Chapter 1
Li Wan'er stood watching the funeral procession… of her own.
"Are you truly not Li Wan'er?" Su Baicheng asked again, still full of doubt. Ever since she woke up, he had asked her the same question countless times—and received the same answer each time.
This time, she simply nodded, no longer annoyed by his repeated questioning.
She understood…
Even she could barely believe it, had she not seen her reflection in the bronze mirror inside the room. A young girl of about fifteen or sixteen stared back at her, her face pale and delicate. Though not a great beauty, she was easy on the eyes—aside from the sickly look that clung to her features.
Well, she was never a great beauty herself, and had been frail since childhood. What right did she have to judge someone else's appearance?
"Daoist priest, could you tell me… who exactly am I?" she asked.
Su Baicheng studied the girl crouched beside him. She didn't seem like an evil spirit at all. In fact, they were speaking quite normally… or so it seemed.
"You should answer me first. Where does a ghost like you come from?"
The girl couldn't help but pout. "This palace asked first."
Seeing her mutter to herself in frustration, he grew wary and subtly edged backward.
"What did you say?"
His movement didn't escape her notice. She thought silently to herself how strange it was that a supposedly powerful Daoist priest could be so easily frightened. He was the one who brought this about, after all—what was there to fear?
If she hadn't truly taken over this body, she might have assumed he was a fraud.
"If you lie, even a single word," he warned grimly, "I'll exorcise you."
She only gave him a bored look, her gaze as if she were staring at a madman. Had she been his granddaughter, he'd have smacked her with a stick.
How dare she look at a mighty Daoist priest like that?
"Yan Yongping," she replied casually. "Or if you prefer, Princess Fu'an Le of the Yan Kingdom."
"I believe I've already died. Soon, the palace will likely make an announcement—then again, perhaps they won't. Yes… they might just stay silent."
The old Daoist priest listened silently, his expression troubled but saying nothing.
"Quietly passed, then. A peaceful death," she said with a smile.
Yan Yongping knew the suspicious Daoist priest wouldn't believe her so easily. But how could she prove it? Though she was technically a princess, she'd never been important. Her entire sixteen years of life were spent behind palace walls.
How could ordinary people know anything about her?
Oh well.This palace is already dead. Let him try to drive me out if he dares.
"Let's make a deal," Su Baicheng suddenly said.
"What?" Yan Yongping blinked in confusion. Why did he accept her so quickly? That seemed too easy…
Su Baicheng saw her doubts and adopted a serious expression, trying to look credible as he sighed.
"Well, things have come this far. Does it matter who you really are?"
Then why ask in the first place…?
He began to explain everything he knew. Who she was, how things came to this point, and the identity of the body she now inhabited.
This girl—Li Wan'er—was the youngest daughter of Grand Chancellor Li Wen'guang of the Yan Kingdom. Born weak and sickly, she eventually passed away.
Her grieving father could not bear the loss and sought every means to save her. Eventually, he invited a wandering Daoist priest—Su Baicheng, recommended by the steward—into the household to heal her.
Su Baicheng stayed in the residence for nearly a month. Li Wan'er's condition remained unstable, and when all else failed, he proposed a final, desperate ritual.
That ritual had brought them to this point. Performed in a location deemed spiritually ideal.
She was now at the Li family's countryside manor outside the capital—secluded, serene, with a mountain at the back, a stream at the front, Guangming Temple to the left, and the royal monastery to the right.
Such a perfect site could only be arranged by someone as wealthy and powerful as Grand Chancellor Li.
"My life and yours are now in your hands," Su Baicheng said gravely. "Be careful not to let anyone find out. If you slip up, I'll be executed—and you'll be truly dead."
"If you're that afraid, why not exorcise me and try to summon the real Li Wan'er?" Yan Yongping smiled.
The more serious he looked, the calmer she felt. Death held no fear for her now. Living in another's body, pretending to be someone else—wasn't that too much of a bother?
She detested complicated things.
"If only it were that easy," he sighed. "What if I end up summoning an evil spirit instead? Wouldn't that be worse?"
Yan Yongping rested her chin on her hand in silence.
The old Daoist priest, growing anxious, pleaded, "Please, just try to stay alive…"
She gave him a faint smile.
