Chapter 8: Could This Be the End?

The buildings were not only connected on the ground, but also in the sky. There was nothing reminiscent of the ancient times. The future of 2550 seemed more like a dream of ascending to the heavens that their ancestors once imagined. Sadly, this dream had cost humanity dearly.

For now, she could not return. No matter how she examined that stone, she could see nothing in it that might help her go back. It was lifeless—yes, lifeless was the perfect word. It seemed as though the stone had lost its original essence. Or, to put it in scientific terms, its energy was completely depleted. It was nothing like when she first saw it.

She could sense it.

She followed closely behind, entering the grand hall together. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were already there, apparently awaiting the two of them.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to Your Grace,” Xuan Yuan Juesi and Si Nuo Sang bowed before the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

“You really do keep us waiting, brother,” Xuan Yuan Qiming said with a smile once they had finished their salutations.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. We ran late and were delayed on the road,” replied Xuan Yuan Juesi.

“Take your seats,” the Empress Dowager interjected, aware of the tension between the two. She did not want them to quarrel at this moment.

“You must be Princess Fifth Zero Leaf?” The Empress Dowager motioned for Si Nuo Sang to sit beside her. Xuan Yuan Juesi gave her a look, and Si Nuo Sang obediently walked over.

“Zero Leaf pays her respects to Your Majesty and Your Grace,” she said, bending her knees in salute. She had just learned the etiquette, but managed well enough.

“No need to be so formal, Princess Zero Leaf,” the Empress Dowager said, gesturing for her to sit.

“In truth, I invited you today merely to bring us together, as the princess has been unwell. I feared we might neglect you.”

“Your Grace is too kind; it’s only that my health has not yet adapted. That’s why it took so many days before I could pay my respects.”

Si Nuo Sang could feel the Emperor’s scrutinizing gaze. Would he see through her?

“It’s good that you’re well now. Let’s dine,” the Empress Dowager said.

They began their meal. The atmosphere between Xuan Yuan Qiming and Xuan Yuan Juesi remained strange and tense, but the Empress Dowager was very kind to Si Nuo Sang, as if completely unfazed by the awkwardness. This reminded Si Nuo Sang to avoid these two men as much as possible in the future. She chatted happily with the Empress Dowager until the meal ended.

But Xuan Yuan Juesi’s expression was extremely sour.

Si Nuo Sang resolved not to provoke him and followed him carefully. That was surely the safest course.

“You seemed to be enjoying yourself just now,” he said.

“It was all right.” Si Nuo Sang wondered why he was looking for something to complain about. She was only trying not to give away his secrets—how had it become her fault in his eyes? This man was impossible to understand.

“All right? You looked delighted. Did you not notice my expression? The more you say, the more likely you are to make a mistake. Do you even know anything about Fusang? You were talking about everything under the sun. Are you trying to see me punished by the Emperor? Was that your intention?” Xuan Yuan Juesi burst out, losing his temper in the carriage.

“I’m sorry. I thought this would help them trust us more.” It seemed nothing she did would ever win his approval. Since that was the case, she might as well just lower her head and accept blame. There was no choice—one must bow one’s head beneath the eaves.

“Hmph, you really do get carried away. Fortunately, they didn’t see through anything today, or everything would have been ruined.”

He hadn’t truly wanted to scold her over this. It was just that seeing her so cheerful while he sat through the ordeal put him in a foul mood, so he took it out on her.

Si Nuo Sang hadn’t thought of that. Who would have imagined someone from ancient times would be so shrewd? She would have to remember this—ancient people could be clever too. It was her intelligence that needed improving. She knew so much, but none of it was useful here.

Still, she was determined to use what she knew to make something of herself in this era, to break free from this man’s control. That was her true path.

“Hmm.”

Her sudden meekness confused Xuan Yuan Juesi. This wasn’t like her. Ordinarily, she would have shouted at him. Was this her real personality, or was there something he didn’t know about her?

During the meal, the Emperor had been probing her, but she had managed to deflect him easily enough. That surprised him—Xuan Yuan Qiming was actually interested in her? Normally, he should have interrogated her, perhaps because of the Empress Dowager’s presence. The Empress Dowager was the Emperor’s birth mother, whereas Xuan Yuan Juesi’s own mother had died long ago. That was why the throne could never have been his. Still, the Empress Dowager had always treated him well. If not for her, his fate would have been even worse. As a child, she’d favored him even more than Xuan Yuan Qiming.

So Xuan Yuan Juesi had always yielded to Xuan Yuan Qiming in many things, but after their father’s death, everything changed. The Empress Dowager began favoring Qiming, to a drastic degree, and even persecuted him. He left the palace early to live outside, becoming a prince with no power. He should have been the one to marry a consort, but in the end, Fifth Zero Leaf became his. There were many other princes to choose from, yet it was him—clearly a deliberate slight. But whatever the reason, things had reached this point. There was no use in wishing otherwise.

Back at the prince’s residence, she was ushered into Xuan Yuan Juesi’s own room. Seriously? Was she expected to sleep here with this man tonight?

The idea annoyed her. Not that she was squeamish, though perhaps a little.

“Um, where am I supposed to sleep?” she asked Xuan Yuan Juesi.

He glanced at the bed opposite and indicated she should sleep there.

“That doesn’t seem appropriate. Why not give me another room?”

Before she finished speaking, he pressed her against the wall, looking into her eyes.

“Am I really so terrifying?”

“No, no, of course not. It’s just… isn’t this a bit improper? After all, I’m not actually Fifth Zero Leaf.”

“You are Fifth Zero Leaf—remember that. From now on, you must remain in this room every day. My residence has many secrets. If the Emperor learns of them, neither of us will survive. I might escape with my life, but you surely won’t.”

“Are you threatening me?”

She hated being threatened! She tried to shove him away, but unfortunately, she didn’t seem to have much strength at all.