The Communication Institute was guarded, so Yu Sui couldn't go there often.
She had only been there once, but in the days and nights that followed, whenever she closed her eyes, she could recall every detail of the Communication Array at the National Academy.
When Yu Sui was alone in her room, she would start by drawing the Constellation Array on the ground. Though she had only seen it once, she drew each step with the ease of someone who had built it herself, her hand moving naturally as she sketched.
Every time she finished, she burned the drawing, then recreated it again in her mind.
Vast numbers spun through Yu Sui's mind each day, yet she felt full of energy as she diligently worked through the combinations of the three forces.
The National Academy's Communication Array was a super-large array with a wide coverage area. It covered a third of the entire southern part of the imperial capital.
Some Communication Arrays had range restrictions. Messages could only be sent within their coverage area. Beyond that range, anyone without authorization couldn't send messages to people inside.
Yu Sui spent more than two months dismantling the super-large Communication Array, piece by piece.
For those two months, she went to Gu Gan's home almost every day. She claimed she was there to study, but in truth, she was looking through information on the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions. She also took the opportunity to study his Listening Wind Ruler.
Perhaps because she had been spending so much time with Gu Gan, Princess Shangyang gradually began to take issue with her.
The moment Yu Sui entered the National Academy that day, Princess Shangyang asked her fiercely, "Do you like Gu Gan?"
Yu Sui froze.
Princess Shangyang pointed at her. "You do like Gu Gan! That's why you wouldn't agree to help me keep an eye on him!"
Princess Shangyang was so angry she didn't give Yu Sui a chance to explain. She told the instructor to move Yu Sui elsewhere, unwilling to sit with her any longer.
The instructor was in a difficult position.
One was the Empress's most beloved youngest daughter; the other was King Nangong's heir. He couldn't afford to offend either of them.
Yu Sui asked Princess Shangyang, "Do you really want me to leave?"
Princess Shangyang glared at her, eyes wide. "Leave!"
"Fine."
Yu Sui stood up, picked up her books, and went to the back of the room, where she sat beside Zhongli Que.
Zhongli Que, who had been bent over her writing, looked up at her in surprise.
Yu Sui asked the girl sitting next to Zhongli Que, "Would you switch seats with me?"
As it happened, the girl was part of Princess Shangyang's clique. She glanced at the princess, gathered her things, and got up to leave.
Yu Sui turned to Zhongli Que. "Can I sit here?"
Zhongli Que scratched her cheek. "S-sure."
Yu Sui thanked her, sat down beside her, then rested her head on the desk and went to sleep.
Princess Shangyang: "..."
She actually went to sit with Zhongli Que!
I'm furious!
Seeing the children sort things out themselves, the instructor quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He coughed as if nothing had happened and began the lesson.
Holding her brush, Zhongli Que stole glances at Yu Sui, who was sleeping beside her. Sunlight spilled over half of Yu Sui's body, making her skin glow like porcelain. She looked as delicate and pretty as a little doll.
*
Yu Sui had a new deskmate. Unlike her previous one, Zhongli Que didn't talk to her every day. They went several days without a word, each doing her own thing.
Neither of them mentioned the time their hair ornaments had bumped into each other, nor did they discuss why Young Master Lin had called Yu Sui over that day.
Yu Sui didn't know if it was because of Princess Shangyang, but since the princess openly disliked Zhongli Que, hardly any of the children played with her.
Zhongli Que was the daughter of General Who Guards the Nation, and a member of the direct line. Her status was no lower than Yu Sui's or Princess Shangyang's.
Lady Su had once told Yu Sui that she didn't need to get close to the children of the Zhongli Family. Yu Sui had assumed it was because of Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming's Shura Eye could see through every method of military formation, while the Zhongli Family held the world's strongest techniques for trapping and killing enemies with battle formations. Nangong Ming was their one and only nemesis.
The two sides were also the Qingyang Emperor's right and left arms, keeping each other in check.
Princess Shangyang spent several days fuming. The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. She no longer cared whether Yu Sui liked Gu Gan. Her mind was filled with one thought: She actually went to Zhongli Que.
I don't have to be friends with you, but you went and befriended someone I hate.
Princess Shangyang couldn't accept it.
She gritted her teeth and decided to "win Yu Sui back." For the next few days, she kept wandering over whenever she had a chance, making it clear in every other word that "I've forgiven you."
