With no need to marry into the Northern Court and her tragic fate averted, Li Sining was in an excellent mood.
The moment she returned to the palace, she headed straight for where Li Chen was.
At that moment, she felt a little stirred, but mostly excited.
If one of the other princes had become emperor, she might not have felt so nervous.
Those brothers had doted on her since childhood.
The crown prince, the dynasty's future sovereign, knew of his younger sister's love of books and had people search far and wide for rare volumes and unique editions to satisfy her thirst for knowledge.
Moreover, the crown prince was exceptionally learned and could often help her unravel the puzzles she encountered in her books.
Li Sining had always admired her eldest brother, certain that he would become a wise ruler.
She could see the imperial family's dignity and wisdom in him.
The Second Prince was an outstanding cultivator of extraordinary talent. Whenever he returned from his sect, he brought Li Sining a special gift. She still remembered how, on his last visit, he had brought her a jade pendant brimming with spiritual energy.
Whenever Li Sining wore it, she felt a warm current flow from the pendant and slowly enter her body.
Wherever that warmth passed, it seemed to gently nourish her meridians.
Li Sining idolized her second brother, whose formidable strength could summon the wind and rain.
The third prince commanded the dynasty's frontier army, spending year after year on the battlefield and earning illustrious military honors.
Whenever he returned victorious, he always brought the Ninth Princess some spoils of war.
The spirit beast gray wolf he had brought back last time had been raised into a fat dog that panted after taking just a few steps.
That brother was a man of few words, but he always kept his promises to Li Sining, earning her deep respect.
The other princes also looked after her, but all of this was only on the surface.
Because Li Sining was a princess, the emperor had taught her from childhood to be well-read and well-mannered.
As a princess, she was supposed to enjoy reading, obey her elders, avoid making excessive demands, and consider her status in everything she did.
When her eldest brother took care of her, she had to make an effort to praise him. When her father showered her with affection, she had to appear overjoyed.
Her mother had taught her all of this since childhood: to live in the imperial palace, she had to learn to pretend.
Whether she liked something did not matter. What mattered was whether others liked it.
Everyone in the palace wore their own "mask."
They seemed warm and friendly, as though they were all close, but a person's heart lay hidden behind their ribs.
That was the main reason Li Sining disliked living in the imperial palace.
Only in front of Li Chen could she shed her disguise and become that mischievous, adorable little sister.
Her thoughts suddenly drifted back more than ten years, to when she had loved going to play with Li Chen.
His room had been filled with toys she had never seen before. Her favorite was something called "LEGO," a name Li Chen himself had taught her.
She thought it was magical, letting her build anything she liked.
Aside from that, "Transformers" had left a deep impression on her. Back then, Li Sining had thought the toy was amazing-it could actually turn from a humanoid into a little car with four tires.
There had also been pretty girls with all sorts of colorful hair. Li Chen had told her they were figurines and refused to let her touch them. She had been so upset!
Li Chen had also taught her to play with spinning tops, yo-yos, and the like.
Whenever she had free time, she loved running to Li Chen's room to play with those toys.
But as she grew older, her father told her to spend less time with Li Chen.
Perhaps, in her father's eyes, she ought to spend more time with her other brothers. They were the outstanding ones.
Spending too much time with Li Chen would turn her into an ordinary person who squandered her ambitions on playthings.
Even as a child, she had known she could not live the life she wanted.
So Li Sining had resumed her princess's demeanor, burying her fondness for Li Chen deep in her heart alongside her innocence and mischief.
They had seen less of each other after that.
But today was different. Only her favorite brother remained in the palace.
Outside the palace, Li Sining might still have kept up appearances.
Ever since stepping inside, however, she had begun skipping as she walked.
Li Chen was the emperor now, and he would never demand that she act like a proper princess.
For the first time, she felt a breath of freedom in the palace.
It was no longer that gloomy, rigid imperial palace.
That was why Li Sining was so excited: she would soon see this brother of hers.
"Hehe, Brother Li Chen hid it so well! He's actually as powerful as the Master!"
Li Sining felt certain that Li Chen had refused the marriage alliance with the Northern Court, and even openly provoked them, because he could not bear to see his little sister suffer!
Even the passing palace maids could see the little stars of adoration filling her eyes.
At that moment, a young girl in a splendid Palace Dress flitted lightly through the corridors, a curious, mischievous smile on her face.
She made her way to the Imperial Study with practiced ease. Yet just as she was about to push the door open, a graceful figure caught her eye.
That figure stood quietly beneath the Imperial Study's window, her body turned slightly sideways as her bright, wide eyes peered curiously through the lattice at the scene inside.
Her figure was lovely, like a willow branch swaying in the spring breeze, making it hard not to steal a few more glances.
Curiosity welled up in Li Sining's heart, and she approached on tiptoe, as though afraid to disturb the stillness.
When she gently rested her fingers on the graceful figure's shoulder, the other girl was clearly startled by the unexpected touch.
The beauty spun around, her large, liquid Carslan eyes instantly widening into perfect circles, her lashes trembling like a frightened fawn's.
Her hands instinctively covered her chest, and her slightly parted red lips betrayed a trace of surprise and shyness.
She looked both adorable and captivating, enough to stir tender affection in anyone who saw her.
At the sight, Li Sining could not help letting out a giggle. The girl's reaction was simply too cute.
She studied the beauty before her and discovered that the other girl's looks could topple cities and kingdoms, not the least bit inferior to her own.
This was the first meeting of the Twin Beauties of the Imperial Capital, and their eyes made it clear that each was awestruck by the other's beauty.
"Oh? Are you my imperial brother's consort?" Li Sining asked curiously, a hint of mischief and probing in her voice.
At those words, two rosy clouds immediately bloomed on the beauty's cheeks. She waved her hands shyly and hurried to explain, "No, no, no, I'm not."
Seeming to feel that her answer was not quite right, the beauty corrected herself. "I'm not yet."
Her voice was clear and pleasant, with a touch of precision and sweetness.
Li Sining found that even more amusing. She had never expected there to be such an adorable yet exacting girl in the world.
As a princess, she was nowhere near as reserved in the imperial palace as Chu Ruoyan.
She blinked, silently thinking, As my brother's good little sister, I naturally have to help him vet her and see what this future consort is really like.
If she really won't do, I'll have to make sure to tell him. I can't let some enchantress ruin my brother.
Just as Li Sining was about to speak, Chu Ruoyan made a shushing gesture, then pointed inside the Imperial Study.
Li Sining leaned closer in curiosity. Their breathtaking faces drew so near that Chu Ruoyan's little face flushed even more, and she even felt a little dizzy.
The moment she reached the window, Li Sining heard a furious torrent of curses coming from inside.
Before you continue