Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 39

39: Farewell

Two hours?

Jiang Ci was momentarily stunned. Just like that, she had to leave?

It was only at this moment that she realized there were still so many things she wanted to do. This world wasn’t just about love, and leaving like this made her feel a bit reluctant.

Jiang Ci: [What will happen to Gao Yi after I leave?]

What if the original soul comes back?

System: [Host, Gao Yi has already died in the woodshed. That’s why you were able to take over her body. Her gland was severely injured, and instead of resting, she went to cause trouble for the female lead, trying to forcefully mark her. In the end…]

Jiang Ci remembered that when she first transmigrated, not only was the back of her neck in pain, but her left cheek was also burning.

Jiang Ci: [Did Gao Yi get killed by Xi Lingxue?!]

System: [Em… you could say that.]

There are always unlucky people in the world, with unexpected ways to die.

Jiang Ci: Damn…

What a black lotus!

With Gao Yi dead, her title would naturally be revoked, and there would be no more Dingyuan Marquis in this world.

In the original novel, Gao Yi was supposed to be the strongest ally of Prince Duan, opposing Pei Shiyuan in military affairs. But the plot has collapsed to this extent…

The system reminded her: [Host, you have one hour, fifty-eight minutes, and thirty-six seconds left in this world. Cherish your final moments.]

After the system went offline, a string of numbers suddenly appeared in Jiang Ci’s vision, like a countdown clock.

[1:58:35]

[1:58:34]

[1:58:33]

Every second flashed, and no matter how she moved, it stayed right in the center of her vision.

Jiang Ci couldn’t sit still anymore. There were still so many places she hadn’t been to, so many foods she hadn’t tried, and people she wanted to properly say goodbye to…

She had always been busy with her career and never took the time to truly experience this world.

It seemed she was always like this—in her previous life, she was also rushing around, never thinking to stop and take a breath. She was always chasing after goals—career, wealth, love…

But now, with only two hours of “life” left, Jiang Ci suddenly felt that none of it mattered.

She wiped away her tears and immediately got up.

Before leaving, Jiang Ci thought for a moment and decided to sit down and write a letter to Xi Lingxue.

She was supposed to hate her—hate her manipulation, her exploitation, her coldness.

But she was about to leave, and it felt like facing death. In this moment, the hatred seemed to fade away.

Jiang Ci believed she had done her best. She had loved passionately and had no regrets in her heart.

If there was anything to regret, it was that there were still so many things left undone.

After finishing the letter, Jiang Ci grabbed an outer robe and put it on.

The cold night wind blew, refreshing her a bit. She didn’t run into anyone on the way and left the marquis’s residence directly.

In this world, there were only a few people she was close to.

Jiang Ci first went to Huang Runfa, but unfortunately, Huang Fu wasn’t there. She had recently taken some people to survey the surrounding towns, preparing to open a branch.

Jiang Ci had no choice but to hand over the strategic plan she had written earlier to the shop assistant. With Huang Fu’s current level of understanding, she would definitely be able to make good use of it.

This plan was her hard work, and since it was already written, Jiang Ci didn’t want it to go to waste.

After leaving Huang Runfa, Jiang Ci wandered the streets alone, stopping here and there, buying a lot of things.

Yes, she had never really taken the time to stroll through the streets, never tried the roadside steamed bun…

She should enjoy herself one last time.

—Not as Gao Yi, but as herself, Jiang Ci.

[1:17:42]

Jiang Ci entered a small tavern. It was late, and there weren’t many people inside.

The waiter greeted her warmly, “What can I get for you, sir? Please come in!”

Jiang Ci chose a seat by the window and put her things down. “Give me your strongest liquor!”

“Coming right up!”

Soon, the waiter brought over two jars.

…

After leaving the marquis’s residence, Pei Shiyuan went to Huang Runfa and wandered around for a long time before leaving. As she passed by a tavern, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. She paused for a moment and then walked in.

Recognizing the person, Pei Shiyuan approached and asked, “Why are you drinking alone here? Are you feeling better?”

Pei Shiyuan had always held a bit of goodwill toward this “demon” as she had helped Xi Lingxue a lot. She knew how to distinguish between good and bad.

