At the same time.
Demon Suppression Headquarters, Main Hall.
Zhao Zhongliu's hand, holding a teacup, trembled slightly.
The scalding tea spilled onto the back of his hand, but he seemed not to notice.
"What did you say? That girl is the Grand Princess?!"
The Old Eunuch smiled and cupped his hands: "Lord Zhao, this is truly a great joyous occasion! By His Majesty's decree, although Grand Princess Zhaoyue has returned to her ancestral clan, she will retain her position in the Demon Suppression Division, and even... in the future, she will need Lord Zhao's continued care."
Zhao Zhongliu took a deep breath and slowly put down the teacup.
He finally understood why that girl's talent was so prodigious.
It turns out she has Dragon Bloodline!
"Care?"
Zhao Zhongliu gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"Your Excellency is joking."
"Now she is Grand Princess Zhaoyue, and has reached Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm..."
"Cough, cough..."
The Old Eunuch quickly corrected him: "Commander Zhao, you may not know, but Her Highness has already entered the Seed Lotus Realm."
"…"
Zhao Zhongliu's breath hitched.
No?
Are you kidding?
Seed Lotus Realm at seventeen?!
Is the Li Family Bloodline truly that prodigious?!
Zhao Zhongliu took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
"Ahem... Seed Lotus Realm at seventeen, and a direct descendant of the Imperial Family. In this Great Tang empire, who would dare not give her Face?"
"Even this old man..."
Zhao Zhongliu sighed.
"I'm afraid when I see her in the future, I'll have to bow and call her Your Highness."
The Old Eunuch smiled, didn't respond, just cupped his hands, and turned to leave.
Zhao Zhongliu watched the receding figure, his gaze complex.
Just yesterday, he had given her the seal of the Longyou Commandery Commander.
He had wanted to properly win over such a Genius girl for the Great Tang.
Who would have thought.
They were already family.
So, this old man... was the outsider!
...The next morning.
Jiang Yuechu opened her eyes.
As soon as she moved.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
More than a dozen palace maids, holding copper basins, silk towels, and clothes, filed in and knelt in unison.
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly.
She was used to being alone, and now being waited on like this made her uncomfortable.
"You may all withdraw."
The palace maids exchanged glances, trembling with fear.
"Your Highness... are we clumsy?"
"It's not your fault."
Jiang Yuechu threw back the brocade quilt, her bare feet stepping onto the carpet.
"I'm not used to it."
Dressing and washing took only a moment.
The elaborate and luxurious palace attire was tossed aside by her.
Instead, she chose a simple silver-white martial attire.
As soon as she was ready, the Emperor arrived in a hurry.
He had clearly just finished morning court and hadn't even changed out of his Dragon Robe.
"Guyue, why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
The Emperor looked at her attire and frowned.
"Why are you still dressed like this? Didn't those servants bring you anything?"
"It's tiring to wear."
The Emperor looked at the girl before him, dressed in silver-white martial attire, her hair tied up high, completely devoid of any feminine charm.
He sighed helplessly.
Never mind.
Since Guyue likes it, then let her be.
He sat down by the table and dismissed the palace maids.
"Don't always be so tense."
"Now that you're home, with your Imperial Brother here, no one can harm you."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu felt a little unnatural, turned her head, and softly responded.
"Mm."
"These sixteen years, you've suffered..."
The Emperor chattered on and on.
Like an old mother who had a belly full of words and finally found someone to confide in.
From Jiang Xun's case, he spoke of the desolation in the palace over the years.
Jiang Yuechu listened quietly.
She didn't interrupt the young Emperor's rambling.
She could feel it.
In his words, the cautious flattery of an older brother towards a sister he had lost and found again.
After a long while.
The Emperor finally stopped talking, still unsatisfied, and picked up his teacup to moisten his throat.
Jiang Yuechu hesitated for a moment, then raised her head.
"Imperial Brother, I want to leave Chang'an."
The Emperor frowned.
"You just returned last night, why do you want to leave already? Where are you going?"
"Longyou."
Jiang Yuechu said, "The Dragon Qi irrigation from the Imperial Ancestral Temple allowed me to ascend to the Seed Lotus Realm in one step."
"But this..."
She raised her hand, clenching it in the Void Realm.
"Is far from enough..."
"Martial Dao cultivation is like sailing against the current."
"If I stay in this deep palace forever, enjoying wealth and luxury, protected under Imperial Brother's wings..."
Jiang Yuechu paused, then shook her head: "At that time, let alone slaying demons and devils."
"I'm afraid it would be difficult even to protect myself."
Hearing this, the Emperor's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
He wanted to say, I am the Son of Heaven of Great Tang, possessor of the four seas. As long as I am here for one day, I can protect you for one day.
Even if you become useless, so what?
I will support you for a lifetime!
But the words caught in his throat, unable to be spoken.
This girl... "Besides, Lord Zhao has already given me the seal of the Longyou Commandery Commander."
"Since I've taken on this position, I can't just stay in the capital and live off the fat of the land, can I?"
The Emperor gave a bitter laugh.
"You certainly know how to use grand principles to pressure me."
He stood up and walked over to Jiang Yuechu.
He originally wanted to reach out and pat her head.
But he found.
The person before him was no longer the sister he remembered in swaddling clothes.
In the end.
He just gently patted her shoulder.
"Since your mind is made up, then Imperial Brother... will not stop you."
Jiang Yuechu felt a sense of relief.
"Thank you, Imperial Brother, for your understanding."
...Several days later.
West of Chang'an City.
The cold wind of late autumn blew.
A lone person and a horse stood in the wind.
The horse was pure white, without a single speck of impurity.
A single horn grew on its forehead, and its four hooves trod on clouds.
Its exhaled white breath condensed and did not disperse in the cold wind.
On the horse's back.
The girl wore a dark ink brocade robe, with dark red cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem. On her right shoulder, a pure gold Suanni Swallow, fierce and majestic.
The wind rose.
Her red cloak flapped loudly, and her ink-black hair danced wildly with the wind.
Jiang Yuechu pulled on the reins, looking back.
Her cheap father, who had transformed from a prisoner to the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince.
Enjoying immense favor, his threshold was practically worn out by congratulating officials.
Logically speaking.
Before leaving, she should have gone to see him.
Even if it was just to greet him at the entrance of the Imperial Prison or return to the Jiang Family to have a reunion dinner, it would be the filial piety a child should show.
But Jiang Yuechu merely sent a family letter and left some money.
Why didn't she see him?
Jiang Yuechu lowered her eyes.
She didn't know how to Face him.
She was not the true 'Jiang Yuechu' after all.
Although she had inherited the Karma of this body and had those sixteen years of memories in her mind.
She knew the profound fatherly love Jiang Xun had for this body.
But that deep father-daughter affection, for her, a Transmigrator, was ultimately separated by a layer.
"Forget it."
Jiang Yuechu lightly exhaled a turbid breath.
The case was overturned.
His innocence was restored.
His official position was promoted.
She had even earned him the wealth and glory of this lifetime, enough to ensure the Jiang Family's peace for a hundred years.
This debt of upbringing was largely repaid.
If there was a chance in the future... when she truly adapted, it wouldn't be too late to see him then.
"Next time."
With this thought.
The last trace of emotional attachment in her heart dissipated with the wind.
Jiang Yuechu reached out and gently patted Horses Name's neck.
"Go."
She let out a low cry.
Her legs suddenly squeezed the horse's belly.
Horses Name neighed towards the sky, its sound like a Dragon's roar, startling the birds in the forest.
Its four hooves generated clouds, transforming into a white streak of light, instantly tearing through the morning mist.
Galloping towards the northwest.