Chapter 134: The Plan

Lu Qiancha raised her brand-new, tender little hands, turning them this way and that.

Her blue eyes sparkled with joy.

Content and satisfied, she put her disguise as a young boy back on, walked lightly out of the alchemy chamber, and returned to Shui Xian Palace.

Pushing open the door of the bedchamber, she found Xun Xue already reclining on the plush, thickly carpeted divan, her deep blue hair cascading like a waterfall, eyes closed as if already asleep.

Lu Qiancha shed her disguise, took off her outer skirt, and quietly climbed onto the bed.

With practiced ease, she burrowed headfirst into Xun Xue’s warm embrace, wriggling about until she found a comfortable position and nuzzled in.

The little wolf cub, breathing in that soothing frosty scent, soon drifted into a dreamless, deep sleep.

***

The next morning, Xun Xue was roused from her soft, warm dreams by a peculiar, rhythmic pressure.

She opened her drowsy eyes, and the first thing she felt was a warm little creature sprawled atop her, its tiny hands restlessly moving about.

Almost as if… kneading for milk.

“Hm?”

Xun Xue’s body stiffened slightly. She looked down, meeting Lu Qiancha’s half-open, dazed blue eyes—her small face confused, apparently awoken by her own movements.

“Xiao Qiancha… what are you doing?”

Xun Xue’s brows drew together, her tone tinged with confusion and helpless amusement.

“…?” Lu Qiancha lifted her little head groggily.

“What am I doing?” She tilted her head, repeating Xun Xue’s words, her small face filled with pure, genuine bewilderment.

“I don’t know,” Lu Qiancha’s voice was soft and sticky, still carrying a sleepy nasal tone.

Looking into those clear, innocent eyes, all of Xun Xue’s fleeting embarrassment was instantly replaced by a deeper tenderness.

She let out a helpless sigh and reached out to gently rub Lu Qiancha’s furry little ears.

It really felt like this little one was becoming more and more like a child. She didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

Seeing that Xun Xue wasn’t angry or pushing her away, Lu Qiancha continued kneading in peace.

At the same time, a warm, bubbling sense of satisfaction welled up inside her as she did so.

She didn’t know why, but it just made her happy.

Just then—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A set of urgent yet deliberately respectful knocks suddenly rang out at the door.

Who would be looking for her so early in the morning?

Xun Xue frowned slightly. Carefully cradling the little one still on top of her, she gathered her in her arms.

Then, with a touch of spiritual power, she opened the door.

Outside stood a palace maid in full attire, head bowed respectfully.

Her voice carried a hint of tension: “Venerable Immortal, His Majesty awaits you in the side hall. Please proceed to the Yangxin Hall.”

“Mm, tell him to wait. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Xun Xue’s tone was cool as she gave a slight nod in assent.

***

A short while later, in the side hall of Yangxin Hall.

Fragrant sandalwood smoke curled through the air.

Ling Ze, dressed in informal court robes, was hunched over a mountain of memorials, marking them with a vermilion brush.

There was a hint of persistent exhaustion and worry between his brows.

The hall door opened quietly.

Xun Xue entered Yangxin Hall with Lu Qiancha in tow.

Hearing the sound, Ling Ze looked up, his weary gaze brightening slightly at the sight of Xun Xue.

He put down his brush, hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a low, probing voice: “Xun Xue, about Mu Xue… what are your thoughts?”

Without pausing, Xun Xue walked with Lu Qiancha straight to a wide chair draped with a snow wolf pelt in the hall and sat down comfortably.

Only then did she look up at Ling Ze, her voice calm and even: “Me? I have no particular opinion…”

Xun Xue leaned forward slightly, an invisible pressure like the cold wind of the ice fields instantly filling the side hall: “As long as the punishment you give satisfies both me and my child.”

At those words, Ling Ze could only force a bitter smile.

He rubbed his aching brow, as if laying down a heavy burden: “Enough. I’ve run out of ways. She won’t listen to scolding or punishment. You decide her punishment as you wish.”

He paused, then added, “Just don’t kill her.”

After all, that was the only gift left to him by his beloved.

Xun Xue neither agreed nor disagreed, simply giving a slight nod to show understanding.

Then Ling Ze looked at Lu Qiancha and asked, “My unruly daughter was in the wrong. Whatever compensation you want, I will do my utmost to grant it.”

Hearing this, Lu Qiancha looked at Ling Ze and said, “I want to see the medicine that Mufeng stole.”

