Chapter 272: Erasing Memories

“You’re absolutely right! If you were still alive, you’d definitely be a free-spirited woman!”

“People live with a purpose, and even in death, there’s a purpose. I’m doing just fine now. I’m not just a wandering ghost; I have many little cuties with me.”

“Be… behind you?” The Eldest Prince was scared stiff and looked behind him, seeing nothing but darkness.

“Big Brother, Big Brother, it’s us!”

“Big Brother, you’re really handsome.”

“Big Brother, thank you for the money.”

“Big Brother…”

The Eldest Prince felt like he was hearing things. Even though no one was around, his head was filled with numerous voices.

These voices weren’t even Lian’er’s thoughts.

Suddenly, he remembered what his royal sister had said about ghost babies…

“Ah!” The Eldest Prince jumped up in fright.

“Eldest Prince, let’s discuss something.”

“Ahhh! Just say it, quickly.”

“I can erase your memories. That way, you won’t have nightmares about my existence anymore.”

The Eldest Prince looked at Lian’er. “Alright, then erase them. From now on, we’ll be strangers.”

Lian’er hadn’t expected the Eldest Prince to agree so readily.

They were both quite drunk by now, and their conversation grew more and more extensive. Sometimes they laughed, and sometimes they delved into deep discussions about life and beliefs.

Eventually, the Eldest Prince passed out, and Lian’er seemed to tap lightly on his forehead, erasing the memories of their encounters.

The Eldest Prince was then helped back to the cottage by Lin Xuanzhi. After Lin Xuanzhi left, the sound of the Eldest Prince’s heart-wrenching cries echoed from inside, a sound so sorrowful that it tore at anyone’s heart who heard it.

Outside, on the hillside, Di Zian nudged Ah Bao’s small shoulder. “Sister, why is our Eldest Prince brother crying so sadly? Didn’t Lian’er already erase his memories?”

In all his life, he had never seen his elder brother so out of sorts. The Eldest Prince had always been stern and unsmiling. Who knew he had such a fragile side?

Ah Bao blinked. “Eldest Prince brother had his heart broken.”

[Thinking] “One thought his memory was erased, and the other thought they had erased it. But it’s all a lie.”

[Thinking] “Eldest Prince brother has the protective charm Old Bai gave him. The charm I drew can ward off any evil spirit, so it naturally also resists Lian’er’s memory-erasing spell. The Eldest Prince already knew that the charm could protect him, so he agreed so easily, just to put Lian’er at ease. In reality, the Eldest Prince is the one who can’t bear to let go.”

Di Zian was astonished. So, the Eldest Prince’s memory wasn’t erased?

[Thinking] “Of all human emotions, the obstacle of love is the hardest to overcome.”

Love…

Di Zian couldn’t help but think of himself. Right now, wasn’t he also deeply trapped in the obstacle of love?

He really did envy Lan Yixuan, living such a carefree life without any emotional ties.

Lian’er set down the wine jar and walked outside, only to see Ah Bao and Di Zian sitting under the starry sky.

She didn’t know why the Eldest Prince was crying. Maybe he was drunk and had a headache?

Lian’er just shook her head with a smile. Now, she and the Eldest Prince were strangers. From now on, they wouldn’t interfere in each other’s lives.

“Little Princess, Seventh Prince.”

Ah Bao grinned at Lian’er, “Lian’er Sister…”

“By the way, Lian’er, since you’re a ghost, how can you appear in daylight like a human? Aren’t ghosts supposed to be afraid of sunlight?”

[Giggling] “Seventh Brother must not know that Lian’er Sister is a ghost protected by divine power. She’s different from ordinary ghosts.”

Di Zian was stunned, suddenly recalling how his father had tried to punish Lian’er but was stopped by his sister, who had stepped in to save her. Now, she was still helping Lian’er—could it be that there was some connection between the two of them?

“Little Princess, may I hold you?” Lian’er bent down, really liking Ah Bao.

Ah Bao stretched out her arms, “Sure!”

Lian’er hugged Ah Bao, carefully observing her. Suddenly, a memory of the golden figure she had found in her previous life flashed through her mind, and her smile deepened. She was a ghost who believed in gods, Buddha, and destiny.

Ah Bao was undoubtedly her greatest destiny.

This little princess was no ordinary child.

…

Early the next morning, the group descended the mountain. When they returned to the General’s Manor, Feng Batian happily came out to report, “Your Majesty, Little Princess, the Sixth Prince has awakened.”

Ah Bao’s eyes lit up, and her little body quivered with excitement as she rushed into the room, jumping into someone’s arms. A faint scent of green wood greeted her.

“Little Ah Bao.”

Ah Bao found herself lifted off the ground by an arm. Looking up, she saw Di Chenyu’s handsome and otherworldly face. Ah Bao immediately pinched his face, “Sixth Brother, I’m not little Ah Bao anymore. I’m a year and a half old now, I’ve grown up.”

Di Chenyu laughed heartily, “Hahaha, no matter how much you grow, you’ll always be little Ah Bao to your Sixth Brother.”

Ah Bao pouted, “Fine, fine. Sixth Brother just got better, so I won’t argue with you.”

Di Chenyu gently pinched Ah Bao’s chubby cheeks, “I haven’t seen you in a year, and now you can say so many words. My little sister is growing cuter by the day.”

“Cute, just cute,” Ah Bao said, shaking her little head proudly in front of Di Chenyu.

[Thinking] “I love it when Sixth Brother praises me. Ah Bao really, really missed Sixth Brother.”

Maybe it was the natural bond of blood, but Ah Bao felt so happy when she saw Di Chenyu and wouldn’t let go of him.

It was different from Di Zian, who hugged her every day—she was already tired of that.

“Ahem.” The Emperor, who had just entered, cleared his throat to remind the siblings. Why was it that as soon as Sixth Brother appeared, he stole Ah Bao’s affection from her father?

Sixth Brother praised Ah Bao, but hadn’t her father also praised her plenty of times?

Yet she never said she missed him…

The Emperor felt a bit sour but couldn’t show it. “Sixth Son, you’ve just recovered and are still weak. You should lie down more and be careful not to drop Ah Bao.”

He took Ah Bao from Di Chenyu’s arms.

Di Chenyu saw through it but didn’t say anything. “Father, I have something to report regarding the epidemic in Lingnan.”

“Speak. Oh, and call the Eldest Prince in as well. Let him get a good understanding of this. He’s been cooped up in the mountains for so long he’s almost gone silly. He needs to get in touch with the world and calm his temper.”

Di Chenyu couldn’t help but smile. At the time, he had arrived in Lingnan but hadn’t seen the Eldest Prince. Even though they were physically close, it had actually been a long time since they last met.

“Hey, Old Six, are you really okay?” The Eldest Prince asked somewhat awkwardly, feeling rather embarrassed.

“Eldest Brother, I’m fine now.”

“Hmph, it’s all thanks to Ah Bao. Just look, before we arrived, you had even prepared a coffin, but as soon as Ah Bao and I showed up, you got better. You should really thank your little sister.” The tyrant emperor never missed a chance to praise his beloved daughter.

Ah Bao’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, looking like a traditional New Year painting doll.

Everyone present couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy watching her.

“By the way, Old Six, about that plague you mentioned earlier…”

“I found some clues about the origin of the plague. I was going to investigate further, but then I contracted the disease and fell into a coma.”