She Is Not Me

Li Haotian's face immediately darkened. "Where did Royal Uncle hear such news?"

"The Great Gan Palace is the pivot of the realm. Every move it makes draws the eyes of countless people. Your Majesty, there are no walls in this world that do not let the wind through."

Li Haotian looked at Prince Qing. "Royal Uncle, if you have something to say, say it plainly!"

"Your Majesty, it is time to establish an heir. This realm belongs to Your Majesty, but it also belongs to the Li Family. It is the legacy painstakingly built by our ancestors for the descendants of the Li Family. This old servant mentioned it before: find a direct collateral relative of the Li Family and have him form a lifelong union with Her Highness the Princess, thereby ensuring the purity of the Li Family's imperial bloodline. But now, Her Highness the Princess carries a child before marriage, disgracing the Imperial Family. She is no longer suited for the position of heir, not to mention that she is, after all, a woman!"

Bang! Li Haotian slammed his palm onto the tea table. The table shattered, and the teacups atop it fell and broke into pieces.

"Royal Uncle, your words have overstepped your bounds."

"As the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, this old servant has no choice but to say a few extra words. If Your Majesty believes this old servant has overstepped, then please punish me!" Prince Qing rose and dropped to his knees.

Li Haotian said coldly, "I am still far from death. We will discuss the matter of an heir another day."

"Your Majesty, the central palace stands empty and no heir has been established. The court is uneasy!"

Within North Spring Mountain, Gu Yuanqing held the Kunwu Sword. His body moved like a roaming dragon, while his sword flashed like a silver serpent.

Sword light crisscrossed, Gang Qi surged and withdrew. At times, he moved with the swiftness of wind and thunder; at others, his sword was like spring rain nourishing all things—dreamlike and illusory.

After a while, he stopped and flicked a finger against the blade. The Sword Cry rang out with a clang.

"Exhilarating! A Precious Sword truly feels different from a wooden sword. I can unleash it freely without worrying about damaging the blade itself, and the power of my swordsmanship has risen by at least fifty percent! Without that concern, I can devote thirty percent more focus when comprehending the sword as well!"

Gu Yuanqing no longer pondered what the Emperor truly intended. Just as Eunuch Xu had said, cultivation was the foundation. If he became a Grandmaster, why would he need to care what the Emperor thought?

The days in the mountains returned to peace. Fifteen days later, when supplies were delivered again, they indeed brought two jars of fine wine.

At night, Gu Yuanqing ate meat by the mouthful and drank wine by the mouthful, utterly carefree.

A few days later, while he was observing the mountains, he suddenly felt something. He raised his head toward the Imperial Palace, and in that instant, his heart began pounding violently. He did not know why, only vaguely sensing that something important seemed to be happening over there!

Within the Great Gan Palace, an infant's cries rang throughout Qingyun Garden.

"Your Majesty, it is a young master."

The wet nurse carried the swaddled infant into the outer chamber.

"Let me see!"

Li Haotian took the child from the wet nurse. All his majesty vanished, and his face split into a delighted smile. Looking at the wrinkled little face, he laughed aloud. "He looks very much like me."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

All the servants dropped to their knees.

Li Haotian asked, "Where is Miaoxuan?"

"Her Highness the Princess is unharmed. She is merely somewhat tired."

Li Haotian nodded slightly. His face gradually returned to calm as he handed the infant back to the wet nurse and said indifferently, "Take him back." Then he turned and walked out.

Xu Lianying hurried after him and asked quietly, "Will Your Majesty not go inside to see Her Highness the Princess?"

"Prepare the carriage for Fengtian Hall."

The wet nurse carried the child back into the inner chamber.

Li Miaoxuan lay weakly in bed and held out her hands. "Give him to me."

The wet nurse handed over the child. Li Miaoxuan carefully received him, a faint smile appearing on her face.

The maid beside her said softly, "Your Highness, His Majesty has left."

"Mm." Li Miaoxuan answered faintly. She looked once toward the outer courtyard, then placed all her attention upon the child before her.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Are you hungry...?"

