Holy maiden

Tu Qingchen looked at the little girl's sparkling eyes as he held her in his arms, and suddenly began to doubt the result of his divination.

He reached out and gently touched a fingertip to Chu Siqing's brow, then heard a babyish voice:

[To be held by such a handsome Imperial Preceptor, I could die without regrets!]

Tu Qingchen: "..."

[Who are you?]

Chu Siqing nearly jumped out of her skin when a woman's voice suddenly appeared in her head!

[A-Tong! Who was that talking just now?!]

The system was puzzled:

[Host, what's wrong?]

Chu Siqing panicked. [A-Tong, can't you hear her? A woman just spoke inside my head!]

The system replied:

[Host, no one did. Were you hearing things?]

Chu Siqing was certain she had heard it, and asked again:

[Who's speaking?]

No one answered. Even the system stayed silent, leaving Chu Siqing feeling thoroughly unsettled.

Just then, the woman's voice returned. [I'm Tu Qingchen.]

Aaaah, what was going on?!

The Imperial Preceptor was speaking inside her head!

But wasn't the Imperial Preceptor a man?

Though the voice was deep and resonant, Chu Siqing couldn't possibly have mistaken it. It was a woman's voice!

Chu Siqing was stunned. [You're a woman?!]

Tu Qingchen asked, [You transmigrated?]

Chu Siqing replied, [How did you know? Imperial Preceptor, you... you transmigrated too? And from a woman into a man?!]

Tu Qingchen replied, [Yes. Let's leave that aside. Our immediate priority is sorting out this holy maiden business. His Majesty is still watching us.]

Chu Siqing abruptly remembered their current predicament. [Oh, right. Why would you think I'm the holy maiden?]

Tu Qingchen replied, [My divination told me so.]

Chu Siqing protested, [I really am not! I'm just an ordinary person!]

Tu Qingchen asked, [Do you have a system?]

Chu Siqing blinked. [...Yes.]

Tu Qingchen finally felt a little more reassured. [Is it an infrastructure system, or a nation-strengthening system?]

Chu Siqing answered guiltily, [Neither. It's... a Gossip System.]

Tu Qingchen: [Huh???]

Emperor Chu Ming had watched the Imperial Preceptor touch his niece's brow, only for the two of them to stare wide-eyed at each other, their expressions shifting all the while. He found it utterly strange.

He couldn't help asking, "Imperial Preceptor, what is it?"

A bead of cold sweat formed on Tu Qingchen's forehead.

His thoughts raced. "Your Majesty, I have confirmed it. The little princess is indeed Great Chu's holy maiden."

Chu Siqing's eyes widened. [What's going on, Tu Qingchen? Don't you dare land me in trouble!]

Tu Qingchen replied, [There's no other way. We'll have to treat a dead horse as though it's still alive.]

Chu Siqing: *!!!*

Emperor Chu Ming was overjoyed. "The holy maiden has been born into the imperial clan. What a blessing for our family!"

Empress Dowager Pei added, "Princess Yu, you have given birth to a fine daughter."

Han Wanqing forced a smile. "You flatter me, Empress Dowager."

No matter how much glory being the holy maiden brought, all she wanted was for her daughter to live in peace and happiness.

Now that her Siqing had become Great Chu's holy maiden, who knew what hardships awaited her?

Emperor Chu Ming said, "Now that the Imperial Preceptor has confirmed Siqing as the holy maiden, she should reside with him in the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion within the palace."

Chu Siqing could no longer keep up with how quickly things were unfolding.

[Tu Qingchen! Look what you've done! Why did you drag me into this? I don't want to live in the palace!]

Tu Qingchen replied, [I don't have a choice either.]

Han Wanqing's heart lurched at those words. Had the speaker not been the emperor, she would certainly have turned hostile!

Her daughter was still so tiny. How could they separate mother and child?

There was no justice in such a thing!