Yu Sui pretended not to understand. Each time, she looked back at Princess Shangyang with bewilderment, her expression practically spelling out, What are you talking about? I don't understand. It made Princess Shangyang so angry she called her an airhead.
In truth, Zhongli Que wasn't really friendless. Her family was large, and she had plenty of cousins from the same clan at the National Academy. They often ate together, went to and from lessons together, and so on.
Thinking Yu Sui was an idiot, Princess Shangyang said to her directly, "This princess has forgiven you. You can come back on your own now."
Zhongli Que didn't look over, but she perked up her ears to listen.
Yu Sui looked at Princess Shangyang, who stood with an air of confidence, and shook her head. "I don't want to go back."
Princess Shangyang's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?!"
"I like sitting here," Yu Sui said, looking perfectly sincere.
Princess Shangyang pointed angrily at Zhongli Que. "You like playing with her?"
Yu Sui nodded. "Mm-hmm!"
Princess Shangyang felt humiliated and furious. She almost attacked Yu Sui, but the young ladies around her held her back. It would be a disaster if the two of them started fighting.
Everyone thought Yu Sui would definitely be the one to get beaten up. They were worried that after Princess Shangyang finished beating Yu Sui, the Empress would scold her.
At last, Princess Shangyang threatened her, "Nangong Sui! You can sit there, then. You'll never be allowed back!"
Yu Sui nodded. "Mm-hmm!"
Princess Shangyang: "..."
She couldn't take it anymore.
She spun around and flipped Yu Sui's desk.
The room erupted into chaos. The children cried out in alarm, and Zhongli Que exclaimed before rushing forward with Princess Shangyang's friends to break up the fight.
The instructor walked in to find this scene and nearly fainted from fright.
When Princess Shangyang lunged at her, Yu Sui was genuinely stunned.
She had never dreamed she'd end up fighting with a seven- or eight-year-old child.
The two were pulled apart, and the instructor sternly reprimanded them for their behavior.
Princess Shangyang was still furious. Held back by her friends, she could only glare viciously at Yu Sui.
Yu Sui smoothed down her disheveled hair and couldn't help laughing.
The instructor: "..."
Zhongli Que looked over in surprise. Princess Shangyang snapped, "You're still laughing!"
Yu Sui couldn't help it; she burst out laughing again.
That day, Princess Shangyang announced that she was cutting ties with Nangong Sui.
*
The news that Yu Sui had been beaten by Princess Shangyang spread throughout the National Academy that very day.
It wasn't that the Prince's Mansion Young Princess and Princess Shangyang had gotten into a fight. It was that Yu Sui had been beaten by Princess Shangyang.
After all, Princess Shangyang was unharmed. Yu Sui hadn't fought back, her hair had been pulled loose, and there were several red marks on her neck.
That evening, as they left the National Academy, her three older brothers looked at Yu Sui with complicated expressions.
Yu Sui looked back at them, baffled.
Big Brother Han Bing gazed at her, wanting to say something but stopping himself. In the end, he sighed. "Let's go."
Yu Sui followed him out.
Her other two brothers walked along with their arms over each other's shoulders.
Second Brother Su Feng seemed unable to hold back. He turned to Yu Sui and said, "You should've hit her back."
Third Brother Sheng Fei glanced sideways at Yu Sui as they walked. "What were your hands born for?"
Yu Sui looked up. "But she's a princess."
Her brothers looked away, exasperated that she wouldn't live up to their expectations.
By the time Yu Sui returned to the Prince's Mansion, the red marks had mostly faded. The Mute Woman helped her tidy her tousled hair.
When she went to Lady Su's to recite her lessons, there was no sign she had been in a fight.
Yu Sui knelt by the doorway, reading a couple of lines and reciting a couple more. After taking some time to recite the lesson for Lady Su and confirming she had it right, she stood up—and happened to run into Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming casually patted her head and smiled. "I heard Princess Shangyang beat you up today?"
Before Yu Sui could answer, Nangong Ming sighed. "Are you planning to let her keep beating you?"
"I'm not planning on that," Yu Sui said.
Only after hearing her answer was Nangong Ming satisfied. He reminded Yu Sui to work harder in her upcoming Archery and Riding and Sword and Saber classes. Yu Sui nodded and agreed. As she left, she noticed Lady Su watching her.
