Literary Yearning

Chapter 3

In a single night, Yu Sui transformed from a wild child of the mountains into a noble daughter of the Qingyang Nation's royal family.

After Nangong Ming named her, Yu Sui rarely saw Lady Su again. The mute woman still accompanied her, but the number of people caring for her was far greater than when she was at Mount Luo.

The grand house with red walls and black tiles before her was also much better than the small dark room at Mount Luo. As the heir personally chosen by the Prince, and one of the only two to inherit the Nangong surname, Yu Sui had the best of everything. Everyone in the mansion treated her with utmost respect, even though she was just a child who could barely speak clearly.

The advantage of being a naive child allowed her to learn many secrets.

There were three ladies in the mansion, each with a son. Her three elder brothers were six, five, and four years old.

Since they did not qualify for the Nangong surname, they all took their mothers' surnames.

Yu Sui only met these three elder brothers on the first day. As for the three ladies, she saw them every few days. The ladies liked to visit the young princess to chat for a while. They never came alone, always in groups of three.

Nangong Ming also often visited Yu Sui, even letting her play by his side while he handled state affairs.

Everyone was very relaxed around Yu Sui. She was only one and a half years old. What did she know about state affairs? Moreover, she could barely walk steadily, often falling, and her pronunciation was unclear. By all appearances, she was developing slower than a normal child.

In the eyes of others, the young princess's image could be summed up in four words: silly and foolish.

Silly and foolish children, however, were quite liked by some intelligent people.

Nangong Ming was one of those intelligent people.

After finishing his work, he walked to the wooden couch behind the screen. The child on the couch was playing house with her dolls.

Nangong Ming asked, "Sui Sui, do you miss your mother?"

Yu Sui looked up. "I do."

Nangong Ming smiled, bent down, and picked her up. "Then let's go see your mother."

Yu Sui saw Lady Su again after several months. She was sitting by the window, moonlight streaming in, making her figure appear lonely. When the maid announced the arrival of the Prince and the county princess, Lady Su showed no particular expression.

Nangong Ming walked forward. "Susu."

Yu Sui stood on the ground, a smile on her face, and timidly called out, "Mother—"

Lady Su's eyes flickered slightly, and only then did she turn to look.

Yu Sui had always wanted to get closer to Lady Su. Even though Lady Su had almost strangled her last time, she still planned to mend their relationship first, especially since she was so weak now.

As she wobbled towards Lady Su, Lady Su stood up and walked away.

Nangong Ming glanced at his daughter, who stood frozen and bewildered, and smiled. He reached out and patted Yu Sui's head, placing her by the table to play by herself.

"I thought you missed your child, so I brought her over," Nangong Ming said. "This child took half of your Primordial Soil. Does she disgust you that much?"

Lady Su stood by the window, her back to them, and said nothing.

Nangong Ming's tone was neither light nor heavy. "It's strange. You stole Primordial Soil from me and hid, and I haven't even blamed you, yet you're throwing a tantrum first."

Yu Sui perked up her ears.

What else don't I know about this bickering couple?

Lady Su said coldly, "That was what I deserved. We agreed before our cooperation that the Primordial Soil would be mine after I obtained it."

"I did promise you, but you left too quickly," Nangong Ming said. He walked to Yu Sui's side and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, causing Yu Sui's hair to stand on end. "You were about to give birth, yet you still ran away, and you took Qingkui with you. What do you say? Shall I find Qingkui too?"

Lady Su suddenly turned around, her eyes full of shock.

Yu Sui obediently played with her teacups, not daring to reveal even a hint of her surprise.

"It's a bit unexpected that Mister Zhou, one of the three sages of the Medical School, is willing to help you. However, finding him isn't too difficult if you put your mind to it," Nangong Ming sighed softly and looked up at Lady Su. "Do you want me to bring Qingkui back?"

Lady Su's eyes trembled, and she seemed to want to say something but stopped. Her imposing manner had already weakened.

