Fate-Holding Women
CHAPTER 7:
39
After that day, the Eldest Princess became very quiet.
She used to be strong-willed, but now she was willing to learn from me and show vulnerability at times.
I don't know what she said, but she managed to appease Xu Kai completely, and he didn't hold any resentment towards Qi Changlan.
However, to humiliate Qi Changlan, he proposed to marry the Eldest Princess.
“The Eldest Princess possesses a beauty that is like that of Celestial Beings; marrying her to that young man from the Qi family is truly a waste. I, Xu Kai, am willing to offer a national betrothal gift!”
With the Qi army so close, Xu Kai was calm and collected only because he deemed his twenty thousand soldiers insignificant.
If the Princess married him, he could find a way to summon her maternal family's hundreds of thousands of border troops to aid the capital.
He claimed to be enamored with the Eldest Princess's beauty, but wasn't he just calculating his own interests?
Xu Kai is a rebel; if the Eldest Princess marries him, it would be a significant breach of her integrity.
It would make it far more difficult for her to ever become Qi Changlan's Empress, and her future ascension to the throne would face insurmountable obstacles.
The Eldest Princess feigned compliance with Xu Kai, but secretly sought my counsel.
I remained calm, “There is a way to resolve the current predicament. But I wonder if Your Highness is willing?”
The Eldest Princess raised her eyes, “What method?”
“Let the Emperor marry me as his Empress,” I said calmly.
The Fourteenth Prince already had a fiancée, but their marriage had never been consummated.
Now that he is poisoned, mentally incapacitated, and a mere puppet, the woman is probably unwilling to marry him.
The Princess looked puzzled, “This is easy, but why? How can you help me get out of trouble if you marry my brother?”
“Your Highness, do you still remember the ancestral legends I told you about?”
With the nation's fortunes declining, absorbing the national fortune to hasten its demise is a natural course of action.
I can not only follow the Mandate of Heaven but also cultivate using the nation's fortune—how could I miss such an opportunity?
The Eldest Princess's mind raced, and she was suddenly startled.
“You mean… the Fate-Holding Women?”
“Precisely.”
I extended my hand; it was slender, white, and delicate, flawlessly beautiful.
Then, a ball of fire erupted from my soft palm.
The fire extinguished, and water flowed forth.
“My previous husbands all died after I absorbed their fortunes. Now, I am close to establishing my foundation and becoming a true cultivator.
If the Emperor marries me, I will be able to absorb the nation's fortune. Once this dynasty's fortune is completely depleted, Qi Changlan will certainly charge into the capital like a hot knife through butter!
When the time comes, what's to fear from someone like Xu Kai?
Moreover, waging war too quickly is not beneficial for the Qi family. They won't be able to thoroughly clear their territory, and it will take time for the people to align with them. Speed means numerous hidden dangers.
When the time is right, Your Highness, with your identity as the last scion of the previous dynasty, you can unite all the old officials whose interests have been affected by Qi Changlan to launch an attack against the Qi rebels.
With your legitimate claim to the throne, the deterrent of your maternal family's army, and my assistance as a person with extraordinary abilities, seizing the empire will be a simple matter!”
My tone was impassioned, but the Eldest Princess did not immediately agree.
“Xian Yin, I need time to consider this.”
Her profound gaze lingered on my hand for a long time. I pretended not to notice the killing intent hidden within her eyes.
Those who are not of our kind will surely have different intentions.
The Eldest Princess is not yet old enough to seek immortality and enlightenment.
She is in the prime of her life and doesn't know how devastating old age and illness can be.
Which powerful, young ruler wouldn't be wary of a subordinate wielding such power?
She might even wonder when exactly Song Xian Yin began plotting to seize the nation's fortune.
Was my acquaintance with her an accident? Or was it a deliberate act on my part?
Before leaving, the Princess asked me: “You could have remained silent and secretly plotted this marriage. With your cunningness, marrying the Emperor wouldn't be difficult.
Even if you then seized the nation's fortune, I would know nothing. Why reveal the truth to me?”
Hidden behind this question was another: “Why make me suspicious of you?”