Han Wanqing was just about to speak when Emperor Chu Ming continued, "However, Siqing is still young. It would be unwise to separate her from her parents too soon."

He looked at Han Wanqing. "Princess Yu, from now on, you shall enter the palace once every three days and bring Siqing to the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion. How does that sound?"

Han Wanqing said, "I shall obey Your Majesty's decree."

What else could she say?

Quite apart from the holy maiden's importance to the nation's fortunes, the emperor had already spoken. What difference would her objection make?

Only when Chu Hongle returned to his residence that evening did he learn that his precious daughter had become Great Chu's holy maiden-and had nearly been sent to live in the palace!

Han Wanqing said, "From now on, I'll have to enter the palace once every three days and take Siqing to the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion to cultivate with the Imperial Preceptor."

After hearing this, Chu Hongle slammed his palm onto the table with a bang, making even the fine rosewood table tremble.

Gritting his teeth at the pain, he said, "My imperial brother has gone too far! I'll go reason with him tomorrow!"

"I've long known he envies me for having such a sweet daughter. He used to say he adored Siqing and wanted her to stay in the palace for a while, but I refused. I never imagined he'd pull something like this now!"

Han Wanqing explained, "This wasn't His Majesty's idea. The Imperial Preceptor first divined that a holy maiden had been born in Great Chu, and only later confirmed that it was our daughter."

Chu Hongle asked, "Tu Qingchen? He's only a few years younger than me. Why doesn't he have a daughter of his own instead of luring my Siqing into the palace?"

Han Wanqing was speechless. "Your Highness, the Imperial Preceptor isn't permitted to marry or have children."

Chu Hongle said, "I know. I'm just angry!"

Finally, he declared, "In any case, I must make my imperial brother rescind his decree! Going to the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion and all that can wait until she's grown!"

Han Wanqing had little faith in that, but still encouraged him. "Your Highness, Siqing is counting on you."

After morning court the next day, Chu Hongle stormed over to wait outside the imperial study.

Feng Zhonglin came to report, "Your Majesty, Prince Yu requests an audience."

Emperor Chu Ming's head ached. He knew perfectly well why his brother had come.

His younger brother guarded his daughter so closely, always convinced that everyone wanted to be Siqing's father. It really was... he didn't know what to say.

Emperor Chu Ming rubbed his forehead. "Let him in."

The moment Chu Hongle entered, he accused him, "Brother, you've gone too far!"

Emperor Chu Ming said, "Hongle, you know perfectly well that as Great Chu's holy maiden, Siqing ought to cultivate alongside the Imperial Preceptor in the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion."

Chu Hongle retorted angrily, "Brother, don't try to fob me off with that!"

"My daughter is barely more than a tiny bundle. She can't even talk! What could she possibly cultivate?"

Emperor Chu Ming said, "The Imperial Preceptor possesses a special art that allows him to communicate with Siqing mind to mind."

Hearing that, Chu Hongle abruptly froze.

What did that mean?

Could the Imperial Preceptor hear his daughter's thoughts too?

Then... then wouldn't Siqing be branded an evil spirit?

Just as Chu Hongle's heart was pitching up and down with anxiety, Emperor Chu Ming continued, "Hongle, I know you're worried about Siqing."

He sighed, then said solemnly, "But I cannot indulge you in this. The holy maiden is intimately bound to the nation's destiny. Since this is Siqing's fate, she must shoulder that responsibility."

Chu Hongle was cowed.

Emperor Chu Ming rarely spoke to him in that tone, but whenever he did, it meant the matter was no longer open to change.

He said quietly, "Brother, you must take good care of Siqing, then."

Emperor Chu Ming smiled. "Naturally. Rest assured. Since Siqing is still young, Princess Yu may also remain in the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion to look after her."

Chu Hongle muttered, "Just don't shove her own father to the back of her mind when the time comes."

Emperor Chu Ming chuckled. "How could that happen? You're worrying far too much."