Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 31

31: Best Friend

As Jiang Ci had anticipated, the emperor summoned her alone after the court session the next day.

After leaving Qianyang Palace, the two walked to the imperial garden, followed at a distance by only one attendant. The garden was filled with exotic flowers and rugged rocks, and the ground was still slippery from the rain the previous night.

The emperor subtly inquired about Xi Lingxue, and Jiang Ci seized the opportunity to praise the princess lavishly, stating that even she, as a Qianjun, felt inferior to the princess’s intelligence.

After a long wait, the emperor finally said, “Gao Yi, if I intend to let Lingxue join the court, what do you think?”

He still had reservations about the identity of a Kunjun, as their constitution was indeed weaker, and they might be unable to attend court for several days during their heat period.

“Your Majesty,” Jiang Ci replied, “I think it’s an excellent idea! The princess is highly capable, and it would be a waste for her to spend her life secluded in the inner chambers. Our country has precedents of Kunjun serving as officials, and isn’t there a great general who is a Kunjun?”

The emperor’s brow relaxed, and he gestured for her to continue.

Jiang Ci continued, “Although the great general is a Kunjun, she has led troops to victory and achieved numerous military feats. Moreover, even her daughter, Pei Shiyuan, has fought on the battlefield and slain enemy generals multiple times. They are both Kunjun. If they can achieve such feats, why can’t the princess?”

In the original plot, the empress had always targeted Xi Lingxue, emphasizing the disadvantages of being a Kunjun, which eventually dissuaded the emperor from letting her join the court.

But this time was different. As a fierce general among the younger generation, Gao Yi’s words carried weight. Moreover, the emperor had already taken notice of Xi Lingxue.

After pondering for a while, the emperor said, “I understand your point. You may leave.”

Jiang Ci bowed, “Yes.”

…

After leaving the palace, Jiang Ci rode back to the Marquis’s residence.

She was in a hurry to continue teaching the “black lotus” estimating that the emperor would allow her to attend court in a few days.

After breaking the ice, Xi Lingxue had finally accepted her. The most noticeable change was that Xi Lingxue no longer looked at her with that probing gaze.

Upon returning to the residence, Jiang Ci changed into casual clothes. She asked a servant and learned that Xi Lingxue had gone to the study after breakfast.

Jiang Ci thought to herself that Xi Lingxue was quite diligent in her studies.

She had previously shared some business insights and yesterday discussed the construction of an intelligence network. Xi Lingxue would probably need some time to digest all this information.

Talented individuals were hard to cultivate. An excellent spy might take several years to train, with extremely high requirements. Therefore, Jiang Ci had already sent people to scout for talented individuals in the civilian population, hoping to recruit them.

When Jiang Ci arrived at the study, she saw Xi Lingxue sitting upright at the desk, her soft long hair cascading over her chest, her cool eyes lowered as she carefully read the manuscripts Jiang Ci had written.

The only downside was that the handwriting on the manuscripts was extremely poor.

Jiang Ci silently resolved to practice her handwriting when she had time.

Xi Lingxue seemed to be struggling with the text. She paused to rub her temples and, upon looking up, was startled to find someone else in the room.

“Gao Yi? When did you come in?”

“You were too absorbed.” Jiang Ci said as she walked over, her eyes falling on the manuscripts. “You looked tired just now. Are you having trouble understanding?”

“…No,” Xi Lingxue pointed out bluntly, “Your handwriting is just hard to read.”

Jiang Ci’s mouth twitched: Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll practice!

She sat down at the desk and said, “The emperor kept me after court today. I suspect an edict will be issued in a few days. Be prepared to join the court.”

“Really?” Xi Lingxue’s face lit up with rare joy, her smile as bright as the spring sun, radiant and moving.

Jiang Ci couldn’t help but smile too, “Don’t get too excited. There will be a lot of work ahead.”

“I understand.” Xi Lingxue suppressed her excitement and looked at Jiang Ci, whispering, “Thank you…”

Without her, this step would not have been so smooth.

But at the same time, Xi Lingxue realized that she owed Gao Yi more and more.

“What are you thinking about?” Jiang Ci noticed her distraction.

