Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 33

33: You Two Are Alike

Jiang Ci wasn’t sure how many seconds she had been standing there in a daze. Her mind went blank for a brief moment before she finally snapped out of it.

What did she mean by “already belongs to someone else”?

Was it the meaning Jiang Ci thought it was? Had the Black Lotus already fallen for someone else?

That couldn’t be…

According to the original plot, her destined Qianjun should still be busy with the imperial exams at this point!

Jiang Ci attended court every day but hadn’t seen this person, nor had she heard any news about them in the capital.

Yet, Pei Shiyuan didn’t seem to be exaggerating or lying…

Could it be that the plot had derailed again?

Had the two of them already met ahead of time?!

Jiang Ci clenched her fingers tightly and cautiously asked, “…Is that person Wen Bojian?”

Wen Bojian was the name of the destined Qianjun, the future top scholar of the Yu Kingdom.

A princess and a top scholar—truly a timeless, classic tale of romance.

In Xi Lingxue’s journey to success, Wen Bojian had been a great help, almost like a strategist, always offering advice and plans.

With Wen Bojian handling the literary side and Pei Shiyuan the martial, the world was within easy reach.

Pei Shiyuan frowned, “Who is Wen Bojian? What does she do?”

Jiang Ci was taken aback, “You don’t know her?”

“Is she famous? Why should I know her?” Pei Shiyuan said impatiently, “Stop prying. Just worry about yourself.”

Jiang Ci wasn’t in a good mood either and didn’t want to waste any more time with her. She might as well ask Xi Lingxue directly.

With a stern face, she walked past Pei Shiyuan and headed straight for the main hall.

The two of them walked one after the other, silent, with a considerable distance between them.

However, when Jiang Ci returned to the banquet, she didn’t see Xi Lingxue. She looked around, scanning the crowd, but Xi Lingxue was nowhere to be found in the entire hall.

For some reason, an uneasy feeling suddenly crept into her heart.

Jiang Ci shook the drunken Prince Duan, her tone urgent, “Where’s Xiaoxue?”

“…Xue?” Prince Duan half-opened her eyes, her tongue slurring. After a few seconds of thought, she pointed, “She’s here… huh? Where’d she go?”

Jiang Ci was speechless. She had only been gone for a short while, and this person couldn’t even keep an eye on Xi Lingxue. “Didn’t I ask you to watch over her?”

Prince Duan looked bewildered, “I did… she was just here.”

Jiang Ci: “…”

She glanced across the room and noticed that Yao Zhi was also missing from her seat.

Jiang Ci pursed her lips, the unease in her heart growing stronger.

She hoped she was overthinking it.

Just then, someone tugged at her sleeve.

“Gao Yi,” Xi Tingyue looked up at her with a small face, “Are you looking for my sister? She just left not long ago.”

Jiang Ci: Huh? Does this little girl know something?

“You saw her?”

Xi Tingyue nodded, “A eunuch was talking to her earlier, and she left in a hurry after listening.”

Jiang Ci’s heart sank. Had Xi Lingxue been deliberately lured away?

She patted Xi Tingyue’s head, “Got it, thank you.”

Without wasting any more time, Jiang Ci immediately stood up and headed out. As she caught sight of a dark figure out of the corner of her eye, she changed direction.

“Pei Shiyuan,” Jiang Ci quickly walked up to her, her expression grave, “Come with me to find someone. Xiaoxue is missing.”

An extra pair of hands would be helpful.

Hearing this, the mother and daughter exchanged a glance and simultaneously slammed their wine cups down.

The Crown Prince, drinking alone, watched the three of them hurry out of the hall from the corner of her eye. She sneered—the main event of the night was finally about to begin.

…

At the back of the hall, Xi Lingxue followed a eunuch, her steps hurried as they moved further and further away from the main area.

A moment earlier, the eunuch had whispered to her that Miss Pei and Lord Dingyuan had gotten into a fight.

Xi Lingxue looked up in alarm. She had been too focused on talking to Xi Tingyue earlier and hadn’t noticed. Now, she realized that Pei Shiyuan was indeed missing.

