yu Jiuzhou’s hand had been very cold, like touching a block of ice.

She held out her hand. “Your Highness, would you like this subject to read your palm?”

Yu Jiuzhou was slightly taken aback. This person could read palms? But thinking of all the surprises Chi Wan had given her recently, she pondered for a moment and then extended her hand.

She rested her wrist in Chi Wan’s palm. Although a layer of clothing separated them, she could still feel the scorching heat of Chi Wan’s hand. In the cold of winter, how could anyone’s hand be so warm?

Seeing that Yu Jiuzhou had placed her wrist in her palm instead of her hand directly, Chi Wan understood.

She smiled. “Your Highness, please open your palm so I can have a look.”

Yu Jiuzhou opened her hand and waited quietly for her to speak.

Chi Wan studied it seriously for a while, her surprise growing the more she looked. “Born with the destiny of a dragon and phoenix, you will face countless trials, undergo nirvana and rebirth, and overcome a fated calamity.”

The dragon represented the emperor, and the phoenix could represent the most noble woman of this era.

This meant that Yu Jiuzhou needed to experience a nirvana-like rebirth to become the emperor. If the nirvana failed, her soul would be scattered to the winds.

No wonder Yu Jiuzhou died in a fire in her past life. So that was why.

Yu Jiuzhou frowned. “A fated calamity?”

She understood the parts before that; she had indeed been reborn.

“Yes, but you will encounter a variable. This variable can help you successfully achieve nirvana. I just can’t divine who this variable is, only that she comes from the void.”

What did “from the void” mean? Chi Wan thought for a long time.

In the novel, Yu Jiuzhou was not reborn. She had gathered some people around her, but they likely had nothing to do with the void.

But something occurred to Yu Jiuzhou. She looked at Chi Wan for a long while. The biggest variable around her was Chi Wan, a person from an unknown origin.

Chi Wan had brought about many changes for her. She hadn’t become a cripple. The pills she developed could benefit the world. The honeycomb briquettes, the salt production method—each of these could bring in immense wealth and were also a great boon to all the common people under heaven.

Chi Wan’s recent performance in front of the Emperor had led him to decide to grant her greater power, much earlier than in the previous life, giving her much more time to make her plans.

Emperor Shengyuan was dying. A month before his death, during his severe illness, he worried about being smothered in his bed and made Yu Jiuzhou the Regent Grand Princess. At that time, her power surpassed even the Crown Prince’s; she was essentially a deputy emperor.

She could even do things that Emperor Shengyuan could not.

Regent Grand Princess, then Regent Princess. Yu Jiuzhou did not have the title of emperor, but she held the reality of one. If she hadn’t lacked the ambition to become emperor herself, Prince Bao’an would never have even had the chance to touch imperial power.

Yu Jiuzhou withdrew her hand. “I didn’t expect you to know palm reading.”

“I learned it from my grandma,” Chi Wan said, then immediately caught herself.

After all this time, the effects of the alcohol had worn off. She now realized she had gotten tipsy from the sweet wine and had started acting like Sister Lin, treating Yu Jiuzhou like a friend and speaking so cheekily.

Once the alcohol wore off, she returned to her proper self.

She cleared her throat and explained, “As a physician, I observe, listen, question, and feel the pulse. It’s normal to know a little about palmistry.”

She hadn’t read much of the Daoist classics, focusing mostly on practical texts about immortal elixirs, ghosts and transformations, health and longevity, and avoiding disasters—basically, she only read what was useful.

She had learned internal martial arts, as well as external ones, combining the two in things like fist techniques.

When she was little, her grandmother would put on Daoist robes to chant scriptures for the dead, and she would tag along.

She had asked her grandmother, “Are there really ghosts of the departed?”

Her grandmother had replied, “If you think there are, then there are. If you think there aren’t, then there aren’t.”

In any case, her grandmother’s most frequent phrase was “let nature take its course.” If she could still talk to her grandmother and ask, “Grandma, what should I do now that I’ve transmigrated to another world?”

Her grandmother would surely say: “Since you’re already here, let nature take its course.”

That was why Chi Wan had accepted it so quickly. There was nothing unacceptable about it. She just had to figure out her situation and deal with it.

She felt she was doing quite well. Since arriving, at least Yu Jiuzhou no longer wanted to kill her.

One’s own feelings were the most obvious indicator of whether someone held killing intent towards them.

Perhaps some people could hide it very deeply, but Chi Wan cultivated internal energy and was extremely sensitive to auras. She could sense if someone had killing intent towards her without even looking.

She could feel that Yu Jiuzhou no longer wanted to kill her.

At least, not for the time being.

But their relationship was not solid. It would be impossible for her to obtain a new identity and successfully leave the capital anytime soon.

Too many people were watching her. If she created a fake identity now, everyone would know about it in no time. Even if she could, she couldn’t do it now, at least not by herself.