She seemed to release a breath, lowering her head. "Let Kui'er go."

"What are you saying? Qingkui is also my daughter. Would I kill her?" Nangong Ming said nonchalantly. "I also want Qingkui to grow up freely and safely. It's just that Sui Sui has to suffer. Now the entire Nine Streams Realm knows that the Primordial Soil is on Sui Sui, and it has nothing to do with you."

Yu Sui pushed two cups together, making a crisp clinking sound.

"Even though it's only half, who would know?" Nangong Ming walked in front of Lady Su, took her hand, and walked towards Yu Sui. "You have to keep it a secret, and continue our cooperation. Don't throw tantrums and disappear whenever you feel like it. Many people want to kill my child, and you can't stop them."

"Now, those people will only pay attention to Sui Sui, and no one will care about Qingkui. She will be very safe."

Lady Su's expression faltered slightly. When Yu Sui looked over, she quickly averted her gaze.

Nangong Ming led Lady Su to sit next to Yu Sui. To outsiders, it looked like a happy family of three.

"Susu, for Qingkui's sake, continue to help me find a way to break the oath by any means necessary."

Nangong Ming had found Lady Su's weakness, and she could no longer resist. For the sake of her daughter Qingkui, she compromised and continued to cooperate with Nangong Ming.

*

Yu Sui gained a further understanding of her situation.

Her parents were pushing her out to attract attention for each other's benefit, making the outside world believe that the Primordial Soil was inside her, not just half of it. They concealed Lady Su, making it more convenient for Lady Su to work for Nangong Ming.

Only she was the big victim, sacrificing her own happiness for the whole family.

Nangong Ming's intention was to train her to serve the family in the future.

The more attention she attracted, the more Yu Sui had to be careful about exposing her identity as the World Destroyer. If her possession of the Strange Fire were discovered, she would be an existence that the entire continent would seek to eliminate, and her life would be over.

From the conversations of the three ladies who visited often, Yu Sui learned that the King's Mansion's three young masters were all very accomplished and learned quickly. The eldest young master, at six years old, was already close to entering the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy was where the children of royalty and nobility learned knowledge, etiquette, and cultivation arts.

Students were admitted at six and finished their studies at sixteen.

Yu Sui still had a long infancy ahead of her, but she wasn't bored. She heard many strange and unusual pieces of news every day.

After Lady Su compromised with Nangong Ming, she began visiting Yu Sui more often. At Nangong Ming's instruction, Lady Su represented the King's Mansion as its lady of the house, attending many banquets, and occasionally bringing Yu Sui along.

The news that Yu Sui was the future heir to the ducal title had already spread throughout the circles of the Imperial Capital. Even if some looked down on Lady Su for being a concubine, they dared not slight the County Princess of the King's Mansion.

When the King's Mansion's young princess turned three, Yu Sui accompanied Lady Su to the palace for the Empress's birthday celebration. At the banquet, she was singled out by the Empress but could only stare blankly when asked questions, causing uproarious laughter. Everyone laughed at her, and she foolishly joined in.

Emperor Qingyang and Nangong Ming were seen whispering and laughing, seemingly discussing his young daughter.

The world around Yu Sui was bustling, and some distant conversations reached her ears:

"So this is the little sister who snatched the royal throne from you three brothers? Hahaha, she looks so dim-witted. It must be frustrating for you three to have lost the throne to her, haha!"

Yu Sui glanced sideways and saw the eight-year-old eldest young master with a dignified demeanor, frowning silently. The seven-year-old second brother held his forehead, appearing embarrassed, while the six-year-old third brother's eyes were filled with disdain.

From that day on, Lady Su no longer let Yu Sui run wild. She began arranging various study courses for her, from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to horse riding and archery. She wanted the future daughter of King Nangong to be both elegant and graceful, and capable of wielding a sword.

Yu Sui learned very slowly, so slowly that her teachers had to patiently repeat explanations to her again and again.