I bowed.
“This is my trump card, but also my weakness. By giving this weakness to my sovereign, I give you the power to harm me.
I know so many things about you. If you don't have something to restrain me, will you still trust me to use me?
Everything I do is for the long-term stability of our master-servant relationship.”
Hearing this, the Princess remained silent for a long time.
After a moment, she raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Xian Yin, you are far too thoughtful. I am deeply honored to have such a devoted subject!”
Tears welled in my eyes as well. “I only hope that my sovereign will soon reclaim her rightful place and achieve great things! Beyond that, Xian Yin desires nothing else.”
When the Eldest Princess left, tears still stained her face, but I knew how false those tears were. She had finally learned to be suspicious, to feign agreement with me.
The very tactics I once taught her are now being used against me.
That's good.
This path is inherently a lonely one, and as a woman, she cannot trust anyone, not even me.
Moreover, what I told her was only three parts truth and seven parts falsehood.
I told her this for two reasons: One, because she still harbored resentment towards me and Qi Changlan's past. Two, because knowing that the Fate-Holding Women can seize the fortune of her husband's family, she could tell Qi Changlan at any time.
This way, Qi Changlan would never marry me, let alone take me as a concubine.
Secondly, seeking her help was the fastest way to marry the Emperor.
The closer I get to establishing my foundation, the more keenly I feel the limitations of this world. The mortal realm is deficient in spiritual energy, insufficient to support a cultivator like me.
I fear that the day I establish my foundation will be the day I leave this realm.
At that point, whether she wants to kill me, whether she fears me—it will matter little to me.
40
As expected, the next day, Xu Kai summoned me. I made my face look pale and lifeless before going to see him.
“I heard she's a beauty, but seeing her today, she's nothing special,” he said with a gloomy expression.
I acted as if I hadn't noticed, maintaining my bowing posture.
“I hear you and His Majesty are deeply in love?”
“Yes.”
“Good, then prepare yourself. You will marry His Majesty tomorrow.”
“Yes, General.”
In the past, an imperial wedding would take at least several months of preparation. Now, with a single order from this rebel, the ruler of a nation is going to marry an Empress. How absurd, and yet how amusing.
Back at my residence, Cao'er reported the news she had gathered.
“Her Highness the Eldest Princess said that before her mother's death, she swore that she would only marry after the Emperor's wedding.
The fact that she hasn't married the Qi rebel is also due to this.
Now that you, Madam, and the Emperor are deeply in love, if you two are allowed to be together, she is willing to marry General Xu.”
I couldn't help but laugh.
How familiar this tactic is! Isn't it the same excuse I used to deceive Shi Liang?
I sighed, “The Princess has grown up.”
Hearing this, Cao'er started crying.
“Good Cao'er, I'm going to be Empress, why are you crying?”
Cao'er shook her head, “I just feel... you've suffered so much, Madam.”
Suffered? Was I?
I don't feel that way at all. Each day I wake up, I'm closer to achieving my ambition. Where is the suffering?
I shook my head. “Silly child, I'm perfectly fine, why would I be suffering?”
Cao'er mustered her courage. “I've heard... you and General Qi were originally betrothed, but the Eldest Princess fell for the General and forcefully separated you two.
Now that the General is about to attack the capital, the Eldest Princess worries that you still hold a place in his heart, so she asked General Xu to give you to the Emperor.
The Emperor is now foolish and reckless, many of the palace maids have been accidentally injured by him! You're so young, and your future is ruined, how could you not suffer?”
“Future?”
I muttered to myself, “My future isn't this.”
Seeing Cao'er still looking worried, I couldn't help but comfort her: “I went from being a young Lady from an official's family to a hair-combing girl in a brothel, and then I clawed my way out of that place, and now I'm about to become the mother of a nation, enjoying the blessings of the whole country.
In these past few years, I've received far more than I've given.
So many women have sacrificed a thousand times, a hundred times more than I have, only to die with nothing. I think this deal was worth it.”
Cao'er seemed to understand, yet not fully. “But... won't you regret missing General Qi?”
Regret? Perhaps.