Jiang Ci had already finished one jar and was a bit tipsy, but still somewhat sober. “Pei Shiyuan? Come, drink with me! Let’s see who can hold their liquor better!”

Pei Shiyuan, seeing her like this, guessed that Xi Lingxue must have said something to her. It seemed her advice had worked.

This was for the best. A quick pain was better than a prolonged one.

“Alright, I’ll have a few drinks with you.” Pei Shiyuan said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Jiang Ci poured two large bowls and picked up one herself. “A toast to you! Thank you for reminding me at the palace banquet that day.”

If Pei Shiyuan hadn’t mentioned the rival, prompting her to investigate further, Xi Lingxue might never have told her.

Without waiting for Pei Shiyuan, Jiang Ci downed the bowl in one go.

She poured another full bowl. “Thank you. You were the first to realize I wasn’t Gao Yi.”

Pei Shiyuan felt a bit uneasy and picked up her bowl. “I just thought you weren’t a bad person. Some people are worse than ghosts. Do more good deeds, and maybe you’ll be reincarnated into a better life next time.”

[0:45:32]

It was late at night, and the two of them finished another jar. Jiang Ci was now seven-tenths drunk. “I… I drank the strongest liquor today!”

“Yes, yes.” the waiter chimed in with a smile. “Our liquor is the strongest in the capital!”

Pei Shiyuan rolled her eyes. What nonsense… There were plenty of better liquors out there.

Jiang Ci tapped her bowl and said, “I also rode the fastest horse!”

Pei Shiyuan interjected, “The one from your residence? It’s barely average.”

Jiang Ci wasn’t listening and was lost in her own world.

“I guess I don’t have any regrets… Waaah, I have so many regrets!” Jiang Ci suddenly hugged the liquor jar and started crying. “In the past six months, I’ve only left the capital twice. The farthest I’ve been is that shenwu temple, and it wasn’t even effective! Liars!”

If she could live another life, she would live for herself, truly experience life, and never waste her energy on love and romance again.

Yes, she would lock away her heart!

Pei Shiyuan: “…”

“Cry it out. It’ll make you feel better.” Pei Shiyuan could only pat her back in comfort.

Jiang Ci continued to cry, thinking about that so-called female hero made her angry. “This black lotus, isn’t she supposed to be the female lead? Then focus on her career! Why is she so obsessed with love?!”

Pei Shiyuan guessed she was talking about Xi Lingxue. Seeing how late it was, she settled the bill with the waiter and helped Jiang Ci up to walk her back to the marquis’s residence.

…

“Pei Shiyuan, you will definitely become a fierce general of Yu Kingdom!”

“Hmph, you don’t have to tell me that.”

“Let me give you a set of martial arts manuals. They’re from the Gao family’s collection. No one else is going to read them anyway.”

“…Just walk properly for now.”

Back at the marquis’s residence, Jiang Ci insisted on taking Pei Shiyuan to the study and pulled out the manuals.

“Here! These books are worthless if no one reads them. You’re the best fit for them.”

Pei Shiyuan initially didn’t want to take anything from Gao Yi, but seeing that they were rare editions, she couldn’t help but be tempted.

“Take them, take them.” Jiang Ci shoved the books into her hands. “Go back and study them well. Serve your country.”

After shooing Pei Shiyuan away, she stumbled off to find Jin Yu.

[0:17:14]

“Little King Kong~~”

Jin Yu was boiling water and was startled by her call. “Marquis? Why aren’t you resting? You’ve been drinking?”

She could smell the alcohol on her, and Jiang Ci was swaying as she walked.

Jin Yu knew about the gland incident and that the princess was at fault. But she had heard that Gao Yi had still defended the princess in front of the emperor, taking all the blame herself. This showed that Gao Yi still loved the princess more.

Jiang Ci giggled, hiccuped, and said mysteriously, “I’ve prepared a gift for you.”

Jin Yu found it a bit eerie and quickly helped her to the bedroom. “Why are you suddenly giving me a gift?”

“It’s a weapon, perfect for you.” Jiang Ci said as they walked. “Your brain is beyond saving, so let’s just play to your strengths.”