Gu Yuanqing came back to himself in a daze. For some reason, his heart simply could not settle.

He rose and walked into the courtyard. Looking at the bright moonlight above, all manner of past events suddenly surfaced in his heart: his parents from his previous life, his life in the Prince's residence in this life, and that hazy, lovely figure.

His thoughts were in turmoil, leaving him unable to cultivate.

Gu Yuanqing fetched the last jar of clear wine and drank alone beneath the moon. Before he knew it, he had become drunk.

Time flew like a shuttle, and in the blink of an eye, three months passed.

Nothing happened on the mountain. In this secluded place, he would ultimately not be remembered by too many people.

This day, supplies were sent up the mountain again. He had not paid much attention at first, but then he suddenly "saw" a young woman in the ascending party, her face veiled in gauze and a light crimson cloak draped over her shoulders.

The gauze could not block Gu Yuanqing's sight. He saw willow-leaf brows and eyes like stars, as though an immortal maiden had stepped out of a landscape painting.

The young eunuch leading the party and all the soldiers did not dare look directly at her. They only dared follow from afar behind her.

"What noble family's daughter has come to the mountains for an outing? To be able to enter this Forbidden Ground, her status must be extraordinary."

As usual, Gu Yuanqing calculated the time and arrived at the entrance to North Spring Peak.

Two elderly servants were receiving supplies from the soldiers who had come up the mountain.

The young woman stood to one side, surveying her surroundings.

"Young Eunuch." Gu Yuanqing went over to greet him.

Then he saw the young eunuch take out a stack of books and set them aside. Sneaking a glance at the young woman, he swiftly turned and left with the soldiers, as though seeing Gu Yuanqing were like seeing a plague god.

Gu Yuanqing turned to look at the woman, who was leisurely admiring the mountain scenery. She had not left with them, and he did not know what business had brought her up the mountain.

"How should I address you, Miss?" Gu Yuanqing hesitated briefly before asking.

The young woman pointed at a residence among the distant mountains. "Is that courtyard where you live?"

Her voice was somewhat cool, yet to Gu Yuanqing, who had not spoken with anyone for months, it was nothing less than heavenly music.

"That is correct. That humble courtyard is where I reside."

The woman nodded and said calmly, "Very well. I plan to stay in North Spring Mountain for one night today. Are there any vacant rooms in the courtyard?"

"Hm?" Gu Yuanqing was slightly taken aback. This woman wanted to stay in his courtyard the moment she arrived? This world was not as strict as ancient times in his previous life when it came to propriety between men and women, but they had only just met. Was this really appropriate?

"If Miss wishes to stay here, I can have the neighboring courtyard cleaned up. This place lacks everything except houses."

The woman turned back to glance at Gu Yuanqing, her tone placid. "No need. A courtyard that has stood empty for too long has no human warmth."

Gu Yuanqing smiled. Since she had put it that way, he did not insist. He also wanted to see what exactly this woman intended.

"If you have nothing to do, accompany me for a walk," the woman said, turning back again.

"What business could there be deep in these mountains? I would be delighted to accompany you. I am Gu Yuanqing, but Miss has yet to tell me how I should address you." Gu Yuanqing smiled.

"You may call me Miaoxuan." Li Miaoxuan's expression remained calm.

"Miaoxuan? That name sounds rather familiar. Right, the Grand Princess of the Great Gan Dynasty bears that name. Miss..." Gu Yuanqing asked tentatively.

"She is not me." The woman glanced at Gu Yuanqing, and there seemed to be something else in her gaze.

"That makes sense. I heard she is still cultivating in the Lingxu Sect and has not returned for many years." Gu Yuanqing faintly formed a guess, and a trace of unease rose in his heart. But since she had denied it, he simply went along with her words. Li Miaoxuan was different from the other Princesses of the imperial dynasty. If she truly was that person, she might have come this time to seek trouble with him for someone in the Imperial Family.

Suppressing his emotions, he extended a hand in invitation. "This way, Miss Miaoxuan. From here, we can just see the Hongyan Mountain Waterfall across from us."