"What's wrong? Didn't A-Ning like it just moments ago?"
Under her two sisters' barely concealed gloomy gazes, An Ning happily accepted the lantern: "......"
Wait, had she expressed any dislike earlier?
Only when she met her cheap father's direct gaze did she realize—oh, so the question wasn't really for her! From start to finish, she, this unlucky daughter, was just a tool.
Poking the bright lantern in her hand with frustration, An Ning thought to herself: she'd truly been envied for nothing.
Without even thinking, she knew how unpleasant her two elder sisters' expressions must be right now.
Though she didn't particularly care either way.
That evening, back in her room, An Ning watched through her system as Second Miss Yang once again disappeared from her room. This time, she wasn't so surprised.
She even felt a sense of "here it comes, as expected."
What she hadn't expected was that even after she'd gained the upper hand and the original body's luck had returned, the other party still had the ability to activate the system space.
Buying on credit? Previously accumulated reserves?
Or perhaps, besides herself, this system had been devouring more than just one person's luck, or something beyond mere luck?
As An Ning pondered this, within her consciousness, the system also felt particularly puzzled:
"Speaking of which, host, did you guess from the very beginning that the original host's luck had been stolen?"
"Not exactly. I just don't believe there's such a thing as a free lunch in this world..."
Watching the empty room before her, An Ning slowly raised her hands as her maid helped remove the heavy hairpins and ornaments.
Compared to the original body's room filled with floral decorations and precious items everywhere, Second Miss Yang's room was far too simple. Apart from the standard issue items from the household, there was almost nothing else.
To be precise, it was no different from an ordinary official's family's illegitimate daughter's room. At most, there were some additional calligraphy and paintings she'd done herself.
In the previous cultivation world, An Ning had encountered time-related formations before, but without exception, they all required consuming large amounts of spirit stones, or rather, energy.
Even Pandi's spiritual medicine space, under the time formation, saw its spiritual energy decreasing day by day.
One day equivalent to ten, even a hundred days.
Easier said than done—how incredibly difficult was it to actually achieve?
"System, what do you think yourself? Do you think such a heaven-defying learning space could possibly require no cost?"
So where did the energy consumed within it come from?
Or rather, what did Second Miss Yang possess that was worth the other party coveting, or worth paying such a great price for?
Combined with the original body's previously exceptional luck and the recent inexplicable streak of misfortune, this question actually wasn't hard to solve.
But was luck really so easily plundered?
If it were this easy, wouldn't those of imperial nobility be even stronger? More coveted?
"Based on these past few days of testing, I suspect that to seize someone's luck, aside from causal connections between the two parties, one must first put themselves in an advantageous position, or have the other party fall into a low point..."
Whether it's reputation and status, or self-identity.
Only when a person falls into decline, gets crushed by others, or experiences self-denial will their personal luck be plundered by external forces.
An Ning had wondered before—although the original body wasn't well-versed in literature, young ladies in the capital were generally well-educated when outside. It shouldn't have been that every time she went out, she'd hear words of denial.
But reality was exactly that. When these coincidences became too many, they were no longer coincidences.
Even including the original body's death in her previous life—when her emotions and situation were at their absolute lowest. If at that time, the last of her fortune was completely stolen...
Or perhaps, only when a person completely dies will the previously plundered luck no longer risk being lost.
Staring fixedly at the empty inner chamber before her, An Ning's gaze unconsciously carried a trace of chill.
At the same time, in the imperial palace:
"What does Master Wuxiang think?"
The master... the master was currently suffering inwardly!
In the Renshou Palace, atop the jade table, a sandalwood incense burner carved with various qilin auspicious beasts still slowly emitted fragrant smoke.
Under the gaze of the noble person above that felt almost tangible, a young monk wearing sandalwood-colored kasaya and holding sandalwood prayer beads instinctively pressed his palms together, his eyes calm yet carrying an indescribable depth and far-reaching quality.
On the surface, he maintained the composure of an aloof master.
However, under the burning gaze of the noble person before him, Master Wuxiang was breaking out in cold sweat internally.
What luck theft, what evil creature—good heavens, this humble monk truly doesn't understand!
And that pretty young lady from before—using various conversational techniques to extract important information from her, then offering comfort, wasn't that just standard skills for their line of work?
Thanks to this, his master had steadily maintained the abbot's seat all these years.
He had just taken the opportunity to test the effectiveness of those so-called jade talismans, while also giving the downhearted young lady some peace of mind.
Doesn't Buddhism often say all phenomena are empty? This luck, this fortune—perhaps with a peaceful heart, luck naturally returns.
Thinking of that book of talisman treasures he'd accidentally picked up half a year ago, Master Wuxiang felt even more miserable inwardly.
Truthfully, he really wasn't some exalted master. Although he'd practiced Buddhism for many years and was usually quite devout, he had absolutely no magical power—at best he could copy something roughly...
He strongly suspected that the reason those jade talismans could take effect was not only because the talismans in that treasure book were exceptionally exquisite, but most importantly because of the energy inherently contained within the highest quality jade...
Otherwise, after countless subsequent attempts, why did ordinary jade, even yellow paper, show nearly no effect?
Who could have written that book, anyway?
Carving talismans was one thing, but evil creatures?
Wait... could evil creatures truly exist in this world?
Forcing down the terror in his heart, Monk Wuxiang once again pressed his palms together, continuing to listen with unwavering composure as the palace attendant beside him meticulously listed all the various irregularities of recent times.
Such as the suddenly enhanced talent and wit from two years ago, the abruptly changed temperament...
The marks on her hands that didn't match reality, looking exactly like those left by years of brush holding, along with painting skills clearly inconsistent with her age...
The more he listened, the more Wuxiang's heart sank.
"Most importantly, Master..." As if recalling something terrifying, even this veteran palace attendant's voice trembled slightly when she spoke:
"Someone sent by Her Majesty previously saw with their own eyes—a living person vanishing into thin air within the room..." The attendant instinctively covered her mouth.
Although this Second Miss Yang was indeed quite cautious, waiting until everyone was asleep and closing the bed curtains before disappearing.
That person hadn't actually seen it with their own eyes.
But as a long-time secret guard, this person was naturally sensitive to presence. Whether someone was in the room or not—that they could detect...
Glancing at her mistress, Lady Attendant Dai quickly spoke:
"With your discerning eye, Master, you immediately noticed the loss of fortune on Third Miss Yang and even provided protective talismans. Regarding this evil creature who is the chief culprit—can she be subdued?"
Of course, direct elimination would be even better! Lady Attendant Dai thought to herself.
The way of stealing luck—today she steals from young women in inner chambers. Once she achieves great success, who's to say she won't steal from those in high positions?
Just think—in terms of luck, who could compare to the Emperor and Empress Dowager?
As for making pacts with tigers—unnecessary. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is already the supreme ruler under heaven. Why take risks getting involved with evil creatures?
"...Your Majesty, this humble monk begs forgiveness..."
After a moment of contemplation, just as Master Wuxiang was about to speak, before his words even finished, someone came to report outside Renshou Palace:
"Your Majesty, the old madam of Zhenbei Marquis is outside requesting an audience!"