Evolution - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
The two were some distance apart. One stood on the high platform, silhouetted by the lights behind her; the other stood below, face tilted up toward the light. Despite the distance, and though the surrounding lights were as bright as day, neither could truly make out the other’s features.
But subconsciously, they both offered the other a smile, wanting to look their best.
All the noise and excitement gradually faded away.
Only Ji Changqing’s calm and steady voice remained. “Tonight’s banquet was meant to celebrate the great victory at Jingbei, yet it has been quite an eye-opener for me. Improper deeds, improper words, yet no one tried to stop them. Instead, most joined in.”
The crowd was in an uproar.
Just how much did Ji Changqing owe Yu Zhiyao in a past life?
Not only was she defending her, but she was also verbally attacking the entire assembly, making enemies of them all.
From now on, who would dare to provoke Yu Zhiyao, unless they were powerful enough to challenge Ji Changqing herself?
Ji Changqing’s words implied that this generation of young nobles was a lost cause, utterly useless.
“In my opinion, they should be sent to the Jingbei army’s main camp to be properly drilled, to learn the meaning of home and country, and to understand what it means to guard the borders and protect the people. What do you think, my lords?”
The old foxes looked delighted. “The Princess speaks with great wisdom.”
It would be good for someone to step up and discipline that pack of idle, second-generation heirs who did nothing but stir up trouble all day. Besides, perhaps this was a chance to probe the Jingbei army’s secrets?
“His Majesty could also find time to inspect them and see how these sons have turned from their wicked ways.” In the future, he would know how to train people.
The young emperor opened his golden mouth and said with reserve, “Excellent!”
All three parties were overjoyed.
The lords, who had their own agendas, had already begun ordering their men to round up everyone who had spoken out in agreement earlier and pack them off to Ji Changqing.
The dandies, now labeled “wicked,” were furious but dared not speak out. They might not have been afraid to confront Ji Changqing alone, feeling a sense of safety in numbers and confident in their family backgrounds. But now, with the great lords’ approval and the emperor’s golden word, the matter was set in stone, irreversible.
The crowd of dandies glared at the instigator, the heir of Prince Liang. It was all this bastard’s fault for dragging everyone down with him.
The members of the imperial clan and the ministers seated on the high platform had far more on their minds.
The old codgers pretended to glance nonchalantly at Prime Minister Yu, wondering if he and Ji Changqing had some sort of tacit understanding. Otherwise, why would Ji Changqing go out of her way to stand up for Yu Zhiyao? If that were the case, they would have to reconsider their plans.
Prime Minister Yu… Prime Minister Yu was suffering.
He had no idea what had gotten into Ji Changqing, making her suddenly jump out to rescue his daughter. This wasn’t a rescue; this was holding him over a fire to be roasted.
If Zhong Lan or Lin Huang had been present, they might have been able to solve his puzzle.
Of course Ji Changqing had taken the “Yu Zhiyao” medicine. Otherwise, why, after so many years apart, did Yu Zhiyao still consistently top the charts as the ex Ji Changqing most wanted to get back together with?
What he couldn’t figure out was, knowing full well how sensitive their respective positions were, why had his clever daughter just accepted it? The old fox refused to believe his little fox didn’t have a better way to get out of the situation.
Enduring the probing and knowing glances of his colleagues, he plucked out several strands of his beard but still couldn’t make sense of it. He could only suppress his thoughts and wait until the banquet was over to discuss it back at his residence.
When the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, Ji Changqing unleashed a barrage in the team chat, laying into Zhong Lan and Lin Huang! The First watched, bewildered, but was smart enough to adopt a “I’ll just watch quietly and not say a word” attitude, openly lurking.
Zhong Lan weakly protested their innocence. “We’re not part of your social class. How could we have known?”
Lin Huang astutely added the finishing blow: “And even if we knew now, so what?”
It wasn’t like they could kill her and make her quit the game.
Ji Changqing felt a little guilty but stubbornly continued to condemn the two for abandoning her. She didn’t mention, however, that she had personally stepped in to save Yu Zhiyao.
