"It's good that you're back!"

"You haven't visited the princess's residence yet, have you? The Yun Kingdom has wronged you all these years."

Yun Lian hugged her and shook her head.

"I haven't let you down; I'm the one who has failed to live up to your expectations of me."

The Empress Dowager's gentle face was tinged with sadness.

"Go back to the Crown Princess's residence when you have time; they've been waiting for you."

Yun Lian's fingers trembled slightly.

She dared not think about them.

Although she didn't use her original body during her time travels, the people she encountered still left traces in her heart.

She seems unable to treat them the way she used to.

"I will, Mother Queen."

After she visits the abbot, she will accept whatever the outcome may be.

The former queen brought Yun Lian back to her palace, which was filled with sandalwood incense. Only someone who had been a Buddhist for many years could produce such a scent.

Yun Lian was puzzled.

The Empress Dowager never believed in such superstitious things before, so why does she suddenly have a hobby of worshipping Buddha in this life?

"Mother Queen, weren't you the least believer in ghosts and gods before?"

The former empress's steps faltered slightly.

She didn't believe it before, that there were Buddhas everywhere, but after witnessing with her own eyes that all sorts of demons and monsters had lived in her eldest daughter's body, she had no choice but to believe.

He prayed to every Buddha in the heavens, but in the end, it was still that silly boy Lan Han who helped him...

"It's just a way to find solace, don't worry about it. It's been a long time, let's rest together with Mother tonight."

"good."

The next day, Yun Lian woke up suddenly before dawn. Looking at her mother, who was sleeping restlessly even in her sleep, Yun Lian took out a calming pill from her spatial storage.

Gently place it into the mother queen's mouth.

"Get some sleep, I'm back."

Yun Lian moved nimbly and quietly got up.

When she could no longer hear her footsteps, the former queen mother slowly woke up, got up, and stared blankly out the window.

"Even if the entire Yun Kingdom is destroyed, the Queen Mother hopes that you will be safe and sound. I no longer ask for anything from the Yun Kingdom, I only hope that you will live a peaceful life."

Life and national destiny are intertwined—what a heavy burden this is!

If she could, she would rather give up the Yun Kingdom and hope that her most beloved child could always be cherished in the palm of her hand.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple.

Yun Lian climbed the mountain in the morning dew. Although she arrived very early, many devout people had already gathered on the mountain path.

He kowtowed with each step, climbing a full nine thousand steps, his limbs and forehead covered in bloodstains.

Compared to their pious devotion, Yun Lian, who was slowly climbing the mountain, seemed out of place.

When Yun Lian finally arrived at the temple gate, the abbot was already waiting there.

"Benefactor Yun, how have you been?"

Looking at the abbot, who had a red mole between his eyebrows and had hardly changed since she left, Yun Lian felt a strange calming of her restlessness.

"The abbot is indeed a master of divination; he even predicted my unexpected arrival."

The abbot walked ahead with his hands behind his back, leading the way.

When fate brings us together, we will meet again.

"Tsk, you're still as boring as ever."

"Abbot, is there a popular practice now? I came from the foot of the mountain and encountered many people praying with their heads bowed with each step. They seemed to be convinced that as long as they did that, their wishes would come true."

Yun Lian shook her head and sighed.

If prayers were truly effective, if all the Buddhas in the heavens could truly hear the voices of the people, then where would so many suffering people come from in the world?

"Maybe it really works? Aren't we praying to gods and Buddhas just for spiritual solace?"

Seeing her now is the answer.

He truly succeeded.

"Amitabha……"

Yun Lian and the abbot entered the bamboo house together and sat down at the chess table.

"Abbot, if some things we do are destined to hurt some people, should we still do them?"

"Since you've asked me, I already have the answer in my heart. So why not follow your heart and go with the flow?"

“Benefactor Yun, you have just returned after passing through a major tribulation in your life. From now on, you will naturally have peace and smooth sailing.”

A blurry image suddenly flashed through Yun Lian's mind.

That was when she was young, listening to her mother and the abbot talking together from behind the Buddhist hall.

He said, "The princess will face a great calamity at the age of 17, but after the calamity, she will rise from the ashes like a phoenix and lead the Yun Kingdom to a new height."

The first part of his prophecy was correct.

When she turned 17, she died unexpectedly and was bound to the system.

Even now, though she has returned, she still feels that the Cloud Kingdom is shrouded in mist, making it difficult for her to see clearly.

Yun Lian suddenly took out a string of beads and handed it to the abbot.

Each of the twelve beads shimmered with a faint light.

"Abbot, please keep this bracelet for me. I will come to retrieve it when the Yun Kingdom is safe and sound."

As Yun Lian played the chessboard to its final move, she held a white piece, and unknowingly, the black piece was already doomed.

Yun Lian picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

The abbot smiled faintly at Yun Lian.

"Rest assured, Benefactor Yun, I will keep it safe and sound for you."

Yun Lian walked to the center of the temple, looked up at the solemn palace, and the countless gods hidden in the darkness appeared even more mysterious.

A spark ignited in Yun Lian's eyes.

She doesn't believe in God.

Even if they embark on a wondrous journey by chance, they still do not believe in God.

She only trusts herself.

After returning to the palace, Yun Lian spent almost every day with Yun Xi.

When Yun Lian confronted her and told her that she knew everything, Yun Xi was more flustered than a frightened little rabbit.

However, her years of imperial training allowed her to recover quickly.

Whether it was Yun Lian, who returned after going through countless hardships, or Yun Xi, who watched the Yun Kingdom perish and reincarnate, they both knew that there was an unseen hand behind them.

They all wanted the Cloud Kingdom to last forever.

"Yun Lian, why won't you listen? You always think about risking your life alone. I've told you so many times that I don't care about anything except your safety."

Yun Lian served her tea and soothed her.

“I’m not saying I’m going now. Besides, judging from your past experiences, I can’t avoid disaster just by hiding.”

"Besides, didn't you not have any capable people at your disposal back then? But now that I'm back, we don't have to worry about not having capable people."

"But no matter what, we can't risk your safety."

Yun Xi's voice suddenly softened, her eyes welled up with tears, and she choked out, "I can't even imagine how desperate I would feel if I were to experience Yun Kingdom without you again."

"Sister, it's not just me who can't live without you; there are also many unseen people behind you working hard for your arrival. So please promise us you'll take good care of your health, okay?"

If she hadn't protected her sister, how could she dare to see Lan Han in the future?

“I know, so I assure you that I will make full preparations before I go out to take action. I want not only Yun Kingdom, but all of you.”

A playful glint flashed across Yun Lian's face.

"Besides, haven't you already seen what I gave you? With their blessing, we are no longer the two helpless little girls we once were."

"Yunxi, can you trust me just this once?"