Chapter 37: The Enchanting and Shadowy National Advisor

In the ninth year of the Jiang Kingdom, the Emperor fell gravely ill and could no longer manage state affairs.

As a result, power in the Jiang Kingdom’s Court Hall divided into three factions.

The first was Chancellor Ye Chengyuan. Over fifty years old, he had served as the teacher of the current Your Majesty and enjoyed His profound respect. Beyond that, he had many disciples under his wing, most of whom held positions throughout the court.

The second was Regent King Lu Yihuan, a rising force in the Court Hall. She had seized His Majesty’s favor overnight through the corruption scandal of a powerful Jiangnan clan, becoming His most trusted new official. Though known for her aloof demeanor, rumors held that she handled matters with cunning ruthlessness, and the full extent of her followers remained unclear.

The third was Eldest Princess Your Highness Jiang Li, Your Majesty’s most cherished princess. She controlled the imperial private treasury and held the authority to command His Shadow Guards, while also wielding influence in the Court Hall. The reach of her own forces was equally mysterious.

…

“Your Highness, this is the intelligence the Shadow Guards intercepted. The courier slit his own throat the moment we seized him. We couldn’t stop it in time.”

The speaker bowed her head respectfully. She wore a turquoise gauze skirt, matched by the outfits of the other women in the room.

Before her sat an opulent chair, carved from fine golden silkwood. Reclining upon it was a graceful woman.

Her features were strikingly beautiful, laced with imperial arrogance at her brows. Her jade-like skin gleamed fair and smooth, her slender fingertips idly tapping a golden feather fan against her palm.

Upon hearing the report, she halted her movements. Jiang Li pondered silently, her clear eyes narrowing slightly.

She had no idea who had sent the message, but anyone with ties to all three major figures of this world—and the power to sever the intelligence flow—had to be either the male lead or female lead, or at least a key supporting character.

That meant she would have to dig into it herself for answers.

“No matter. This palace has the situation well in hand.”

No sooner had she spoken than the maid stationed at the door stepped inside and curtsied. “Your Highness, the Regent King has arrived. She awaits at the entrance.”

【Ding, task target detected. Issuing first task now.】

Jiang Li paused mid-motion as she rose. Hearing the task announcement from 123 in her mind, she swallowed her instruction to usher the visitor into the hall. Instead, she said, “Escort her to the study. Inform the Regent King that this palace will join her shortly.”

The study was where the Eldest Princess customarily met her Shadow Guards lieutenants. It offered utmost secrecy, surrounded at all times by hidden sentries who ensured no interruptions.

Jiang Li had no clue what task 123 would assign, but given the system’s track record with its name, her instincts told her it wouldn’t be anything pleasant.

She had praised the tasks from the previous world, but Jiang Li now harbored grave doubts about 123’s judgment.

The maid acknowledged the order without question and departed, relaying Jiang Li’s words verbatim.

As she turned to lead the guest, the figure waiting at the threshold—in an ink-black silk robe—spoke up. Her voice emerged cold as frost, her aura oppressive.

“Hold. This king is but an outside official. It hardly seems proper for this king to enter the Eldest Princess’s study.”

The maid remained unflustered by the objection, replying with measured poise, “Regent King, these are Your Highness’s direct orders. This servant merely obeys.”

Lu Yihuan’s icy eyes narrowed. She couldn’t puzzle out the Eldest Princess’s scheme in summoning her there so boldly. Was it a trap…?

No matter. She would see soon enough.

“Lead on.”

As the maid guided her deeper into the palace, Lu Yihuan discreetly took stock of her surroundings. It was her first visit to the Eldest Princess’s residence.

The Eldest Princess’s Palace proved surprisingly captivating.

Feng shui layouts, refined garden vistas, exotic blooms… all had been arranged with exquisite taste.

Word had it the Eldest Princess doted on painting and lusted for power, but Lu Yihuan now saw nuances that contradicted the rumors.

She held her breath shallowly, instinctively keeping distance from the aquatic flowers and flanking greenery.

For one, curating such blooms to subtly cloud the senses with their perfume showed this palace harbored more than met the eye.

Surface virtue masking deeper designs, or a bid for the throne through patient scheming? Lu Yihuan found herself intrigued by this princess, reputed to flaunt Your Majesty’s affections with reckless abandon.

The maid ushered Lu Yihuan into the study before withdrawing, leaving her alone.

Since the Eldest Princess trusted her enough to admit her here, Lu Yihuan made free to inspect the chamber.

Tales claimed the princess adored fine arts. The meticulously arranged masterpieces by renowned artists lent credence to that.