Moreover, Gao Yi had been gone for quite some time.

In the past, Xi Lingxue would never have believed such a thing so easily.

But now, at the mention of Gao Yi, she felt a bit flustered.

Those two had always been at odds.

With Pei Shiyuan’s temperament, it was entirely possible that she had gone to cause trouble for Gao Yi.

And the current Gao Yi was no match for her…

However, as Xi Lingxue followed the eunuch into the imperial garden, she still hadn’t seen any sign of Gao Yi, nor had she heard any sounds of a fight.

At this hour, everyone was at the banquet, and the imperial garden was dark and eerily quiet.

Only then did Xi Lingxue begin to feel wary. She quietly reached for the vial of poison hidden in her sleeve, “How much further?”

The eunuch didn’t turn around, repeating the same words, “Almost there, just ahead.”

Xi Lingxue narrowed her eyes, already sensing something was wrong. She glanced around, seeing no one else, and turned to run.

But the eunuch was surprisingly skilled. With a swift movement, she blocked Xi Lingxue’s path.

“Where does the Princess think she’s going?”

Her voice was low and emotionless, and by now, she seemed to have dropped all pretense. She didn’t sound like a eunuch at all—more like an assassin…

Xi Lingxue tightened her grip on the vial, forcing herself to stay calm, “Who are you? Why did you lure me here?”

The woman’s expression remained blank, but she moved swiftly, grabbing Xi Lingxue’s wrist and squeezing hard.

Xi Lingxue gasped in pain, and the vial slipped from her hand, falling to the ground.

“No need to ask so many questions. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Let me go!”

The woman seemed to be a Qianjun, her strength astonishing. Xi Lingxue was no match for her. Her wrist turned red from the grip, and she couldn’t break free. She was dragged forcefully deeper into the imperial garden.

Before long, she caught a whiff of a scent similar to tobacco—this was the pheromone of a Qianjun!

Her mind buzzed, and her face turned pale.

A blurry figure appeared ahead, staggering as if drunk.

When the figure saw Xi Lingxue, the tobacco scent suddenly intensified, “…Princess? Princess!”

That voice… Yao Zhi?

Why was he here?!

The woman disguised as a eunuch coldly watched Yao Zhi approach. She silently retreated, disappearing into the darkness.

As a fellow Qianjun, she had no desire to stay and inhale another Qianjun’s pheromones—it would only make her more aggressive.

Yao Zhi stepped closer, and Xi Lingxue could only retreat.

“Stay back!”

He wasn’t a high-level Qianjun, so his pheromones couldn’t affect Xi Lingxue.

But a Qianjun’s physical strength was undoubtedly superior to hers, and he could easily force a mark.

Yao Zhi’s breathing was ragged, teetering on the edge of losing control, especially since he could smell Gao Yi’s pheromones on Xi Lingxue!

“What’s so good about being with Gao Yi? You’re mine! Mine!”

The one silver lining was that Yao Zhi was drunk, his movements slower than usual.

When he lunged at her, Xi Lingxue slapped him hard across the face and dodged, “Yao Zhi! Have you lost your mind? How dare you act so recklessly in the palace?!”

Yao Zhi fell to the ground. He licked his lips, tasting bl00d, and his eyes burned with even more fervor.

He was beyond reason, his gaze filled with greed, nearly losing all sense of rationality.

Xi Lingxue had only brought one vial of poison into the palace, and it had been discovered by the eunuch earlier. Now, she had nothing left. Despite her usual composure, she couldn’t help but feel fear.

At this moment, no one in the imperial garden could come to her rescue. Gao Yi didn’t even know she was here…

…

Jiang Ci and the Pei family split up to search for Xi Lingxue. She didn’t dare stop for a moment, her steps quick as she scoured several locations but found no trace of Xi Lingxue.

As she neared the imperial garden, she ran into Pei Shiyuan again.

Jiang Ci was breathing heavily, feeling her stamina draining rapidly, “Did you find her?”

