Chapter 11 Miss's True Identity
"Princess, I beg you." The little maidservant, her eyes bulging, stared intently at her, her mouth gaping open in a terrifying, bird-like cry, "Save me."
Ning Xi pushed her away and fled. She didn't know how long she had been running, but she was almost out of breath. When she heard no more footsteps behind her, she stopped and tentatively turned around. She saw that the little maid was just a blood-stained head, pressed tightly against the back of her neck, with its fangs bared and aimed at her neck.
She felt a chill on her neck and woke up with a start, then lay in bed for a while to recover.
Xiao Sui groped his way over, having somehow changed into a silk undergarment.
"Miss, are you awake? I'll go get you some water." He touched the table and walked out.
Ning Qi watched his retreating figure, then suddenly remembered something crucial and called out to him, "Xiao Sui, you should already know that I am not Gu Xinxue. Aren't you... curious about my identity?"
Xiao Sui paused slightly. "I will wait until you want to tell me."
Ning Xi bit her lip, hesitant. As a member of the Huaguang Sect and a disciple of Master Jingyan, she feared Xiao Sui might harbor resentment and lose trust in her if he found out. But keeping it a secret indefinitely wasn't an option, so she gritted her teeth and said, "Actually, I am..."
"Miss, you're awake?" Zhizhi asked as she pushed open the door.
Suddenly interrupted, Ning Qi found herself speechless for some reason. She could only nod and say, "Yes, I need to freshen up. I have some errands to run today."
"Where are you going?" Zhizhi walked in curiously and glanced at Xiao Sui.
Xiao Sui said nothing, slowly walked out, and closed the door for them.
Zhizhi then asked, "Princess, aren't you going to school?"
Ning Qi shook her head. "I need to go back to the palace to see my father and tell him what happened yesterday. I want him to send someone to investigate that Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."
That little maid cannot die in vain, but not a single word about Xiao Sui's affairs can be revealed.
Ning Xi pondered her words all the way and entered the palace at 9:00 AM. Although it was her first time here, she looked around and found that the palace didn't look much different from what she remembered.
The chief eunuch led her to the study, where the emperor was handling official business after the morning court session.
This was Ning Xi's first time seeing her father, the Emperor. He looked to be around forty years old, with a slender build, a handsome and dignified face, and faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. When he saw Ning Xi, his eyes curved upwards, making the wrinkles even more pronounced.
"Xiaoqi, it's been a while since you've come to see your father." The emperor beckoned her to come closer.
"I have to cultivate every day." Ning Qi acted coquettishly for a while, just like the original owner, and then raised her head to get down to business. "Father, I heard a few days ago that Xin Xue passed away. I wanted to go and mourn her, but I found that the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat had locked up all the servants in the suburbs. I asked two guards to come out and ask them. Xin Xue's personal maid told me that Xin Xue was turned into a corpse demon by their concubine Zheng. I didn't believe it at first, but her maid actually mutated in front of me and almost bit me. Fortunately, she was killed by my guards."
She patted her chest and exclaimed dramatically, "There are actually such inhuman monsters in this world! I wonder if the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is in cahoots with the demons..."
The emperor's expression grew increasingly serious. "The matter of the Corpse Demon is of great importance, and very few people know about it. I never expected that you would encounter it. If what you say is true, this Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is probably inextricably linked to the demon race."
He immediately sent someone to invite Master Jingyan over.
Ning Qi didn't quite approve of the emperor's actions. That Master Jingyan already knew about this matter, but he only sent Xiao Sui to kill Gu Xinxue. What could he possibly find out?
But since Master Jingyan was deeply trusted by the emperor, she couldn't say much.
"Are you hurt?" the emperor asked, touching her head.
Ning Qi shook her head. "It's alright, I have so many maids and guards."
"That's good." The emperor added, "You've come all this way back to the palace, so have lunch with me."
Ningqi naturally responded.