Xi Lingxue averted her gaze, “Nothing…”

Jiang Ci snorted, “Your acting is too poor. Remember, when you lie, you must look confident and unshakable, understand?”

Xi Lingxue’s lips tightened, her ears turning slightly red, her voice barely audible, “I understand…”

“Just understanding isn’t enough. You need to practice.” Jiang Ci said. “Come, look into my eyes.”

She opened her eyes wide and slowly leaned in until their noses were just a finger’s breadth apart, almost touching.

Jiang Ci’s gaze remained steady, unwavering.

Xi Lingxue froze, staring into those eyes without moving. In just a moment, she gave in, turning her head away first.

Her breathing became slightly erratic.

Jiang Ci laughed, “Not good enough, it wasn’t even five seconds. You need more practice.”

Xi Lingxue didn’t dare look at her again, nodding hurriedly, “…Okay.”

Jiang Ci looked at her profile, her high nose bridge, long lashes slightly lowered, her fair cheeks now flushed, perhaps from embarrassment or anger.

It made Jiang Ci want to tease her even more…

Jiang Ci closed her eyes, quickly shaking off those thoughts.

“Ahem,” she cleared her throat, changing the subject, “There will be many people at the palace banquet the day after tomorrow. I’ll make a list later, and we can start making connections. They’re all capable people.”

“Okay.” Xi Lingxue obediently agreed, but when the palace banquet was mentioned, she thought of something else, “Will… Yao Qin be going with you that day?”

Normally, as a concubine, Yao Qin wouldn’t be eligible to attend. But she had an aunt who was a noble consort, and she was always invited to palace events, with the emperor’s approval.

Jiang Ci said, “Of course, I’ll go tell her later to prepare.”

Yao Qin had been behaving well recently, not causing any trouble, so Jiang Ci had softened her attitude towards her.

But Xi Lingxue felt a pang of discomfort at the thought.

Gao Yi’s concubine—this identity now made her feel very uneasy.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Jiang Ci was deep in thought, completely unaware of the change in Xi Lingxue’s mood.

She was considering that once Xi Lingxue successfully joined the court and established herself, she would divorce Yao Qin. By then, she wouldn’t have to worry about Consort Yao’s suppression.

Jiang Ci was no saint. Since Yao Qin’s affection for her was insincere, she didn’t care about wasting a few years of Yao Qin’s youth.

She only cared about Xi Lingxue’s interests.

…

On the day of the palace banquet, Jiang Ci even applied a face mask at the last minute.

This was brought over by Huang Fu the day before. Huang Runfa’s business was doing well, and they had already opened a third branch, replicating the same model quickly, with daily profits reaching nearly three hundred taels. At this rate, they could consider opening branches in other towns within half a year.

However, Jiang Ci felt that progress was still too slow. Xi Lingxue was about to join the court, and they needed to quickly train a group of spies.

As the sky darkened, the capital city lit up with lanterns.

Xi Lingxue had already changed into her banquet attire, a white strapless dress with a light gauze outer layer, her delicate collarbone clearly visible. Her slender waist was cinched, and the wide skirt trailed behind her, exuding a cold, noble beauty, as if untouchable.

To match her, Jiang Ci specially wore a snow-white brocade robe with silver trim on the collar and cuffs, her hair tied up with a small silver crown embedded with jade. Her tall and slender figure, combined with this attire, gave her a more refined appearance.

—If you ignored her face.

Jiang Ci sighed, thinking how perfect it would be if she could have her own face.

Nanny Zhang helped Xi Lingxue comb her hair.

When everything was ready, Xi Lingxue looked in the mirror and turned to ask, “Gao Yi… how do I look?”

Jiang Ci’s gaze followed, and Xi Lingxue suddenly felt nervous, instinctively clenching her hands.

She had attended many palace banquets before, but for some reason, this time she seemed to care a lot about Gao Yi’s opinion.

Jiang Ci’s eyes sparkled, “You look amazing, absolutely stunning!”

She almost couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her!

Xi Lingxue smiled slightly, saying nothing.