“…” Jin Yu’s temple twitched, but she held back. “Marquis, you should rest early.”

Back in the main courtyard’s bedroom, Jiang Ci found a chair and sat down. “I had it made by Li the blacksmith. It’s made of the best materials. You can pick it up in three days.”

Jin Yu felt something was off but assumed it was because of the gland incident. “Sit here for a bit. I’ll go get some hot water to wipe your face.”

Jiang Ci nodded obediently. As soon as Jin Yu left, she slipped out.

[0:4:10]

Nanny Zhang had just come out of Xi Lingxue’s room when she ran into Jiang Ci. “Oh, Marquis? What are you—”

“Nanny Zhang,” Jiang Ci grabbed her hand, speaking seriously, “I’m giving you a house in the east of the city. It’s for your retirement. If you don’t want to live there, you can rent it out.”

Nanny Zhang: “???”

Before she could ask, the door behind her opened.

Xi Lingxue, hearing the commotion, came out to support Jiang Ci. “Go back, Nanny Zhang. I’ll handle this.”

Nanny Zhang hesitated but eventually retreated.

Xi Lingxue helped Jiang Ci inside, but Jiang Ci pushed her hand away.

The two stood in silence for a moment before Xi Lingxue spoke calmly, “You’re drunk.”

“No, I’m sober,” Jiang Ci’s breathing was a bit rapid. With the alcohol in her system, she asked, “What’s her name?”

“Who?”

“The female knight.”

Xi Lingxue thought for a moment. That person had refused to reveal her name, only giving a title. After so many years, they still hadn’t found out, so it was likely made up on the spot.

Xi Lingxue: “I can’t tell you.”

Jiang Ci let out a bitter laugh. Really? Even now, she still had to keep it a secret?

This rival had been completely hidden, and Jiang Ci didn’t even know where she had lost.

Was it because the other person had come earlier?

[0:2:06]

There were only two minutes left in this world.

Jiang Ci rubbed her eyes. At the very end, she realized she didn’t resent Xi Lingxue as much as she thought.

She was about to leave, to disappear completely, never to meet again.

Having known each other, in this moment, she only hoped that the people she knew could live better lives.

Especially the person she had truly loved.

And she would also strive to live a better life…

She still had to “hand over” her work. After thinking for two seconds, Jiang Ci hurriedly said, “I’ve gathered a lot of evidence against the Crown Prince and Yao Jin’an. It’s all in the study… The witnesses will arrive in the capital in a few days. Keep an eye on them and make sure they’re safe. These charges are enough to bring down the Crown Prince and the Yao family.”

“Of course, since you’ve just entered the court, it’s best to be cautious. You can release this information and let them fight among themselves. No need to get directly involved.”

Jiang Ci’s head was spinning, and she pressed her temples. “Let me think, what else…”

As the seconds ticked by, she felt increasingly urgent. The more she rushed, the more her thoughts became tangled.

[0:0:42]

Xi Lingxue watched her quietly. Her cold, frosty expression showed a slight crack. It felt like Jiang Ci was giving her final instructions.

She had thought Gao Yi came to discuss compensation or to vent her frustrations.

But it seemed neither was the case.

Why was she still thinking about her…

Xi Lingxue’s chest tightened. “You really… don’t need to worry about me.”

Jiang Ci’s nose tingled with bitterness. The slightest hint of tenderness from the woman only made her pain worse.

Heaven knew how much she wanted to claim this person as her own.

But Xi Lingxue’s eyes held no place for her.

Jiang Ci hadn’t wanted to ask, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but blurt out, “What is it about her that makes you love her so much? When you married Gao Yi, did she come to save you?”

Xi Lingxue didn’t want to discuss this anymore, and her expression turned cold. “It’s none of your business.”

“You’re really—” Jiang Ci glanced at the time. There were only ten seconds left. She quickly changed her tone and said urgently, “There’s a letter for you in the study. You must read it!”

Xi Lingxue was momentarily stunned but nodded. “Okay.”

Jiang Ci kept looking at her, as if trying to imprint this person’s image into her mind, or as if making a final break.

[0:0:3]

Jiang Ci gritted her teeth and went all out. “Xi Lingxue, wake up! Stop being so obsessed with love! She’s just a scumbag!”

