Gu Qingli had been restless these past few days. Apart from the first day when everything in the palace was fresh and fascinating to her, it had quickly lost its charm. All she wanted now was to get out.
Unfortunately, Wuqing stood like a door god, preventing her from leaving the palace.
"This damn Xiao Yunjing won’t let me out! How am I supposed to find my parents and Brother Erlang? Ugh!"
Gu Qingli muttered under her breath with a bitter expression in her bedroom. Bored, she threw herself onto the soft, luxurious bed. The moment she caught a whiff of Xiao Yunjing’s scent, she immediately got up and went to lie on the couch instead.
Before long, she slipped into a drowsy slumber.
At that moment, the Gu Qingli in the Space suddenly felt her body being pulled out.
She willed herself to move but found herself in a dark place.
Suddenly, a gentle SNORE... SNORE... SNORE... echoed through the dark space.
Gu Qingli followed the sound and found a faint white figure, which was the source of the snoring.
Upon closer inspection, the figure resembled her, both being in a soul state. But this soul, compared to hers, was much fainter.
Her soul had been absorbing spiritual energy in the Space these days, becoming much more solid and stronger.
Could this be where the Original Host’s soul has been staying? Gu Qingli murmured to herself.
She moved closer to the Original Host’s soul and tried to poke it, but her hand went straight through it.
The Original Host, who was asleep, felt as if someone had poked her painfully. She suddenly opened her eyes, but seeing no one, she realized it was just a dream and closed her eyes again.
The moment the Original Host awoke, Gu Qingli found herself back in the Space.
Gu Qingli’s mouth fell open in delighted surprise. She was certain that was where the Original Host’s soul resided. She hadn’t known where the Original Host had been all this time—it turned out to be that pitch-black place. It seemed the Original Host had been asleep, which meant Gu Qingli could appear there when the Original Host slept. Gu Qingli figured she could likely appear there because her own soul had grown stronger, while the Original Host’s soul had weakened.
With this new development, Gu Qingli wasted no time in absorbing spiritual energy from the spiritual spring water within the Space.
Next time I go there, I’ll see if I can return to my body. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel·fire·net
I’m no saint. I won’t feel bad about occupying the Original Host’s body out of sympathy. If I hadn’t come, she might have been buried as a dead person!
Besides, I can’t bear to leave Xiao Yunjing and our three little ones. He’s my man, and they are my sons!
I refuse to believe I came here just to pave the way for someone else. And I would never do that for anyone!
Having observed Gu Qingli from the roof for quite a while, Xiao Yunjing only quietly descended from the palace and returned to Taiqing Palace once he saw that she had fallen asleep.
Today, Yun No. 14 received a message from the Secret Sect that those who were sent to Five Flowers Mountain had invited Daoist Master Sanqing, who would arrive in the Capital City in a few days.
Remembering what Gu Qingli had said earlier, he felt a sense of relief. It’s fortunate I took precautions and prevented her from leaving Fengqi Palace. If she left Fengqi Palace or met Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su, then Li’er’s transmigration would be exposed. At that point, things would spiral out of control, and Li’er might even be treated as a monster. Therefore, this Gu Qingli—the Original Host—must not be allowed to remain. For the sake of their family of five, Li’er herself wouldn’t let the Original Host stay. The harm to the three little ones would be immense; they would be seen as abominations born from a monster. The consequences would be dire.
Xiao Yunjing’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching tightly. It’s a pity I don’t have the power to directly eradicate the Original Host’s soul. The Original Host’s death and Li’er’s transmigration... these were, in a way, all caused by me. Since I’m the one who created this karma, then let me be the one to eliminate the Original Host. I will bear all the consequences.
After checking on their three little ones, Xiao Yunjing returned to the study.
「Meanwhile, at the Mu Residence, Elder Mu, the current head of the family, had summoned Second Master Mu and Third Master Mu to his study.」
Elder Mu glanced at Second Master Mu. Who would have thought this honest, simple-looking man would one day rise so high, all thanks to his wife? And look at me, he mused, I had to scheme and scrape just to become a mere fifth-rank official in the court.
"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law and Wan’er haven’t returned. Do you have any thoughts?"
Second Master Mu looked up at Elder Mu, confused. "What do you mean? If they like it and want to stay in the palace, let them stay."
Elder Mu’s deep eyes swept over Second Master Mu. What a blockhead, he thought. Once his wife and daughter return, their status will naturally rise. The Mu Family’s fortunes might turn because of this, and this fool hasn’t even considered his own future? She’s the Empress Dowager, and then there’s the reigning Emperor! I refuse to believe this blockhead hasn’t had a single thought about it.
"Second Brother," Third Master Mu interjected, "what Elder Brother means is that Second Sister-in-law and our niece might have a different status when they return. Maybe Second Sister-in-law will receive a title, or perhaps it’ll lead to your promotion. It could even be Wan’er entering the palace. Second Brother, haven’t you thought about the Mu Family’s future?"
Third Master Mu was also fuming internally. No wonder Mother never favored this Second Brother; he’s completely clueless! Elder Brother’s meaning is obvious: he wants Second Brother to speak with Second Sister-in-law, to latch onto the Empress Dowager—that powerful backer—and secure some benefits for the Mu Family. Of course, Elder Brother’s main goal is undoubtedly his own promotion first. Knowing Elder Brother, he wouldn’t hesitate to step on Second Brother to climb higher. It all depends on what this seemingly honest and simple Second Brother thinks and does.
After hearing Third Master Mu’s words, Second Master Mu put on a show of sudden understanding. He paused, glanced at Third Master Mu, and then turned to Elder Mu. "Elder Brother," he said, "Yuxian and Wan’er haven’t even returned yet. We don’t know what the situation is. Isn’t it a bit too early to be discussing all this? And as for talk of promotions and Wan’er entering the palace, let’s keep that between us. Please don’t spread such baseless rumors. I don’t want to be criticized and lose my livelihood over it."
Hmph! Second Master Mu sneered inwardly. I may be honest, but I’m not stupid. They want to use Yuxian’s connection to the Empress Dowager for their own advancement? Is that even possible? Besides, even if it were possible, Xiao Yuxian is only the Empress Dowager’s cousin. She’s not her biological sister, and they haven’t met in over twenty years. The Empress Dowager probably invited Yuxian and Wan’er to the palace just to reminisce and to find out about the current situation of the Xiao Family. Any support she offers would be for the Xiao Family; what does that have to do with the Mu Residence? We don’t even know what’s going on yet, nothing is settled, and Elder Brother is already scheming to use my Yuxian! To put it bluntly, even if there were benefits, shouldn’t I be considered first? And my eldest son—he’s married but still without any official rank. Shouldn’t he get at least some minor position first? How could it possibly be Elder Brother’s turn?