Nanny Zhang, who had been observing everything, felt very pleased. She quietly left, intending to give the two some privacy. But as soon as she left, Wu Wei arrived.

“Princess? Marquis? May I come in?”

Hearing the voice outside, Jiang Ci reluctantly withdrew her gaze, “Come in.”

Wu Wei first peeked in, then smiled and said, “The incense I mentioned last time is ready~”

Jiang Ci took a moment to recall. This incense was made to mimic Gao Yi’s pheromones, creating the illusion that Xi Lingxue had been marked.

After all, no one would delve too deeply into it. Most Qianjun and Kunjun would understand just by the scent.

Jiang Ci waved her over, “Come, let me see. What does it smell like?”

Having been here for so long, Jiang Ci had never actually smelled Gao Yi’s pheromones. Thinking about it, she felt it was necessary to visit Zhang Chengji again and have a serious talk. What kind of divine doctor was he? It had been so long, and her glands still hadn’t healed. What if he had crippled her!

Wu Wei brought over a small porcelain jar. When Jiang Ci opened it, she found a white, paste-like solid inside, emitting a burnt charcoal smell.

After just one sniff, she jerked her head back, pinching her nose tightly.

…Damn, that’s pungent! So strong!

But it matched the description in the original book. Gao Yi’s pheromones were indeed like this.

The incense only mimicked the form of the pheromones, not their essence. In other words, it only smelled similar but wouldn’t trigger any physiological reactions in Qianjun or Kunjun, such as irritability, anger, or heat periods.

Jiang Ci’s strong reaction was purely because she found the smell unpleasant.

Thinking that this stuff would have to be applied to Xi Lingxue’s neck, her expression changed, “Maybe… let’s not apply it…”

It felt like it would taint the plum fragrance.

Wu Wei was secretly surprised. Was the Marquis of Dingyuan really so repulsed by her own pheromones?

At Ningxiang Pavilion, Wu Wei had seen many people buy incense.

In fact, this stuff served a similar purpose to makeup or rouge, but it was used to modify pheromones. A little dab could blend into a more pleasant scent. But someone like Gao Yi, who rejected her own pheromones so strongly, was almost unheard of.

Xi Lingxue’s reaction wasn’t as strong. She wasn’t new to Gao Yi’s pheromones. Although she still found them repulsive, she could tolerate them.

She was just as surprised as Wu Wei, never expecting Gao Yi’s change to be so thorough, even rejecting her own pheromones.

“It’s fine, let’s apply it.” Xi Lingxue said. “We’ve been sharing a room for so long, there should be some trace of your scent on me.”

With that, she took the small jar from Jiang Ci, dipped her finger in, and, suppressing her discomfort, dabbed a bit on the back collar of her dress.

Despite her mental preparation, Xi Lingxue still frowned, even feeling a bit nauseous.

It seemed her pheromones really didn’t match Gao Yi’s at all.

Jiang Ci felt a pang of heartache. That day in the woods, she had even thought of marking Xi Lingxue… but Gao Yi’s pheromones were so unpleasant!

What to do in the future…

Jiang Ci felt a headache coming on, “You’ll have to endure it for tonight.”

Xi Lingxue covered her nose, coughing a couple of times, her eyes slightly red, “It’s fine, I’ll manage.”

It didn’t seem fine at all… Jiang Ci thought she might have to find an excuse to leave early with Xi Lingxue.

As the time approached, before leaving, Jiang Ci didn’t forget to say to Wu Wei, “You’re amazing at making incense. Can you make me a sweet orange scent? Thanks~”

Wu Wei: “???”

Did she hear that right? Why would the Marquis of Dingyuan want a Kunjun’s incense!

…

As soon as Jiang Ci stepped out, she ran into Yao Qin, dressed in luxurious attire.

Yao Qin had been under house arrest for a long time and had become much more subdued since her release, rarely seeking Jiang Ci out on her own.

Seeing the two of them growing closer, Yao Qin felt increasingly frustrated. Fortunately, after her release, she had met some decent Qianjun.

Their family backgrounds weren’t bad, and they were much better-looking than Gao Yi.