If I didn't have the bloodline of the Fate-Holding Women, I probably wouldn't have manipulated the Princess. Perhaps I would have tried the taste of seizing power myself.
But alas, the power of the human Emperor, mortal wealth... How can they compare to cultivating immortality?
I, Song Xian Yin, only want the best.
If I can ascend to immortality, I wouldn't trade it for a hundred Emperors.
“Cao'er,” I patted her head, “What I seek in life isn't here.”
“Then where is it?”
“In ultimate freedom and liberation.”
41
The moment the Jade Edict official wrote my name on the Jade Edict…
A sudden strong wind whipped around me. At that time, the foolish Emperor and I were standing together on the high altar, offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth.
The world was vast, and various kinds of auspicious energy surged up from the cracks in the ground, flowing endlessly into my body.
Such exhilaration, such delight!
Heaven and Earth are in my hands, the Empire at my command.
I couldn't help but laugh.
The attendants beside me didn't know why I was laughing. They were blown this way and that by the gale, forced to prostrate themselves on the ground to avoid being swept away.
The energy of Heaven and Earth, the spiritual energy of the world, all gathered above my head.
The spiritual energy within me circulated wildly, surging through my eight extraordinary meridians according to my cultivation technique.
The spiritual energy drawn into my meridians and acupoints transformed into droplets of spiritual liquid, which rained down into my dantian.
The waning fortunes of the empire at sunset served as the finest nourishment, revitalizing my meridians damaged by over-cultivation.
The spiritual liquid flowed out from my dantian, like several swimming fish, heading towards the ¹Purple Palace at the crown of my head and the Bubbling Spring at the soles of my feet.
The fish transformed into water snakes, the water snakes into giant pythons.
The pythons became dragons, and the dragons ascended to become true dragons!
Dark clouds pressed down over the land, with flashes of lightning within them, and thunder rumbling.
Purple lightning and blue thunder struck down from above. I pushed the Emperor aside, and with both hands, I welcomed the tribulation!
A searing pain shot from my palms into my limbs and bones, gathering in my meridians. The crackling electricity shattered the impurities within my body!
The second purple lightning bolt struck out my karmic debts. Shi Liang, Liang Mu, Mu Qi, my father... These people gathered around me, emitting cries of agony.
“I may have wronged you,” I said coldly, “But women are born to be wronged by the world, yet who ever pays the price for that? I cannot live without devouring your flesh and blood, so please, go die!”
My fingertips erupted with several streams of fire, driving away and burning these heart demons.
The tribulations struck one after another, giving me no respite.
I don't know how long it went on, but the color of the thunder grew lighter, closer to gold.
The thunder roared! Like a primordial giant's angry bellow, the golden thunder struck my head with unstoppable force!
My whole body was shattered and torn, and I roared to the heavens:
²“I will command the heavens to bring wind and rain, how dare the golden crow emerge from the clouds?!”
A torrential downpour suddenly arrived!
Within my dantian, it felt as if a celestial dwelling had been opened, and countless spiritual energies surged in along with the auspicious energy!
From the distance, a messenger, whipping his horse, shouted:
“General Xu—”
“The capital city—has fallen!”
42
By the time Qi Changlan led his troops into the palace gates, the tribulation had already ceased.
A brilliant glow filled the sky, and auspicious rays of light shone everywhere.
The people buzzed with discussion, saying that Qi Changlan was a divinely appointed dragon, and that was why such omens appeared upon his arrival in the capital.
Xu Kai never imagined that Qi Changlan's army, a mere twenty thousand strong, could actually breach the capital's gates.
He knew his end was near, and in his despair, hatred welled up within him, causing him to begin slaughtering the people of the Imperial Palace.
His soldiers also began to loot and murder indiscriminately, and many of the former emperor's consorts and palace maids were brutally killed.
Once the bloodlust began, he charged into the Eldest princess's inner chambers, his bloodstained blade in hand, sneering, “Princess, are you waiting for your fine fiancé?
That traitor Qi has destroyed our great cause! I can't kill him today, so I'll kill his fiancée to accompany him into the grave!
