Prince JianZi leaned under the blooming cherry tree, the petals drifting like soft snow around him. The brush lay abandoned on the stone table. He had spent hours writing, shaping his longing into ink, yet the poem remained unfinished.
"To make you fall in love with me is not easy,To make you mine is like a dream that will never come true..."
He sighed, his gaze distant. "Xi Youran…" he whispered. The cherry tree seemed to mock him, beautiful yet unreachable, just like her.
Cai Xian's Report
"My lord," Cai Xian appeared, bowing sharply. His robes were dusty from travel, his eyes betraying fatigue. "I have good news and bad news to report."
JianZi waved him closer, motioning for him to speak.
"The good news: Xi Youran is alive. I have seen her myself—she is in the capital, disguised as a noble of another kingdom. The bad news: Madam Xi Jia's corpse is missing. And, I am certain, the Soul Clan was not involved in its disappearance."
JianZi's eyes narrowed. He let the news settle but showed no outward emotion. Inside, his mind raced.
"Good work. Take your rest. Soon, we will move to the southern border once matters here are settled," JianZi said calmly, though every nerve in his body was alert.
He had endured endless wars, countless betrayals, and the unrelenting toll of being a prince. Yet the thought of Xi Youran alive lit a fire in him. I will protect you all, he vowed silently, just as he had vowed to his men over countless campaigns.
Xi Youran in the Capital
Meanwhile, Xi Youran wandered through the capital's crowded streets in a red dress embroidered with bold Begonia patterns. The fabric fluttered around her as if alive. Her mind, however, was focused inward, trying to recover the Qi that had been destabilized by the Phoenix Core Synthesis.
Every flash of memory of Hui and Mu Fei tightened her chest. The world felt heavier without them, yet their teachings lingered within her.
An old merchant with shrewd eyes approached her, bowing low. "Young miss, may I have the honor to serve you? You must be a noble. I cannot bear to offend such a valuable customer."
Xi Youran smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I am merely here to see if anything catches my attention." She turned and walked on, leaving the man bewildered, unsure whether she was a princess, a scholar, or something else entirely.
Hours passed. She sifted through books, herbs, and martial scrolls, but nothing seemed to provide the missing link to her Blood techniques. Frustration simmered, but she refused to show it. Silently, she left, melting into the crowd unnoticed.
JianZi's Public Trap
Back in the palace, JianZi had laid the first part of his trap to expose the fake Yuan Princess. During a formal gathering, he orchestrated a subtle slight—he hinted at a diplomatic error, baiting her into overreacting.
The princess, elegant and poised, faltered. Her blue eyes darted to him, a flicker of fear betraying her otherwise perfect mask. The court noticed the twitch in her hand as she gripped her fan too tightly. JianZi's subtle smile hinted at victory.
Cai Xiao whispered from the shadows, "She's reacting, my lord. Proof will come if she continues." JianZi nodded. The game had begun.
Xi Youran's Training
In the quiet of her rented chamber, Xi Youran knelt with the golden scroll spread before her. Blood from the thorn on her finger had dried, leaving crimson streaks along the edges.
She traced the runes again, her Qi trembling but steady. The Phoenix Core Synthesis had saved her life, but it had drained a fragment of her soul. To prevent permanent damage, she had to learn how to stabilize her Qi manually—an even greater challenge than her last battle with the Soul Clan scout.
"Focus… breathe…" she murmured. Her hands moved with precision, alchemy and Qi intertwining. Slowly, a soft, golden aura wrapped her, stabilizing the energy surging through her. For the first time since Hui's sacrifice, she felt a semblance of balance.
Her eyes hardened. "Next time, no one will threaten me—or them," she whispered.
A Hint of the Yuan Princess's Past
Later that night, Xi Youran passed a secluded alley near the palace where a flicker of candlelight revealed a hidden alcove. Inside, a small, dusty chest sat beneath a tattered portrait. Curious, she opened it and discovered the portrait: the real Yuan Princess, serene and unaware, clutching a delicate blue locket engraved with her initials.
Her eyes widened. This was the truth hidden behind the false princess's mask. Xi Youran's fingers brushed the locket—evidence, a hint that the fake princess had assumed another's identity, committing crimes in the shadow of the real one.
So the Soul Clan and the fake princess… their paths were intertwined. Xi Youran clenched her fists, determination blazing.