Chapter 67: Lord of the Return to Immortal Pavilion (Part One)

“My respects to the Seventh Princess.”

Yin Tianyu, dressed in violet, came to the residence of the Third Princess.

“Rise, all of you. Where is my Third Sister?”

“She’s in the pavilion at the center of the lake.”

In the grounds of the Third Princess’s manor was a man-made lake, with a long wooden bridge winding through a sea of lotuses. The Seventh Princess wore a purple gown, while the Third Princess was dressed in a fitted yellow blouse, her hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin. From the side, she looked more like a handsome young man. Her single eyelids might have lessened her beauty a little, but within the Luyang Court, none dared underestimate that slender figure, not even in the smallest word or thought.

“Tianyu greets Third Sister.”

“Come,” the Third Princess set aside her book. “Seventh Sister, come here. Since Father punished you with house arrest over the Xiaoyuan Mountain affair, have you been well lately?”

“Third Sister, you always ask me that. You know it’s always the same. Fourth Sister is devoted to her practice; days go by without her saying a word to me.”

The mention of their Fourth Sister gave the Third Princess a headache as well.

She herself was adept at navigating social circles; within and beyond Luyang City, from nobles to commoners, if she thought someone useful, she always managed to leave a good impression. But with her strange, silent Fourth Sister, even she was helpless.

To the Fourth Princess, her Third Sister’s endless mingling and concern for power and reputation were the marks of a worldly person—someone forever distracted from the essence of cultivation.

And so, ever since they were young, the two had barely exchanged words.

“Fourth Sister… she’s always chasing after immortals, forgetting she must first be a good person.”

The Seventh Princess had a gentle and kind disposition. She never judged harshly, treating even the common folk as the people of Xu Kingdom, and so she got along with everyone.

The Third Princess, too, was fond of her Seventh Sister.

“Third Sister, why did you ask me here today?”

“There’s something I need to discuss. Sit.” The Third Princess paced the pavilion with her hands behind her back, her bearing very much like a man’s. “Do you know about the Transcendent Scholar?”

The Seventh Princess nodded. “News has already spread through Luyang City. The successor of Xiaoyuan Mountain has appeared in the court. How could I not know? But Lady Ye is ill, and the people from the Imperial Treasure Hall say Gu Yi is in seclusion and refusing all visitors.”

“I have heard as much. When the Transcendent Scholar visited Luyang Court, he interacted quite a bit with you. What do you make of his character? What impression does he have of our Xu Kingdom?”

The Seventh Princess was puzzled. “Why do you ask? What’s happened with Gu Yi?”

The Third Princess was considering things from the perspective of Xu Kingdom.

“This isn’t something I need to hide from you. You know Shule was meant to inherit the position of Master of the Restoring Immortals Tower. But with the arrival of the Transcendent Scholar, things have changed. I thought to appoint him as the new Master, to show respect to Xiaoyuan Mountain’s legacy.”

“That cannot be!” the Seventh Princess cried out.

Years of cultivation showed in the Third Princess’s calmness; she was much steadier than her sister. “Why not?”

Why not?

The Seventh Princess wanted to say that Gu Yi might have some connection to the so-called Twin Peaks. Though she had checked the histories of the previous dynasty and found nothing, the position of Tower Master was of grave importance—every holder had sworn to protect Xu Kingdom to the death. How could such a title be given lightly to someone of unknown origins?

“Seventh Sister, do you know something?” The Third Princess was keenly observant, and doubt had already arisen in her heart. “When I asked Father for permission this morning, he refused outright as well.”

The Seventh Princess thought, if she said anything, Gu Yi would surely be in danger. She chose to trust him; perhaps he would not protect the Yin-Xu Dynasty, but he was not someone who would harm them either.

“I just think it’s unfair to Shule. You know her character—she’s devoted herself to cultivation for years, never resting, always thinking of Xu’s safety. Everyone says she is destined to be the next Master. If you give the post to someone else now…”

The Third Princess smiled faintly. “Do you not know what it means to be the successor of Xiaoyuan Mountain? With someone like that here, even if it’s unfair to Shule, she would accept it. Besides, Father could grant her another title. That’s not a reason.”

The Seventh Princess was not one for lying. Unsure how to answer, she asked instead, “Did Father agree?”

“No.” The Third Princess sighed lightly. “Not only did he refuse, he scolded me soundly.”

“Then let’s follow Father’s wishes. He always has his reasons.”

The Seventh Princess was content to avoid conflict.

She didn’t understand the complex thoughts of her Third Sister.

If there truly was a successor of Xiaoyuan Mountain in Luyang, how could the Third Princess’s residence not show goodwill? The mere mention of that name had already caused a flurry of activity in the city. If the Third Princess did nothing, the Fifth Princess surely would.

Moreover, that person was also Lady Ye’s younger brother.

Submitting this petition, she was acting for Xu Kingdom in public, and for a friend in private. If something so simple couldn’t be managed, Yin Tianrong would only be damaging her own reputation.

She would not give up so easily.

“Seventh Sister, do you dislike Gu Yi?”

“It’s not that. He’s actually not a bad person.”

“Would you tell me your story with him? I’d like to hear it.”

The Seventh Princess blinked, a little embarrassed. She could tell most of it, but must she really mention those words?

“Third Sister, may I not say?”

For once, the Third Princess received a ‘no’ from her Seventh Sister.

She was never one to be rash, preferring to solve problems with wit, so she adopted a teasing tone, “Ah, my Seventh Sister has grown up, keeping secrets from me now.”

“It’s nothing like that.” The Seventh Princess was troubled. “Actually… it’s because he confessed to me, and I’m embarrassed to speak of it.”

“He did what? Confessed? What do you mean, confessed?”

“Third Sister, can you keep it a secret for me? No, for him?”

“You still don’t trust your Third Sister? Don’t worry, we’re in the heart of the lake—no one else can hear us.”

The Seventh Princess leaned in and whispered, “Gu Yi angered Fourth Sister, and then he took me to a world made of paper. What happened there… I find hard to say, because he told me he liked me.”

“A world made of paper?”

“It’s a treasure in the Hall of Cultivation Methods.”

“Oh.” Yin Tianrong had little interest in that and moved on. “So, do you like him?”

“Of course not! We barely know each other. And he’s very strange—who says such things to a girl they’ve just met? Remember what Mother taught us? I feel he’s exactly the kind of man she warned us about.”

The Third Princess couldn’t help but laugh, pinching her Seventh Sister’s cheek affectionately.

“You may find it strange, but I don’t. You’re sweet and kind, the violet-clad fairy beloved throughout Xu. Another admirer, even if it’s Gu Yi, is hardly surprising. Though, his behavior is a little frivolous.”

“A little? He’s very frivolous!” The Seventh Princess had kept thinking about the things that happened in the paper world. “But Third Sister, you must keep it secret.”

“I will. But you ought to give it some thought. In the end, you’ll have to marry someone. Marrying a Transcendent Scholar wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Third Sister!”

The Third Princess had little time for jokes.

She was serious.

She was sincerely hoping to gain the support of Xiaoyuan Mountain. If he liked her Seventh Sister, then perhaps there was another avenue to pursue.