After Liyan and Lijun made the necessary preparations, I tricked Xiao Ji into coming to the Nuwa Temple under the pretense of casting an exorcism spell. He seemed to be in a good mood and noticed me staring at the roadside stalls selling candied hawthorn. So, he got off the carriage and bought several skewers for me.
Although I was slightly annoyed at being treated like a child, I couldn't let good food go to waste, so I reluctantly accepted.
Hmm, the candied hawthorn in the capital is especially good—sweet and tangy, truly delicious.
We left early, thinking we'd be the first to arrive, so I walked into the Nuwa Temple's meeting hall while munching on the last skewer. However, as Xiao Ji pushed open the door, three pairs of eyes turned toward me simultaneously—Lijun, Liyan, and Xiao Yi were already there before us.
Caught off guard, I quickly hid the candied hawthorn behind my back.
Xiao Ji greeted Xiao Yi with a cheerful smile, while I seized the opportunity to discreetly hand the candied hawthorn to Zhong Qianying, Xiao Ji's personal guard. Zhong Qianying smiled but obligingly held it for me.
"Big brother, what brings you here? Are you unwell?" Xiao Ji asked, concerned.
"It's nothing, just a minor ailment. I heard the High Priest planned to cast a protective spell on my younger brother, and I thought I might observe if that's acceptable," Xiao Yi replied with a gentle smile.
Xiao Yi appeared healthy and full of vitality, so why did he claim to be ill? Puzzled, I glanced at Liyan. She stepped closer and whispered, "The Crown Prince already knows. He came today to see for himself."
"I see," I murmured, understanding at last. Liyan smiled faintly and led me into the inner hall. The entrance was unguarded, but a simple seal was inscribed on the door.
Suddenly, Lijun turned to me and said, "Aside from the emperor and the princes, only the High Priestess and the High Priest are permitted to enter the Nuwa Temple's inner sanctum. If Miss Wuxie wishes to enter, the shrine must recognize you first."
"And how do I gain recognition?" I asked curiously.
"Activate your spiritual energy and place your hand on the seal. If the door opens, you pass," Lijun said, his gaze carrying an inscrutable depth as it rested on my eyes.
Historically, High Priests and High Priestesses could open this door due to their mastery of certain rituals and the unique spiritual energy they possessed. If I were Li Wan, regardless of how much I concealed my powers, the seal would sense my energy, and the door would naturally open.
Was Lijun testing me or deliberately making things difficult because he opposed the Twin Fate Ritual? I hesitated before activating my spiritual energy and lightly placing my hand on the seal.
Since I wasn't Li Wan, the seal predictably resisted my energy. Anxiety bubbled within me, but suddenly, the Five-Spirit Bracelet on my wrist emitted five radiant beams of light, each aligning with the five-element array on the door. To my relief, the door began to open slowly.
I exhaled deeply, and Lijun's expression turned complex. After a long pause, he finally said, "Miss Wuxie, although your own energy couldn't open the seal, your bracelet seems deeply connected to the Nuwa lineage. If you don't mind, please join the Third Prince in receiving the exorcism spell."
"Of course, thank you!" I agreed readily. It turned out I had misjudged him; Lijun wasn't suspecting me but was instead paving the way for Xiao Ji and me to undergo the ritual together.
"You truly aren't Li Wan," Xiao Ji murmured, gazing down at me with a faint smile. Was he still doubting my identity earlier?
"Now do you believe me?" I raised an eyebrow, only to meet Xiao Yi's wistful gaze. A strange feeling welled up within me, and I quickly averted my eyes, following everyone into the inner sanctum.
Suspended from the ceiling of the sanctum was a jade lotus lamp that illuminated the room as if it were daylight. Under its glow, the white jade Nuwa statue appeared incredibly lifelike, radiating a divine aura.
The room's furnishings were sparse but refined. A bookshelf lined with texts on various mystical arts seemed to hold even more volumes than the scripture repository at the Danxia Palace.
"Third Prince, I will cast the spell on both of you simultaneously. No matter what happens, please remain calm and focused," Lijun instructed.
Xiao Ji and I sat facing each other on the jade platform at the center, while he and Liyan raised their staffs and began chanting. A searing energy coiled around Xiao Ji and me, gradually clouding my consciousness.
I didn't know how much time had passed when they finally stopped. As I regained my senses, I noticed a faint alternation between warmth and chill coursing through me—probably the remnants of Xiao Ji's lingering hostility transferring to me.
I quietly regulated my energy to suppress it, but as I glanced up, I saw Xiao Yi clutching his chest, his face pale.
Worry prickled at me, and I was about to ask if he was all right when he offered a faint smile. "I'll step out. I might've eaten something bad this morning."
"Okay," I replied, though an unshakable sense of unease lingered.
Since undergoing the Twin Fate Ritual, Xiao Ji's health had improved significantly. His personality had also mellowed, no longer as irritable or angry as before. Having grown up in Kunlun, a place suffused with purifying energy, I found the residual hostility from the cursed formation bearable—for now. To be safe, I began teaching Xiao Ji a few meditation techniques to ward off negative energy.
Though aptitude varied among individuals, Xiao Ji, likely due to his connection with the Thunder Spirit Pearl, exhibited remarkable comprehension of mystical arts. He grasped the essentials quickly, progressing rapidly within a month.
One day, after returning from the Nuwa Temple's library, I encountered Xiao Ji's carriage near the gates of Yi Qing Court.
I was eating a skewer of candied hawthorn at the time, and as the carriage sped toward me, I instinctively stepped aside, shielding my treat from the dust. Xiao Ji pulled back the curtain, smiling. "Get in. Father has summoned us."
"Both of us? Even me?" I pointed to myself. Xiao Ji nodded, and before I could react, he mischievously leaned out, scooping me into the moving carriage.
Caught off balance, I tumbled against him.
"Xiao Ji, are you okay? Did I hurt you?" I scrambled to get up in a panic, but my haste caused me to bump into his chin, sending tears streaming down my face from the pain.
"Is your chin made of iron? My head feels like it's cracked open!" I complained, clutching my throbbing forehead.
"Right back at you," Xiao Ji muttered, glancing down at me with a playful smirk. His tone carried a hint of intimacy.
"Serves you right for acting recklessly," I retorted, my cheeks heating as I quickly moved away from him.
Wait—where was my candied hawthorn?
"Looking for this?" Xiao Ji held up my broken skewer.
"I only took two bites! You owe me a new one!" I pouted as I took it back.
"Fine, fine, I'll replace it," he replied, his tone indulgent.
It was the first time I had seen him smile up close. His usual elegance was now softened by a radiant warmth, leaving me momentarily captivated.
"Careful, or I might think you've fallen for me," he teased.
"As if!" I turned away, secretly checking my chin—thankfully, no drool.
When the carriage stopped at the palace's outer courtyard, a group of eunuchs greeted Xiao Ji with bows before leading us to the emperor. The palace's grandeur was overwhelming, with its gilded eaves and azure tiles exuding a regal splendor.
As we walked through the intricately designed pavilions, I whispered to Xiao Ji, "When can we leave? Why does the emperor want to see me?"
"Are you nervous?" he asked, amusement flickering in his eyes. Then, his tone turned serious. "Remember not to call me by name in front of my father. The palace isn't as casual as Yi Qing Court."
I nodded obediently. His words made me realize how familiar I had become with addressing him by name, and a slight embarrassment crept over me.
"Don't worry. If you slip up, I'll handle it," Xiao Ji reassured with a smile.
Moved by his kindness, I ventured hesitantly, "Xiao Ji, why are you so good to me? Is it because you think I'm Li Wan?"