Before she could see Xi Lingxue’s reaction, an ethereal voice echoed in her mind. [Transmission beginning.]

In the last second, Jiang Ci laughed. “Goodbye.”

Xi Lingxue watched as Gao Yi’s body swayed and then collapsed.

She instinctively caught the falling body, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

How could it be goodbye?!

Xi Lingxue held her breath for a long time, only realizing she was suffocating when she finally reacted. She reached out to check Gao Yi’s nose—there was no breath.

Everything had happened too quickly. Xi Lingxue held Gao Yi’s lifeless body, her gaze blank.

Gao Yi was dead?

No, it was that the soul had left.

So suddenly, just like when she had possessed the body half a year ago. In an instant, silently.

But she hadn’t even demanded compensation from her. She was always so shrewd, never at a disadvantage. How could she just leave like this?!

Xi Lingxue felt a void in her heart, as if something had left with that soul.

Her brows furrowed, and for a moment, she felt an unprecedented fear.

Even four years ago, when that person had left, she hadn’t felt this scared.

It shouldn’t be like this.

She had always known what she wanted, and for the past few years, she had been moving steadily toward that goal. She was certain of her feelings for that person. How could this…

“Princess? Is the Marquis here?”

Jin Yu had brought hot water but didn’t see Gao Yi. She guessed she might be with Xi Lingxue.

She called out a few times, but though the room was lit, there was no response—only dead silence.

“Princess? I’m coming in?”

A subtle unease crept into her heart. Jin Yu pushed the door open a crack and saw Xi Lingxue kneeling on the ground, motionless. In her arms was Gao Yi, eyes closed as if asleep.

Jin Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked in a trembling voice, “Princess, what’s wrong with the Marquis…?”

“She’s gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean gone? Princess, don’t scare me…”

“So Gao Yi really was a borrowed body.” Xi Lingxue’s eyes were clouded, her voice hollow. “That soul is gone… Right, I don’t even know her name. Do you know it?”

Jin Yu shook her head in a daze, still not fully grasping what had happened.

Was Gao Yi—no, that soul—gone?

In her panic, Jin Yu’s nose tingled, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

“I don’t know her name either… I thought she was a good person. Why did she have to leave…”

Jin Yu had never liked the original Gao Yi. After the possession, she had become much better.

Her thoughts were simple: since no Taoist priests were coming to capture her, she might as well live her life this way, just like in the strange tales of the supernatural.

She knew she wasn’t the brightest, but even she could see that “Gao Yi” truly cared for the princess. That was enough. Life is just a few short decades, so why overthink it?

But why did that soul suddenly leave…

“She shouldn’t stay here.” Xi Lingxue said as she gently laid Gao Yi down and slowly stood up. “Notify the servants of the Marquis’s residence.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Yu looked up abruptly, only to see Xi Lingxue’s expressionless eyes, devoid of any emotion.

She couldn’t understand how the princess could be so cold-hearted!

They had spent nearly half a year together, and their bond had seemed so strong!

Watching Xi Lingxue leave, Jin Yu felt that her calmness was somewhat abnormal. “Princess, where are you going?”

“To the study.”

That soul had mentioned leaving a letter, insisting that she must read it.

Snow began to fall again in the capital. On this winter night, the moonlight was hazy. Xi Lingxue drifted through the Marquis’s estate like a wandering spirit, the night breeze blowing her thin sleeping robe, outlining her graceful figure, flawless as white jade.

This is fine, she repeated to herself silently in her heart. This is how it should be…

Xi Lingxue arrived at the study, the place where “Gao Yi” had spent most of her time.

The fire in the stove burned brightly, and the lanterns cast a warm, dim light, making the room feel even cozier. The desk was cluttered with various papers and books, everything just as it always was, no different.

It felt as though the room still held her warmth.

For a moment, Xi Lingxue felt an unreal sensation, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream, and she hadn’t left yet.

“Gao Yi…?” Xi Lingxue called out softly.

The empty room offered no response.

Xi Lingxue’s body trembled slightly, the panic in her heart suddenly magnified. She immediately began rummaging through the desk. A letter was pressed under an inkstone. She pulled it out and saw the familiar handwriting, as chaotic and hard to decipher as ever.