The next day, the Ministry of Rites sent people to the Zhenbei Royal Residence to begin the funeral arrangements. They bestowed a decent posthumous title upon the Prince of Zhenbei, which Ji Changqing found satisfactory.
First, the imperial clan relatives came in turn to offer their condolences, sending members of Ji Changqing’s generation to act as filial children and grandchildren and keep vigil.
After the imperial clan had all paid their respects, it was the turn of officials of the third rank and above, and finally, her comrades-in-arms.
After a full forty-nine days of Daoist rituals, the Zhenbei Royal Residence held the funeral procession. All the notable families in the capital set up roadside altars to pay their respects.
One treats the dead as if they were living. Since the man was already gone, it was best not to cause any trouble over such matters and needlessly offend people..
After that, Ji Changqing remained dutifully secluded in the royal residence, observing the mourning period and rarely leaving. Yet her presence was strongly felt.
Aside from the unlucky young masters she had thrown into the temporary Jingbei army camp on the night of the banquet, who occasionally caused a stir and reminded everyone of her, the ambitious members of the imperial clan also made frequent moves. And with every move, the great lords were reminded once again of the person who had started it all.
One day in late June, this person, who in everyone’s eyes was quietly staying at home, heard a report from her secret guards and thought she had misheard. She couldn’t help but ask again, “What did you say?”
The subordinate, probably feeling too ashamed to face her, spoke in a progressively quieter voice. “The person you had us investigate, Yu Zhiyao of the Prime Minister’s residence… she asked us to pass on a message. She said if the Princess wishes to know more, why doesn’t she pay a visit to your residence another day?”
Ji Changqing was cursing up a storm in her head, but she had to keep a smile on her face.
“How were you discovered?”
The secret guard lowered his head even further. “From the very beginning. She said she knew you would investigate her.”
A knot of frustration lodged in Ji Changqing’s chest, suffocating her. Discovered from the very beginning? Then what could they possibly have found out? Or rather, everything they had found was what Yu Zhiyao had deliberately allowed them to find.
The royal residence’s secret guards were not weak. Besides the fact that Yu Zhiyao had anticipated her investigation, there must have been another reason they were discovered, and even lured step by step into a trap with information she deliberately released.
The secret guard steeled himself, deciding it was better to say everything at once and get it over with. “She said that if you have no objections, she will visit in three days.”
“Yu! Zhi! Yao!” Ji Changqing enunciated each syllable through gritted teeth. She slammed her palm on the table, the impact making it go numb. She winced slightly, then pretended nothing was wrong as she lowered her hand.
The feeling of having her every move predicted was absolutely awful.
After her anger subsided, she couldn’t help but ponder: Was Yu Zhiyao skilled enough in cultivation to detect the secret guards herself, or did she have an expert by her side? And why reveal herself on purpose?
Forget it, forget it. No point in torturing herself. So what if they were discovered? She just didn’t know if their missions were the same. She sighed and waved the secret guard away, not wanting him standing there and irritating her further.
She silently pretended she hadn’t heard the part about “if you have no objections” and “visit in three days.”
Before withdrawing, the secret guard glanced at his princess to see if she had any further instructions. Seeing no movement after a long moment, he understood it meant he should ignore the message and let her come as she pleased.
The secret guard withdrew with a clear conscience.
Ji Changqing pinged the others in the team chat, briefly explaining the information her secret guards had brought back. She suspected Yu Zhiyao had entered the game earlier than them—at least three years earlier.
Old Cadre: Ah, three years earlier? Is she on our side then?
He Shi Bi: If we’re on the same team, can we just lie back and win?
Technology is the Primary Productive Force: Wow, is she that amazing?
Son of Heaven Zhou: Who knows? What if she’s not?
Old Cadre: Huh? If not, then we’ll just lie flat!
He Shi Bi: Lie flat +1
Son of Heaven Zhou: …
Technology is the Primary Productive Force: She’s that powerful?! You’re not even going to put up a fight?
What kind of god-tier teammates had she found? Were the first two stages just a hallucination? Zhong Lan and Ji Changqing didn’t seem like the types to give up without a fight.
