The Conditions of Exchange

Inside the Xue Sang Palace, the candlelight flickered, casting dim, yellowish hues, while light gauze danced and a faint fragrance floated in the air.

Feng Jiu Lan lay quietly on the bed, attended by palace servants, having changed out of his wet clothes. Compared to his earlier pallor, his face now had a touch more color.

Xian Yue crouched beside the bed, her small, fair hand gently caressing his face. Although it was still cold, it lacked the previous stiffness. Xian Yue's tears gradually stopped, and the tension in her heart finally loosened.

Though she didn't know what method that mysterious woman had used, Xian Yue began to believe that the person behind her could truly wake her brother.

As long as she could save her brother, she would do anything—even if it meant walking away with a devil or selling her own soul.

"When will my brother wake up?" Xian Yue stood up, bending over carefully to tuck the blanket around Feng Jiu Lan. Turning around, she wiped away her tears and looked up, her eyes wide, directly meeting the gaze of the young woman in white with white hair standing behind her.

"He was already weak, and he almost drowned. How could he wake up so quickly?" 

With elegant eyebrows and sparkling almond eyes, Xian Yue then noticed that the woman had an exquisite appearance. Her voice was gentle yet lacking the affectation of the harem women, cold and faintly carrying a man's strength.

While Xian Yue looked at her, the woman in white was also examining Xian Yue with an almost scrutinizing gaze. Xian Yue's tear-streaked face, blurred vision, and determined chin reflected a fierce resolve. 

Despite being heartbroken, Xian Yue pretended to be strong—something that did not seem like the behavior of a four-year-old child. The woman in white focused on Xian Yue and smiled with satisfaction.

"From now on, I will be your master."

The woman bent down, her fingers gently touching the vermilion mark on Xian Yue's forehead.

"My brother will be okay, right?" 

Xian Yue frowned, her eyes narrowing, allowing the woman's hand to remain on her forehead without flinching.

Although this woman seemed capable and being her disciple might be beneficial, Xian Yue was indifferent to such matters. She only wanted her brother to recover quickly. If he didn't get better, what was the point of learning skills? Without something to protect, what could she achieve? 

"I only promise to help you wake him up. If you want him to recover fully, come with me." 

Seeing the loving smile on the woman's face, Xian Yue's brow furrowed even more. The same smile had been worn by Su Mu when she had deceived her in the past, making Xian Yue feel sick.

Whether her intentions were genuine or not, she didn't need it. Did she really think she could fool her just because she was a four-year-old child?

"What do you mean?" 

Xian Yue pushed away the woman's hand on her forehead and asked coldly, completely unlike a child of her age.

"I pulled your brother back from the brink of death. If it weren't for me, he would be nothing more than a cold corpse lying in bed." 

The woman in white didn't regard Xian Yue as merely a four-year-old either.

"What do you need to do to save my brother?" 

Though unsure of this woman's origins or why she wanted Xian Yue to go with her, Xian Yue knew she couldn't live without her brother. Separation was fine as long as she knew he was well. All these years, he had protected and indulged her; it was time for her to do the same. She truly didn't want anything to happen to him.

"I can only prolong his life. If you don't listen to me and come with me, he will die now." 

Upon hearing this, Xian Yue turned and glanced back at Feng Jiu Lan, tears streaming down her face.

"You wake my brother up, and then I will go with you. You help him extend his life for a year, and I will stay with you for a year. I will do whatever you ask, but if anything happens to my brother, don't think you can use me even a bit." 

Since her brother was pulled from the water and the imperial doctors had been helpless, if this woman was willing to pay the price to save him just to make Xian Yue go with her, she must have her own motives.

"A very clever girl." 

She was smart beyond her years, which was likely why she could bear such a heavy responsibility. The woman in white ruffled Xian Yue's messy hair and suddenly chuckled lightly.

"You can go out first."

Xian Yue lowered her head, wiping away her tears. Her brother had fallen; what use was her crying? Who could she show her weakness to?

"I'll go out first." 

Xian Yue took one last longing glance at Feng Jiu Lan on the bed before turning to the woman in white and stepping outside.

"Princess." 

Ning Xiang had been waiting at the door of the sleeping quarters. Upon seeing Xian Yue, she hurried over, stretching her neck to peek inside.

"Ning Xiang, come with me." 

Xian Yue's delicate little face radiated a maturity and determination that was beyond her years.

"What's going on?" 

By rights, her brother should have been receiving congratulations from the officials and envoys at Feng An Palace, not rushing back so soon. If someone had informed him when the incident occurred, she should have been rescued as well. How could her brother have fallen into the water?

This was a side of Xian Yue Ning Xiang had never seen before. Startled, she knelt on the ground in tears. "I don't know, either!"

"You don't know?" Xian Yue raised her voice, challenging her.