At noon, she was led by a palace maid to the Liangyi Palace. Upon entering the hall, she was surprised to find that Master Jingyan was also there.
Ning Qi immediately lost her appetite, but the emperor had already waved for her to come over.
She had no choice but to sit next to the emperor.
Master Jingyan glanced at Ning Qi, his face kind, "I heard that the princess has obtained clues about the demon race? That is truly extraordinary."
Ning Qi sensed a hint of sarcasm in the words but didn't respond.
The emperor asked Ning Qi about his situation with Emperor Hua Guangzong with a smile.
Master Jingyan praised her in every word, but Ning Qi just couldn't stand it. When he scolded her, he was unreasonable and showed no mercy.
"By the way," Master Jingyan looked at Ningxi, "My daughter will be seventeen years old on the third day of next month. She wants to hold a birthday banquet at the manor and has been telling me that she wants to invite the princess. It's just a pity that I haven't been able to see the princess recently. Now I'll ask her on my daughter's behalf. I wonder if the princess has time?"
Ning Qi immediately started mentally arguing with the system, "He sees me every day, and he never asks me in the morning or at night, but he has to ask me in front of the emperor. What does that mean? Isn't it just that he doesn't give me any room to refuse?"
System: "Master, our next mission happens to be at Xie Jingyan's daughter Xie Xiyue's birthday banquet. You should have agreed in the first place."
Ning Qi twitched the corner of her mouth.
The Emperor said, "I remember your daughter used to be Xiaoqi's study companion, and the two had a very good relationship. Now that you've grown up, why have you become estranged?"
Master Jingyan said, "This is all my daughter's fault. She is engrossed in cultivation all day long and rarely interacts with others. Now she wants to reconcile with the princess. I wonder if the princess would be willing to do her the honor?"
Ning Xi glanced at him. All that talk about being obsessed with cultivation was just an excuse. The real reason was that Xie Xiyue was the male lead's white moonlight!
As the male lead's devoted admirer, how could she possibly have a good relationship with Xie Xiyue? On the contrary, their relationship is now like oil and water, and they can't get along at all.
The emperor laughed heartily, "That's perfect. Xiaoqi went to her birthday banquet this time and they reconnected. Xiyue is a good child, talented and smart, and also sensible."
Ning Qi had no choice but to reply, "Yes."
There's no way to avoid this task anyway.
It's worth noting that Xie Xiyue's birthday banquet invited many disciples of the Huaguang Sect, including the male protagonist.
Her mission was to compete with Xie Xiyue for the male lead's affections at his birthday banquet, deliberately push her into the lake, and distort the truth. Later, the male lead would find out the truth and hate her even more.
Ning Qi grimaced as she watched this part and said to the system, "Can you guys please stop using such clichéd plots?"
System: "Can increase in Devotion Points."
Ning Qi immediately fell silent. So be it, even if it's cliché, she had to finish it despite feeling disgusted.
That afternoon, she received Xie Xiyue's invitation, as well as a message talisman from her second brother, Prince Jing, Ning Xuanzhou, informing her that he would come to pick her up for her birthday banquet.
Zhizhi said, "His Highness Prince Jing must be doing this to support you."
Ning Qi chuckled, "I wasn't going to fight."
However, in her memory, both the original owner and the former host had a very good relationship with this second brother.
When she first transmigrated to this world and fell ill in order to curry favor with the male lead, her second brother even came to visit her once, telling her that their father had recently arranged for him to intern in the Ministry of Personnel, and that he was too busy with official duties to visit her often.
Ning Qi could understand. After all, her father had not yet appointed a crown prince. Her second brother was gentle and capable, and was also a strong contender for the crown prince position. However, her second brother was not competitive and would probably not be able to compete with her eldest and third brothers.
However, none of this had anything to do with her, the princess; all she needed to do was complete her mission.
