Amidst everyone’s eager anticipation, Daoist Li and Daoist Fang departed together.

After a moment of silence, Daoist Fang initiated the conversation. “Senior Brother, I didn’t expect you to return to your hometown.”

Daoist Li replied, “Yes. Like fallen leaves returning to their roots.”

Daoist Fang asked, “How has the Shenxiao Sect been developing in Da Xia?” He couldn’t continue asking because the sight before him rendered the question unnecessary—he saw their childhood Daoist temple. It was clean but still small and dilapidated.

Daoist Fang was shocked. “This run-down place? Senior Brother, how…?”

Daoist Li didn’t mind at all. In fact, he smiled proudly and said, “Don’t be fooled by its shabby appearance. The alchemy furnace and medicinal materials are top-notch. Cultivating the Dao focuses on the mind, not superficial appearances.”

Daoist Fang’s mouth twitched slightly as he muttered, “Without good appearances, which noble official would trust you enough to burn incense here?” Then he glanced suspiciously at Daoist Li. “Senior Brother, which noble official are you planning to ask to introduce us?”

Daoist Li laughed freely. “Don’t worry. We’ll go directly.”

Daoist Fang was startled. His Senior Brother was so well-connected in Da Xia?

However, not long after, Daoist Fang’s face turned pale green.

It was because Daoist Li hadn’t used any connections. Instead, he went straight to the East Gate marketplace and began beating a drum to file a grievance.

The emperor initially didn’t want to bother with it.

But then the report came in, saying that a Daoist claimed, “All lightning techniques under heaven originate from the Shenxiao Sect. The pinnacle of lightning arts lies in the Divine Fire Heavenly General Method of Shenxiao. This humble Daoist is a native of Da Xia and has recently heard of Da Xia’s National Preceptor’s expertise in lightning techniques. I wish to seek her guidance.”

The emperor froze.

The Crown Prince stepped closer and whispered, “Father, the National Preceptor has often lamented her lack of skill in lightning techniques. Could this Divine Fire Heavenly General Method be an opportunity?”

The emperor nodded slightly.

The Crown Prince’s words struck a chord with him.

For the emperor, it didn’t matter whether the Daoists were skilled, genuine, or extraordinary.

What mattered was whether his beloved daughter was interested and happy.

Since the little National Preceptor had indeed complained about her weak lightning techniques, this was worth a look.

At the same time, in Kunning Palace.

Yuan Ruan was being fed milk custard by the Second Princess.

As Yuan Ruan yawned, the Second Princess whispered, “Sigh, my wedding is approaching, and I feel so nervous. I wonder if he’ll like the blue handkerchief I embroidered for him. I don’t even know what his preferences are.”

Yuan Ruan: [So this is what a woman in love looks like? Her head’s full of what Lord Cheng likes.]

System: [Good thing they’re both hopeless romantics. Oh, let me see—oh, Lord Cheng doesn’t like blue. His favorite color is gold because that’s the Second Princess’s favorite color since childhood.]

Yuan Ruan: [Oh, really now.]

The Second Princess’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she discreetly made a mental note of this.

Then, she fed Yuan Ruan another bite of fruit and murmured softly, “I also wonder what kind of women Lord Cheng’s mother prefers—lively ones or more reserved ones?”

Yuan Ruan hiccupped. [You’re a princess! No matter what, she should like you. Have confidence! Stand tall!]

System: Exactly. [Lord Cheng only has eyes for her. At home, his word is law. Besides, his mother is very understanding—she likes whoever her son likes.]

The Second Princess was delighted by this reassurance. Overjoyed, she reached into a nearby cabinet and pulled out some dragon beard candy.

Yuan Ruan’s eyes lit up with excitement—it was her favorite treat.

Just then, the empress entered. She sighed and ordered the maids to clear the table full of snacks. “Put these away. Every time you visit, your Ninth Sister gains a few more pounds. Thankfully, you’re leaving for marriage in a few days.”

The Second Princess blushed and pouted playfully, “Mother.”

The empress coldly pried the Second Princess’s arms away from Yuan Ruan, picked Yuan Ruan up, and started walking out. At the same time, she instructed the maids, “Tell the small kitchen to prepare lighter meals and call the imperial physician to check if there’s any indigestion.”

The maids quickly obeyed and left.

Soon, the imperial physician arrived and conducted a careful examination, concluding that it was nothing serious but confirmed some mild indigestion.

The empress frowned and sternly addressed the Second Princess. “Do you realize your mistake?”