"When you fell into the water, I was the only one by your side!" 

Shouldn't she be the one most clear about the events leading up to this? 

"I really don't know!" 

Ning Xiang trembled, supporting herself on the ground. Cautiously, she lifted her head, only to meet Xian Yue's furious gaze. She quickly lowered her head. "I heard the sound of someone falling into the water and rushed in. Just as I was about to call for help, I saw the prince hurrying over. He knew you had fallen in and jumped into the lake despite the servants' warnings."

Although Feng An Palace was not far from Fusang Lake, it would still take at least a quarter of an hour to walk there. How could her brother have rushed over the moment she fell? The ministers had gathered in Feng An Palace that evening; surely there should have been heavy guards here. It was quiet at night; how could those people not have heard the sound of someone falling into the water?

Everything must have been prearranged. Someone wanted to harm both her and her brother.

"Go find Wang Gonggong." 

Xian Yue instructed Ning Xiang, who was still kneeling and crying.

Not long after Ning Xiang left, Wang Xi and Yun Mo were brought to Xian Yue.

"Princess, how is the prince?" 

Wang Xi entered and immediately began to cry upon seeing Xian Yue. As the prince's close attendant, if anything happened to him, Wang Xi would be in deep trouble as well.

"The prince is blessed and will surely be fine. Heaven will protect him, and he will wake up soon." 

Xian Yue breathed a sigh of relief and smiled reassuringly at Wang Xi, who also relaxed at her words.

"Wang Xi, I want to ask you something." 

As soon as Xian Yue finished speaking, Wang Xi bent down to her. "Please ask, Your Highness. I will tell you everything I know without reservation."

As someone who served Feng Jiu Lan, he naturally held the princess in high regard.

"When my brother was at Feng An Palace, did anyone come to find him and say something to him?" 

Wang Xi looked at Xian Yue suspiciously for a moment. After mumbling to himself, he shook his head. "No one did."

No one? How was that possible? Although the siblings had a deep bond, they weren't so connected that they could read each other's minds. This coincidence didn't make sense; she couldn't believe it.

"Think carefully again."

Wang Xi crouched down, and Xian Yue's voice cut through the fog in his mind. 

"Oh, I remember now." 

Wang Xi formed his hand into a flower shape, speaking with excitement. 

"What did you remember? Hurry and tell me." 

Wang Xi retracted his flower-shaped fingers and stepped back a few paces, feeling a sense of oppression. The princess in this state was even more terrifying than the prince. 

"During the banquet, Granny Zhang came to find me and gave me a small note to pass to the prince. After the prince read the note, he left the guests behind, and that's when this incident happened." 

By the end of his explanation, Wang Xi couldn't help shedding a few tears. 

It was Granny Zhang. No wonder! So, there was an insider in Xue Sang Palace. 

She had considered herself to be treating Granny Zhang well, and her brother was even more generous and kind. She never expected that Granny Zhang would turn against them. She wanted to see who had bribed her. 

"Ning Xiang, come in." 

"Come here." 

Xian Yue pointed to a spot nearby, instructing the anxious Ning Xiang who had just entered. 

Ning Xiang hesitated for a moment but obediently walked to the spot indicated by Xian Yue. 

"Crouch down." 

Ning Xiang looked up at Xian Yue, then obediently squatted down. Xian Yue stood up from her chair and leaned in to whisper something in Ning Xiang's ear. Ning Xiang stared at Xian Yue, her eyes wide with confusion. 

"Do as I say, and find someone to follow her." 

Xian Yue had been sitting in the study, and as the hour grew late, the door was gently pushed open. At the slightest sound, Xian Yue quickly sat up straight. 

"What's going on? Is there any news?" 

Ning Xiang approached Xian Yue, and in the darkness, her eyes reflected both fear and respect as she looked at Xian Yue. Not long ago, her young master had been cuddling in the prince's arms. She couldn't understand how a four-year-old could know so much. 

"Granny Zhang went to see Consort Li." 

So it was true! Xian Yue suddenly jumped up from her chair, looking toward the direction of Zhu Xuan Palace, her small hands clenched into fists. "Ning Xiang, find someone to keep an eye on Granny Zhang." 

Listening to the creaking sound of the door closing, the large study was finally left with only Xian Yue. 

"No wonder even heaven would favor you." 

A familiar tone, filled with astonishment, rang out. 

"It's you." 

Xian Yue turned around to see the woman in white with white hair behind her, feeling somewhat confused about her meaning. 

Heaven favored her? Yes, she was indeed favored, yet she had been tormented all this time. 

"I will go with you, but you must wait until I handle my affairs. Master, you must help me." 

To appear so silently in this forbidden palace, she must have extraordinary abilities. 

Consort Li, huh? If she wanted to eradicate the root of the problem, fine, then I will do as you wish.