That meant this person must be so formidable that she’d left them with psychological trauma. By the same logic, in the real world, all three of them had probably suffered a major defeat at her hands.
Old Cadre: Little sister, His Majesty definitely wants to struggle.
He Shi Bi: Little sister, there’s no hope relying on her.
Son of Heaven Zhou: Be serious!
Technology is the Primary Productive Force: …
It seemed this person had a grudge against Ji Changqing.
He Shi Bi: Fine! Xiao Qing, we’re three years behind her. The only one with comparable status is you. We can’t help with court politics. Do you think you can beat her?
Old Cadre: Your Majesty, you have military power, but once you return to guard the northwest and are far from the court, it’ll be easy for you to get taken out.
He Shi Bi: If you don’t go back, you’ll die even faster!
Technology is the Primary Productive Force: Wow, based on what you’re saying, wouldn’t you be invincible if you could cooperate?
Son of Heaven Zhou: …Alright, everyone’s main quest should be the same. She said she’ll visit in three days.
Old Cadre: Wooow
He Shi Bi: Xiao Qing, hold it together!
Son of Heaven Zhou: …
Technology is the Primary Productive Force: …
Old Cadre: We know you’re getting all fluttery. Take it easy.
He Shi Bi: Xiao Qing, whether we can lie back and win is all up to you now.
Son of Heaven Zhou: How the hell am I getting fluttery? Can’t you guys have some ambition?
He Shi Bi: We want to. But Xiao Qing, while we’re growing, she’s growing too. And her growth rate is just monstrous…
Old Cadre: We know you want to turn the tables. Be good. You might be able to crush her in terms of combat power right now, but when it comes to wits… you know.
The First… The First had already shut down. For the first time ever, she was questioning her own intelligence. Why couldn’t she understand what these people were saying?
Better to stay silent and preserve her IQ.
No matter how they joked around in the team chat, everyone was deeply worried about Yu Zhiyao’s upcoming visit with Ji Changqing.
The main issue was that Ji Changqing was just too green in front of her. One wrong move and she could fall into one of her traps, the kind you can’t even crawl out of.
Three days later, Yu Zhiyao entered the Zhenbei Royal Residence with great composure. A servant respectfully led her along a path that wound through flowers and willows, straight to the waterside pavilion where guests were being received that day.
It was mid-June, and the summer heat in the Imperial Capital was growing heavy. Dressed in a simple moon-white robe, Ji Changqing waited in the waterside pavilion, unable to sit still.
Though the pavilion was cool enough, with blocks of ice placed in all four corners, a thin layer of sweat still beaded on her forehead.
When Yu Zhiyao arrived, gliding gracefully in a bean-green, deep-collared robe, Ji Changqing finally composed herself and raised a hand in a distant gesture of invitation.
Yu Zhiyao didn’t take the seat opposite her as indicated. Instead, she chose the spot to Ji Changqing’s right. Staring at each other from across the table wasn’t any fun. Sitting on the right, she could see her with just a slight turn of her head.
The maids silently served tea and refreshments, then quietly withdrew.
With no one else around, Yu Zhiyao couldn’t be bothered to maintain her formal posture. She propped her right elbow on the low table, resting her chin in her hand to gaze at Ji Changqing. She bent her right leg and stretched her left one out. The series of movements, surprisingly, wasn’t unsightly at all, possessing a certain untamed charm.
Ji Changqing took a sip of water to calm the restlessness in her heart, then cleared her throat. “Alright, what do you want?”
Yu Zhiyao looked surprised. “Didn’t you want to see me?” A faint, teasing smile played on her lips. “You had people hanging around me every day, making their presence known. I thought you wanted to see me but were too shy to ask, so I had to take the initiative.”
Ji Changqing’s face grew warm. She feigned impatience, trying to change the subject. “Alright, we both know what’s going on. Let’s get down to business.”
Yu Zhiyao sighed with a hint of disappointment. “Oh, so that’s not it?”
Her tone was drawn out, with a dozen twists and turns.
Ji Changqing maintained a deadpan expression.
I’m not the same fool I was back then, who couldn’t handle a little teasing.
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