She had hit it off with one of them, and since Gao Yi didn’t interfere, she went out with him frequently, having a great time and improving her mood.

Today, because of the palace banquet, she had no choice but to meet Xi Lingxue again.

Yao Qin’s eyes swept over Xi Lingxue, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

This wench, why does she look so good today? Although she refused to admit it, Yao Qin knew she had never seen a Kunjun more beautiful than Xi Lingxue.

Suddenly, her nose twitched, and she caught a faint whiff of burnt charcoal.

Yao Qin’s expression immediately turned grim. This was Gao Yi’s pheromone, no doubt about it!

Xi Lingxue had been marked by her!

Before this, Yao Qin hadn’t felt any urgency, but now she was truly panicked.

If things continued like this, Xi Lingxue would have children, and how could she ever turn the tables? Would she be trampled underfoot forever?

The three of them got into the carriage together, each lost in their own thoughts.

…

This palace banquet was held by the emperor to welcome the great general back and celebrate the victory in quelling the rebellion. Jiang Ci would finally get to meet this hero.

The great general, Pei Yun, was the top military commander of Yu State and a close friend of Consort An. They had known each other before Consort An entered the palace. Her daughter, Pei Shiyuan, had been good friends with Xi Lingxue since childhood.

The Pei family played a crucial role in Xi Lingxue’s later bid for the throne.

Jiang Ci brought her two wives to the palace, and on the way, they encountered many officials attending the banquet. She greeted those she knew, exchanged a few pleasantries, and introduced them to Xi Lingxue. Some of them were on the list of future capable ministers, and Jiang Ci wanted them to get to know each other and leave a good impression.

Xi Lingxue received a stream of compliments along the way, from her appearance and demeanor to her speech and behavior, all of which impressed the officials.

Upon entering the main hall, they were guided to their seats by attendants.

Jiang Ci and her party were seated quite close to the front, near the royal family. At a glance, the most noticeable was Prince Duan.

Xi Lanhua was dressed in a flamboyant green outfit and greeted them warmly upon their arrival, “Sister! Gao Yi! Over here!”

Jiang Ci: Oh no, she looks even more like broccoli now…

“Coming, coming.”

Xi Lingxue nodded, “Sister.”

Xi Lanhua laughed heartily, “No need to be so polite. You’re my savior now!”

As she got closer, she also caught a whiff of Gao Yi’s pheromones on Xi Lingxue.

Xi Lanhua raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning suggestive, her eyes darting between the two, especially when she looked at Jiang Ci.

Xi Lanhua: Oh my, did you two have a quickie before coming out?

Jiang Ci’s mouth twitched, understanding the look.

Damn it, nothing had happened between her and Xi Lingxue; they were still at the hand-holding stage!

The three of them chatted and laughed, while the neglected Yao Qin could only sit awkwardly alone, her resentment towards the title of “concubine” growing. From the moment they entered the palace until now, Gao Yi had barely paid her any attention, focusing entirely on Xi Lingxue! The officials were one thing, but now even Prince Duan was treating her like air!

The crown prince arrived slightly later. Dressed in dark gold brocade, she exuded royal elegance. She walked straight ahead, only stopping when she saw Xi Lingxue.

Xi Chenfeng approached with a meaningful smile, “Sister, long time no see.”

Xi Lingxue’s eyes turned cold, “Crown Prince.”

Although they were sisters, she had addressed Prince Duan as “sister” indicating her strained relationship with the crown prince.

Xi Chenfeng smiled ambiguously, about to say more when Jiang Ci stood up, blocking her view of Xi Lingxue.

Jiang Ci deliberately grinned, “Crown Prince, you’ve lost a lot of weight recently. House arrest must have been tough, huh? You should eat more tonight; who knows when you’ll be confined again.”

Xi Lanhua, hearing this, secretly gave a thumbs-up under the table: Nice one.

Unfazed by the sarcasm, Xi Chenfeng smiled, “Marquis of Dingyuan is right. You must drink more with me tonight.”

Jiang Ci smiled on the surface, “Of course.”

In her heart: Yeah, right. As if I’d bother with you.

As the officials continued to arrive, Jiang Ci finally saw the legendary fourth princess—Xi Tingyue.