Her steps soft, Lu Yihuan shifted left to a wall-hung ink landscape. Sparse strokes conjured Jiangnan’s misty peaks and rivers, beauties amid scenery that brimmed with ethereal allure.

The depicted beauty leaned on a balustrade, long skirts drifting. Her mien serene, the artist’s emphasis lay on those distant-gazing peach blossom eyes, veiled in longing mist—as if pining for a far-off lover.

Lu Yihuan lightly touched her own eye corner. Her matching peach blossom eyes curved faintly upward, devoid of warmth.

Intriguing.

“The Regent King stands so entranced before my Beauty Autumn Waters Painting. Even for you, this one shan’t part with it lightly.”

Soft footsteps approached from without, borne on the woman’s sultry voice and a refined fragrance—floral, yet reminiscent of certain medicinal herbs Lu Yihuan recalled.

The newcomer wore a deep green long skirt, embroidered with blooming crabapples by master hands.

Yet that garb paled beside her dazzling visage.

With a half-joking quip and a curving smile, she glided in, her gaze direct and startlingly limpid.

She bore little resemblance to the scheming nobles Lu Yihuan knew.

As Jiang Li drew near, those laughing eyes upon her, Lu Yihuan returned coolly, “This king harbors no desire to seize it. Your Highness worries needlessly.”

【Ding, first task for princess identity issued.】

【Host, seize the teacup. With a challenging glare at the task target, declare: ‘If you refuse, then I shall confine you here and take you by force regardless.’】

123, you truly deserve to be scrapped and rebuilt.

The guest had just professed no taste for coercion, and now this system’s opening gambit was outright compulsion?

Jiang Li’s face held its smile as she nodded along to Lu Yihuan’s reply, inwardly roasting the task while eyeing the provocative expression it demanded. Spouting that line on its heels would strike anyone as brazen provocation.

Soft confinement, no less—between princess and regent. Utter those words, and Lu Yihuan might well be the one locking her away in this palace.

“This king visits to confer on the new officials’ promotion list.”

Jiang Li arched a brow. Unless memory failed, this world’s male lead—Du Qingyuan—featured there as the new top scholar, destined for swift elevation.

Naturally, Jiang Li had seized the chance to plant her own agents amid them.

She settled at the table, lifting the teapot to pour two cups. Fragrant steam rose as she spoke leisurely, “What issue does this list pose?”

Lu Yihuan swept her robe aside and took the facing seat. Her brows impassive, lips faintly colored, only her eyes held profound depth.

“His Majesty, in a lucid interlude days ago, remarked it time for Your Highness to wed.” Noting the opposite hand’s faint hesitation mid-sip, Lu Yihuan continued evenly, “Among this list’s new appointees, pray consider them closely.”

“Should a worthy suitor emerge, inform this king.”

Inform this king…

A flirtatious glint danced in Jiang Li’s eyes, fleeting as sea foam. She claimed the table’s feather fan, rising with poised leisure to amble idly.

Beneath Lu Yihuan’s chill scrutiny, the fan unfurled languidly along its handle. Elbow dipping, those merry eyes peered from behind it.

In a heartbeat, her once-indifferent gaze sharpened. Dark tides roiled her depths like storm clouds.

The handle led the eye—to where it teasingly lifted Lu Yihuan’s chin.

Gaze upon her, the fingers pressed forward with an insistent hook, flirtatious as any brothel habitué.

She grew less and less the rumored princess.

Lu Yihuan’s thumb nudged the fan away from her chin, only for it to return unabated the next instant. Feathers grazed lightly, ticklish.

Eyelids rising, Lu Yihuan fixed the blatantly intentional Jiang Li. “What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?”

Breath scented like orchids, Jiang Li’s eyes slitted, her outer corners quirking slyly—like a foxy schemer’s.

“Did the Regent King not say to inform you of any fine match?”

Her hand grew ever bolder.

“Is this not me telling the Regent King exactly who mine is?”

Unfathomable mirth sparkled there, beauty such that one might credit the claim unbidden.

Yet yielding would invite cold expulsion.

Lu Yihuan held those eyes a moment before averting hers, decisively displacing the fan handle this time.

“Your Highness jests. We two are women both.”

Jiang Li tsked twice. Unfazed by rebuff, her smile lingered as she rejoined with mild surprise, “Word has it the Regent King spurns all noble sons’ advances. One might assume a preference for the fairer sex.”

The scent intensified; Jiang Li had closed the distance.

Lu Yihuan stayed seated, eyeing the audacious figure before her. “Your Highness jests.”

Snap—the fan collapsed shut, pattern vanishing as the blooming smile reemerged.

