nycdaug Chapter 189: Cherish each other
Chapter 189: Cherish each other
Ning Ci looked at Yin Yuyao and Yuwen Li, "The three of us are about to travel to Ruifeng Dynasty. The palace must be very complicated. We need to be careful and look after each other."
Yin Yuyao nodded slightly and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "I understand, Aci, I will do my best to help you."
Yuwen Li crossed her arms, a hint of confidence in her eyes: "With me here, I will definitely not let you fall into trouble easily."
Chu Qiaoling also looked at Ning Qianyun and Chu Yanxi with a solemn expression: "The situation in Jinglan Dynasty is unclear. We need to find out the forces of all parties as soon as possible and find clues related to the Chaos Spirit Pearl."
Ning Qianyun took a deep breath: "Mother, don't worry, I will do my best."
Chu Yanxi's eyes were firm: "We will definitely act carefully and not let any clue slip by."
At this moment, Chen Xiao stepped forward and pulled Ning Yuyuan and Xi Xi over: "We are from Zhaoxi Dynasty. With me, Yuyuan, and Xi Xi, this clever little devil, we will definitely be able to find something."
That sharp, clenched voice gave Xi Xi a strange sense of foreboding.
But she still remembered that the other hosts were still present, so she blinked her big eyes and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, I will help everyone!"
Chen Xiao: ...
Seeing that everyone had made up their minds, Qian Yi nodded slightly: "I will keep an eye on the situation from all sides in secret. If there is any emergency, I will find a way to notify you. However, you must also remember that you may encounter various dangers and temptations along the way, so you must not lose your way."
Everyone readily agreed and prepared to set off.
"In that case, let us each take care and look forward to meeting again." Chu Qiaoling's expression was solemn yet somewhat carefree.
After everyone bid each other farewell, three strange beams of light led them in different directions.
With a flash of light, Chu Chenxiao, Ning Yuyuan, and Xixi were teleported to the Zhaoxi Dynasty.
As soon as he landed, Chen Xiao sensed the unique atmosphere of this dynasty. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers, but it also seemed to carry a hint of conspiracy.
The imperial palace of the Zhaoxi Dynasty was magnificent, and the sunlight shone on the glazed tiles, reflecting a dazzling light.
Chu Chenxiao and Ning Yuyuan, dressed in gorgeous princess attire, walked towards their palace surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs.
Xi Xi skipped and hopped along behind, occasionally looking around curiously.
"Hmph, Xixi, don't think I'll let you off so easily." Chen Xiao said to Xixi in a low voice, revealing her straightforward and curious personality, her eyes gleaming with a light of unwillingness to be fooled.
Xi Xi stuck out her tongue. "Sister Chen Xiao, it was all Brother Qian Yi's idea before, I had no choice."
Seeing Xi Xi's attempt to act young and her use of terms like "older sister" and "older brother," Chen Xiao almost vomited.
Ning Yuyuan laughed at this. Compared to Chu Chenxiao's straightforwardness and recklessness, Ning Yuyuan was more composed and witty. "Alright, Chenxiao, let's think about how to find that key person first."
After settling in at the palace, Chu Chenxiao decided to start by getting close to the eunuchs and maids.
She summoned the servants in her palace and, adopting a kind and amiable demeanor, asked, "Do you know of any particularly mysterious or strange people in this palace?"
With her hands behind her back, she scanned the crowd with her eyes, looking like a leopard cub searching for its prey.
The palace maids looked at each other in bewilderment. One of the bolder maids whispered, "Princess, I've heard that the old man who guards the Imperial Garden is very mysterious. He never speaks to anyone and spends all his time tending to the flowers and plants."
Chen Xiao's eyes lit up. "Oh? Take me to see it."
After saying that, he couldn't wait to walk towards the Imperial Garden.
The group arrived at the Imperial Garden and saw an elderly man with white hair intently pruning the flower branches.
The old man was hunched over, as if the weight of years had bent his back.
His white hair fell loosely over his shoulders like a tangled mess, shimmering silver in the sunlight, but looking slightly disheveled due to lack of grooming.
His face was covered with deep wrinkles, each line like a mark left by time, telling the story of the vicissitudes he had experienced.
His eyes were deep-set, like two ancient, dark wells, and his gaze conveyed a profound and mysterious wisdom that came from having experienced the world.
His eyelids drooped slightly, but when he occasionally looked up, he could shoot out a sharp gaze like that of a hawk.
The old man's skin was rough and dark from working outdoors for long periods of time, and his hands were covered with blue veins and calluses, marks left by years of dealing with flowers, plants and trees.
He wore a faded gray robe, patched all over, yet clean and tidy.
A straw rope was tied around his waist, with a slightly rusty pair of scissors and some unknown flower and grass seeds hanging from it.
As he walked, his steps were slightly slow but very steady, as if he were one with the land of the Imperial Garden, each step carrying a kind of affection and persistence for the flowers and plants in the garden.
Chu Chenxiao stepped forward, crossed his arms, and said, "Grandpa, these flowers are so beautiful."
She was trying to extract information using this seemingly casual opening.
The old man ignored her and continued trimming.
Undeterred, Chen Xiao asked again, "Old man, you've been in this palace for many years, have you ever heard any interesting stories that are not widely known?"
She frowned, her eyes filled with stubbornness, staring intently at the old man.
The old man then raised his head, glanced at her, and said with a hint of mystery in his eyes, "Princess, there are some things that are better left unsaid."
But Chen Xiao has always been a straightforward and curious person with strong initiative, although he can be a little reckless at times.
Upon hearing this, she crossed her arms and said, "Old lady, I know you must know a lot of things. But we are not people who are easily intimidated, so please stop playing games with us."
Her eyes held a stubborn glint as she stared intently at the old man.
At this moment, Xi Xi, who still looked adorable but occasionally revealed a cleverness, stepped forward.
When Chu Chenxiao's attitude towards the old man guarding the garden became a bit harsh, Xixi quickly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Sister Chenxiao, don't be so fierce, it's not good to scare the old man."
Then she turned to the old man and gave him a sweet smile, "Grandpa, please help us, we really need your help."
Chen Xiao glanced at Xi Xi, really wanting to ask if Xi Xi had been brainwashed by the Yuan Realm these past few days, why was she acting like this... disgusting???
Compared to Chu Chenxiao and Xi Xi, Ning Yuyuan appeared much more composed.
She said softly, "Old lady, we are not asking casually. There are undercurrents in this palace, and if we don't understand it clearly, we may fall into greater danger. If you can give us some guidance, it will be a great help to us."
Her voice was gentle yet powerful, and her face showed a sincere expression.
However, faced with the three of them, the old man merely raised his eyes slightly, bowed respectfully to them, and left without saying a word.
"Hmph, this old man definitely knows something." Xi Xi reverted to her original temperament, frowning as she spoke, her face full of resentment.
Back at the palace, Ning Yuyuan analyzed, "The old man is unwilling to speak, he must have some concerns. We need to find a way to gain his trust."
“Then we’ll go to the Imperial Garden every day and get to know him,” Chen Xiao said, his eyes filled with determination.
Over the next few days, Chu Chenxiao, Ning Yuyuan, and Xixi would go to the Imperial Garden every day, sometimes helping the old man water the flowers, and sometimes just sitting quietly to the side.
Gradually, the old man's attitude towards them seemed to change.
One day, after pruning the flowers, the old man suddenly said to Chu Chenxiao, "Princess, do you really want to know those things? Knowing them might bring you death."
Chu Chenxiao nodded firmly, "Grandpa, I'm not afraid." She raised her chin slightly, showing her determination.
The old man sighed. "Alright then. Actually, many years ago, there was a strange fire in the palace. After that fire, some strange rumors began to circulate in the palace, saying that it was related to a mysterious treasure."
A mysterious treasure? Could it be related to the Chaos Spirit Pearl? Chen Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened instantly.
The old man glanced at her. "That's all I know. Princess, take care of yourself."
Meanwhile, in the Ruifeng Dynasty, Yin Yuyao, Ning Ci, and Yuwen Li also became embroiled in the vortex of court intrigue.
At a banquet in the palace, Yin Yuyao overheard a minister and the empress talking in hushed tones, seemingly mentioning an ancient family and clues about a spiritual pearl.
A flicker of tension crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. Back at their lodgings, she anxiously said to Ning Ci and Yuwen Li, "I feel like we're one step closer to the truth, but we might also be heading into even bigger trouble. Ci, Yuwen, what should we do?"
Her hands unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, revealing her sensitive and easily worried side.
After a moment's thought, Ning Ci spoke. Gentle and intelligent, she possessed the demeanor of a leader, her expression calm and composed as she methodically arranged the plan. "Since this ancient family can be linked to the clues to the Spirit Pearl, they must wield considerable influence in the court. We cannot alert them; we must first gather information about this family from the sidelines. I will arrange for people to investigate, and you should also keep an eye on the movements within the palace."
Yuwen Li laughed. She was free-spirited, confident, highly skilled in martial arts, and a responsible person. "Don't worry, with me here, I'll see who dares to harm us."
As she spoke, she drew her sword and casually brandished it a few times in the room, the sword flashing sharply. "With me here, your safety is guaranteed."
During the Jinglan era, Chu Qiaoling, Ning Qianyun, and Chu Yanxi discovered that the palace library seemed to be hiding some secrets.
Chu Qiaoling led the two of them to sneak into the library, where they discovered a mysterious map in an ancient book. However, the markings on the map were blurry and unclear, and further research was needed to uncover its secrets.
Upon discovering the map, Chu Qiaoling's eyes sharpened. "There's definitely something fishy about this map. Yanxi, Qianyun, we must unravel its secrets as soon as possible. I will have reliable people in the palace search for experts who can interpret ancient texts. You two must also be careful not to let others discover that we are investigating this matter."
Her voice was steady and powerful, carrying an aura of authority, and possessing the decisiveness and wisdom of a founding emperor.
Ning Qianyun nodded in agreement. She was usually serious, but she showed a hint of dependence in front of her family. "Mother, don't worry. Yanxi and I will study this map carefully and report any discoveries to you immediately."
Her eyes were full of trust when she looked at Chu Qiaoling.
Chu Yanxi carefully examined the map, her eyes filled with thought. "Mother, this map looks very mysterious. Perhaps we can find clues about the Spirit Pearl through it. We will definitely study it carefully."
During the Zhaoxi reign, Chu Chenxiao, Ning Yuyuan, and Xixi decided to continue searching for a breakthrough by working with the old man guarding the Imperial Garden.
Unbeknownst to them, deep within the palace, countless eyes were secretly watching their every move, and a far greater conspiracy was about to unfold…