And the moment she left the Princess’s Residence, she would be watched by many people.

To live a peaceful life, having money and a fake identity wasn’t enough. She also needed to have no enemies.

The top figures of Great Zhou were all watching her every move. Only when Yu Jiuzhou was in power and had eliminated all her enemies could she find peace.

Yu Jiuzhou’s palm did indeed show the fate of an emperor, provided she had the heart to be one.

But palm reading was just an excuse. She was using the opportunity of physical contact to transfer her qi to Yu Jiuzhou, helping to warm her body.

She didn’t have a chance to touch Yu Jiuzhou’s hand to see if the internal energy she had transferred was effective, so she simply asked, “Is Your Highness still cold?”

Just as Yu Jiuzhou had asked her when she first came in.

Yu Jiuzhou felt her body grow warm, and her hands quickly heated up, just like Chi Wan’s own warm hands.

It was magical. She had only rested her wrist in Chi Wan’s palm, yet her whole body had warmed up so quickly.

She had heard from Chen Yuan that Chi Wan knew internal martial arts and had specifically looked into their wonders, so she knew what was happening.

“I am no longer cold.”

Chi Wan understood the meaning behind that answer.

Yu Jiuzhou knew that she had transferred internal energy to her. But why had she stopped speaking in that cheeky tone from before?

Chi Wan nodded, then turned her head to look out the window. She happened to see someone performing iron-striking fireworks. A stout woman, hidden within a black robe, waved her arms, and countless sparks bloomed, drawing applause from the crowd on the shore.

The sight made Chi Wan’s eyes light up. In truth, ancient times weren’t boring even without the internet, phones, or computers. For the rich and powerful, a single word could summon many people to perform for them—dancers, actors, and so on.

As for the poor, they were busy from dawn to dusk and had no leisure time, let alone time to be bored.

Take those profligate sons of nobility, for example. With money and nothing to do, they could find entertainment all day long in the pleasure quarter or on the flower boats of the Qifeng River.

“You like it?” Yu Jiuzhou asked softly, seeing Chi Wan’s eyes sparkling as she stared outside.

Chi Wan nodded. “When I was little, I loved watching people perform operas. Usually, it was only when a family was holding an event that they would have one, performed for people, and for ghosts and gods.”

There were also movie screenings, but Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t know what that was, so she didn’t mention it.

There were acrobatic performances too, but they were rare.

After growing up and going to university, her horizons broadened, and that feeling faded.

Occasionally, Chi Wan would still buy a ticket to the theater to listen to opera and drink tea. It was very comfortable, even alone.

She also liked to travel alone, stopping and going as she pleased, and exchanging knowledge with local old traditional doctors. She learned a lot in the process.

Yu Jiuzhou raised an eyebrow. This person liked to listen to opera? But when a family held an event with an opera, shouldn’t it be inside their home? Only prominent and wealthy households would set up a stage at their gate for everyone to watch.

From the way Chi Wan spoke, there seemed to be many such wealthy people where she was from. In the south, only Jiangnan was likely to be that prosperous.

“Are you from Jiangnan?”

Chi Wan paused for a moment. “Yes, I am.”

Uh… she suddenly realized that she had unknowingly revealed a lot of information. But none of it was particularly important, so it didn’t matter if Yu Jiuzhou knew.

A warm stove, hot tea, two people, and the clamor from outside the window.

At this moment, they truly resembled a young couple on a date—a couple that hadn’t yet defined their relationship and was still getting to know each other, perhaps not even at the stage of flirtation.

Every move they made was restrained and polite. Their gazes never met.

When Chi Wan looked outside, Yu Jiuzhou’s gaze fell on her side profile. When she turned her gaze back, Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes had already shifted elsewhere.

They could both feel the other’s gaze, yet they stubbornly refused to meet it.

After an unknown amount of time, Chun Gui came in. “Your Highness, there is a young lady outside looking for the Fuma.”

Yu Jiuzhou turned her head coolly. Chi Wan looked over in confusion. Only then did their gazes collide.

Chi Wan gave an awkward laugh. “Who is it?”

“A young lady with the surname Lin.”

Only then did she remember that she had forgotten about Lin Qianduo.

When Chen Yuan’s boat crashed into the large ship, such an obvious attempt to stage an accident immediately drew a crowd. Then, Chi Wan appeared on the deck, soaking wet, drawing all the attention. Chen Yuan and Lin Qianduo were forgotten.

After their identities were confirmed, the two were brought onto the ship.

Lin Qianduo had assumed Chi Wan would tell Yu Jiuzhou about her and had been patiently waiting to be summoned by the Grand Princess.

But after waiting for a long time, no one came for her. She didn’t know if Chi Wan had forgotten or if the Grand Princess didn’t want to see her.

But how could she give up such an opportunity to meet her idol? She had to fight for it herself, so she came.

