Chapter 76: The Path to Divinity

Jiang Chenbi climbed down from her legs and straightened her clothes. “Don’t you have any official duties today?”

Cui Wangshu stood up with her. “I don’t have any duties, but Cui Daoyuan wants me to go back home today.”

Jiang Chenbi raised an eyebrow. “What does he want?”

Cui Wangshu narrowed her eyes, recalling how she had seen Feng Gan in front of the residence that day. She said gravely, “He probably saw you.”

Previously, after returning from Tongzhou, Cui Wangshu had claimed she was tired of her and sent her away. Now that the woman had reappeared at the residence, in the eyes of the Cui Family, she did not seem like a devoted person. Anyone could see the suspicious nature of it.

Jiang Chenbi’s gaze darkened slightly as she remembered the rat Ying Lan had mentioned following her. She let out a cold laugh. “Is that so?”

“When do you plan to make your move against the Cui Family?”

The emotions in Cui Wangshu’s eyes deepened. She had originally planned to act before the flood season. Whether it was the Empress Dowager or Li Cong, if one of them met with an accident, the other would eagerly swallow up the previous dynasty.

Dealing with tigers required perfect timing to eliminate both at once. If Cui Daoyuan were dealt with first, Li Cong would not let the Cui Family off, and naturally would not spare her either.

If Li Cong were dealt with first, there would be no one left to check the Empress Dowager. Once the Empress Dowager succeeded, Cui Daoyuan would kill the donkey after it had outlived its usefulness, and she would be the first to go.

But now, Li Cong and Cui Daoyuan’s situations had deteriorated faster than she had planned, and the Empress Dowager was growing impatient.

The mutiny happening ahead of schedule was a foregone conclusion.

“A few days ago, I saw unusual changes in the stars. The Luo River flood season might come early, but the earliest would still be next month. These things are unpredictable, so… I think we shouldn’t rely on the moat as our trump card.”

Cui Wangshu frowned slightly and said thoughtfully.

Jiang Chenbi’s expression turned serious. She had not expected that after all their efforts to divert the Luo River, it might not even come into play.

Fortunately, they had planned for the mutiny from the start. Diverting the Luo River was only to create an encirclement, and they had not bet everything on trapping the capital with the moat’s waters.

Cui Wangshu lowered her gaze and continued, “I’ll go back today to steady him first, and we’ll make our move next month.”

Jiang Chenbi narrowed her eyes. “Alright, I’ll have the troops moved over quietly. One month will be enough.”

Cui Wangshu’s gaze lingered meaningfully in the void. In truth, she very much wanted to use the divination chips to check if the flood season could truly erupt early, but Wang Xian’s words weighed heavily on her heart.

“Mm. What about your side? How’s the matter with your senior sister going?”

Jiang Chenbi’s expression soured. During her more than ten days back in Luozhou this time, He Yin had already made her move. As expected, she had sent Liu Yao to assassinate her as a show of loyalty. Three months had passed, and He Yin had only just begun to trust Liu Yao.

“Her side… isn’t urgent. If she doesn’t make a move, I’ll go to her myself.”

He Yin wanted the Heart’s Blood of the Twin-Born Daughters. Back then, He Yin had not known of Cui Wangshu’s existence, but now she probably did. Jiang Chenbi feared that He Yin might come after Cui Wangshu for the Heart’s Blood, so no matter what, she would confront He Yin before the mutiny.

Only by eliminating this woman could they remove one threat from Cui Wangshu’s side.

Since He Yin had sent Liu Yao to assassinate her, it meant trust was not far off. The closer they got to the final confrontation, the calmer Jiang Chenbi became.

Back then, this woman had thought to control her with the Love Gu, which showed that what she valued most was her own life. After all, the Heart’s Blood of the Twin-Born Daughters was only useful if offered willingly by a living person.

Thus, Jiang Chenbi’s trump card was her own life. Over the years, she had figured it out: why He Yin was so fixated on her. It was to nurture the Yin Blood Gu.

This gu had been lost since ancient times. A living person nurtured it, and every drop of blood in their body could turn into a gu worm—neither human nor insect nor immortal nor demon. It was the perfect fusion of gu worm and human body.

According to ancient records, this was also a path to divinity.

He Yin wanted to become a god.

Jiang Chenbi recalled He Yin’s greedy eyes and sneered. Become a god? Back then, she had dared to fight to the death against Liu Xuan, who had one foot in the Divine Realm.

He Yin was merely a mortal. What did she have to fear?

Cui Wangshu had once asked Jiang Chenbi about He Yin, but Jiang Chenbi had hidden part of her plan and only told her the positive aspects. Thus, Cui Wangshu did not know what He Yin was truly plotting.

“Do you need me to use the divination chips to divine for you?” Cui Wangshu thought of that snowy dream and grew worried.

Anyway, Jiang Chenbi did not know she could no longer use the divination chips. If she needed it, Cui Wangshu could divine right now.

Jiang Chenbi’s brow twitched, and she refused nonchalantly, “No need. I have confidence in myself. Besides, things are going smoothly with Liu Yao.”

How could she let Cui Wangshu divine? If she did, their relationship would be exposed…

Cui Wangshu frowned, wanting to say more, but Jiang Chenbi cut her off.

“We’ve been through life and death in the Imperial Mausoleum. Besides, I’m Jiang Chenbi. Is there anything in this world I can’t accomplish?”

Jiang Chenbi raised an eyebrow and lifted her chin at Cui Wangshu. The confidence on her face was utterly convincing.

Yes, she was Jiang Chenbi. How could there be anything she couldn’t do?

Tenderness filled Cui Wangshu’s eyes. She curved her lips. “Alright, I believe in you.”

