They say cultivation knows no passage of time, and within the sect, one rarely feels the change of seasons.
Day after day, before anyone realized it, six years had passed since Su Nuonuo was born…
Because of the unusual phenomenon at her birth, she naturally attracted no small amount of attention within the sect.
Many elders wanted to take her as their disciple.
However, the celestial medicine from the Hehuan Sect within Su Nuonuo was not something that could be revealed to others.
Thus, Lin Muxue directly announced that she would take Su Nuonuo as her third disciple.
In this way, Su Nuonuo grew up, cherished like a star among the moon…
And on this day—
“Qianqian-jie, take me outside to play~”
Su Qianqian looked at her half-finished studies and shook her head, “No, you haven’t finished your lessons today.”
Su Nuonuo lay helplessly on the desk. She really didn’t want to study—!
“Jiejie, I like you the most~. I’m so bored, take me out to play~”
Su Nuonuo gazed at her with bright, watery violet eyes, her voice as soft and gentle as her name, still carrying a childish lilt.
Her small arms hugged Su Qianqian as she looked up and pleaded.
As for Su Qianqian… she was utterly defenseless against this!
“But, but…” Su Qianqian’s heart wavered intensely.
She didn’t dare look at Su Nuonuo’s face—one more glance and her resolve would crumble!
Su Nuonuo truly lived up to inheriting the Hehuan Sect’s peony celestial medicine. Even at such a young age, she had naturally learned how to use her “charm.”
Acting coquettish was as easy as drinking water. It was as if she knew how adorable she was!
While Su Qianqian was still struggling, someone nearby had already given in…
“Little Nuonuo, come on, let Xiao You-jie take you out to play. Don’t bother with your Qianqian-jie anymore—she’s too heartless!” Chu Youtong squatted down and reached out her hand, speaking with doting affection.
Upon hearing Chu Youtong’s words, Su Nuonuo didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately threw herself into Chu Youtong’s arms! “Xiao You-jie, I knew you’re the best! Love you~!”
“Heh, hehehe…” Chu Youtong hugged Su Nuonuo, unable to suppress her silly laughter.
Su Qianqian looked speechlessly at the “Saintess of Hehuan Sect” who had been “charmed” by a six-year-old, and at her third younger sister, who had abandoned her without a second thought to embrace someone else.
She couldn’t help but feel that something was odd.
“Nuonuo, when you grow up, don’t turn into some seductress who brings ruin to kingdoms… Should I really be letting her hang around Chu Youtong?”
Su Qianqian pondered, but somehow felt that this time, it didn’t have much to do with Chu Youtong.
Held in Chu Youtong’s arms, Su Nuonuo turned her sparkling eyes back toward Su Qianqian.
She knew that in the end, Xiao You-jie’s decision wouldn’t count—Qianqian-jie was the key!
“Jiejie, I love you, please let me go out and play~”
“Qianqian, I love you too! Let me take Nuonuo out to play~”
Faced with these two, Su Qianqian ultimately couldn’t withstand their assault…
“Be back before sunset.” Su Qianqian finally relented.
Su Nuonuo and Chu Youtong cheered with joy, then, under Su Qianqian’s watchful gaze, flew directly outside!
Su Qianqian shook her head—these two really acted just like sisters.
In recent years, Chu Youtong had surprisingly been quite well-behaved, never causing any trouble.
She had even helped Su Qianqian with many things.
Moreover, Chu Youtong was the lifesaver of both Liu Qingyao and Su Nuonuo, so Su Qianqian trusted her quite a bit now.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare let Chu Youtong take Su Nuonuo out alone.
Thinking back to after Nuonuo and Liu Qingyao had stabilized, Chu Youtong had taken advantage of Lin Muxue’s brief absence to have Su Qianqian fulfill her “Promise to Do Anything.”
Su Qianqian had been worried Chu Youtong would make some outrageous request, but all Chu Youtong wanted was…
“Qianqian, can you give me a kiss on the cheek?” Chu Youtong had spoken her request in an almost pleading tone.
Su Qianqian admitted that, after she nervously gave that kiss and saw Chu Youtong’s smile, she had indeed felt her heart flutter for a moment.
As someone who understood Chu Youtong’s true nature, Su Qianqian knew this was probably her “disguise.”
But precisely because she understood her, she also knew this was a kind of “truth”…
Now, Su Qianqian was truly at a loss about what to do with Chu Youtong.
She had originally planned to find a chance to send her away, but now Nuonuo would definitely refuse.
Liu Qingyao and Su Changfeng had lived with her for six years and already treated her as family… If “Xiao You” disappeared one day, they would surely be heartbroken.
She herself was completely ensnared!
“Forget it, let things take their course. Chu Youtong really is dangerous…”
Su Qianqian knew she had been unknowingly caught by Chu Youtong’s net, but she was helpless to do anything about it.
In fact, she could even feel her own affection for Chu Youtong growing, and her wariness fading.
Chu Youtong, terrifying as ever! Witches really are too scary!
Not long after the two left, Su Lingling, having finished her “lessons,” hurriedly flew over!
“Nuonuo, Jiejie brought you a present—!”
“Nuonuo just went out to play with Chu Youtong.”
