CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 43: THE CHILDREN PALACE SHINES

Ms Wei watched helplessly as Black and White Impermanence dragged the ghost away, disappearing from sight, and felt all her strength drained as she collapsed to the ground.

Were it not for the corpses of Taoist Chen Fang and Chu Wenjia still lying on the ground, she would have thought it was all just a dream.

Ms Wei knelt before Yu Nianzhao, her eyes filled with admiration and awe, "Miss Yu, I truly thank you; otherwise, I fear I would never have my revenge in this lifetime. You are the benefactor of our Wei Family, and I don’t know how I can ever repay you."

Yu Nianzhao helped her up, dismissively saying, "I was already going to collect these two evil souls, so assisting you was convenient. After all, since I took five thousand taels of silver from you, I should help all the way. Take care of yourself in the future."

Ms Wei’s eyes reddened. She glanced at Wei Zhao’s ghost, her smile bittersweet yet gentle, "I plan to return to the countryside, following your instructions to cultivate good karma and gain merit for Zhao’er, so he may successfully reincarnate. I’ve lost all my family, and this is my only hope now."

Yu Nianzhao noticed a faint glow around her Children Palace, reminding her, "You seem to have a star surrounding your Children Palace, which means you will be taken care of in your old age."

Ms Wei was stunned, bitterly smiling, "Miss Yu, please don’t joke with me. My son is gone; how can I rely on anyone in my old age?"

Yu Nianzhao shook her head, speaking earnestly, "Biological children are closest by blood, yet they can be ungrateful or burdensome, not necessarily ensuring care in old age. Your good intentions and merits will lead you to new goals. When that time comes, you’ll understand why your Children Palace has reignited with starlight."

This was a variable she witnessed with her own eyes; thus, it was true.

Though Ms Wei didn’t fully comprehend, she trusted Yu Nianzhao unconditionally and nodded, "Alright, Miss Yu, I’ll remember!"

She reluctantly bade farewell to Wei Zhao, wiped her tears, and handed a stack of silver notes hidden on her to Yu Nianzhao, "Miss Yu, these are the profits I’ve made over the years from my shops. I’ve sold all my properties in Shangjing, leaving this money with you. Let it be for taking care of Zhao’er’s ghost."

Yu Nianzhao glanced over it briefly; the stack of silver notes amounted to at least thirty thousand taels.

Ms Wei indeed intended to give her all her savings.

Yu Nianzhao smiled faintly and declined, "Keep the money for yourself. I initially said I would take five thousand taels, and that’s it! You’ll have use for this money later."

Ms Wei was puzzled, "Isn’t ten thousand taels enough for cultivating good karma?"

"Heaven’s secrets must not be divulged."

Yu Nianzhao took out a talisman from her bosom and handed it to her, "This has Wei Zhao’s date of birth and a special talisman I crafted. Keep one with you and place one in his urn; this way, the good karma you cultivate will transfer to him."

Ms Wei cautiously took it, tearfully expressing gratitude, "Miss Yu, I will definitely keep this talisman close to me and ask you to take good care of Zhao’er’s ghost. Once he can reincarnate, I will surely thank you again."

"Alright!"

After Ms Wei left, looking back constantly, Wei Zhao’s gaze also turned hollow.

Wei Zhao bowed to Yu Nianzhao, compliant, "Miss, I will be your servant henceforth. Whatever you need Wei Zhao to do, just instruct me."

Yu Nianzhao curled her lips, a glance of disdain passing over his spectral form, "You’ve become a ghost—what can you help me with? Ghostly affairs? Just obediently follow me and don’t cause any trouble."

Wei Zhao rubbed his nose, helplessly saying, "Alright, Miss, I surely won’t cause trouble."

Yu Nianzhao ignored him and turned to leave the desolate manor.

Wei Zhao hurriedly caught up, "Miss, where are you going?"

"It’s late; naturally, I’m going back to the mansion to rest and sleep!"

As one person and one ghost vanished into the countryside, three shadows stood on the rooftop, finally revealing themselves.

"Prince, I told you, there’s no need to worry that the Princess would suffer a loss."

Mu Hongxuan held a long sword, arms crossed, his expression full of pride, "Chu Wenjia and this wretched Taoist are no match for the Princess. Their deaths were deserved. The Prince and Princess’s thoughts have truly coincided. Even if the Princess hadn’t acted, the Prince wouldn’t have spared this scum."

"Prince, the Princess is truly courageous enough to befriend emissaries of the underworld. That’s beyond my imagination."

Dongfang Chenyuan bit his sleeve, touched, "If not for the Prince stopping me, I would have followed just now, trying to use the Princess’s connection to make some ties with the emissaries of the underworld. You know, our Dongfang Family holds quite an impressive standing in the Mystic Sect, but in the eyes of those emissaries, we’re nothing. If I could use the Princess to establish some relationships, the old man would definitely look at me differently."

He felt quite vexed for having missed this opportunity.

Xie Jiuxiao’s cold gaze fell on Dongfang Chenyuan, causing him to shudder, immediately standing straight, arranging his collar, dropping the pretentious demeanor, and speaking seriously, "Thankfully, the Princess took the Prince’s carriage that day. Otherwise, how would our Prince have such a perfect match for a Princess? I specifically cast a divination; the Prince’s variable has emerged. Originally, his fate was covered by a red energy shield; now, it indicates surviving calamity and turning misfortune to fortune. The Princess is definitely the mascot of Prince Su Mansion. I’ve already written a letter and sent it to the Dongfang Family, so my father can cast another divination for the Prince. I believe, with the Princess present, the fate of the Prince not living past twenty-six can definitely be broken!"

"No need." Xie Jiuxiao’s tone was very cold.

"Huh? What’s not needed?"

"There’s no need to cast another divination." Xie Jiuxiao looked over at Leng Yue, "My fate is always in my own hands. As for destiny... I now believe in the Princess more. No one can take my life from her hands."

Dongfang Chenyuan sighed with envy, "How does that sound like they’re flaunting affection."

Mu Hongxuan quietly whispered, "Exactly!"

"Clean up Chu Wenjia’s mess for me!"

Xie Jiuxiao was too lazy to respond to their melodious exchange and turned to leave.

Dongfang Chenyuan chased after him with a question, "Prince, are you going back?"

Xie Jiuxiao’s voice came from afar, "To accompany the Princess in sleep."

"..."

Dongfang Chenyuan felt even more envious, "I thought the Prince would be a bachelor for life. Ever since having the Princess, it’s quite nice the Prince has become more humane. But they’re not even married yet, and they keep flaunting affection. How are we lonely people supposed to live?"

Mu Hongxuan quickly distanced himself, "Don’t include me; being alone is quite fine. Not everyone can have someone like the Princess come their way."

He leapt down to clean up the bodies, leaving Dongfang Chenyuan alone on the rooftop, melancholically watching the autumn moon.

——

Ms Wei, accompanied only by two old women, returned to the countryside.

On the way, they encountered a snow disaster. She witnessed with her own eyes parents sacrificing themselves to save their children, buried under the snow, and by the time they were dug out, they had already stiffened, leaving only three young and pitiable children crying bitterly.

Faced with these orphaned children, with no one to care for them, seemingly about to freeze to death in the icy wilderness, Ms Wei couldn’t bear it.

She suddenly recalled what Yu Nianzhao had said—her Children Palace was surrounded by starlight. Enlightened, she resolutely decided to adopt these children, bringing them back to her hometown...