The letter contained no hatred, no complaints, only numerous regrets.

The saplings planted in the backyard, the plum blossoms that hadn’t yet bloomed—she would never get to see them together.

The beautiful landscapes of Yu Kingdom, the romantic scenes of wind, flowers, snow, and moon—they would never get to experience them together.

She hadn’t been able to punish the Crown Prince and the Yao family as promised, nor witness the moment she became empress.

She hadn’t been able to invite her to dance the waltz one more time.

…

Xi Lingxue desperately suppressed the surging emotions, her eyes turning red. She could have mentioned these regrets to her. She had promised to make up for them. She would have fulfilled them all, so why didn’t she say anything?

Why did she just leave like that?

The letter never mentioned her name.

What was her name?

Who was she, really?!

Xi Lingxue closed her eyes, asking herself over and over again, forcing herself to recall what “Gao Yi” had said when they first met in the woodshed half a year ago.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember. It had been too long.

The name was like a curse, lingering in her heart. Xi Lingxue began flipping through the manuscripts on the desk, all left by “Gao Yi.” Maybe there was a mention of it somewhere?

Xi Lingxue searched through the desk, the bookshelves, the entire room, but found no trace of the soul’s name.

No one knew who she was.

…

At night, light snow began to fall again. The sudden death of the Marquis of Dingyuan left the servants in a panic.

Gao Yi’s body had already been laid on the bed. As Nanny Zhang and Jin Yu wailed in grief, a woman suddenly burst into the room. She was wearing only a thin sleeping robe, her face pale, covered in frost and snow.

“Princess?!” Nanny Zhang shivered from the cold and quickly draped a blanket over her. “Why are you dressed so lightly!”

Xi Lingxue stared fixedly at the body on the bed, her voice hoarse. “Summon the Taoist priests and sorcerers. I want to summon her soul.”

“What?!” Nanny Zhang was stunned. “Princess, the dead cannot be brought back to life!”

She didn’t know about the soul transmigration, but Jin Yu understood.

“Nanny Zhang,” Jin Yu quietly tugged at her sleeve, “go find Miss Pei. The princess isn’t acting right…”

“Alright, alright!”

Nanny Zhang could also see that something was wrong. The Marquis was dead, yet the princess wasn’t crying or making a scene. Instead, she was talking about summoning a soul?!

She didn’t dare delay and immediately left the room.

Xi Lingxue walked to the bedside, gently caressing Gao Yi’s face, murmuring, “If I summon her back, I can make it up to her.”

“Princess,” Jin Yu wiped her tear-streaked face, sobbing, “this body isn’t hers anymore. How can you summon her…”

Xi Lingxue paused for a moment, then tightly grasped Gao Yi’s cold hand, her eyes red. “There must be a way. There has to be a way.”

Before the sorcerers arrived, Pei Shiyuan arrived first.

Learning that “Gao Yi” had left, she was quite surprised. It had happened so suddenly. They had just been drinking together.

“Gao Yi” had been so deeply in love with Xi Lingxue. She thought there would at least be some lingering attachment.

This was truly heartbreaking.

Pei Shiyuan dismissed the servants of the Marquis’s residence. When she entered the room, she saw Xi Lingxue tightly holding Gao Yi’s body, wrapped in a blanket as if afraid she would feel cold.

Jin Yu, her eyes filled with tears, didn’t dare make a sound and could only look to Pei Shiyuan for help.

Pei Shiyuan gently patted her, frowning. “Lingxue? What are you doing?”

Hearing her voice, Xi Lingxue was momentarily dazed, then replied calmly, “Shiyuan, you’re here. This body is too cold. She’ll be uncomfortable when she returns.”

“Who’s returning? That soul?”

“Yes. Shiyuan, do you know any powerful masters in the capital? Help me find one.”

Pei Shiyuan found Xi Lingxue’s behavior extremely strange. She had never shown such concern for that “soul” before. Why was she so desperate to summon her back now that she was gone?

“Lingxue, to summon a soul, you need to know her name and birth date.”

Xi Lingxue froze, her beautiful eyes trembling. “What if I don’t have that…”

As soon as she said it, even she found it ridiculous. Without any information, how could she summon her?

The woman’s eyes were vacant. She looked at Pei Shiyuan and suddenly thought of something, her eyes lighting up with hope. “The love lock… You saw her hang it, right? The lock must have her name engraved on it.”

“Uh, yes.” Pei Shiyuan nodded, stunned. “You’re not planning to—”

Before she could finish, Xi Lingxue had already laid Gao Yi down and covered her with a blanket. “I’m going to find it.”

Pei Shiyuan quickly stopped her. “Are you insane? It’s the middle of the night, and it’s snowing outside. You’re going now?”

“The soul has already left the body. We can’t delay any longer.”

The woman, though seemingly frail, now had an inexplicable strength and struggled to break free. “Let me go!”

Pei Shiyuan wrestled with her and, in a moment of desperation, struck her with a palm. Xi Lingxue immediately fainted.

Jin Yu cried out, “Princess!”

“It’s fine. Let her rest for a while.” Pei Shiyuan said, glancing at the body on the bed. “Gao Yi is dead. When dawn comes, report it to the palace and arrange the funeral.”

…

Before dawn, Xi Lingxue woke up in the middle of the night.

Gao Yi wasn’t by her side. She found herself back in the small courtyard. Pei Shiyuan was still there, sitting on a chair with Jin Yu, both dozing off.

Xi Lingxue was dazed for a few seconds. She knew these two wouldn’t be here for no reason. Everything was reminding her of one fact—that soul was gone.

No, she couldn’t let her go.

She had to bring her back.

Xi Lingxue quietly got up, not disturbing the other two, draped a cloak over herself, and left.

The snowstorm hadn’t stopped; in fact, it was growing heavier. Snowflakes fell like goose feathers, covering the outside world in a blanket of white.

Pei Shiyuan shifted to a more comfortable position, glancing at the bed, and then jumped up in alarm.

“Jin Yu! She’s gone!”

“What?!”

The Marquis’s residence was eerily quiet, deathly still.

The two hurried out, following footprints to the stables.

The horse “Gao Yi” usually rode was gone.

Pei Shiyuan had a vague idea of where Xi Lingxue might have gone, but this was madness.

She quickly saddled another horse. “Since when does your Highness know how to ride? I’ve never seen her do it before!”

Jin Yu: “The female knight taught her!”

That female knight again…

Pei Shiyuan gritted her teeth, wishing she could give that person a good beating.

What kind of spell had she cast on Xi Lingxue? If it weren’t for Nanny Zhang and Jin Yu having also met the female knight, Pei Shiyuan would have suspected Xi Lingxue had lost her mind and imagined the whole thing.

“I’ll go after her!”

Galloping on horseback, Pei Shiyuan reached the city gates and asked the guards. They told her Xi Lingxue had just left the city.

Pei Shiyuan was furious. “How could you let her out?”

The guard was apologetic. “His Highness Prince Qi said he had an urgent matter under the Emperor’s orders. How could we dare stop him…”

Pei Shiyuan was shocked. Falsifying imperial orders—Xi Lingxue had truly lost her mind!

“Keep this quiet!”

After instructing the guard, Pei Shiyuan continued her pursuit.

The snowstorm grew heavier. She headed in the direction of Shenwu Temple, the journey bumpy. By dawn, she finally spotted Gao Yi’s horse halfway up the mountain.

Xi Lingxue was nowhere to be seen; she must have already gone up the mountain.

Pei Shiyuan had trained in martial arts since childhood and was stronger than the average Kunjun. Yet even she was feeling the strain. After half a day of travel without food or water, and in such bad weather, Pei Shiyuan couldn’t fathom how Xi Lingxue, who usually appeared so delicate, had managed to endure it.

Madness truly defies reason!

Without a moment’s rest, she dismounted and immediately began climbing the mountain. She rushed into the temple and finally found Xi Lingxue.

In front of a railing hung with love locks, the woman stood draped in a cloak, her pure white figure blending into the snowy landscape. Her outstretched hand was red from the cold.

She bent over, examining each love lock one by one, her slender frame appearing so small against the vast, snowy expanse.