After finishing his meal, Ning Qi returned to the Huaguang Sect's courtyard with Xiao Sui, his maids, and guards to continue his cultivation.
Eight days passed at a leisurely pace, until Xie Xiyue's birthday arrived.
She wasn't very enthusiastic about this absurd task to begin with, and even after dawn, when Qianyu called her several times, she still clung to her blanket and refused to get up.
Xiao Sui has been resting in the same room with her recently. Because he is blind, Ning Qi only draws the screen when she is bathing and changing clothes, and doesn't usually avoid him.
He came over, knelt down beside her bed, and said, "Miss, aren't you going to a banquet today? You should get up earlier."
Ning Qi rolled around on the bed, finally got up, and let Qian Yu come in to help her change her clothes. Xiao Sui returned to behind the screen.
Just then, a gentle voice came from outside, "Xiaoqi, what time is it? I heard from Zhizhi that you haven't gotten up yet."
Ning Qi suddenly felt a chill.
Qianyu touched her shoulder with a puzzled look and asked, "Are you a little cold? Do you want to put on another layer?"
Ning Xi frowned and shook her head. She could actually tell that the voice outside belonged to her second brother, but why did her heart instinctively clench just now, and why did she feel a particularly uncomfortable feeling?
Is it just an illusion?
The discomfort vanished in an instant, and she immediately replied, "I'm already up and getting ready."
"Shall I come in now?" the voice outside said.
Ning Qi was about to speak when he suddenly remembered that Xiao Sui was still in the room. His second brother had also cultivated in Huaguang Sect for a period of time before going to Menxia Province. He might recognize Xiao Sui, and their encounter would definitely cause unnecessary trouble.
She rolled her eyes and refused, "No, I don't look good now, you can't look at me. I'm going to dress up nicely and completely outshine Xie Xiyue!"
Ning Xuanzhou chuckled and said, "Xiao Qi, you're already very beautiful. Today is Xi Yue's birthday, so just let her have her way and don't hold a grudge against her."
Ning Qi pouted, "How could I be so petty as to hold a grudge against her? I'm planning to give her my most treasured calligraphy and paintings."
Qianyu inserted the last hairpin into her hair, then gathered back a stray strand of hair that had fallen out, and then, supporting Ningxi's hand, helped her up from the chair.
Ning Xi looked at herself in the bronze mirror again and again, quite satisfied. Her makeup was exquisite and appropriate, truly beautiful, except that the gold and jade jewelry on her head was a bit heavy, making her neck look stiff.
She drew back the screen and said to Xiao Sui, "I'm going out."
To her surprise, Xiao Sui's face was pale, and even his lips had lost their color.
She frowned. "Are you not feeling well?"
Xiao Sui was a beat slow before shaking his head, "It's nothing, I probably just didn't sleep well."
"Then you should rest well at home. I'll be back this afternoon," Ning Qi said, and followed Qian Yu out the door.
A tall, handsome figure stood in the courtyard. Ning Xuanzhou widened his eyes dramatically and said, "Xiao Qi, you're dressed up so beautifully."
Ning Qi smugly hummed twice and said, "Let's go, Second Brother."
"Yes, Your Highness." Ning Xuanzhou smiled.
——
There was no sound outside anymore, so Xiao Sui leaned against the wall and walked to the side room in the outer courtyard.
Zhizhi's surprised voice rang out, "Young Master Xiao, what brings you out? Is there something you need?"
Xiao Sui faced her, his fingers digging into the door frame so hard that his nails had turned white.
He asked, "Why is Prince Jing the young lady's second brother?"
Zhizhi's eyes widened. "You...you know Prince Jing?"
Xiao Sui pursed his lips tightly. How could he not recognize Prince Jing?
His eyes are the way they are now, thanks to him.
He will never forget his voice.
“So…” Xiao Sui opened his mouth with difficulty, and it took him a long time to find his voice, “Miss is actually Princess Hexi?”
A note from the author:
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