Yu Sui understood perfectly well how Lady Su felt about her.
She knew Lady Su had once wavered, thinking of killing her to reclaim the complete Xirang.
She also knew Lady Su hadn't wanted to return and work with Nangong Ming again, and even less wanted the safety of her beloved Eldest Daughter, Qingkui, to lie in Nangong Ming's hands.
Over the years, the two of them had only grown further apart.
When Nangong Ming used Qingkui to force Lady Su to continue cooperating, it became difficult for Lady Su to see Yu Sui, whom she regarded as a pawn, as the daughter she loved.
Because in Lady Su's eyes, Yu Sui had been raised by Nangong Ming.
At that moment, Lady Su looked at Yu Sui with the judgment of someone in a position of power, deeming her weak.
Yu Sui's mediocrity seemed to have made Lady Su give up on her completely.
*
Back in her room, Yu Sui rolled across the bed. Thinking of the look Lady Su had given her before she left, she absently rubbed the corner of her eye.
This was bad.
A seven-year-old child really would be hurt by that look.
If she showed too much intelligence, Lady Su would grow increasingly wary of Yu Sui, because it would mean Nangong Ming had acquired a clever pawn.
No one would believe Yu Sui had thoughts of her own. No one would believe her intelligence was innate. They would only think she was a thorn raised by the Prince's Mansion.
Lady Su didn't trust Nangong Ming, so she wouldn't trust Yu Sui either.
Yu Sui was certain that if she had the chance—or if Nangong Ming backed her into a corner—Lady Su would no longer hesitate. She would kill Yu Sui first and reclaim the complete Xirang.
Not to mention that she carried a strange fire within her and bore the mark of a World Destroyer.
Yu Sui knew far too little about cultivation in this world. In this vast ocean, she didn't even have a ladleful. Who knew what she might do or say that would expose her as a World Destroyer and get her sentenced to the flames?
She had to make sure no one paid any attention to her, growing in some forgotten corner where no one cared, until she was certain she had become strong enough.
Seven years old.
Before the age of seven, a child would tell her parents that every night she was tormented by an unknown flame inside her and couldn't sleep.
Only when she was facing Princess Shangyang was Yu Sui seven years old.
Yu Sui rubbed her eyes, sat up, and continued tinkering with the National Academy's super-large Communication Array.
Though she could reconstruct the Communication Array from memory, there were only two ways to obtain real-time information:
First, crack the array itself.
Second, get hold of the Listening Wind Ruler and connect to the National Academy's Communication Array.
How could she go to the Communication Institute often without arousing suspicion?
The next day, Yu Sui left early during the final lesson. When she entered the Communication Institute, a patrol stopped her and asked what she was doing there.
Yu Sui said, "I'm waiting for my Third Brother, but it's so hot outside. Can I come in and wait here?"
When they learned she was the Prince's Mansion Young Princess, the people at the Communication Institute didn't stop her. Her reason was perfectly reasonable, and she was a sweet, adorable little girl. With all those factors in her favor, Yu Sui entered the Communication Institute without a hitch.
No one would think a seven-year-old child could decipher the runic information in a Communication Array.
So Yu Sui sat at the edge of the Constellation Array and even chatted with the patrol members, listening to them talk about cultivation.
"These things in the star array are called number mountains."
"The biggest one is called Tianyuan. The one to the left of Tianyuan is called Aurora, and the one to the right is called Longevity."
"Tianyuan handles positioning, Aurora handles transmission and conversion, and Longevity handles encryption. The other number mountains record different kinds of information and feed it into those three."
The patrol member gestured, tracing a circle, then finally stopping his fingertip at the number mountain called Tianyuan.
Yu Sui's face practically said, That's amazing. The patrol members, who had been amusing themselves by teaching a child, felt quite pleased with themselves.
"You can't just hand someone a Listening Wind Ruler and expect them to know how to use it. There are a few requirements. First, you need to know how to read. Second, you have to memorize the Character Filling Technique so you can send written messages. Third, you have to remember the Star Positions so you can send messages to other people."
The methods and requirements for sending writing and sound were different.
The patrol member asked, "How far have you gotten, County Princess?"
Yu Sui blinked and held up one finger. "Reading."
The two patrol members laughed.