The young girl looked only twelve or thirteen, led in by an attendant. Her face was smooth and tender, quite adorable. She would probably differentiate in a year or two. Jiang Ci remembered she later became a Qianjun.

Xi Tingyue’s mother, Consort Jing, held a low status and didn’t participate in power struggles. She had a good relationship with Consort An.

Her seat was next to Xi Lingxue, and the two were quite close, able to chat a bit.

Jiang Ci felt relieved, having worried that the “black lotus” might be bored at the banquet.

Just as she was thinking this, a shadow fell over her.

She looked up and immediately met a pair of eyes filled with venomous resentment. The person’s eyes were almost bulging, radiating intense hostility.

Jiang Ci almost exclaimed: A ghost!

Yao Qin coughed lightly to remind him, “Brother, what are you doing…”

She had heard that Yao Zhi had gone mad but hadn’t taken it seriously. Seeing him today, she realized he really did seem a bit off.

Yao Zhi ignored her, his eyes fixed on Jiang Ci.

He had truly suffered in recent days, forced to drink medicine daily. The more he resisted, the more his father suppressed him.

He had almost become a fool from all the medicine.

Eventually, he figured out that Gao Yi had deliberately messed with him that day.

He had since learned his lesson and only recently stopped having to drink the medicine.

“Listen here, Gao Yi, don’t get too cocky! Your time to be humiliated is coming!”

With that, Yao Zhi gave Xi Lingxue one last look and stormed off.

Xi Lingxue coldly watched his retreating figure and said to Jiang Ci, “I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

Jiang Ci: “No need~”

She glanced at Yao Zhi, who had taken a seat diagonally across from them, then cheekily shook her hand, mimicking his “twitching” from that day.

Yao Zhi’s face immediately turned green, and he was so angry he almost threw his cup.

His father, Yao Jin’an, sat beside him. Seeing him about to “freak out” again, he smacked his head.

You fool! With so many people watching, what are you trying to do?!

Yao Zhi immediately deflated, looking miserable.

Jiang Ci couldn’t help but laugh, slapping the table as she recalled Yao Zhi’s twisted expression. She said, “Do you think his father has psychological trauma now?”

“…” Xi Lingxue: “Probably.”

Not long after, the stars of the banquet, Pei Yun and her daughter Pei Shiyuan,finally arrived. The two were surrounded by officials offering congratulations, and Jiang Ci only caught a glimpse of a black robe.

When the emperor arrived with the empress and consorts, the crowd had no choice but to disperse and return to their seats.

Jiang Ci finally got a clear look at the two. Both Pei Yun and her daughter were dressed in black, their hair tied up high, exuding a heroic aura.

Pei Yun was much younger than Jiang Ci had imagined. In the original book, she was only in her thirties.

They looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. Despite their simple attire, their natural beauty outshone even Yao Qin.

The only stain on the great general’s reputation was that she had a child out of wedlock. To this day, no one knew who the father was, and she had raised her daughter alone.

Pei Shiyuan, young and spirited, with a stunning appearance and unmarried, immediately attracted the attention of many Qianjun upon entering.

However, Pei Shiyuan had no time for others. After taking her seat, she glared at Jiang Ci, her eyes filled with such killing intent that it seemed she wanted to turn Jiang Ci into a sieve.

As a fellow military officer, Pei Shiyuan knew exactly what kind of scum Gao Yi was. She had gone west for a mission and returned to find her best friend married to this trash!

Jiang Ci swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of Pei Shiyuan’s hatred.

Jiang Ci leaned closer to Xi Lingxue and whispered, “Your best friend… she seems to have a big problem with me…”

Xi Lingxue looked up and saw Pei Shiyuan glaring at Gao Yi, her chopsticks snapping in her hand.

Jiang Ci: Holy crap…

Xi Lingxue was also startled, realizing that Pei Shiyuan didn’t know about Gao Yi’s current situation.

They had just arrived in the capital today and hadn’t even heard the rumors.

“Don’t worry,” Xi Lingxue secretly squeezed Jiang Ci’s hand, “I’ll protect you.”