Pei Shiyuan knew what she was looking for, but she didn’t understand. Hadn’t Xi Lingxue always treated that soul as a substitute? Hadn’t her heart always belonged to that female knight? If so, why was she so desperate now that “Gao Yi” was gone?

It was as if she had been possessed!

Pei Shiyuan wanted to knock her out again and carry her back, but this wasn’t the Marquis’s residence. This was Shenwu Temple, a place Xi Lingxue had braved the snowstorm to reach alone after half a day’s journey.

Since she had already come this far, why return empty-handed?

Moreover, even if she knocked Xi Lingxue out, given her temperament, she would surely come back again.

Pei Shiyuan now understood that, whether Xi Lingxue admitted it or not, she had developed feelings for “Gao Yi” perhaps even surpassing those she had for the female knight.

But what did it matter now? It was too late. That soul was already gone.

Xi Lingxue seemed unwilling to accept this reality. The woman continued searching through the love locks on the railing, her fingers red from the cold. Besides this spot, there were many other places in the temple hung with love locks, hundreds upon thousands of them.

“Lingxue,” Pei Shiyuan’s nose tingled with emotion, her heart aching. “I know where she hung the love lock.”

Xi Lingxue paused, not even questioning why Pei Shiyuan was here. She simply grabbed her sleeve and asked, “Where?”

The woman’s eyes were red, a layer of mist covering them as she clung to this last hope.

Pei Shiyuan, her own eyes red, said, “Follow me.”

She remembered the general location and thought they could find it quickly. Love locks usually had two names engraved on them. Although she didn’t know the soul’s name, they could look for “Xi Lingxue.”

The two searched one by one, and soon Xi Lingxue said, “Found it.”

Her voice was soft, not filled with joy but rather a deep sense of helplessness and sorrow.

Pei Shiyuan turned to see the woman staring at the love lock in her hand, her long eyelashes dusted with frost, her eyes dull.

Pei Shiyuan quickly glanced at the engraved words—JC & XLX.

What did that mean?

There was no name engraved!

Xi Lingxue was certain this was left by “Gao Yi.” The symbol was similar to the one on Huang Runfa’s signboard. “HRF” she had said it was called an English letter, an abbreviation.

“XLX” Xi Lingxue thought, must represent her, as her name had three characters.

But what did “JC” stand for? No one could decipher it.

Even after finding the love lock, it was of no use.

The woman knelt in the snow, lost and desolate.

“Lingxue,” Pei Shiyuan’s expression was complex. “Why are you so determined to bring her back?”

Xi Lingxue tried to suppress her emotions, but her voice trembled, as if she were on the verge of breaking down. “Because… I owe her. I haven’t made it up to her.”

“Is it just about owing her?”

The beauty’s face was pale, her clear eyes glistening with tears, sorrowful and moving.

In truth, she had known the answer all along, but she had been unwilling to admit it, unwilling to face her own flaws.

Those four years of waiting had been no match for half a year of companionship.

She knew it better than anyone.

She had fallen for someone else.

…

Jiang Ci didn’t know what the process of transmigration should be like. She had imagined it might involve a sudden thunderclap or the appearance of a portal—something dramatic.

But there was nothing. It was just like falling into a very long, deep sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on a patch of lush green grass.

Not at the company, nor in a hospital.

Surrounded by picturesque mountains and rivers, a few small boats drifted on the distant river. Jiang Ci squinted to see the people on the boats—a man with his hair tied up, dressed in coarse linen clothes, not at all like modern attire.

Jiang Ci felt strange, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.

Where was this?

Jiang Ci: [System, system, are you there?]

She called out repeatedly, but there was no response in her mind.

…The bound system was gone?

Jiang Ci pushed herself up from the ground and looked down at herself—sneakers, jeans, a T-shirt… These were the clothes she had worn on the day she died from overwork!

Without wasting time, she rushed to the riverbank. The reflection in the water showed a delicate face, with fine features and smooth, flawless skin… Jiang Ci knew this face all too well. It was her own!

She had really returned!?

Jiang Ci felt a mix of excitement and loss, wanting to both laugh and cry, lost in thought for a long time.