Honestly, after hearing everyone make such a fuss about this medicine yesterday, Lu Qiancha couldn’t help but be curious about its effects.

“You mean the Nirvana Elixir.”

Ling Ze habitually tapped his fingertips on the smooth Zitan table, producing a steady, dull sound: “This is a treasured medicine of my clan. But since it’s compensation, I can give you a bottle.”

“Just one bottle?”

Xun Xue’s brows shot up, her tone unmistakably displeased.

“Xun Xue… This is no common item. Its source is a Phoenix Tree in the Deep Dream Domain. Only one bottle is produced per year…”

Ling Ze gave a wry smile as he spoke.

“I don’t believe your palace’s Imperial Secret Vault has no reserves at all.”

Xun Xue gave a cold snort, mercilessly exposing the truth.

“To be honest, there are only two bottles left in the vault now. Giving you one is already my greatest sincerity.”

Ling Ze sighed.

“So, what exactly does the Nirvana Elixir do?”

Lu Qiancha folded her arms and asked.

“As its name suggests—it revives the dead, restores flesh to bone. If the living take it, their cultivation will advance even further.”

Ling Ze replied.

“Is that so…”

Lu Qiancha mused. After a moment, she said slowly, “I have an idea for Ling Mu Xue’s punishment. May I borrow both bottles of the Nirvana Elixir for a while?”

Ling Ze narrowed his eyes and asked slowly, “Let’s hear your plan first.”

“Does Ling Mu Xue have any particularly respected elders?”

Instead of answering directly, Lu Qiancha changed the subject with her question.

Ling Ze was taken aback, the confusion in his eyes deepening.

After a moment of thought, he said, “There is indeed a wet nurse who raised her. Mu Xue sees her as her own mother. But what does this have to do with your plan?”

Lu Qiancha leaned forward slightly and spoke slowly: “I think, we can proceed like this…”

Night.

The Princess Bedchamber, its heavy eaves and soaring corners casting menacing shadows beneath the bleak moonlight.

Outside the hall, a squad of Imperial Guards, clad in armor and exuding a chilling aura, stood silent as iron statues.

They turned this splendid palace into a cage.

Inside the bedchamber, Ling Mu Xue sat alone by the window, dressed in pale red court clothes that only made her face appear even more pallid.

She stared blankly at the crescent moon outside, cold and sharp as a hook.

One suppressed sigh after another spilled from her lips.

The palace maids said that Mu Feng had suffered private punishment in the dungeons, her cultivation ruined. Who knew what state she was in now.

“Did you hear? That demon in the dungeons, seems she’s about done for.”

“Tsk tsk, serves her right! The sooner she dies, the less trouble for Her Highness.”

“Exactly, a calamity like that deserves no mercy.”

Hearing the gossip of the guards outside, Ling Mu Xue’s heart felt as if gripped by an icy giant hand.

Mu Feng was dying?

What a joke?!

No, I have to get out. I have to save her!

Ling Mu Xue gritted her silver teeth.

At that moment, the voices of the guards outside, mid-conversation, carried clearly through the heavy palace doors.

“Shift change, shift change! Brothers, same old place—let’s grab a few drinks!”

“Huh? Boss… shouldn’t we wait for the next shift to take over?”

“Tch! Don’t be such a coward!” a rough voice cut in impatiently. “This bedchamber has been sealed by wards. That royal lady inside couldn’t fly out even if she grew wings!”

“Let’s go! Won’t hurt anything!”

Their footsteps and laughter faded into the night.

At last, they disappeared into the darkness.

Ling Mu Xue, looking at the moon outside her window, steeled her heart. She pulled out a Talisman from beneath her wardrobe and began forming hand seals, chanting an incantation.

A perfect opportunity.

A desperate glint exploded in Ling Mu Xue’s eyes.

She sprang up, rushing to a Zitan Wardrobe in the corner shrouded by layers of brocade.

Ling Mu Xue hurriedly lifted the bottom layer of clothes, fumbling out a Talisman inscribed with arcane runes from the deepest recess.

Her fingers trembled with excitement, her lips moving rapidly as she chanted the difficult, tongue-twisting spell.

“Wong—!”

The Talisman suddenly erupted in blinding silver light and a tremendous roar.

Her figure was instantly engulfed.

The next second—

The silver light faded, the noise subsided, and the vast bedchamber was empty.

Only the cold, watchful crescent moon outside the window remained.

This plan actually exploded—I truly did not expect it.

Who is one, who is zero, I can see at a glance.