Pei Shiyuan shook her head, sensing that the situation was growing more serious. She even wondered if Xi Lingxue had been kidnapped.

“If all else fails, I’ll go find the Imperial Guard Commander and ask for his help?”

Jiang Ci thought it over and agreed. After all, more hands meant more strength.

Pei Shiyuan was about to move when she suddenly stopped, frowning and sniffing the air.

Jiang Ci asked, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t you smell it?” Pei Shiyuan stepped toward the imperial garden, “There’s a scent of pheromones…”

The eunuchs were all Zhongjun, so it couldn’t be them.

Jiang Ci followed behind her, sniffing hard, “…Where? I don’t smell anything.”

Why couldn’t she detect it?

The further they went, the stronger the scent became.

Pei Shiyuan, focused on tracking, completely ignored Jiang Ci’s confusion. “This way!”

She quickened her pace, a bad feeling growing in her heart.

Jiang Ci followed her until they reached the depths of the imperial garden, where she finally caught a faint whiff of tobacco.

Jiang Ci was amazed. Was Pei Shiyuan part dog? Her nose was so sharp!

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it, because she recognized the pheromone—it was Yao Zhi’s!

Suddenly, a noise came from ahead.

Jiang Ci’s eyes darkened. Following the scent, she sprinted forward.

Just as she rounded a rockery, she collided with a woman in white who was running out.

The two of them tumbled into each other.

Xi Lingxue’s long, waterfall-like hair was disheveled, her face pale as paper, but the corners of her eyes were flushed red. Her usually cool eyes were now watery, filled with a hint of fear.

In her hand, she clutched a long hairpin, which she had been using to defend herself.

Jiang Ci’s pupils contracted sharply, as if something had exploded in her mind. “Xiaoxue?!”

Her precious treasure, the one she held dear, had been bullied?!

In an instant, Jiang Ci felt all the bl00d in her body boiling.

“…Gao Yi?!” Xi Lingxue froze for a moment, then grabbed Jiang Ci’s arm as if she couldn’t believe it. “Gao Yi? Is that really you, Gao Yi?”

“It’s me! It’s me! I’m here!”

Before they could say more, someone else emerged from behind Xi Lingxue.

Yao Zhi, at this moment, looked like a wild beast gone mad. His eyes saw nothing else, focused solely on capturing Xi Lingxue.

Jiang Ci’s face turned dark. The moment she saw him, a surge of anger erupted in her chest like a volcano. The veins on her arms bulged as she shielded Xi Lingxue behind her and strode toward Yao Zhi, swinging her arm with full force and delivering a brutal punch.

Yao Zhi’s head snapped to the side, his facial muscles contorting as if he were made of mud. He staggered back a couple of steps, spitting out a mouthful of bl00d mixed with a molar.

This punch didn’t meet Jiang Ci’s expectations. Back when she had first transmigrated, she could have kicked someone flying with a single blow. Now, her strength had diminished so much that a punch only made him stumble a few steps?

Her stamina really wasn’t what it used to be…

Xi Lingxue, still shaken, clung to Jiang Ci’s hand.

Jiang Ci pulled her into her arms.

Xi Lingxue wasn’t as calm as she appeared. Jiang Ci held her tightly, feeling her tremble slightly.

Jiang Ci’s anger didn’t subside after that punch; instead, it burned even fiercer.

When she looked up again, a murderous aura burst forth.

She glared at the Qianjun, who was still groaning in pain. If she weren’t holding Xi Lingxue, Jiang Ci would have rushed over and torn him apart.

Yao Zhi…

No, she would make the entire Yao family pay!

Pei Shiyuan caught up just then. Seeing the scene, she was both shocked and furious, her fists clenched so tightly they creaked. She immediately turned toward Yao Zhi.

“You scum! You’ve got some nerve!” She kicked him again and again. “I’ll cripple you today!”

Yao Zhi rolled on the ground, howling in pain. Just as Pei Shiyuan was getting into it, a black figure descended from above, stopping her in her tracks.

Pei Shiyuan froze, “…Mother?”