Having a princess for company on the road to the underworld will be quite the pleasure!
One wonders what that Qi Changlan boy will think when I've taken his wife away?”
After saying this, he laughed heartily.
The Eldest Princess also gave him a slight smile.
With a flick of her long whip, she struck like a serpent, catching Xu Kai by the neck.
The barbs on the whip pierced into his flesh, and the seasoned general, who had fought for many years, never expected that the seemingly frail princess would have the strength to fight back against him. His face turned purple as he desperately clawed at the whip around his neck.
The Eldest Princess gripped the whip handle and yanked it hard, sending Xu Kai crashing to the ground, where he rolled several times.
The ground was littered with shards, and something had pierced the back of Xu Kai's head, causing him to die just like that.
“I rushed here in a panic, worried for Your Highness safety, but it seems that was unnecessary,” I said as I emerged from the corner, letting out a light chuckle.
“Today, the Capital City is experiencing heavy storms, lightning and thunder. Does it have anything to do with you?” The Eldest Princess asked softly as she wiped the blood from her whip.
“That was me undergoing a tribulation,” I said, taking her hand and leading her to the window to show her the auspicious clouds and mist in the sky.
Golden light and rosy clouds poured down from heaven like flowing water, showering the world below.
“Thanks to you, Your Highness, I've now established my foundation. The earthly passage was opened by the heavenly thunder, and I'm about to leave the mortal world for where the cultivators gather. Before leaving, I wanted to come back and save you. It seems I worried unnecessarily this time.”
The princess was startled. “You...you're leaving?”
“Yes,” I replied, taking out an unremarkable pebble and placing it in her palm.
“Keep this. You can crush this stone three times, and each time, auspicious omens will appear within ten feet. You'll know when to use them,” I said. “Also, I'm entrusting my maid, Cao'er, to your care. She's not very bright, but she's loyal and sensible; give her food, and she'll be loyal to you.”
As I began to be enveloped by the golden light, the princess rushed forward, asking, “When will you return? Song Xian Yin! When will you return?”
“Perhaps, when I become a Celestial Being,” I whispered to her before disappearing, half my body already hidden within the radiant light.
“Go. Love him, kill him, and then replace him.” With that, I smiled serenely at Qi Changlan, who had finally arrived, and completely entered the ascension beam of light.
He will surely never forget this scene. I was his fiancée, I sacrificed my appearance to save his life, and I was once mired in filth because of him.
And now, before him, I am bathed in divine light, ascending to become a Celestial Being. How could he ever forget?
With me standing between them, the Crown Princess and Qi Changlan are unlikely to become a happily-ever-after celestial couple.
The more she loves him, the more she will hate him.
In time, this Imperial couple will inevitably engage in an extremely brutal battle.
I must eliminate any possibility of the Crown Princess peacefully residing in the Empress's position. I must push her, force her to fight, to seize power.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to witness the day she holds the imperial seal and sits on the Dragon Throne.
________________
Glossary:
¹Purple Palace (紫宫, Zǐ Gōng):
- Meaning: The ‘Purple Palace’ is often associated with the crown chakra or spiritual center located at the top of the head. In cultivation practices, it is considered a significant area for spiritual awareness, enlightenment, and the reception of spiritual energy or qi. This location is vital for higher-level cultivation and connection to the universe or divine source.
Bubbling Spring (涌泉, Yǒngquán):
- Meaning: The ‘Bubbling Spring’ typically refers to a point located at the soles of the feet, often identified with the kidney area or the source of foundational energy. It symbolizes the connection to the earth, grounding energy, and the flow of vital life force. This point is crucial for absorbing energy from the earth and for stability in one's cultivation journey.
…..
²- “I will command the heavens to bring wind and rain…” This is a bold statement of control and power. The character is trying to exert their will over the natural elements, even though they are themselves weakened.
- “...how dare the golden crow emerge from the clouds?!” Here, the ‘golden crow’ is a metaphor for the sun. The sun is often seen as a symbol of power and authority, and the character's declaration is a challenge to that authority. The character is saying, “I will not be controlled by the natural order, I will fight back!”
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment