Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 5

05: A Pleasant Cooperation

In the original story, Xi Lingxue didn’t aim to become an empress right from the start. Her initial goal was simply to escape the Marquis’s household and take control of her own destiny. However, she kept getting entangled in various troubles, which forced her to climb higher and higher.

If we follow this plotline, none of the subsequent events have happened yet. So, if Xi Lingxue seized an opportunity, she should have immediately sought a divorce. Why is there now a one-year waiting period?

…Could it be that this plotline has also derailed?

Jiang Ci wasn’t sure what Xi Lingxue had experienced before, but it must have deviated from the original book.

After finishing the divorce letter, Jin Yu came over to take a look. “What did you write?”

The handwriting was crooked, and many characters were incorrect. Even for a military officer, the handwriting couldn’t be this bad!

Jiang Ci looked at it for a moment and then realized, “Oh, sorry, I only know simplified characters…”

She had forgotten that the characters in this world were different.

Xi Lingxue glanced at it, took a new sheet of paper, and said, “I’ll write it.”

Once the agreement was drafted, both parties signed and stamped it. Jiang Ci quickly read through it and pressed her fingerprint.

Her swift agreement surprised Xi Lingxue. She had expected some trouble today, but it went smoothly.

“I also have a request.” Jiang Ci said, rubbing the red ink on her thumb. “You must keep my current situation—this soul transmigration—a secret. I don’t want to be burned as a monster.”

Xi Lingxue quietly observed her, carefully weighing the pros and cons.

In truth, no matter what tricks Gao Yi played, Xi Lingxue only cared about the outcome—a result that benefited her.

Xi Lingxue: “No problem. Do you need me to draft another agreement?”

“No need.” Jiang Ci smiled and winked at her. “We’re allies now. Burning me wouldn’t do you any good either.”

Jin Yu suddenly felt a chill. “Are you… really a monster?”

“It’s a soul, a soul.” Jiang Ci emphasized. “Calling me a monster sounds so unpleasant…”

Xi Lingxue folded the divorce letter and placed it in an envelope. “Your sudden change in behavior will surely raise suspicions among the household. How do you plan to explain it?”

Jiang Ci patted her head. Indeed, after transmigrating, the broken system didn’t provide her with the plot, and she had little memory of the original body’s past. What she knew about Gao Yi came from the book, which didn’t provide detailed descriptions.

Dealing with outsiders was manageable. According to the timeline, Gao Yi had just returned to the capital after being away at war, so people in the capital didn’t know her well and mostly relied on hearsay.

But the household servants were different. They had served her for a while and were familiar with Gao Yi’s habits. For example, the lecherous servant who guarded the firewood room knew Gao Yi’s preferences well.

Now that she had to live as Gao Yi, she needed to be cautious within the Marquis’s household.

Jiang Ci looked at Xi Lingxue. “I’ll try to act as much like her as possible. Please remind me of anything else I should be aware of.”

In this world, Jiang Ci could only trust Xi Lingxue for now.

“That’s fine.” Xi Lingxue said, “but what about our previous relationship…”

Xi Lingxue recalled the days after she married into the Marquis’s household. On their wedding night, Gao Yi was too drunk to function, and Xi Lingxue shut her out. Gao Yi tried to force herself on her several times, and when Xi Lingxue refused, she was beaten. In the end, Xi Lingxue had to rely on sedatives to escape. Later, Gao Yi took a concubine, and Xi Lingxue was relegated to the “cold palace.”

Just yesterday, when her sedatives ran out and she hadn’t had time to prepare more, Gao Yi barged in. During the struggle, Xi Lingxue used a dagger to cut Gao Yi’s gland. As a result, today, as soon as Gao Yi woke up, she drugged Xi Lingxue and dragged her to the firewood room to assault her…

“Our relationship was… not friendly, I know.” Jiang Ci said, holding her forehead. “That’s why I thought we could cooperate and put on a show in front of others.”

Gao Yi was infatuated with Xi Lingxue’s beauty, but because Xi Lingxue refused her, their relationship turned sour. But if Xi Lingxue “complied” their relationship would naturally improve, and everything would fall into place, right?

“Ahem, you know…” Jiang Ci felt a bit embarrassed and gestured awkwardly. “If you act a bit more… affectionate, I can naturally dote on you, which would give you a lot of advantages, right? No one would find it strange…”

As Jiang Ci spoke, Jin Yu’s little brain conjured up the image of a seductress. She could already picture Xi Lingxue, like a vixen, cooing sweetly in the arms of the despicable Marquis.

The Marquis, with a lecherous grin on her face.

Jin Yu was horrified. No!!!!

“…How dare you!” Jin Yu jumped up in protest. “You just want to take advantage of Her Highness! You’re lusting after her! How despicable! Shameless!”

Jiang Ci covered her ears with her fingers and leaned back. “No, why is your little brain so perverted? Am I that kind of person?”

“What ‘little brain’? My name is Jin Yu!” The little maid stomped her foot angrily. “No matter where your soul came from, the way you look at Her Highness is just wrong!”

Jiang Ci was startled. What kind of look did she have? Could this little maid really tell?

“Then what do you suggest?” Jiang Ci said. “If Her Highness slaps ‘me’ in the face, and ‘I’ still fawn over her, do you think Gao Yi would act like that? She’d just turn around and find someone else!”

In the original book, Gao Yi was a lecherous person who quickly grew tired of her conquests.

“You!” Jin Yu pointed at her angrily, but she had to admit that Jiang Ci’s arguments were always spot on, leaving no room for rebuttal.

“Let’s do as you say.” Xi Lingxue suddenly said. “I can cooperate with you, but you can’t restrict my movements.”

Gao Yi’s gland was injured, so she shouldn’t be able to mark anyone for a while.

So, as long as it was just cooperation, Xi Lingxue could handle it.

Jiang Ci’s eyes lit up. See, this was why she liked this character. She was so different from the clueless Jin Yu.

“OK! It’s settled then!” Jiang Ci extended her hand.

Xi Lingxue looked at her action, puzzled. “What does this mean?”

“It’s a handshake.” Jiang Ci said sincerely. “It’s a custom from my hometown, to wish us a pleasant cooperation.”

Xi Lingxue scrutinized her for a moment. In the past, even the slightest touch from Gao Yi would disgust her, but now, looking at Gao Yi’s face, she suddenly felt that this person wasn’t so repulsive after all?

However, she still didn’t shake Jiang Ci’s hand.

Jiang Ci awkwardly withdrew her hand. “…I understand. It’s normal for you not to trust me. I get it.”

“I’m leaving the residence today.” Xi Lingxue said directly. “You should stay here and recover.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ci said. “I’ll prepare a carriage for you.”

Xi Lingxue smiled. “No need. Jin Yu will accompany me.”

Jiang Ci sensed the distance in her words and felt a tiny bit disappointed.

She really wanted to quickly close the gap between her and Xi Lingxue. Even if they couldn’t be lovers, they could at least become close friends. But these things couldn’t be rushed. Even after laying everything out, there was still a lack of trust between them.

One conversation and one agreement were too flimsy. Xi Lingxue still had some guard up against her. Even if the shell was no longer Gao Yi, to Xi Lingxue, Jiang Ci wasn’t someone close.

Jiang Ci had offered the carriage to ensure Xi Lingxue’s comfort, but Xi Lingxue was more concerned about her movements being tracked.

Alright… Jiang Ci sighed inwardly. It’s fine. She believed that, given time, Xi Lingxue would eventually see her as an ally.

“Fine, no carriage then.” Jiang Ci said. “I won’t send anyone to follow you either. After all, Jin Yu has superhuman strength and can protect your safety.”

“I told you, my name is Jin Yu!”

Xi Lingxue didn’t linger any longer. With a slight nod, she left with Jin Yu.

As she turned to open the door, she suddenly heard Gao Yi call out, “Wait!”

Xi Lingxue froze, her first instinct being to quietly reach for the dagger hidden at her waist. She didn’t turn around, only saying indifferently, “…What else does the Marquis have to say?”

Jin Yu nervously stared at Jiang Ci, her heart racing. They had already said everything that needed to be said. What else did this person want? If everything earlier had just been a trick, they might have to fight to the death!

Jiang Ci, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t notice the tense atmosphere. “I just wanted to ask, does Gao Yi have any particular habits? What should I be careful about in the household?”

Xi Lingxue was taken aback, not expecting this question. She relaxed and removed her hand from her waist, turning around to think seriously. “You were always crude and had no particular preferences… Oh, there is one thing.”

Jiang Ci: “What?”

Xi Lingxue: “You hated bathing.”

“!!!”

Jiang Ci was horrified. “No, no, no! I can’t stand that! This habit has to change!”

“That’s how you were before.” Jin Yu said. “The last time you bathed was four days ago.”

…What? It had been four days?!

Jiang Ci wanted to cry. She felt like this body was filthy. “I need to take a bath, right now! Xi Lingxue, I’ve already let you leave the residence. You have to help me with this!”

Xi Lingxue raised an eyebrow. “How do you want me to help?”

…

The servants in the courtyard were sweeping the ground absentmindedly when suddenly the door opened, and Gao Yi and Xi Lingxue stepped out side by side. Both were smiling, looking very affectionate.

Jiang Ci smiled warmly. “Princess, you must have been bored staying in the residence these past few days. Go out for a walk. I permit it~”

“Thank you for your consideration, Marquis.” Xi Lingxue said with a forced smile, barely curving her lips. “I was too ignorant before and offended you. I hope you can forgive me.”

The servants were stunned. Just two days ago, the two masters were arguing and even came to blows. Yet this morning, the usually aloof princess had actually taken the initiative to apologize! Who knew what they had been doing behind closed doors…

The servants in the residence were all betas and couldn’t detect pheromones. But everyone speculated that the princess had probably been marked. After a few days of resistance and suffering, she must have finally realized the situation and started to curry favor.

After all, only by doing so could she have a good life in the Marquis’s household.

Jin Yu followed behind them, unable to bear watching.

Jiang Ci whispered without moving her lips, “…Your acting is a bit stiff. The tone lacks emotion!”

Despite her words, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but think how inexperienced the current “black lotus” was! Who could have imagined how skilled at deception she would become in the later parts of the novel!

Xi Lingxue took a deep breath and reached behind her, pinching Jiang Ci’s waist hard.

The desire to kill someone couldn’t be hidden, even if she was smiling.

Jiang Ci hissed in pain. Indeed, she couldn’t expect too much from the black lotus. Given their negative relationship, the fact that Xi Lingxue was willing to cooperate was already a win.

Jiang Ci endured the pain and smiled. “Princess… it’s good that you’ve come to your senses! Then tonight…”

“I will naturally come.” Xi Lingxue continued with her stiff, fake smile. “Marquis, make sure to wash up and wait for me.”

With that, Xi Lingxue left with Jin Yu, her steps slightly quicker than usual.

Jiang Ci stared at her retreating figure, suddenly feeling that the black lotus could be quite cute at times.

As soon as Xi Lingxue left, a servant rushed up to Jiang Ci. “Congratulations, Marquis! You’ve finally won the beauty’s heart!”

Jiang Ci snapped out of her thoughts and waved her hand, imitating Gao Yi’s mannerisms. “Enough, enough. Didn’t you hear? The princess likes cleanliness. Go heat up some water, quick!”