Pei Yun glanced at Yao Zhi, suppressing her anger for the moment, and said sternly, “Someone’s coming. Let’s get out of here before they see Lingxue.”

This whole incident was clearly premeditated.

If others found out, whether or not a mark had been made, it would damage the Kunjun’s reputation, especially since Xi Lingxue was a princess.

Pei Yun’s words snapped everyone back to reality.

Xi Lingxue clung to Jiang Ci, feeling the strength of her heartbeat and the warmth of her embrace. Only now did she finally feel safe.

Gao Yi had actually found her…

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid.” Jiang Ci gently stroked Xi Lingxue’s back. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Jiang Ci didn’t smell the scent of plum blossoms, and Xi Lingxue didn’t seem to be in the throes of heat.

“No,” Xi Lingxue rested her head on Jiang Ci’s shoulder, her arms tightly wrapped around her waist, deepening the embrace. “Thank you for coming in time…”

Jiang Ci smiled bitterly, “What’s there to thank me for? It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“I was careless…”

“He will pay for this.” a low voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Xi Lingxue looked up and saw the cold, stern expression on Jiang Ci’s face, her eyes like unyielding ice.

She had never seen Gao Yi so furious.

“There’s movement over there!”

Voices suddenly came from not far away, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. It seemed Yao Zhi’s earlier cries had drawn a crowd.

Jiang Ci could already see the glow of lanterns.

Pei Yun said, “This way!”

The group immediately followed her.

As they passed Yao Zhi, Jiang Ci stomped hard on his foot. Xi Lingxue followed suit, and Pei Shiyuan was right behind her.

All three of them aimed for the same spot, delivering a concentrated attack.

Yao Zhi howled in pain.

“…” Pei Yun urged, “Hurry up.”

The four of them took another path out of the imperial garden, avoiding the approaching crowd.

Xi Lingxue still didn’t dare let go of Jiang Ci, her hand gripping hers tightly. “General, Shiyuan, why did you come too?”

Pei Shiyuan said, “Gao Yi noticed you were missing and asked us to help look for you.”

Honestly, after this incident, she had a newfound respect for Gao Yi.

If it weren’t for her quick thinking, Xi Lingxue would have had a hard time escaping the out-of-control Qianjun on her own.

Jiang Ci cupped her hands in a salute. “Thank you both for tonight. I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, just ask.”

Pei Shiyuan raised an eyebrow. Was this for real? She was actually thanking them? And showing gratitude?

“No need for that.” Pei Yun sighed. “We should be the ones thanking you.”

She and Consort An were old friends. She had watched Xi Lingxue grow up and had long regarded her as her own.

Pei Yun knew Xi Lingxue had suffered a lot.

Facing such a situation without crying or making a scene, she had remained calm and dealt with it. On one hand, Pei Yun admired her strength and bravery, on the other, her heart ached for her.

Later, when she and her daughter left the capital to quell the rebellion in the west, the emperor had arranged a marriage, ordering Xi Lingxue to marry Gao Yi. Pei Yun had heard of this person and hadn’t thought much of her, but today, she saw a completely different side of Gao Yi.

…

Jiang Ci didn’t plan to return to the banquet. After bidding farewell to the Pei family, she took Xi Lingxue back to the Marquis’s residence.

The entire way, Xi Lingxue didn’t speak, her complexion still pale, but she never let go of Jiang Ci’s hand.

Jin Yu and Nanny Zhang were both startled by her condition, but no matter how they asked, she wouldn’t say what had happened. During her bath, she stayed in the room for a long time.

That night, as the two lay in the same bed, Xi Lingxue moved closer, wrapping her arms around Jiang Ci and resting her head on her neck.

The warm breath against her skin made Jiang Ci’s neck itch.

This was the scene Jiang Ci had dreamed of before—soft jade and warm fragrance in her arms. But now, she couldn’t feel any joy.

She turned to her side, changing her position to embrace Xi Lingxue.

After a while, Jiang Ci tentatively asked, “Are you… still a little scared?”

