From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

This was a Spirit Fruit from a hundred years ago, as vibrant as fire, emitting a faint warmth, its medicinal properties on par with the Water Ganoderma.

Seeing that the spirit medicine was not of the type described in ancient texts, Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but show a look of disappointment.

"Am I destined to be a cripple my entire life?"

Lin Wanqiu clenched her palms, her brow furrowed with melancholy.

But the moment Xiao Minghuang turned her head, the suppressed emotions on Lin Wanqiu's face instantly vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.

Xiao Minghuang glanced at her, assuming Lin Wanqiu was lamenting the loss of the spirit medicine, and said, "When we reach Beiyang City, I'll gift this spirit medicine to you, Wanqiu."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqiu smiled, thinking she was just being polite, and didn't take it to heart.

Blocked meridians were her own problem; she wouldn't trouble others with them.

After storing the Spirit Fruit in her storage bag, Xiao Minghuang casually glanced at the Destiny Compass again, only to be surprised to find that the compass was still pointing in one direction.

Xiao Minghuang looked up and saw Lin Wanqiu standing directly in front of the pointer.

"System, what's going on? Is the compass malfunctioning?"

[Ding! The System is not malfunctioning. The compass pointer will prioritize guiding towards the highest quality destiny within the current range. The host can freely switch the target destiny for guidance as needed.]

"You mean, Lin Wanqiu has destiny on her?"

The System did not reply further, but it was clearly implied.

Xiao Minghuang tried to switch the compass's target, but found nothing.

"What exactly is the destiny on Lin Wanqiu?"

Xiao Minghuang couldn't figure it out, so she decided to stop thinking about it for now and led Lin Wanqiu towards the camp.

25. She and I are betrothed, so we're somewhat related.

In the dark forest, a campsite with a bonfire was burning.

A grill was set up over the fire, holding neatly sliced roasted meat. Under the flames, it sizzled and popped, emitting a rich aroma that whetted the appetite.

But Ye Ruoshui, who was closest to the roasted meat, had no appetite at all, even though her stomach was growling.

"Without Your Highness here, the roasted meat doesn't even taste good."

Ye Ruoshui listlessly fiddled with the grill, preventing the delicious ingredients from burning before her Highness returned.

"It's been almost an hour, why isn't she back yet? Did she run into some bad people?"

But then she thought, her Highness was already a powerful cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining Realm, even among the best in Great Xia. What kind of person could possibly threaten her Highness?

Ye Ruoshui gazed idly into the flames, trying to see her Highness's peerless beauty within them.

The sound of branches breaking came from not far away, and two auras sped towards them. The stronger and very familiar aura belonged to Xiao Minghuang, whom she had been missing dearly.

As for the weaker aura, Ye Ruoshui paid it no attention.

Sensing Xiao Minghuang's aura, she immediately stood up, revealing a gentle smile that was both composed and tinged with a hint of joy.

"Wanqiu, find a place to rest for a bit. I'll go check if the roasted meat is ready."

"Okay!"

Ye Ruoshui looked up and saw her Highness walking with a graceful and beautiful woman. Moreover, her Highness was smiling tenderly at the woman.

The scene before her almost caused Ye Ruoshui's brain to short-circuit; she stood there, stunned and speechless for a long time.

Xiao Minghuang scanned the campsite and saw Ye Ruoshui standing by the bonfire, staring blankly at her, lost in thought.

She walked over and offered a slightly apologetic smile.

"Ruoshui, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I'll explain in detail during dinner. Can we start eating now?"

Ye Ruoshui nodded unconsciously.

Upon receiving her reply, Xiao Minghuang beckoned Lin Wanqiu over to eat.

Until the three of them were seated, Ye Ruoshui's mind remained blank.

During the meal, Xiao Minghuang briefly explained the reason for her late return to Ye Ruoshui and introduced Lin Wanqiu to her.

However, Ye Ruoshui didn't hear any of it.

She never expected that in such a short time, her Highness would bring back a strange woman from outside.

And this woman, apart from being slightly less endowed than her, was not inferior in any other aspect!

A sense of crisis suddenly arose in Ye Ruoshui's heart.

While eating, Xiao Minghuang noticed Ye Ruoshui's lack of action and reminded her, "Ruoshui, eat up. You're growing right now!"

Hearing her Highness remind her to eat, Ye Ruoshui felt a wave of comfort; it seemed her Highness still cared about her.

But in the next moment.

"Wanqiu, you should eat more too. Both you and Ruoshui are in the Body Tempering Realm and need plenty of meat to supplement your qi and blood, which will help you improve your cultivation."

This last sentence caused Ye Ruoshui's slightly warmed mood to plummet back to rock bottom.

Due to Ye Ruoshui's low spirits, the meal was tasteless.

After dinner.

Fearing that Lin Wanqiu would cause more trouble, Xiao Minghuang forced her to go to the tent to sleep.

Lin Wanqiu gave her a charming look before gracefully walking into the tent.

Ever since returning to the camp, Xiao Minghuang had noticed Ye Ruoshui's low spirits. Lin Wanqiu had been present before, making it inconvenient to ask, but now that Lin Wanqiu was gone, she could inquire about what had happened.

Ye Ruoshui was sitting on a rock by the campfire, resting her cheek on one hand. Even the dazzling firelight couldn't reflect any brightness in her eyes.

Xiao Minghuang walked up to her, put her arm around Ye Ruoshui's slender waist, and asked softly, "Sister brought you a gift on this trip, do you want it?"