The rest of the time passed with them teaching her the Character Filling Technique.
Yu Sui left on time and went to meet Sheng Fei after his lessons. She had to see the act through to the end if she wanted to avoid suspicion.
Standing at a distance from the crowd, she called out to Sheng Fei as he came out. "Third Brother!"
Sheng Fei paused at the sound of her voice. Then he spotted Yu Sui beneath a tree and looked around. Had the sun set in the east today?
"What are you doing here?" Sheng Fei ignored his friends and went straight over to Yu Sui.
Yu Sui said, "Father told me to put more effort into my upcoming Archery and Riding and Sword and Saber classes. I don't know how, so I wanted to ask you to teach me beforehand, Third Brother."
Sheng Fei thought the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.
"You have to kneel to recite your lessons. Do you plan to kneel while learning archery and riding, too?" the sharp-tongued Third Young Master said bluntly.
Yu Sui thought, There's nothing I can do about that. I don't sleep well at night, so I have to make up for it during the day.
"I don't want to learn on my knees," Yu Sui said earnestly. "So I wanted to ask you to teach me."
She had chosen Sheng Fei because his academy was closest to the Communication Institute.
Sheng Fei didn't so much as change expression. "Go ask Gu Gan. Aren't you two close?"
Yu Sui said, "Brother Gu isn't as good at this as you are, Third Brother. You're the best person I know."
Perhaps hearing "the best person I know" had convinced Sheng Fei. Though he complained, he still took Yu Sui to the Archery Range after they returned to the Prince's Mansion.
*
To outsiders, Yu Sui was a Prince's Mansion County Princess of mediocre aptitude, no talent, and perhaps even a little dim-witted. Sheng Fei lived under the same roof as her and went to and from the National Academy with her, so his understanding of her was bound to be somewhat different.
First of all, Sheng Fei didn't think Yu Sui was so dull as to be completely useless, or so stupid she couldn't do anything. She was perfectly fine; she was just a little slow to react and didn't have much of a temper. In other words, she was just timid.
Sheng Fei was three years older than her. He spent most of his time being taught by his mother, Lady Sheng, and because he was so talented, Nangong Ming often showed concern for the boy as well.
Although Lady Sheng's cultivation level wasn't high, she had businesses of her own and never had to worry about money. With the backing of the royal household, she was also a prominent figure in the business world.
So she was able to give Sheng Fei plenty of confidence, and raised her son to fear nothing and no one.
Sheng Fei lived by the motto, "When in doubt, I'm the best." In her view, Yu Sui, who only ever took a beating or got scolded without fighting or talking back, was a spineless coward.
Even though Madam Su had no family backing, she was still a Thirteenth Realm expert. And you were the heir to the royal household, the future princess. Princess Shangyang might not even be more powerful than you in the future. So what was with being so timid? Stand up for yourself!
Sheng Fei had a whole bellyful of complaints about Yu Sui, but when she looked at Yu Sui's bewildered face, she couldn't say a word. She started by taking Yu Sui to choose a bowstring.
Yu Sui was fairly serious about it, at least. She didn't just go through the motions.
Sheng Fei thought her stamina was too poor and her strength unsteady when she drew the bow. She needed to train her body first, then practice with the bowstring every day and build a bond with it.
The siblings' archery lessons at the Archery Range soon caught the attention of Eldest Young Master and Second Brother.
When they heard that Yu Sui wanted to learn horseback riding, her brothers, who had already mastered it, offered to help.
Second Brother Su Feng was in high spirits and eager to show off. He drew his bow and shot several times, hitting the bull's-eye every time. Then he looked back at Yu Sui, smugly asking, "Got it now?"
Yu Sui clapped enthusiastically, then shook her head.
Second Young Master Su Feng had also been raised by his mother, Madam Hui. When she was young, Madam Hui had been somewhat ambitious and had wanted her son to compete for the position of heir to the royal household.
Who would have thought that when her son was tested for his talent, he would prove most compatible with the School of the Military.
King Nangong came from a prestigious family, and his relationship with the School of the Military was fraught with subtle hostility. Naturally, he couldn't pass the throne on to a son from the School of the Military.
Only then did Madam Hui give up and focus instead on cultivating her son, Su Feng, in the School of the Military.