Hearing the silence from the cabin, she felt a little apprehensive, but she had to see the Grand Princess. At the very least, she needed to know how Chi Wan and the Grand Princess got along. If their relationship was poor, it meant Chi Wan had been lying to her.

If she ended up becoming Chi Wan’s person instead of the Grand Princess’s, wouldn’t that still be heading towards becoming a mistress? She would not do that.

Fortunately, the people around the Grand Princess were very gentle. They showed no contempt or discrimination, but calmly told her they would go in and announce her.

A short while later, the sister named Chun Gui came out and let her in.

When Lin Qianduo entered, she heard Chi Wan explaining something.

“Your Highness, I really didn’t know she would be on the boat. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have jumped into the river. No, wait, I already explained this to Your Highness.”

“I just accidentally forgot about Lin Qianduo for a moment. There is nothing between us.”

Lin Qianduo was speechless. She really had been forgotten. Hearing this, she also felt relieved. Just as Chi Wan had said, the Grand Princess knew of her existence and everything that had happened after she snuck onto Chi Wan’s boat.

It seemed the Fuma and the Grand Princess did have a good relationship.

“This commoner, Lin Qianduo, pays her respects to Her Highness the Grand Princess and greets the Fuma.”

Yu Jiuzhou tossed two chestnuts in front of Chi Wan, as if placating a restless cat. Here are your treats, now stop making a fuss.

Chi Wan lowered her head and began to peel the chestnuts, saying no more.

In front of outsiders, she was the refined and upright Fuma. She had to maintain her persona.

Yu Jiuzhou raised a hand slightly. “So you are Lin Qianduo.”

“Yes.”

After a long pause where neither of them spoke, Chi Wan finally looked up.

She saw Yu Jiuzhou looking at her, while Lin Qianduo was looking at Yu Jiuzhou with admiration and respect.

The atmosphere was strangely awkward. Just as Chi Wan was about to say something, Lin Qianduo suddenly knelt to plead for punishment. “This commoner is uneasy for having caused trouble for Your Highness and the Fuma. I ask Your Highness to mete out punishment.”

Lin Qianduo sneaking onto Chi Wan’s boat could have led to unknown consequences if not handled properly, especially since the Emperor was still keeping an eye on Chi Wan.

Yu Jiuzhou said flatly, “Don’t let it happen again.”

“Yes.”

Yu Jiuzhou asked nothing and said nothing more, simply sitting there quietly, her beautiful eyes looking out the window.

Chi Wan’s gaze shifted between the two of them. One was a powerhouse in the imperial court, the other a powerhouse in the world of commerce. Their auras were indeed different.

She cleared her throat and said to Lin Qianduo, “You have met Her Highness, so you may leave for now. Chun Gui, take Miss Lin to rest and find an opportunity to get her off the boat.”

“Yes, Fuma.”

Seeing that even the Grand Princess’s own female official was so obedient to Chi Wan, Lin Qianduo understood and immediately spoke up. “Your Highness, the Fuma and I are completely innocent now, and we will remain so in the future.”

Chi Wan: “?” Wait, the way you say that makes it sound like there was something between us before.

Yu Jiuzhou turned, her eyes resting on Lin Qianduo. Her voice was surprisingly gentler than before. “I understand. Do your work well. The Fuma will protect you, but she will not force you to do anything against your will.”

It was difficult for a Kun Ze to get things done. Without someone looking out for them, it was very hard. Lin Qianduo was essentially making a promise, so she naturally had to state her position.

Lin Qianduo’s eyes lit up. “Rest assured, Your Highness, I will definitely prove myself.”

She swore to herself that if Her Highness asked her to earn one hundred thousand taels, she would strive to earn a million taels for her.

Chi Wan probably didn’t quite understand this feeling of being appreciated by a superior.

It was clear that Lin Qianduo now felt that a true subject would die for a lord who appreciated them. The Grand Princess was her benefactor, the one who would protect her and allow her to control her own destiny.

Unexpectedly, Yu Jiuzhou added another sentence. “It was the Fuma who recommended you to me.”

Although the reborn Yu Jiuzhou had her eye on Lin Qianduo even without Chi Wan’s recommendation, things would not have been so easy without her.

At most, Yu Jiuzhou would have had to use Prince Bao’an’s method, having Lin Qianduo change her name and hide in Jiangnan to do business, never able to reclaim her real name.

But if she had to change her name, Lin Qianduo’s mother would have had a hard time in the Lin family. According to investigations, after Lin Qianduo left, her mother was beaten to death.

With Chi Wan, Lin Qianduo could operate openly in the capital, and her mother would no longer suffer in the Lin family.

Yu Jiuzhou’s final sentence was to tell Lin Qianduo the importance of Chi Wan in this matter. Without Chi Wan, she would not have used her.

---

Get instant access to all chapters now.