Is Meng Shiwan borrowing a corpse to return a soul?

Meng Anli looked at the girl she had frozen, her anxious eyes darting around.

She raised her hand.

Meng Ying let out a heavy sigh of relief and ran over to them.

"When I arrived, she had already stopped breathing. I was crying on her when she suddenly sat up and asked us where this was. Were we filming? Why were we all wearing…"

Meng Ying thought for a moment, "Ancient costumes! Yes, that's what she said, ancient costumes."

Meng Anli's expression shifted slightly. "A borrowed corpse returning to life?"

Empress Chu's face also turned pale, her hands and feet trembling uncontrollably. She asked Meng Ying, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Meng Ying said guiltily, "She was always foolish and sometimes spoke nonsense, so I didn't pay much attention."

Empress Chu clutched her chest, speaking with difficulty, "My Shiwan is gone?"

Meng Ying said sadly, "Although Shiwan was foolish, she was very kind. She would shield frogs from the rain, help ants move their homes, and even secretly gave me preserved osmanthus cakes. She wouldn't become so wicked just because she got smarter."

Meng Anli found it a bit strange. "Why do you believe what I say so easily? Aren't you worried I'm just trying to trick you?"

Empress Chu and Meng Ying exchanged a glance.

Meng Ying explained, "After she woke up, at the palace banquet, she drugged the Fifth Princess who had pushed her into the water, ruining her reputation. When my father investigated, he found the remaining medicine in my room.

She said I did it to avenge her, which led to me being severely punished. I couldn't get out of bed for half a year."

Empress Chu thought of that dark time, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I felt that although she was seeking revenge, her methods were too cruel, and she even harmed her own sister. But Ying'er pleaded for her, saying she was willing to protect her sister. I temporarily punished her with confinement.

When I went to find her after settling Ying'er, she had already stolen a token and fled the palace."

Meng Anli realized with a start. No wonder they believed her; it turned out she had framed her own sister.

But Empress Chu also surprised her. She approved of Meng Shiwan's revenge? She only felt her methods were too cruel and that she had harmed her own sister.

She then considered that with so many concubines in the palace, Empress Chu couldn't have lived so comfortably in the cold palace without some means.

Having means was good.

Meng Anli stated directly, "My purpose in coming is to take you to the Heavenly Realm and send you to Meng Mingde's side. We can work from the inside and outside. Are you willing?"

Meng Ying grabbed Empress Chu's hand.

Meng Anli thought she would try to persuade Empress Chu to stay.

But she said, "Mother, I've seen your suffering all these years. Now that a celestial being is helping, if you want to go, don't hesitate any longer."

Empress Chu's beautiful eyes welled up with tears. "Ying'er, my good child, let me think about it."

Meng Anli gave her three days.

She was about to head back to cultivate when her communication mirror rang.

Meng Anli answered it. It was Lu Zhiyuan.

He lowered his voice and said, "Anli, I just saw Meng Liangmiao talking to the Crown Prince. He said Meng Shiwan has developed some… novel and powerful item. The Crown Prince was persuaded and is planning to go with him to Qilian Mountain after he finishes his duties."

A novel item?

Meng Anli's head throbbed. Before she died, the Crown Prince had said something… it was related to Meng Shiwan's uniqueness.

But the pain was too much.

She couldn't recall it for a moment.

"Anli, do you want to come to the Heavenly Realm to stop the Crown Prince? I have a bad feeling about the Crown Prince meeting Meng Shiwan."

Lu Zhiyuan's words brought her back to reality.

Meng Anli considered, "Then I'll go to Qilian Mountain first and see what strange item Meng Shiwan has developed."

"Okay."

Meng Anli put away her communication mirror, pondered for a moment, and then returned to the cold palace.

Without waiting for Empress Chu to speak, she said, "I'm going to Qilian Mountain to find Meng Shiwan. Is there anything you want to give her?"

Empress Chu's expression was complex. That was no longer her Shiwan.

But…

Those were also things she had sewn, stitch by stitch.

She walked into the palace hall and took out several sets of clothes from the bottom of a chest. "I sewed these myself. Please give them to her. If…"

Empress Chu paused. "Consider it a final farewell. I won't make anything for her again."

Meng Anli didn't ask further questions. She packed them in a bundle and flew towards Qilian Mountain.

Flying west over the Yellow River, crossing deserts and oases, she arrived at a mountain range filled with spiritual energy.

It was the Qilian Mountain Range.

On the highest peak of the Qilian Mountains stood an academy, Qilian Academy.

Meng Anli landed outside the academy, the gates shut tight, a deep bell tolling from within.

Meng Anli's peach blossom eyes flickered, transforming into Meng Ying's likeness.

She walked to a large vat nearby and looked at her reflection, nodding with satisfaction.

Yes! I look just like Meng Ying.

"The Transformation Techniques Master taught are both simple and effective."

"Simple?!" In Xuantian Academy's Qin Zhai, Yuan Tuo nearly jumped up. "It took me three months to learn!"

"She learned it in one night," Yun Jing lightly pinched the little lion's face, a smile tugging at his lips.

Yuan Tuo doubted himself. "Am I stupid?"

Yun Jing raised an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm."

"But Master said I was very smart and had great potential back then."

Yun Jing's expression softened. "I don't feel that way right now."

Yuan Tuo: "..."

I get it, a smarter Anli has appeared.

He looked at Anli in the mirror, his mood lifting. His sister was truly amazing.

Yun Jing gently reminded him, "It's time for class."

"Oh..." Yuan Tuo left reluctantly.

He also wanted to watch, to know what Anli was planning.

Yun Jing watched his lingering footsteps, feeling pleased.

He picked up a bunch of grapes, about to eat them, but then he remembered Meng Anli's puckered face when she ate mortal grapes, and couldn't help but smile.

He put down the grapes and picked up a peach beside them.

Never mind, I'll save the grapes for her to eat.

Meng Anli made herself look dusty and travel-worn, then conjured a few pairs of tattered shoes to stuff into her bag. She also made the shoes she was wearing very worn, exposing her toes which were scraped and bleeding.

After all, as a mortal arriving here, she couldn't be completely unscathed.

After checking that everything was in order, she finally knocked on the large gates.