That damn system had actually come through at the last moment.

It was good to be back. A clean break—she would never see Xi Lingxue again. She had completely left her world.

She should be happy. She didn’t want to be a fool, playing the role of someone else’s substitute.

She should love herself more.

Fortunately, she had been given a second chance. This time, she would live her life to the fullest, enjoying every moment.

Jiang Ci deliberately pushed thoughts of Xi Lingxue aside, focusing instead on her future. She even began thinking about what kind of job she wanted—nothing too high-paying, just something that would make her comfortable and content.

She wanted to do what she loved, meet a group of great friends…

But soon, Jiang Ci realized a crucial problem. She had already died from overwork, so what was her current situation? Had she just come back to life?

Should she go home first, or to the police station? Had her household registration already been canceled…

Jiang Ci wanted to check the time, but after searching through her pockets, she found no phone, no money.

Damn it, this lousy system had just dumped her here?!

Well, being able to come back was already a blessing. She shouldn’t ask for too much. She should be grateful.

Jiang Ci took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She had seen someone rowing a boat on the river earlier, so this wasn’t some deserted wilderness. She could survive here.

Jiang Ci hurried over, hoping to ask the man for directions.

“Hey, sir! Can you tell me where I can find a taxi around here?”

The man on the boat turned at the sound of her voice. Seeing Jiang Ci’s modern attire, he was both surprised and confused by her request for a “taxi.” But noticing her youth and beauty, he blushed and said, “The nearest town is Songxiang. Just head east.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Where there were people, she could surely find help.

Jiang Ci followed the directions eastward and, after about ten minutes, arrived at a quaint, ancient-style town.

At first, Jiang Ci thought it was just a remote area or perhaps a themed tourist spot. But as she walked through the streets, she was stunned.

Everyone she saw was dressed in ancient clothing, their attire and hairstyles completely reminiscent of Yu Kingdom!

Not a single modern person in sight!

The passersby gave her strange looks, and Jiang Ci grew increasingly uneasy. A bold suspicion began to form in her mind.

At the town’s central market, she saw a storyteller surrounded by a crowd of locals.

“Continuing from last time, after Gao Yi’s death, Prince Qi Xi Lingxue finally ascended to the throne—”

Just the first sentence made Jiang Ci’s heart sink.

No way, this was still about Yu Kingdom. Could it be…

“The following year, Xi Lingxue took the throne, becoming the third Kunjun empress in Yu Kingdom’s history. Though a Kunjun, she swiftly established strict governance. In her nine-year reign, her iron-fisted rule struck fear into the hearts of officials, and the aristocracy dared not defy her.”

The crowd listened with rapt attention.

“Of course, with the Pei family’s support!”

“And Wen Bojian, a genius in statecraft!”

“Even the empress’s maid was extraordinary. She looked frail but could uproot a willow tree!”

“Sadly,” the storyteller continued, “just yesterday, the empress suddenly announced her intention to abdicate in favor of Prince Jing, voluntarily stepping down to become the Grand Princess.”

The crowd murmured in surprise.

Jiang Ci was dumbfounded.

Even the slowest person would realize by now. She hadn’t returned to her world at all—she had been transported ten years into the future!

How absurd!

Damn that lousy system! What kind of mess was this?

Grateful? Grateful my foot! It had screwed her over!

Jiang Ci was furious. She was still in the world of the book…

Wait, so was she a Zhongjun now? Or—

Jiang Ci reached behind her neck, her fingertips brushing against a small bump.

She had a gland…!

She instinctively licked her canine teeth—sharp and long, similar to Gao Yi’s.

Jiang Ci quickly sniffed herself. There was a faint, refreshing scent, reminiscent of cypress.

She was almost certain now—she was a Qianjun!

Jiang Ci slumped to the ground, holding her head in her hands.

She had never imagined waking up like this. Ten years had passed, but for her, it felt like just a long sleep.

The night of their farewell seemed like yesterday. She clearly remembered writing that parting letter to Xi Lingxue. At the time, it had felt so brave, but now, just thinking about the opening line made her cringe.

[Xi Lingxue, by the time you read this letter, I will already be gone.]

Ugh!

Gone? Not even close!