"Consider it a charitable act toward this old man."
Su Baicheng looked at her with pitiful, pleading eyes. Had she refused, he might have started sobbing on the spot.
Yan Yongping had never been begged like this before. It was frustrating, even suffocating. In the end, she gave a small nod.
"Good!"
"But I don't know how long I can fool the Li family," she warned.
"I have ways," he said. "All you need to remember is: You are Li Wan'er, daughter of Grand Chancellor Li Wen'guang."
---
Two days later…
With Su Baicheng's help, "Li Wan'er" awoke. The Li household, upon hearing the news, rejoiced and quickly sent a carriage to fetch their young miss the next morning.
Back at the countryside estate, though still weak, she looked visibly better than before. The servants were moved to tears and eagerly sought the finest remedies to restore her health.
Everyone praised Su Baicheng's miraculous talent, never realizing the truth—this was more than a miracle. It defied the natural order.
All they knew was that Li Wan'er had been sent away for treatment…
Not that it was her corpse they sent, not a living girl.
"Miss, would you like some broth?" one servant asked.
Li Wan'er politely declined with a gentle smile.
In the past two days, everyone had showered her with affection—especially when it came to food. At this rate, she might end up looking like a pig.
Clearly, this Li Wan'er was truly cherished by her father.
The Grand Chancellor himself visited three times a day. Every time, she had to pretend to be asleep, lest her act slip.
As for the maids—thankfully, Su Baicheng had dealt with them. He claimed their fortunes clashed with Li Wan'er's and had them replaced. The old staff were reassigned or married off.
"Luoluo, I'd like to take a walk," she said, feeling bored. She missed the days in Fangxian Hall, where her time had been spent eating, sleeping, and reading romantic novels.
"But miss, you're still not fully recovered," Lin Luoluo, her new maid, said hesitantly.
"Perhaps wait until you're a bit stronger, please?"
Seeing the worry in her maid's face, Li Wan'er didn't insist. In this heat, she too felt lazy. Who would want to go outside without a good reason?
And yet, the old Daoist priest had sent her a secret letter—today, she had to find an excuse to leave the Li estate.
No explanation given.
"I'll only be out for a short stroll."
Luoluo was briefly entranced by her mistress's gentle smile, then regained her senses and protested softly.
"Miss…"
Usually, her mistress wore a calm, expressionless face, smiling only out of politeness, often lost in thought. Today, her smile was brighter than ever before.
"For a smile like that… I'll take the punishment if it comes!" she swore silently.
.....
A stick of incense's time later…
"Luoluo, you didn't need to bring a whole army," Li Wan'er said, eyeing the group of burly Li family guards around her. They flanked her in every direction like temple guards, scanning the streets with deadly seriousness.
It was a bit much. Did they think she was heading into battle?
"We're still short, actually," Luoluo said seriously, her own expression nearly as stern as the guards'. She turned and instructed them, "Protect the young miss—no mistakes!"
Li Wan'er sighed at the drama but found it oddly touching.
Her lips curved into a faint smile as she turned her gaze to the capital streets.
"So this… is the capital," she murmured.
People bustled through the streets. Vendors hawked goods. Children ran by. Clothes of every color moved in a beautiful chaos.
So unlike the palace, where every step and breath was controlled. Where faces were blank and eyes never met.
"Lively indeed."
"Miss, would you like to sit at Ronghua Pavilion?" Luoluo asked, pointing to a nearby three-story teahouse. "It would be better for your health."
Just then, they saw a royal funeral procession. Soldiers lined both sides, with two generals leading the way. A gleaming golden coffin sat in the center, followed by white-robed maids and eunuchs, all heading toward the imperial mausoleum.
Everyone stepped aside in silence.
"It's the funeral of a princess," Luoluo explained. "She passed away recently—but I don't know which one. Such grandeur…"
Li Wan'er's eyes clouded with a mix of emotions. A faint, unreadable smile touched her lips.
"Let's go, Luoluo."
She turned awa
y, her steps firm despite the brief flicker of turmoil in her gaze.
She never expected such an elaborate send-off…
But the dead were dead. There was no going back.
Farewell, Yan Yongping.