Lu Yihuan glanced aside flatly, lifting her teacup to wet her lips before nodding opposite. “Your Highness, pray be seated.”

Her tone even, expression neutral. Those beguiling peach blossom eyes lent her face bare vivacity, no trace of allure.

For reasons unclear, Jiang Li yearned to crack that composure. It strayed from her nature, yet she chalked it to universal mischief—the delight in seeing the abstinent unravel.

Defying the order to withdraw, Jiang Li pressed nearer, halting as Lu Yihuan’s brows twitched.

Her nose tip hovered provocatively in the Regent King’s sightline. Jiang Li repeated herself, tone tinged piteous.

“Will the Regent King truly not become this palace’s destined match?”

Lu Yihuan offered no reply, her gaze icy as untouchable frost. She savored her tea at leisure.

Jiang Li sighed softly in regret.

That sigh whispered near; Lu Yihuan puzzled at the princess’s game but deemed it childish folly.

A probe, perhaps…

Fingers brushed; the firmly gripped cup was wrenched away. A sharp clink rang as it struck the table.

Intoxicating scent flooded next, with words of utter transgression.

Soft fingertips hooked her chin, thumb compelling it upward to unmask any shift in that stoic mask.

Even ice-cold beauty warranted praise—Lu Yihuan possessed peerless allure.

Were Jiang Li the debauched royal of rumor, she’d have dragged such loveliness home for bedding.

Regrettably not—but oral indulgence harmed none.

Per task dictates, Jiang Li mustered a defiant sneer, clamping the court-feared Regent King’s jaw.

“The Regent King claimed no relish for force, yet fortune favors this palace’s tastes therein.”

She bent close, locking onto those peach blossom eyes—serene despite the grip. Jiang Li’s brimmed jubilant, smile magnetic.

Eyes flickering with intent, Lu Yihuan—seated—glimpsed the Eldest Princess’s exposed collarbone, fine and fair.

Exquisitely pale.

Eyes flicking, Lu Yihuan met the ensnaring stare head-on and hummed lightly. “This king refuses—what then, Your Highness?”

Low chuckles rumbled from Jiang Li’s throat, her eye’s shimmer quivering into ripples.

Tea-dampened fingers trembled faintly, droplet poised to fall.

Smiling, she dabbed it onto Lu Yihuan’s lapel, smudging wetness into the sable cloth.

Voice hushed: “You refuse? Then I shall confine you and claim you by force regardless.”

【Ding, task completed.】

Silence hung.

They locked eyes; Jiang Li held ground, Lu Yihuan voiced no banishment.

Tumult stirred within. Gazing on this brazen claimant, Lu Yihuan eyed the soiled lapel spot.

Prise-dry and immaculate, now infiltrated by Jiang Li’s mark.

Unwilling, yet pursued…

Faint amusement ghosted her depths; beneath bland mask, her pulse quickened faintly.

Lu Yihuan mused—this Eldest Princess grew endlessly fascinating.

Yet now, she clasped the lingering fingers from her chin and rose, visage unchanged.

Taller than Jiang Li by a touch, she stood ramrod straight—like a solitary cedar.

“Your Highness’s liberties with this king explain Du Qingyuan’s recent princess-backed rise in favor.”

“Relying thus, true merit lags. Demote him a grade on this promotion list.”

What?! Du Qingyuan? My endorsement? The male lead!

Lu Yihuan’s eyes gleamed satisfied as Jiang Li’s smile congealed to daze.

One fell invited another’s ascent. Eldest Princess—many thanks.

Light adieu spoken, Lu Yihuan departed with measured stride. Her aloof silhouette belied the shrewd profit-snatcher of moments prior.

Oddly, Jiang Li studied her chin-prodding fingertip, recalling the concession on Du’s list rank.

She had just flirted with Lu Yihuan.

That list adjustment amounted to ceding her profit to the Regent King.

Rounded off, flirtation followed by yielded gains—what did that signify?

Eyeing her antique long skirt, lips thinned; twin words blazed in Jiang Li’s mind—

Whore fee.

Their inaugural encounter, brothel solicitation writ large.

Yet recalling Lu Yihuan’s glacial countenance and unwittingly soul-stealing peach eyes, Jiang Li deemed the whore fee well spent!

【Done, spruce up. Lu Yihuan’s about to send your whore fee.】

At that, Jiang Li’s lips drooped. The role-swap hit like whiplash.

This dancer identity evoked memories of the last world’s tyrannical academy terms—and how she’d greenlit such brazen terms.

Sheer domination.

【Ding, dancer identity auto-switched. Issuing first task.】

Jiang Li sighed, resigned to makeup, costume, and guise.

Off to collect Lu Yihuan’s “fee.”