Jiang Chenbi met her gaze and smiled as well.

She turned to look at the sky outside and teased, “Aren’t you going back yet? Don’t forget tonight…”

A trace of unnaturalness flashed across Cui Wangshu’s face. She coughed lightly. “I remember. No need to remind me. I’ll head back soon.”

Jiang Chenbi stepped closer, leaning slightly toward her neck. Her breath brushed against the skin, sending shivers, as she inhaled the woman’s cool fragrance. She smiled. “I’m not reminding you. I’m just looking forward to it.”

Cui Wangshu’s ears burned. She stumbled back a step. “I’ll go now.”

Watching her flustered retreat, Jiang Chenbi curved her lips.

At the Cui Residence.

Cui Daoyuan had aged greatly lately. He claimed he had not been sleeping well. At his age, poor rest was extremely damaging to the body.

Irritation surged between his brows. He stared at Cui Wangshu coldly. “Is there something you haven’t reported to me?”

Cui Wangshu met his gaze, inwardly admiring the faint murkiness emerging in his eyes. On the surface, she remained composed. “I was afraid of angering Father, so I haven’t reported it yet.”

Cui Daoyuan scrutinized her and narrowed his eyes. “Speak.”

Cui Wangshu nodded. “The woman I sent away before—I brought her back to the residence.”

There was no such thing as a perfectly sealed wall. Jiang Chenbi’s frequent visits to the Shangshu Residence would eventually be discovered.

Cui Daoyuan frowned. “The women by your side never last more than half a year. Have you fallen for her?”

Cui Wangshu tugged the corner of her lips into a frivolous smile, looking every bit the playboy lingering in the flowers. “Father should understand that once you find a woman to your liking, you can’t forget her.”

The meaning of “to her liking” was all too clear.

However, though Cui Daoyuan occasionally lost clarity in his mind because of her, he was not so easily fooled now. “Why not report it?”

Cui Wangshu lowered her gaze. “Bedchamber matters—how could I disturb Father with them?”

Cui Daoyuan paused, seemingly not expecting her to be so brazen as to say it outright.

He had previously sent Feng Gan to investigate the woman’s background. She was a clean village girl with no major issues. Her parents had died of illness, and it made sense for her to follow Cui Wangshu to the Capital City.

But he still felt this was a sign of Cui Wangshu slipping from his control.

Cui Wangshu knew his suspicions ran deep. Too many words would only arouse suspicion, so she offered no further explanation to avoid seeming like she was covering something up.

Cui Daoyuan stared at Cui Wangshu, recalling Feng Gan’s recent reports. Their whereabouts were mostly fixed between the Shangshu Residence and pleasure houses, which matched what Cui Wangshu had said about their relationship.

Lately, the Emperor had been pressing hard, leaving Cui Daoyuan overwhelmed. Another reason he had summoned Cui Wangshu was to have her handle some matters for him.

Cui Wangshu nodded. “Naturally. Father can rest assured.”

Cui Daoyuan rubbed his temples, fatigue showing on his face. “Don’t always focus only on Ministry of Rites affairs. The Cui Family will be yours in the future. The better the Cui Family does, the better off you’ll be.”

Cui Wangshu had heard these words countless times over the years. Cui Daoyuan always used this excuse to make her prop up the Cui Family’s rise.

He must have been having a hard time with the Emperor lately and had thought of her again.

It was just a matter of words. Cui Wangshu replied respectfully, “Daughter will always keep it in mind.”

A headache struck. Cui Daoyuan could not be bothered to continue about the village girl and waved her off. “Good. You may go.”

Cui Wangshu lowered her brows and retreated respectfully.

Cui Daoyuan closed his eyes, missing the disdainful and contemptuous look Cui Wangshu cast at the study decorations.

With matters here settled, Cui Wangshu could return to the residence. But thinking of Jiang Chenbi’s words, she suddenly did not feel like going back so soon.

Jiang Ci had already returned to Luozhou. In nearly half a year, the intelligence network Cui Wangshu had demanded was mostly set up.

At least Tongzhou and Luozhou were complete, needing only some refinement.

As for the Capital City… it was her territory, with eyes everywhere.

In the past, such things satisfied her unprecedented desire for control, nurturing her growing urges to monitor and dominate.

She needed to know every detail about the things—and people—she cared about: times, places, movements, all crystal clear.

Of course, that included Jiang Chenbi.

On the way back to the residence, Cui Wangshu passed the teahouse where Jiang Chenbi had met Liu Yao that day.

Through the carriage window, she saw the disguised undercover agents on the street. Cui Wangshu’s gaze darkened as she dropped the curtain.

At the Shangshu Residence, Cui Wangshu’s expression was relaxed at first. But after searching around and finding no sign of Jiang Chenbi, her face darkened.

“Where is she?” Cui Wangshu looked expressionlessly at Xun An.

Xun An lowered her head and pulled a folded note from her sleeve. She read, “At the hour of three-quarters past wei, Miss Jiang left the Shangshu Residence and went to the South Street Residence. At the end of wei, Miss Jiang left and headed to the teahouse. No one else was seen entering with her.”

“What time is it now?”

Xun An lowered her gaze. “One-quarter past shen.”

Cui Wangshu’s pupils contracted slightly, indifference in her eyes. “You may go.”

Xun An nodded and left. She burned the note, staring at the ashes on the ground. Coming back to herself, she realized she had broken out in a cold sweat.

Would Cui Wangshu’s behavior like this… not anger Jiang Chenbi?

This airtight surveillance, constant and pervasive—every time Xun An saw the densely packed records on the notes, it chilled her.

What kind of obsession drove someone to want to track every moment of another’s day?