Xiao Minghuang took out the crystal-clear Water Ganoderma and a Spirit Fruit as bright as fire, placing them before Ye Ruoshui.

"These are century-old spirit medicines. After taking them, they should help you advance two minor realms."

"Thank you... Sister!"

Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang found it strange that Ye Ruoshui had suddenly changed her address.

She had previously said that she considered Ye Ruoshui a sister, but the little girl had never changed her address.

Now that she had suddenly changed it, although Xiao Minghuang didn't understand why, she was very happy.

She habitually stroked Ye Ruoshui's soft hair and replied gently:

"Mm!"

This time, Ye Ruoshui did not address Xiao Minghuang as "Your Highness" as she usually did, but instead called her "Sister."

She began to realize that someone as outstanding as Xiao Minghuang would attract more and more girls in the future. If she remained just a little maidservant, always following Xiao Minghuang's footsteps, she was destined to be left far behind.

Even if Xiao Minghuang cherished her, she wouldn't be able to occupy the most important place in Xiao Minghuang's heart anymore.

Therefore, she had to change her strategy.

Even actively pursue!

Ye Ruoshui took the Water Ganoderma, suddenly lifted her small face, and stared intently into Xiao Minghuang's eyes with her beautiful big eyes.

The next moment.

She suddenly straightened up and lightly kissed the corner of Xiao Minghuang's mouth, a fleeting touch like a dragonfly skimming water.

After doing all this, Ye Ruoshui didn't run away shyly. Instead, she threw herself into Xiao Minghuang's arms, burying her small head in Xiao Minghuang's chest, greedily inhaling the fragrance from her embrace, and said in a muffled voice:

"Sister, I like you! Don't send Ruoshui away, okay?"

Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's expression froze. After a moment, she stroked Ye Ruoshui's soft hair and said gently:

"Sister also likes Ruoshui, and won't send Ruoshui away."

Hearing the word "like," Ye Ruoshui felt at ease and remained immersed in Xiao Minghuang's embrace, the moment feeling like an eternity.

At this moment, she only wished for time to stop forever, to cease flowing, and for this moment to become eternal.

The image of the stranger flashed in Ye Ruoshui's mind, and she couldn't help but ask:

"Sister, who is that woman?"

"Didn't I introduce her to you during dinner just now?"

Ye Ruoshui nudged her small head against Xiao Minghuang's chest, saying sheepishly:

"Ruoshui was very sad just now, thinking Sister was going to send me away, so I wasn't listening carefully..."

As she spoke, a hint of a sob crept into Ye Ruoshui's voice, making Xiao Minghuang's heart ache.

She knew that Ye Ruoshui had been orphaned since childhood and had no other family but her, whom she valued more than anything else.

Therefore, in Ye Ruoshui's eyes, her attitude was truly very important.

She gently stroked Ye Ruoshui's slender back, feeling her soft, warm skin through the thin clothing.

"Her name is Lin Wanqiu. She's the daughter of the City Lord of Beiyang City. The reason I came back late was that I happened to save her... Also, before I was born, we were betrothed by our parents, so we have some connection."

26. Persuasion, Second Contractor Slot Unlocked

Betrothal!!!

Upon hearing these two words, Ye Ruoshui suddenly sat up straight, her head almost hitting Xiao Minghuang's chin. Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

Seeing Ye Ruoshui's utterly shocked expression, Xiao Minghuang's heart inexplicably quickened, and a sense of panic arose.

"You listen to me, it's not what you think!"

Ye Ruoshui trembled all over, her eyes gradually losing their sparkle, turning dull gray, her entire being filled with a sense of despair, as if she was sorry to be alive.

Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang quickly shook her shoulders and said repeatedly:

"Ruoshui, what's wrong?!"

Ye Ruoshui slowly spoke, her voice devoid of any life, like a mortally wounded person making their dying confession.

"After I leave, Your Highness and that woman, please be happy..."

Xiao Minghuang quickly explained:

"Ruoshui, you must have misunderstood. In my heart, you are the most important person to me. How could I possibly let you leave?"

In Ye Ruoshui's eyes, which had lost all hope, a faint glimmer suddenly appeared. She looked up at Xiao Minghuang, then lowered her head again.

"Your Highness, please don't lie to me. Let me be alone for a while. I should be able to get used to a life without Your Highness..."

Xiao Minghuang held Ye Ruoshui's delicate, boneless hand and pressed it against her own chest. She spoke word by word, with utmost sincerity:

"Every word I say is true, without a single lie. Ruoshui, if you still don't believe me..."

As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang raised her right hand, fingers pointing to the sky, and said with a solemn expression:

"I, Xiao Minghuang, swear here that Ye Ruoshui is the most important person in my heart. If I deceive Ye Ruoshui, may lightning strike me..."

At this point, Ye Ruoshui suddenly raised her small hand and covered Xiao Minghuang's lips.

"Don't say it. I believe you."

Feeling the warm, soft touch on her lips, Xiao Minghuang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

She used to think that Ye Ruoshui was a soft and gentle little girl, but she never expected her to have such a temper. It seemed she would have to be careful in the future and not anger the little girl.

Xiao Minghuang reached out and ruffled the soft hair on top of Ye Ruoshui's head, pulling the little girl's soft, warm body into her embrace, pressing her tightly against her chest.

"Sister will hold you tonight, okay?"

"Okay..."

Ye Ruoshui mumbled, collapsing into Xiao Minghuang's arms.