The Second Princess quickly bowed her head. “Mother, I’m sorry. I won’t feed Ninth Sister so much again.”

Neither Yuan Ruan nor the system had expected the usually laid-back empress to become so stern.

Yuan Ruan: [Oh, it’s not a big deal! It’s just snacks—at least she didn’t give me anything unreliable like alcohol. Second Sister had good intentions and wasn’t reckless.]

The empress sighed inwardly. Many people could hear Ninth Sister’s thoughts, and undoubtedly, there were those who would try to curry favor with her to gain some insight. Completely banning it was impossible.

Thus, from the beginning, while issuing prohibitions, the empress had also set implicit rules: anyone seeking to please Ninth Sister must prioritize her health and well-being.

Though she knew the Second Princess meant no harm, the empress couldn’t tolerate such behavior—it was a warning to others.

With that in mind, the empress said calmly, “I’ll have a maid supervise. You’ll accompany Ninth Sister on walks and play ball games until her digestion improves and her little belly goes down. Only then can you leave.”

The Second Princess immediately agreed. “Mother, I understand. I’ll be careful from now on. I’ll take Ninth Sister to exercise right away.”

Yuan Ruan: [Second Sister is walking with me so gently, her back hunched. Her face is so red, and there’s sweat on her forehead. Wipe it off. She’s so patient and kind—and a royal beauty to boot. Lord Cheng is really lucky to have her.]

System: [Exactly. Good thing he’s a hopeless romantic, or he’d never deserve her. Yuan Ruan, I used to root for Consort Rong’s faction, but now I think staying with the empress isn’t so bad after all!]

The Second Princess’s face grew redder and hotter as time went on.

System: [Yuan Ruan, we’re just one national fortune point short, but it hasn’t triggered yet. Could there be a problem?]

Yuan Ruan: [I don’t know. Maybe I haven’t met enough people? There are still the Empress Dowager, the late emperor’s consorts, and several princes and princesses I haven’t encountered. Could the trigger lie with them?]

System: [Possibly. But are they such recluses? Even walking around the imperial garden every day, you never run into them?]

The Second Princess seemed thoughtful upon hearing this.

She bit her lip and suddenly picked Yuan Ruan up, whispering, “I really don’t want to leave Mother. I wish I didn’t have to marry so soon. If only there were a way…”

Yuan Ruan quickly reached out to pat the Second Princess’s cheek. [Pre-wedding jitters! Don’t worry! Your husband is head over heels for you—completely locked in. No need to fear!]

The Second Princess stifled a laugh. She owed her perfect fiancé to Ninth Sister and felt she should do something to ease her burdens in return.

She murmured softly, [At first, I thought about having Lord Cheng pretend to be sick to delay the wedding by a few months.]

Yuan Ruan: [??? Absolutely not!]

System: [No way! That could jeopardize his position as the groom!]

The Second Princess chuckled and continued, “But then I thought that wouldn’t work—it might be exposed by the imperial physicians. However, just now, when I saw the maid serving the Empress Dowager, I remembered that the Empress Dowager and the late emperor’s consorts are all at Mount Wutai for prayer. Could I use the excuse of wanting to invite them to the wedding banquet to delay it a bit?”

Yuan Ruan: [What?! The Empress Dowager and the late emperor’s consorts are at Mount Wutai?! No wonder I haven’t run into them!]

System: [Wow! What an opportunity! Sorry, Lord Cheng, but this is too good to pass up.]

The Second Princess now had a plan but didn’t end the topic. Instead, she continued discussing other ideas and people, entertaining Yuan Ruan and the system as they eagerly listened.

After a while of exercising in the imperial garden, the chief eunuch serving the emperor and a maid from the empress’s palace hurried over.

The chief eunuch bowed. “Greetings, Second Princess and Ninth Princess. His Majesty urgently summons the Ninth Princess. I’ve been ordered to escort her to Yangxin Hall.”

The Second Princess, unwilling to let Yuan Ruan go with just anyone, carried her into the sedan chair herself.

When they arrived at Yangxin Hall, she handed Yuan Ruan over to the waiting maid, who carried her inside.

Yuan Ruan lay on the maid’s shoulder, waving her tiny hand to bid the Second Princess farewell.

Then she entered Yangxin Hall.

Inside, about a dozen officials stood, all uniformly staring out the window. Yuan Ruan was puzzled when she suddenly heard a deafening “rumble.”

Everyone: !!!