23. I Don’t Believe in the Future
“Miss Baiyao, you just said they were interfering based on a prophecy, right?”
Although she knew the next question might not be answered, Gong Yiling asked anyway, “Do you know what the result of the last Eight Desolations Deer Hunt was?”
Baiyao Sheng smiled helplessly. “You jest, Miss Gong. It’s already a miracle that I know these things. If I also knew the result of the last hunt, they would surely kill me at all costs.”
“Well…” Gong Yiling shrugged. “That’s true. The less you know, the less of a threat you are. But since you’ve betrayed them, you’ll have to be careful of them coming after you.”
“They don’t need to…”
Baiyao Sheng’s face darkened.
Gong Yiling sensed something was wrong and quickly asked Lu Xinyao, “Yuli, go and tell Chuyue to just send some normal pills tonight. No more of her soul food.”
Leng Yuli came to her senses, bid them farewell, and quickly left.
Just then, Baiyao Sheng stumbled, and Miss Gong quickly caught her.
“Your body…?”
Baiyao Sheng smiled wryly. “The Taiqiong Heavenly Divination has a few forbidden techniques that can transfer luck to a certain extent. I’ve dispersed Baili Yue’s luck to those noble families, as a way to atone for my mistakes.”
“This gift may not be what they want.” Gong Yiling looked into her eyes.
Baiyao Sheng shook her head with a chuckle. “By using this method, my lifespan has been reduced to less than ten years. This should be what they want, right?”
“You…?”
Her words stunned Gong Yiling.
She had so much she wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out. In the end, she could only say, “If Yuli knew about this, she would be heartbroken.”
“I know she would, but it had to be done.” Baiyao Sheng replied calmly. “From the moment I left her at Elder Leng’s doorstep, I knew that I had to take responsibility for my own actions and decisions. I can’t let others clean up my mess.”
Well, that’s what being an adult was all about, right?
“Besides, I’m not going to die tomorrow.” Baiyao Sheng continued, “I still have plenty of time to teach her the ways of a ruler, and to fulfill my duty as a sister, and find her a good brother-in-law—”
Ahem.
Hold on, hold on.
Of those three sentences, why did Gong Yiling feel only one was reliable?
The part about fulfilling her duty as a sister.
The ways of a ruler? A good brother-in-law?
Mmm… just hearing the latter part made her feel a bit… uncomfortable.
Of course, she wouldn’t show any strong reaction.
“Yuli wants to be the Empress?” She raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t Yuli mention it to me?”
“I’m nearing the end of my life. No matter how you look at it, Qin’er is a much better choice.” Baiyao Sheng said seriously, “And whether it’s the result of the Eight Desolations Deer Hunt or from the perspective of this country, Qin’er is the best choice.”
Emmmm…
Did Miss Gong want Yuli to be the Empress?
That depended on Yuli herself. But she had a feeling that if the girl really wanted it, she would have already accepted with a tsundere-like glee when some of the ministers approached her a few days ago.
Although she hadn’t directly asked Yuli, and she didn’t know what her goals were…
Seeing Gong Yiling lost in thought, Baiyao Sheng assumed she agreed and bowed slightly. “If there are no other matters, Miss Gong, I’ll take my leave.”
“You’re not staying for dinner?”
“I caused the mess in the palace. I can’t rest until it’s cleaned up.”
Although she said this, Gong Yiling knew her true intentions.
She knew she wasn’t exactly a welcome guest in the eyes of the others here. If she stayed, it would make Leng Yuli’s situation awkward.
Rather than that, it was better for her to leave, to avoid any embarrassment.
And just before Baiyao Sheng left, Gong Yiling suddenly called out to her. “Miss Baiyao, I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Yuli is the destined one. So, the one who unintentionally revealed that aura and alerted the secret guards was Yuli, not you, right?”
Baiyao Sheng paused, then turned and looked at her. “You…?”
“Don’t worry.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Since you’ve taken the blame, I won’t expose your lie.”
“However,” she couldn’t help but sigh, “her grandfather was the only one who was kind to her since she was a child. Since you’ve been thinking about her all this time, as her sister, instead of worrying about dynasties and finding her a husband, why don’t you spend more time with her, ask her what she wants to do? Isn’t that what a good sister would do?”
Baiyao Sheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “You’re right. I was thinking too simply.”
“Yes, you said you don’t have much time left. At least in your remaining days, let her experience what it’s like to have a caring sister.”
“To be so insightful at such a young age, Miss Gong?”
“It’s you who haven’t put yourself in her shoes.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Being in a high position, accustomed to arranging things for others, you get used to that feeling. I understand that feeling, and I know that if you continue down this path, it might affect your hard-won sisterly bond.”
“Miss Gong…” Baiyao Sheng repeated her name and chuckled, then turned and walked towards the door.
But just as she was about to reach it, she suddenly said, “If you want, I can try to divine your future for you.”
“Not necessarily the exact future, but various disasters, various hardships…”
Before she could finish, Gong Yiling calmly refused. “Miss Baiyao, do you really think that the future you predict will definitely happen?”
“Hmm?”