Second Young Master Su Feng was the least likely to become the heir, so he had no reason to compete with his brothers and sisters. He was cheerful, and of all the children, he was the one who admired his father the most.
As for the Eldest Young Master's mother, Lady Han, she was the only one of the four wives who had truly loved Nangong Ming and still loved him.
Whatever Nangong Ming hoped Han Bing would be like, Lady Han would raise him to be.
All three sons liked their father, Nangong Ming. Before Gu Gan appeared, Nangong Ming had shown no obvious favoritism toward any of his children.
Even Yu Sui, who had been chosen as the heir, had never received any special favor.
Yet a boy who wasn't even part of the Nangong Family had.
That was why the three brothers felt no hostility or prejudice toward Yu Sui at all. Gu Gan was the one they regarded as their enemy.
In other words, if Yu Sui, the heir, had been favored by Nangong Ming, they wouldn't have been so jealous and resentful.
At least she was family.
What was that brat Gu Gan, anyway?
Yu Sui had always been close to Gu Gan, and the three brothers had all felt a little exasperated with her for it. Now that she had given up on Gu Gan and come to her own family, the three of them felt as if they had finally won.
At that moment, Han Bing, the eldest and most levelheaded of the three, was correcting Yu Sui's archery stance.
Su Feng and Sheng Fei were arguing over whether she should "train her body first" or "get started right away and gain experience."
"She's not strong enough," Sheng Fei said. "She can barely draw the bow. What experience is she supposed to gain?"
"There are light bows," Su Feng replied. "We can find one that's right for her to practice with, then gradually work up to heavier ones."
"You don't know shit!" Sheng Fei said.
"You don't know shit!" Su Feng shot back.
Han Bing turned to look at them. "You mustn't use such vulgar language."
The two brothers ignored him. Neither could persuade the other, and soon their argument grew heated enough that they started fighting. Han Bing tried to stop them, but when that didn't work, he joined in and forcibly pulled them apart.
Yu Sui watched from the sidelines, then turned away and tried drawing the bow herself. The arrow whooshed away, only to fall halfway to the target.
She picked up another arrow, her peripheral vision catching the three of them still wrestling on the ground.
Boys at this age were carefree, their thoughts easy to guess. They hadn't weathered any storms or setbacks, and one glance was enough to see right through them.
They had all the innocence, jealousy, and naivety of their age. Their feelings came quickly and went just as quickly.
These everyday memories would also become the most vivid and unforgettable ones they carried into the future.
Yu Sui had been getting busier and busier lately.
At night, she took apart the National Academy's giant Communication Array. During the day, she slept at the National Academy, skipping class at set times to go to the Communication Institute and observe the number mountains inside the Communication Array, while asking the patrol guards for relevant information.
At sunset, she returned to the royal household with her brothers and practiced archery and horseback riding.
When it came to archery and horseback riding, Yu Sui showed how serious she was—but she never practiced overtime. As soon as it was time to leave, she went, without a moment's delay.
Often, Sheng Fei would still be explaining a technique when Yu Sui took off running halfway through, calling over her shoulder, "It's time already, Third Brother! I'll listen to the rest tomorrow."
Sheng Fei: "..."
Lady Su and Nangong Ming had both been away from the royal household lately, so Yu Sui didn't have to go recite her lessons. That left her with some time to catch up on sleep before dark. When the restless strange fire woke her with its heat, she would continue studying the Communication Array.
This routine continued until Lady Su and Nangong Ming returned to the royal household.
Gu Gan came back with them.
Gu Gan rarely visited the royal household without a reason. Today, on a whim, he wanted to see Yu Sui. As he happened to pass the Archery Range, he saw her standing there while her three brothers gave her pointers.
Anyone could see that the relationship between them had improved a great deal.
Gu Gan watched for a while, decided it was boring, then turned and left the royal household.
The next day, he went to the National Academy and ran into Yu Sui. She smiled and greeted him.
Gu Gan asked Yu Sui, "What have you been practicing lately?"
"I've been practicing archery and horseback riding," Yu Sui said. "I'm going to start learning next month, so I'm getting a head start."
"Oh," Gu Gan said, then asked, "Are you practicing at the National Academy?"
"No." Yu Sui shook her head. "After I get home, Third Brother teaches me."
Gu Gan snorted. "Why didn't you ask me to teach you?"
Before you continue