Chapter 060: Heavens, What Do You Want From Me?

Seeing her stare at him so strangely, Chu Yifan raised an eyebrow, smiled, and lifted a hand to touch his own face. "Little girl, is there something on my face?"

Jin'er snapped out of her reverie, quickly withdrew her gaze, and shook her head. "Thank you, young master, for helping me out just now." She offered a slight bow and turned away to the side.

It wasn't that she had been mesmerized by his looks, but rather that, upon closer inspection, this man in green resembled someone—a certain general who had once seized her by the throat in the imperial court.

Though the resemblance was faint and proved nothing, the fact that he looked somewhat like that detestable man made her instinctively dislike him, even after he had helped her.

Watching Jin'er hurry away, Chu Yifan frowned in confusion. Why was it her? How could she be here? And why did she look at him so strangely just now? Surely, she couldn't possibly recognize him.

With furrowed brows, Chu Yifan turned and continued onward, lost in thought.

Night fell, and Madam Lin had not yet returned. Jin'er took a medical book from her bundle and sat beneath the lamp to read.

She had hesitated for a long time before taking this book when she left the Imperial Physician's Hall, hoping her master wouldn't mind. Thinking of the Hall brought to mind Xiao Jiu's image.

He would probably be a little sad when he learned she had left, but she believed he would soon be all right, and everyone at the Hall would return to their previous routines. In retrospect, she truly felt redundant, having disrupted their lives for no reason.

With a bitter smile, Jin'er lowered her head and read in earnest. After a long while, Madam Lin finally returned.

The two lay in bed, discussing the day's events. Jin'er spoke the most, for Madam Lin kept asking if she was adjusting well, if she was tired.

Upon hearing that the young master had pestered Jin'er today, Madam Lin grew concerned. "The young master is not to be trifled with. I'm worried he'll keep making trouble for you. Next time you see him, just yield. Do whatever he tells you. With wastrels like him, the more you oppose them, the more excited they get. Trust me—if your duties are delayed and the steward asks, I'll speak up for you."

"All right, I understand." Though reluctant in her heart, Jin'er knew her current status left no room for personal preference.

After a moment of silence, Jin'er suddenly recalled a question buried deep within her heart.

"Aunt, I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it? Go ahead," Madam Lin replied, turning to face her.

"I've heard that royal children of the Five Kingdoms all possess elemental spirit power corresponding to their nation's attribute. But I'm a princess, so why do I have no elemental power at all?" Jin'er asked anxiously, eager yet fearful of the answer.

Madam Lin hadn't expected such a question, and for a while, didn't know where to begin. After thinking for a long time, she sighed. "Honestly, I don't really know. The rumor started twenty years before Her Highness was taken as Consort Yun by the Emperor, spreading throughout the country. Most people were skeptical at first, but when the Emperor actually married the female national mage and made her Consort Yun, the rumor went wild.

Later, after you reached two or three years of age, people noticed you lacked spirit power, and saw you as an oddity. But Consort Yun was still favored then, so despite all the gossip, neither of you were harmed. Only when disasters struck repeatedly, the people's hearts grew restless, the ministers kept petitioning, and Lady Chen appeared, did the Emperor gradually neglect Consort Yun, ultimately sending her and the princess to the Cold Palace. You should know all that happened afterward." Madam Lin sighed again, feeling sorry for Consort Yun.

Jin'er listened intently, her brows deeply furrowed. After a long pause, she asked quietly, "Do you believe in that prophecy?"

Madam Lin was silent for a moment. "I find it absurd. It's mysterious, but no one knows where it originated—just rumor upon rumor. Maybe it's just coincidence. But everyone believes it, and we have no choice."

"Coincidence? The more I think it might be coincidence, the more suspicious I feel, though I can't pinpoint what's wrong." Jin'er sighed heavily, then asked, "By the way, did anything strange or significant happen when I was little? Something before people discovered I had no spirit power? Think carefully—don’t leave anything out."

Madam Lin answered thoughtfully. "When you were one, you fell gravely ill, and the Emperor and Consort Yun watched over you for three days and nights. Then... nothing else, really... Oh! I remember! When you were a year and a half old, you nearly died in a fire!"

"Nearly died in a fire?" Jin'er exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, that fire was truly odd. I still remember I was in the back courtyard cooking porridge while Consort Yun cared for you inside. Suddenly, everyone was shouting to put out a fire. Fortunately, it was discovered early and quickly contained, and you were rescued in time. What was strange was, when you were carried out from the flames, you were giggling happily in your swaddling clothes.

Later, Consort Yun said she had only stepped outside to cut a few flowers, with a maid guarding the door—no one entered. Yet the lamp, perfectly fine, somehow caught fire and ignited the bed curtains. Even if the lamp was blown over by the wind, it shouldn't have reached the curtains several paces away, let alone with the door closed.

Everyone thought it odd, but since nothing could be found, Consort Yun ordered no further discussion. Thinking back, that was the strangest event."

The room caught fire, and she laughed? Consort Yun forbade discussion? Jin'er frowned, pondering these two suspicious points.

"Anything else? For example, after the fire, did Mother act unusually?" Jin'er asked nervously.

Madam Lin stared at the canopy overhead, pondering for a long time, before recalling some clues.

"After the fire, Her Highness seemed very worried, rarely left your side, even when the Emperor visited. We all thought she was traumatized by the fire, afraid you might be harmed again, so no one found it odd. The Emperor adored her, and loved the little princess, so he wasn't upset.

Later... I think it was half a month after the fire, one night, I got up to use the privy and saw Consort Yun's room still lit, with voices coming from inside. Curious, I crept closer and heard, besides her, two men's voices.

I was startled and tried to get nearer, but the lights suddenly went out and all was silent. I grew afraid, thinking I'd been discovered, so I pretended nothing had happened, hurried to the privy, then returned to my room by a roundabout way.

I remember being anxious for days, worried Consort Yun would question us. Thankfully, all was normal and she never reprimanded the servants, so I relaxed. Working in the palace, we learn one rule for survival: even if you see or hear something, you must pretend you saw and heard nothing.

So, gradually, I forgot about it. Now that I think back, it seems that after that night, Consort Yun became much more relaxed, no longer anxious or troubled."

Madam Lin reminisced, speaking at length.

"That's all, I think. I suddenly realize my memory is quite good—seems I'm not old yet, haha..."

Jin'er, however, remained tense, in no mood to laugh. Her intuition told her there was more to the past than met the eye. But now, with her mother gone and Madam Lin unaware of the details, how could she ever find out?

A prophecy? A suspicious fire? A secret midnight meeting? A princess of royal blood with not a trace of spirit power? Could these be connected? And if so, how could she uncover the truth?

Uncertainty—her fate was riddled with it, and at any moment, she might succumb to the poison.

Heavens, what do you intend for me?