Xi Lingxue snuggled closer, silent for a moment before saying, “A little…”

This seemed to be the first time Xi Lingxue had expressed herself so openly, not hiding anything, revealing her vulnerability to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci’s heart stirred, and she tightened her arms around Xi Lingxue, holding her even more firmly.

Xi Lingxue was deeply troubled. She had been thinking a lot on her own.

This incident was clearly orchestrated by someone, with Yao Zhi as just a pawn.

But this pawn had indeed harbored improper thoughts about her. If Gao Yi had been any later, she might not have been able to protect herself.

Every time she closed her eyes, Yao Zhi’s disgusting face would appear.

“I understand.” Jiang Ci held Xi Lingxue tightly, one hand gently stroking her smooth hair. In a deep voice, she said, “Don’t worry. Leave this matter to me. I’ll make sure the Yao family falls and never rises again.”

Xi Lingxue’s heart warmed. Though the words sounded unrealistic, coming from Gao Yi’s mouth, she inexplicably wanted to believe them, feeling that Gao Yi could actually make it happen.

Xi Lingxue had always relied on herself to find a way out. For once, she actually wanted to depend on someone.

The heaviness in her heart suddenly lightened, as if with Gao Yi by her side, all problems could be solved.

Xi Lingxue buried herself in Jiang Ci’s embrace, breathing in her familiar scent. Her voice was soft, “Sometimes I feel like… you and her are so alike…”

Jiang Ci didn’t catch the last part, “Feel what?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to say—” Xi Lingxue paused, then suddenly thought of something. “Where’s Yao Qin?”

Jiang Ci was stunned, blinking. “Oh right, there’s still her… I completely forgot…”

Three people went, two returned.

After leaving the imperial garden, the two of them had gone straight home. It wasn’t until they were lying in bed at night that they remembered.

In fact, shortly after they returned, Consort Yao had sent someone to deliver a message, which Nanny Zhang received. The eunuch’s words hinted at Consort Yao’s displeasure, subtly criticizing Gao Yi for not caring about Yao Qin, leaving without a second thought and even forgetting her concubine.

“Forget it, let her be.” Jiang Ci said. “Since we’re dealing with the Yao family, I’ll divorce her as soon as possible.”

“…Divorce?” Xi Lingxue was shocked. “Are you sure? Consort Yao will never agree.”

Jiang Ci snorted, “Who cares about her! At this point, there’s no time to waste!”

Originally, she had planned to wait until Xi Lingxue had a firm foothold in the court before dealing with them. But after what happened, Jiang Ci couldn’t wait any longer.

She would cut all ties with the Yao family, and if Consort Yao blamed her, she would take the heat.

Hurting Xi Lingxue was something she would never tolerate!

“Do you really… not feel anything for Yao Qin?” Xi Lingxue suddenly asked. “She’s quite beautiful.”

Jiang Ci blurted out, “I only like you.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the air grew still.

Jiang Ci didn’t dare move, her eyes wide open in the darkness. She was holding Xi Lingxue, but she had no idea what the person in her arms was thinking. There was no reaction at all.

Time passed, and the two of them remained frozen.

Just as Jiang Ci thought Xi Lingxue had fallen asleep, she suddenly leaned in and planted a kiss on Jiang Ci’s cheek, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, barely there.

Xi Lingxue quickly pulled back, turning away and wrapping herself tightly in the blanket.

Jiang Ci was stunned for a long time, wondering if she was dreaming.

After a while, she finally realized—the Black Lotus had kissed her!

A qualitative leap!

Was this her way of responding?

Oh my god!

But Jiang Ci’s joy didn’t last long. For some reason, Pei Shiyuan’s words popped into her head.

[Lingxue’s heart has long been occupied by someone else. No one else has a chance.]

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on Jiang Ci, extinguishing the excitement she had felt moments before.

…Did the Black Lotus already have someone she liked?

Now didn’t seem like the right time to ask Xi Lingxue.

Forget it, she thought. Tomorrow, she would ask Nanny Zhang and Jin Yu for some intel. They had been by Xi Lingxue’s side for a long time. If Pei Shiyuan knew, they probably had some idea too, right?