3 Chapter 3 (Page 2/2)

Everyone around said she had mediocre aptitude, unlike a prince's child. Even Lady Su occasionally wondered why her eldest daughter, Qingkui, was intelligent and clever, while her youngest daughter, Yu Sui, was so ordinary.

When she was six, Nangong Ming brought a sorcerer from the Yin-Yang School to examine Yu Sui's talent.

On the Xuangu Continent, everyone could cultivate and choose a Dao. Those who learned the Dao without talent were called Normal Practitioners, while those with talent were called Nine Schools Practitioners.

The distinction between the two was clear:

Normal Practitioners could only grasp theoretical knowledge.

Nine Schools Practitioners, however, mastered esoteric skills and supernatural abilities.

Nangong Ming hailed from the School of Names and had good relations with the Yin-Yang School faction within the Qingyang Nation. Therefore, he wanted his daughter to join the Yin-Yang School. His daughter naturally could not be a Normal Practitioner; she had to be a Nine Schools Practitioner.

A person's "talent" was the crucial link to Dao techniques. Those without talent could not enter the Dao.

Yu Sui stood under the moonlight, the night wind ruffling her clothes and hair. The old sorcerer standing not far away unfurled a scroll and tossed it into the air. He quickly formed hand seals, and the ink in the scroll connected into lines, leaping from the paper.

The black ink lines broke apart and scattered, falling onto Yu Sui's brow center, nose tip, cheeks, shoulders, and other points along the seven meridians and eight extraordinary vessels. Yu Sui only felt a cool sensation where the ink lines touched her. After a brief stay, they flew back to the suspended scroll.

The old sorcerer caught the scroll. The ink color on the paper remained the same, and the human figure that appeared had no bright spots whatsoever.

Seeing his expression, Yu Sui knew the result was not ideal.

The old sorcerer put away the scroll and said solemnly to Nangong Ming, who was waiting to the side, "Your Highness, the County Princess has mediocre aptitude and no talent. She is not destined for the Yin-Yang Dao."

Nangong Ming glanced at Yu Sui, who stood bathed in moonlight. He waved for the old sorcerer to withdraw. He walked to Yu Sui and, without bending down, looked down at her from above. Though he smiled, he exuded an oppressive aura.

"Are you scared?"

Yu Sui lowered her head, dejected.

Nangong Ming continued, "No one in my Nangong Clan has ever been a Normal Practitioner. You cannot be the first."

Yu Sui thought for a moment and said, "What if I am?"

Nangong Ming was somewhat surprised she would ask such a question. He recalled this daughter rarely spoke, spending most of her time either crying or laughing. If you didn't ask her, she basically wouldn't initiate conversation.

The little girl before him looked up, her eyes, like her mother's, were dark, clear, and pure.

Nangong Ming looked down at her and smiled, "You cannot be."

Yu Sui asked again, "If I am, will you kick me out?"

Nangong Ming: "..."

The girl's unique childish voice made Nangong Ming pause. He saw Yu Sui's distressed expression and timidly continued, "If Father is going to kick me out of the King's Mansion, can I at least eat dinner first? I haven't eaten tonight, and you called me here."

Nangong Ming thought to himself that the world said he was cunning and deep, his ancestors were all resourceful figures, her mother had talent up to the Thirteenth Realm, and his three sons were all intelligent and sharp. How could he have such a foolish daughter?

A moment later, Nangong Ming took his foolish daughter to have dinner.

*

The six-year-old young princess also had to begin her studies at the Imperial Academy.

Yu Sui went to the Imperial Academy with her elder brothers every day and returned to the King's Mansion with them after sunset.

From their previous lack of interaction, they now politely greeted each other with "Elder Brother" or "County Princess." The three brothers did not call her by name or "little sister," but rather referred to her as "County Princess."