“Eh——?!”
On the other side, the two who had already gone far away, Chu Youtong hugged Su Nuonuo and quietly asked:
“Little Nuonuo, did you get it?”
“Xiao You-jie, I’ve got it! Don’t worry!” Su Nuonuo patted her chest with a childish voice.
As she spoke, she took several Liuying Stones from her storage pouch.
“Xiao You-jie, here you go—the look when Qianqian-jie drools in her sleep, yawns, and smiles, I recorded them all for you. I pretended to play with the Liuying Stone and secretly recorded them. Here you are, so Xiao You-jie~~” Su Nuonuo hinted in her innocent voice.
Chu Youtong vigorously rubbed Su Nuonuo’s head. “I promised you, I’ll take you to eat something tasty! And… hold on tight, don’t tell your jiejie—she won’t let me do this.”
With that, Chu Youtong suddenly sped up, then performed some thrilling maneuvers, making Su Nuonuo cry out with excitement!
……
Meanwhile, far away, in a certain study…
“Siqian, would you like to rest for a bit? You’ve been studying all morning.”
“Shun-jiejie, just a bit more, I’m almost done with this book. You should sit too; standing all the time is tiring.”
Shun and Ying stood beside the table, holding some snacks, while a tiny figure sat primly, her feet not even touching the ground, the book in her small hands appearing especially large.
The Shun Ying Sisters watched fondly from the side.
The little Princess Siqian was so studious and gifted—and most importantly, so cute!
Looking at the youthful face of Siqian, one could already see the heroic spirit of Luo Wuhen, her brows as if painted with ink.
Her earnest appearance was like a miniature Luo Wuhen.
But beneath that heroic aura was an undeniable cuteness.
Her chubby little face, when frowning, didn’t look severe, but rather inspired affection.
And those pale golden eyes—every time the Shun Ying Sisters looked into them, they always thought of someone.
Those eyes were beautiful, but now, that might not be a good thing. Who knows what the Emperor thinks each time she sees those eyes…
“Um, Shun-jiejie, Ying-jiejie…”
“We’re here!”
“I have a question I want to ask you…” Luo Siqian hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself, but finally asked:
“Have you ever seen my father?”
At this question, both Shun and Ying tensed, but still pretended to answer as if nothing was wrong. “Why do you suddenly ask that, Little Siqian…?”
Luo Siqian explained hesitantly, “A few days ago, Mother took me out to play. A friend I was playing with said my eyes are beautiful and asked if my father has golden eyes too. But… I don’t know what my father looks like…”
After saying this, Luo Siqian’s mood clearly fell. She was an obedient and strong child, but in the end, she was still a child and couldn’t hide her feelings.
Her expression made the two feel so distressed, but they didn’t know how to comfort her.
They had told Luo Siqian, just as Luo Wuhen had, that her father was a Great General who died in battle before she was born, protecting the Kingdom.
Shun had once suggested they fabricate a portrait of a man; otherwise, with Luo Siqian never having even seen a picture of her “father,” she might feel extremely sad.
But Luo Wuhen had refused. She didn’t want Luo Siqian to think her relative was just a fake portrait, but neither did she want Luo Siqian to continue longing for Su Qianqian, who would never return…
She believed that, with time, Luo Siqian would eventually stop caring about her “father.”
Now, seeing Shun and Ying’s hesitant and awkward expressions, Luo Siqian’s eyes grew even dimmer, but she quickly forced herself to perk up!
“Ah, I suddenly feel hungry. Let’s go eat something! Hmm… I want the sweet one from last time.”
Luo Siqian jumped down from the tall chair, then began changing her clothes to go out. She truly was a very obedient child…
But the more obedient Luo Siqian was, the worse Shun and Ying felt!
“Little sister, I feel awful.”
“No matter how bad, we can’t say anything. If you tell Little Siqian the truth, she’ll be even more upset.”
“Mm…”
At this moment, Luo Siqian was still thinking hard—why was it?
Why hadn’t her “father” left even a single portrait?
Why, whenever he was mentioned, would both her Mother and Shun-jiejie and Ying-jiejie all avoid the topic…
Luo Siqian was an obedient and clever child. Her smart mind had allowed her, even at such a young age, to see through many of the “lies.”
“When I grow up, will I finally have the answers…?”
……
At night, Luo Siqian had already fallen asleep in her Mother’s arms. Luo Wuhen lovingly caressed her face, then quietly left the bed.
Deprived of Luo Wuhen’s warmth, Luo Siqian unconsciously groped around, her expression filled with anxiety. She sorely lacked a sense of security…
Seeing Luo Siqian’s anxious look, Luo Wuhen paused, but after hesitating, still stepped toward the door…
“Shun, Ying, keep an eye on Siqian. I need to get back to handling state affairs.”
“Um… Your Majesty, did something happen? Otherwise, you wouldn’t leave Siqian’s side at this hour…”
“I’ll take care of it. You two only need to look after Siqian.”
“Your Majesty… today Siqian asked us if we’ve ever seen her ‘father’…”
Luo Wuhen’s steps halted, her brows lowering:
“When she grows up, she won’t care anymore. Tomorrow… take her out for some fresh air.”
“Yes.”
……
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