silence……
Silence is Cambridge tonight...
Although He Banjian was in the Demon Cave, she was not completely unaware of the outside world. She had heard about the news that Immortal Venerable Jinyun was making a big show of arresting the petty thief.
But she knew that since Immortal Venerable Jinyun believed it was "her," there must be some reason that outsiders didn't know.
She really wanted to acknowledge it.
However, she knew nothing about what had happened, and admitting it rashly would definitely expose her.
“Actually…” she stammered.
“Actually, it wasn’t you, right?” Jinyun Immortal Venerable replied.
“…Yes.” At this point, He Banjian was speechless.
“Although you look alike, I have a feeling that you are not her.” Immortal Venerable Jinyun looked into her eyes.
Not delicate eyes.
"So we were found out after all!" He Banjian smiled bitterly.
"Yes, although I haven't met you many times, I can still sense it."
He Banjian closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. "Immortal Venerable and I have only met twice, yet you could already see through it. Wouldn't the Demon Venerable be able to see through it too?"
Jinyun Immortal Venerable: "Perhaps."
Based on his understanding of him, Luan Hua couldn't see anything unusual about him.
"You all actually knew, while I was the only one who was foolishly kept in the dark, thinking my performance was flawless." He Banjian rubbed his forehead.
"There are so many people who want to impersonate her, but among them, you are the most convincing." Jinyun was indeed generous in praising her disguise.
He Banjian shook his head after hearing this, "But in the end, I still couldn't hide it from you."
She wanted more than just "like" him; she wanted him to "be" him. Only then could she get everything she wanted.
"Immortal Venerable, can you tell me in what ways I am different from her?"
She needs to know where she is truly lacking and what she is missing.
"You want to know?" He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, then I'll tell you..."
For so many years, he had never mentioned her to anyone else; she was a thorn in his side. This was the first time he had ever spoken of her to another person.
Even though he knew it wasn't her, he still felt a little dazed looking at that identical face.
He spoke slowly.
"She came into my life when she was twelve years old..."
"She had a very hard childhood. When I first met her, she was hunched over, like a little bird desperately trying to hide itself under its wings. Her eyes were beautiful, but they were full of inferiority and fear..."
"I've raised her for many years. She's gradually become more cheerful, and she'll smile at me. When she's happy, she'll show her eight perfect teeth, and her eyes will crinkle into crescents when she laughs..."
"For some reason, her inferiority complex is hard to shake off, yet she acts fearless, creating a contradictory feeling about her, like a strong yet fragile porcelain vase, always evoking pity..."
"She probably both respects and fears me. If I accidentally make eye contact with her, she'll look away. If I keep staring at her, she'll blush..."
As Jinyun Immortal Venerable reminisced, He Banjian gradually sketched out the image of a teenage girl in his mind, like a flower blooming in barren land, growing strong thanks to the watering of a kind person, developing feelings for the person who gave it nourishment, yet feeling secretly humbled because of the huge gap between them.
She listened, her eyes lowered.
"My poor half-sightedness..."
Jinyun Xian sighed heavily.
He Banjian's cuffs were almost torn to shreds by her.
Who in this world isn't pitiful? Who is born with a good family background and good parents?
Is Lin Banjian the only pitiful person in this world?
At least she was able to eat her fill and stay warm, and she wasn't subjected to inhuman abuse and beatings!
She looked up at Immortal Venerable Jinyun, who was still immersed in the mire of past memories, his face filled with sorrow.
She let out a silent sneer.
See, this is the affectation of the upper class.
Born into a good family, highly talented, and good-looking, he had never experienced any setbacks, so he stumbled on love in one fell swoop. Because of his own petty love, he turned the world upside down.
If we're talking about pitiful people, she's a hundred times more pitiful than Lin Banjian!
Ke Lin Ban Jian is truly blessed; first, the Immortal Venerable, then the Demon Venerable, both fell at her feet!
He Banjian clenched her teeth tightly until her mouth was filled with the sweet and metallic taste of blood, only then did she realize that she had bitten through the inside of her mouth.
She forced a smile, "Your Excellency is truly affectionate; I have witnessed it firsthand today!"
Jinyun Immortal Venerable simply sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, I've told you so much, has it bothered you?"
"Not at all, not at all. I feel very honored to be a listener to the Immortal Venerable!" She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth.
Thanks to what he said, she knew what Lin Banjian looked like in the eyes of Immortal Venerable Jinyun, which will help her to better portray Lin Banjian in the future.
Jinyun Immortal stood up. "Have I disturbed your reading? You can continue reading. I'm leaving."
He Banjian also stood up, "Not at all, it is my honor that the Immortal Venerable has graced my humble abode."
"Will you stay in the Demon Cave forever?" Jinyun Immortal asked.
"I don't know either."
Probably not, because she's about to take the next step.
"This is a good place. No matter what you do, he won't criticize you because of his face."
He Banjian smiled in a way that was neither a smile nor a frown.
Yes, as long as she has this face, the Demon Lord will protect her life, but she wants more than just that!
She looked at the man before her, who was reluctant to ascend to immortality because of his love, with eyes full of mockery.
If one can ascend to immortality, what does losing some material possessions matter?
She slowly let out a breath.
For the sake of power, she has lost too much: her name, her appearance, her original identity—she has given all of these up. For her goal, she must become the real Lin Banjian!
She didn't pretend well this time, but she might not be able to do it next time!
This is all thanks to you!
Immortal Venerable Jinyun!
?
Half a month later, the three princes and princesses, along with their respective advisors, gathered at Fengchan Mountain.
The mountain guard explained to everyone, "According to the instructions of the Star-Picking Pavilion, each prince may bring one attendant. Apart from the princes and their attendants, no one else is allowed to enter the mountain!"
An uproar ensued.
"Please wait here, everyone. The late emperor will select the most suitable new emperor!"
Li Mingke followed behind the Fourth Prince.
The sun was too bright today, and it hurt her eyes. To show respect for the late emperor, no one was allowed to use a canopy or fan, not even the princes and princesses. She had no choice but to squint.
"Your Highnesses, the time has come. Please enter the mountain!"
The fourth prince chose Li Mingke as his attendant without hesitation.
Li Mingke looked around.
She doesn't seem like the most suitable candidate at all.
Among the Fourth Prince's advisors, there were those with superb martial arts skills, those who knew how to use poison, those who were masters of weaponry, and those who were eloquent debaters. Any one of them was more useful than her.
"Ayu, why don't you reconsider?" she suggested softly.
"This is the will of Heaven, Mingke!" The Fourth Prince smiled at her.
Li Mingke silently shut his mouth.
It seems she's destined to become a casualty of the royal power struggle! After all, she's following a hapless prince with zero chance of winning.
She looked at the other two princesses. The fifth princess was, unsurprisingly, following the Demon Lord, while the second princess was accompanied by a maid whose face was covered with gauze, with only one eye showing.
How strange!
Li Mingke couldn't help but take a second look.
“That was my second sister’s most loyal maid. It is said that once, due to the machinations of a villain, her room caught fire. That maid risked her life to save my second sister, but she herself was burned all over. My second sister was grateful for the life-saving grace and kept this person by her side.”
So it turns out they had a deep bond between master and servant!
Li Mingke couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
The fourth prince, however, curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
A deep bond between master and servant?
The second princess outwardly appeared uninterested in the throne, yet she clung to it relentlessly. The veiled maid was probably no ordinary person either!
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