On Yu Sui's first day at the Imperial Academy, she didn't recognize everyone in the classroom. However, because of the incident at the Empress's birthday banquet years ago where she couldn't answer any questions, she was quite famous. A few children actively approached her to say, "You're Nangong King's little County Princess, Nangong Sui, right!"

She sat in her seat, gazing longingly at the unfamiliar children.

The exquisitely carved girl before her burst into laughter at her dazed look. "You really are silly. Everyone says you have no talent and are the Nangong family's only Normal Practitioner."

Yu Sui rested her folded hands on the desk and yawned sleepily.

"Why aren't you talking to me?" Princess Shangyang nudged her unhappily. "It's your good fortune that I, a princess, am willing to talk to you, you fool."

They were all just children, and their words were childish and amusing. Yu Sui responded with two hums, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Shangyang was amused by her again.

Yu Sui was always a beat behind, sometimes seeming not to understand what people were saying, standing there blankly.

Princess Shangyang and her little friends had laughed at Yu Sui for days, and only when their novelty wore off did they find other amusements.

The princess was the daughter of the current Qingyang Emperor and Empress. With such a background, she could do whatever she pleased at the Imperial Academy. While others studied diligently, she could be loud and boisterous, and no one dared to discipline her.

Those admitted to the Imperial Academy were children of the powerful and influential, accustomed to being pampered at home and having others cater to their every whim. The teachers at the Imperial Academy treated these children with extra care.

The teachers would teach as usual; whether the children listened was up to them.

Yu Sui sat next to Princess Shangyang. With this rowdy little princess around, her days at the Imperial Academy were chaotic. Princess Shangyang would poke her from time to time, calling her a fool.

Yu Sui didn't mind. She spent most of her days at the Imperial Academy sleeping.

As a result, Yu Sui had barely heard anything the teachers said. Her studies fell behind, and she lagged behind others. When it came to written tests, her papers were filled with zeros, and her grades were at the bottom.

After returning home, she showed them to Lady Su, who frowned deeply, her cold eyes fixed on Yu Sui for a long time.

In the end, Yu Sui was punished by kneeling outside the door, flipping through a book with sleepy eyes.

It wasn't that she slept at the Imperial Academy because she wanted to. It was that when it was time to sleep, the Strange Fire deep within her consciousness became incredibly active, making her toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Yu Sui had studied it for a long time, her consciousness circling the Strange Fire, trying to find something wrong.

As a result, she couldn't find anything wrong, but her mental energy was largely depleted, leaving her completely listless during the day.

Now, as the cool night breeze blew, Yu Sui's knees hurt from kneeling. She fidgeted, then stole a glance at Lady Su inside the house and drawled, "Mother... can I memorize it tomorrow?"

Lady Su didn't look up and said calmly, "How many tomorrows have you already wasted?"

Yu Sui had no choice but to lower her head and read.

Lady Su was not swayed by her attempts at charm.

For several consecutive days, Yu Sui had to kneel outside the door to recite books after returning home.

Nangong Ming came for a visit and saw her. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Your way of studying is quite unique."

Behind him followed a boy about Yu Sui's age.

In the cold spring night, the boy wore a black coat that covered his slender frame. He was barefoot, his insteps stained with mud, and his hair, damp and clinging to his face and neck, was still dripping water. The boy kept his head down. Yu Sui looked up and caught the ferocity in his eyes.

Nangong Ming took the boy inside to see Lady Su.

Yu Sui was shut out.

After a while, Nangong Ming came out to see her.

Yu Sui was still kneeling on the ground. Nangong Ming didn't tell her to get up, but he squatted down and asked with a smile, "You can't recite a single passage?"

"I've already memorized five passages," Yu Sui said, holding up her fingers to show the number.

Nangong Ming shook his head. "I don't know if I should praise your intelligence."

Yu Sui's gaze went past him, looking into the house. "Who is that person?"

"Him?" Nangong Ming reached out and touched Yu Sui's head, still smiling gently. "He is someone you will have to protect with your life in the future."